Here's a little background on
Don & Claire Westhaver's K-88, named The Flying Fenn. They
found the car in 2000 in Vacaville, CA. It was in a garage under
a tarp where it had been for about 30 years, still on the original
handmade trailer. To this point they have been unsuccessful in
finding the racing history of the car but the fact its a real-deal
K-88 says there is a history out there to find. They began the
car/trailer restoration project at home in early 2002. They literally
finished it about one hour before the 2003 Cacklefest began.
This is how the car was
found.
The engine, like the
car was in pretty good shape after sitting for 30 some years.
As the restoration was in progress
they learned a lot as they went along. As far as they can tell,
this car was the oldest car in Cacklefest III - dating it back
to 1955 or 56... at least that's what the officials at Bakersfield
told them. You can tell by the V-back chassis that it's one of
the very earliest K-88's made by Scotty Fenn. Along with restoring
the car, they also rebuilt the original Hemi.
Chassis builder Pete Ogden was
involved in the restoration - he re-crafted the body panels and
did the zoomies. He recognized the steering box as one he built
originally for Fenn. The Westhaver's were very pleased and proud
to have Ogden as their team's guest at Cacklefest IV and to have
Pete ride in the car for the parade lap. He was very excited
to be there. He would have driven it down in the Cacklefest but
he'd had some recent surgery and couldn't push the clutch pedal
in.
Car stripped and chassis
repainted.
With all the parts and
pieces freshened up and re-chromed the car was reassembled.
CHRR 2003 was a different
story as the car performed flawlessly.
The car made its debut
at the 2003 CHRR.
2003 Cacklefest Parade
with Pete Ogden in the car.
The Westhaver's didn't
make the 2005 Cacklefest but they will be back in 2006.