old SACA/Steam Power Club Guy returns

Hi all:

I've been watching this site for a while now. I've decided to join and I hope I can share some of my past experiences with steam-powered autos in the '70's.

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Bill Hinote
Hi all:

I've been watching this site for a while now. I've decided to join and I hope I can share some of my past experiences with steam-powered autos in the '70's.

Just some teasers here:

1. Built and tested a Day-Land engine from castings; sold to Roy Renner (qv) who installed it in one of his projects.

2. Built and operated a successful steam car using the SASS system and other RJ Smith recommendations and parts.

3. Established extensive communication with Pete and Phil Barrett, and we each verified the efficiencies available in "bash-valve" type engines using different analytical techniques. Pete and I exchanged mail on average once a week for several years in the early '70's.

4. Relationships with other famous names of the era, including Jim Crank and Barney Becker.

Not flapping my wings or crowing here--just establishing my creds re: the era I participated in. If anybody's interested in hearing some of the stories I'll try to bring the memories back to life. I have some photos I can present for evidence BTW.

I hope to be able to spin some of my stories, if anybody's interested.

Hi Bill,

I can verify you are real and can provide 200% proof. First we met at a steam club meet at Long Beach, Ca and I had a ride in your steam car (picture attached).
Second I saw the Dayland engine in Roy Renner's project car the following year (picture with Roy in it also attached). Peter Barrett and I pooled our resources to build VW based steam projects from 1976 but had been in touch working on similar project for 10 years before that.

Best wishes,
Graeme Vagg
Australia

Hi Graeme:

Thanks for posting the photos. That was a memorable meet, with lots of attendees and interesting steam developments.

I can also remember giving Barney Becker a ride. He had expressed doubts when I told him I was going to build a vehicle using Smith's converted outboard engine concept, and Barney had the first view of the results of my efforts at Long Beach.

After giving him a ride, I was thrilled when he shook my hand and said, "I guess I was wrong!"

I sold the completed Day-Land engine to Roy Renner after determining that its steam consumption would be excessive for my needs. My inconsistent machining skills (using a neighbor's shop with well-used equipment) meant a little additional work for Roy--the biggest issue was the finish quality in the cylinder bores, and was rectified with some finish honing. I was glad to have my engine go to a running vehicle.

It's nice to see that some of the old names are still around here!

Bill

Great to see your name and posts, Bill, and Graeme's pictures. As much as we were around Smith's place at the same time, it is surprising we never got together. I was glad you had your car put together when you did as it was the best of what Smith was making at that time.

Karl

Karl Petersen

Bill-

I'm a relative newcomer to the Club and the Forum, but I think I recognize the steam generator in the pic of your car as being very similar to the one I used on one of my homebuilt cars-and very similar to the one that Karl P has in his Citroen...Which makes me wonder--how did the generator work for you?? What kind of controller did you use for it?? The one I had came from a guy in San Diego who built it, but never put it into service-and so it had a few bugs left to be worked out. For my application, it never was satisfactory-though I did learn quite a bit trying to make it work correctly!!
Please do tell us more about your cars, etc---and include more photos if you have them!!


Chuk Williams

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chuk williams
Bill-

I'm a relative newcomer to the Club and the Forum, but I think I recognize the steam generator in the pic of your car as being very similar to the one I used on one of my homebuilt cars-and very similar to the one that Karl P has in his Citroen...Which makes me wonder--how did the generator work for you?? What kind of controller did you use for it?? The one I had came from a guy in San Diego who built it, but never put it into service-and so it had a few bugs left to be worked out. For my application, it never was satisfactory-though I did learn quite a bit trying to make it work correctly!!
Please do tell us more about your cars, etc---and include more photos if you have them!!

Hi Chuk:

Thanks for your interest. I'm thinking of starting a separate thread, to relate the details of the construction and fabrication of this project. In any case I'll be a little slow in creating further replies--life gets in the way sometimes!

I have some old photos and slides I can get into digital to illustrate the story.

Bill H.

Bill,

I found some more photos from the Long Beach 1975 meet plus a back view of Roy Renner's Dayland steamer he called "Stinky".
There is a pic of you at the wheel in your car, Bill Besler and Barney Becker's car (they both drove down from San Francisco for this meet) and the Besler steam plant.

Graeme

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gvagg2
Bill,

I found some more photos from the Long Beach 1975 meet plus a back view of Roy Renner's Dayland steamer he called "Stinky".
There is a pic of you at the wheel in your car, Bill Besler and Barney Becker's car (they both drove down from San Francisco for this meet) and the Besler steam plant.

Graeme

Hi Graeme:

Thanks again for posting pics I hadn't seen before.

Roy's installation of my Day-Land engine succeeded his efforts with a very old engine--out of an early Grout, I believe. It was pretty well worn out and didn't really make enough power.

I was so impressed by Barney's Doble; it was a tremendous performer. I first met Barney when he allowed me to visit him at home in Walnut Creek, CA. After talking for several hours and going over the car in detail I got the ride of my life. We merged onto the local overhead freeway after accelerating uphill on the on-ramp; we were doing 80+ mph by then and still accelerating strongly.

BTW I went to school with the grandson of the steam-famous generation, at San Luis Obispo, CA.

Lots of good steam memories for me; I'm proud to have participated in that era.

Bill

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Karl Petersen
Great to see your name and posts, Bill, and Graeme's pictures. As much as we were around Smith's place at the same time, it is surprising we never got together. I was glad you had your car put together when you did as it was the best of what Smith was making at that time.

Karl

Hey Karl:

Do you remember selling an old VW bug sans engine to someone in '73 or so?

Still dredging-up old/worn brain cells from the era--but it seems to me it may have belonged to you--and that means Dick Smith connected us 'way back then.

Maybe I'm wrong about this.

Bill

I didn't have any VWs but sold my MG-1100 without steam parts about 1971. One of thousands of engineless car changing hands no doubt. I was just digging up biographical history for the steam research today and found your note about 12 years late!

Karl Petersen

Hi Bill,

Welcome to the forum. I look forward to hearing your stories, musings and knowledge of steam.

Keith T.

All files from this thread

File Name	File Size		Posted by	Date
Hinote Steam Car at Long Beach 1975.jpg	54.4 KB	open | download	gvagg2	06/21/2009	Read message
Dayland Steamer.jpg	47.9 KB	open | download	gvagg2	06/21/2009	Read message
Hinote Steam Car 1975.jpg	47.2 KB	open | download	gvagg2	06/26/2009	Read message
Dayland Steamer 1976 with Graeme Vagg viewing.jpg	44.8 KB	open | download	gvagg2	06/26/2009	Read message
Besler SE124 at Long Beach 1975.jpg	37.5 KB	open | download	gvagg2	06/26/2009	Read message
Besler SE124 Steam Plant.jpg	46.1 KB	open | download	gvagg2	06/26/2009	Read message
Barney Becker\'s Doble E14 at Long Beach 1975.jpg	44.9 KB	open | download	gvagg2	06/26/2009	Read message