SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

[khyndart in CA]

John Mecom was a wealthy Texas millionaire who also had interests in the Jordanian oil industry.
John helped many drivers get established, including: Roger Penske in the Zerex Special and then selling that car to Bruce McLaren.
He often entered cars at events at GVR.

Plus AJ Foyt drove for Mecom Racing in a 7 liter Can Am car known as the Hussein and based on a Cooper Monaco chassis.


With some info. at this site.
https://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/...sein-mk-i.aspx

Another Mecom Formula C race car.


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A Mecom race car on a trailer.



I think this is a description of the car on the trailer.

Bill Frank's car also had a strong Mecom connection as Frank was the Firestone race tire Manager for Mecom and purchased his car from the team to run as a privateer. It was fitted with a 3-litre Ford V8. Mecom is known to have had three De Tomasos in 1964, a Formula Junior with Holbay engine, a Formula Senior car with a 1300cc Alfa Romeo engine and the cast monocoque ex-F1 car with a 256 ci or 289 ci Ford. This last car was ordered by Mecom in 1963 as an Indy project and initially fitted with a 4.2-litre Ford Fairlane engine and is the most likely of the three to have become Frank's Formula A car.
(A Jerry Melton photo..)


(Ken H )

[Ray Bell]

That's certainly not the engine in that car, then, nor should it be if there was any logic...

The 221 came out in 1962 or 1963, it was a very much lighter engine and held a lot more promise. It went to 260 before too long, then 289. The inlet port spacing in the photo is much more in keeping with the 221/260/289 family engines.

[Paul B]

That's certainly not the engine in that car, then, nor should it be if there was any logic...

The 221 came out in 1962 or 1963, it was a very much lighter engine and held a lot more promise. It went to 260 before too long, then 289. The inlet port spacing in the photo is much more in keeping with the 221/260/289 family engines.

Ford was playing around with the 221/260 block and developed some variant racing engines in the early 60s. I have some literature on them somewhere, they did a lot of modifications and it was a very high revving motor. They even used a modified 272 Y block rocker assembly in one engine. many failures too. Likely it may have been that engine?