Speed Week: Speed Seeking Studebaker #1

Heading up the line of this year’s Speed Seeking Studes, is #4594. It may not be the prettiest out there, but what it’s got going for it is a Studebaker engine and multiple record-holdings!  Greg Meyer and his Salt2Salt Racing’s Crew brought out their 1953 Studebaker Coupe all the way from Minnesota. Powered by a 182cid V8 Studebaker engine, putting it in the F/CGALT class. I think it was the only non-Avanti to have Stude power rolling it down the line!

The engine class being F, means it’s got to be somewhere between 123-183 c.i.d (cubic inch displacement.) In order to get this engine’s c.i.d. down to 182 the Studebaker V8 was destroked, pushing it into the “F” class by just a hair! Although Greg reports they encountered a few problems and there’s still more to do to get this particular engine running at its top speed, they were still able to set 2 records in their class by the end of the week! First with Greg driving in the F/CGALT catagory at 131.593. Then with partner-in-crime, Bob Waitz driving in the F/CFALT catagory (wounded engine and all) at 113.998mph! Good job Salt2Salt team!

For a really complete history and crew-log of #4594, you can check out Salt2Salt’s website.

What do you think…What engine would you run in a Studebaker Coupe out at Bonneville?

To learn more history on the ’53 Coupe’s connection with racing, click on back and read my intro article: Speed Seeking Studebakers