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The Wentworth Roadster
Click here for hi-res version of the above picture. Click here for hi-res version of the above picture.
Eugene W. Wentworth built this historic roadster in West Peabody, Massachusetts
and ran it on the salt at Bonneville, Utah in October 1951 where he attained an official speed of 126.939 mph.
According to the official standings (below) of the SCTA-BNI http://www.scta-bni.org
the Wentworth/Hoyt "C" roadster was powered by a 292 c.i. flathead V8 Ford.
The final standings that year placed him 27th out of 33 entries in the class.
In those days the Bonneville venue was just about "the only show in town" and to even make an appearance
was a statement about the skill and determination of the builder and driver.
In addition, the "C" class roadsters were one of the most competitive classes.
Vernon Hoyt, who accompanied Gene to Bonneville, was his partner in business at Wentworth's Auto Repair.
(These same type of roadsters are still run at Bonneville.)
In August of 2011 the new owner, Ken Wentworth (son of Gene) returned
The Wentworth Roadster to Bonneville after a 60 year absence.
Ken Wentworth, son of original builder.
The April 2003 issue of Street Rodder Magazine printed the first of two articles by Eric Geisert about this roadster.
Eric has done extensive research into the history of Gene's car (now known to most as the Sidebotham Roadster)
and it's long and interesting history. He is planning to write his follow-up article as new information comes to
light.
Thanks to Eric Geisert for above photos.
Read Eric Geisert's article in StreetRodder
The following section are graphics out of the November 1951 issue of HOT
ROD Magazine.
The "C" class roadsters are listed in order of speed on page 60 (below).
(enlargement of circled section)
According to SCTA-BNI, Gene did not pre-register.
That is, he registered when he arrived on the salt.
A tank racer ready at the start line.
(The view Gene probably had before his run.)
Gene was there and had the (greasy) T-shirt to prove it!
A shot of the roadster (as it is today) superimposed on a photo of the Salt Flats...
The photo above is from pg. 32. The text reads...
"On the east coast, these Massachusetts members of the National Hot Rod Association have already worked out
a successful program built around police cooperation and aid."
Find published information on the Wentworth/Hoyt roadster here:
The Introduction has a photo of the Wentworth/Hoyt Roadster with the following: "A real survivor from the fifties, this '32 roadster has seen and done it all and still wears its hand rubbed black lacquer from 1959."
Great American Hot Rods
A Full Throttle Chronicle of Custom Cars from Street, Show, and Strip
Keith Harman
Including photographs by Chuck Vranas
KP books
pg. 6 (photo), pgs. 276-277 (photo and description)
Link
to April 2003 StreetRodder article
Link to Summer '04 Mag-neto article (issue
16)
During the fall of 2004 this historic roadster was on display
as part of an early hot rods of the New England exhibit.
While in the museum, Bob Wentworth made a visit and snapped these pictures.
See the November 1959 article in...
See the April 1960 article in...
- the 
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