Robert Mitchell
Curtis Turner Driving The Rainey Howell "Crossfire" 20R
A shot from Bowman Gray Stadium c.1953-55 of Curtis Turner driving the famous 20R owned by Rainey Howell of VA. I was told by Hilton Hill that the car was quite an unusual and very fast machine in the day. It was said to run a "Crossfire" or 180 degree crankshaft which made it's flathead V8 sound like a pair of high winding four cylinder motors. It was rumored to be able to lift the front wheels upon launch at high revs.
After one of it's races at Bowman Gray, the car ended up at Ted Swaim's shop and Ted proceeded to dismantle the engine in hopes to figure out it's mysteries. After looking over every part, Ted reassembled it but never was able to make it run, and delivered it back to Rainey Howell's Virginia shop in frustration.
If it was a Crossfire then it was built by Mr. L. O. Stanley from Meadows of Dan, Va. Mr. Stanley called Curtis "Leadfoot".
Thank you, Dennis! In the programs the 20R is listed as being owned by Rainey Howell. I shouldn't have assumed he built it too, so I'm changing that in the description. If there is anything more you could tell me about L.O. Stanley or the 20R, I'd love to hear it!
I pretty sure my grandfather Tiny Messenger ended up with this car. It was renumbered 18 but my father told me that he bought several cars from Rainey.