Re: The "Packard Plan" Videos

Posted by portlandon On 2009/2/20 17:46:25

Owen, I don't know if there is a video of the Sarezen Golf stunt, but I did find a reference to it in:

"American Horsepower:100 years of great car engines"
Author Mike Mueller
Pg. 59

-"A completely different, if not downright oddball test also occurred at the Packard Proving Grounds in July 1932 when Legendary golfer and longtime Packard owner Gene Sarazen pitted one of his classic tee shots against an equally classic twin six speedster driven by Jesse Vincent. It was left to the Detroit News to recount the epic showdown.

"Impelled by the force of Sarazen's unerring swing,the ball shot out in front of the car. Then its slowly spending force became apparent against the relentlessly speeding car, which Vincent's foot was keeping unwavering at 120 miles per hour. There was a space of many yards when the car and ball were racing on even terms. Gradually the car pulled away, its wraithlike length moving out in front of the little white sphere."

Reportedly, Sarazen's ball travelled 230 yards in 4.5 seconds while the Packard needed only 4.1 clicks to cover the same distance."

Now that is one fast Packard!!