What Makes Summers Run? The Summer Brothers' Goldenrod
Published in the Hot Rod Magazine, April 1966, Written by: Eric Rickman

Here is the answer - The "inside" story of the Summers Brothers' streamliner

After breaking the World Land Speed Record for wheel driven vehicles on their first time out, there are no further fields for the Summers Brothers and the aptly named, quarter million dollar Goldenrod streamliner to conquer. This, of course is unlike jet car competition.

Goldenrod is a beautifully shaped tiny projectile built around four, fuel injected Chrysler Hemi engines set in a row. Total combined output of these engines is somewhere in the region of 2400 hp, the engines delivering power to two Spicer Aluminium 5 speed gearboxes linked by a specially fabricated Hurst shifting mechanism.

Realising that competition is the life blood of the rodding sport, hot rodders Bob and Bill have thrown down the gauntlet in the traditional style and challenged Donald Campbell with his 5 million dollar "Bluebird" to come back and have a go at the "books."

The new record of 409.344 mph (two way average in the mile) was achieved on a weather shortened course, and unknown till now, one official practice run was clocked at 425-plus mph. An even more amazing fact is that at no time was the car running in high gear. All runs, including the record and blazing 425 run, were made in 4th gear, due to the abbreviated course.

So a word to the wise, Donald: "You'd better stuff a bunch of strong feathers in that 'Bluebird' before you bring it back. When the 'Goldenrod' gets into high gear on the long course, it's going to be hard to catch."

In light of their accomplishments, we herewith present some of the mechanical achievements of the self-taught car builder and engineering genius Bob Summers, and brother Bill.

All guages are Stewart-Warner. Dash mounts 4 oil pressure guages and S-W tach accurate to within 1%.	Steering & clutches are hydraulic controlled. Hydralic accumulator ups pressure for steering assist.
The ring and pinion are 1:1. Upper gear is pinion. Car never got into high gear.	Flex Plate is heat treated 4130 steel. Hardened & shot-peened for added strength.
A Dana Spicer 1500 series universal replaced rubber coupler at front (left) of 210 inch drive shaft. Two small Saga couplers were retained to dampen torsional vibration in long shaft.

Bob and Bill Summers back in 1965
with their four-engine Goldenrod.