Header__ARTICLEShorter
line12
slsrh-logo1

NEWSLETTER 46 - February 27, 2008
Editor: Richard Parks

Click For Large Images

Russetta Clubs in '49

President's Corner: By Jim Miller.
When you think of Land Speed Racing the first thing that usually comes to mind is Bonneville and El Mirage. That means BNI/SCTA, or does it. There was another group that had a lot of muscle up till around 1960 and that was Russetta. The word comes from Roman times and means Red Chariot. Just think of Ben-Hur and racing around in circles behind a team of high-horsepower 4-legged animals. The group formed before WWII as a club and held its own private meets.

In May of 1948 the group held its first meet as a real timing association. Russetta was made up of a bunch of clubs. See if any of these sound familiar; A.R.C. (American Racing Club), Arabs, Cam Pounders, Choppers, Coupes, Dusters, Gazelles, G.C.R.C. (Glendale Coupe and Roadster Club), Hi-Winders, Howlers, Hutters, Nighthawks, Pan Draggers, Prowlers, Revs, Roadents, Road Hogs, Road Rascals, Rod Riders, Rotors, Screechers, Screwdrivers, Taft Roadster Club, Throttle Merchants, Turtles, Velociteers and Vultures. These were active clubs at the August '49 meet. Hope they bring up some fond memories. I've attached a drawing from that program by Robert Martinez depicting some of the clubs. Enjoy the memories until next time.

Vics pix1

The Drake lives again. Vic Enyart
Vic: Thank you for the photograph. Do you have any details?

In regards to a relationship between Art Tilton and Martha Tilton (the big band singer) my wife, Claire, asked Liz Tilton's (Martha's sister) daughter if Art could have been a brother or cousin or ?. She said there was not an Art Tilton in their family and had no knowledge about Art Tilton. In all the 50+ years that we have known Liz and Martha and their Mother there was never a mention of an Art Tilton. I did send a copy of your Newsletter article on Martha to her with your email address should she want to add anything. Don Montgomery   Don: The family did respond, see below. Thank you for clarifying this for us. It helps to stop errors and rumors from spreading. That is just the type of effort that the readers give us that keeps the facts straight and our knowledge of the past more correct. We tend to see the past from our views in the present, which any historian can tell us is a process filled with potential for error. We still want to learn more about the early men and women in land speed racing and hot rodding. All biographies are welcome.

Dear Mr. Parks, I received your e-mail regarding Art Tilton from my dear friend Don Montgomery. I am Martha Tilton's niece and Liz Tilton's daughter Holly. I'm afraid that Art Tilton is not a name that I am familiar with. He is definitely not their brother. If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know. Sincerely, Holly Chabre   Dear Holly: Thank you for your reply. Don Montgomery is a friend and a prolific writer of books on the hot rodding culture. I've reviewed all of his books and I edit the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians Newsletter. For reference, you can see it at www.landspeedracing.com . Someone mentioned that Martha Tilton was the sister of Art Tilton, a World War II veteran and fighter pilot who died while on a training mission. Art Tilton was a co-founder with many others in the SCTA, an early group of hot rodders who went on to found some of the successful speed equipment companies after the war. Our group is interested in the history of hot rodding, the car culture, WWII and land speed racing and someone brought up the point that Art and Martha Tilton were siblings. Naturally we asked our readers if this was true and Don informed us that our belief was in error. Nevertheless, many of us remember hearing Martha Tilton sing and we included her biography in our newsletter because she represents an important period in the culture. Many early hot rodders also worked in the movie industry. It was an exciting time and though we are more distant to the entertainment world today than we were in the 1940's, it is still important to us. Thank you for confirming a fact we held in error and we wish you and your family all the very best. If there were any hot rodders in your family that you would like to discuss, we would love to hear their stories. 

Editor's notes: The following Gear Grinders Club minutes for January 2008 were received. Personal remarks not germaine to racing was left out. Anyone who is a member of a club and would like to send us minutes will be most appreciated. The purpose is to inform.
Ron Benham passed away (1931-2008). He loved his life, his family, and his friends; but his great passion in life was building one-of-a-kind Bonneville race cars. Many of the cars that he built held land speed records - some even to this day. He had a unique talent for pushing the envelope to the next level. He will always be remembered for his great sense of humor, love towards his family and friends, and his gifted mechanical ability.
Anthony Young's son was killed in Iraq on Monday.
Bruce Crower is in the hospital and is not doing very well.
Insurance - Old carrier no longer insures racers, so we are waiting on new quotes from recommended companies.
Awards - Recognition Award was given to John Bjorkman from the SCTA for years of volunteerism and special construction category - Congratulations!
Gear Grinder Store - Eric Ross has volunteered to run it. Several people requested we order jackets.
El Mirage Course Prep - Saturday, May 10th 2008, and Saturday, November 8th, 2008, no more double duty for next 5 years.
New Club Reps - Dan Chilson, Mark Vigeant, & John Drake. New Alternate Reps - Bob Sights & Bob Webb.
Calloway Gate - No longer able to enter or exit during an El Mirage event.
Points Change - Unanimously voted "No" on changing the points system.
Sunday Rookie Orientation - Unanimously voted "Yes" on getting rid of the Sunday Orientation.
Going Out The Back & Side Door - Unanimously voted "No" on all recommendations from the SCTA Board Meeting. Unanimously voted "Yes" on taking a recommendation back to the SCTA Board to look at each incident individually.
Gear Grinder Meeting Time - Unanimously voted "Yes" on changing the meeting time to 7:00 p.m.
By-Law Change Committee - Van Butler, Bob Chilson, Dan Chilson, John Bjorkman, John Drake, Mark Vigeant, Bob Sights Sr, Bob Sykes Jr, & Bob Stahl. By-Law & Patrol Duty Changes - To be emailed and mailed out on Monday. Please Read over so we can discuss them and vote on them at the March meeting. If you plan on not attending please email, mail, or phone your comments to Heather Black and she will give them to Van Butler at the March meeting so they can be read to the club.
Open Discussion: Fossett racing is looking for a woman driver to drive their jet-powered car. If anyone is interested please contact Ahlstrom via e-mail at [email protected]. The team says all driver candidates are required to bring sponsorship to the table along with their other qualifications.
Permanent Duties: Chief Timer Frank Scott. Chief Timer Emeritus Glen Barrett. Assistant Chief Timer/CB Announcer Bob Webb and Ron Bell. Assistant Timers Bob Oppermann, Alan Rice, James Rice, Ron Bell and Ruth MacLean. Communication Equipment Bob Sykes Jr. Emergency Response Trailer Maintenance Keith Black, Craig Black and Crew and Gear Grinder Club. Timing Equipment Maintenance Frank Scott, Bob Oppermann, Alan Rice, James Rice and Gear Grinder Club. Set Up and Take down of Timing Traps and Timing Trailer Frank Scott, Bob Oppermann, Alan Rice, James Rice and Gear Grinder Club. Transport of Timing Trailer for El Mirage Only Dan Chilson and Rick MacLean. Safety Patrol Coordinator/Assistant Safety Patrol Coordinator George Vose and Howard Hoffman. Motorcycle Inspection & Transport, Setup, & Take down of Motorcycle Inspection Trailer Russ O'Daly.
El Mirage Pre-Stage Line Stewards Steve Field and Max Kranz. El Mirage Pre-Inspection and Greeters Bob Sights Sr and Judy Sights. Timing Trailer, ERT Trailer and Motorcycle Inspection Trailer Responsibilities Frank Scott, Russ O'Daly and Gear Grinder Club. Shutdown Rover To Be Determined. 2008 El Mirage Safety Patrols: (To Be Finalized By March Meeting) May 17-18, 2008. June 22, 2008. July 20, 2008. September 14, 2008. October 26, 2008. November 15-16, 2008. The patrols are responsible for their assignment. Patrol positions are 11 Return Road and 11 Spectator Side. You need to be at the Starting line at 7am on Race Day. These positions are drawn from the club roster in alphabetical order, starting with the last patrol members name from the November meet of the previous year. The Secretary will assign the names with the established criteria of past years. The patrols are published by the February club meeting in order to have a current roster and time for you to put the date on your social calendar as a reminder. George Vose is the Patrol Coordinator and will be in charge of all patrols. If something should happen to a club member and they cannot stand their patrol, it is up to that club member to get his/her replacement from the Gear Grinder roster (you all should have a current club roster to use). If you cannot find a replacement, please ask George Vose and see if he can find a volunteer to stand your patrol. The club member that misses their assigned patrol will have to make up a patrol at a later date (non alphabetical placement), you will not be excused. The by-laws say the board can fine you up to $100 and you can be voted out of the club. Remember, that it's your responsibility to find a Gear Grinder club member to stand your patrol. You will need to call George Vose and inform him of any swap ASAP. If he does not answer please leave a message.
Important Dates to Remember: 2008 Gear Grinder Club Meetings - January 3rd, February 7th, March 6th, April 3rd, May 1st, June 5th, July 3rd, August 7th, September 4th, October - depends on world finals, November 6th, December 4th. 2007 Gear Grinder Awards Banquet, Saturday March 22, 2008 @ NHRA Museum 10 am to 4 pm. 2007 SCTA Awards Banquet January 2008. Next Gear Grinder Club Meeting: March 6, 2008 @ 7pm (The First Thursday of every month unless there is a conflict with holidays or other dates) Dad Miller's Golf Course, Greenside Caf�.

SCTA Reps meeting report: - January 2008 (Minutes from December approved & passed.) BNI Report: Speedweek will stay at 7 days. Inspection will be on Sunday. Race Monday thru Sunday. Course Prep fee will go up $10 from $25 to $35. El Mirage fee to stay at $40. 2008 will be the 60th Anniversary. Class changes will be $300. Save the Salt - Russ Ayres to take over treasurer duties. Pumping to start 2/23/08. PRI Show/SFI/MT Tires - Roy Creel to attend as a rep. 18" Tires if anyone is interested call Roy Creel right away. They are approximately $800 each plus shipping. These are 18" rim, 26 �" diameter streamliner tires. The 18” x 30” are still in stock as of one month ago. Rule Book; All the ad space is sold and they are just waiting for Lee Kennedy to provide pictures of roll cage and verify one record before the book can go to print. El Mirage Property Report - New building has a leak in the roof and a hole in the back of the building that needs fixing. Well shed is done and the water valve is ok. Tiny's trailer got a new window to fix the leak. The water quality of the well is still very bad. We need a volunteer to manage SCTA property for 2008. West End Grading - Wet Car Tech - Head Restraints - Hans - Hutchins - Look on website. ISP will cover your plates that attach to your roll cage in the helmet area. Send them pieces to be covered and they will send them back. ISP is on the web. Motorcycle Tech - Lots of first time callers. They have had 15 calls from people outside the U.S. on how they can run. Dana Wilson to get with "Focus" again to do the taxes. BNI Membership fee up $10 from $60 to $ 70. Timing Trailer - Wheel bearings & brakes need servicing. Mark Vigeant volunteered to do the work when the trailer is down in Irwindale.

Reps meeting report: - February 2008, Minutes from January approved & passed. Treasurer's Report - Business as usual. BNI Report - BNI By-Laws have been revised, checked over by lawyers, and passed. They will be printed and handed out to the clubs.
$11,000.00 has been spent for a wire trailer and the trailer will be left at Bonneville. Cost of Bonneville racing has gone up: Pre-Entry - Last year $300 - This year $400. Broken Down - $360 plus $35 Course Prep. Post Entry - add $200 ($600 total). Class Changes - $300. Pit Pass - Unchanged. Day Pass - Up from $10 to $15. Course Prep Fee - Up from $25 to $35. There will no longer be 3% performance award trophies. BNI Membership Dues - $70. No Camping on salt this year. This year, same as last, if you are an SCTA member, you do not need to join BNI to run Bonneville. BNI Proposal - Reducing Lines - Option A, B, C that you were asked to vote on. All clubs except the Gear Grinders voted for "C." The Gear Grinders presented the board with a membership tally and all suggestive letters that were written. Save the Salt - Intrepid had troubles with one pump, but two are still working. Pumping will start February 2nd and will run for six weeks. After which, a tonnage will be tallied and reported. BNI Treasurer's Report - Business as usual. Club Duties for El Mirage - No Changes, but "Back Door Patrol" by Gear Grinders is up for review after the Cummings/Bates crash. Further discussion on this will happen at the March Board/Reps meeting. Awards Banquet - Great job Bobby Sykes! Bob will look at the Double Tree for next year. SCTA Property Report: Water situation - They had the water checked and had an estimate of $120,000 to make it drinkable. Another estimate of $20,000 to $25,000 to drill deeper to try and get better water, but no guarantee.
Water situation - Continue to haul water in at $60 for a 2000 gallon load which will last for one month. And another option is $3,500 for an Ion machine with a guarantee that if it doesn't work, they will buy it back. No Vote Was Made. Sewer line to be installed.
SCTA-BLM Meeting - The BLM has come up with a fee schedule for 2008. BLM wanted to start in February but will put it off until October maybe. The fee is $75 per year pass for SCTA Members. This to include your tow vehicle with trailer and two other vehicle passes. This is discounted $20, plus includes the two vehicle passes. Pass will only be good for race weekends and other SCTA related events. BLM will not check for passes coming onto the lakebed, just coming off. So expect long lines. SCTA Donation of $1200 to BLM for Gates enabled BLM to fund and install gates. Proposal for an El Mirage race vehicle speed sign given by Jim Dunn was shot down. SCTA Board would like to have rule changes submitted all year long so that there is time to send proposals to committees for review. And they have the committee's recommendations ready for the rules meeting in October. El Mirage entry fee for 2008 will remain the same at $40. 

SCTA Dates:
2008 SCTA Race Dates - El Mirage: May 17-18, June 22, July 20, September 14, October 26, November 15-16.
2008 Bonneville Speedweek: August 18- 24, Inspection on August 17.
2008 Bonneville World Finals: October 8 - 11.
2008 Board/Rep's Meetings In Irwindale: January 4, March 7, May 30, July 25, September 19, November 21.
2008 Board/Rep's Meetings in Anaheim: February 1, April 4, June 27, August 29, October 31, December 5.

Bill Groak sent along a calendar for events at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona:
1 March 2008: Museum board member Steve Gibbs and Dusty McWilliams will host a special seminar, "Rebuilding the Rattler." Gibbs and McWilliams will work on the legendary Top Fuel dragster in the "Wally's Garage" section of the Museum while Mike Kuhl of the Kuhl & Olson team will provide commentary. Sponsored by A&EDesign.com, American Shine Products, Classic Industries, Pyrotec E3, GoJaks (Zendex Tool Corp.), Grand Products and Injen Technologies, the $20 seminar provides a unique look inside the world of automotive restorations. The ticket price includes Museum admission and refreshments.
2 April 2008: the Prolong® Twilight Cruise Nights season begins. On the first Wednesday night of each month through December, it's hot rod heaven at the Museum. The popular events feature free admission to the Museum, and a chance to see hundreds of street rods, hot rods and muscle cars in the parking lots. Celebrity judges choose four "Budweiser Picks" winners at each event.
2 April 2008: is also the opening day for an exhibit honoring the 60th Anniversary of Hot Rod Magazine, which runs through October. Parks was the first full-time editor of Hot Rod and the magazine has chronicled the sport and set the standard for hot rods. Opens to public at 3 pm.
7 May 2008: the Museum opens a second new exhibit, "Coker Tire/Honest Charley Anniversary: A Tribute to American Ingenuity." The exhibition celebrates Coker Tire's 50th anniversary and Honest Charley's 60th. Opened in 1948, Honest Charley's was one of the earliest "speed shops" in America. The exhibit runs through November 16th.
13-15 June 2008: Off the grounds, the Museum will produce the Sixth Annual Holley NHRA Hot Rod Reunion, presented by SoffSeal, at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The event returns to its traditional home at the nostalgic race track, which features covered grandstands. The Reunion attracts tens of thousands to the park by the river.
2 August 2008: "Trophy Queens," a photo exhibit on the glamour girls of racing runs through August, 2009.
27 August 2008: Ford Racing Tribute honoring 60 years of NASCAR runs through March 1, 2009.
September: The Museum remains open in September during the Los Angeles County Fair, but a fair admission ticket is required for entry to the Museum during that period. Entry to the Museum is $1 extra.
10-12 October 2008: the Museum will produce the 17th Annual Automobile Club of Southern California Hot Rod Reunion at legendary Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield.
Current exhibits at the Museum are:
The 70th anniversary of the Southern California Timing Association provides a retrospective of the historic association that sanctions land speed records. Parks was among the founders of the group. The exhibit continues through June.
"Bakersfield: A Salute to the March Meet - 50 Years of Racing," continues through August.
"Barris Kustoms: The Life and Times of George Barris, King of the Kustomizers," concludes its run in February.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary and named for the founder of the National Hot Rod Association, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California houses the very roots of hot rodding. Scores of famous vehicles spanning American motorsports history are on display, including winning cars representing 50 years of drag racing, dry lakes and salt-flat racers, oval track challengers and exhibits describing their colorful backgrounds. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm, PST. Current NHRA members are admitted free and Auto Club members enjoy a $2 discount. Admission for non-members is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors 60 and older, $5 for juniors six through 15, and free for children under the age of five. The Museum is also available for private parties, meetings, corporate events, weddings and special group tours. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is located at Fairplex Gate 1, 1101 W. McKinley Avenue in Pomona. For further information on special exhibits, museum events or directions, call 909/622-2133 or visit
http://museum.nhra.com. PCGCampbell, 2340 Plaza Del Amo Suite 130, Torrance, CA 90501-3452 United States

March Meet, March 7-9, 2008. This year is special: they are celebrating 50 years of racing. Auto Club Famoso Raceway, 33559 Famoso Rd, McFarland, CA 93250 (20 miles north of Bakersfield). 
LATEST NEWS: Don “the Snake” Prudhomme & Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen named Grand Marshals. Fans can post their March Meet Memories online. Bill Groak

I don’t know if you’re aware of the upcoming inaugural Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance in Palm Springs, California. It will be held on March 1, 2008 at the historic O’Donnell Golf Course. They are accepting cars up to February 28th, if you are interested in participating. In addition to the concours their will be a tour on February 29, 2008 with a visit to the Bob Pond Collection. Here’s a short description from their website at www.desertconcours.com – In creating the inaugural Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance, we are stepping back in time. The California sports car races of the 1950s were unparalleled social events that cultivated automotive enthusiasm in a post war America. These road races were the training ground for a generation of bigger than life drivers, piloting what have become today's most celebrated competition collector cars. The wicker basket festivities of the Paddock and Parking area of the races have evolved into the modern Concours. The focus of post-war enthusiasm were the races at Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Paramount Ranch, Torrey Pines, Pomona, Riverside and of course through the Del Monte Forest. The grids were filled with the MGs & Jaguars, Alfa Romeos & Oscas, Bristols & Healeys, Aston Martins & Allards, Kurtis & Corvettes, Ferraris & Maseratis, Porsches & Cal specials that defined an era. The Paddocks were filled with Sunbeam Alpines & Mercedes Gull-wings, MG Magnettes & Fiat sedans, Buick Roadmasters & Chevy Nomads. All with a tartan blanket, tool box, sandwiches and thermos. In the Parking area were the great automobiles of the pre-war era: Bugattis & Bentleys, Packards & Rolls Royce, Duesenbergs & Delahayes, Delages & Isotta Fraschinis, Hispanos & Cadillacs, all pulled out of the garage for a weekend of driving and social activity. The Desert Concours d'Elegance will reflect this Pits, Paddock and Parking area spirit in the way the cars are displayed on the O’Donnell Golf Course. The teams of participating judges are a discerning bunch, who currently set the standards for Concours events internationally. Maserati will be the featured Marque. This sentimental favorite will be showcased in its many competition cars from the 1950s, its superb road cars thereafter, to the firm's current examples of road going superlatives. If you have any questions the organizers can be contacted at [email protected] . Edward R. Justice, Jr, President & CEO, Justice Brothers, Inc, 2734 Huntington Drive / Duarte, California 91010. 626-359-9174 / 626-357-2550 FAX, website: www.justicebrothers.com.

We have some very important information to pass along to all of you who may be buying a car online. We have heard of two instances where buyers thought they were buying cars in Canada and actually wired money, $30k in one case and $100k in another case and it turned out there was no car, these were experienced car buyers and even they were fooled. The guy was a scammer and knew how to talk "the talk" to these car buyers and now these guys are pretty much out their money. These were NOT cars on Hotrodhotline.com. They were on two other online publications and I must tell you that when these publications were notified they would not even give out the information they did have available to them regarding the seller, citing privacy policies. That would not happen here, if our visitors are being ripped off we would cooperate fully with you. There are some important safeguards that may help you avoid being scammed, see www.hotrodhotline.com. Mary Ann Lawford

Leslie Long is working on a comprehensive history and result sheet for the Santa Ana Drags, from the opening date in 1950 to the close of the drag strip. He is looking for photographs and result sheets and for first hand help in identifying the cars, drivers and spectators. If you can help, call Leslie at 714-921-1814. NHRA announcer, Bob Frey, has a personal hobby of saving and recording every drag race every run. He has a huge collection of result sheets and is looking for more. While this concerns the early days of drag racing, we should also work to find all the result sheets of dry lakes and land speed racing records set by all the various national and international sanctioning bodies; i.e. SCTA, FIA, Russetta, Western, Muroc, Bell, etal.

line

Members:

Jonathan Amo, Brett Arena, Henry Astor, Gale Banks, Glen Barrett, Mike Bastian, Lee Blaisdell, Jim Bremner, Warren Bullis, George Callaway, Gary Carmichael, 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, Dick Martin, Ron Martinez, Tom McIntyre, Don McMeekin, Bob McMillian, Tom Medley, Jim Miller, Don Montgomery, Bob Morton, Mark Morton, Paula Murphy, 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.

line12

 

 

 

line12
[www.hotrodhotline.com] [2008 Shows] [Barn & Field Cars] [Blast to the Past] [Book Reviews] [Build Articles] [Buyers Guide] [Classifieds] [Club Directory] [Event Listings] [From our Friends] [Garage Shots] [Guest Columnists] [Hotrod MD] [New Products] [Newsletter Archive] [Order a Catalog] [Our Heroes] [Press Releases] [Rodders Forum] [Rodders Row] [Shop Tours] [Vendors Directory] [Advertising Info] [Young Rodders] [Modern Rods] [Site Map]

Email Hotrod Hotline

Email Land Speed Racing

Copyright 1999 - 2008 Hot Rod Hot Line All Rights Reserved
No Portion May Be Used Without Our Written Permission
Contact Us Toll Free (877) 700-2468 or (208) 562-0470
230 S. Cole Rd, Boise, ID 83709