SOCIETY OF LAND SPEED RACING HISTORIANS
NEWSLETTER 115 - June 10, 2009
Editor: Richard Parks RnParks1@juno.com
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, Will Scott is not doing well and will be at Cedars/Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills, In case you haven't heard yet Marvin Rifchin passed away this morning, Marvin Rifchin 2003 SEMA Hall of Fame Inductee, 27th Literature Faire and Exchange Sunday June 28, I am almost done filming my Hot Rod film DEUCE OF SPADES, Southern California Timing Association Minutes, Editor's notes: The following letter was copied to the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians by Ken Berg so that our members can participate in the discussions concerning an automotive racing museum that will save and restore the written and visual history of our sport, George Barris will be at Autobooks/Aerobooks on July 11, P. J. O'Rourke will be at the Petersen Automotive Museum Saturday June 13, I told you a while back I was having trouble with my computer and had lost the bio I was working on - I have started making notes for a re-do, Editior: Emails about The Spurgin/Giovanine roadster will be unveiled July 12, Thanks for getting my note about the event at Autobooks on HRHL in such a timely fashion, I inadvertently opened an email from someone and it has now been sent to everyone in my address book, Automotive and motor racing museums, Hot rodding and Youth by Richard Parks, The 59th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will be held on August 16, Main Event Entertainment motorsports videos of 48 shows, Random Photos and Information.

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President's Corner:  
Jim Miller is on assignment and his column will return in next week's newsletter.

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Editorial: 
   Recently a member sent in an article that came from a reputable journalist from a big newspaper in Indianapolis on the ouster of Tony George as President of his family ownership of the Indianapolis Speedway. The story proved to be false and George was not ousted. In the past there have been mistakes, practical jokes, rumors and innuendo that have been accepted as true by the racing world. There have been comments that have been picked up and passed around and have entered our historical domain and are still believed today. We can't beat ourselves up too much for making a mistake in judgment or for believing credible sources that turn out to be wrong. But we can be diligent and seek to find out the truth of matters, both ancient and modern and make an effort to correct them. That's our calling as amateur and professional historians; to seek out the truth and root out the mistakes. I received an April Fools joke about a huge classic auto collection being sold to an Arab sheik and it galvanized the racing community. People were very angry and emails started to fly back and forth. I have to admit that I was fooled and believed it for a short time, until the truth was revealed. Thankfully I didn't compound the prank by putting it into print, but others did and the damage that was done hurt some people. When these mistakes and errors occur, and they will happen to all of us, the proper thing to do is to make sure that we post only the best information that we can, but should we err, then we must honestly report that error. We are bound by a code of ethics, however painful, to admit that we were misled, then apologize and retract the error and attempt to put into place procedures that prevent the same error from happening again.
   Now sometimes the errors are intentional and this causes serious problems within groups. Many car clubs and racing groups have newsletters and send around items and news about the members and their activities. Sometimes, and I've witnessed it first hand, feuds will get started and words will be exchanged in print that are false, slanderous and libelous. People committed to a cause find themselves arguing back and forth and calling each other liars and worse. The blogs that we see on the internet are nasty and the language is enough to make a drunken sailor blush. It isn't only internet blogs that fudge the truth. Many scholarly journals end up casting vicious slurs and names from one side to another. They don't make an effort to get at the truth, they only continue the debate to castigate the other party and fling mud at one another. This is not proper research, but name calling. It is bad enough to be misled by a prank or reprint a mistake, but when the anger overwhelms the logic of the mind and causes us to lose reality with history, then we have failed to keep our calling as historians. On one such occasion I traveled several hundred miles to visit with the two parties and explain how their actions were weakening our efforts to make motor racing more viable. We have enough opposition from the public as it is and when they see car guys fighting amongst themselves, what is the public to think? In that case the offending party had put into print that the other party had robbed the treasury and run off with all the money. Lawyers were involved and the group was about to break into two camps and possibly destroy the organization. It is very hard to keep a volunteer organization going. It takes some humility to succeed. We have to look at ourselves and see where we erred and accept that we failed and try and make amends.
   It's the same with the way sanctioning bodies like the SCTA, NHRA, NASCAR, IRL, IHRA and other groups go about certifying the safety of the cars that run at their meets and races. They learn from experience and sometimes tragedy. They can't possibly understand all the problems that can happen to racers and teams. They try and brainstorm and come up with possible scenarios that could happen and investigate ways in which to avoid tragedies. But accidents happen and often they couldn't have been foreseen. When they do occur, officials work hard and study the problem and come up with ways to keep such accidents from happening again. Safety in racing has improved immeasurably since the first auto races were held over a century ago. The same is true in research and journalism. We find new ways in which errors creep in, from outright plagiarism to falsity in reporting. We correct the problem, make our apologies, retract the offending text and try and set ever higher standards, all the while feeling sheepish that we got snookered to begin with. But the public understands that we have standards and that our goal is to reach the highest level of quality and performance. We are all going to fail, but it is how we fail that matters. If in the pursuit of excellence we err, but our intentions are pure and we attempt to undo the unintentional harm of our actions, the public will understand. But if there are selfish and mean spirited ambitions, and the only efforts to retract and apologize are forced on people, then the public will know their intentions as well. In the end we will all make mistakes, some sillier than others, but it is the quality of our hearts that will determine whether we will be given a second chance.

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Will Scott is not doing well and will be at Cedars/Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills, California for another 4 weeks. He has already spent one week there already and he was at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for the last 4 weeks. The phone number at Cedars/Sinai is 310-423-3277. Room 4S30. His cell phone does not work. Visitors will be gowned and gloved. His phone may not be answered as it is sometimes out of his reach. Updates will be on www.oilstick.com, in the illness and obit section.  Evelyn Roth
   Evelyn: I called several times and no answer. I finally called the nurses station and the nurse asked Will if he wanted to talk. This time he said no as he was in too much pain. I was told to call back.

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In case you haven't heard yet, Marvin Rifchin passed away this morning. We all know what a tire genius Marvin was. If you had the opportunity to meet him, you would also know what a gentle, kind, human being he was. I'll send details/arrangements as I receive them.   Gil Coraine|
   Gil: I had the pleasure of meeting Marvin Rifchin and a friend of his, Bill "Digger" Deguio. The two of them sparred in good natured banter back and forth. It reminded me of Don Francisco and Jim Travis. Rifchin was indeed a gentle man.

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Marvin Rifchin, 2003 SEMA Hall of Fame Inductee. Courtesy of www.SEMA.com. Don Garlits was about 20 years old when he was set to compete in a race in South Carolina. Marvin Rifchin of M&H Tire Company happened to be at that same race, hoping to learn more about the sport of drag racing. Rifchin, who Don Prudhomme described as the "Godfather of drag racing slicks," actually knew very little about drag racing at the time. He was well-known for manufacturing tires for circle track races but hadn't entered the sport that he is best known for today. Perhaps the turning point was when Rifchin convinced Garlits to try a set of tires that he had brought to the race. "I knew about this man [Rifchin] who was into stock car races," said Garlits. "He said that I needed a tire that's not recapped. Marv had these tires that had the same mold but softer rubber. They were narrow, about 6 1/2 inches wide, but he said that wouldn't matter. I didn't know that much about tires back then and listened to what he had to say." Garlits tried the tires and ran 160, earning top eliminator honors. Soon after, M&H entered the business of manufacturing tires for drag racing and was among the first to manufacturer tires specifically for the sport. "We made tires for all types of race cars," said Rifchin, "but my primary interest was in drag racing. That was the most fascinating part of my life. That became my primary interest because we had a lot of fun doing it." Harry Hibler of Uni-Marketing, who raced on M&H tires since the company started in drag racing, said, "When [Rifchin's] product is on your car, you know it's the best that can be made."
When Goodyear entered the drag racing tire market in 1964, many thought that the corporate giant would blow M&H out of business. Rifchin, however, found the competition stimulating and a lot of fun, and the company continued to thrive. "I think the greatest accomplishment that any of us could have were the tire wars that we went though with Goodyear," said Rifchin. "The competition lead to us being instrumental in securing some of the most fantastic advances that have taken place in mechanical and scientific business." "He was always the leader," Hibler said of Rifchin's tires. "He pushed Goodyear and the other tire companies to greater heights than they would have gone." SEMA board member Steve Bolio of Scafidi-Bolio and Associates said, "He's just an amazing guy. He came up with blends for tires and was able to beat the big guys." Rifchin credits much of his success to the racers, "the fellow who used the product and gave us a report of what the tire does and does not do... that's what allowed us to advance our products." "One of the things about Marv is when he knew someone was running his parts, especially when he was trying a new set, he would call the next week asking how they did," said Hibler. "He wanted to know if they handled okay. He cared." While Rifchin and his M&H tires have been involved with thousands of winning races, he remains humble. "I was flabbergasted," said Rifchin on his induction into the SEMA Hall of Fame. "I didn't do anything that I can think of to warrant an honor like that."

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Thanks for helping to let our world know about the passing of Marv Rifchin. As you probably know, he and his father Harry started M&H Tire Company in Watertown, Massachusetts when Marvin was a youngster racing midgets and such at tracks throughout New England and New York, and further. He owned and worked at M&H for more then 50 years. He continually worked an improving tire safety and capability, even after he retired and sold the company. When I was involved with the operation of New England Dragway, Marvin had Roger 'Color Me Gone' Lindamood stay over after a funny car race to do some tire testing during the week. I believe Roger had the 1970's Challenger then. The rear end in the car was the big aluminum championship quick change that was popular for a short time. Roger made two starting line shots under Marvin's supervision. The second launch split that pricey rear end and destroyed it. I heard Marvin quietly say to himself, "Guess that'll keep 'em quiet for a while." Many area racers and hot rodders in the area got to know Marvin as a friend and would occasionally socialize. About a year ago, well after he had sold the company, Joe Salami and I took Marv to dinner. After a cocktail and the normal pleasantries, the conversation went right to current drag racing tire problems, particularly the nostalgia slicks and their "chunking" problem. Marv took a napkin and starting explaining tire construction and shape and what he thought would cure the problem, but it would take new (expensive) molds to work with the tire and wheel size limitations. He had a glint in his eye and went home to further refine his thoughts. There was also a moment in Gainesville in the hallway during the Garlits Hall of Fame Dinner some years back. Don Prudhomme asked Marvin about seeing him at the track the following day, but Marv said he wouldn't be there - didn't have enough clothes and was having difficulty walking. Snake ragged on him a bit and I can't repeat Marv's reply. It was a bit out of character and priceless. Showed the deep relationship those two had over many years. You can probably get thousands of similar stories from people who knew Marvin. He was a true racer. He was a tire genius. He was above all a gentleman who truly loved what he did and those around him. Many racers were able to continue racing through Marvin's generosity. We've lost a great one. A bit more info regarding Marv's arrangements. Word of his passing has spread quickly throughout the racing community from coast to coast, straightliners to circle pounders. He touched a lot of people in his lifetime, and we were better for it. The only arrangements I'm aware of to date is internment with graveside services Friday, June 6, 2009 at 12:45 pm at Sharon Memorial Park in Sharon, Massachusetts, followed by a get-together at his daughters home in Waltham. The family has requested no flowers, but if you would like to make a donation to a charity of your choice, that would be appreciated. There may be a special service/celebration sometime later. Word is that the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield this fall will have a special tribute to Marvin. Besides being a true racer and tire genius, Marvin was a true gentleman and generous, caring person. May he rest in peace!  Gil Coraine
   Gil: We appreciate your stories. Stories and biographies differ. A biography is something like an obituary and tells us what a person did in his life and what that person accomplished. Stories reflect the inner soul of a person and tell us what they believed in and thought about. I know that you have more stories and bio information and I want you to send me those stories on Marv and anyone else involved in early drag racing and land speed racing. Every story that you tell us will be chronicled and left for future generations to read and cherish. Also, don't forget to caption the backs of your photographs so that your children and grandchildren will know who's in the photos.

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The SoCal Chapter of the Society of Automotive Historians presents: 27th Literature Faire and Exchange, Sunday June 28, 2009 8AM - 3PM, at the NHRA Wally Parks Motorsports Museum, Los Angeles County Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave, Gate #1, Pomona. There is free admission and parking for spectators and buyers. Vendors and sellers pay a small fee for their space rental. This is Southern California's largest venue for automotive paper: owner's manuals, books, advertising, posters, automotive art, magazine back issues, photographs, current magazines, pins, badges, event programs, sales brochures, models, small collectibles and memorabilia. If it is paper, you may find it here! No car or car parts allowed, this is not a car swap meet. Plan on visiting the NHRA Museum while you are there. Bob Falcon

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I am almost done filming my Hot Rod film DEUCE OF SPADES. I have a last modern day 2009 scene left to film this week-end and I am looking for about 8 hotrods to be featured in the scene. They are to represent a cross section of today's hotrod scene. THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE FOR ANYONE TO GET THEIR CAR IN THE FILM. I am looking for "modern" rods, meaning they do not need to be period correct to the fifties, since this is a modern day scene. I would especially love to find: A chopped and flamed merc, a cool looking custom, a gasser, a rat rod, a blown coupe. I will also consider any pre-60's car, so if you or one of your buddies wants to be in the film, this is your chance! EMAIL ME BACK AND PASTE A PHOTO OF YOUR CAR IN THE EMAIL, PLUS EMAIL YOUR FULL NAME AND CELL NUMBER. My email address is: Deuceofspadesmv@aol.com. The scene is the first scene that comes after the opening credits in the film, so this will be great exposure. YOU DRIVE YOUR CAR and you will be in the film also, but if you are camera shy don't worry as the whole thing is pretty much a group of hotrod doing a run to a car show, so you will be inside your cars and no acting is necessary, just driving. We will be filming as follows:
Saturday: 06/13/2009. All cars will meet up in Sherman Oaks at 5:30AM. we will start filming very early so to avoid traffic to corrupt our cool shots with modern cars. You drive your own car. We will drive into a tunnel and out of it for the opening shot. We then will cruise towards Toluca Lake for three more shots of the hotrods driving together as a pack, then up to Pasadena for two more scenic shots. This will actually be a really nice, scenic cruise for all of us, it will be fun!! We will then part for the day.
Sunday: 06/14/2009. We will all meet again at 5:00AM at the Johnny Carson Park in Burbank (Toluca Lake adjacent) where the BURBANK ROAD KINGS car show is taking place that day. You will park your cars around mine and you can then walk away from the set and enjoy the show. I will only need your cars, parked in the background, that day. So you can relax and roam around the park and have fun. I will be filming a dialogue (conversation) which triggers the first 1950's flashback of the film between myself and a hotrodder, and we will be standing next to my deuce, parked amidst your cars. I need your car there for continuity, otherwise cars could be moved, or people leave and drive away, leaving me with shots that do not match (continuity problem), because a car in the background would have disappeared.
IT IS THEREFORE VITAL that all car owners who want to be in that scene, volunteer two days and that whomever is in the driving scene on Saturday shows up on Sunday also and sticks around for the duration. You must have a valid driver's license and car insurance to be in the scene. It is impossible to predict how long it takes to film because of many parameters, including noise that might prevent us from shooting at times (cars passing, airplanes, people talking around us etc). Filming is very tedious and time consuming. So expect to be there all day both days, although more than likely it will not be the case. I just cannot afford for a car owner to suddenly say that he has to leave halfway through the shoot. Leave your day fully open, so you don't have to be anywhere else but on the set those two days. Trust me when I say this: You will be GLAD you spent the week-end on the set, because your cars will be immortalized forever and seen ALL OVER THE WORLD. You will also get a private invite to the premiere, a free copy of the DVD and credits in the film.
With press in many countries such as the US, Australia, New Zealand, England, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Czech, etc. Currently on page 33 of Hotrod Magazine (9 million readers), cover of Wheels magazine, cover of Still Runnin' magazine, and cover of the NSRA UK magazine. “DEUCE OF SPADES” promises to gain CULT STATUS. This is the last chance to become a part of it and share in the glory. Submit your cars ASAP I need to make my final decision no later than Thursday morning. Feel free to forward this email to any car buddy you think would want to be part of this great endeavor. Thank you for your support and help, here are some links for your perusal, in case you are not yet very familiar with the film and what it is all about: The official website: http://www.deuceofspadesmovie.com. Footage from the film in HD (teaser and scenes): http://www.vimeo.com/user326991. Interview with the cast (behind the scenes): http://www.vimeo.com/2626116, http://www.vimeo.com/3670169. My Bio and info on the film itself http://www.bettatalk.com/dos_info_sheet.htm. BLOG http://deuceofspades.bravejournal.com/. IMDB listing: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1384586/. Fan Mail from around the world: http://www.bettatalk.com/fanmail.htm. Press and latest news: http://www.bettatalk.com/press_releases.htm. FAITH GRANGER, Filmmaker, www.deuceofspadesmovie.com and www.theparkbenchmovie.com.

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Southern California Timing Association Minutes, Board/Reps Meeting, May 22, 2009. At the DENNY'S Restaurant, Irwindale, CA. The meeting was called to order at 7:34pm by Don Ferguson III for President Roy Creel. The Flag Salute was lead by Mike Spacek. Roll Call of Board Members: Roy Creel, Van Butler, Dan Warner, Don Ferguson III, Mike Cook, Mike Waaters, Judy Sights, Jim Dunn, Warren Bullis, Frank Scott, Bill Lattin, Steve Tolle. Associate Board: Ron Cohn, Ron Main, Chuck Kalbach, Jerry Bates, Donnie Cummins, Keith Allen
Club Reps: Eliminators-Clark Phillips, Steve Phillips. Gear Grinders-Dan Chilson, Bobby Sights, Bob Chilson. Gold Coast Rdsts-Tim Rochlitzer. Hi DsrtRcrs-Bruce Kelly. Lakers: Not Represented. LSR-Bob Eaton, Jon Meyer, Mike LeFevers. Milers-Pete Shotrosky, Steve Shotrosky. Road Runners-Pat Riley, Jerry Cornielson. Rod Riders-Jim Travis. SDRC-Bob Moreland, Stoney Moreland, Jim Lattin.
Sidewinders-Dale Martin, Jim Miller, John Romero. Super Fours-Gene Barbee. Guests: Fred Dannenfelzer, Dana Wilson, Mariam Macmillan, Alan Fogliadini, Bob Webb, Bob Oppermann, Bruce Vaughn, Diana Dunning, Dean Spencer, Mike Spacek, Clifton Wheeler, Delia Riley, Tom Gerardi, Donnie Cummins.
Health and Welfare - Roy announced that Jerry Kelly, wife of Jack Kelly had passed away, the service is Tuesday at 11:30am at the Inglewood Park Cemetery Chapel. It was also announced that Pete Jackson, brother of Kong Jackson, had passed away. Bruce Brotten had passed away on April 15th. There will be a memorial service for Don Arivett on June 7 at 4:00pm at the Fleming Park in Colton, See web site for directions.
April Minutes - Judy Sights made a motion to accept the April Minutes as sent out, Frank Scott seconded. Motion carried. Treasurers Report - Judy Sights handed out copies of the Dry Lakes Meet expenses, Check Register and Banking Summary. Rules Book Ad Sales - Judy reported that all but four (4) ads are paid, Mooneyham Blowers, 10,000 RPM, Bill Guzenski, and one other. BNI Report - Mike Waters reported that the Timing Trailer Committee could not agree on the windows, have a week to get a quote on the installation of the big windows. The 300 MPH line passed on a motion by Don Ferguson III. Don explained the concept, each vehicle over 300 MPH will get one run out of the 300 MPH line. The vehicle must have run over 300 MPH previously, no exceptions. Last year there were 11 vehicles over 300 MPH and 2 more at the World of Speed. There were no more than 4 per day that would have run out of the 300 MPH line, discussion. Black line, are looking cheaper ways to do the black line. There are 492 entries that have been received and there are about 6100 I members. Larry Volk checked out the salt, it is smooth and a little 'stickey'. There are some pressure ridges, but he could drive 80 MPH without any problems. Mike said that a trip to the salt is planned for the week after the June Lakes meet. BNI has sent the Econolodge a $10,000.00 non-refundable deposit for the rooms at Speedweek. There needs to be some more salt at the end of the road to finish the filling of the area. Also, Tuesday the 11th of August will be a clean up day to pick up the old drags and things along the dike. Mike Cook has started to clean up the debris along the dike, Mike Waters read a letter of thanks from the BNI Board to Mike Cook. A backhoe will be use to pick up the metal on the salt. Room assignment changes, if anyone changes rooms, Mike Waters must be contacted directly about the change, there have been problems last year.
BNI Treasurers Report - Steve Toller passed out copies of the check register for April/May. There are about 490 entries and 1600 members. There are a few new sponsors. The participant shirts have a $7,500.00 sponsor. Roy needs a check for half of the Bonneville Program. Dana Wilson reported that the Timing Trailer Committee, could not agree and may table if no agreement is reached, discussion.
El Mirage Days Report - Roy reported that there was a less than normal turnout for the clean-up of the lakebed. Roy thanked the Sidewinders for repainting the entrance sign and putting it back up. It was too windy Saturday and had to wait until Tuesday to get the sign back in place. BLM El Mirage pass - The entry pass will be required for access to the lake bed, no exceptions. The 'Regular' pass will be $65.00 and will allow towing of a trailer. The extra 'Car' passes will be $5.00 for a car only, total is $75.00 for the package. Judy has both passes for sale. Chuck Kalbach and Jerry Bates have an instrument that they use to set the race courses that needs replacing. The cost is $555.00 plus a kit ($155.00) that allows two vehicles to be used to set the courses. The first instrument was paid for by Chuck and Jerry. Don Ferguson III made a motion that SCTA pay for the instrument and kit, Bill Lattin seconded. Motion carried.
Proposal from Mike Cook Motorsports - The proposal is that the old sales trailer would be made into a registration trailer for the old cone trailer and old registration trailer. Frank Scott made a motion to accept Mike Cook's proposal and Don Ferguson III seconded. Motion carried. Mike Cook said that Penny Cook came up with an idea to give each entrant at the lakes a ticket that would be good for old merchandise at the sales trailer, Mike to make the coupon to be handed out. Mike Waters made a motion to accept Mike Cook's proposal, Don Ferguson III seconded. Motion carried. Clifton Wheeler asked about World Finals shirts. They will be available.
El Mirage Meet - Frank had sent Roy a report earlier today but Roy did not have it. Frank re-capped the meet, the meet was called at 2:00pm on Saturday due to the wind. Sunday was a better day some people got three runs and a few got four runs. Jim Dunn thanked the Sidewinders. Bill Lattin said that the course walk went OK, although some of the clubs did not know which end to start from. There was one no show for the course walk, the Eliminators paid the $100.00 fine. Some vehicles went out the back door and the side door. There were three missed times due to dust, they went back to the head of the line to run again. The cone trailers worked well, the Milers need to go down further. Jerry Cornelison thanked everyone for the help. The weather station gave the wind velocity, direction, and gusts. Wind socks on the lake bed; Alan Fogliadini asked to replace the wind socks on the poles over by the sand sailor area. All agreed it was a good idea. Protest of Vehicle #788 - The car had entered in the wrong class for the first run and changed classes for the second run. Jim Dunn and Mike Cook asked why the protest was filed. Dan Warner explained the situation. Bill Lattin made a motion to uphold the protest, Judy seconded. Motion carried, protest upheld, the rules state that a vehicle cannot change classes at a two day meet. Car Tech - Steve Davis not at meeting. Alan Fogliadini had no report. Motorcycle Tech - Tom Evans not at meeting. Van Butler had one problem child that went back through the rookie orientation. Had one bike Van at 70 MPH going back to the start line. SCTA Monument on property - Bill Lattin has picked a spot for the monument, will build form and pour concrete along with other things that are being built. Tire and wing are cast and are Jim Lattin's.
Open Discussion - The Bonneville 200 MPH Club party is on June 6 2009 at the NHRA Museum. Mike Waters asked to borrow some cones to be used for a charity event in Leona Valley. Would take trailer and cones, can be towed as trailer is licensed. Mike Cook made a motion to authorize Mike Water to use the cones for a charity event, Judy Sights seconded. Motion carried. Mike Cook said that he will be in Kentucky on Fathers Day and that Pat Riley will be handling the car show and merchandise trailer at the Roadster Show. There will be 6 cars and 2 bikes in the SCTA Show on June 21. Pat Riley asked about putting reflective tape on the snow fence around the starting line, discussion. Is good idea. Jim Travis said that the collection of pictures will be sorted and put in frames and hung on the walls at the SCTA building. Club Duties - the layout of cones is not listed in club duties, discussion. The green cones are not anymore visible when covered with dust, discussion.
Dan Chilson suggested calling up the start numbers more often. Steve to check with Bill to announce more often. Fred Dannenfelzer said that the green cones are not any more visible, discussion. Need to start looking for the new end sign sooner, Rod Riders to handle. The inspection area is too close to the start line, discussion. Move the motorcycle inspection back to be north of the car inspection area. Move car inspection area up from the return road. Inspection to take over the green cones. Need to shorten the lines to the balloons so that they don't lay on the ground. Dan Warner explained that he and Jim Miller had gone up north and inspected some cars up there under construction. They did this on their own and were not paid. Discussion on the problem, Mike Cook suggested tabling the subject until next meeting. Roy suggested putting together a proposal. Bobby Sights asked about the signs, most were on the ground. The Rod Riders have bought 4 car passes and sent them to the people that have the patrol duty. Meeting adjourned at 8:52 pm.

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Editor's notes: The following letter was copied to the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians by Ken Berg, so that our members can participate in the discussions concerning an automotive racing museum that will save and restore the written and visual history of our sport.
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To the Society of Automotive Historians (SAH):
This is a proposal that SAH might support the formation of a motorsports chapter in Southern California. The object would be to establish a common repository for historical automotive materials. In my case, motorsports are carried out on land, sea, and in the air. I'll confine my proposal to dealing with automotive matters, including auto 'sports'--and suggest that whatever is done would accommodate ALL automotive interests. It is well known that many automotive collections, archives and libraries exist in SoCal. Their owners seek a responsible repository, and most would like to see others enjoy their materials. It is proposed that a catalog, or similar, be prepared to account for the collections, museums, archives, libraries and clubs and other groups having a part in automotive affairs. This will be a large undertaking. It can be based on the file of email addresses being collected now. This could include all the popular and trade automotive magazines and all the advertisers
therein, organizations such as SEMA, race sanctioning bodies, CAA, The Automotive Writers Association, etc. Some of these groups already have catalogs or mailing lists and can provide a short-cut. The object is to show the depth and breadth of automotive interests in SoCal. On the one hand, an entertaining hobby, on the other, a serious business. Possibly this could be expanded to show the demographic and economic impact from these businesses.
The purpose is to show the huge SoCal automotive infrastructure as a social and economic phenomenon that few (nobody, including me) truly understands. It's history deserves to be supported, directly, financially and morally. That's what we do, we spend our time and our money on automotive history, but to encourage financial support we need to be able to show that what we do is connected to every day real-life, and that it is important, and, in my special interest, that racers demonstrate a unique human work ethic, probably not uncommon in the rest of the automotive infrastructure. The educational system seeks these human attributes for their students and a number of initiatives are underway to capitalize on this. Needless to say government and industry seek the same attributes in their people. Scanning archives and putting some of them on the Internet has the potential to bring more, and younger, people to join us. Some of them will do their own research. A Research Center, with a Journal of Record, perhaps dealing with educational and safety issues might arise from an archive. Perhaps leading to a university Chair in Automotive Affairs and History. It would be expensive!
So, for starters, we should define the scope of 'automotive' history, how it should be housed and protected, scanned, disseminated and continuously improved. Every family I know has a photo album with pictures of their cars. And the family members remember the trips they took, the kind of car, its quirks and joyous family stories (even the ill-timed flat tire of the past). We are an automotive culture, but the scope has never (as far as I know) been defined. It is proposed that we would deal only with 'flat' archives of papers and photos at the outset. Three dimensional objects, books, movies, CDs, video may be added later, staff and funding allowing. There are many ways this project could be organized, depending on funding and staffing available. I'm not looking for a job, and recognize that this may seem like pie-in-the-sky, but my experience over the past 15 years tells me that most automotive enthusiasts are looking for a way to honor their automotive history. This
proposal is one way to get some people talking about the subject and working out some solutions. I hope we can talk further. Respectfully submitted. Kenneth L. (Ken) Berg, Mission Viejo.

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To show I appreciate all your editing efforts I tried tor the first time to clean up the following. But a purebred Rutherford race motor awaits in the shop. The LA Roadster Show also awaits as I drive in with rear tires smokin' in a '31 Model A on deuce rails (high boy of course) and a fire breathing 327 Chevy. Hope to see you there.  Vic Enyart
   Vic: The editor looked at what you sent, thought about the time it would take to "clean it all up," and decided to join you instead at the L.A. Roadster Show at the Los Angeles County Fairplex, Pomona, California on June 20-21, 2009.

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George Barris will be at Autobooks/Aerobooks on July 11, 2009 and not in June as previously announced. Tina Van Curen, Autobooks-Aerobooks, 3524 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505. 818 845-0707

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P. J. O'Rourke will be at the Petersen Automotive Museum, Saturday, June 13, 2009 from 2-4 pm. His book is called, Driving like Crazy. Sent in by Chris Brown

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I told you a while back I was having trouble with my computer and had lost the bio I was working on. I have started making notes for a re-do. My wife got tired of me complaining about the old one and let me buy a new up to date computer. So I am transferring files and learning the new vista OS. So I will be working on the BIO as soon as I get the notes in order and get them in a readable form. Keep up the great work on the SLRH site. Talk to you soon. Glen Barrett
   Glen: I have a number of people who started their bios and then just stopped. The process that I've started is this; answer the questions in the guideline and do it really fast, twenty minutes tops. Then send me the bio and I will put it in order, correct any grammar and send it back with new questions that is appropriate for that person. You are making this too complicated. My job is to edit and write and the biographee is to simply answer the questions ASAP and return it. Below is another guideline. Send me your answers and make sure you spend no more than twenty minutes on it. 
  a) Where did your family come from; your parents and grandparents and what did they do for a living?
  b) Where were you born and where did you grow up? What elementary, junior high and high school did you attend?
  c) Did you take any shop classes, while you were in school? Name your friends, especially those interested in racing.
  d) Did you join any car clubs or work on or own a car, or a race car, or work as a crewman on a race car while in school?
  e) What kind of jobs did you have as a young person while growing up? What kinds of hobbies and interests did you have?
  f) What did you do after graduation? Did you join the military? Were you drafted? Did you fight in the war?
  g) What kind of racing did you get involved in? Did you own a racecar, drive a racecar or work as a crewman? 
  h) Who were some of your friends that were involved in racing with you? Name and describe them.
  i) Tell us about your family, your wife and children. Were they involved in racing?
  j) What kind of work did you find after you left school? Was it racing related employment?
  k) Are you retired from racing? What are you doing today?

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Editor's notes: The Spurgin/Giovanine roadster will be unveiled July 12, 2009. Here are some emails about the event. For more information see http://www.venturamotorsportsgathering.com/pages/eventinfo.html.
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We are on track to "Roll Out" the restored Spurgin Giovanine Roadster on Sunday, July 12, 2009 at the Ventura Motorsports Gathering, which is a Concours of some great cars in the park in Downtown Ventura. Karin Spurgin is coming down from Oregon with her family. Curt Giovanine is coming from Bishop, California and he will be bringing his Bonneville Tribute Roadster that he built with his legendary dad as the cars will be side by side. Curt's sister will be attending. Curt located Craig Rufi, as his father was such an important part of the team to push the Spurgin Giovanine to the incredible feat of winning every SCTA meet/event of 1948, and Craig will be attending. We will be trying to interview everyone on film so it will be truly a reunion for everyone involved. Curt was so very kind to give us the original Spurgin/Giovanine 1948 header for the Chevy 4 and that was appreciated and a touching gesture for our team. Ernie Nagamatsu
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We've located Craig Rufi and he and Curt Giovanine have been talking, so I'm hoping he comes. I sent him the letter his dad wrote to me and I'm sure he will be touched. It will be so wonderful to see Curt and Craig again, but I know I won't recognize them. This is going to be so fun.
Have we thanked you enough for all you have done to bring all these fabulous people together plus stimulate so many old memories in Curt's and my families? Digging deep to remember even little bits of fun we had with dad has just been a joy and enriched our lives many times over. Looking forward to meeting you both face to face. Karin Edla Spurgin
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Karin: Kevin Clerici of the Ventura Star Newspaper wants to do a major story for the weekend of the Ventura Motorsport Gathering (Concours) on the Spurgin/Giovanine Roadster. I will meet him in Oxnard this coming Sunday and give him some background information. He would like the great personal stories that you may bring to the story. Kevin may call you and I wanted to give you a "heads up" on the call maybe from Kevin. Last year they did a huge 4 page spread on the Old Yeller II. Ernie Nagamatsu

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Thanks for getting my note about the event at Autobooks on HRHL in such a timely fashion. It looks great. Everything the HRHL staff did is great, however I made a little error. When I typed the address for my web site, I left the ".com" off. So it doesn't go anywhere. Sorry, I hope you and HRHL don't get any static because of it. I'll be more careful next time. Thanks again, Roger Harrell
   Roger: Please keep us informed on where you will have book signings in the future. I googled Harrell Engines and this came right up; HARRELL ENGINES & RACING EQUIPMENT: Jim (White) Harrell & Nick Harrell. We often go right to the internet when links are off a bit. It's common and we are sure that our readers understand.

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I inadvertently opened an email from someone and it has now been sent to everyone in my address book. If you open it it will forwarded to everyone in yours. I don't know what exactly it is but I didn't send it.  Mike
   Mike: I don't recall getting anything from you, but thanks for the warning.
   Readers: If you get something from me that doesn't sound normal, please let me know, because it may be something that a hacker has gotten through his system and into his address book. I always CC my lists to keep that from happening, but sometimes it is impossible to stop people who are intent on abusing the internet.

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Automotive and motor racing museums:

a) Petersen Automotive Museum 6060 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90036 - (323) 930-2277 www.petersen.org
b) Don Garlits Museum 13700 SW 16th Ave, Ocala, FL 34473 www.garlits.com/
c) Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum 1101 W Mckinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768 www.museum.nhra.com/
d) Automotive Museum-San Diego www.signonsandiego.com. 2080 Pan American Plz, San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 231-2886
e) Justice Brothers Racing Museum in Duarte, California www.justicebrothers.com/pages/racing-museum/r&m_racingmuseum_main.htm

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Hot rodding and Youth, by Richard Parks. Courtesy of the www.chopshopcustoms.com Newsletter.
Today I see a very different sport of hot rodding, one that has matured and has been accepted by the general public. In the past the hot rodders were very young and very poor and the ability to have transportation and freedom rested on one's ability to create a "hot rod" from parts scraped together from a junkyard. Many of those early hot rodders left the sport, married, raised a family and then in their later years felt an urge to revisit their youth and build another car, like the one they had as teenagers. I write a lot of biographies, short and done in an assembly line fashion, by means of a questionnaire. One of the questions is; "Did you join any car clubs or work on or own a car, or a race car, or work as a crewman on a race car while in school?" This is a pivotal question when I am researching the life story of hot rodders. For it is that first experience with cars that shapes the attitudes of car guys. They may change and evolve and get into other automotive fields, but they will always remember that first car and that first hot rod. Today the sport of hot rodding is an aging one. The people with money, time and inclination are older guys who have retired. In the far distant past it was the other way around.
In the 1920's through the 1960's it was young people who were involved with hot rodding. That group has aged and re-entered the sport, driving the image and average age of the sport to a higher figure. But hot rodding will always be a sport for young people, it just evolves and changes. Today it is the imports or rice burners as they affectionately say of the foreign cars that one can order with whatever speed enhancing equipment one can afford. With this recession bordering on a depression, it is very possible that car companies that we have known will go out of business and new companies will form, with new kinds of cars, ready to be reformed, chopped, changed and modified into new hot rods of today. That's exactly what happened in the 1920's and '30's. There were hundreds of car companies that closed their doors or were merged into larger companies. Hot rodding exploded in size because of the hard times of the depression. Young men had to recycle what was available and what was cheap, if they were to have their own wheels. Hard times encourage innovation and creation of new and better ways. A hot rod, or as they used to say in the '30's, a Gow Job, was an improvement on a standard car of the time. These biographies that I receive from old hot rodders are fascinating.
Over and over again they tell of a time when a person could buy a running automobile for $50, $25, $15 and in one case, for $5. The problem was, very few people had $5 in those days. A brand new Ford cost less than $500. Since most people only earned a dollar or two a day, it wasn't easy to come up with the money to buy a car. So most young people scrounged for parts and came home from the junkyards, which were everywhere, with frames, engines, tires, bodies and other parts. Like a giant jigsaw puzzle they put together a creation that can only be considered 'rough.' But in the process they learned and they experimented and they created new masterpieces that became the hot rod that revolutionized their era and much of racing itself. Oval track, dry lakes, drag racing and even the Indy 500 were roadsters that evolved from hot rodding. By the mid-1960's the world of roadster racing had ended for the most part and new types had evolved. For me and for many others, the Golden Era had passed. At least until nostalgia racing came upon the scene in the late 1980's and '90's. Hot rodding is back because the guys are back. Their families are grown and they have time on their hands. But we need that next generation of young men and this time, young women, to enter the sport of hot rodding and keep it alive and growing. Too many of the World War II generation are leaving us every day and it is important to bring in young people to take their place so that hot rodding will continue. The future belongs to the young people of today. It is in our best interest to bring them into the sport of hot rodding and make them welcome.

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The 59th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will be held on August 16, 2009, and will feature an array of Bentleys on display.  For more information go to: http://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/pages/3017/Photos.htm.  Jeff Green

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Main Event Entertainment, www.MainEventVideos.com, motorsports videos of 48 shows, 10 categories, 40-60 minute episodes. Dean Papadeas, Producer/Director

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Random Photos and Information

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Caption:
I have attached photos of our 1931 Ford, Flathead Roadster (50's High School Hot Rod). Owners: Tom and Bev Simpson, Huntington Beach, Purchased: May 2007. The car was purchased from the late Wayne Duke of Colton, California. Wayne was a member of the Over the Hill Gang in San Bernardino. This car was his last project and was built entirely in his garage. From the appearances of his garage, and the looks of this car, Wayne was an avid hot rodder and flathead engine builder. The car appears as it did when purchased with the addition of a Sid Shavers top, a '40 Ford steering column and "39" Banjo steering wheel. The roadster is driven almost daily and makes regular appearances at "Donut Derelicts," in Huntington Beach, Jack's Garage in Fountain Valley and local car shows. The Brookville steel body sits on "1929" frame rails that were boxed and covered to enhance its appearance. The flathead power is delivered to a "39" top loader transmission and coupled through the torque tube to a buggy sprung banjo rear end. Engine performance and speed are monitored through Stewart Warner guages mounted in a "32" dash panel. Rodmaster wheels and Firestone, Firehawk Indy series tires transfer power to the road.  Tom Simpson

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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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