Ford Proving Grounds... 1928

[William L. Vanderburg]

You want to see some real stuff, buy the first season of The Fall Guy. Most episodes opened with a montage of historic car stunts.

[Steve Wastler]

Really, Cant see any 1x1"s, how about the 6x6 posts and the 6X8's on the ramps?? Actually looks overbuilt, You don't build much with wood do you??

Plus, the old growth true dimensional wood was way stronger than the nominal dimensional fast growth crap available today!

Originally Posted by MrTube

What exactly is stout about it? The what appear to be 1x1's that its framed out of which the larger lumber is resting on? Look what is supporting the ramp sections, its not stout.

[MrTube]

Originally Posted by Steve Wastler

Really, Cant see any 1x1"s, how about the 6x6 posts and the 6X8's on the ramps?? Actually looks overbuilt, You don't build much with wood do you??

Plus, the old growth true dimensional wood was way stronger than the nominal dimensional fast growth crap available today!

IF they are 6x8s on the ramps which they look more like 4x6s to me, they are not what is supporting the ramps. Look underneath the left side ramp and you will see what is actually supporting the ramp. I may be mistaken, but it doesn't look strong from that point of view, perhaps they are larger than I think. Maybe there are actual stringers I can't see in the picture.

And yes, I do a fair amount of working with wood, thanks.

[Special Coupe Frank]

Someone mentioned a longer video of this newsreel... if someone has a link they could post, that would be great !

Thanks,

SC Frank

[LukeDahlinger]

Originally Posted by Special Coupe Frank

Someone mentioned a longer video of this newsreel... if someone has a link they could post, that would be great !

Thanks,

SC Frank

Frank,

The longer version is on "The New Ford" a film put out by Ford in 1927 to promote the Model A.

I have a VHS copy that was sold some years back, but don't know if it's still being sold now.

[Special Coupe Frank]

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Thanks Luke - I'll keep an eye out for a copy.

Regards,

Frank

[swanwaco32]

Ford built the first concrete runway in the US there and is in use as the straight portion of the proving grounds. In 2003 I traveled in the National Air Tour and got to touch down on that section in a Stinson Tri Motor.

[MrTube]

Originally Posted by swanwaco32

Ford built the first concrete runway in the US there and is in use as the straight portion of the proving grounds. In 2003 I traveled in the National Air Tour and got to touch down on that section in a Stinson Tri Motor.

I think you are slightly off there.

Ford Airport (Dearborn)
"1928-29: Grass runways are paved—the first concrete runways in the world."

What I find really odd is the road I live on has a section called "the concrete mile" which was done by the Edison concrete company in 1912. I find it odd that a road was concrete before any runway? If anything I would think concrete runways would be far more beneficial!

[Tommy Gun]

That's pretty neat. Too bad there's no sound. It brings new meaning to "Built Ford Tough."