SOCIETY OF LAND SPEED RACING HISTORIANS |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Retraction and apology department: Angela Bain sent in an email, which she meant only for me, but I misunderstood and published it in Newsletter #81. Please disregard it and postpone contacts with her until she notifies us that the project is ready for public notice. At that time we will publish the news as it is provided to us. I have sent a corrected version of Newsletter #81 to the website operator to put in place of the old version. My sincerest apologies to Angela for the mistake. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Betty Foster called from Missouri to give us the news that her husband, Ralph Foster passed away this week, October 15, 2008. Ralph's story is on www.landspeedracing.com and www.hotrodhotline.com, Richard's Corner. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We were sorry to hear this week of the passing of one of the Kustom Kulture's icons ... Elden Titus of Titus Brothers in Illinois. His Talent and Creativity will be dearly missed. Our condolences go out to Tammy and his family. Fuzzy Fuerholzer sent in a nice tribute to Elden. See www.hotrodhotline.com. From Mary Ann Lawford |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hi, I'm writing from Australia. I was wondering if you could help me find someone in the States who might have some information about the Australian speedcar racer Jim McMahon who died at the Carpinteria track in 1948. I believe he knew Rosie Roussel. Rgds, Damian Kringas |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I am writing a book on Jim McMahon. Jim McMahon (known as Jimmy or James) was an Australian actor and speedcar racer. He arrived in America in 1947 (living in North Hollywood) and during a special 3 car race on the 11th of July 1948 at the Carpinteria Thunderbowl he was killed shortly after the start when the throttle in his midget jammed. Rosie Roussel said that McMahon was driving the Spike Jones Special car #15. McMahon's friend Tim Hocking said he was testing an engine that McMahon had designed himself. This engine is described as based on a V8/60 crankshaft with 4 twin piston air-cooled Triumph motorcycle barrels and heads. It has 2 Amal carburetors. The motor described is at the Speed Museum in Nebraska. Basically I would like any information on McMahon while he was in the States and most importantly, confirmation that he actually built/designed the motor in question. Kind rgds, Damian Kringas [email protected]. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Readers: The following was sent out by www.hotrodhotline.com and www.landspeedracing.com as they were testing their new systems. I spoke to Mary Ann Lawford and it's quite a challenge to run a huge website. We really appreciate their continued support of our small group of land speed historians, fans and hot rodders. While I didn't send out the report, I did receive some of your answers and this was perfectly okay with me, as it gives me a chance to see who is out there in Inner Space that I don't normally know. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Road Runner Meeting Notes - Tuesday, October 14th, 8pm at Ed Martin Garage - Important Notice: Effective November 11th, the start time for Road Runner's monthly meetings will be changed to 7pm. Bench racing will begin around 6:15 and burrito orders will go in at 6:30pm. We welcomed two guests to our meeting last night: Prospective Member David Minder attended his first meeting. Dave's son Josh Minder attended his first meeting as a Prospective Member. Josh will be building a motorcycle sidecar as his high school Senior Class project. Josh will be doing the riding and his dad will be Crew Chief. President Mike Ferguson recognized and congratulated Pat McSwain for his new B/DT record set at the September El Mirage Meet. Pat has raced twice since joining the Road Runners, once at Bonneville and once at El Mirage and set new records at both events. Nominations were made for 2009 Road Runners Officers: President, Mike Ferguson, Vice-President, Jack Masson, Secretary, Jerry Cornelison, Treasurer, Reece Adams, Sgt at Arms, Bill Harris, Willie Martin, Records Keeper, Amanda Ferguson, and Mark Saxlund. Voting will take place at our November meeting. Richard Ross told the group that plans are being made for the Second Annual Road Runners End of Year celebration to be held at the November El Mirage meet. Rachel Ross will be contacting members regarding the pot-luck menu. For those of you who attended last year, you know it was a really great event! If you would like a report on the entire Club business conducted at the meeting, please contact Secretary Jerry Cornelison for an e-mail copy of the minutes. Next regular business meeting of the Road Runners is Tuesday, November 11th at 7pm, at Ed Martin Garage. Also, if in the area, don't forget "Burrito Thursdays" at Ed Martin Garage! Jerry Cornelison, Road Runners - SCTA, http://www.ussarcherfish.com/roadrunners, posted October 15, 2008 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Regarding your response to my question re: Estes, Gable and Harlow. The following is as told to me some 50 years ago by Bob Estes: Bob was pumping gas at a station in west L.A. and Clark Gable pulled in to the station in his Duesenberg. Clark noticed Bob's hot rod parked over on the side and took a close look at it. He was quite impressed and said that he would like a run against it with his car. Bob said that he was quite willing, but had to wait until he was off work. Gable came back and the two proceeded to a traffic light at the start of La Brea through the oil field area. Bob was waiting at the end and Gable said that maybe he missed a shift and would like to race him back. Again, Bob had wiped him out. Gable then said that he would like to buy the car, but against a lot of persuasion, Bob said that he had worked so hard on all of the facets of the car that he was not willing to part with it. A few weeks later, Jean Harlow drove in and said that she wanted to buy the car for Clark for his birthday. Since Bob could be weak when a beautiful lady was involved, he gave in to her. She said that there was one request along with the purchase and that was Bob was to deliver the car to the Bellaire Hotel and help to bring it into the lobby on the night of the birthday party. A huge ribbon was placed on the hood and Bob had done his part. I do believe that the purchase price put Bob into the car sales business and he soon was the biggest Ford product dealer west of the Mississippi. He, of course, continued on with big time racing with a sponsored car, the "Estes Special" at Indy. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I was surfing the net and viewed your Boat Racers Reunion. I thought it was pretty neat because I knew most of the guys. I clicked your Oil Stick and see that you have something to do with the annual Gas UP. I have never been to one, but I was a charter member of the G.C.R.R.C., and I was the first to get them points. I rode A/PGM. I believe you knew my late brother Bill Mathews. That said I have the list of charter members and will give you a copy if you like. Respectfully, Weston Edd Mathews |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I enjoy your work with the newsletter. I thought I would add some to your latest article on early drag racing. Here is my understanding of the Santa Ana drags story. The original guys were C. J. Hart (repair garage and car sales), Creighton Hunter (Hunter Oil) and Frank Stillwell who was involved with motorcycles. I was told that Stillwell was involved because he could provide insurance for the events. Perhaps some of the old Orange county guys can advise the accuracy of this. Incidentally the races were known as the "Orange County Drags" for years, as marked on the trophies. As you know C.J. became the sole owner after a short time. As to the dates, as you noted the Santa Barbara Acceleration Association drags at Goleta were the first organized official drag racing events. They were started in October, 1949. The actual start of the Santa Ana drags was July 2, 1950. The SCTA, members only, meet was held two weeks later on the Santa Ana (Tustin) Blimp base on July 16,1950. Previous to the opening of the Santa Ana drags unorganized drag racing had been going on for some time at the nearby Mile Square emergency strip (before the military blocked it off). I was able to run at Goleta (I got my first drag racing trophy there) and I raced at the 3rd week at Santa Ana and many times after (I missed the first two meets because I was not aware of them). C.J. did a great job at Santa Ana. There were some of the big meets where there would be almost 400 cars in the pits. The eliminations would start after lunch and were completed by about 5 to 6 pm. That was a real achievement considering that the races were not set-up in a ladder as they are today; the cars just came up and raced another car in the class until there was only one left. The action was swift and it was great fun. Keep up the good work. Don Montgomery |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association's 2009 event schedule is now available. Please publish our event dates in your calendar sections. If you have any questions please write back or call. Thank you! John Drummond (650) 393-5699, [email protected]. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ It gives me great pleasure to announce that my latest book, Shelby, the Race Driver, has been printed and is now, available. I have been working, with Carroll's assistance, for over three years on this project. For the most part it has taken that length of time to accumulate the photographs. Before a Cobra was even a gleam in his eye, Carroll Shelby was a great race driver, one of the very best Americans during the fifties. His career behind the wheel is told for the first time in this new book. It includes, remembrances by Shelby himself along with more than 250 photographs, many rare and never before published. Among other achievements, Shelby won Le Mans in 1959, was twice the Sport Car Club of America National Champion and was chosen Sports Car Driver of the Year two times. The book details a large number of his races as well as his relationships with Juan Fangio, Phil Hill, Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham and John Fitch among many others. Shelby had World Championship ability, but unfortunately, his racing career was cut short after the 1960 season due to his heart condition. The book concludes at the end of that year. The book is soft cover, in 8�x11-inch landscape format with 192 pages. The book is printed on first-rate paper and the photographs are reproduced in high quality I think it's a bargain for only $29.95 and a sure to be a future, collectible, especially if autographed. If you want me to autograph it, I'll be glad to do so without extra charge. Just fill out the form in this mailer. Shelby, himself, will autograph it for you on the condition that you donate $150 to his personal charity, the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation, which helps indigent children with acute coronary and kidney care whose lives would be cut short without financial assistance. Of course, your donation is deductible. Art Evans |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shelby, the Race Driver, Reviewed by Michael Lynch. Art Evans, with significant contributions from Carroll Shelby, has written an outstanding new book that chronicles Shelby's racing career. Evans has assembled his material in yearly chapters that cover Shel's career from, 1952 through 1960. The bulk of the text is told in Shelby's inimitable own words, with additional comments by Evans, elaborating on matters Carroll discusses. This format works extremely well, since nobody can tell a story like Shelby and Evans' following comments elaborate on any subtext that may leave a reader wanting to know even more. The pictures are outstanding. Carroll's daughter, Sharon, provided many that have been previously unseen, and they flesh out the text, providing an even better feeling for the period. The book features more than 250, many rare photographs. They are worth the price of the book. Shelby, the Race Driver, besides being a great read, is an important documentation of the racing career of one of the greatest racing personalities of the second half of the Twentieth Century. Long before Shelby combined the two major automotive romances of the 1950s, sports cars and hot rods by creating the Cobra, he was learning the tricks of the trade that allowed him to be a successful team manager and manufacturer. He perfected these skills and met the players who helped him along the way while he was racing on the circuits of the world. These ranged from the classic European Grand Prix courses to all the major American road courses, many of which were built during Shel's career. He also raced at an Illinois dirt track and in a shopping mall parking lot on Long Island. The entire story is told in Shelby, the Race Driver, in Carroll's own words and an appendix provides Shelby's entire race record in tabular form. Art Evans continues to add to our knowledge of the era. He is a prolific chronicler of the Southern California sports car racing scene in the 1950's. This book is one of Art's best. The book is soft cover, in the large 8� x 11 landscape format and has 192 pages printed on high-quality paper. The price is only $29.95. You can get a copy autographed by Art by contacting him at [email protected], or fax 310-373-5988, or send a check to Art at 800 S. Pacific, Coast Hwy., Redondo Beach CA 90277. You can get a copy with Carroll Shelby's autograph for an additional $150 donation to the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation. For unautographed copies call 800-289-3504 or on line www.enthusiastbooks.com |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Blood Did It" Christmas CARtoon Special. An original "CARtoon." These one of a kind, personalized creations of your car are hand drawn by Hot Rod Artist Kenny Youngblood, in full color and on heavy weight, acid-free 15x20 inch watercolor paper. Price $199.95 plus 9.95 S/H, through December 10. (USA only). This includes an 18x28 inch, 2008 "Bakersfield Fifty Years" poster, suitable for framing and signed by me at no extra charge. Or go to www.YoungbloodArt.com and click the "order" button under the sample "CARtoon" on the homepage. You can also send an e-mail picture of his or her car (or their favorite car, race car, truck, bike or boat) to: [email protected], or 888-367-9830. "Blood Did It" celebrates 40 years in motorsports art, 1969-2009. Kenny Youngblood |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For Immediate Release, Contact: Chris Brown, [email protected], 323-964-6320 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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, Oklahoma nabbed the Nostalgia Top Fuel title over Jim Murphy, Santa Rosa, California. 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, from San Diego, California then beat Harris, from 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, from Fife, Washington 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 from Orange, California 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." Sent in by Bill Groak |
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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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