San Jose Gear Jammers

Those "belly tankers" typically used pieces of different car suspensions fastened to a custom fabbed frame. As for the engine, I know a flathead when I see one.

The idea of the belly tank racer was formed by a WWII vet who was a Socal dry lakes racer before the war. He saw one of those tanks while serving out in the south pacific and thought "this would make a good race car" and then after he was home in '46 bought one as war surplus, built the first belly tanker and the rest is history.

I believe he was one of the original staff members when Hot Rod magazine started out in '48. He started out racing on the California dry lakes in the 30s then continued after the war and also raced at Bonneville for many years with his son and grandsons. I had the honor of meeting him at Bonneville in '88. His name is Bill Burke.