Originally Posted by
Bill Van Steenwyk
Stanley Leavendusky Sr. and Quincy Flathead Pistons for same:
The information contained here is based on the best recollection of Stanley "Butch" Leavendusky Jr., son of Leavendusky Sr., and driver of the equipment campaigned by Leavendusky Sr. after he quit actively driving himself. "Butch" has stated that his memories may be a year or two off, before or after the time frame indicated here, but the basic facts are correct.
When Quincy came out with the Flathead models after having much success modifying the factory deflector Mercs, the first pistons used were of a sand cast variety made by themselves. From the first they seemed to have problems with the sand cast variety of piston, and within a year or so of the introduction of the motor, and probably because Leavendusky Sr. in his home shop business was being approached by users/racers of the Flatheads to try to solve the piston problems being encountered, Stan Sr. made a permanent mold for the Flat head pistons and started having them cast where he was employed, ACE Pattern and Foundry, which was owned by another former boat racer, the father of Tom Berry who has also posted here on BRF with photo's and stories of racing in the late 60's and early 70's by Kansas City Speedboat Association members.
Stan Sr. worked for Tom's father as a pattern maker, saw the need for a better piston, and made a permanent mold so as to cast them. Stan Sr., along with Tom's father, also changed the formula of the aluminum being used in the manufacture of the Quincy pistons, and the combination of making them in a permanent mold and changing the type of aluminum used in the making of them, seemed to solve the problems that were being experienced by Quincy when making them themselves. Based on that relationship, with Stan Sr. making the pistons and furnishing them to Quincy, which solved the piston problem, the relationship continued until the early 1970's, or the time when the Quincy Flatheads ceased to be competitive with other motors being used in ALKY/PRO racing at the time.
As to the reason that the problems existed with the original Quincy piston, the specifics of that have been lost to time, and my experience with the Flatheads came after they were using his pistons, so I don't know whether it was a "sticking" or burning problem, or they were just coming apart, but both Butch and I remember being in Stan Sr's basement workshop and hearing him mention poor quality aluminum/not the right type for pistons, mentioned many times. The phrase "Japanese beer cans" was also used several times, which should not surprise anyone who knew Stan Sr., and was familiar with his unhappiness with things not made the correct way based on his very intense/correct way of trying to make or fabricate anything he was involved with.
In addition to the pistons furnished for Flatheads over most of the racing lifetime of the motor, he also made pistons for the various models of rotary valve Konigs, from a similar type permanent type mold. He also fabricated some of the first "stick" type tower housings, after the increased speeds of the Flatheads on Merc stocker type tower housings broke under the increased power/speed causing some accidents which resulted in injuries to drivers. Much work was also done on Speeditwins for the C-Service classes and he was also known for his rebuilding of Konig and other type racing lower units. He was a National Champion in what at the time was called C Racing Runabout, using a PR for power. Later on his son "Butch" followed in his Championship footsteps with a win in the same class at Ackworth, Georgia., with the class now known as 500 PRO Runabout.
Hopefully this will add some to the stories of those who made parts, worked on motors, etc., which allowed those, especially in the PRO and MOD categories to race when presented with equipment problems not solved with factory help.
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