"Meeting Max"
(Part 2)

I noticed the rare Bizzarini cars (Corvette engine- car designed and built in Italy) in his garage- Holly Motors and Cary Loftin owned two cars. Max was to be the dealer for the Bizzarinis and he loved that combination, as that is why he admired the Iso Grifo cars as well. I bought one of Cary’s cars and that is one car that I wished did not get away… the GT America and most perfect Bizzarrinis. There was a 1964 Cobra that I would see time to time in the shop and Max helped me buy the 289 Cobra- a one owner car. The Cobra had the famous Max “fingerprints” on the car with the 351 Windsor motor…an automatic transmission, and air conditioner with vents coming out of glove compartment. When I started to race the Cobra, Max insisted that I could race with the automatic transmission and he wanted to modify (like Jim Hall?). What an exciting racing moment with the “Balchowsky” modified Cobra, racing through the “esses” and into turn 6… fussing with the stock Ford automatic transmission! I could have turned on the air conditioner on as it was a hot day at Riverside International Raceway.

One time we were to co-drive the 1964 Shelby Cobra and Max drove to the half way stop to finish the second leg in Baja Mexico race. His engine “re-builds” by that time included pistons/ rods from the used parts “bin” and he did not adapt well to modern high tech parts with high costs of racing. Max forgot to hook up the fan and during staging at Ensenada, the temperature went off the gauge and the radiator blew. Speaking Spanish well, I asked the policeman where the radiator shop was… got a flat tow operator (just dropped off a race car) to load the Cobra… found the radiator shop and two young boys jumped on the trailer and pulled out the exploded radiator… repaired and tested… replaced in position … all for $5.00. I raced to the staging area on a hilly stretch of road (there was no working emergency brake and had to move the car to the start). At the start of the race I took off on the off camber roads through the mountains, passed a replica police car upside down and raced into the flats when the motor broke big time… and I pulled over to the side. Since all of the slower cars had to pass by and the roads finally cleared took time… I took a nap on the grass…. Max comes up to me and says…” what the hell happened to the Cobra??? Max and I would go to late coffee sessions and story after story would spin out and he had great respect for Ed Winfield, Cook Machine shop, Axtell, Pete Brock, Ken Miles, and Dan Gurney. Ken Miles took time to discuss his approach to racing and his concepts on building Specials. Once Ken had Max follow him at Pomona Raceway and Max felt he learned a lot… Max was at Riverside International Raceway when Ken Miles died in the GT-40 J car prototype and Max was devastated. When I raced Formula Fords, Max would I think change the cam against the rules late at night but I was racing the horrible Formula Race Car- Crossle 55 that no one would buy under any circumstances as it was the most erratic and evil car I have ever raced.

Max gave me the “Balchowsky” historical photographs and race programs along with Max’s WWII campaign over “Burma” military suit- Bu-Ford Special jacket- driving suits- helmets, dash plaques and other memorabilia over the years. I tape recorded for Old Yeller and Max history… Max, Casper Balchowsky, Jerry Jann, John “Bat” Masterson and other individuals related to the Max period of racing history. Max would give me photographs of some of his cars that were currently owned by individuals, but most of the cars were not being raced. I was on the search for one of the Old Yeller cars, but the prices were very high. I saw the drawings of the Old Yeller X and notations of the innovative new possible rear engine Old Yeller X. I paid for the parts designated for Old Yeller X and chassis parts and did a video of the project. The Old Yeller II, which was the most famous of the Old Yeller race- cars, was up for sale. Owner Dave Gibb of Oklahoma waited patiently for 2 ½ years, so as I could buy the car as he was aware I had all of the race history and photographs during the build of the car as well as race photographs/ trophies. Max was disappointed in the chassis (although he did not mention directly) as there were square bars poorly welded everywhere and the odd square roll bar was barely tack welded on one side. The army surplus “Dzus” fasteners did not work, as everything was tack welded to the stringers. The nose of the Old Yeller II was too low with the carburetors sticking high above the hood. We have had the Old Yeller II in a slow re-build to historic period of 1959 as Max intended and finally the last element was re-established with the changing of the Corvette independent with half shafts to the now correct solid rear end with leaf springs… and working Dzus fasteners… Max and Ina would be proud indeed.

Each year I would roast a turkey for each thanksgiving and he enjoyed coming over for dinner from time to time. The special honoring of Max at the Phoenix International Raceway Vintage Races was a highlight and he toured in the Old Yeller II for photos with the other Old Yeller race-cars that he had built. Max seemed to enjoy hanging out in our pits at the Vintage Races and it was a moment at Monterey Historic Races when he had a reunion with Dick Morgensen (Morgensen Special- AKA Old Yeller I)… and reunion meeting with Bill Sadler at the Coronado Races. Once, I planned a surprise Birthday party for Max about 18 years ago. Many of his long time friends came to the party including Bob Bondurant, Carroll Shelby, Pete Brock among others… after the event when we were driving home, Max stated…”I really did not think that they really respected me that much”…only if he could have been with us and the Old Yeller II at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2000 in England and the Old Yeller II was one of 9 legendary race cars picked for the “Opening Ceremonies” of the event (160,000 race fans)… as the Old Yeller II was parked in the pre grid staging area between the Renault Turbo F1 with Rene Arnoux and the Ferrari F1 with Jean Alesi.

One race fan wanted to share a story which reflected the admiration of so many different groups of fans cheering for the “Junkyard Dog” race car when he said…” we were at the Riverside International Grand Prix for Sports Cars and every time the Old Yeller race-car would round Turn 6… everybody in the stands would stand and cheer regardless of the race position… it was like saluting American “Can Do” ingenuity, underdog, “blue collar” common people’s car- American raw brute power, budget racer, Drag racers, Hot Rodders… and everyone else not in the “Sporty Car” group with their sleek Italian leather string back driving gloves.

If he and Ina could have seen the Old Yeller II Buick Special be awarded the coveted duPont REGISTRY “People’s Choice Award in March- 2003 at Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance …and as in the Los Angeles Times newspaper of 1960, one writer wrote… “If there be a People’s Choice Award given… it would be for the unruly back yard special Old Yeller II”.

If only they could see the Old Yeller II on manicured grass fairways of Pebble Beach being showcased at the legendary respected Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance… with other “Road Racing Hot Rods”. If they could have seen the wonderful tribute in a “Salon” feature in the Road and Track magazine on the Old Yeller II and their contributions to motorsports with the original feature in November 1960 on the Old Yeller II.

If only Max and Ina could have watched the one hour documentary produced by WATV and Speed Channel that presented the entire history of the Max and Ina legacy and their race cars they built… and to hear the warm and touching comments by respected individuals that knew Max and Ina.

If they could have been at the most prestigious Vintage Racing event in the world, the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Revival Meeting Races as the Old Yeller has been featured for 5 Goodwood Racing events.

If only Max and Ina were around to see Billy Krause once again after 40 years race the Old Yeller II with fire and passion as he did in 1960 at the Monterey Historic Races – 2005… and to have the Old Yeller II win the most coveted Trophy in Vintage racing in America- the Rolex Phil Hill Monterey Cup” … for performance- presentation and for the ‘Spirit of Monterey’.

Max Balchowsky died unexpectedly while visiting childhood friends in his birthplace community of Fairmont, West Virginia in August 1998. Yes indeed, Max and Ina Balchowsky with their legendary Old Yeller Race Cars were the “People’s Choice” in it's time and forever in time.

Ernest Nagamatsu
Owner of Old Yeller II