SOCIETY OF LAND SPEED RACING HISTORIANS
NEWSLETTER 106 - April 9, 2009
Editor: Richard Parks [email protected]
President's Corner: By Jim Miller (1-818-846-5139)

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Some Names To Look For In This Newsletter:
 President's Corner, Editorials, British car designer Peter Bryant passed away last week, This past weekend, Peter was one of the legends present at RIAM's 'Legends of Riverside' for the 3 day event, Lynn Wineland's Celebration of Life will be held at 11AM April 11 2009, Jim Deist's Celebration of Life was held April 8 2009, Twilight Car Cruise first Wednesday of each month, I had a great time filming at the NHRA Nostalgia dragraces yesterday for the Deuce Of Spades, John Raffa inventory finally finished, Time is racing by and I value those memories high on the list My first car... Chick Saffell, This is the first step in helping our ladies dispose of the collections of their husbands first up Karen Raffa with John Riffa's inventory, Here is some nice exposure for a great family who produce beautifully finished Cobra car bodies, lacking just an engine and transmission, Vehicle registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles was approved overwhelmingly by the Utah State Legislature and signed into law, Two sites of interest for fans of the late 1930's through the early 1950's hot rodding eras, site for RatFink fans, Hall of Fame show earlier then planned now May 10 2009 at 11:30 a.m. on Fox Sport Net, A return to the Pebble Beach of Drag Racing, Santa Maria Speedway has an active weekly racing schedule nearly year round, Lifetime Automotive Engineering Biography by Peter Bryant, Sunday Niagara Nostalgia Drags and Car Show is scheduled for July 30-August 2 2009, John Force Cruise Night Car Shows, and Random Photos.

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President's Corner:  
   I've been going through a bunch of pictures taken in 1946 at Indy before and during the first race after WWII. A little research was in order and I found a site that talked about the AAA and its record keeping. It seems that from between 1920 and the '46 race the folks at AAA did a little manipulating of the records to reflect their personal tastes instead of what actually happened. Shocking? Yes! My question is; if they changed the race results of the Indy type cars did they mess around with any of the land speed record runs? That's anyone's guess. There were tons of endurance records set by different Auto Manufacturers during this period at venues like Bonneville, Muroc and at board tracks, etc. The only way we'll really know is to dig into old newspapers and manufacturer press clippings. Sounds like a lot of work, and it is. I bet somebody will do it someday. 
   Fast forward a little. I just bought an "Official USAC Auto Racing Yearbook" from 1972, published by Fawcett World Library. Inside are stats on all the USAC events. Also included is a 51-page section covering the World Land Speed Division. Hopefully all these records haven't been fudged. I thought it might be interesting to list a few of the obscure World Unlimited Class, Wheel-Driven Automobile Records as they stood then. How many of these did you know about?
  1/4 mile Standing Start, 1968, R. Sluggert, Tudor Rose, 108.490 mph
  1/2 kilo Standing Start, 1970, W. Weicheit, Amadeus, 110.520 mph
  1 kilo Standing Start, 1960, Mickey Thompson, Assault 1, 132.940 mph
  100 mile Standing Start, 1971, B. Isaac, '71 Dodge, 194.290 mph
  10,000 Mile Standing Start, 1967, J. Siffert+, Porsche 911R, 130.670 mph
  25,000 Mile Standing Start, 1956, Johnny Mantz+, 1957 Ford, 110.850 mph
  50,000 Mile Standing Start, 1963, ? Cooper+, 1964 Ford Comet, 108.830 mph
There are a ton of other records listed in over thirty eight more classes. Without getting into details here are some more obscure names and speeds.
  1/4 mile Standing Start, 1968, C. Saunders, Hustler II, 73.020 mph
  1/2 kilo Standing Start, 1969, D. Fitzpatrick, Metal Urgique, 53.110 mph
  1000 kilo Standing Start, 1968, Craig Breedlove+, AMX, 156.548 mph
  1000 Standing Start, 1967, Blackburn+, '68 Camaro, 149.753 mph
  1/2 kilo Standing Start, 1967, Ms. P. Burt, McLaren-Olds, 87.800 mph
  1000 Standing Start, 1968, Danny Ongais, Ford Mustang, 160.020 mph
  10,000 Mile Standing Start, 1963, ? Katona+,  Ford Comet, 124.420 mph
  1/4 mile Standing Start, 1970, A. Anderson, Ford dragster, 84.460 mph
  1 kilo Standing Start, 1968, P. Lawson, BRM, 89.210 mph
  100 mile standing Start, 1954, Carroll Shelby, Austin-Healey, 155.950 mph
  5000 mile Standing Start, 1963, ? Arena+, Abarth-Fiat, 111.620 mph
  10,000 mile Standing Start, 1966, ? Chambers+, Ford Zodiac, 105.369 mph
  50,000 mile Standing Start, 1932, ? Marchand+, Citroen Special, 65.780 mph
  1 kilo Standing Start, 1966, H. Hahne, BMW, 112.000 mph
  100 kilo Standing Start, 1967, T. Yokoyama, Nissan R 380, 158.240 mph
  500 kilo Standing Start, 1959, ? Owen+, Cooper, 138.150 mph
  1 kilo Standing Start, 1967, L. Turner, Turner-Ford, 111.32 mph
  12 hours Standing Start, 1956, Ken Miles+, M.G EX 181, 141.71 mph"
You kinda get the idea. There are tons of folks that have set records that none of us know or even care about. But I think we owe it to these gentlemen, and to those who have perished in an attempt to set land speed records to put it all down for the next generation. As we speak, a master list of all the previous record holders at Bonneville is being compiled. So when someone asks who held the record in Class B Roadster in 1953, one look at the list will give you the name and speed. With hundreds of classes it will take a while, but it will happen.

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Editorial:
   April 8, 2009 was a bittersweet day. Jim Miller, Roger Rohrdanz and I had the chance to visit the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, California to attend the Celebration of Life for Jim Deist. I can't believe Jim has left us. He was always there, sort of like Bob Higbee, Julian Doty, Jim Lindsley and a host of others. When you needed something, there was Deist in his van. He would go all the way to El Mirage or Bonneville and when something broke, Jim could sense it and he was there. Not to sell you anything, but to participate with his friends and help them out. In fact, Jim could have sold a lot more and charged a lot more for his products and his time. But he always seemed content to put out a quality safety product that he could be proud of. He wasn't a complex man. He was exactly like all the other land speed and dry lakes guys from the 1930's, '40's and '50's. Well, since land speed guys haven't changed much over the years, Jim was like all of the racers from the very beginning until today. He was always ready to help. What impressed me about Jim was his accessibility. He was never too busy to take my phone calls and answer a question for me. He was incredibly stubborn, but in a good way. He knew what he wanted and he kept to his principles. That is, until he didn't know what he wanted and wouldn't admit that he didn't know. He was frugal and yet he was generous at the same time.
   I always felt comfortable talking to him at reunions and races. Same with Louie Senter, Ed Justice Senior (and Junior too), Ed Iskenderian and many others from that time we call the Golden Age of land speed racing. I can't say that some of the more modern entrepreneurs and racers of today are as accepting of the public's need to socialize, but those old time guys always had time for us. Maybe they came from such hard times that they couldn't believe that anyone would think of them as stars. Yet, that's what they were to us, our stars and our heroes, the men we looked up to and wanted to be like. It certainly wasn't easy for Jim and the other businessmen when they started out in their garages and shops. The speed equipment industry wasn't much to write home about in the 1930's and '40's. Even in the 1950's it was still a young and risky business, selling speed parts to racers on a shoe string budget. It got easier in the 1960's and '70's when big sponsors began to have an impact. I don't believe Jim really ever thought of his life and business as being difficult. He had such a laid back attitude about what we like to call little disasters. If they came, they came and you dealt with them. His greatest talent was simply calming people down by his sheer presence. Then he usually had the right bolt, part, chute, safety gear, cotter pin, you name it, he pulled it out of his van like a magician pulls all those colored hankies out of his hat. I'm going to miss Jim. That's because I'm selfish and I can't imagine a world where Jim Deist doesn't pull up when I'm having a bad time and provide me with a pat on the back, a good word and just that right part that gets us back on the lake bed or salt for another go around. All the very best Jim. You're going to bring a lot of class to that land speed race track in the hereafter.

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British car designer, mechanic and builder, Peter Bryant passed away this last week at the age of 71. He built cars that challenged the McLarens during the late '60's and early '70's. See http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090401/free/904019978. Dennis Currington

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I received the word of Peter Bryant's passing second hand from Pam Shatraw of Victory Lane publication, who spoke with Lois yesterday. I personally haven't spoken to Lois; Peter's passing was yesterday morning, at home with a massive heart attack. Doctors indicated he passed quickly and did not suffer. Peter was a good friend to all in motorsport, authoring his race-bio award winning book Can Am Challenger, writing for Victory Lane, offering his expertise to vintage racers with his Car/Driver Tech each month. This past weekend, Peter was one of the legends present at RIAM's 'Legends of Riverside' for the 3 day event. Dan Gurney was the featured honored guest and won the bid for Peter Bryant's drawings of the Ti22 Can Am racer. It was a wonderful gathering of old race friends for this event. How wonderful it is to be part of a Motorsport community and spend your last days with friends, bench racing. It was a happy time for him. Peter and his cockney sense of humor will be sorely missed by all who knew him on a personal basis. Service will be private, a memorial service is in the planning, to be announced.
Tony 'a2z' Adamowicz
Tony: I'm very sorry to hear the news. It seems like I spoke or emailed him not long ago and asked him for his biography. Can you tell us more about Peter and what happened to him so that I can post it to my newsletter.

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Lynn Wineland's Celebration of Life will be held at 11AM on Saturday, April 11, 2009, at the Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, California. Call the museum at 323-964-6348 for more information. The Celebration of Life is open to all the friends of Lynn who wish to attend. Lynn was a prominent member of the Petersen Publishing and Motor Trend groups.

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Jim Deist's Celebration of Life is 11AM, on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, enter Gate One, at 1101 W. McKinley Avenue, Pomona, California. The museum is on the Los Angeles County Fairplex property. The Celebration of Life is open to all of Jim's friends in land speed, drag racing, oval, boats and other forms of motorsports. Call 909-622-2133 for more information. 

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Twilight car cruise at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is held on the first Wednesday of each month, April through December. 4-8pm, Gate One, 1101 W. McKinley Avenue, Pomona, California.  Call 909-622-2133 for info.

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I had a great time filming at the NHRA Nostalgia dragraces yesterday. Thank you for your help in making this happen. My heavy camera and complicated gear made it challenging to "run and gun" at the event, but the shots I got look drop dead gorgeous. I got a good work out logging all this stuff around! The cars looked great and so did the large clouds of smoke coming from their rear tires. Phenomenal burn out shots! I look forward to incorporating all of this in my hot rod film, DEUCE OF SPADES. This short scene should delight most car enthusiasts. For more details on that day's shoot, see my blog at http://deuceofspades.bravejournal.com/. Faith Granger
Faith: We are glad that you were able to use the Fontana dragstrip. Roger Rohrdanz is the track photographer there and he deserves all the credit. We are anxiously looking forward to seeing your movie.

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I have finally had a chance to do an inventory of the things that John Raffa carted around for so many years. Dick Towers has all John's Photo's and negatives and Mike Goyda has lots of his stuff. But, I still have lots left. I wanted to know if anyone has any ideas who would be interested in this stuff. I do not want to sell it on e-bay, it seems so meaningless there. Otherwise, I will donate it to DRAW for their auction. There are T-shirts, Die cast cars, Jodauga original, 60's & 70's sets of drinking glasses with NHRA winners and Car Craft winners, Daryl Gwynn 2-sided poster, Jeb Allen cologne, Little red Wagon Belt buckle, etc. If you are interested in a list, please e-mail me back. If not, is there someone you know of that wants this kind of stuff, have them e-mail me.  Thanks! Karen Raffa
   Karen: I edit The Society of Land Speed Racing Historians Newsletter and if you send me the list I will be glad to post it there to about 500 of our members. We are a free website and there is no cost to post information to the site. Let me know how you want to be contacted and that's the way I will post it for you. This is an issue that a lot of widows have, what to do with a lifetime of treasures that are just too big to keep. Also, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, California might be interested. Their phone number is 909-622-2133.

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 I have many memories that would have fit in and Alex Xydias could fill in a lot because we were together many times. Time is racing by and I value those memories high on the list. My first car, paid for with my own hard earned money, was a '32 Ford 3 window coupe; no rumble seat model. It was for sale in the street as I bicycled by on my paper route. The price in the window was $175. I had the money and wanted desperately to buy the beauty. My dad went with me to test drive it and after that I was ready to plunk down the cash, but my dad had other ideas and he told me to wait until afternoon and call back with an offer of $125. I was scared to death. I thought the seller would get mad at me and wouldn't even sell me the car. I finally got up the nerve to call him and to my surprise, he accepted my offer. It was raining when we drove over to complete the deal. You can just imagine the thrill and excitement I went through as I drove the car home. All the neighbor kids came over to see what I had bought. I wanted them to leave me alone so I could go over the car for a detailed inspection. That car found it's way to the beach so many times, I didn't even have to steer it after awhile. I wish I had it back.  Chick Saffell
   Dear Readers: Chick Saffell is a long time friend of the family. My dad met him when he was teaching a Dale Carnegie course. Dad felt that the early NHRA staff should know, "How to make friends and influence enemies," and signed up the staff for the course. Chick was so persuasive and passionate in his subject that dad approached him and said, "Chick, I know just the job for you," and the rest is history. Operating out of a little NHRA trailer at first, Saffell underestimated the number of T-shirts that the fans at the U.S. Nationals would need and the next year he increased his product. He hired my younger brother to help him sell the shirts and paid him with a sock full of nickels. Dave said that it took him a long time to roll up the nickels and deposit them in the bank. Perhaps we can get Chick to tell us more about the early days of drag racing.

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Editor's notes to the readers: This is the first step in our newsletter's goal of helping our ladies dispose of the collections of their husbands. Remember guys, you put your wives, daughters, widows and moms in a real difficult position when you don't let them know how you want your collections disposed of at your passing or when your health takes a bad turn. Your ladies in your life have added expenses, there isn't a lot of room for her stuff and they have no idea how valuable a widget and a framistat is worth. So help them out and give them an idea of the value of your cars, parts and collectibles. If you know of honest collectors, leave those phone numbers and names with your family and tell them, "If I'm gone, call this guy, he'll be fair with you." The first one to test the new system at the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians is Karen Raffa. Her husband passed away and left her with the following. John was an early drag racer and writer.
Contact Karen Raffa at [email protected].
These t-shirts are originals and most have been worn. Pictures are available also. Most are M's Med, unless otherwise noted. Color will be noted first. Front design will be noted first-back design noted secondly. White-War Eagle Dale Pulde, Mike Hamby FC-25th Anniversary US Nationals; Black-Lion's Drag Strip, "Run what you Brung"; Black- Big Daddy Don Garlit's-TC Lemons 'quote"; White-Honest Charley's-MSD; White-Lou Gaspararelli TA/FC 1986- Midnight Expression; White-Arnie Karp Boston Strangler 1984-Al Cerrone Olds and other sponsors; 2 White-sleeves cut off, Ansen Equipped on both sides; White- Manley; Yellow-Brad Anderson World Champion (all on back); Sold-White-Lion's Drag Strip-Last Drag Race, Lion's Dec 1-2. 1972; 3 Pink-Gray-Purple- Della Woods (one has Crestwood Dodge on back); White- International Brotherhood of Street Racers on pocket-Logo on back; White-SCORE logo; White-Birky Bunch; White-Birky Bunch, different one; White- Frank & Linda Mazi; White-Mongoose 1984 Big Bud Shootout Winner (on back); 2 White-Hall of Fame Jim Kelly induction; White- Hall of Fame 2003 Inductees-HOF logo; Sold-White-Beserko Bob's Lounge-2 sided; White-1998 Orange County International; White-John Myer-will be remembered on back with picture; White-Gary Ormsby; White-Sonny's Racing Engines-200mph club on sleeve; White-Rat Car-driven by Todd Veney-signed by him; Black-Rick Mears Night of Champions-NHRA vs. Indy Car.
Die Cast Cars: All new in box, unless noted. 1998 SEMA Show Tonka Silverado Monster Truck, 1999 SEMA Banquet Edition 41 Willy's-metal Bank, 2001 SEMA Banquet 1957 Chevy Track-bank, 2002 SEMA Banquet 1956 Chrysler 300B 1:18 scale, 2003 SEMA Banquet (40th Anniv.) 40 Sedan Delivery, 2008 LA Convention Center Modifier of the year-Chevy S10 w/stickers and extra parts, Tony Nancy's Sizzler 1:24
Racing Champions: National Dragster 1:24 In Memory of Leslie Lovett; Paul Romine/Clayton Harris 1:24; 1996 GatorNationals NHRA FC 1:24; 1997 Gorr/Green Motorsports; 1997 Pro Stock Tom Martino; 1998 Mark Thomas Ethanol AFC; DRAW - ERTL Collectible Die Cast Metal 1959 Ford Panel Truck; UPS-90 year Anniversary Brown truck box opens with scene; 2 Homemade wooden dragsters-rear engine.
Action Collectibles: Kenny Irwin #42 2000 Monte Carlo 1:24; SW Cars 35 years -metal tractor trailer; Dale Earnhart Stein; John Myers hero card and Simpson Helmet; 30th anniversary 70 Corvette; 30th anniversary Ford Torino Cobra; Johnny Lightning: 1:64 scale; #2 Kiss Funny Car Paul Stanley; #42 Kiss FC Paul Stanley; #24 KISS FC Gene Simmons; #12 KISS FC Peter Criss; JL Classic Gold: 1969 Pro Stock Pat Muisi, Pull Back Barracuda; JL: 93 Corvette; Hurst Hairy Olds-driver Joe Shubeck, #11 Card Linda Vaughn and #21 Linda Vaughn Card; 96 Saleen Mustang; 63 MGB Roadster; Mearle's Drive in Roadster and Corvette scene w/3 people; 2000 & 1953 Corvette pull tab billboard; US Army truck and patch; 68 Chevelle; 67 Camaro; 23 t-bucket; Gatorade 4-door Hummer; Lost in Space Robot - B-9; 71 Mach One James Bond 007 Diamonds are forever; 71 Top Fuel Jade Granade; 98 Viper; Gene Snow Funny Car; 2 Speed Racer Mach 5 cars; 2000 Speed Racer with Cell art; 69 Camaro; 61 Triumph TR3; 69 Dodge Daytona; 55 Chevy Belair Convertible; 70 Dodge Super Bee (30th anniversary); 62 MGB; Bass Boat and Chevy Truck; 27 t-roadster; 61 Jaguar XKE; 40 Ford Pickup; 81 z car -pull back cars; Hot Wheels: 5 pack gift pack all Fords, Norwalk Express.
Other stuff: 4 Bud King lighters, 2 sets NASCAR Playing cards in tin. Power Pit Stop: #44 David Green, #4 Sterling Martin-Kodak, #10 Ricky Craven, #5 Terry LaBonte.
NASCAR Legends: 1:64 scale (one of each unless noted) Bobby Arrington #5, David Pearson #17 (3), Bobby Isaac #71 (2), Ned Jarrett #11 (3), Joe Frasson #18, Marvin Punch #2 (3), Dick Brooks #32 (2), Lee Ray Yarbrough #26 (2), Fireball Roberts #22 (3), Ramo Stott #7, Benny Parsons #72 (2), Bobby Allison #29 (2), Bobby Allison #12, Cecil Gordon #24, Tiny Lund #55, Neil Castles #06, Elmo Langley #64 (3), Banjo Matthews #27, Fred Lorenzen #3 (2), Buddy Arrington #5, 50th Anniversary 1948-98, Kodak #4, Ricky Craven #50, Ricky Rudd #10, Michael Waltrip #21 (2), Terry LaBonte #5, Mike Cope #30, 1962 Ned Turnbauer.
Racing Champions: 1:144 scale. Bill Elliott #94 NASCAR, Shelly Anderson NHRA, Bobby LaBonte 1997 NASCAR, Bunny Burkett 1997 NHRA, Troy Coughlin Jegs 1997 NHRA, Jim Epler 1997 NHRA, Blain Johnson 1997 NHRA (2), Dale Jarrett NASCAR, Remington Arm 18 Wheeler rig w/car #75, QVC 18 wheeler rig w/car #7, Citgo 18 wheeler rig w/car #21, Close Call Phone card 18 wheeler rig car #11 Brett Bodine.
Racing Champions 1:64 scale. Bob Vandergriff Jr. TF 1996, Mike Thomas Pro Stock NHRA 1997, Ken Schrader #33 NASCAR 1997, Terry LaBonte #5 NASCAR 1997. 1:57 scale 1997 Prowler. 1:54 scale 1932 Ford Coupe w/display stand. 1:64 scale Mark Thomas 1998 FC Ethanol signed, 7 x Champ John Force FC Castrol, 1999 Taurus Goracing.com. Winner Circle -Starting Line up. #18 Bobby LaBonte figure with baseball card, #22 Ward Burton/…????figures?, #88 Dale Jarrett, #24 Jeff Gordon. Front Row; Jim Yates McDonalds Team figure, helmet, hat and card. 1932 Ford Coupe 1:54 scale Holly Performance, 1957 Hot Rod Magazine Chevy (2), 1997 Car Craft Magazine 30th anniversary car, 57 Prostock, #12 Mobil, 63 split window coupe, #18 Interstate Battery, 5 mini's, 1998 Doug Herbert Snap on TF Dragster-signed, 1989 110 card set Mega Series 1 (2),
Raffa Baseball hats: One of each, unless noted, Name, color of brim and then logo or lettering color. TOP GUN- navy, gold letters, Car Craft Magazine- black, gold and white letters; Bob McClurg-Photographer of Fast Cars, Good Looking Women and Rock & Roll, navy, white and gold letters; Summit Racing-Worlds Speed Shop- white with blue brim, Red/white & blue logo; Summit Racing Equipment-Bracket World Finals Champ, white, red brim, red & blue letters; Summit Racing- black with red, white and blue logo; Jr. Drag Racer-black, gold, red, blue, green letters and logo; National Dragster- blue wool, gold letters, egg things on brim; National Dragster- Pink, blue letters; National Dragster-gold with blue brim, gold/blue letters; National Dragster- blue corduroy, mesh sides and back; 2 All Star Caf�- black, white stripes letters and logo; Planet Hollywood-BevHills, white w/ black brim, black and white logo; 3 Kagel Canyon-15ht Annual Fall Nationals, navy corduroy gold letters; 2 IHRA Holley Sportsman Champion. Rockingham 2000- black w/red brim, Holley & IHRA Logo; 1987 Rose Bowl- white corduroy ASU v Michigan; 1987 Rose Bowl-white Corduroy; 1986-3rd Annual Jr. Drag Racing League National Championships, TX Mtplx-white, black brim w/logo; 2 Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley's IHRA- orange, black and white logo; Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley's-black w/SE logo; 2 Lucas Racing-navy, black brim; 2 IHRA Dog Fight-red w/logo's; NY- blue wool, orange letters (most likely Mets); Tommy Patterson Blues Band-black, purple logo; Racing Radios- tan, navy brim, blue letters; 1995 Car Craft All-Star Team - Petersen Auto Museum logo- gray w/ black brim, cc logo on back; 2nd Annual Mopar Perf Parts Canadian Nationals- tan, black brim; Rink Racing- Navy, red letters; TCI Automotive-tan, gold, red, black logo; 2 Super Stock Drag Racing Monthly-black, red, white, black logo; NBC Sports-off white, wool, NBC logo; Coors Racing Team- black corduroy, mesh on sides and back; Amalie Motor Oil-green denim, white logo; ARTLIFE- black, gold letters; Chicago Bulls-Black, red and white; Mike's Hard Lemonade-black , gold logo; 2 Renegade-tan with logo; 1994 NHRA Top Eliminator Club 30th Annual Winston Finals-tan, burgundy brim & stripes; Older-used. 1987 Press-Media Banquet-Mongoose/ Coors- black, gold strap, mesh sides and back; USCSS Nostromo 180286-navy with egg things on brim and logo; Maryland Terrapins- red wool and white letters; Washington Redskins- red wool and Indian head; BRUCE-red and mesh.
English Leather - Jeb Allen "on the go set" box set cologne, evaporated �; Anton Racing Apparel Bags, white, zippered ; Cobra Jacket- Navy M's Medium zippered-quilted with zip out lining; Simpson Team Strange Jacket-new-Large; 1985 Tribute to Drag Racing-pin collection new in shadow box California pins of drag strips; Thunderbird Tie clasp and cuff links in box; Set of 6 Glasses: 1965-69 4 oz, NHRA World Champ Cragar Salutes TF, FG, SE, E, SE, SS; Set of 10 Glasses: 1969 Car Craft All Star Drag Racing Team w/winners Don Garlits, Keith Black, Bo Laws, Mickey Thompson, Grumpy Jenkins; Set of 6 Glasses: NHRA 1969 Nationals 10 oz, names of 1955-1969 Top Fuel winners; Set of 6 Glasses: Indy MotorSpeedway Tony Hulman 1911-1972 winners; Antique Racing Gloves and helmet; Little Red Wagon wheelstander - belt buckle- gold tone with photo of Wagon; Top Fuel Piston-engraved signature by 'Don Garlits" 1985 TF World Champion World Record Holder 265mph; Darrell Gwynn cardboard poster from 80's , double-sided with protrusions of front and rear wing; John Jodauga rendition 1969 -original art with Bartlett, Trupp & Kling, Archambault and Walker faces and cars.

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Here is some nice exposure for a great family who produce beautifully finished Cobra car bodies, lacking just an engine and transmission. I enjoy my visits to their facility not only to see the Cobra bodies in progress but to check out their latest project. Picture a modified 1940 Ford roadster body done in polished copper and mounted on a GT 40 chassis that was on the cover of Autoweek or a prototype belly tank intended for eventual Bonneville competition. There's always a surprise in their shop. The bodies are actually produced in Poland in a facility that made chain mail and cooking pots several centuries ago. More recently they produced MIG 15 and helicopter bodies. Other than the bare body shell and tube frame the rest of the suspension and all are CNC machined on site. Bodies are rough with prominent file marks and visible welds when they come from Poland and they are finished complete with wiring, instruments, suspension, wheels and tires and interiors in their facility. You tell them which engine and transmission you intend to use and they tailor everything else for a bolt in fit. Unlike the original Cobra bodies from AC, the Kirkham's bodies are exact from car to car so you can replace a fender or other parts that can get damaged in use. You may have seen a Kirkham Cobra in polished or brushed aluminum racing at World of Speed. In this case I'm not even sure the car body is one of theirs. It's not often one gets painted. This could be a fiberglass kit and the Kirkham's simply ended up supplying parts for finishing the car. Here's the story: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705294649,00.html. See the video: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6034840&autostart=y.
I wonder where their products will be placed for compliance with the passing of the new law in Utah on street rods and customs? This talks about the new Utah law: http://www.sema.org/sema-enews/2009/13/utah-street-rod-and-custom-vehicle-bill-signed-law?fc_c=1257616x2840427x56786965 . Wes Potter
Wes: Thank you for alerting us. If you have any more news of Utah, the USFRA, Bonneville, land speed racing or hot rodding, please send it in to be published in the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians newsletter.

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SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles was approved overwhelmingly by the Utah State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. The new law defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. The law allows kit cars and replica vehicles to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. Thank you and congratulations to all who participated in this effort. For further details, contact Steve McDonald at [email protected]. 
   Readers: Wes Potter sent this in. Utah has always been a hot rod friendly state. Unfortunately the same is not true of some other states, including California, which has sought on several occasions to ban hot rods and have them crushed as being polluting vehicles. SEMA, located in Diamond Bar, California, is one of the leaders in trying to promote good laws that protect the hot rodding culture.

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Two sites of interest for fans of the late 1930's through the early 1950's are: Film noir artist James Owens' site at www.Car-Noir.com.  “Black Top Magazine” is at http://www.blacktopmagazine.com/. These are interesting retro sites and the editor and the artist do a lot of research into these early hot rodding eras. Both have been reviewed in articles that I wrote on the Grand National Roadster Shows.

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I put your events up on our website. The direct link is http://www.aeclassic.com/events/.  Thank you, Moldy
   Moldy: I checked out your site and for RatFink fans, it's the place to go.

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We will be able to air the Hall of Fame show earlier that originally planned. The new date is now Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. on Fox Sport Net (FSN on your cable listing). The repeat of that show will be Monday May 11, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. Ted Jones, Masters Entertainment Inc.
   Ted: This will be the HOF TV Show air times for the 2009 HOF. Thanks, Don Garlits Selection Committee
   Don: Will this be at your museum? Please give me a brief list of honorees, either before or after the Hall of Fame showing for my newsletter.

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The Champion Speed Shop in association with Miramar Events is proud to announce a return to the Pebble Beach of Drag Racing. The Pacific Coast Dream Machines show will host the 50th Reunion of the Half Moon Bay Drag Strip on April 26th, 2009. Bob McLennan along with Andy "Rodfather" Brizio, son Roy Brizio, and the entire Champion Speed Shop team would like to extend a welcome to anyone who ever worked, raced, or simply enjoyed the spectacle of drag racing by-the-sea. The latest Champion Speed Shop top fuel streamliner will be on display, along with a replica of the Kent Fuller built dragster that belonged to Champion Speed Shop founder Jim McLennan. There will also be plenty of memorabilia and memories at the very place where a bread van loaded with speakers, timing equipment, fences, and a generator made its way down from Champion Speed Shop South San Francisco headquarters and transformed the Half Moon Bay Airport into a drag strip where records were broken. See www.Championspeedshop.com. Mike Bumbeck
Mike: Send us a report of the event after it is over and we will post it to www.landspeedracing.com

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Santa Maria Speedway has an active weekly racing schedule nearly year round. See www.racesantamariaspeedway.com or phone 805-714-8538. The speedway at Santa Maria, California has car shows, oval track racing and much more.

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Good to see you this morning at the Santa Ana Drags and Main Street Malt Shop Reunion. Unfortunately we were on the run, having to visit two other functions to promote our car show. We had a nice, long chat with Gene Ellis, and a few others. Another time we hope to actually enjoy such an outing and participate. It was an unbelievable wealth of information these folks have. Regards, Pete Haak- event coordinator, Fountain Valley Car Show, Miles Square Park. See www.fvcarshow.com.

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The following was sent in by Tony Adamowicz. Lifetime Automotive Engineering Biography, by Peter Bryant.
Peter Bryant was born and Educated in the UK. Worked initially at Lotus Cars as engineering intern, and then in 1960 went into professional motor racing. Formula 1 racing as a Racing Mechanic/Engineer for the British Bowmaker F1 racing team featuring John Surtees and Roy Salvadori, Chris Amon and Mike Hailwood. Following a period as chief mechanic for the John Surtees driven factory Ferrari 250P sports car team, Peter Bryant emigrated from the UK to California in 1964. His first task was to re-design Mickey Thompson's 1964 Indianapolis cars. In 1965 Peter worked on the Carroll Shelby Cobra World Manufacturers cup winning race team and helped develop the LeMans Factory Ford GT40 cars. He was a race engineer/mechanic for the Peter Revson CAN-AM Car in 1966 and the USRRC winning Carl Haas Lola Can-Am Sports Car team in 1967/8. In 1969/70, Peter Bryant designed and built the Ti22 Can-Am cars Mk 1 & 2, (Below) driven by GP driver Jackie Oliver. These were the first ever sports car to utilize titanium in the unique monocoque chassis construction. They raced in the CANAM premier road racing series for FIA Group 7 cars.
The 1969 Ti22 Mk 1 above left was the first American built car to lead a CANAM Race in 1970. Along with the 1970 Ti22 Mk2 (right) they scored more points in the 1970 CANAM Series than any other American designed cars. Peter Bryant is also a pioneer in the use of Aerodynamic ground effects to enhance cornering. In 1971/2, Peter Bryant designed the UOP Shadow Can-Am cars driven by Jackie Oliver and Carlos Pace in the Can-Am races. (Pictured below are the Shadow Mk2 on the left (1971) and the Shadow Mk3 (1972) on the right. These 2 cars were the leading American designed sports to run in the Series in those years. Bryant designed cars scored more points in the CANAM than any other American designed cars including the legendary Chapparals. From 1966 to 1971 Chapparal scored 79 total points and in a shorter period from 1969 to 1972 Bryant designed cars scored 94 points total. The UOP Shadow cars were the first road racing cars to run on unleaded gasoline and in 1971 Bryant was invited to give a paper about this to the SAE Milwaukee section. As a result he was invited to become a member of SAE and was subsequently made a member in 1973.
Following his retirement from professional racing in 1973, Peter Bryant wrote the first definitive Paper on racing car Aerodynamic Ground Effects and presented it to the AIAA at their second symposium on Automobile Aerodynamics in Los Angeles. (1973 "The CANAM Car and Ground Effects," published by Motor books.) In 1975 Peter Bryant, spurred on by the need for a fuel efficient mini van, designed and built the first Garage able Mini Van ever made for Majestic Motor homes of San Jacinto California. Known as the Majestic SL18, it was built in Taiwan.
In 1976 Peter Bryant became VP Eng for Revcon Motor homes of California and designed a front wheel drive power train with the highest GAWR for any front wheel drive street vehicle built so far. The front axle capacity was 5,000 pounds, eclipsing the GMC motor home that had 3,500 pounds capacity. Incidentally built before the GMC, the Revcon was the first Class A front wheel drive motor home in the USA).
In 1980 Peter Bryant and two colleagues formed Continental Motor Corporation in California and he developed a bus body primarily made from aluminum extrusions that he patented. Specifically designed for use in developing countries the bus body framework was made from 5 interlocking extrusions. 172 buses were sold in Peru. They were very popular because the lightweight structure allowed each 37 foot bus to carry as many as 113 people without exceeding the gross weight capacity of the Chassis supplied by GM Corp. He later designed Fiber Glass Shuttle buses for Eldorado Motor Corp. These buses are still built today. Both the Continental bus and the fiberglass buses passed the stringent test for rollover and roof crush as enforced by the USA DOT. In 1988 Peter Bryant was made Director of Engineering development and Emissions Certification for Yugo America/Global Motors (USA). In this position he was responsible for the Certification of the last car with an open loop Calibration. In 1989 Peter Bryant was made head of West Coast Marketing for International Automotive Design (IAD). This company designed and modeled concept cars for OEM Manufacturers. In 1993 He became Senior Principal Engineer for US Electricar and designed a hybrid electric bus and then designed the world's first production electric motorcycle called the Electra for EMB (Now part of ZAP).
The picture below shows Peter Bryant driving the Shelby Series One concept car that he designed and built for Carroll Shelby in 1996 at its introduction to Oldsmobile Dealers at Las Vegas Speedway.)
In 1999 Peter Bryant designed in CAD a Baja off-road racing Trophy Truck for Collins Motorsports of Las Vegas for participation in the BAJA 1,000 and other races. Peter Bryant is currently an independent engineering consultant and VP of Engineering for Amtech Corporation of Las Vegas, Nevada. For Amtech he developed a new suspension technology he calls rebound control, which is used to make stabilizers to help reduce rollover of SUVs and high CG vehicles. He has given 2 Papers to the SAE about the technology. He is also a Consultant to Flow Parametrics Inc. They do Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis for NASA and Peter is their Liaison with Auto Racing clients. Peter Bryant has always been very active in SAE activities, in his spare time, in addition to his SAE LAB Speaker activities, Peter Bryant writes articles for Victory Lane and Racecar Engineering and other auto racing magazines.
EDUCATION; Equivalent Education to B.S.M.E. at Regent Street Polytechnic, London, England. 4 years, Paddington Technical College. London. England. 2 years Loyola University California. Business Management Courses.
ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES:
Society of Automotive Engineers. (SAE) Since 1973.
Los Angeles SAE Local Section Governing Board Member, 1989 to 1992.
Committee Member SAE Aerotech Conference Long Beach CA. 1990, 1991 and 1992.
Committee Member and Organizer. May 2002 SAE Vehicle Dynamics Conference, Detroit Mi.
Committee Member and Organizer. SAE Motorsports Conference 2004, 2005.
Committee Member SAE Future Transportation Technology West Coast Conference 1992
Full Journalist Member: American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA)
Full Journalist Member: Motor Press Guild of Los Angeles.
1992 Pasadena Art Center College of Design. Part time instructor in vehicle engineering.
1999 Consultant to UNLV Las Vegas Nevada on hybrid electric bus development program.
2004 SAE Local Activities Bureau (LAB) Guest Speaker to UNLV, UCLA, Boise State University, 2004 SAE Section Leaders Conference Pittsburgh. 2005 LAB speaking at BYU, University of Illinois Champagne and various SAE Local Sections.
ENGINEERING PAPERS GIVEN ORAL AND PUBLISHED:
Los Angeles Chapter of the American Metals Society, 1970. "The Use of Titanium in Racing cars and Engines." Oral only
SAE Milwaukee section 1971: "The Use and Effects of Unleaded Gasoline on Racing and High Performance Engines." Oral only.
American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics. Los Angeles 1974. "The CAN-AM Car and Ground Effects." By Motorbooks Intl.
SAE Future Transportation Tech Conf 1992. SAE Paper, "A Review of the Potential for Vehicle On-Board Diagnostic Safety Systems."
"Catch the Wind." A 2-part article on aerodynamic flow visualization methods developed by NASA and how it can be utilized for racing car
development. Published by: RACECAR ENGINEERING in December 2000 and January 2001.
"Flowing," an article for Seahorse magazine (The official magazine of the British Royal Ocean Racing Club) describes the various methods used
by NASA and the latest Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis software (CFD) available for use in the America Cup Yacht design.
SAE paper 2002-01-1604 "Opposing or Counter Spring Technology for Optimum Vehicle Dynamic Roll Control without Computers."
SAE Vehicle Dynamics Conference Detroit USA May 2002.
SAE paper O4MSEC-34 "Unsprung Weight, The Enemy That Became A Friend." 2004 Motorsports Conference.
Co Author: SAE Paper 04MSEC-84 "Race Car Design for the 21st Century using 18th Century Tools." 2004 Motorsports Conference. A
paper about the use of Computational Aerodynamic Analysis in modern Auto Racing.
"Racing BC (Before Computers)." A Historic Session oral presentation to 2004 Motorsports Conference.
USA PATENTS: 4,350,459 STRUCTURAL MEMBERS. 4,662,138 CONNECTOR FOR PANEL EDGES. These Patents cover a unique method for making structures using Aluminum Extrusions. Designed primarily for building lightweight buses, it can be used for a large variety of products. 6,761,372 OPPOSING SPRING RESILIENT TENSION SUSPENSION SYSTEM. 08/13/04. A new suspension stabilizer technology. 6,830,256 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REBOUND CONTROL. A Stabilizing apparatus and method that replaces the existing shock absorber of a roads vehicle that works to resist the initiation of body roll during cornering. It seeks to counter act the forces being generated by the vehicle suspension springs that exacerbates the rollover propensity of vehicles during certain steering maneuvers. The SAE papers numbered 2002-01-1604 and 04MSEC-34 are about this new technology and reveal the last suspension technology that can be applied to help prevent vehicle rollover without the use of computers. The technology can be applied to any vehicle retroactively.
Product Description:
London-born Peter Bryant gave up a career as a front-line Formula One mechanic to begin an entirely new life in American auto racing, where he eventually became a leading Can-Am car designer. His experiences, recounted here in vivid detail, offer a compelling and often very humorous look into one of motor racing's most exciting eras. Peter fell in love with the United States when he visited to prepare a factory-loaned Ferrari for John Surtees in the 1963 U.S. Road Racing Championship. Peter returned to America as a mechanic for Mickey Thompson's team at the fateful 1964 Indianapolis 500. This time he stayed, working first with Carroll Shelby's Cobra team and later with the Dana Chevrolet and Carl Haas Lola Can-Am teams. It was in the Can-Am series that Peter made his mark as the designer and builder of several unique cars. The first was the innovative Autocoast Ti22, which featured the extensive use of titanium components and construction. In 1970 the Ti22 became the first American-made car to lead a Can-Am race since 1968. Peter continued to fight the McLarens and Porsches that dominated the series with his famous UOP Shadow cars in 1971 and 1972, which made pioneering use of ground-effect aerodynamics and ran on unleaded gasoline. In Can-Am Challenger Peter tells his own story in his own engaging style. Though packed with technical details and insights into building a successful race car, his account also includes a wealth of colorful characters and hilarious stories from a life spent behind the scenes with great cars, teams, and drivers.
About the Author:
Peter Bryant was born and educated in England. In 1957 he got his first job in motor racing at Lotus Cars as an engineering intern. He went on to prepare sports cars and F1 and F2 cars for several privately owned teams before landing a breakthrough job in 1960 with Reg Parnell's Bowmaker Credit F1 team. After visiting California in 1963 as chief mechanic for John Surtees's Ferrari 250 P, Peter emigrated in 1964. He first worked with Mickey Thompson's Indy cars, and then moved to Carroll Shelby's Cobra, GT40, and GT350 programs. In 1966 Peter became race engineer for the Dana Chevrolet Can-Am team, and then moved to Carl Haas's Lola team the following year. In 1969 Peter designed and built the first of his own innovative Can-Am cars, the Autocoast Ti22 Mk1, followed by the Ti22 Mk2 and the UOP Shadows. Peter now undertakes independent design projects and lives in Las Vegas with his wife, Lois.

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Sunday Niagara Nostalgia Drags and Car Show is scheduled for July 30-August 2, 2009, Lancaster, New York. Thursday July 30 will be parking and pre-tech. The party starts then! Three days of racing and activities will start on Friday July 31, through August 2. Robert Phillips

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The John Force Cruise Night Car Shows will benefit the Orange County Food Bank in 2009. Bring a can of food and receive one raffle ticket for a drawing to be held on October 31, 2009 at the last Cruise Night Car Show. The cruise night car shows will be held on April 25, May 30, June 27, July 25, August 29, September 26, and October 31, 2009. On August 9, there will be an All Ford Summer Car Show, presented by Auto Club of Southern California. John Force's special Holiday Car Show, benefitting "CHiP's for Kids" toy drive will take place on December 6, 2009. The John Force RaceStation is located at 22722 Old Canal Road, Yorba Linda, California 92887. The times are 4pm-7pm. There will be food and beverages for sale, entertainment, cars and fun for the entire family. For more information see www.JohnForceRacing.com or call 714-921-1651. Thanks, Craig Hoelzel, Director of Special Promotions for John Force Racing.

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Random Photos

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Captions.....Article from Popular Science magazine sent in by Tom Householder.

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Subject: drag racing from Lions

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Land Speed Racing Websites:
www.hotrodhotline.com, www.landspeedracing.com

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Members:

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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