Max Balchowsky

Last updated
Max Earnest Balchowsky
Born(1924-01-15)January 15, 1924
Fairmont, West Virginia
DiedAugust 30, 1998(1998-08-30) (aged 74)
Fairmont, West Virginia, USA
Nationality Flag of the United States.svg American
SpouseIna Marie Balchowsky (1949–1986; her death)

Max Balchowsky (January 15, 1924 - August 30, 1998) was a prominent 1950s and 1960s American race car builder and driver, and was involved in the film industry as a stuntman and an automotive mechanic. He is remembered for his crude but spectator-popular underdog Old Yeller Specials that competed against many of Europe's most exotic and expensive sports cars.

Contents

Early life

Max Balchowsky was born and raised in Fairmont, West Virginia.  His early training in mechanical engineering came when he worked in watch repair and bicycle shops at a young age. He served in World War II as a B-24 belly turret gunner in the European campaign and following injuries incurred while bailing out, served in the Burma campaign. [1]

After the war he moved to Southern California where he worked in his brother Caspar's garage and became involved in street hot rod and drag racing. [1]

In 1949 he married Ina Wilson and they opened Hollywood Motors at 4905 Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood, California.  The business catered to auto enthusiasts with Balchowsky specializing in replacing European engines with more powerful American V-8s, predominantly Buick and Cadillac engines. [2] Several of his engine swaps were illustrated in Hot Rod magazine at the time. Ina was an active part of Hollywood Motors and in the racing they participated in. She not only took care of the business part of the business, but also welded, fabricated, tuned engines, and set up their race cars for the track. [2]

Racing

Balchowsky competed in street, drag and most notably in California Sports Car Club (Cal Club) [3] and Sports Club Car of America (SCCA) races. From 1951 to 1960 he entered 64 SCCA and USAC races, with 38 finishes, 5 wins, 9 class wins and 18 podium finishes. [4]

In 1952 he bought a 1932 Ford roadster hot rod with a LaSalle engine. He drag raced it and raced it in sports car races which was unusual at the time. After changing the engine to a Buick V-8 he found success. He nicknamed it Bu-Ford Special. [5]

Between 1954 and 1955 he purchased six or seven Doretti Swallow sports cars, swapping their 2 litre Triumph engines for Buicks, Cadillac and Chevrolet engines, and replacing their transmissions with Jaguar and Ford transmissions. Most were sold to customers and Balchowsky kept one for himself which he called the Buretti Special. He drag and sports car raced it. He raced his Buretti often in 1955 and 1956 and in a couple of races in 1957. [6]

From 1955 to 1960 Balchowsky raced his famed Old Yeller/Ol' Yaller cars with much success. He won two 1957 SCCA National Sports Car Championship races out of fifteen in his group (BM). When Balchowsky wasn't driving his cars, some of the best drivers of the day took the helm, including, Dan Gurney, Carroll Shelby, Bob Bondurant, Billy Krause, Bob Drake, Paul O'Shea, and Ronnie Bucknum. [7] [8]

In 1965 Balchowsky was a mechanic for the two Bizzarrini Iso Grifo cars powered by Chevrolet 327s for the Sebring 12 Hour Grand Prix of Endurance. Unfortunately both cars crashed. Balchowsky took the wrecked cars back to his shop, started building a car using parts from the two totaled cars but the result has never surfaced. [9] [10]

In 1966 car owner Chuck Jones brought driver Skip Hudson and Balchowsky together to campaign his Lola T70 Spyder in the United States Road Racing Championship series. According to Jones, they placed either 2nd or 3rd overall by season's end with a 3rd at Road America 500 miles. [11]

Old Yeller and Ol' Yaller Race Cars

Balchowsky designed and built nine Old Yeller/Ol' Yaller cars. His first two were named Old Yeller after the dog in Disney's 1957 film who was yellow, mangy and unwanted. Disney didn't like that so Balchowsky changed the spelling of his cars to "Ol' Yaller." [12] The first two were crudely built and parts were sourced from junkyards but they proved very competitive with the high torque Buick V8 nailhead engine. [13] Cinematographer Haskell Wexler financed/sponsored many of the cars. He remarked that, "I never kept track of which Old Yellers were really mine or not. I paid for the right to be the owner and to be around Max and to be around the cars and to drive the car on the streets." [2]

Max Balchowsky's Old Yeller II 1959 Old Yeller II Balchowsky Special (20483631473).jpg
Max Balchowsky's Old Yeller II
NameYearEngineNotes
Icirca

1955

BuickFormerly the Dick Morgensen Special, acquired in 1954 after a fatal racing accident. Balchowsky rebuilt it, changed the engine to a Buick and co-raced it with partner Eric Hauser. When the partnership ended, Hauser took the chassis and body and Balchowsky took the engine.
II1959BuickCost $1456. The car's frame was famously built from garage floor chalk lines. Tubular ladder type frame. Jaguar transmission. Studebaker rear-end. This was Balchowsky's most famous car that was raced in 1959 and 1960 and produced the most wins of Balchowsky's cars. It is still raced today in heritage racing by Dr. Ernie Nagamatsu—a long time friend of Max and Ina Balchowsky—who purchased it in 1989.
III1959BuickFinanced by Haskell Wexler. Initially built for street use but later raced.
IV1961Financed by Haskell Wexler. Raced by Bill Krause and Bob Drake. The car was retired from racing after crashing in its second race.
V1961ChevBuilt in collaboration with Jim Simpson & Dave MacDonald. who built the custom 1961 No. 00 Corvette Special. The car carried a body molded from a stock 1961 Corvette which was shortened.
VI1961NAChassis without engine and body. Sold to Bob Sohus. Sohus named it Godzilla because of a payment disagreement.
VII1961ChevSold to Don Kirby of Rochester, NY. for $4500.
VIII1962ChevyBuilt for Haskell Wexler. Part of a Jaguar chassis/body used. Later customized by Dean Jefferies.
IX1963BuickSponsored by Haskell Wexler. Raced by Ronnie Bucknum. Engine later

changed to a Ford 427.

Film Work

Balchowsky was involved in the production of many films working as a mechanic to modify, repair, and maintain the cars, as a consultant, and as a stunt driver. [14] He is noted for preparing the Mustangs and Dodges used in the film Bullitt which had one of Hollywood's most iconic car chase scenes. [15]

Filmography
TitleYearRoleCreditedNotes
On the Beach 1959Stunt DriverNoBalchowsky drove his Buick powered Swallow Doretti in the Australian GP scenes. [16]
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World 1963StuntsNo
Viva Las Vegas 1966Stunt driverNoOl' Yaller III and VIII used in Las Vegas GP scenes. Ol' Yaller III was wrecked. [17]
Spinout 1966StuntsNoAn Ol' Yaller car used in Santa Fe Road Race scenes. [18]
Grand Prix 1966Stunt driverNo
Speedway 1968StuntsNoLast of the three Elvis Presley movies Balchowsky worked on.
Bullitt 1968StuntsNoModified the two Mustangs and two Chargers used in the chase scene and supplied a modified Old Yeller camera car
The Love Bug 1968Actor, mechanic stuntsNoSupplied stunt & camera cars, and maintained the Love Bug. His stunt work can be seen in the scene where Tennessee Steinmetz (Buddy Hackett) hangs out of the Love Bug as they take a corner too fast. [19]
Vanishing Point 1971StuntsNoMaintained the 5 1970 Dodge Challenger R/Ts used in filming.
Slaughterhouse-Five 1972StuntsNo
Magnum Force 1973StuntsNo
The Front Page 1974StuntsNo
The Sugarland Express 1974StuntsNo
The Deer Hunter 1978StuntmanNo
The Visitor 1979StuntmanNo
The Promise 1979ActorYesTruck driver
Eye of the Tiger 1986Assistant stunt coordinator,

stunts, auto mechanic

Yes
Brain Donors 1992StuntsYes

Legacy

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Garlits</span> NHRA champion, drag racing pioneer

Donald Glenn Garlits is an American race car driver and automotive engineer. Considered the father of drag racing, he is known as "Big Daddy" to drag racing fans around the world. A pioneer in the field of drag racing, he perfected the rear-engine Top Fuel dragster, an innovation motivated by the loss of part of his foot in a dragster accident. This design was notably safer since it put most of the fuel processing and rotating parts of the dragster behind the driver. The driver was placed in front of nearly all the mechanical components, thus protecting him and allowing him to activate a variety of safety equipment in the event of catastrophic mechanical failure or a fire. Garlits was an early promoter of the full-body, fire-resistant Nomex driving suit, complete with socks, gloves, and balaclava.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot rod</span> American car with a large engine modified for linear speed

Hot rods are typically American cars that might be old, classic, or modern and that have been rebuilt or modified with large engines optimized for speed and acceleration. One definition is: "a car that's been stripped down, souped up and made to go much faster." However, there is no definition of the term that is universally accepted and the term is attached to a wide range of vehicles. Most often they are individually designed and constructed using components from many makes of old or new cars, and are most prevalent in the United States and Canada. Many are intended for exhibition rather than for racing or everyday driving.

ATS is an Italian automotive constructor. It once had a racing team that operated between 1963 and 1965, formed after the famous "Palace Revolution" at Ferrari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Ivo</span> American actor and racing driver

Tommy Ivo, also known as "TV Tommy" and "Instant Ivo" is an actor and drag racer, who was active in the 1960s racing community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Repco</span> Australian automotive engineering/retailer company

Repco is an Australian automotive engineering/retailer company. Its name is an abbreviation of Replacement Parts Company and was for many years known for reconditioning engines and for specialized manufacturing, for which they gained a high reputation. It is now best known as a retailer of spare parts and motor accessories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickey Thompson</span> American racing driver

Michael Lee "Mickey" Thompson was an American auto racing builder and promoter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bizzarrini</span> Italian automotive manufacturer

Bizzarrini S.p.A. was an Italian automotive manufacturer founded by Giotto Bizzarrini an Italian engineer born in Livorno, Tuscany in 1926 and died on May 13, 2023. In 1964, the automotive company was founded by former Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Iso engineer Giotto Bizzarrini. The company built a small number of highly developed and advanced sports and racing automobiles before failing in 1969. In 2020, it was announced that the name had been acquired by Pegasus brands, together with plans to restart production.

Hot Rod is a monthly American car magazine devoted to hot rodding, drag racing, and muscle cars—modifying automobiles for performance and appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giotto Bizzarrini</span> Italian automobile engineer (1926–2023)

Giotto Bizzarrini was an Italian automobile engineer who was active from the 1950s through the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formula Ford</span> Race car class

Formula Ford, also known as F1600 and Formula F, is an entry-level class of single seater, open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held across the world form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers. Formula Ford has traditionally been regarded as the first major stepping stone into formula racing after karting. The series typically sees career-minded drivers enter alongside amateurs and enthusiasts. Success in Formula Ford can lead directly to other junior formula series such as a Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Three, or the W Series for female drivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janet Guthrie</span> American racing driver

Janet Guthrie is a retired professional race car driver and the first woman to qualify and compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500, both in 1977. She had first attempted to enter the Indianapolis 500 in 1976 but failed to qualify. She raced in three Indy 500s: 1977-79. She was also the first woman to lead a lap in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Guthrie was originally an aerospace engineer, and after graduating from the University of Michigan with a physics degree in 1960, she worked with Republic Aviation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iso Grifo</span> Motor vehicle

The Iso Grifo is a limited production grand tourer manufactured by Italian automobile manufacturer Iso Autoveicoli S.p.A. between 1965 and 1974. Intended to compete with Grand Touring offerings from Ferrari and Maserati, it used a series of American power trains and components supplied by Chevrolet and Ford. Styling was done by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Bertone, while the mechanicals were the work of Giotto Bizzarrini.

Robert Einar "Pete" Petersen was an American publisher who founded the Petersen Automotive Museum in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Wright (auto racing mechanic)</span>

Kenneth W. Wright was born in 1940 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and was a race car driver and mechanic for, among other teams, Black American Racers, Inc. (BAR), the first African American auto racing team to acquire national sponsorship in the United States.

Gale Banks is an American hot rodder, drag racer, engineer, and entrepreneur who grew up in Lynwood, California. His company, Gale Banks Engineering, sells performance parts for automotive and marine engines. It specializes in diesel engines, and high end cutting-edge equipment, performance parts, and auxiliaries. The company has approximately 100+ employees.

Ken Johnson is a former driver in the CART series.

The Australian Sprintcar Championship is a dirt track racing championship held each year to determine the Australian national champion for winged sprint car racing. The single championship meeting runs in either late January or early February and has been held each year since the Windsor RSL Speedway in Sydney hosted the first championship in 1963. After the first nine championship meetings were held in New South Wales, the Sprintcar Control Council of Australia (SCCA) now holds the meeting in a different state on a rotational basis, with 1972 seeing the first championship held outside of NSW at the Premier Speedway in Warrnambool, Victoria. The Australian Sprintcar Title is only open to Australian drivers and is run and sanctioned by the SCCA.

Steve Reyes (Born:1948) is an American photographer and storyteller from Oakland, California. Reyes has been included in Don Garlits' International Drag Racing Hall of Fame (2002), NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion Honorees (2009), and the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame (2011).

Briggs Swift Cunningham II was an American entrepreneur and sportsman. He is best known for skippering the yacht Columbia to victory in the 1958 America's Cup race, and for his efforts as a driver, team owner, and constructor in sports car racing, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Leo William Goossen was a draftsman, mechanical engineer and automobile designer. He is known for his work with Harry Miller and his long involvement in the design and ongoing development of the four-cylinder Offenhauser ("Offy") racing engine.

References

  1. 1 2 Nagamatsu, Ernest. "History -- Old Yeller II". Old Yeller II. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  2. 1 2 3 Vasha (Host), Bob (2004-04-07). "Old Yeller". Behind The Headlights. Season 1. Speed Channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ourvuotFuY {{cite episode}}: External link in |quote= (help)
  3. ↑ "PressRelease-Buttonwillow-CalClub.pdf" (PDF). calclub.com. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  4. ↑ "Max Balchowsky (USA) - All Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  5. ↑ "Jimmy Summers' 1932 Ford - Kustomrama". Kustomrama - The Traditional Rod & Kustom Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  6. ↑ "Swallow Doretti Page - Max Balchowsky". Swallow Doretti Page - information and history of this rare Triumph ... Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  7. ↑ "Max Balchowsky 1 and Mechanical Engineering". Tamsoldracecarsite.net. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  8. ↑ "Ol"Yaller - Racing Sports Cars". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  9. ↑ "Just A Car Guy: Bizzarrini". Just A Car Guy. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  10. ↑ "Two Crashed Iso Grifo/Bizzarrini". My Car Quest. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  11. ↑ "Chuck Jones - Interview and Profile". Sports Car Digest. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  12. ↑ "1959 Old Yeller II || SuperCars.net". 29 December 2015. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  13. ↑ "Old Yeller II: An Amazing Underdog | Articles | Classic Motorsports". Classic Motorsports.com. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  14. ↑ "Max Balchowsky - IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  15. ↑ "Bullitt - The Greatest Chase of All". hottr6.com. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  16. ↑ On the beach. Paxton, John, 1911-1985., Kramer, Stanley., Gold, Ernest, 1921-1999., Peck, Gregory, 1916-2003., Gardner, Ava, 1922-1990., Astaire, Fred. Santa Monica, Calif.: MGM Home Entertainment. 2005. ISBN   978-0-7928-4361-0. OCLC   43844193.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  17. ↑ Viva Las Vegas, Danova, Cesare., Demarest, William., Blair, Nick., Biroc, Joseph F., McSweeney, John., Stoll, George., Warner Home Video, 2000, ISBN   0-7907-4489-9, OCLC   46720239 , retrieved 2020-06-05{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  18. ↑ Spinout. Pasternak, Joe, 1901-1991., Flicker, Theodore J., 1930-2014., Kirgo, George., Taurog, Norman, 1899-1981., Presley, Elvis, 1935-1977., Fabares, Shelley. Burbank, Calif.: Warner Home Video. 2007. ISBN   978-1-4198-5542-9. OCLC   163572814.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  19. ↑ The love bug. Walsh, Bill, 1913-1975., DaGradi, Don., Stevenson, Robert, 1905-1986., Jones, Dean, 1931-2015., Lee, Michele., Tomlinson, David, 1917-2000. (Special ed., widescreen ed.). Burbank, CA: Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment. 2003. ISBN   0-7888-3806-7. OCLC   52298779.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  20. ↑ "Top 100 Hot Rods That Changed The World Hot Rod.com". HotRod.com. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  21. ↑ "ACHIEVEMENTS -- Old Yeller II". Old Yeller II. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  22. ↑ "Barrett Jackson Auction Company Returns to Las Vegas Collector Car Sales Exceed 23 Million" . Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  23. ↑ "1963 Balchowsky "Ol Yaller" Mark IX | Petersen Automotive Museum". Petersen Automotive Museum. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  24. ↑ "1968 Ford Mustang Fastback (Bullitt - 559) - Historic Vehicle Association". Historic Vehicle Association. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  25. ↑ "Legends of Los Angeles: Southern California Race Cars and Their Builders". Hot Rod Hotline. Retrieved 2020-03-23.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.