Crossing the USA 2023 - Herb McCandless - Ep 1: Classic Restos - Series 54
Fletch and his companion Mark Behr from Shannons Insurance embark on a road trip across America.
They start their journey by visiting the Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi, where they explore the USS Cairo. The USS Cairo is an ironclad boat built in 1861, used in the American Civil War as a river gunboat. It weighs 512 tonnes, is 175 feet long, and is powered by five fire tube boilers, with a single huge paddlewheel that can reach a river speed of 7kpm. In June of 1862, she captured the Confederate garrison at Fort Pillow, enabling Union forces to occupy Memphis and was sunk shortly after. It was later discovered in 1956 in the Yazzo River and is now partially reconstructed and preserved.
Fletch and Mark then meet Herb McCandless, a legendary racer who earned the nickname "Mr 4 Speed" for his ability to shift a manual transmission smoothly like an automatic. Herb began drag racing in 1959 at the age of 16 and eventually became one of the team drivers at the successful Sox & Martin drag racing team. In 1968, with the introduction of the Hemi 4-speed engine, he won 36 of 52 races and placed 2nd in 8.
Today, Fletch and Mark visit the McCandless Collection, run by Herb's son, Michael. The collection boasts hundreds of cars and memorabilia centred around his father’s racing career, making it possibly the best privateer collection in the US.
The collection includes a red 1959 Desoto Station Wagon with an Adventurer Powered option with 2 four barrels, beautifully restored to perfect condition. Additionally, there are three of only five believed-to-exist 1959 Desoto Adventurer Convertibles, all immaculately presented.
Finally, they see Norm Thatcher's 1958 300 D Bonneville, which boasts a 392 Hemi with two four-barrel carbs, a three-speed that clocked 156 mph, and the Land Speed Record, in original condition today as it drove off the salt flats.
Fletch describes Herb as a fantastic character with an incredible racing career.
