f05.13.09_015_UNK_ALC

Photo ID #	f05.13.09_015_UNK_ALC_0046S
Car #:	#15
Driver (s) :	Unknown
Location:	Alcyon
Date:	July 4, 1946
Photographer:	Unknown
Photo provided by:	Russ Dodge
Comments:	The Old Rope Trick! This vintage photo shows “Big Cars” (sprints) getting ready to race at Alcyon Speedway in Pitman, N.J., July 4, 1946. The picture portrays a beautiful summer day and a relaxed atmosphere at the races. If you look closely at the pick-up truck, you’ll see a rope attached to the back of the truck and a man carrying the other end of the rope towards a parked sprinter. If you’ve ever been to the sprint races, the “push-off” has historically been a point of contention. Some think it takes too long to start the cars because you have to push start them because they lack a starter! Well before the “push-off” they had the “pull-off”! The rope the man is carrying would make one loop around the front axel and the end of the rope handed to the driver in the race car. The pick-up truck then moved out with the race car in tow. When the race car fired up, the driver let go of the rope and a “rope man” in the back of the truck pulled in the tow line! Let’s keep in mind that they weren’t starting 410 cubic inch, 890 horsepower engines then but basically 4 cylinder Model “A” Ford creations. This whole scene was a little before my time, however I was lucky enough to know “rope man” at Alcyon Speedway who had explained the who procedure to me before I was fortunate enough to acquire this picture. Senior Moment by Russ Dodge Photographer unknown Photo From Russ Dodge Collection 3widespicturevault.com

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Date:	Visitor's Name:	Comment:
01.11.12	Terry Fick	After the rope they used a modified tow bar. The bar was attached to the starter truck just like a tow bar but instead of bolting to the race car, it had hooks which grabbed the front axle. The whole thing was highly choreographed, when the car started the driver pulled up and to the right of the truck as the bar dropped away, and the truck pulled to the left. I am not sure when they began pushing, but it sure makes a lot more sense. As has been noted, when one of these beasts today starts it jumps away from the push truck, even if you are not on the throttle, especially if you have 6.88 or lower gears in.