SOCIETY OF LAND SPEED RACING HISTORIANS |
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Some Names To Look For In This Newsletter: |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ President's Corner: |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Editorial: Click Images Below for Larger Pictures |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Racing safety and equipment pioneer Jim Deist passed away this morning. His involvement in all types of motor sports was from the heart. The many lives that were saved through his equipment and safety development speaks highly of his dedication for all racers. I have known Jim for over 50 years and got my 1st chute from him as well as all of my safety equipment. Jim was the best. GOD SPEED JIM DEIST. Glen Barrett |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I noticed that you mentioned the story I did on Dick Kraft, as you know, Lynn Wineland passed. Both Lynn and Rickman had stories in R&C that I wrote some years back. If interested I can look up the dates both stories ran. Dick Martin |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ UPDATE #3. |
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The roadster is the rival car in the film, the car that "FRESNO" (Johnny's Antagonist) drives in the SAUGUS dragstrip scene as well as the famous night race scene. We are all very excited about this purchase which will allow us to now reunite all three main star cars of the film at upcoming car shows, promotion events, premieres and screening of the film. |
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Also, many magazines from 1953 to 1955, especially vintage HOTROD magazine were closely examined. Each photo was dissected, so to absorb every little details that would help me paint a picture as close to reality as it could get. I looked at cars, hair styles, clothes, shoes, watches, furniture, and streets. I spent two years, (many hundreds of hours) taking in what remains (and I think we all agree on this) America's golden era. But that was still not enough for me. I wanted to talk to the people who had LIVED IT ALL. Our "Ol' timers." After all, this movie is my tribute to them and to hotrodding. So I went out and found old timers, many old timers, and picked their brains until there was nothing left. Leaving no stone unturned. Every little details in my film had to match. When depicting the SAUGUS dragstrip, I looked at photos, I studied what the surrounding area, vegetation, hills, layout was. I then talked to people who raced there. Heard their stories. I even went as far as asking them what color the FLAG was. And matched it in my film. That's how dedicated I am to making DEUCE OF SPADES one of the most period correct and hotrod accurate film to date. |
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For example, it was a miracle that I was able to find an airstrip to use for an entire day FREE OF CHARGE. Beggars can't be choosers and that airstrip ground color does not match that of Saugus. However, it is located but a few miles of Saugus and as a result, the surrounding hills and vegetation match to a T. All in all, we did well. |
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It makes me so very, very happy. Some of them had tears in their eyes. All this hard work was not in vain and has paid off. I truly feel that I am leaving something worthy behind. |
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Enjoy! In my next update I will talk about some of our period correct sets and locations. Visit the official film website at www.deuceofspadesmovie.com. Want to help me in this worthy endeavor? Please tell everyone you know about this hotrod film. Thank you for your support! |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I just sent the photo to Lee and he recognized the man named Jim Kitchen, a long time friend of his. He holds the D/GR record at Bonneville at 210mph. He has not specified which one he was however, now I know 2 people in the photo that is great. I was snapping photos and listened when they arranged the pics but I did not remember. I know Ron Main is in the back row in red. So Don Francisco is to the right. Now for the other 2, which one is Kitchen? Lee Schelin has not replied back yet. Yes when you find out please let me know. Greg, of www.mightyimage.com, remembers you and talked about you fondly. He was so proud to go to your dad's 94th birthday. He talked about what a legend he was and it was a childhood dream to do what he is doing and meeting all these wonderful racers. He does this stuff for a passion and has a real job with American Airlines. He is another really nice and interesting person I have had the pleasure of meeting in this journey of mine. My dad (Joaquin Arnett) was always so full of energy. He started doing serious bicycles riding when he were 60 years old. He would ride Tecate-Ensenada, San Clemente, Alpine, Baja. My dad rode his 10 speed to Tijuana, Mexico every Wednesday for a year, getting pastries from a pandarie he loved. I used to be in shock. But not Dad; on and on he went. I used to live in Alpine in the east county in the mountains and he would ride his mountain bike to visit with me. I got arthritis in my 20'ies so I was in awe. Jim Lattin's was a neat place to see. Jackie Arnett |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I'm the former director of the American Hot Rod Foundation (AHRF). Any publicity and help would be much appreciated. I very much enjoy your newsletters as it keeps me in touch with that hot rod world I miss. Thanks, Henry Astor |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I have an old P-38 belly tank that was built in late 1950's by Bob George from Redondo Beach, California. I had it for some years until I finally got the time to build it. I have raced it for one year now and waiting for the upcoming season. Let me know what you need? I have some old photos and Russetta magazines when I built the chassis. The body still has the old '50's paint job and I even got to use the original number #132 that had been on the car since the '50's. Regards, Erik Hansson |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thanks for the great write up. I had to leave at noon, so I missed the Gear Grinders festivities. If I had known you were there, I would have been sure to say hello. Regards, Frank Scott |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I am hoping you guys can help. I am producing a show with Jesse James who did Monster Garage and we are going to send him out on El Mirage Dry Lake Bed to see if he can make a speed record for the fastest alternative fuel vehicle. I am looking for information on failed land speed record attempts that have happened, but am not having much luck. The only things I find on the internet are attempts that failed and they say because of "weather" etc. I really want to know what happened and why. Is there a place I can find this information or anyone I could talk to who could help me find this information? I would appreciate any help you could provide me. I look forward to hearing from you. Andrew Berg, [email protected], (310) 740-2504. |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ John Hollansworth asked me to forward to you a bit of information about the Collectors Foundation. John is president of the Board of Directors of the Foundation. Other Board members include: Ken Gross, McKeel Hagerty, Corky Coker, Jean Hoffman, Keith Martin, Bruce Knox, Mike Stowe, Claudio Ballard, Raffi Minasian, and I serve the Board as Executive Director. I hope this information will be helpful to you. Bob Knechel, Executive Director |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thanks Richard, you do such a great job of writing. You did not miss much. Cheers, Old Dad, Bob Nichols |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There are a number of anecdotal stories about young people and the encouragement they have received to explore and appreciate historic vehicles. With grade school children: Petersen Automobile Museum has received grant funding for the past 5 years from the Collectors Foundation to establish and help support the Museum's "Free School Bus" program. The program targets Title I schools in the LA School District, has a curriculum that teaches lessons in art, history, and science using historic vehicles as the teaching tool. The students are bused to museum where the lessons are reinforced by the curators and hands-on demonstrations. The program is so popular that it is sold out a year in advance. I have received letters from teachers and principals telling me that they are able to leverage the program to get kids to come to school. If they don't have good attendance, they don't do the field trip. Young children have written thank you letters to the Museum and the Foundation expressing their appreciation and saying "I've got to get my dad to see this..." The Collectors Foundation supports several similar programs at some of the finest automobile or classic boat museums around the country. |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I believe that my son has the roadster that was once owned by Jack Mickelson. I would like to speak to him and fill in some blanks. Do you have his number, or could you ask him to call me? Thank you, John Julis, Riverside, CA |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In about 1915, the Drake brothers built a racer at Reedley to promote their Jadson products at races around the state. Using a Chev Baby Grand 4 cyl block, they designed and built an overhead camshaft head and raced it in the Central Valley … Visalia etc. The head still exists. The camshaft and valve actuation looks a lot like that used on the Liberty aero engines, which I thought weren't built until after the US came into WWI in the spring of 1917. The liberty involved Jesse Vincent of Packard and Allison Engineering who built 4 'proof' copies to be used as models by other factories building the production engines. I would be interested in corresponding with anyone having info about the Drake racer, the Baby Grand engines etc. Ken Berg (949) 830-6888, [email protected]. |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I was talking with my aunt today, my dad's sister, she was married to Emery Cook. My dear Uncle Cook, he was another one who I want to include. My aunt has many funny stories to tell about both dad and Uncle Cook. Jackie Arnett |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thanks for all your hard work that goes into the newsletter. Am wondering if Maggie Summers is Jimmy Summers Widow? And if so how can I reach her. I think her husband and I owned the same 1936 Riley Sports car in SoCal in 1947. Bob Lytle, 928-646-6606. Email: [email protected]. |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Las Vegas Motor Speedway 2009 schedules, See http://www.lvms.com/. Contact: John Bisci, LVMS Public Relations (702) 632-8231 [email protected]. |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In 2008, Riches Nelson Racing, a veteran land speed racing team based in San Diego, California set a World Speed Record with an electric motorcycle first time out on the El Mirage dry lake bed. This year we are raising the bar; we will attempt to exceed 350 mph by building the fastest electric vehicle on earth. Read all about our project on our new website: www.eracebike.com. Our designers and engineers have teamed up with Southern Utah University (SUU) in an attempt to educate the general public about the performance capabilities of existing "off the shelf" green technology. There is a misconception with public opinion in regard to electric vehicles - how they are slow, unexciting, and low-performance: utilitarian at best. We want to change this perception by showing the exciting, real world possibilities of green technology in a package people can relate to. To this end, we will be building an electric motorcycle streamliner. Please visit our site and come back often as a lot of things are going to be happening pretty fast. Like 350 mph fast. ERaceBike, 2530 Fortune Way, Vista, CA 92081 |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Besides being nostalgia drag racing's premier event, the March Meet is also the season opener for the NHRA's Hot Rod Heritage Series. See release for details. Photo attached is Bucky Austin, who won the 2008 Hot Rod Heritage Series Funny Car Championship. March Meet Kicks-Off 2009 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series, Mar. 6-8, 2009. Legendary race part of drag racing's 8-race nostalgia series. The 51st annual March Meet is the lead-off event in the NHRA's 8-race nostalgia drag race series. The 2009 Hot Rod Heritage Series, now in its second season, gets the green light at historic Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Mar. 6-8. "We're honored to once again kick-off the Hot Rod Heritage drag racing series," said Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso and producers of the March Meet. "Nostalgia drag racing fans are in for a great weekend of racing, fun and affordable entertainment." According to the NHRA, the Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series was created to "help preserve NHRA's rich history and tradition while capitalizing on the success of nostalgia drag racing competition." Series champions will be crowned in 14 categories based on year-end points. Last year, Troy Green won the inaugural Nostalgia Top Fuel championship, while Bucky Austin claimed the Nostalgia Funny title. Both are expected to defend their titles, starting at the March Meet. |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Land Speed Racing Websites: |
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jonathan Amo, Brett Arena, Henry Astor, Gale Banks, Glen Barrett, Mike Bastian, Lee Blaisdell, Jim Bremner, Warren Bullis, Burly Burlile, George Callaway, Gary Carmichael, John Backus, John Chambard, Jerry Cornelison, G. Thatcher Darwin, Jack Dolan, Ugo Fadini, Bob Falcon, Rich Fox, Glenn Freudenberger, Don Garlits, Bruce Geisler, Stan Goldstein, Andy Granatelli, Walt James, Wendy Jeffries, Ken Kelley, Mike Kelly, Bret Kepner, Kay Kimes, Jim Lattin, Mary Ann and Jack Lawford, Fred Lobello, Eric Loe, Dick Martin, Ron Martinez, Tom McIntyre, Don McMeekin, Bob McMillian, Tom Medley, Jim Miller, Don Montgomery, Bob Morton, Mark Morton, Paula Murphy, Landspeed Louise Ann Noeth, Frank Oddo, David Parks, Richard Parks, Wally Parks (in memoriam), Eric Rickman, Willard Ritchie, Roger Rohrdanz, Evelyn Roth, Ed Safarik, Frank Salzberg, Dave Seely, Charles Shaffer, Mike Stanton, David Steele, Doug Stokes, Bob Storck, Zach Suhr, Maggie Summers, Gary Svoboda, Pat Swanson, Al Teague, JD Tone, Jim Travis, Randy Travis, Jack Underwood and Tina Van Curen, Richard Venza. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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