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NEWSLETTER 51 - March 26, 2008
Editor: Richard Parks

President's Corner: By Jim Miller.
  Last time I talked a little about records, National and International as well as local and how confusing it all is. While thinking about it I looked through a couple of books on the shelf as usual for inspiration. One I didn't find was one my grandfather had gotten from M.G. in '47 covering the runs of Goldie Gardner, when he ran his streamliner in Germany before WWII, that was sanctioned by Hitler's propaganda machine. I'll do a story on it when I find it. But as luck would have it I found something that might be of interest to you. The little gem measures about 3" by 6" and covers some stock car records set at the Atlantic City, New Jersey, board track in July and August of 1927. Seems car manufacturers were big on records at this time to help sell their products. One of these was E. L. Cord's Auburn automobile. Consisting of 24 pages, it covers the event pretty good. Cord went for broke and showed up with not one, but three different cars for three different classes. They were; Closed Car, Three Hundred Inch Stock Car and Unlimited Stock Car. Now get this, the closed car, a model 8-88 four-door Brougham with a trunk hung on the back was not picked off the assembly line as was usual for stockers, but bought back by the factory from a private party. It even had 7500 miles on it, that's gutsy. Board tracks weren't the safest places to run and the Jersey track one of those. It had only seen three race dates and had been closed for months before the runs took place. To add insult to injury, it even rained and was foggy. Imagine workmen on the track with hammer and nail keeping the place from falling apart, it really happened. In fact the sedan crashed at about 2500 miles and landed on its head. After wasting time for photo ops, fender removal and bailing wire to hold the body together, it rejoined the fray. A little note on timing the event is also interesting. Four 12-gauge cables were stretched across the track about an inch above it and the tires would run over them to trip the electric clocks. After awhile these cut groves in the track due to the repeated hammering of the wheels, so think what it did to the tires and to the driver's hands. If you added up all of the A.A.A. timed events from the three previous, they didn't even come close to equaling this one event. In all, nine drivers shared the wheel of the three car trial and established 71 new speed and distance records over a ten night and day period. The records ranged from one hour to 240 hours and five miles to 15,000 miles. The fastest speed was for the one hour mark at 75.747 mph. The slowest speed of any of the records was 61.377 mph for 15,000 miles. Take a little time to reflect on the chore of driving ten days straight at 60 mph on a buckboard, no power steering, no heater or air conditioning, no CD player, or Mickey D snacks and one even without a door in the rain. Mighty amazing! My hat's off to the drivers, Ed Appleback, Bert McInnis, Eddie Miller, James Gleason, Fred Winnai, Ralph Hepburn, Bob Thompson, Erv Skoien and Bob Miller.

Mousie Marcellus was admitted to Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, yesterday (March 18?) to undergo hip replacement surgery. The surgery went very well and Mousie is resting in great spirits. His recovery stay there is expected to last 3-5 days and will return home thereafter. More to follow as information becomes available. If you would like to send your get well wishes to him, you can mail them to: Mousie Marcellus, c/o Ken Williams, P.O. Box 293, Cypress, California 90630.  Roger Rohrdanz

Ralph Foster, member of the Gear Grinders, is in the hospital. He's in room 229 at West Anaheim Memorial Hospital. 

Dry Lakes Hall of Famer Neil Thompson just got out of the hospital. Neil got into the Bonneville 2 club in the mid-1960's.

Eric Rickman was in a car accident and he and his wife, Virginia, were banged up pretty good. Rickman is a Hall of Fame photographer and has been active since the '40's. "Disaster: on way to docs. Virginia ran a red light. CRASH totaled her car. Broke her knee cap, much chest bruising. Broke my left wrist, arm in cast (hunt and peck) brought on gallstone attack, total agony. Virginia's grandson here, male nurse he is helping us. Love to all.  E. Rick"

Did I miss something, I could not find the Pictures (in issue #49)? Ronnie Gram
Ronnie: At first I didn't know the answer, but here's what I found out. The emailed version of the newsletter has TEXT only, no photographs. When the website operator sends out the newsletter by email, sending out the photos would make the newsletter too large in terms of pixels. Thirty of these newsletter would equal just ONE photograph. So if you want to see the photographs, then you have to go to www.landspeedracing.com or www.hotrodhotline.com or one of the other websites that are linking to these two websites. Once on the websites, you can see all the photos and back issues of the newsletters.

I read Land Speed Louise's article on the organization and would like to become a member. I am a member and officer of the Juggers Racing Team, based in Northern California and founded in 1953. We have several members who were land speed racing back then, and our best known current member is Dave MacDonald, a member of the Bonneville Hall of Fame. We should be able to interview several of the members who raced a long time ago and gather some of their photos. If there are any other suggestions as to how our club can help, please let me know. Sincerely, John Lewis, Go 4 It Racing
John: Welcome to the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians. Go to www.landspeedracing.com and sign in. There are no fees, dues or duties. Links there will take you to other sites which carry the SLSRH Newsletter and other topics. Once signed in, the operators will send you an email version of the newsletter, but you can also go to the sites and read the back issues in their archives. As you write biographies and histories, send them in to me and I will publish these stories in the newsletter. Thank you for your interest in our group. Richard

Re: the SCTA meet in 1945. As others have probably told the first official SCTA lakes meet after the war was on October 21,1945 at Rosemont lake. Apparently it had originally been scheduled for October 7, 1945, but it was actually run on the 21st. The program listed Boswell Willis-President, Mel Leighton-Treasurer and Thatcher Darwin as Secretary. It also stated that SCTA would run under the 1942 rules for the 1945 season. There were about 100 or so entries. Without looking it up I believe Don Blair's time of 134 mph was the top time. Comments I heard said the lake bed was very poor. Several pictures in my books were taken at that meet including the ones of Tommy Lee's Talbot-Lago and Alfa Grand Prix car. Probably Jack Underwood has more on this and a peek at Veda Orr's SCTA News may also answer questions about the thinking of the SCTA Board. Best regards, Don Montgomery
Don: That's what I heard as well. I've sent an email to Thatcher Darwin, the last living board member living today that was on the board prior to WWII. Maybe he can tell us more about that period of time. Bozzie Willis was one of the nicest men I've known, but he was always being hounded for one thing or another. Ak Miller used to get so angry when the SCTA members would pick on Willis. I've rarely seen Ak get mad, but when I mention certain guys, Tony Capanna was one, Ak would actually cuss. Capanna would stand up in the meetings and yell out, "What did you do with the money, Bozzie." Those of you that are on the SCTA board today will probably smile or wince a bit and say, "some things never change." I knew them all, Bozzie, Ak and Tony and liked them all. They made the SCTA what it is and their legacy will live on.

The pictures are all on the online newsletter. First sentence of the newsletter says, "To See the newsletter with photos go to www.landspeedracing.com. " Mary Ann Lawford
The editor wrote --- John: I don't know, but I will contact the operator of the website and ask.
John Chambard wrote --- Richard, I don't get the Pix. are they attached or what format? John Chambard
Readers: We have our answer, the EMAILED newsletter is text only. To see the photographs it is necessary to go to www.landspeedracing.com and go to the issue of the newsletter in question to view them.

You told me once that you know Bob "Indian Red" Nichols .... what would be the chance of having you stop by his place sometime and do a story? He is such an icon in the Motorcycle field and racing so would love to do something more on him for both MC site and HRHL. Let me know if you think you could find time to do this. Thanks, Mary Ann
Mary Ann: I'll notify Roger and try and schedule a time to see Bob.

Fred Lobello called here looking for you today...he does have your phone number...but he wasn't sure it was your number...I told him I would email you with his number in case he didn't reach you. What a great guy to talk to...Mary Ann Lawford
Mary Ann: He's on my list to call for an interview.

There were no pictures attached from El Mirage/Fossett car (in the newsletter). Paula Murphy
Paula: That's correct. To see photos you have to go to the website at www.landspeedracing.com to see them. The newsletter can't send out photos because they would take up too much space when they send the newsletter out to hundreds of people at a time. Go to the website and the photos should be there.

On your landspeed web site (and thank you for having this) you have a list of members including the likes of Landspeed Louise, and many others who I know and some I don't. I have been a racer for many years and would like to join this list. Please let me know what I need to do to join this list. Thank you. John Backus LSR record holder and former fuel dragster driver.
John: At one time we were listing every member who joined, but we've had to stop that as the list is getting too large now. The membership and newsletter lists are free and you can get an emailed weekly newsletter by simply going to www.landspeedracing.com and signing in, or to the other websites and read the current newsletter on site. Old issues of the newsletter are archived on some sites. We concentrate on land speed and hot rodding from the 1890's to the present, with an emphasis on the 1930's through the 1950's. Early drag racing is accepted, but we cut it off by the end of the 1950's, because there are a great many drag blogs that cover drag racing. This is a working site, which means that we ask all our members to provide their biographies and their knowledge to the site. We want to preserve and save our history and heritage and this site is dedicated to just that purpose.

I'm sure I was at that Rosamond meet but I can't recall the details of any related controversy. It was right after the war, we were axious to get going again and we were probably long on enthusiasm and short on organization! Now that Don Montgomery has brought it up, I do have a vague recollection of some organizational glitch about that first meet. It was probably just a lack of coordination. I remember now that there was also some question about safety as the lake surface was not as good as usual. As for your father's being "angry" with Bozzy, if that were the case, I'm sure it was very temporary. He and I and Bozzy were all very close friends (Funny - I don't remember Bozzy being SCTA president - must have been only for a short time. I always thought of him as V.P.). Mel Leighton was a wonderful guy - fun to be with, as were the Millers, Cannons, Seely and so many others! About Karl and Veda - that was something else! They weren't exactly team players. Karl was cantankerous, Veda was very prickly and they tended to be hard to get along with. I remember Karl's referring to Bozzy contemptuously as "that old gran-maw, Bozzy Willis!" When I last saw your father at the WinterNationals, we still joked about that! They had their own little clique of friends and were what we would now term "loose cannons!" (That metaphor didn't come into use until much later!) I wish I could be more helpful, but after 60 years the details of some of these events have grown hazy! Thanks to Don Montgomery for bringing that first post-war meet back to mind! Thatcher Darwin
Thatcher: The SLSRH often asks questions that seem gossipy, but I can assure the readers that it is not. Since most of us were not there at the time, we have to make sense from what people said and did. To understand that Ak Miller was "playful," while Karl Orr was "difficult," is to grasp why each of these men and women acted the way that they did. Orr was very hard to deal with, but his contributions cannot be overlooked or minimized. He was a stalwart and looming presence and he and his wife Veda helped to make the SCTA successful.

As far as I can tell there was no offer to sell my tapes. I left a message for the complainant to tell me where he saw anything about selling tapes and he never called back. So I think the case is closed. My conversation with you raised interesting questions about what information is available, on what basis, about whom, in what media … and a bunch of other things that I bump into during my research, and I suppose you do too. The computer has put us all on display. Not much we can do about it. It’s a new World with new, unwritten rules … and advancing and changing so fast that rules will never catch up. One hopes that some form of civility will survive! Keep in touch. Ken Berg
Ken: The reason for publishing your letter is to let other readers know that "ownership" of what we do is often a touchy subject. Each of us as historians records text, photographs and memorabilia that helps to preserve the past, but it is also our own personal property. We must be dilligent in reporting the facts, yet respect the property rights of others and you had every right to ask that your historical research be protected.

On Saturday, March 22, 2008 the Gear Grinders (EST.) 1938 had their 70th anniversary held at the NHRA museum in Pomona. The turn out was large and the food great. The display of LSR cars and the display of memorabilia much of which was part of Wally Parks collection plus what many racers have loaned to the museum can take a few hours to absorb. Take your camera. Cars on display are the Mickey Thompson Challenger, Al Teague's Speed-o-Motive streamliner, Jim Kougaz Modified Roadster, The Cummins-Larsen stream liner and Modified roadster and several others. The old SCTA timing stand built in or around 1948 and used until 1993 is also on display. The first car over 300 mph at El Mirage, the Carr-Kaplan lakester hangs on the wall above. This is a must see display before some of the vehicles are removed. The Gear Grinders have been involved in the timing venue for 60 years. Over the years they have worked with J.Otto Crocker as well as other timers at Bonneville and at the lakes, drag races 1/4 & 1/2 mile, Muroc Dry lake. This club has supported all of the events since it joined SCTA in 1941. Glen Barrett, Asst Timer 1983-1993, Chief Timer 1994-2004.

At your convenience would you be kind enough to add me to the Land Speed Historians membership list? Pat McInturff
Pat: Go to www.landspeedracing.com and sign in. It's that simple. There are no dues, duties or responsibilities, other than writing your own memoires and sharing them as you wish.

The Fabulous '50's road course racers are having their annual Paramount Ranch Reunion on April 26, 2008 at 11am-2pm, Paramount Ranch, Agoura Hills, California. Take the Coast Hwy to Kanan Dume Road to Mulholland to Cornell. From the 101, take Kanan Road to Cornell. There is no charge to attend, but bring your own lunch.

The family of Ralph Foster, Gear Grinder car club member and 1940's Midwestern Sprint car champion, is having a super garage sale of automotive racing parts, tires, photographs, 5 vehicles and parts from famous race car drivers, including Lloyd Ruby and Louie Unser. The date is Saturday, March 29, 2008 from 9am until 3pm, at 9312 Florence Lane, Garden Grove, California 92841. Also included are tools, spray guns, photographic equipment, books, old photographs, aerial photographs, tapes, magazines and collectibles. For more information call Ron at 949-650-6865.

Aimee Snyder is trying to locate anyone who knew her grandfather, Ernie McAfee, so that she can learn more about him. If you know anything, or have any friends who knew Ernie, please let the editor know.

Did you see the new video at Hotrodhotline? See www.Hotrodhotline.com/videos. It will not work well unless you have a high speed connection though. Debbie Baker had the first Hotrodhotline blooper...HA. Mary Ann Lawford
Mary Ann: I enjoyed the videos and see great potential for them in all aspects of hot rodding and racing. Hearing the voices really made the experience come alive.

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SCTAcars

I was posting some additional material to the Road Runners webpage, "Back in the Day" and made another discovery. The material was from an original copy of the September 23, 1962 SCTA - El Mirage meet in the Road Runners archives. In the back were two "vintage" pictures, one of Larry "Dad" Miller and the other was a SCTA group photo of cars and drivers taken in front of a hanger or large factory building, probably circa '48 or '49. I've seen the picture before. I think it was in one of the various books published about the early days of SCTA.

As I recall (but may be totally wrong!) it may have had something to do with the SCTA/AAA safety effort Wally and the SCTA was working on to cast "hot rodding" in a more positive light. I looked through my books but could not find the picture, but like I said, I'm pretty sure I have seen it somewhere. Anyway...When I blew the picture up to add to the website, I noticed something very interesting. The second car from the left on the front row looks like the #55 27 "T" that Don Baker has been describing. I sent the picture to him and asked him to ID it and if it was their car, who was in it for the picture and what the circumstances were. Don was very happy and surprised to see the picture and did, in fact, identify it as their car. Here are the responses I got back to a couple of e-mail inquiries:
#1- Hi Jerry, that is definitely my car when it was yellow with red flames, I can't believe what a great job you folks are doing in locating info and photos for me it goes way beyond what I was hoping for. Best Regards Don Baker
#2- I vaguely remember seeing that photo somewhere years ago I don't remember where, that would be Fred at the wheel. The year we ran #55 I was working at a Shell oil refinery on a rotating shift system, and was not free on very many weekends, so I missed a lot of social functions and dry lake meets, we kept the car at my house so I could work on it between meets, I only drove the car at the lakes a couple of times. Don Baker
Jim - I'll attach a copy of the SCTA picture to this page. I highly suspect that you will have more information on this picture. I'm hoping to be in contact with the granddaughter of another old Road Runner and racing legend, Ernie McAfee. Aimee Snyder was born after her grandfather was killed racing at Pebble Beach. Her grandmother just recently passed and Aimee is seeking out information about the grandfather she never knew to learn more about him. I saw a letter she sent to Art Evans that he posted in the latest "Fabulous Fifties" newsletter. I sent her all the info I had on Ernie as a Road Runner plus references to him in the books I have. I also referred her to the AHRF website and to the Dry Lakes Hall of Fame site. I just sent this info to her today and am waiting for a reply. SCTA Group picture attached. Jerry Cornelison, Road Runners - SCTA (est. 1937) http://www.ussarcherfish.com/roadrunners.
Jerry: The Road Runners and the SCTA Board during the 1940's was a very progressive club and association and they made every effort to show the community that they were responsible and talented young men. They often went to parking lots of big factories to take group photos. These photo ops were staged and meant for maximum exposure. Do you remember the 'business cards' that they had made? It said, "I'm a member of the (car club) and I've stopped to offer you road side assistance. Our car club and (name of organization) believes in road safety and public service." Or words to that effect. Do any of our members still have one of those club cards? I understand that if any stranded motorist called the SCTA and thanked them for such nice young men, that the Board would honor the good Samaritan at the next board meeting. Can anyone back me up on this?

Editor's notes: The newsletter is sent out once a week, on Wednesday's, unless no news or relevant information is received. If I receive a large amount of issues, events or news, I may send the newsletter out more than once a week. If an important event comes up, such as a death or funeral and word needs to be sent immediately, a special edition of the newsletter will be sent.

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Members:

Jonathan Amo, Brett Arena, Henry Astor, Gale Banks, Glen Barrett, Mike Bastian, Lee Blaisdell, Jim Bremner, Warren Bullis, 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, 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.

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