Old-Time Speed – Four-Cylinder Fun at the 2023 International Speedsters Trials and Reunion
If your idea of old-school hot rodding involves Flathead V8s, Olds Rockets, or even small-block Chevys, then sit back and prepare for a brief history lesson. An even earlier era of hot rodding – an era predating the proliferation of V8s and even before the term “hot rod” was coined – roars to life every two years when the International Speedsters Trials and Reunion comes to Speedway Motors and the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska.
This biennial gathering, held June 21-24 this year, celebrates the earliest days of hopping-up American cars for improved performance. Back in the 1920s and ’30s, stripped-down speedsters offered a way for thrill-seeking enthusiasts to experience racing and fast-paced motoring using the cars and parts available to them – namely Model Ts and As. Enthusiasts would remove fenders and other “extra” body parts – or sometimes swap on a custom-made or purchased aftermarket body – hop up the car’s four-cylinder engine, and hit the road (or a dusty fairgrounds racetrack) for some open-air fun!
The Museum of American Speed is home to thousands of artifacts from this era. It’s amazing to see how many performance parts were available for early Ford four-cylinder engines. Custom intake manifolds, cylinder heads, overhead-valve conversions, and more were produced by a cottage industry of manufacturers that paved the way for the explosion of hot rod parts companies decades later. The Speedsters Reunion brings that history to life with running, driving examples of those parts and the types of cars they powered back in the Roaring ’20s and beyond.
Reunion organizers have structured the event for vehicles powered by pre-’35 side-valve Ford four-cylinder engines, although most early four-cylinder-powered vehicles are welcome. The several dozen participating vehicles this year represented the full spectrum of speedster style, from bare-bones machines consisting of little more than a chassis, cowl, floor, and engine, to more substantial racers with streamlined bodies crafted from scratch or based on early aftermarket bodies. The four-cylinder engines also came in a full range of configurations, from essentially stock to purpose-built. Many were equipped with vintage speed equipment and some even sported OHV conversions from the likes of Rajo, Roof, Riley and Cragar – the pioneers of the aftermarket performance industry.
More than just a car show, the Speedsters Reunion is based around a variety of driving activities. A Thursday road tour took participants to the town of Wilber and to Rock Creek Station State Historical Park, a former Pony Express station. And on Friday there was a hill climb competition that welcomed 29 cars and 33 drivers – it’s always a fun event. This was followed up by Speedway Motors’ Cars and Coffee show on Saturday morning, dyno runs at nearby Barnyard Garage, and the customary Saturday night banquet to wrap up the event.
While the reunion is relatively small by car show standards, it attracts a loyal group of enthusiasts who are dedicated to preserving this period of hot rod history. This year even saw Ed Iskenderian enjoying the activities at a spry 101 years of age (he turned 102 in July), and renowned hot rod builder Chip Foose also came to town to get in on the action.
There’s no better way to learn history than by experiencing it, and the International Speedsters Trials and Reunion aims to offer that experience with an event that’s always much more than just a lawn-chair car show. It’s like a trip back in time for a couple of days – one that offers a sun-on-your-face, wind-in-your-hair encounter that’s much more fun than reading a history book.
Photos by Jason Lubken
