In Southern California, the racing and car culture reigned supreme. While drag racing was a big attraction for hot-rodders in the post-war period, all-out top-speed racing on the dry lakes in the area provided an irresistible diversion for those that had ‘a need for speed.’ Drivers literally put their foot to the floor and aimed for the seemingly endless horizon until they reached the absolute limit of the car’s capability and one’s fearlessness.
In 1945 and early 1946, 17 year old Ray Brown built this Hi-Boy Roadster while working for Eddie Meyer engineering in Hollywood, CA. He painted the rod distinctive Sherwood Green, an available 1946 Buick color and raced it on the dry lakes in 1946 and 1947. In 1948, Ray sold the car and from 1949 through 1991, it was in dry storage and saw little use. In 1991 the roadster was discovered in untouched condition, complete with eleven timing tags. Following a ground-up restoration, the Hi-Boy has returned to its original racing configuration. It has won AACA Junior and Senior awards, and was the recipient of the 1994 AACA ‘Past President’s Award’ – the highest honor a competition car can receive.
