Can anyone ID this timing tag?

[Gary Perkinson]

Was just reading a story about two Muntz Jets from the early '50s that are coming up for auction. I know nothing about these cars, but as I was scrolling through the photos, I said to myself, wow, one of these might make a pretty cool LSR car. Then, to my surprise, the last photo is a closeup of a very faded metal timing tag:

http://blog.timesunion.com/carsource/wp-content/blogs.dir/2528/files/1953-muntz-jet/ca14_r0143_15.jpg

Looks like the car went 116 mph somewhere and at some point in the '50s, but I can't figure out the tag.

Here's the whole story for anyone who's interested:

http://blog.sfgate.com/topdown/2014/07/24/the-cars-of-madman-muntz-two-of-them-are-coming-up-for-auction/?cmpid=hp-hc-cars#25323101=0

Gary

[tortoise]

Russetta Timing Association

[4-barrel Mike]

Tom McCahill - famous 50s's automotive journalist.

Mike

[salt]

Could be a reproduction tag, tho.

Willi

[jimmy six]

Sept 5th 1953. I'll check if Russetta had a meet that day.

[salt]

September 5, 1953 was a Saturday . . .

Willi

[jimmy six]

Maybe the first number isn't a 9... I thought it was?

[Glen]

Look's like a 8.
Russetta timing rights were purchased  by the late Doc Jeffries (BRN) When he passed the Late Jack Dolan. When Jack passed i found no new owner ship, maybe GMC 6 can find as they were all SDRC club members.

[Gary Perkinson]

Thanks for the info, everyone!

Gary

[jimmy six]

A friend has most all the results from the SCTA not Russetta, but has some. After Bob Higbees passing I recieved all his notes, memos, results, and Board/Reps minutes. I put them all together with my friends. He also had some Russetta. I'll look tomorrow.

[jimmy six]

Didn't have anything on the 1953 Russetta season. One needs to contact Bruce Giesler to see how they did their timing tags. The one in question appears to be done with hand punches which they could have been. The SCTA did not allow coupes at this time so if it true the car would have been run with Russetta.

I have an original Russetta timing tag from Marvin Lee's streamliner and it is more professionally done.

There is dirt? under the lower rivets so all looks old. I did not know if Russetta ever gave out tags with no numbers or location..........JD

[velocity]

the decal on the firewall of image #3 and #4 is from the 1953/4 Bonneville Speed trials.

Coupes were allowed in 1954 as I have a photo of the Chrisman coupe, Doc Gage, Mickey Thompson 9rtatty looking yellow thing), toros/Ariasalong with several others which gives a bit more credence to the Russetta tag being legit.

[trucker Lou]

 I ran a 32  5 window at SCTA lakes and Bonneville in 1953   

[Elmo Rodge]

Was it Purple? Wayno