SOCIETY OF LAND SPEED RACING HISTORIANS
NEWSLETTER 129 - September 17, 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, I have been asking for people to start thinking about all their stories and anecdotes about Dad from over the years to collect them in one place over the next few weeks and send them to me, I just talked to Jim Murphy and he informed me that Walt James died, Steve Snoddy long time photographer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has also passed this week, As you may know on Wednesday September 9 2009 IMS Staff photographer and Indy Car Series photographer Steve Snoddy passed away, Publish anything you want Just give my website a plug, My Son and I visited William "Wild Bill" Alexander this morning, Sad to report that word has reached me and been confirmed that Walt James took his last checkered flag last evening, The Memorial Service for Steve Snoddy will be held this Sunday September 13 2009, The following was taken from the internet and has been edited down, Ron had his surgery today finally at 8:30 or so PM, Ron has now been home 2 days and he is really doing pretty good, This is a heads up to let you know that Parnelli Jones and I have settled on the date and place for our next get together, Burke LeSage and Gail Phillips sent in the announcement on the Gold Coast Roadster & Racing Club's 17th Annual Gas-Up Party and Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Cruisin' for a Cure will be held on September 26 2009 at the Orange County Fairgrounds, Word was received that Art Arfon's Green Monster land speed record car is on eBay up for auction, Gene Ohly is considered a pretty reliable source and he definitely disagrees that the Jack Mickelson roadster was ever at Antique Ford Parts, Concerning the Skipit Picture I passed the pic on to Wayne West and he suggests that the second guy from the left might be Zelmo Herma, Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park, Donna M Timney is my wife She is 48 years old and has been driving cars at Maxton and Bonneville for 3 years, The Western Reserve Museum is having an auction to sell off some of their cars to make payroll, Racer-Spectator Update CAUTION, If you are joining us at the World of Speed this week you may wonder what the cost of entry is, I am looking for information about Walt James' Services, Questions: Eligible to set world and international records, The weather forecast for the Bonneville Salt Flats has improved for Friday and Saturday, Thank you I have just completed the reading of all issues 'to date' Here are some random thoughts, Please go to the USFRA web-site at 10 AM MST for information on the racing schedule, Dateline-Bonneville 10 AM, Welcome to Cruzin' for Life 2009 September 26th & 27th in Santa Maria California a car festival celebrating cancer survivors and their families, Gone Racin'… Two Wheels to Panama by William Carroll, Gone Racin'…Kustom Kulture Queens by Mitzi, Random Pictures and Stories

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President's Corner: 
Jim Miller is away on assignment.

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Editorial: 
   I recently heard that Walt James has passed away and I would like to take this time to tell our readers what a great man he was. He had a wonderful wife in Dottie James and children and grandchildren who were his pride and joy. Living with him for many years was his mother-in-law, a most gracious lady. Walt was more than a car guy and an oval track racer. He led the CRA from the very beginning and was always trying to promote the sport that he loved. Willow Springs named the 3/8th mile oval dirt track in his honor and he managed the facility for many years. The California Roadster Association (CRA) changed its name to the California Racing Association in the 1950's as track roadsters merged with coupes and other stock cars. Walt was there in the beginning and years later he organized the CRA Reunion and kept all the racers together. Walt and Dottie collaborated on a Christmas letter that was two legal pages long, back and front. It took a long time to read and much of it concerned those in racing who passed away. Walt always had a memory about those who passed on, something to cheer us up and give us a little laugh.  His reunions began to attract a younger crowd; family and friends of the racers who were leaving us. I went to the first reunion held somewhere in Bell Gardens or Bellflower and rarely missed one. Walt had a way of making us all feel welcome, even if he sometimes mixed us up with someone else. For example, he often recognized me from the podium as the "younger brother of Wally Parks," and my father always got a kick out of that. But Walt James knew his history and you could never fool him on an event or fact from the past. 
   He was the person that I called when I needed some facts for a story that I was writing. He knew everyone and what they had done in racing. I often asked Walt to write down his story since the day would come when he wouldn't be around to tell us what happened. He would always respond and say, "Ah, shucks, I'm a young man and will be around forever." I really did believe that he would be, which is why I'm so saddened at his departure. Walt not only cared for the past, but he cared for the present and the future. He was always a man you could go to with a problem. He spent a great deal of time helping others. He was simply a good man, a fine hot rodder, a good family man and a wonderful racer. I can hear him talk right now as if he were still with us. In a way he still is with us, for as long as we are here and can remember him. He will only leave us when we are gone and have taken our memories with us. Since Walt didn't write his story, it is up to us to write about him as much as we can and include Walt James in our lives too.
   Hila Sweet has just sent me an email that she is planning on holding her Car Racers Reunion next year in April. She didn't hold a reunion in 2009, the first time in a long time that we didn't have one of her outstanding events. Part of the problem as she told me over the phone once, was the lack of places to hold such a reunion. Hila used Joe's Garage in Tustin as a venue site for the reunion, but when Joe MacPherson died, the museum was closed and the car collection sold off. With the recession and less tax revenue, those owning great sites have charged more money to use their facilities. Therefore it is a wonderful break that Hila is able to find another place. She and Parnelli Jones are good friends and Parnelli got his start racing for Hila's former husband, Ummie Paulsen. While this is a roundy round sort of racers reunion, Hila has always been very good about inviting us straight-line guys to her event. Many of the oval track racers also raced on the dry lakes and at Bonneville.

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I have been asking for people to start thinking about all their stories and anecdotes about Dad from over the years to collect them in one place over the next few weeks and send them to me. I have plans to compile them into a coffee-table style book. Since Dad was so abruptly taken from us, I was unable to finish my biography, so this is my next project. I saw that you were asking for something similar - I don't know what your plans were, but I wanted you to be aware that I had already started asking people for the same thing. The plans for Dad's September 25th services can be found at the WRA website, and there will be a party later in the year to honor Dad. Information about that will be forthcoming. I still have trouble wrapping my head around the concept that Walt James is no longer here, but I was blessed with my Dad's sense of humor and zest for life, so I keep going. I plan to honor him with this book of remembrances, so anything you receive, when you are done, if you could pass along the stories and the authors' names, I would sure appreciate it! Vicki James, [email protected], 661-268-0615.
Vicki: With your permission I will run your email in the newsletter and post your email address and phone number. Let me know if that is alright with you to do that. I lost my father in similar circumstances. I understand how you feel. My father didn't record his history and kept putting it off, although numerous friends and relatives asked him to write his biography. I have collected a lot of stories, some about my father and many others about those in racing and talked to your father on many occasions and asked him to start his bio. I even sent him an outline for him to follow and told him I would help him write and edit it. He always had that "Oh, shucks" attitude as if his life wasn't important, but he treated everyone else like a star on Broadway. Walt James was quite a man. I always called him whenever I had a question and needed information and he always had the answer. He was our encyclopedia of Southern California racing. There has never been a more knowledgeable man in our area than your dad. He was something special and I miss him every day and especially when I have a question about the past. We'll post any requests that you have in the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians newsletter at www.landspeedracing.com. Google his name and you'll see what we have written about him.

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 I just talked to Jim Murphy and he informed me that Walt James died. Billy Cruce
 Billy: I'm very sorry to hear about Walt. Do you have any stories about him?

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Steve Snoddy, long time photographer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has also passed this week. Mike Smith
Mike: Do you have any stories or other information that you could share with us at www.landspeedracing.com concerning Walt James or Steve Snoddy?

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As you may know on Wednesday, September 9, 2009, IMS Staff photographer and Indy Car Series photographer Steve Snoddy passed away. A memorial service will be held 7:00 PM Sunday, September 13, 2009 at the Brickyard Crossing 1st floor Parlor for friends of Steve. In place of flowers a donation to IRL Ministry can be made in Steve's honor to help with expenses for his burial. Steve's son Stewart and family will be made aware of the donation. Thanks. Bob Hills, Director & Chaplain, Indy Racing League Ministry, 317-716-8850.

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See www.joescalzowriter.com, and publish anything you want. Just give my website a plug if you can. Joe Scalzo
Joe and the Readers: Thanks, Joe, your article on Walt was very nice. I couldn't copy it because the article was in a PDF format, but our readers should be advised to just go to the website and look up "People." There is also a book by Scalzo on Mickey Thompson for you land speed fans of Mickey. Ron Henderson recently did his bio and there are about 700 words on Mickey and his crew in the bio. As soon as we get photos we will post the Henderson bio to www.hotrodhotline.com. In the meantime, check out Joe Scalzo's book on Thompson.

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My Son and I visited William "Wild Bill" Alexander this morning. He seemed to be doing pretty well. The biggest problem is he's not cooperating with the nurses. His jaw doesn't seem to bother him too much and the bleeding on the brain is slowing down and the doc's think it will be ok with out surgery. This thing has really knocked the hell out of him. He is in a very nice convalescent hospital in Pasadena. I think he will be there another couple of weeks or so. He needs cheering up and needs to know his friends haven't forgotten him. Cards and calls would help. Marlinda, Imperial Convalescent Hospital, 150 Bellefontaine Street, Pasadena, CA. 91105. Attn: William Alexander 1-626-796-1103 room 35-A. Sent in by Frank Genco and Don Rudy
Don and Frank: Was Wild Bill in an accident? Please give us more details for the newsletter at www.landspeedracing.com.

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Sad to report that word has reached me and been confirmed that Walt James took his last checkered flag last evening. James was a giant in SoCal oval track racing from the post WW2 days up until his recent hospitalization. He and his beloved wife, Dottie, did much to keep many of us old-timers together. Walt was also active in vintage car racing with The Western Racing Association. Once we hear of the funeral arrangements we will pass the information on to you. Steve Snoddy was a photographer at The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I'll see if I can dig up something on him. I'm also going to write some words for Phyllis Devine at The Alternate and pass it to Vikki James for embellishment. I don't know when the next issue of The Alternate will be published since Phyllis was just discharged from the hospital today, after a very lengthy stay due to an intestinal problem.  Bob Falcon
  Bob: Can you send us some stories about Walt? I could never get him to write his history.

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The Memorial Service for Steve Snoddy will be held this Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 7 PM Eastern Time at The Brickyard Crossing Golf Resort , adjacent to The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. No word as yet on services for Walt James, as the family is working around the WRA Vintage Racing schedule. But I do know that internment will be at the Veterans Cemetery located in Riverside, California, across the I-15 freeway from March Air Force Refueling and Reserve Base. Do not have a date window as yet. Did Vicki James send you the JPG of Walt in his WRA Sprint Car? Today I was at The Drive Museum located near LAX where they have the Fageol Land Speed car that was planned to be powered by two engines, one driving the front wheels and the other driving the rear. It was never completed but the chassis complete with body is on display. It appears to be styled late forties or fifties. Fageol had a car entered in the 1946 Indy 500 that was powered by two Offy Midget engines arranged as above. Paul Russo drove the car and did pretty well until he planted it in the wall. The car never returned to the 500. Then he had a Porsche Special Sports Car design that was powered by two Porsche engines as above that met a similar fate as the Offy powered car, at Pebble Beach where its fate was a pine tree. I cannot recall the driver. Fageol manufactured the "Twin Coach" busses of the 1930's which were unique as they sported two engines with each driving a set of the coach wheels. I'll do a write-up for the Newsletter and I shot a couple of pix today.  Bob Falcon
   Bob: Is this LOU Fageol, who was also a boat racing driver and mechanic from the San Diego area?

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The following was taken from the internet and has been edited down.
The 3/8th mile oval race track in Rosamond, California is named after Walt James. "I've been doing it all the time," the Acton resident said of the preparation. "I built the track years ago and I just kind of inherited it." Nearly 100 racers from Canada to Florida have brought their vintage midget, sprint cars and roadsters to race. "It's a giant swap-meet play day for all the old cars. It's just a big gathering of vintage race cars." James has been a fixture in the racing world for years. He built and managed the 600-acre Indian Dunes Motorcycle Park in Valencia in the 1970's and 1980's. It was shut down in 1985, and the 27,000-home Newhall Ranch housing tract is planned there and on surrounding acreage. After it closed, James moved over to the Willow Springs Raceway in the Willow Springs International Motorsports Park, which is located near Rosamond and Lancaster, California, and is about an hour north of Los Angeles. It is a historic race track, in existence for more than fifty years, with the first race in 1953. The main track is a challenging one, and a track was named in his honor.
The Acton resident was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Iowa in 1993 after spending a lifetime working for the betterment of open-wheel automobile racing sport in which specially designed or modified automobiles race on any of various courses. He will be racing as #15, which he used when driving in the 1940's at Rosamond Dry Lake and El Mirage. His son used the number when he raced with the World of Outlaws (WoO). The World of Outlaws is an American motorsports sanctioning body and sanctions two major national touring series. It is best known for sanctioning a national tour of sprint cars. James' racing was interrupted by World War II, when he flew in B-17s as a bombardier navigator. "I got a couple of good hits," said James, who received the Distinguished Flying Cross. He spent a total of 30 years in the military - four on active duty and 26 in the reserves. With his motor home parked by the track, James will spend the weekend reliving his youth with his wife, Dottie, whom he met when he drove a race car for her parents when she was 15. Peggy Hager, www.dailynews.com. (2004)

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Ron had his surgery today, finally, at 8:30 or so PM. They did not do a hip replacement, but put in 3 pins. They did it this way because the ball/joint had remained in place and the bone looked good, therefore putting the pins in was the least invasive with the least loss of blood. For Ron (with his history of operations), the doctor felt this was the best way to go. If the bone heals right, which he feels it will, he will be as good as new AND if for some reason it doesn't they can always go in and replace the hip. It was his left hip which is on the same side as his knee replacement. Doctor said he is doing just fine and they will probably have him up late tomorrow afternoon. Doc says he'll be there for 3 days. Although he was scheduled for the right knee to be replaced in October that will have to wait until this is healed completely...then they'll do that knee. Marilyn Lachman

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Ron has now been home 2 days and he is really doing pretty good. We spent all day yesterday at UCLA for him to take a blood test and adjust his immunosuppressant drugs, which would wear anyone out and we both survived. Since he can't put any weight on his left side, he does pretty well with the crutches and the walker although we did have to get a wheel chair while we were at UCLA, no big deal. Today the home physical therapist comes (any minute now) and will work on some exercises with him and to see how well he is doing.  Marilyn Lachman

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Hello good friends! This is a heads up to let you know that Parnelli Jones and I have settled on the date and place for our next get together. I will be sending out more detailed info to you, but wanted to give you all plenty of time to make arrangements for what is shaping up into a really special day for all of us. So, please take good care of yourselves, eat well, take the "vites" and we will all get to see one another for some great catching up. Parnelli has offered his place in Torrance on Earl Street, which is also the home of his fantastic race car collection, for us to have our party. How lucky can we get? Day is on a Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 from 11:00 AM til 4:00 PM. Our usual good tasting appetizers, excellent lunch, video of past reunions, old racing pals and just plain comfortable fun! Big hugs and love to all my "peeps." Hila Sweet
Hila: We are glad to hear that you are keeping your reunion going.
Readers: Hila Sweet organized the California Racers Reunion nearly two decades ago, originally under the name of The Jalopy Racers Reunion. But since so many of the jalopy racers also raced in other types of auto racing, she changed the name to the CRR or Car Racers Reunion. Those who have attended have fond memories of the guys as they bench raced and told stories of their racing careers. This is the 16th California Racers Reunion and it is always a treat to meet Parnelli Jones and see his wonderful museum. This reunion is reserved for racers, mechanics and oval track car owners from the Golden Age of short track racing.

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Burke LeSage and Gail Phillips sent in the announcement on the Gold Coast Roadster & Racing Club's 17th Annual Gas-Up Party and Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The date is September 26, 2009 at Mendenhall's Petroleum Museum, located in Buellton, California. The time is from 9 AM to 5 PM. Mark and Vicki Mendenhall are the hosts and provide a Santa Maria style barbecue with tri-tip steak, beans, salad and drinks. The pit passes are $55 each and you must register by September 15th. For more information call 805-245-8519 or email Gail at [email protected]. The honorees for 2009 are;
  Historical vehicle - Mickey Thompson's Attempt Streamliner
  Presently running vehicle - Walsh/Cusack/Walsh 333 Roadster
  Motorcycle - (One of) Scott Guthrie's Multi-record Hayabusa
  People who have contributed - Tanis Hammond, Lee Kennedy, Gail Watson Phillips, Mike Nish, Bill Taylor and Bob Sykes Jr
  People from the past - Meb Healey, Eddie Kuzma and Walt Scott
  Manufacturer - Mooneyes and Chico Kodama
  Historian - Mark Brazeau

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Cruisin' for a Cure will be held on September 26, 2009 at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, California from 7 AM to 5Pm. More than 3400 vehicles will be on display. All proceeds benefit prostate cancer research at the City of Hope. Men 40 and over can receive a painless screening. $12 entry fee with AAA members getting $2 off. Call 714-803-9216 for more information, or visit the website at www.cruisinforacure.com.  Vic Enyart

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Word was received that Art Arfon's Green Monster land speed record car is on eBay up for auction. A reserve bid has not been disclosed. The auction ends on September 19, 2009 at 14:32:55 PDT. Current bid: US $50,100.00, but reserve not met so far. The Green Monster is located at the Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, California. From Ron Main

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Gene Ohly is considered a pretty reliable source and he definitely disagrees that the Jack Mickelson roadster was ever at Antique Ford Parts. Quite a few old timers say that Gene Scott had '32 roadsters there now and again but no one else will attest to the Mickelson car being there, as of yet. I was told the car was sent to Brizio's for a conversion to a street rod by Gene Scott years ago and the original frame and suspension are no longer with the car either. Brizio may be able to help them a little if he has any photos of the car before or during the build that would aide in its provenance. Furthermore I would say to John and Chris, if they can look at the cowl light holes in the roadster and tell us what material was used to close those openings off; if that info matches what Jack and a few others have told us I would say they have a pretty good case of the car at least being a former Gophers' car and perhaps Jack's. I don't want to disclose how it was done because a few other notable cars were done in the same way and it is very unique and unmistakable. Continued wishes for good luck in their quest, Michael Brennan

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Concerning the Skipit Picture, I passed the pic on to Wayne West and he suggests that the second guy from the left might be Zelmo Herman who was a close friend to Dave West and Travers in those dry lakes days. Bob Falcon

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Donna M. Timney is my wife. She is 48 years old and has been driving cars at Maxton and Bonneville for 3 years and has run 160 mph. She rides a Harley Road King on the street and rode Deb Dross's Suzuki Hayabusa with a stock motor with 10% nitrous. This was her first event on a bike.  Joe Timney
   Joe: Thank you for the additional information and keep us informed on Donna's racing.

Caption:
Donna Timney on bike at Loring.......Attached are some photos of Donna going 205 mph and setting three different records and earning her 200 mph Club hat. From Joe Timney

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The Western Reserve Museum is having an auction to sell off some of their cars to make payroll. Check out the vehicle list and make sure you read the posted comments after the article. Crawford Automotive Museum article. Sent in by Michael Kacsala. The website is located at:
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/08/western_reserve_historical_soc_1.html

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Racer-Spectator Update. CAUTION: A few months ago we provided a list of Front Runner tires and suppliers that would fit the narrow VW rims and pass sanctioning body safety specs for 36hp VW's expecting to exceed 100 miles per hour. At the time, I mentioned these tires were not street legal and should not be used for street driving. During the past two weeks, two Challenge cars equipped with Front Runners did test runs on the streets and both had negative handling reactions. PLEASE use front Runners ONLY IN RACING APPLICATIONS!
Weather Update: As of Friday morning, the weather forecast at the Bonneville Salt Flats has changed to cooler temperatures in the mid to high 70's during the day (have coats handy out at the track) and a 30% chance of intermittent rain showers on Tuesday and Wednesday, sunny on Thursday and a 30-40% chance of intermittent rain showers on Friday into Saturday. Since weather can adversely affect our ability to race, the earlier you can attend the event will increase your chances of watching the 36hp Challenge racers make their speed runs. See the following website: http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/tenday/84325?from=month_topnav_outdoors.
Pit Location: If possible, I would hope that all the VW racers will try and pit next to each other so we can keep out VW community together and share equipment, knowledge and assistance as needed. The pits are long and the best locations are located along the east (race course) side of the pits which allows those in the pits to enjoy the racing out on the course while working on their cars. The Blackline/Birks bug should arrive Tuesday so they will be first in the pits. Hopefully they can find a location large enough to accommodate five or six teams of VW racers. East Coast Racers: If you are not able to join us at the World of Speed, remember the September ECTA meet in Maxton, North Carolina, is the weekend of the 19th and 20th. As of this writing I am not aware of any 36hp Challenge VW's competing at that event but Bruce Cook is planning on running for the "1" Club and upping his DSS record at the ECTA October meet being held on the weekend of the 24th and 25th. Mid-America Racers: The final TEXAS MILE event at Goliad, Texas, will be held October 16th through the 18th. Again, I am not aware of any 36hp Challenge cars that will be competing but Jeremy Freedman and his 193 mph street VW GTi will be attempting to go over 200 miles per hour. If you are in the area, stop in and offer him your support. As of today, we have over 50 Challenge racers and friends planning on attending the Thursday night dinner. Please join us if you come out to spectate. See you on the salt, Burly Burlile

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If you are joining us at the World of Speed this week, you may wonder what the cost of entry is. Spectators: Day $10.00. 4 Day $20.00 (get this one as it is a collectible metal pin-I have all of mine since 1962). Active Military FREE. Kids under 12 FREE. Racing starts at 8AM and goes till about 7PM. Strong cross winds or rain can cancel racing for the day or for just a few hours. Bring AM radio to here the speeds, binoculars, folding chairs, sun block & chap-stick, good dark sunglasses, water and shade! For more information go to the following website; http://www.saltflats.com/Getting%20Started%20Guide.html, USFRA Spectator Guide. Art from A.C.E. called this evening and is offering his shop to those arriving early (before Tuesday afternoon) should you need a place to fix a last minute problem. Britt sent photos of the Team Ireland entry. It now sports moon discs like the Beaver Geezers and the Bruch/Anderson entry. Must be a Bonneville thing. May the Speed be with you, Burly Burlile

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I am looking for information about Walt James' Services. I race at Ventura Raceway and have had the pleasure of watching Walt drive along with attending the classic's for the last 5 years. I had hear the services will be at March Reserve Base but don't know the date. Any information that you might give me will be helpful. Thank You, Cindy Addison

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Since the FIM has a snowmobile category, vehicles like the ones in the attached photos would be eligible to set world and international records at Bonneville. Sincerely, Franklin Ratliff
A reply by Jack Dolan:
"From the beginning, when cars and motorcycle were defined for taxing purposes, with motive power, and capacity also established as a measure, performance standards were also recorded. The FIA and FIM were established with the input from all the various interested nations. National pride and independence saw various countries also establish their own standards to produce National Records. People often confuse World records with National records, and many want to profit from that confusion. If it moves down the road under its own power, and controlled by an operator, it has a place in the books. Sadly, over the years, the competition/sport has been bastardized by money interests, and no longer has the standing that it once had. Would a Snow Mobile be a Sand Mobile in Qatar? Jack Dolan
The editor replies: Both of you bring up a good point and we have talked about this before. One of the reasons for organizing all the amateur and professional historians is so we can review the facts and come to conclusions. Just what is a record and what does it mean. As Jack Dolan points out, records are certified and sanctioned by the officiating body and their trained timers. The FIA uses timers who are authorized by them in different sports and supposedly they review their training and qualifications to be a timer. The timer and his crew of record keepers are vital for the longevity and health of their association. If they can't be trusted, then the entire organization is brought into disrepute and their records are seen as unreliable and unacceptable. As historians we have a purpose to look at and decide which sanctioning groups have legitimate records and which do not. We are not demeaning anyone, simply looking at their qualifications. The FIA and FIM have been criticized as only approving records if they are paid a huge sum. We have to look at this accusation and determine the merit of the argument. If indeed all a timing association does is charge for their name, then what good are they? But many of the smaller associations have failed to keep records and when they have, their records seem unreliable or frankly, lost.

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Challengers and friends. The weather forecast for the Bonneville Salt Flats has improved for Friday and Saturday. Temperatures should be in the low eighties during the day with high fifties for overnight. The possibility of intermittent rain showers remains at 30% for Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday continues to look great and now we can add Friday and Saturday to our sunny racing forecast. See the following site; http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/tenday/US1003:13. Bonneville Salt Flats Recreation Area forecast-10 day. Update-Tom Bruch and Gaylen Anderson, along with Carter Kudrle and a friend are currently on the road from Iowa and Britt Grannis should also be salt bound as of this afternoon. Again, if anyone else is coming from the east and would like to meet at my house in Mendon, Utah, and join with these folks as we caravan to the salt, just give me a call at 435-752 4359 (I will be home all day today and Monday). You would have to provide your own sleeping arrangements as all the beds in my house are now taken, but it would be great to have you join us. We will be enjoying a great dinner either Monday or Tuesday evening at the Blue Bird Restaurant in Logan and the more the merrier. See you at Bonneville. Burly Burlile

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To: Richard Parks & Jim Miller. Thank you, I have just completed the reading of all issues 'to date' of the Society LSR Historians Newsletters. Here are some random thoughts. Dean Batchelor: Although a couple of other 'Streamliners,' i.e. machines with the wheels fully enclosed had made an appearance in Dry Lakes competition in the late 1940's, I believe it was the Xydias & Batchelor SoCal streamliner powered by either the V8-60 mini engine or the 'big' 296 c.i. full race Ford powerplant that stirred the SCTA rules committee to redefine the Lakes classification for 'specially constructed machines'. Thus Streamliners must have the wheels covered. If the wheels of a 'specially constructed' car that being a 'belly tank,' 1950's Indy type cars, even some exotic sport cars would hence be deemed: A 'Lakester.' Dean Batchelor was a technical authority, writer and a Dry Lakes driver. About 1950 driving the SoCal Special; the unruly nature of El Mirage caused the SoCal car to get upside-down. The car's safety features allowed Dean to 'walk-away,' yet requiring some later medical attention.
The Redhead Streamliner. My recall is that the car was built originally in Northern California under the auspices of Romeo Palamides. It first came to the Salt as the Shasta Roadster Club entry. Owned by Hammon, McGrath & Whipp. Driver: Bob McGrath and his name was painted on the cowl. Just below were the letters of his spouse: 'Anitra McGrath--the Redhead.' She was a rather attractive eye-catching young lady in provocative apparel with sparkling red hair. Roger Huntington, a tech writer for 50 years back in the "Men's" magazines of the time; Popular Mechanics, True, Argosy & so forth. Bless his heart. Chet Herbert's motorcycle 'Beast,' I forget but I'll say maybe it ran at the Santa Ana drags at 120, Chrisman Bros #25 car broke the 140 MPH mark and Huntington with his best slide rule calculation reported: 160 MPH would be tops in the Quarter Mile. Oh my! Roy Richter. Thanks for the "Review" of his biography: Striving For Excellence. All the folks within the hot rod fraternity; to truly appreciate one of the great personages that make America what America is would be remiss in not knowing about Roy Richter. An ordinary racecar guy from the mid-west that hand built a 'fairgrounds racer' from leftover iron, maybe a soup-upped tractor motor for a powerplant, progressed along to building a number of top-notch, award winning race machines, cars that were the foundation of today's million dollar competition called Motorsports. He was a builder, driver, business man and a great humanitarian. The Richter legacy lives on along several pathways. Two being; A major Southern Californian hospital and a private college. With regard, Burke LeSage
Burke: Thank you for taking us down memory lane. We learned something today. Streamliners and modifieds as a class first show up in the late 1930's and kept the board in an uproar. A large 16 cylinder Cadillac I believe, led to the streamliner class. The modified category had to be invented early in order to keep the racers in classes that were competitive. When Bob Rufi broke 140 mph, the classes had to be rearranged again

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Please go to the USFRA web-site www.saltflats.com at 10 AM MST for information on the racing schedule at Bonneville. Significant rain hit the salt flats Monday that WILL affect the racing. The USFRA will announce at 10 AM if the racing will be delayed or cancelled. We are all hoping for nothing more than a delay of a day or two but if the racing is in fact cancelled. A plan B has been put into affect. If racing is cancelled, Art Thraen, proprietor of the A.C.E. Volkswagen speed shop in Salt Lake City, has invited the racers and spectators to come to his shop for a "Wet Salt 36hp Dyno. Challenge! Those racers who participate will pull the motors from the race car and run for the high dyno horsepower ratings (and maybe do a little tuning as well!). Time and location will be announced "only" if racing is cancelled! Tom Bruch is here along with Britt Grannis, Justin McAllister and the Beaver Geezers. Most, if not all will participate in the dyno Challenge. Again, please watch the USFRA site for the announcement. Please call Burly at 435-752 4359 after 12 AM MST today if you have any questions. Please wish us dry salt soon so the Challengers can do their thing. Burly Burlile

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Dateline-Bonneville 10 AM. The USFRA has indicated much of the water has been absorbed into the salt. Depending on whether any significant rain fall occurs today, racing will begin Thursday and run through Sunday. Watch the USFRA website tomorrow at www.saltflats.com for updates. If racing is not cancelled, we will head to the salt tomorrow as originally planned and the 36hp Challenge dinner will go on as scheduled Thursday night. Burly Burlile

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Welcome to Cruzin' for Life 2009, September 26th & 27th, in Santa Maria, California, a car festival celebrating cancer survivors and their families. Your participation raises funds for Marian Cancer Center and the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. The Marian Cancer Center fund assists cancer patients while they are undergoing treatment, as many of them are not able to work. They must continue to pay rent, utility bills, transportation costs, food and other household expenses while suffering the fatigue, pain and emotional strain normally incurred as a course of treatment. The American Cancer Society funds a Cruzin for Life Young Survivor Scholarship and the campaign for research. Thank you for making this funding possible. See www.cruzinforlife.net. The Cruzin' for Life Car Show is unique in that every car has the capability of being one of the "Top Twelve Finalist." Cancer survivors select the "Top Twelve" and their criteria has no rules or guidelines other than they must not know the owner. From this group the "Grand Champion" is selected by Marian Cancer Center & American Cancer Society. Good luck on this year's awards!
For those entrants who would like to display their car at the Burnouts on Sunday, you are more than welcomed to return. All you need do is place your registration card on the dash at Gate 5. Your car will be displayed at a prominent viewing area. In addition, you will receive one spectator ticket to watch the burnouts. Cruzin' for Life puts together a delicious dinner including the famous Santa Maria style BBQ featuring Tri Tip, Chicken, Pinquito Beans, Bread, Salsa, Gourmet Green Salad, Potatoes and Dessert. There are also 2 full service no-host bars serving beer, wine, and well drinks. With live music and KCOY-TV's Jim Byrne emceeing the event, it's a hard package to beat at $30. Please check the Cruzin' for Life t-shirt booth for ticket availability. The Cruzin' for Life auction portion of the event is both exciting and extremely crucial. The auction committee works very hard to present a combination of fun, unique and practical offerings. The 200+ items presented in the Silent and Live Auctions are donated by very generous individuals and businesses. Please take a few minutes while scoping out the tables or viewing the program, to see who the donors are. Without these contributors our annual donation to the Marian Cancer Center and American Cancer Society would not happen. If the opportunity presents itself, please take a minute to thank the donors or even better, patronize their business, appreciation goes a long way.
After dinner and auction, end the evening dancing to the "American Graffiti" music of the STINGRAYS, as they perform the classics of the 50's and 60's. The Parade and Cruise is getting bigger every year. Information as to the speed and other requirements will be discussed at the drivers meeting just before we start the cruise. The cruise leaves the fair grounds and turns left onto Thornburg, then right onto Morrison. Next is a left turn onto Broadway. Proceed down Broadway until instructed to make a U turn to the Parade/Cruise start lineup. Once the parade/cruise starts, the cruise is basically a circle back and forth on Broadway. The pickup and drop off point for the survivors is in the Santa Maria Inn parking lot. To pickup /drop off, turn right off Broadway at the main entrance of the Inn, and you will be guided from there. If you want to stop and chat or just dig the cars during the cruise, please pull into the middle turn lane. When you want to continue, please signal, look and pull out slowly the way you are pointing, back into the flow of the cruise. Do not try to pull out across traffic. Cruzin' for Life personnel, in Orange and Green vests will be there to help with any problems and to help keep the cruise moving. Please give them every courtesy and follow their instructions, as they are only there to make it a great cruise. Bob Labastida

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Gone Racin'… Two Wheels to Panama, by William Carroll. Book review by Richard Parks, photographic consultant Roger Rohrdanz

If you like adventure, traveling, suspense, meeting the unknown, wild motorcycle trips and strange geography, then you will love Two Wheels to Panama, by William Carroll. The author began his adventure in December of 1950. Sixteen years later he would take his wife on another grueling trip from Alaska to Argentina, a trek that would take them from nearly the Northern Pole to the Southern Pole. Carroll rode alone on his first trip to Panama in 1951. Five months later he arrived in Panama on the ride of his life. Today that trip can be made over paved roads with gas stations and attendants who speak somewhat passable English. In the 1950's the road was sometimes paved and sometimes disappeared into the unknown. Markings on maps indicated roads that were built in the imaginations of Central American road builders. Weather and language made the journey even more perilous. But Carroll has the talent for making friends and his journey is the trek we all dream about. Two Wheels to Panama is a paperback book with an intriguing black and white cover photograph of a road building crew in Guatemala. It measures 11 inches long by 8 � inches in height and contains 144 pages on plain bond paper. The photos are all black and white. Forty percent of the book is text and the rest is photos. The captions are quite informative and interesting. There are 178 photographs showing the people and countries of Mexico and Central America. There is one map, in Spanish of course, because Carroll likes to challenge his readers. There are three displays and drawings of the bike he used in his travels.

The author has a no nonsense writing style and once he begins his story he works right straight through with photos and text. The Table of Contents lists eleven chapters, but they too merge into each other. What you get from Carroll is a good story and photographs that are as pertinent and perfect as a photographer can find and capture. Two Wheels to Panama is self-published by the author. Carroll begins his story by explaining his motives for taking such a hazardous trip alone. His business was floundering and he decided he needed to get away. Carroll had never envisioned traveling through Central America but suddenly the idea seemed logical. He purchased a B33 BSA 500 cc motorcycle and wrote to various groups soliciting donations. Magazines, U.S. farm programs and a Central American Railroad company came up with funding for the trip. His gear included motorcycle tools, tire patch kit, sleeping bag, tarp, cameras, war surplus aviator's jacket, logger's boots, sunglasses, suit, shoes and tie and plenty of adventuresome courage. He learned to look for Esso gasoline stations because they had the best maps. He crossed the border into Mexico at Nuevo Laredo without knowing a word of Spanish and headed south towards Mexico City. Carroll would spend less than $180 to make the trip and when he reached Panama he stayed for two years. He returned to the United States in 1953 in a Singer roadster. When I asked him why he stayed in Central America for so long, he said "it was at the request of the government and I can tell you, but then I would have to shoot you." I decided that I didn't have to know the answer to that question.

Mexico in 1950 seemed like such a peaceful and beautiful country. The photos show a well-dressed people who are happy, if somewhat poor. Cars, bicycles and horses provide the transportation. Northern Mexico was mostly barren high country with great beauty in its starkness. Carroll finds a cantina where a urinal runs down the bar so that men can drink and piss at the same time, showing proficiency at its best. The people show a great friendliness to Carroll and admiration for his bike. Monuments to Mexico's history were everywhere. Carroll would sleep at the nicest hotels, small wayside inns or in his sleeping bag on the side of a road. It is hard to tell whether the roads or the border guards gave him the greatest discomfort. Both could be easy to navigate or impossible to negotiate. Mexico was half the distance from the United States to Panama. He found himself stuck at the border of Guatemala by the Mexican guards who considered that he had entered the country illegally but his motorcycle had entered legally. Three weeks later the Mexican officials allowed him to leave. The Guatemalan border guards, in comparison, waved Carroll through after stamping his visa. He drove along idyllic roads and board covered bridges through the jungles, stopping for meals and gas for the bike. Most of the roads were dirt and unpaved and proved challenging. Men wore western clothing while the women dressed in traditional Indian garb. Most of the population of Guatemala is of Native American heritage. Road building crews worked with snail-like slowness in extending the roads across the country.

Each border station charged different fees. Some called it exit visas, while others were called 'Sunday' fees, for taking them away from their afternoon siestas. The next country that Carroll went through was El Salvador and compared to Guatemala, was a modern state, where the well-dressed guards even spoke a little English. Women often dressed in the western style and construction was everywhere. He left El Salvador and passed into Honduras without any trouble from the border guards, but the roads were little more than rocky roads and the traveling slow and bumpy. The capital of Honduras was Tegucigalpa and like most of the Central American cities had a medieval Spanish baroque look. Hondurans proved friendly and helpful and made up for the poor roads. From the Honduran border, Carroll passed into Nicaragua and made his way to Managua, the capital city. He tried an intoxicant that turned out to be a laxative. He then tried to find out where the restrooms were only to find that his command of Spanish sent him to a well, a bathtub and various other places. The roads and the trip were taking their toll on Carroll and the Nicaraguans seemed to be more difficult than people he had found elsewhere.

Freed from Nicaragua, Carroll entered Costa Rica and called it a wonderland. The border guards were friendly and efficient, unlike the trying situation on the Nicaraguan side. He motored south, crossed riverbeds, traveled on dirt roads and across log bridges, enjoying the beauty of Costa Rica. Carroll met Americans in Costa Rica who were working to map the area. He found himself stuck in a river crossing and had to be pulled out by a man on horseback who tossed him a rope. The roads were often non-existent or hopeless, but Costa Rica had a railroad system that kept goods and people moving. The capital city of Costa Rica was San Jose and it was a mixture of traditional Spanish and western architecture. Costa Ricans have a high level of literacy and many are bilingual, making communication easier for the traveler. He was ferried across a large lagoon, as there were no roads from southern Costa Rica into Panama. Carroll visited banana plantations and rural villages owned by the United Fruit Company. The story lingers for some time on his journeys in Costa Rica, but it is evident that Carroll enjoyed being there instead of the other Central American countries. His bike is loaded onto a railroad freight car and Carroll rides the last stage into Panama in comfort. Carroll takes only 5 days to ride his motorcycle through the roads of Panama and into the Canal Zone where his trip ends. Two Wheels to Panama is a delightfully true story for those who love to explore and go wherever their car or bikes will take them. It is a travelogue and adventure that is fun to read of a long vanished time before the Pan American roadway was completed.

Gone Racin' is at [email protected]. William Carroll and Auto Books Publishing can be reached at PO Bin 71, Raton, NM 87140, 1-505-445-4455 or email [email protected].

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Gone Racin'…Kustom Kulture Queens, by Mitzi. Book review by Richard Parks, photographic consultant Roger Rohrdanz.
The new breed of hot rodders refer to themselves as Traditional Hot Rodders. They have a culture all their own and they spell it Kulture, with a K. They customize their cars and they spell Kustom with a K as well. They differ from hot rodders of the past only in terminology and age; their passion for the automotive culture burns just as brightly as ours did. Their rebelliousness is just as passionate, for young or old, hot rodders hate waste, too many rules and being told they can't do something. It confuses the old timers, who simply saw themselves as car people. Hot rodder was a negative term that was turned into a name that defined a generation. Traditional hot rodders are the younger version of the breed, so what does that make us, Original hot rodders? Then we find that there are variations of hot rodders, the grungiest of them all are the rat rodders. It's enough to make a car guy's mind spin. But if we can get past the terms and names, what we find is a belief and a passion that comes from the very love of cars that we had as youth. In fact, the young people of today surround us at shows and pump us for every bit of knowledge that they can get out of us to explain what it was like in the "old days." I can't quite decide whether to feel honored or simply old. Nevertheless, Traditional hot rodders are here and they are passionate about their cars and their lifestyle and we ought to listen to them and see what they have done with our sport. Traditional hot rodders adapted what interested them and then took from our experiences that which benefited their values. They redefine what the term Retro means. These young men and women see in the late 1930's, '40's and early '50's as the Golden Age of hot rodding and they dress, live and exemplify the era. Who is there among our generation to dispute that assumption, although we know that it wasn't all roses growing up then, just as it isn't easy growing up today.

I'm not exactly sure how I came to know about Mitzi or her talents as a photographer and artist. I believe it was through the magazines like Ol' Skool Rodz, Car Kulture Deluxe, Skin and Ink and Dice Magazine. Or perhaps someone mentioned it to me at the Suede Palace, an exhibit of Traditional hot rodding at the Grand National Roadster show, promoted by our good friend John Buck. The young ladies, dressed as we remember them from the post World War II era, with the flouncy skirts, puffed hair and red, red lipstick, might have told me. A large selection of vendors sported the look of the Traditional hot rodders with the typical jeans, t-shirts, and other apparel at the show. It's hard not to reminisce and think back to a simpler and happier time. Their enthusiasm was infectious and I wasn't the only old man to smile as these lovely ladies with the '40's look took our arm and gave us that unique smile with the ruby lips. But enough of this; somehow I found Mitzi's website while writing that story on the Suede Palace. Perhaps I should just leave her name alone. Mitzi evokes the past. It's a name that you don't hear about much any more, but we all knew a Mitzi in our younger days. Her name is Mitzi Valenzuela Cardenas and she has been a photographer since she was fifteen years old. She started out doing landscape photography and looking for her particular style, to set her apart. Mitzi told me that she found that style and pays tribute to her photography instructor at Cal State Los Angeles. His name was Jack Butler and he happened to be a hot rod guy. Mitzi developed a style unique to her talents as a photographer. She embraced the ethic and heritage of the Traditional hot rodder and the pin-up girl tradition of the WWII years.
She stressed that she wasn't the first to do pin-up photography and credits many other artists and photographers who created the art form. She mentioned many great models, and especially Betty Page, as instrumental in popularizing pin-up art. Yet we have to give special recognition to Mitzi for her innovations and for bringing back this genre in her own and unique way. She began doing pin-up photography in 2004, maturing as the rest of the Traditional Hot Rodding Kulture began to emerge and prosper. Other photographers and artist emulated her style and she has competition today, a form of great flattery for all artists. Mitzi modernizes, not mimics the pin-up art form. Young ladies, mature matrons, the ordinary and the normal, come to her for a make-over and a dream. The results are stunning. The experience is made easier for the models and the aspiring dreamers, not only because the photographer herself is a woman, but because Mitzi understands the dream that her models are reaching out for. Mitzi provides wardrobe, hair, make-up, props, cars, lighting, background and atmosphere in her studio or in the field. Mitzi is proud of her studio, which is large enough to photograph hot rods, cars and bikes in. The studio gives her the tools to create the atmosphere that the client is looking for. Mitzi is patient and pleasant. Her husband, Kirk Cardenas, works in the movie industry creating and building sets, and he provides the background for the photo shoots. It's not quick and it's not simple. Make-up takes time and positioning and coaching are thorough. A typical pin-up session can last three hours or more. The prices are in line with a private family photography setting that takes the same time. Mitzi does group portraits, pin-up photos, calendar pin-ups, clothing and catalogs. The finished result brings back that WWII Betty Grable image or the grittier cheesecake photos of the '50's, but it is all tastefully done. At least as far as what is done today. It's the sort of photo that you can frame and put in your bedroom or on your husband or boyfriend's garage that you wouldn't mind if your father or grandchildren would see.
Kustom Kulture Queens, by Mitzi, is a hardcover, coffee table book, self-published by the author. The size is 8 � by 11 inches and has 80 pages, with 91 photographs, all by the author/photographer. The printer, Lulu.com, used a high-quality, waxed bond paper, which shows off the pictures to their fullest. There is a one page photo credit index and another page of text. There are no captions, except for the photo credits. The author printed 1000 copies and the price is $45. You can purchase the book at Mitzi and Co, 425 W. Allen Avenue, #107, San Dimas, California 91773, or call 626-825-2442. The models were alluring and the photography was excellent. The poses showed a great deal of inventiveness, for it is in the posing that a good photograph becomes great. The attitude of the model is either brought out by the photographer or forever hidden from view. It takes a talented artist within the photographer to bring out the essence of the model that will make that picture last forever. Most of the photos reached that intense level. Strange as it may seem, for a book about pin-ups and pretty girls, I wished there was more text. Coffee table books are supposed to be weak on text and strong on photographs and visual enhancements. But they are captioned. This book lacks captions and in one respect that makes the book better, not worse, for it forces the reader to fantasize and isn't that what a great artist is hoping for, that the reader creates their own world. Yet I wanted to know more about the artist's mood and feelings and something about the models too. The viewer wants to be a part of the moment too. Perhaps that's the voyeur in us all, or maybe it's simply that we want to experience the elation that we see in the faces of the models. Another aspect is that 80 pages is simply too short a book for the subject under discussion. 160 pages would have been just about right. To cut costs and keep the budget in line, the hardcover can be changed to soft cover, as color photographs are expensive to print. Hopefully, the author will produce more Traditional Hot Rod pin-up art books in the future. It is a subject that adds to the whole experience of what it is like to be a hot rodder's girl.

Gone Racin' is at [email protected].

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Random Pictures and Stories

The team is prepared to put everything into the eight car nitro battle and wrap up the summer. Top Fuel hot shoe Adam Sorokin is looking forward to a return to his alcohol Funny Car stomping grounds, and collecting another Governor's Cup to stand next to the one he already has. An eight-car field of AA/Fuel dragsters will join fearsome Outlaw Pro Mods, a grip of CIFCA Alcohol Funny Cars, and four afterburner-equipped Jet Cars for some drag racing action in the sun and under the lights in the California State Capitol. Qualifying action will run on the Friday night preceding the event, for not one but two evenings of header flames lighting up the night sky on the last few Summer nights of the 2009 season. The legend behind the 40th Annual running of the Governor's Cup is somewhat hazy. In an effort to make the drag race more official, Jumpin' John Durbin sent out an invitation to the Governor himself to cut the ribbon at the race track. The Lieutenant Governor showed up instead, and there has been a Governor's Cup every year since. The top fuel dragster battle is the last of the summer before fall beckons the vintage drag racing gang south to Bakersfield for the 18th NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion. Sacramento Raceway and Governor's Cup Event Information
WHO: Champion Speed Shop
WHAT: Supercharged Small Block Chevy on Nitromethane
WHEN: Saturday, September 19th 2009
WHERE Sacramento Raceway Park. 5305 Excelsior Road Sacramento, CA 95827
WHY: Nitromethane Under the Lights
HOW: Get to Sacramento Raceway Park
www.Championspeedshop.com. From Mike Bumbeck

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Captions:
Click Here For Mike Cook's Shootout document.  Sent in by Ron Main

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Karl had registered the car (DRP 37435) two years earlier and had been improving it ever since. Karl thought people would shun the contraption. But not his wife –“ she believed in the project. So she and her sons set out on a long distance adventure to prove the worth of the "horseless carriage." They pushed the car far enough down the road to avoid waking Karl and then started it up. They left Mannheim and headed to Pforzheim with Bertha not really having a route, but knowing she needed to pass through towns to get precious gasoline for the engine.
Gasoline was sold in pharmacies in very small bottles and used for stain removal. Mrs. Benz bought the entire supply at her first stop – a half-gallon. There were mechanical probleems to overcome. A clogged carburetor was cleaned with a hatpin. A broken ignition cable was fixed with a garter. A blacksmith was enlisted to help with a broken chain and a cobbler helped to reline the brake with leather. The sun was setting when the weary troupe met with their last obstacle. A steep hill was too much for the small engine. A couple farm boys helped push the car up the hill. Bertha sent Karl a telegram telling him they had made it. The three travelers returned home the next day.
Mercedes-Benz, the German car manufacturer, began business in 1881. Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach joined Karl Benz and changed the design of carriages. They removed the horse and added an engine. Today, they are a subsidiary of Daimler AG. They make a number of prestige cars – including the Popemobile. They also produce buses, vans, trucks, and bicycles. Karl died at age 84 in 1929. Bertha lived until 1944. Their home is now the Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz Foundation's headquarters.
"People only buy what they know. First you must show them your wares, then they will jump at the opportunity." – Bertha Benz

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Captions: Photographs sent in by Ron Main.

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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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