SOCIETY OF LAND SPEED RACING HISTORIANS |
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Some Names To Look For In This Newsletter: |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I recently came across your Newsletter no. 37, which features the 'Speed' cigarette cards. The card no. 16 with information about George Eyston refers to him running 2 cars, "Speed of the Wind" and "Flying Spray," however it would seem that it was actually only 1 car, using 2 different types of engine. "Flying Spray" ran with a diesel engine & "Speed of the Wind" with a petrol/aviation fuel engine. My website http://landspeedrecordcards.com, features several cards on the records set at Bonneville and Daytona in the 1920's and 1930's, which may be of interest. Best Regards, John Edwards |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I first heard about your organization from Jon Amo at Bonneville during the FIA "private meet" in October of 2007. A few words about myself: In 1960 my father became the USAC and FIA Chief Steward for many of the LSR attempts that occurred in the US at Bonneville and other venues. My first trip to Bonneville was in August 1960, the attempt was Mickey Thompson who built an empire on his 406.6 MPH run. I was fortunate to have seen many of the Breedlove-Arfons record battles. My father, your father and I walked the course looking at the tracks left by the "Green Monster" the last time Art Arfons crashed in 1966. When my father passed away in 1973, I took his place as the FIA steward for events sanctioned through USAC. I would have to go back through my files to remember all of the successful and unsuccessful record attempts since then but some of the notables include the Summers Brothers in 1965, Richard Noble in 1983 and of course the Thrust SSC/Andy Green supersonic record in 1997. As I read your newsletters, the one thing I regret is that my employment has prevented me from attending other record attempts sanctioned by SCTA/BNI, and USFRA. I was able to attend two "Speed Week" events in the early 1960's. The timing stand was wood and Otto Crocker was the timer. I appreciate what you are doing and fully realize the time you are spending. Dave Petrali |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Having read most if not all of your 80 newsletters, I knew the "biography" request would arise. I wish I could just include it as an attachment but at the moment it only exists as a "good intention for the future." I know the LSR events are important and enough years have passed that many of the recollections and stories from that era are either gone with the passing of the participating individuals or through brain cell attrition. The best I can try to do, one of these days, is go through my files and hope that as I look at the participants and the records that were set, my memory will return. In the early 1960's, I was still in school, so I wasn't present at many of the records that were set after the middle of September. My wife and I kid about my superior ability at being a "pack rat." But joke as we may, my "collection" allows me to go back 48 years and look at every piece of paper regarding many of the USAC and FIA record attempts. I have had plans for some time to sit and scan all of this into my computer so I have a copy. Time and procrastination haven't allowed me to do that. Maybe one of these days I'll surprise you (and me too, actually) with some sort of an attempt at a biography. Please, keep up the good work with the newsletter, your efforts are truly appreciated. Dave Petrali |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thanks to Richard, you get quite a bit of mention. Not sure if you're aware of the society, but I'd suspect that you would find the periodic newsletters worth your while. Cheers, Bob Storck |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I was shocked when Gordon White reported that only 1,100 of his Ab Jenkins book had been sold. That book was created using first-level, primary archive material collected by the Jenkins's family over the years. It is the same material Marv Jenkins, Ab's son, allowed me to pour over in his basement in St. George, Utah more than a decade ago when I was researching my book, "Bonneville: The Fastest Place on Earth" which you so graciously mention from time to time. The point here is that Gordon did what I had only thought about doing, took all the historical treasure out of the basement and parked it on pages for all to share. The book is a touchstone of historical detail that would take interested parties years to cull from dozens of sources. In short, Gordon did a damn fine job, especially putting my photo on the cover! As far as I am concerned that book ought to be on every LSR enthusiast's shelf in the same place it is on mine - right next my Bonneville book. Speedy Regards, "LandSpeed" Louise Ann Noeth |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Were there any pictures in this Newsletter? If so, I didn't get them. Patty Geiger |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There are several new posts on the blog at http://goldenhawkproject.blogspot.com/, or www.goldenhawk.ca. Randy Pierce |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Doug Stokes sent in this link: http://www.riversideinternationalraceway.com/. If you cannot access it, Google Riverside International Raceway Museum. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ When you tell people to go to www.Landspeedracing.com, you don't have to tell them to Log On ..... they don't have to log on to look at the newsletters.... they can just click on the links. The "sign up" you see there is just so they can sign up for the newsletter if they don't already receive it. Thanks, Mary Ann Lawford |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Saw your note in the newsletter so here is that story. I don't know if your Dad ran Santa Ana drag strip but I still wonder if he had a hot T Bird and we ran together with my XK 120 with full C type engine. I know that the driver had enough clout that we drove back the wrong way so that he could have another go since I beat him! Fun stuff that you write!! Herb Jones |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bakersfield is an international tourist destination thanks to the 17th Annual California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, October 10th through 12th at Auto Club Famoso Raceway. Racers, fans and media from Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Canada will descend upon Auto Club Famoso Raceway, bringing millions of tourism dollars - approximately $4 million -- and good cheer. "Bringing out world visitors to the California Hot Rod Reunion is a win-win situation," said Tony Thacker, executive director of the nonprofit Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, which produces and benefits from the event. "The Reunion will generate a significant economic benefit to Bakersfield and surrounding areas and the Reunion gets to do what is does best, which is motorsports entertainment and give attendees a taste of Californian hospitality." Besides drawing international tourists, the Reunion also brings out fans from across the U.S., including Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, N. Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Indian, New Jersey, Wisconsin, S. Dakota, Illinois, Kansas, Wisconsin, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, Michigan and Arkansas. This spectacular event will bring to life the story of high-performance motorsports for all visitors. A good example of the international lure of the Reunion is Australian drag racer Roly Leahy returning for his second year racing at the Reunion from his home in Surfers Paradise, Australia. Roly, who has been racing front-engined dragsters for 25 years and is the patriarch of a racing family. Two of his sons are racers and his grandson runs in Junior Dragster. They are the only family in Australia that has four drag racing members spanning three generations. Other international visitors rolling into the Reunion are hot-rodding couple Mark and Melissa Gee of Doncaster, England and Jon Golding, owner of the Home Grown Hot Rods in Southend, England. "The California Hot Rod Reunion is a great atmosphere and the camaraderie among fans, racers and spectators is like no other hot rod event I've attended. I can't wait to be a part of it once again," said Golding. From Bill Groak |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ It's the sweetest sound in the world to car folks: 50 or more vintage dragsters fire up and "cackle" 10 gallons of nitromethane fuel each in less than five minutes. The sound of that exploding nitro will be music to the ears of thousands of fans at fabled Auto Club Famoso Raceway, near Bakersfield, California on Saturday night, October 11, as Cacklefest once again roars at the 17th annual at the California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. The Reunion runs from October 10-12, 2008. "A Cacklefest is like a barely controlled atomic bomb," said Greg Sharp, curator of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, producers of the Reunion and the man who coined the term back in 2000. "That exploding nitro cracks like a gun shot and shoots header flames into the night sky. It's a sight to behold and people love it," said Sharp. Among drag racing fans, Cacklefest is now a common word. Perhaps Webster's will add it in the dictionary soon. There's even a www.cacklefest.com. This year, according to Sharp, more than 50 cars will push-start their early-style front-engine dragsters like they did in the 1950's and '60's, then line them up down the center of the drag strip at Famoso with the headers glowing and the motors running or 'cackling.' "Cacklefest is a proven inspiration for enthusiasts who have experienced this unique event," said Steve Gibbs, former NHRA vice president and current board member of the Parks Museum. "With each passing year we are amazed to see newly resurrected pieces of automobile history appear at the event." |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BAKERSFIELD, California (October 12, 2008) - It was a championship day of nostalgia drag racing at Auto Club Famoso Raceway - literally. A gorgeous, blustery autumn afternoon brought the fans in out in droves to see the final day of nostalgia drag racing at the 17th California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. It also was the finale of the inaugural NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series. In short, it was a day of champions and the fans loved it. In the Heritage Series, Troy Green, Purcell, Okla, nabbed the Nostalgia Top Fuel title over Jim Murphy, Santa Rosa, Calif. Green, who clung to a slim 5-point lead over Murphy, appeared headed for a championship-deciding final, but both were beaten in their semi-finals contests. Green lost to Rick White and Brett Harris took Murphy out, thus giving Green the title. White, San Diego, Calif. then beat Harris, Kaysville, Utah, whose car broke down at the starting line, to win the Hot Rod Reunion race title. White's winning time was 255.89 mph with a 5.819 ET. "I'm proud to win the first Hot Rod Heritage Series Top Fuel title," said Green. We lost the battle (the Hot Rod Reunion race) but won the war. I'm tickled to death." For White, it was the first time he'd won the Reunion in Top Fuel. "We had the perfect car for the weekend. It ran consistently strong." In Nostalgia Funny Car, Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., hit the daily double, clinching the Hot Rod Heritage Series title and winning the Hot Rod Reunion race. In the finals, Austin (244.03 mph, 5.749 ET) defeated Kris Krabbill (Orange, Calif.), who ran 245.83 mph with a 5.942 ET. "I really feel fortunate to have such a great crew," said Austin. "They did their homework and had a great game plan - all I did was drive." Austin gave props to Krabill as well. "I've know him since he was a little kid. He's a scary-good driver. I was fortunate to beat him." |
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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