Not A Dragster: The Real Story Behind The Internet's Most Misidentified Car - Motion 1
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 พ.ย. 2024
- You have undoubtedly seen this car, maybe even this image posted on the internet. The twin engines, the hemi hanging in front of the front tires, the "dragster" that no one seems to know much about.
Well, this is not a dragster.This is a land speed streamliner called Motion 1 and it was the product of the minds and hands of two brilliant men, Noel Black and Bert Petersen of B&N Automotive in Sacramento, California.
The story is amazing, as are the guys' collective accomplishments. It is far more than a meme, far more than a wild burnout photo, and far more than most people would ever realize.
This is the amazing and tragic story of Motion 1.
So far, this might not be the most profitable TH-cam channel, but I will say it is the richest in old school racing info and content. This channel is a jewel and I hope more people get hip to it.
Appreciate you saying that and hey, it’s growing by the day!
@@brianlohnes3079 Look up top fuel drag bike racer builder Don Harris I haven't found anything on here about him or his contributions he is really sharp.
Yes, it's a GREAT channel Josh!!!!
Brian will get up there before we know it
Brian will get up there before we know it
Hey Brian! Thank you for recognizing these two old school racers. This probably means more to me than anyone who has watched this video. You see I was Noels brother-in-law and am the chubby kid in the plaid shirt with the sun glasses in 1969 during the testing year. I sat in the car and fired it up when they did some fire ups at the shop in Sacramento. I was supposed to be there in 1970 when they were going to attempt the land speed record but he came a day early and I missed him. Noel grew up with us in Medford and dated my sister and hung out with my brother. I saw Noel build many a car and dragster way before he met Burt. I was 12 years younger so I was the kid who always got picked on LOL. Noel was my childhood hero and then my mentor. He taught me about welding and cars in general. I am now 73 yrs old and I still think of him today.I remember the day he worked on Chuck Pooles Chuckwagon. The wheel stander and Chuck took me for a ride on the frontage road in front of B&N. What an experience. This video has brought back so many memories.
When this came on my youtube channel I was really shocked. Anyway just want to say you did a fantastic job with this video.👍💯💯💯💯💯😎😀
i can only imagine the feeling seeing your brother in laws car in a youtube video and it going into the actual history of what it was. must be surreal
Yes I was shocked!@@lord_rainbowman
As a racer who has lost people to racing and had some close calls myself...."They knew, understood, and accepted" feels much more appropriate and respectful to our mindset than "they died doing what they loved". I never really liked that. Thanks for penning it the way we feel it
Appreciate you hearing that.
Lighten up Francis
I wish Mr. Brian would get the recognition he deserves.... these videos need to be cataloged and put in the Smithsonian...the one museum that I know well not got anywhere or be closed..👍👍👍 great video as always 👍👍👍👍
the Smithsonian is hideing thousands of giants found in the united states we are not aloud to know about them.
Thank you, Brian, for all the work and effort you put into doing these videos.
Glad you like them!
I'll sure second that!
On another subject- Brian do you have more info on the Redhead liner? I grew up in Redding and remember it from 1963 or 4 A beautiful car. Does it still exist? Thanks for any help
Thanks for doing this video Brian. These guys deserve to be remembered for what they did, who they were, and why it's important. The risk is real out there, but the world would be diminished if people stopped taking on these challenges.
I appreciate what you're doing. I hope for lots of success for you
Amen to that.
I can't believe the incredible amount of research that goes into this channel's videos, and how well it is presented.
It’s fun to dig up the details for sure
That was a very fitting way to tell this tragic story. I have been mesmerized by it since seeing a picture of the streamliner as a kid in the '70's. And since the Bonneville bunch were never too far outside the drag racing orbit there were a lot of those guys that were in and out of my dad's chassis shop at that time. I have gotten to know some of those "old timers'. Guys like Pisano. Noice. Leggitt. Langlo.
Funny thing is in the clipping you put about 11:35 in from 1965. Down in the motorcycles there is Ralph LeClerq who went 101.617 on a 175cc Ducati to set a record. He's a current member of the SCTA Gear Grinders AND STILL actively racing small displacement motorcycles. Considering I just turned 60 a couple days ago, Ralph has been setting records about as long as I've been alive. I have a new respect for the guy now.
Thanks for investing time to tell facts about the past racers. Most of us won't be remembered 15 minutes after we die. Few understand the reason we do all the work.
9:41 - "Spidy Sense" 👍👍
So sad the story of Motion 1 did not have a happier ending. Thanks for sharing it.
Glad you enjoyed it
The most concise account of what truly happened to Motion 1. With a nice nod to the tech inspectors of the SCTA & mentioning Jeff Shipley whom I have lunch with on Fridays with a old group of landspeed racers... Well done Brian.
Wow, what a story! I'm over 65 and I never heard of this car or these guys until today. You have a gift in narrating these episodes. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you Brian for another great story. Those who came before us deserve respect and you do a great job at providing that. As the years go by and we lose more iconic racers and racetracks it's nice to see their real stories kept alive.
Another hidden gem as we've come to expect. Nice work, Brian.
Many thanks!
Dude I can tell you know you’re stuff man! I want you to know I appreciate all the time and effort you put into the videos. This video in particular has peaked my interest and helped me learn at the same time!!!! I’m thankful for guys like you as I’m young and my dad and I race together as a father son crew not drag racing but one day I do hope to have my drag car done ✅ all these guys from back in the day were the real genius.
Appreciate you checking this out and mud trucks are AWESOME!
Took me a second time of watching to catch that bit about Alex Tremulis. The famous designer of the Tucker sedan! What a guy to have helping you!!
Wow ! Just when I thought your episodes ( lectures ? ) couldn't get any better. This one does Motion 1 and it builders true justice and recognition. It also exemplefies the tenacity and courage of these men and their high speed machines. Greatly appreciated. Many thanks Brian.
Thank you for an excellent video on the history of this Bonneville Salt Flat racer and the two men who did it. We often hear of Mickey Thompson and Craig Breedlove and some others, but many never get the coverage they deserve. While watching this, and writing this, I have watched your thumbs up go from 835 to 973, which includes mine.
Sincere thank you for the note and for watching this!!
awe inspiring and excellent hot rodding history, brian. you are possibly the best hot rodding journalist in the history of hot rodding! i've known of this car since it's inception, but 90% of what i know about it is directly from this video.
This is huge, thank you.
Great job sharing this, Brian. Your genuine enthusiasm for the sport we all love comes through with every word and image.
I appreciate that!
Back in the 90's I met C J Batten that had a shop (Batten Engineering) in the Detroit area. His big claim to fame was building the highest flowing heads made from factory parts for guys running stock class. He had a production machine shop maching head castings for OEMs. He also did custom one-off machining for performance applications. Things like billet cranks and tricked out heads. At one time he was part of an effort to build a two engine land speed car similar to this one, except powered by two ground up designed straight 6 engines. That project fell through but the straight 6 design was rolled into a magnesium block V12. It was a beast. I don't know what the bore size was but you could easily fit your fist in it. The cams were the longest I'd ever seen that didn't come out of a big diesel.
Excellent perspective Brian. Very respectful of the people and families involved.
Great history lesson, thanks for sharing! Fun fact, Bert Peterson's son Steve is still racing at Bonneville and tunes the current fastest Blown Fuel Lakester of Frank Silva Jr., running an exit speed of 363.9 in 2020. That whole B&N family of racers are still out there kicking ass and setting records, and you'd be hard pressed to find a greater group of guys.
Amazing!
My family has been running at the lakes since 1946. With that said, the Redhead has always been my all time favorite lakes car.
another GREAT story Brian with a WAY TOO SAD ending, thanks again (miss the true innovators of that time)
My pleasure!
Thanks for watching? Thanks for putting these excellent video narrations together and sharing them with the world, Brian. Our only hope is that you continue to do them as most of the kids these days wouldn't know how to find any of it as they don't know what to look for. For us older gents, it's a trip down memory lane. Cheers!
Legitimately appreciate you taking the time to watch this stuff and I agree.
My goodness what an article.
First, Brian you are one of those "one in a million" people like the B&N folks were. So grateful that you've decided to undertake this niche. I love and very much appreciate it when the unknown geniuses of the 1950's-late 1960's are given their due. That period of time saw a massive demonstration of people's ingenuity, capability and courage. Yes courage.
I admire all of the geniuses and folks putting their life on the line to race since the beginning but I find drag racing's danger (AA/FD, the original and subsequent Funny cars and experimental vehicles) a notch next level. Drivers thought little of sitting over a truck rear end, with the pumpkin knustleing up close their family jewels, header exhaust, or flames, a mere 2-3 ft. from their heads, tires howling ablaze just 2 ft. away from their head and being focused enough to feather the throttle, feather the clutch and trust motorcycle - sometimes Schwinn bicycle rims - tires to direct a 1500-1800 lb. missile in a straight line.
Bonneville people, including drag racing people, are exceptional and I had no idea B&N Automotive was in the Bonneville space. I was aware of B&N and frankly due to their presence in drag racing thought they were much much bigger. B&N was a staple sponsor it seemed, they were everywhere. That they were composed of these two guys giving it their all just makes my memories so much sweeter of this time. Those guys were absolutely amazing.
Thank you.
Epic response man. Just wow. Thank you.
Wow. Thank you Mr Lohnes, for this great, if ultimately tragic, story. Your content is really great. I grew up during the 1960s, reading HR (and many of the other car mags of the period, and your historical videos only deepen my understanding of the times. Thanks again!
Thanks a million for watching and appreciating this history.
Those stacked slingshots on that open trailer! 🤯❤️
Perfect, right?
Wow. Your telling of this event actually made hairs stand up on the back of my neck. You are 100% correct: Spreading real information to the masses to keep the work these guys did relevant is absolutely a huge contribution to history and knowledge of our sports.
Great work, Sir.
Exactly!!
This is by far My favorite source of historical racing knowledge.. Thanks for all You're doing to keep the history straight about so many of racings legends.
Cannot thank you enough for watching
Brian, congratulations on such an EXCELLENT video. Massive research and production, and so tastefully done, anyone with either an interest in Drag Racing or Land Speed Racing should thoroughly enjoy it. Keep up the great work!
Wow, thank you!
Brian, your accumlated knowledge of racing history is beyond impressive . But it is most certainly surpassed by your careful, honest, thoughtful, and inspiring recounting of it. Thank you so much for the time, effot, and passion you've put into this YT channel. Saying I have learned a lot from you is a massive understatement, and I've really only just begun consuming the wealth you've made available. Thanks for doing what you do for the rest of us.
Wow!! Thanks for this, Cliff!
@@brianlohnes3079 You're welcome, my pleasure! I just finished taking in your recent piece covering Connie Kalitta's 1967 season of dominance. Wow! I left a comment there and immediately sent the link to my brother as well. Superb historical reporting, Brian. I discovered this YT channel largely through name recognition by virtue of my familiarity with your hosting of NHRA Today. Glad I did! Many thanks and mucho admiration for your dedication and style. Don't stop!
Hope there will be more Bonneville salt flats story in the future 😊. Love the story
As an Australian that has a passion for Nostalgia Drag Racing, especially AA/FA cars, I can't thank you enough for the effort and knowledge you share with us all. So far i've only managed to get to Bakersfield for the 2019 March Meet, but definitely plan on making it to more historic tracks in the USA in the future.
Bakersfield rules!!
I hope one day we get an in depth video on Brian Lohnes and his journey from the get go to where we are now.
Awww heck, who needs that!? Haha
Thanks Brian for recording the story of Bert and Noel. B&N automotive was just a few blocks away from my home in S. Sacramento, they were helpful with tubing bending and showed me how to form Aluminum pieces for our cars. We would use the back street as a fire up road many times, great friends. Harry Burkholder😎
you make the kinda videos thatd be playing on the pedestal next to the pedestal with all the info on said exhibit. i feel like im standing in front of the car (or what it became, or pieces of it) when i watch your videos. like im at a le mays or don garlits museum. Absolute gold im here for all of it
Thanks for this.
Thanks Brian, my dad Don Allen was great friends with Bert and Noel, thats his #121 Lakester. They weren't partners but did swap parts back and forth and Noel repaired the #121 after it rolled on the salt in 1966. In the mid 70's we borrowed a motor from Bert after kicking the rods out of ours and it was one of the Motion 1 engines. Lots of stories but I'll keep it short. Thanks again!!!
What a story! Thank you Brian for all you do to bring this story to life. I will watch every one you put out! I fell as I should of been born in the late 30s because of these history adventures.
Glad you enjoyed it!!
Those Hemi engines from that time period always impressive. Like button energized.
Agreed!
These stories are great and remind me of being a kid sitting in the stands at Indy hearing all the stories from Bret Kepner. Just getting the real history we all need!
Such a sad ending to a great triumphant story. The rules we have now for land speed racing were written in the blood of these pioneers of speed. RIP sir well done.
Wow amazing story! Always great hearing all of these Racing stories! Have a wonderful week!!
Thank you for taking the time to watch it
Brian, I have to say it again. AWESOME history lesson.
Sincerely glad you enjoyed it!
@@brianlohnes3079 I have been a motor head since I did my first complete tune up on a 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook 6 cyl. flat head at the age of six. I will be 63 years old at the end of May. My father didn't allow me to cheat while doing that tune up either. I had to pull everything off of the ignition system and follow the tune up instructions and the diagram to install everything. I did it right. That old flat head fired after three rotations of the starter motor. Then I did the final tune
on the points. I have been hooked ever since, thanks to my father.
Nicely done again Brian. Great info about the car and men. I remember Al Teague (sp) taking the wheel record and was very humble about the previous holder and now I know why. Thanks
So great
Great job trying to rectify the story of Bert, Noel, and Motion I! I was on the crew in 1970 and have spent years trying to correct "Experts" who claim it was a bad attempt at building a Top Fuel Dragster. As a professional voice-over artist, it was nice to hear your pleasant narration as opposed to the typical video I want to remove the audio from, or un-narrated with public domain 50s-sounding rock. Bravo, Brian!
Finally! The tale of this car properly told which has fascinated me for years. Thank you.
Thanks for this!
I gotta say, I absolutely love this channel. I've never really been "into" drag and LSR racing (I'm more of a circuit racing enthusiast), but this channel really helps me appreciate the innovation and history behind the sport. I also like how much research goes into these videos, going through all those old newspapers and magazines. So yeah, thanks Brian for making these videos.
Deano, thank you for following along. Have a load of topics to explore and will certainly wander around the racing and mechanical realm. Appreciate you watching!
From my 50-plus years of reading Hot Rod, and others, I knew some of this story. But, not nearly as mush as you do. Thank you immensely for sharing the details.
Brian you have me hooked.....PLEASE keep up the GREAT job as you have by far the best historical gear head channel!!!
Wow, thanks!!!!
A lot of people have already commented similarly, but I must add myself just how amazingly informed and well-researched each topic is on this channel. I'd never heard of Motion I, and I really enjoyed this piece on it. Thanks so much for presenting such informative work, Brian. Excellent work, once again.
Another stellar vid. Great content and great presentation. I always learn so much about an era I am too young to have enjoyed in person. Thank you for putting these vids out. Keep it up.
Glad you learned something!!
This is the best drag racing history channel on TH-cam. Fantastic job, Brian. You put a lot of effort into your research, and it is greatly appreciated.
Glad you enjoy it!!!!!
Going that fast at that time is just absolutely NUTS. The true pioneers of speed.. Absolutely the best channel for old school drag/speed history. Sorry I took so long to subscribe. Great content 👍
Sincere thank you.
Another great video Brian.
Some really unusual subject matter, and in depth information again, keep up the good work.
Appreciate you watching it!!
rip noel black, you ran the motion 1 well and secured a record for a long time after your passing
Thank you Brian. It is important that these stories are remembered, and that the unlucky souls who gave their lives to the sport they loved are never forgotten. Prior to this video, I was aware of Motion 1, and Noel Black, but only as names and statistics. You've brought those names from words on a page, into reality - a car designed for a purpose, a driver with a life, and a story, a story that deserves to be known and remembered.
Sub well earned.
Brian , Awesome history account of Noel Black and racing partner ! Always amazed how much history you are able to assemble for your videos! A BIG THANKS!!
Thank you Alex!
Thank you so much for using your own articulate speech instead of an annoying robot voice. It sets your channel apart from a lot of those I listen to.
Appreciate you saying that. If I take the time to write the script, I am going to read it!
Brian: man I love your column. Very well-researched, well-written, and well-presented. Where has journalism gone?
Thanks Brian for all the work you do on your videos and for all the entertainment you’ve given us over the years as an announcer
Well thanks for dealing with the announcing and super thanks for watching this stuff!
What an awesome story about two incredible men and there machines. You did an awesome job bringing it to us. The comments from Noels brother in law and him being in the video makes even greater.
Another great video, thank you for sharing and also for the respect you showed the family involved in that tragedy.
As a long time motorsports involved partner, both physically, and financially Brian,
I will tell you these two gentlemen both not only knew the risks, but accepted them as they continued to move forward with their program !
And, I have to thank you for your respect of their families, not to mention, the racer's themselves !
I have been involved with the loss of a driver, and then the serious injury of yet another driver !
Yes, each of them both knew, and understood the obvious risks !
And while their families knew the obvious risks, they were the ones who were left with the challenges of their loss !
So, I will again say thank you Brian for your kind words, and respect to everyone who has been left behind !
A great piece Sir !
When the question wasn't why, but why not. Truely an engineering marvel.
Thank you for the history.
Well said and thank you for watching
Brilliantly researched and thoughtfully presented as always Brian. As an obsessive racing fan/ex-racer I've admired your work for years, but you are really taking it to a new level with these historical retrospectives. BTW, you completely won me over on the day that you managed to work "portmanteau" seamlessly into a four-second run during your day job. There aren't a LOT of 'us' out there in the racing world, so I love it when I find a kindred spirit, even if I never meet him in person. Keep up the great work!
Incredible! Thanks for doing the research on this story, as I'd bet 99.9% of us would not have known that incredible history of the Motion 1. Absolutely love it, and look forward to your next story of amazing drag racing history!
Appreciate you watching!
Thanks Brian, your ability to narrate automotive history is both very informative and enjoyable!
I appreciate that!!!
I'm glad you put this out, this car has been making the rounds again recently. No one seems to care to try and actually go into the history of it when they see the photos of it on strips without the bodywork
100% why I put this one out
@brianlohnes3079 Thank you, you know everyone here greatly appreciates the content you put out!
Absolutely outstanding video!!! Thank you
What are you working on Tony?
Appreciate this! Did my best to get it as nailed down as possible.
You sir have earned my subscription. Amazing video i look forwards to where your channel will go i love old school stories like this one. Good job Sir
Welcome aboard!
Great story Brian. Thank you for these videos
The photographer on the wrong side of the racetrack had me in stitches!!😂😂😂
Epic, right!?
Great story !! I don’t mean to sound crass, but those guys had some big brass balls.
Large and in charge.
Brian, you sure seem to have picked up where Bob left us. I have missed those history lessons! Now that I have found your channel everything is cooler! I appreciate your time, effort, and talents. Good man!👍👍
Just about every video on TH-cam asks you to “like and subscribe.” I have to admit, I never do. But after watching this video, I just subscribed to this channel. Brian’s narration is excellent. Thanks for the great job researching, summarizing, and presenting this fascinating piece of history!
Thank you!!!
What a fantastic video thank you for knowing the story my uncle told me about it
Keep the videos coming there great
Thank you for watching!
Wow I had no idea how much I don't know about drag racing history. Thank You for the great channel.
Apollo 1 was using pure oxygen when they were practicing in 1967. They didn't have a chance. The build was sloppy as hell and the pure oxygen was the cherry on top. That was 1967. I'm kind of surprised no one paid attention and let Herda use it.
I'm a classic sportscar guy living in the UK, but i love Brian's stories and his delivery.
Man this is amazing, appreciate that!
I think this is the best story yet. I’m really going to miss this channel.
Two old school monster engines, drag tires and AWD seems like an incredible way to hit 440 mph
What an amazing story. I have seen the pictures of Motion 1 over the years but I had no idea. Thank you.
HEY BRIAN
your videos are flat out ADDICTIVE. THANKS AGAIN!!!
Thank you!!!
Absolutely thrilled with the quality and exposure to areas of motorsport that are often "left in the attic"
Excellent channel sir!
Wow !!! What a story , very well presented. Thank you Brian for doing all the research for the story . A very sad ending !!
Brian Lohnes will go down in history as one of the greatest things to happen to drag racing and similar motorsports
Thank you!
The amount of research you put into this to 'fill in the blanks', so to speak, is incredible. Wishing you continued success. Thank you.
Thank you
Thanks Brian. Great story as usual. With the description of the Herda fire tragedy, I’m surprised/disappointed that tech didn’t fail the design.
A sad piece of Bonneville history.
Awesome video Brian! I've seen this car many times and now I know the full truth about it! Great deep dive 9nnthis car and the story behind it
Thanks 👍
Thank you Brian for this deep dive into the legacy of hot rods and those who drove them. Good stuff...
Brent from PFI has a front wheel drive drag car called The Bully and it’s got an engine sitting out front like this one… no back engine though. Just the entire engine in front of the axle.
Awesome job you are doing Brian! Definetly will have to link up in the future! All about the history of drag racing
amen to that!
Super content, Brian ! Thanks for what you do 👍🏻
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching!
Thank you for these videos. These are the best videos on you tube and anywhere is for that matter. Looking forward for more.
Sincere thanks that you enjoy them!
Well done. A really touching piece. You’re really hitting your stride with this channel.
That was great Brian. I've seen the pix at Fresno and was told it was a Bonneville car testing (Wayne King told me) but never knew the rest of the story. You must have spent lots of time researching that and it's nice to see i'm not the only one appreciating your efforts.
What a great story. Thanks for seeking the truth to tell us. The real stories are so interesting. I am 76. I remember when it was like that. I still drive a 1969 Chevy G10 van with a built 350 in it.
Best video yet! You are a great storyteller can’t wait to see what ya come up with next.