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NEWSLETTER 9 - October 18, 2007 |
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President's Corner: By Jim Miller |
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I have copies of the old newsletters and I will start posting them on the http://www.landracing.com website. I will make a special section just for them (on right panel above forum topics) and have pictures posted with the articles. I will be in a dated format so whoever looks at them can see them with newest first. Great publication and info to keep handy for all interested. I have a very large viewership and it will be good. Jon Amo Jon: I will post your site with the other two sites. The SLSRH has a specific calling to do research and to find museums and repositories for landspeed racing artifacts, photographs and documents. All websites are very much appreciated and can help us spread the message. |
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Editor's notes: Johnny McDonald is a reporter of long standing from the San Diego, California area and has written books on racing in Southern California. He has also written many fine articles on individual racers from the early years of racing in all motorsports |
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Following is a story from a 1973 interview I did with your dad which I submitted to Bill Moore's Speed Machines. Thought you'd find it interesting but I know so much has been written about him. Johnny McDonald The Hot Rodder who developed a sport. Wally Parks established safaris to sell an idea. He was a hot-rodder, a builder of fast cars and a key member of the Southern California Timing Association. Wally Parks stood out among the many drivers who sought speed records at Muroc Lake. He had a vision but he would not be able to cultivate his plans until he completed his service time after World War II. Taken from the pre-war format of the SCTA, he introduced a standing-start, acceleration event that would eventually mushroom into the nation's premier competition: drag racing. Still working as editor of Hot Rod Magazine, he began organizing the National Hot Rod Association. When the responsibilities became too large, he resigned his position at Hot Rod to devote full time to the infant sport. And it took a considerable amount of campaigning to convince people it was a legitimate sport. In those early days, he established Safaris that would visit with police, city government and other groups to explain the virtues. He spoke of two types of school kids. He understood what motivated those in the stick and ball sports. But he explained that there was another segment who devoted time working on automobile motors and then seeking a drag strip to satisfy the work done. Wally waged a campaign with newspapers, particularly those who chose to use the word "drag race" for an illegal speed run on city or county streets. And, it took a while before major newspapers would acknowledge this new, organized sport and send a reporter to cover sanctioned events. "We found that as far as the rest of the world is concerned, they still didn't know that there is a sophisticated, organized sport called drag racing," Parks said. "Our problem is to expand the promotions." Drag strips were being constructed, customarily in the outskirts of town where property was cheap and there were few subdivisions around. An immediate problem was that the noise of the starting blasts carried for miles. "As the town grows, the property becomes expensive and developers build homes," Parks said. "The drag strips would be forced to shut down, either for promotional reasons or by the noise problem." Through the years he understood so well that the promotional job would not be easy. "Due to the nature of its multiple competition classes its is hard to comprehend clearly all facets of the sport," he said. "Possibly that is the reason the average sportswriter might ignore it. The sport was too difficult to give a clear, concise report." He said that because of this there was a condensing of some classes, putting the emphasis on top fuel, funny car and pro stock as the headliners. Parks was proud of NHRA's safety record and would stack it up against any other sport. "We don't have to be criticized for being an unsafe activity," he said. Wally is a firm believer that drag racing has a lot more things going for it than other forms of motor sports. "In drag racing you can invite the public to come into the pits and stand beside the big names. They can talk with them, have their pictures taken with them and get a good look at the cars." It has been a series of transitions but from a national standpoint, it rivals other sanctioning motor sports organizations in sponsorships, entries and fan support. Two of the oldest are the Nationals in Indianapolis and the Winternationals at Pomona. "As far as the fans are concerned, we have a combination of sports and recreation which happens to afford entertainment," said Parks. "We consider the nationals represent an on the job training school because most of the crews will come from all parts of the country." He was asked in this 1973 interview if such super stars as Don Garlits and Don Prudhomme might hurt the sport because of their domination. "It is hazardous to invest too much in a small group of individuals, regardless of how good they happen to be," Parks replied. "Nobody can question the drawing power of Prudhomme, Garlits and Gary Beck. They are top stars and have earned that status the hard way. "But I think when you have 300 total drag strips throughout the country you are stretching your premium too thin if you feel these are the only names that will attract." He indicated that the major national events can attract from 300 to 1,200 cars with no two cars exactly alike. And the action is swift and plenty with runoffs every 20 seconds for six to eight hours. He is particularly amazed by the fortitude and staying-power of the fans, who sit for hours in all types of weather conditions to witness these speed runs. "We haven't fully diagnosed the reason for that," he replied. "Some of the people have been coming out for years and years." Wally never lost sight of his original intentions. "We must not over-look the fact that the main purpose and origin of the association and that we must provide a place for individuals to run their cars rather than on the street," Parks said. "We still have an obligation to the community and assure them that this is the legal form of drag competition...whether it is a playground or proving grounds." |
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This is Fred Lobello. Very, very sorry about your Dad Wally. We were long time friends. I worked in the first Hot Rod show in 1948. Please let me know when the services are going held. I don't drive long distances much any more. Is there some one from here coming. Maybe some one in the San Diego Roadster Club. I want to be there. I am 85 as of last Dec 31st. Fred Lobello Fred: Greetings. I'm going to put your note in the new Society of Landspeed Racing Historians Newsletter and send copies to Bob Morton, JD Tone, Jim Lattin and Jack Underwood in the hope that they can coordinate a ride for you and the other old timers from the SCTA. Thank you for your condolences. Dad, my brother and I were busy working on the Board Minutes of the SCTA from 1937 through 1948. Our father came alive when he remembered back to that time and David and I have promised that we will finish his project. I have been meaning to call you and get your life story for www.hotrodhotline.com as I did with Charles McMahon, but Dad's passing has caused a delay. Plans are being made and change constantly. As of this date the plans are to have a Celebration of Life on November 5, 2007, a Monday, in the stands at the race track in Pomona. The time hasn't been determined. Check www.NHRA.com, www.Oilstick.com, www.hotrodhotline.com or any of the SCTA and drag racing websites for updates. I will try and get an email out to everyone if I can solve my problems with JUNO, my computer server, which has been delaying my emails. Hope to see you at the Celebration of Life for Dad. |
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Editor's notes: Photo of Fred Lobello in attachment. |
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Below is a new area of car information. It came in from Dave Gates – in Washington or Oregon, just an email buddy. Evey Listed below are the car club plaques that have been added this month to www.relicsandrods.com/carclubplaques.htm. This month, I've finished adding the plaques from the collection at Speedway Motors' Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska. In all, 408 pictures were added, thanks to them giving us permission to copy their pictures. The URL for their website is www.museumofamericanspeed.com. David Martinez sent info that the Dukes (Lote M) plaque on the 'No City Shown' page belonged to a club from East Los Angeles and the picture has been moved to that page. According to David, the M below Lote stands for Maravilla, and it was used by gangs claiming the name Lote Maravilla. He also said there is a street called Lote Maravilla just east of Caesar Chavez Blvd in East Los Angeles. If you no longer wish to be notified when pictures are added to these pages, please send me an E-mail and your name will be removed from my mailing list. Best wishes, Bill Junge, Relics & Rods Webmaster |
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My copy of the Landspeed newsletter seems to have a lot of "carriage returns" (sentences not following in paragraph form ... each standing alone) am I doing something wrong? Doug Stokes |
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Members: Jonathan Amo, Brett Arena, Henry Astor, Glen Barrett, Warren Bullis, Gary Carmichael, Jack Dolan, Ugo Fadini, Robert Falcon, Rich Fox, Glenn Freudenberger, Bruce Geisler, Stan Goldstein, Walt James, Wendy Jeffries, Mike Kelly, Dick Martin, Ron Martinez, Tom McIntyre, Don McMeekin, Tom Medley, Jim Miller, Don Montgomery, Mark Morton, Louise Ann Noeth, David Parks, Richard Parks, Wally Parks (in memoriam), Eric Rickman, Willard Ritchie, Roger Rohrdanz, Evelyn Roth, Ed Safarik, Frank Salzberg, Charles Shaffer, Mike Stanton, David Steele, Doug Stokes, Bob Storck, Al Teague, JD Tone and Jack Underwood |
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Copyright 1999 - 2007 Hot Rod Hot Line All Rights Reserved |