Cord Webster says he never could figure out where she gets her Latin temperament. Susan Kohner's real mother was Mexican. Her real husband John Weitz was, among other things, a racing driver.
As Bea drives up midway through while Tod is changing plugs, the dual quads are revealed with the air cleaner off, indicating this is either the 245 hp or 270 hp version of the 283 engine.
The line Jeff quotes to Katy about the race not always being to the swift is from the Bible, Ecclesiastes 9:11.
The Webster Special is actually a Stanguellini Formula Junior (produced 1958-1960), used due to its close resemblance to the Maserati 250F Formula One race cars. However, the 250F was only competitive from 1954 to 1957. While still competing, they were backmarker cars from 1958 through 1960.