Doug Hartelt

Doug Hartelt

Doug Hartelt's 1925 Ford Roadster

Doug Hartelt's 1932 Ford Roadster

Doug Hartelt's 1934 Ford 3-Window Coupe

Doug Hartelt's 1937 Ford 4-door

Certificate indicating that Doug Hartelt was first in the SCTA standing with car no. 1R on August 8th., 1948. The paper is signed by Wally Parks.

Doug Hartelt of Anaheim, California was first introduced to the world of racing in the year of 1937. He and a buddy named Chuck Potvin was out rabbit-hunting at the El Mirage Dry Lake, they were driven up for a weekend of camping and hunting. However, their shooting got attention from SCTA members who were holding a race meet in the same area. The young boys were asked if they could stop shooting, as a compensation for being asked to stop shooting, Chuck and Doug were offered to take their 1932 Ford roadster through the speed traps. This incident sparked the boys interest to racing, Doug would later on become a successful race driver and engine builder while Chuck opened his own speed equipment shop. Doug along with Chuck Potvin, Dick Kraft, Kenny Lindley and the Palm brothers formed a car club named the Plutocrats while they attended Anaheim High School between 1935 and 1939. The club was disbanded after the graduation in 1940, instead they became members of the Hollywood Lancers, later known as just the Lancers. Doug was usually testing out the latest cam designs for Potvin Automotive.

Doug was straightening out body panels and painting at Harold Post's Body Shop, the same place as the Post Special Streamliner was born. Doug and Chuck Potvin took over the car and competed with it at the dry lakes with Otto Ryssman at the driver's seat braking the 200 mph barrier setting a record of 203 mph, the fastest time ever recorded at a dry lake in California up to that date.

Doug Hartfelt's Cars

Doug Hartelt's 1925 Ford Model-T
Doug Hartelt's 1932 Ford Roadster
Doug Hartelt's 1934 Ford 3-Window Coupe
Doug Hartelt's 1937 Ford Pushcar