SOCIETY OF LAND SPEED RACING HISTORIANS
NEWSLETTER 92 - December 30, 2008
Editor: Richard Parks [email protected]
President's Corner: By Jim Miller (1-818-846-5139)

Click On All Images For Larger View

Some Names To Look For In This Newsletter:
See the movie “Deuce of Spades” trailer, Christmas and Holiday Greetings, “The Street Rodder's Handbook” By Frank Oddo, I'm writing to ask your help in finding some photos to publish on the Web site at Air & Space/Smithsonian magazine, A Visit with Veda and Karl Orr, Land Speed Louise Ann Noeth has an excellent articles on land speed racing, Contact House Speaker Nancy Pelosi IMMEDIATELY To Oppose Cash for Clunkers! Alist of the members, past and present of the Road Runners car club, “Bonneville: The Fastest Place on Earth”, By Louise Ann Noeth, Evelyn Roth is a member of the Gold Coast Roadster and Racing Club and the website operator, Autobooks/Aerobooks is one of the most all-comprehensive book stores when it comes to motorsports racing, Current or Former NAE Fan, Hope you enjoy these few pictures of "Wally Parks Day" that sort of sum up the days activties, Biography, by Mike Manghelli,

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

President's Corner:
Last Saturday I was out running around and stopped by my favorite automotive book store to see what was new. (Editor's notes; This has to be Autobooks/Aerobooks in Burbank, California.) After about 45 minutes and a case of I-want-itus on dozens of books I decided to be good and only bought one magazine. Having escaped a great temptation a cruise toward home was in progress when I passed by my friend Fred Chaparro's shop and saw the lights on so a turn on the next street and a backtrack down the alley and pulled in behind his car. Fred sells car books too. Not the new stuff but oldies and used magazines. He used to race sprint cars and has so many great stories it usually takes a couple of hours to make it back out the door. As talk took place I scanned all the shelves and hit pay dirt. A Post book on fiberglass cars, a 1957 Hot Rod Annual and a 1971 USAC Media Guide and Record Manual. Fred never bothered to write a new sale price in the USAC book so he sold it to me for what he paid for it ages ago, $5. Cool! The last is the most important. It covered all the USAC drivers, race results, track records etc, and the last 18 pages were devoted to, you guessed it, land speed racing. As a historian, when you look at a current record book it only lists the current record holders and not the former ones, so to find out the speed progressions it forces one to backtrack through all the previous record books. A formidable task to say the least.
A quick glance through the records shows that some last for a long time. The oldest one still standing in the up-to-date book was set back in '32. Three paragraphs on the first page of the land speed section complicates our jobs. They read - "Effective January 1, 1970, the Federation International De L'Automobile (FIA) completely revised the standards for land speed record attempts. A maximum distance of 100,000 miles was established as well as a time maximum of 24 hours, thus eliminating many previously recognized long distance runs. The United States Auto Club, a member of the American Competition Committee of the United States (ACCUS-FIA), now recognizes only the new distances specified by FIA, with one exception. The maximum number of records obtainable in any international class is 27, while USAC recognizes 28 national marks." The task at hand now is to get all the old lists of records and put them in proper order. That goes for Bonneville and the lakes too. Every year records are broken so a collection of past year rulebooks and results are in order. Ah the joys of collecting paper.
Here are a few names that set national records over the years that were listed in the '71 book. Do you recognize any of them? Cliff Bergere, Tony Bettenhausen, Bunkie Blackburn, Craig Breedlove, George Cooper, Dykes, Danny Eames, Gus Ehrman, George Eyston, Dana Fuller Jr, Gary Gabelich, Goldie Gardner, Alan Hess, Anthony Granatelli, Donald Healey, Bob Herda, Phil Hill, Ab Jenkins, Iggy Katona, Fred Larsen, Leavans, Lewis, Johnny Mantz, Stirling Moss, Paula Murphy, Barbara Nieland, Danny Ongais, Carroll Shelby, Babe Stappe, Bob Summers, Mickey Thompson, Curtis Turner and Tommy Wisdom. A lot were set at Bonneville but a few locations might surprise you. They were - Daytona Beach, March Air Force Base, Riverside International Raceway, San Angelo (Texas), Wendover Airport, and Westhampton (New York). I can't forget to list some of the car names. They were - AMX, Assault I, Assault II, Austin A-40, Austin-Healey, Austin-Healey Sprite, Autolite 999, Blue Flame, Camaro, Comet, Duesenberg Special, EX 179, EX 181, '57 Ford, '64 Ford, Fuller Special, Goldenrod, Harvey Aluminum Special, M.G., Larsen & Cummins, Lead Wedge, Mormon Meteor, Mustang, O.S.C.A., Pontiac, Stude Skybolt and Tempest. As a Holiday Challenge how many of the above can you match up?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Editorial:
On a normal day I probably receive around 80 emails, though not all of them are concerned with the SLSRH business. But I get enough to keep busy. From time to time I will summarize some of the questions that members ask me. One member wrote in to mention that he sees errors, typos and other mistakes and wonders if we shouldn't have a means of cross checking. He asks why we don't have two editors double checking each other's work for example. Now this is a great question and the answer is both simple and complicated. The easiest answer is that there are only two officials of the Society and only one editor and I get to edit Jim Miller and heaven help us if he has to edit me! Before we all give the questioner the horse laugh, perhaps we should just state that it wasn't all that long ago when we were watching Mary Tyler Moore and other sitcoms where the editorial department is awash in men and women running back and forth, calling on the phone and pounding away on the typewriters. Do you remember all those old Katherine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy movies where Kate and Spence were reporters and the newsroom was just packed with reporters and secretaries moving as fast as they could to beat the deadline? Do you remember the Superman movies and TV shows with the same number of reporters and staff.
It used to take a huge number of people to put out a newspaper, magazine or newsletter. I remember the old days when Hot Rod Magazine first got started. Over the years we have developed more efficient ways to bring the news to people and that efficiency has caused newsrooms to downsize. The computer and specially designed computer programs now allow one person to do what dozens of people used to do. The cost of labor, rent, heating, phones, etc had to be factored into the overall expenses to run a magazine and therefore the ad revenues and subscriptions had to exceed those costs. With the advent of the internet, it was possible to create a super-sized magazine at a fraction of the cost and therefore the ad revenue can afford to drop as well. More bang for the buck as they say. For example, our sponsor, www.hotrodhotline.com can give me 8000 words or 8 million words for roughly the same amount, which is zero cost to us. The website can sell you a six month ad for one-fifth the cost of what a full page ad in a magazine would cost for one day. ONE DAY! The computer and the internet have changed the way we do things, which is why I can bring you the newsletter for a cost of exactly zero and charge advertisers (we call them announcements) for the same amount - zero! Provided of course that Jim and I donate our labor and pay our $50 a month DSL costs.
How can a magazine or newspaper compete against such efficiencies? Even the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times have gone into bankruptcy. But in order to be so inexpensive and yet offer so much, an on-line magazine has to cut costs and economize too. Computer programs have been devised that allow an editor to size the page, put everything into order and do much of the graphics in just a few minutes while never leaving one's desk. Do you remember the old days when photo and layout editors and their staffs physically cut, then pasted text and photographs together, then took the finished product to a printer? Today, all that work can be done by one person, at his/her desk, in a matter of minutes. For a while, “DRIVE Magazine” took my articles and they had a staff of about 8 people. Then a company in Orange, California bought the magazine and added it to their other 14 or 15 "names." They assign ONE editor to each magazine, with a small support staff. The supporting staff consists of a photo layout technician who spends his time working on all 15 magazines, a receptionist, accountant, boss and that's it. The editor never sees the boss, accountant or receptionist and only rarely sees the photo layout technician. One man does it all, with a bit of help here and there. That's the way I do it on an even simpler basis with the newsletter. Jim and I are proud of the fact that we catch most of the errors before they get into print. But even though we are an amateur group, our error rate is as good as or even much lower than the professional magazines that are being produced today. The goal is to have NO errors, but the realities are that with the reduction in staffing and the loss of added eyes to catch these mistakes, that they will continue and likely grow larger over time. That's why it is our readers who mean so much, because they catch the mistakes and tell us, so that we can do retractions and updates.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Faith Granger will be at our January 20 Sidewinders meeting with some surprises. The movie, Deuce of Spades trailer can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMhYQy54YZY. Also, see www.deuceofspadesmovie.com. Ron Main (Also sent in by Ken Walkey)
Ron and Ken: I watched the video trailers and liked them very much. I'll do a movie review if Faith wants me to and give her space in the newsletter to talk about her movie. I tried to find her email or contact address, but it wasn't listed on the internet sites. If anyone would like to forward our requests on to Faith, we would appreciate that. The movie ought to be a good one and the SLSRH will actively promote it.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Holiday greetings received here at the SLSRH;

So I only rated 9 (on the emailed Christmas card list)? Who got on the first 8 lists? David Parks
David: You happen to be alphabetically challenged. Should you drop the initial P in your name and go by Arks, you will have a slightly greater chance of reaching list #1.
Readers: David Parks is the younger brother of your newsletter's editor.
------------
Missed you at Art's bash. Dick Martin
Dick: Would you write up a report and send it in to the newsletter about the Art Chrisman Holiday party? I couldn't make it this year due to health reasons, but it is something that I always enjoy going to.
------------
I hope you and your family are enjoying a Merry Christmas. We wish you and your family the very best always. Ron Hope & Family
------------
HO---HO---HO MERRY CHRISTMAS. Billy Cruse
------------
Merry Christmas to each of you. May you be blessed with good health and happiness throughout the new year. Gordie Clausen
------------
Merry Christmas. Don Pennington

------------
And the wonder of HIS love to you and yours! Speedy Regards, "LandSpeed" Louise Ann Noeth
------------
...the best wishes to you and your family from, the Ron Phelps family.
------------
...a Merry Christmas this year .... To one and All... Roger & Judi Rohrdanz
------------
Thank you for the holiday greetings and we would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Bud and
Joan Meyer
------------
...wonderful wishes go out to you and yours! Steve Doll
------------
Take care and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Don Rudy
------------
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thatcher Darwin
------------
All the best to you and your family. Charles Rollins
------------
Have a great Christmas. Jim Miller
------------
Happiest of holidays to you and your staff as well. Stephanie Brennan
------------
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Franco Canina, subscriber to your newsletter from Italy!
------------
...the merriest of the holiday seasons and a happy new year, too! Mark Knass

------------
Same to you Richard, I missed being at the Finals and seeing you. Stan Adams
------------
Thanks for your Christmas message...very nice...I can't tell you how much I miss your dad...Roger Gustin

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No, not the Cannonball. Just something STP, Granatelli and Bill Drege dreamed up. (It was) a bit over 49 hours. And, of course, being timed and sanctioned, we NEVER exceeded the speed limit. We did a coast to coast, border to border thing with the car. The car was then brought to Bonneville and we all, including Granatelli, pilled in and did 146 mph. We then went on to set over 360 USAC stock car records with the Studebakers. One of the highlights of my career. Paula Murphy
Paula: Would you tell us more about the trip that you took, the racing and records that the Avanti set and more about Bonneville. I believe that it was Andy's record that my brother broke in 1996, and later Jerry Kugel utterly demolished a few years later. This was the coast to coast trip in 1963, right? Why didn't the Avantis do better with the American public? Their sleek aerodynamic looks were way ahead of their time, but rarely did you hear much about the cars after the early '60's. Why didn't the land speed guys use the Avanti bodies for speed runs?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Christmas Party every year held at Art and Mike Chrisman's shop in Santa Ana is a much anticipated event. Normally held on a Friday, this year Art scheduled Saturday, December 20th, as the date. As always the who's who of drag racing, hot rodding plus a hot rod writer or two were in attendance. Linda Vaughn, Tommy Ivo, Stu Hilborn, Isky, Jerry Kugel, Phil Remington, Louie Senter, Greg Sharp, Thom Taylor, Jim Jacobs and Pete Eastwood to name just a few. Where else can racers, writers, artists and builders just be themselves and enjoy swapping a tall story while taking in the latest projects in the shop? Of course the engine room, as always, was loaded with eye-popping jewelry waiting for delivery to some lucky rod or custom. Kenny Youngblood was a late arrival but promptly grabbed a table, set down a large quantity of one of his works and began autographing, with a personal note, each one as his Christmas present to anyone who requested one. I don't know of any other place, but Art's, does this stuff happen? Art told me that he had never seen so many people enjoy one another as much as this year since it started earlier being on a Saturday. I have a feeling Saturday will replace the Friday day of choice next year. As broadcast legend Art Laboe used to say, "be there (next year) or be square." Dick Martin
Dick: I look forward to going to Art's event every year, but this year has been a really hectic one and I just couldn't make it. It's one of those special events that is "a can't miss event," much like the Mooneyes party over at Irwindale Speedway has become.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“The Street Rodder's Handbook”, By Frank Oddo. A comprehensive guide to designing and building street rods, customs, and lead sleds. Includes hundreds of photograph. Publisher/Penguin.com. Available on; Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com - $19.95, Books-A-Million,
BookSense.com, Google Product Search. See http://books.google.com/books?id=Qvz8X3nlGRcC, or http://books.google.com/books?id=Qvz8X3nlGRcC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPP1,M1.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was referred to you by Ellen Wilkinson of USFRA. I'm writing to ask your help in finding some photos to publish on the Web site at Air & Space/Smithsonian magazine, to help illustrate a story about jet engines used in land speed vehicles. We hope to find the following:
a) Nathan Ostich, in the Flying Caduceus
b) Art Arfons in the Green Monster and also the Wingfoot Express
c) Craig Breedlove in the Spirit of America and Sonic 1.
In each case we're looking for the original version, as used at Bonneville. We would need only a Web-sized resolution, 72 dpi. Thank you for any leads or materials you may provide. Roger Mola
Roger: I publishing your request in www.landspeedracing.com which should reach about 500 land speed fans and historians. Also, you may want to contact the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, as they are the owners of the Green Monster, though it has been repainted. The Petersen's phone number is 323-964-6348. Another great source is Greg Sharp at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and their phone number is 909-622-2133 or [email protected]. Let me know if you haven't received any inquiries and we will try and find more contact points for you. I won't run your contact information in the newsletter, so please check out the latest editions weekly for any updates on your requests by our readers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Veda and Karl Orr, See http://www.hotrodhotline.com/feature/guestcolumnists/richardscorner/08vedaorr.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Speed Louise Ann Noeth has an excellent website at www.landspeedproductions.biz. For articles on land speed racing see http://www.landspeedproductions.biz/media/SLSRH34.pdf.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Washington lawmakers are drafting a large economic stimulus package to help create jobs and rebuild infrastructure. They want to include a nationwide scrappage program which would give U.S. tax dollars to consumers who turn-in older cars to have them crushed, as a misguided attempt to spur new car sales. The lawmakers need to scrap this idea. The stimulus package is being drafted right now. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) wants to introduce the bill on January 6 and have it approved by Congress by January 20, so that President Obama can sign it into law after he is inaugurated. Contact House Speaker Nancy Pelosi IMMEDIATELY To Oppose Cash for Clunkers! Call: 202/225-0100
or http://speaker.house.gov/contact/. E-mail: [email protected], or Fax: 202/783-6024. George Steele
George: Pollution isn't caused by old '32 roadsters and a few race cars. Pollution is caused by horrendous population growth in developing countries. Junking a few old cars will NOT cut pollution, but it is a popular way for government to avoid the REAL problem.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The American Hot Rod Foundation has an excellent collection of hot rodding and land speed racing. The following drawing shows Ed Adams, Wally Parks, Clint Secombe, Al Wrigley and Bill Gilbert. See http://www.ahrf.com/photo_of_the_day.php?id=3004. The drawing was done by Eldon Snapp.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For a list of the members, past and present of the Road Runners car club, see http://www.ussarcherfish.com/roadrunners/Alumni.htm. This site is operated by Jerry Cornelison, who is making a comprehensive search to locate all of the members of this original SCTA club.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Bonneville: The Fastest Place on Earth”, By Louise Ann Noeth, Contributor Al Teague. Published by MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company, 2002. ISBN 0760313725, 9780760313725, 156 pages. This book can be purchased at; Motorbooks.com, Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, Books-A-Million, BookSense.com. Landspeed Louise drops the clutch to deliver riveting tales of conquest on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The stories and the early records of the mishaps and victories of countless hot rodders and motorcyclists make Bonneville a fascinating chronicle. Behold those determined individuals who "shoot the salt" in hot rods, belly tankers, lakesters, motorcycles, even bicycles and tractors in a quest to add their names to the list of land speed record holders.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Evelyn Roth is the website owner and operator of Oilstick.com, and graciously archives The Society of Land Speed Racing Historians Newsletter at http://www.oilstick.com/sportsfans/pg12071017.htm. Evelyn is a member of the Gold Coast Roadster and Racing Club and the website operator for the Mendenhall Gas Pump Museum, The Gas-Up Party and the Dry Lakes Hall of Fame, located in Buellton, California. She was a volunteer at Black Rock Desert in 1997 as Craig Breedlove and Richard Noble struggled to set the unlimited land speed record. Oilstick is a site that you will enjoy.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Autobooks/Aerobooks is one of the most all-comprehensive book stores when it comes to motorsports racing. They have their own website and distribute The Society of Land Speed Racing Historians Newsletter. See http://www.autobooks-aerobooks.com/display.php?id=000270. They can be contacted at (818) 845-0707.
 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Current or Former NAE Fan, I hope this letter greets you in good circumstances; that you've had an enjoyable holiday season and that you will have a Happy New Year. The purpose of this message is to contact those, past and present, who I have an email address for and verify that you wish to remain on my distribution list. If you are currently receiving my occasional newsletter updates, I hope you're enjoying them. So, here's what I'd like to do: If you wish to keep your 800 Club membership as it is, you need do nothing - no reply is necessary. However, if you wish to receive the monthly newsletter because you are now not currently getting it, please reply to this message with text, either in the message line, or within the message, that clearly indicates your desire to receive the newsletter. If you've received this message, either in error, or you no longer are interested in the North American Eagle's land speed project to bring the record back to North America, then please reply indicating that you wish to be removed, deleted, or un-subscribed; any of these words - either in the subject line, or the message area - will help me clear out records no longer needed for keeping you informed about our project, as I do not wish to bother you. Thank you for your cooperation and help. I wish you a prosperous 2009 and let's hope it ends up being this year that we go for the record. Jon M. Higley, C.I.O./E.A.D., Crew Lead/Webmaster, North American Eagle, Inc. http://www.landspeed.com.
Jon: Send us updates on your land speed project for the Newsletter here at www.landspeedracing.com.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You're right, such things can be complicated. Our copyright lawyer spent a lot of time teaching me about "Intellectual property" rights and the law. Here's where we stand. We, the SCTA, own by virtue of State and Federal Trademark and Servicemark registration filings:
  a) The Words- Southern California Timing Association
  b) The Logo- Winged wheel with superimposed hourglass
  c) The windowless Streamliner Logo- Used with the worlds Bonneville Nationals
Our policy has been to never allow the use of any of those without permission and never sell or license their use by others for money. Seems simple, but it is not. For example: If an SCTA club wants to put the SCTA logo on their club shirt, as long as they are not selling it to "outsiders," thats OK. But if someone is making a reproduction (even if they don't so state) timing tag with our logo, or a shirt to sell, or a poster with the words Southern Cal. Timing Association, that is a violation of law and we have spent (honestly) thousands to stop them. This would include reprinting a 1949 SCTA poster or program. With Ebay, it has been fairly EZ as I have filed papers and they will usually stop an auction. In other cases we have had to send threatening letters via our attorney (hence the thousands spent). However, each case is different. Fortunately, there is not a lot of money to be made on some of this stuff and they fold up quickly. If we find an item that is a phony, we are also not above trying to let potential buyers know about it. On the other side, if you have a genuine Wally Parks timing tag from 1948, it is yours to sell, so one has to be real careful. I mistakenly stopped an auction of a guy who had bought our stuff at the sales trailer and was just reselling it. He does have that right. Each case is different, but that is what we own and the common sense bottom line is others are not legally allowed to use those things for their gain.  Roy Creel
   Roy: Thank you for your explanation. Readers, bottom line is this, buying and selling artifacts is almost always okay, but when you reproduce or recreate something, check first to make sure that you are not infringing on the property rights of others. We want to be able to add to our collections and if it is marked "Reproduction under permission of the owner," then we understand that it isn't an original and we buy this kind of memorabilia under warning. It is only when people try and pass fakes off as originals or even make copies and sell them as such without legal permission that we have to be careful. As for the Wally Parks timing tag, I wish there was one. So far, none has been found.
   Readers: You might wonder why we rehash this debate with artifacts and photographs. Land speed racing is a rather new sport for collectors if you consider that people have been collecting Civil War memorabilia for twice as long. People collecting Revolutionary War artifacts have been pursuing that sort of memorabilia for over four times as long. There is value and history tied up into curios, relics, artifacts, memorabilia, photographs and other types of collectibles. We aren't a police force and we won't track down your purloined treasures, but we will continue to warn and caution our members to deal only with reputable dealers, historians, photographers and collectors. We must honor the property rights of others and adhere to a level of honesty and integrity within our group. At the same time, legitimate reproducers who have legally gotten permission will have the right to use this publication to let people know what they have available. I can't guarantee that your specific transaction will be profitable and pleasant, but most likely if you see people's names listed here, they have a good pedigree.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello, my name is Rob Cole and I live here in Panama City, Florida. I have been a casual follower of drag racing ever since my junior and high school days. In the late fifties,early sixties when I would attend weekend races in South Florida. I also followed the activities of your father through Hot Rod Magazine, etc. I also venture up to Tallahassee to visit the Automotive Museum there and I became a friend of Mr. Ernie Schorb who helps the owner, Mr DeVoe Moore, maintain the museum. When Ernie called me to tell me about the dedication of a "Wally Parks Day" and the display to be included in the museum, I jumped on the chance to become part of it. Ernie tells me he knew your father quite well and he would like to have me email a few pictures of the dedication to you. There was a mini-car show out front and a '32 roadster was parked on the sidewalk in memory of your fathers'. Hope you enjoy these few pictures that sort of sum up the days activties. Rob Cole
Rob: Thank you for the photographs and the captions and descriptions. Ernie Schorb goes back a long ways in Southeastern drag racing and I've been after him for some time to write his biography and record his memoirs. Also to have him caption his photographs. We honored Ernie several years ago with a "Wally," which is drag racing's version of the Oscar, for his life time committment to drag racing and the NHRA. Ernie is one of those special men who one meets only a few times in life that has the dedication and fire that is an inspiration to us all. Our family is very thankful to know him and to count him as our friend. We also want to thank the Moore's for their generosity and dedication to motor racing and for letting Ernie hold a memorial to our late father.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Editor's notes: The following letter has been edited slightly to allow for this question to be answered.
"I love what you guys are doing and support your efforts. I guess that since I turned 50 this year I am seen as of some importance to the history of LSR, an old guy, that was shown by me getting into the Dry Lakes racers hall of fame this year. (I have spent) 33 years in racing, was number 2 in points for two years in a row, number 1 in points, treasurer for 2 terms, vice president, president for 3 terms, set records, tuning for others who set records. I started my Bio several years ago and lost the file in a computer crash, ugh. I can send you the one from the gas-up, it is a good start. But, I really need to work all the information you are suggesting and get this documented before I croak." Mike Manghelli
Mike: To capture the history of land speed racing is one of our goals, but to capture the essence, the spirit, courage and drive is just as important. That's why we go past the bios and ask for stories. It is the stories that are remembered, while our bios are not. Don Francisco said this when he was inducted, "I know all these guys you've inducted in the past, and I'm way better than they were." The way he said it broke up the audience, because he was saying something, while the meaning was totally the opposite. I've seen my Dad, Carroll Shelby, Don Francisco, Eric Rickman and others do the same thing with this sort of humor. But you bring up a great point and that is "why aren't those who achieve a lot recognized more often?" The answer to that is that it takes effort to recognize people, especially in a sport that encourages the loner. Halls of fame and honor societies take a while to develop. Cooperstown started for baseball about 70 years after baseball was first played. The same occurred in football. For land speed racing it began with the Gold Coast Roadster and Racing Club's Gas-up Party and Dry Lakes Hall of Fame in the early 1990's. At first it was a club party to have fun and to honor a few of their members who lived in the area. Eventually it morphed into an honors program and then became a Hall of Fame. There is a real danger in starting these types of programs to honor people if the goals and procedures are not well thought out beforehand. I have run 3 honors program, but I shy away from Hall of Fame programs. I'm running an Honors Program right now. There's a difference between an Honorary Awards program and a Hall of Fame program. You can't mix the two together, otherwise the mistakes and errors become very apparent. An Honorary Awards program has a limited effect and is meant to be regional or specific and does not have to have the high quality of rules and procedures that a Hall of Fame must abide by. A Hall of Fame must have; 1) an organizing body that is beyond reproach and is well known, 2) procedures that are transparent, open, fair and recognized by everybody, 3) a sponsor with impact, and 4) the recipients of the award must be seen by their achievements to have surpassed all others. By combining two opposing programs, one distorts them both and that causes resentment. For example, in baseball, Babe Ruth is seen as the best of the best and therefore was an original selectee. In a Hall of Fame, you are forced to pass over the deserving in order to take the MONUMENTALLY deserving first. In land speed racing, the same applies, if you have a 'force de jeure,' a MONUMENTAL man, you choose him first and work your way down the list to the merely outstanding. That means that the first person that you take is someone like Malcolm Campbell, John Cobb, George Eyston, Richard Noble, Craig Breedlove, Ak Miller or a manufacturer like Henry Ford, Ed Iskenderian or Vic Edelbrock Sr. The reason that I prefer Honorary Awards Programs is that they do away with the urge to list someone as "better than others." In an Honorary Awards Program you are giving praise to deserving people and groups. In a Hall of Fame you are giving praise to those who ARE "better than everyone else." In a Hall of Fame program you are counting up the marbles and saying, "Sorry, but you only have 99 marbles and we don't even bother with anyone under 500 marbles." Hall of Fames are quite snobbish and for good reason. If you qualify for a Hall of Fame there is no doubt in anyone's mind that you are the best of the best and there is no competition whatsoever. In an Honorary Awards Program, one is being honored for their achievements and they don't have to be superior to anyone else in order to receive recognition. I've been involved, like I say, in many such programs and unless I'm associated with a group that is head and shoulders above all other groups, I would never try to do a Hall of Fame program. Yet the Honorary Awards Programs are eminently fun to work with. I even sponsor my own awards program. It's far more fun to give out honors than to receive them. I have a set of procedures, rules and orders and I follow them diligently, then I have a back-up group that oversees what I do. So far, no problems, but I stress that what I do is an Honors Program only. The point is that one shouldn't mix up apples or oranges. Each program stands on its own merits with its own rules and regulations. Just as I wouldn't ask the SCTA to copy the NHRA rules, I wouldn't ask the NHRA to copy the SCTA rules. Eventually the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians might establish a LAND SPEED HALL OF FAME, if the members wish it and a sponsor with a good background comes forth. Then the requirements would be stringent and you would see that a Hall of Fame is heavily influenced by the credentials that you have. There is nothing wrong with what a local group is doing, as long as they are clear that they are running an HONORS program, or Honorary Awards program, not a Hall of Fame. Otherwise, when you are on the podium about to receive your award and Joe "I never did anything, but marry the daughter of the guy giving out the awards," is standing there with you to get a similar honor, won't you feel cheated?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You mention the Pete Dean Award and its history. This is very interesting. I am giving out the Meb Healy award this year and other than Meb died at Bonneville of heat stroke while working for the SCTA, little is known about him or the award. Have you documented any history of this award? It would be of great interest to me and the association for the presentation of the award this year. Thanks, Mike Manghelli
Mike: There are 3 awards, but the modern day SCTA got two of them confused. The Arthur C. Tilton Award was created and sponsored by Marguerite Tilton to honor her son who died in the service and is to commemorate "Outstanding Sportsmanship." The first winner was Tony Capanna, because in 1946 he had the championship in his sights because a competitor was unable to run the last race of the season due to injury. Tony had another driver race in his car and thus showed that "winning wasn't everything but competition was." Because Tony didn't make that run, he lost the points championship and came in second. After a few years the Arthur C. Tilton trophy languished and was reused, minus the top (which had a roadster that always broke off on top), into the Pete Dean Award. Dean deserves to have his own award and not a cannibalized war heroes award. It's an outrage among those who know and a sign of ignorance for those that don't. You have to understand that to some of us the SCTA is the First Church of the Land Speed Racers. It represents pride and performance. I would be glad to purchase a new trophy for Dean's Award, but the original belongs to Tilton and always will. People can appropriate it and call it their own, but no one will ever pay them any respect for a theft. Pure and simple, it doesn't belong to Pete Dean and he deserves better than having the award named after him, robbing from a dead war hero and founding father of the SCTA. Finally, I don't know much about the Meb Healy Award. I've asked Jack Underwood and he said that it is for volunteerism. Again, mixing up those who volunteer with those who did something outstanding on a one time basis is improper. The same goes for awards to those who need to be honored for their achievements alone. There were a lot of racers who had the grumpiest dispositions, yet deserve recognition for their outstanding performances. The purpose of an award should always be clear.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think you have done a good job with your description of the processes and problems associated with Hall of Fames and Honorary Awards. I hope we can find out more on the Meb Healy award. Mike Manghelli
Mike: I've contacted Jack Underwood, Warren Bullis and Jim Miller for information on Meb Healy. Warren says that maybe Jim Travis knows something. You might also talk to Julian Doty. Meb goes way back, for he is mentioned in the minutes of the SCTA that my late father was trying to shape up into book form. I loved those old handwritten notes in their pen and pencil format. Dad wouldn't start on his memoirs of the NHRA until he finished that book. As much as he loved the NHRA and the record of safety that it brought to racing, I could see that he loved land speed and dry lakes racing dearly. He simply wouldn't start on any other project until he finished with the book on the “Minutes of the SCTA; 1937-1948”. My brother was handling the graphics and construction of the book, Dad was reading and re-reading the minutes, finding photographs and adding comments, and I was doing the index. The first index that I did came to 25 pages. He didn't like that and suggested that I pare it down. The second index came to 21 pages, then the third paring of the index brought it down to 16 pages! Many years ago my father had his secretaries type the minutes onto a disc and from that disc we were able to print it out. The secretaries did an excellent job and yet there were some spellings that were beyond them, such as Meb, which they also spelled Med, Mef and Mel. When my brother and I get it done and in print, I'm worried that we will have left some things uncorrected, but that there won't be anyone who will know that we erred. I don't fear making an error if there is someone to correct me, but having no one who can correct an error is an uncomfortable feeling.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our High Desert Racer club member & My race car partner from Glasgow, Kentucky, sent this to me. George Callaway
"George, check out www.calsrandr.com. Calvin Smith. As a boy, I was inspired by authors, such as Henry Gregor Felson, Street Rod, and aspired to build my own street rod. I built my first car at age 14, and subsequently burned down the car and my dad's garage. My hobby of building street rods became a profession. In the 1980's a depressed market limited spending in the street rodding industry, so I focused my attention on restoring vintage Jaguars. In 1985, I sold my home and shop and moved the family and restoration business to Kentucky. Now every morning, I wake up to geese flying over the lake only yards from my front door and deer grazing in the backyard. I grab my cup of coffee and commute to work by walking downstairs to the shop. My name is C. Calvin Smith. I live in South Central Kentucky with my wife and two dogs. We have four sons, four daughters-in-law, a grandson and granddaughter. In 1990, I and two friends went as spectators to World Finals at the Bonneville Salt Flats. My wife refers to it as my "male bonding" trip. When I returned home, I cleared the basement floor and began sketching the outline of my first race car. As they say, the rest is history. I have met may people along the way. Photo of Ed Roth striping car at Muroc on website. Several have shared this experience with me as I participated in this hobby in the quest for speed. (Accomplishments included; El Mirage 200 MPH Club, October 1998, AA/Fuel Streamliner, Speed 228.742 MPH, El Mirage 200 MPH Club, June 1999, AA/Fuel Streamliner, Speed 262.915.742 MPH). Tinker Toy, a Model T sedan delivery, was featured in the April 1977 (6:4) issue of Street Rodder. I built the space-tube frame and hung the cantilevered front suspension (coilovers inboard and Fiat spindles and power discs). I fabricated the cab over a T-bucket body using fiberglass over plywood. The radiator was mounted in the back and vented through the tailpipe. The original paint scheme was pearl burgandy laquer over lavendar cobwebbing. Engine: 427 Chevy rat, 6-71 GMC blower, Jahns pistons, TRW camshaft, dual Hollies. I first raced the car under our team, The Invisible Eliminators, with partners Jim Kintz and Pat O'Neill. Later Tony Taormina joined the partnership. The car raced under the team name of United Construction: Taormina and Smith. Finally, the car ran as part of Pigasus Racing Team. The original car housed one engine. B/FS 203.701. B/Fuel 196.221, 212.460, 217.259. AA/Gas 228.742. AA/Fuel 241.112, 234.684, 256.168, 257.538. The Hooligan was driven by Carl Olson between 1965 and 1967 at Freemont Drag Strip and other drag strips in California. In 2007, I purchased The Hooligan. Currently, I'm attempting to restore it to its former state. The hope is to drive it during the Cackle Fest during the Hot Rod Reunion at Beach Bend Drag Strip. For more information or inquiries, contact me by email at [email protected].
George and Calvin: I had no problem using the link that you sent to me, but when I tested the link on Google, it wouldn't work, no matter what I tried to do, so I copied and pasted the information from the Website to this newsletter. Please check your link again as others may have the same problem that I had in gaining access to your site.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Biography, by Mike Manghelli
Thirty three years of Land Speed Racing. To some, 33 years doesn't sound like a lot, but for Mike, it has been a lifetime of racing. Mike first started his life long enthusiasm for Land Speed Racing (LSR) at the early age of 17. His first mentor to LSR was George Purser his auto shop
teacher. Instead of working on the normal high school auto shop projects, Mike spent his shop time working on a Corvair (his mentors' car). His first car race engine was a small block Chevrolet that was cut in half and ran on 90% nitro methane in the Corvair. After high school, Mike went to work in a VW machine shop building off-road and drag racing engines. Because of this influence, Mike and his good friend "Big Mike" Brehm purchased their first LSR vehicle, a 1956 VW Karmann Ghia. In 1977-78, Mike and Mike became the "Pair-O-Mike Productions" set 11 records in 12 events earning the number 2 place in points for El Mirage both years, missing the number 1 position by only 5 points each year.
From 1979 - 81 Mike ran the Ghia alone and set records at both El Mirage and Bonneville. In 1982, Mike teamed with Gerard Collier and continued to run the record setting Ghia with Gerard's larger displacement engine. In 1984, Gerard built a VW powered lakester and they become "C&M Racing". Initially they used the engine and transmission from the Ghia in the lakester and set several records at El Mirage with the air cooled engine. But by 1986 they had installed an alcohol injected, turbo charged, nitrous oxide powered water cooled 1.5L VW engine in the car. This vehicle held the VW Land Speed Record at Bonneville for 12 years at 199.902 mph, just narrowly missing the Car & Kaplan fuel lakester record of 201 mph.
Mike has helped many racers set a number of records at El Mirage, Bonneville and Muroc in a variety of vehicles and with many different racing teams. In 1993, Mike ran the VW lakester while helping Rich Manchen with his new Chevy powered lakester. Mike tuned the Chevy engine for a record setting run which gained Rich Manchen entry into the El Mirage 200 mph club. In 1994, Mike and Rich joined forces to run the Chevy powered lakester at El Mirage which landed Mike a spot in the "dirty 2" club. In July, Mike and Rich ran the USFRA meet at Bonneville and Rich gained a 200 mph club membership. Unfortunately, it was also that event where Mike drove 262 mph and crashed the lakester as it exited the course during his qualifying run the next day.
When Mike made it back to the salt, teamed with Rich Manchen and Lee Kennedy running the big block Chevy powered Alfa Romero in 1997. It was during this time that Mike honed his tuning skills with nitrous oxide and gasoline. The Alfa set records at all six events at El Mirage that year and earned the team the coveted number one points position in 1997. In 1998 the team returned to Bonneville setting the AA/MS record putting Lee Kennedy in the Bonneville 200 club. Mike returned to the salt in 1999 as a driver teaming with Paul Stanley and Julian Doty. This was with the newly fendered VW Lakester (nicknamed the "Stinkliner") that turned it into a streamliner. It ran a diesel engine and set a record in Diesel Streamliner class that still stands today. In 2000, he continued the tradition with his latest addition to the Volkswagen racing family, a VW Rabbit Truck. Mike and his wife Pam have set records in several classes, including diesel, production and modified categories.
By 2001, Mike had begun to seriously help Wilson and Waters with their beautiful 1929 Roadster, and has since been instrumental in tuning the vehicle for the fuel roadster records. In 2003, Mike drove the roadster at Bonneville and finally made it into the prestigious 200 MPH club with a record of 232. Mike continues to help many people accomplish their LSR dreams on the salt and at El Mirage by tuning engines, general assistance, and answering questions. However, his first love for LSR was and still is Volkswagens. Mike has worn many hats for the SCTA and the Sidewinders Club over the years. He started out as the treasurer for the Sidewinders Club for over 10 years. His next position was the Inspection Chair (SCTA) in 1996. In 1997-98, he served as Treasurer for the SCTA and in 1999 he landed the Vice President job. Mike has also served as President of the SCTA in 2000, 2001 and 2006. Today, he still holds a place on the SCTA board of directors and is the point-of-contact for all rule changes for the organization. Mike was instrumental in designing and implementing the timing system and results database that is in use today. He is heavily involved with the event communications, ensuring communication for all officials, workers, and timing slips for the competitors. His most important job at any event, however, is the host of the White Goose Bar.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Editor's notes: Recently I went to the internet and looked up the various awards given out by the SCTA since 1946. One thing stood out immediately from all other topics. I could only recognize a handful of names of people that I knew personally and another small group that I knew a little about. My knowledge of land speed racing history was quite shabby indeed. That's the way it is sometimes when we think we know something and it turns out that it's what we don't know that's important. We need a lot more biographies and we need to interview as many people as we can before we lose our racing history.
-------------------
Meb Healy Memorial Trophy, as a memorial to Meb Healy who lost his life due to a sun stroke while working at Bonneville, this award is presented each year to a man or woman who contributes more than his share of work for S.C.T.A.
1955-Bob Higbee SDRC
1956-Bill Davis Lancers
1957 Bob Brissett Esquires
1958-Harry Woerne Sidewinders
1959-Jerry Eisert Wheelers
1960 Emil Grisotti Road Runners
1961 Emil Grisotti Road Runners
1962-Bruce Geisler Rod Riders
1963-Burke LeSage Gear Grinders
1964-Roy Aldrich Lakers
1965-Jim Lindsley Gear Grinders
1966-Jerry Tucker SDRC
1967-Bill Saderup Sidewinders
1968-Otto Crocker SDRC
1969-James Koehler Lakers
1970-James Travis Gear Grinders
1971-Mel Chastain Rod Riders
1972-Multy Aldrich Lakers
1973-Wayne Harvey Rod Riders
1974-Mike Stewart Milers
1975-Ken Walkey Sidewinders
1976-Bill Taylor SDRC
1977-Ron Cohn Sidewinders
1978-Lionel Wynn SDRC
1979-Julian Doty Sidewinders
1980-Gary Cagle Gear Grinders
1981-Dan Warner Sidewinders
1982-Multy and Vera Aldrich Lakers
1983-Multy and Vera Aldrich Lakers
1984-Werner Schwarz Sidewinders
1985-Don Riepe Milers
1986-Jerry Bates Rod Riders
1987-Chuck Kalbach Rod Riders
1988-Glen Barrett Gear Grinders
1989-Kent Cowgur LSR
1990-Dennis Dalton SDRC
1991-Henry Louie SDRC
1992-Paul Stanle Sidewinders
1993-Werner Schwarz Sidewinders
1994-James and Allen Rice Gear Grinders
1995-Mike Manghelli Sidewinders
1996-Earl Wooden Sidewinders
1997-Gregg Waters Super Fours
1998-Monte Warnock High Desert Racers
1999-Billy Hodges LSR
2000 Jim Jensen SDRC
2001-Duane Kofoed Super Fours
2002-The Barbee boys Super Fours
2003-Jim Miller Sidewinders
2004-George Callaway High Desert Racers,
2005-Greg Carlson Milers
2006-Butch Reynolds High Desert Racers
2007?
2008?
-------------------
Pete Dean Memorial Sportsmanship trophy. This perpetual trophy is awarded to outstanding display of good sportsmanship. At some point, probably in the 1960's, the name of the trophy was changed to the Pete Dean Memorial Sportsmanship trophy from the Arthur C. Tilton Sportsmanship trophy and the top was replaced.
1946 Tony Capanna Albata,
1947 Boswell Willis SDRC,
1948 Harvey Haller Road Runners,
1949 Wally Parks Road Runners
1950 Roy Aldrich Hornets
1951 Bob Higbee SDRC
1952 Jim Lindsley Gear Grinders
1953 Walt June Nite Owls
1954 Paul Stratton Lancers
1955 John Cramer SDRC
1956 Gary Cagle Gear Grinders
1957 George Hanson Road Runners
1958 Emil Grisotti Road Runners,
1959 Harry Woerner Sidewinders
1960 Lou Bingham SDRC
1961 Fred Willer SDRC
1962 Peter Dean SDRC
1963 Jack Stewart Wheelers
1964 Bruce Geisler Road Runners
1965 Jerry Kugel Road Runners
1966 Emil Grisotti Lakers
1967 Al Thayer Road Runners
1968 Bill Burke Road Runners
1969 Howard Johnson Sidewinders
1970 Mike Stewart Rod Riders
1971 Elwin Teague Rod RIders
1972 Mike Haslam Gear Grinders
1973 Jim Lyon Rod Riders
1974 Warren Bullis Lakers
1975 Ed Fenn SDRC
1976 Mike Cook Rod Riders
1977 Robert Thomas SDRC
1978 Phillip Grisott Lakers
1979 Gordon Hoyt Road Runners
1980 not awarded
1981 Elmo Gillette Rod Riders
1982 H.L. Carter Gear Grinders
1983 Al Thayer Rod Riders
1984 Ken Hoover Rod Riders
1985 Reese Adams Road Runners
1986 not awarded
1987 not awarded
1988 Verlin Marshall Rod Riders
1989 Chuck Kalbach Rod Riders
1990 Don Carr Sidewinders
1991 Ron Cohn Sidewinders
1992 Jerry Bates Rod Riders
1993 Mike Waters Super Fours
1994 Bruce Johnston Super Fours
1995 Lee Kennedy Sidewinders
1996 Wes Hutchins Sidewinders
1997 Fred Dannenfelzer Sidewinders
1998 J.D. Tone SDRC
1999 Jack Underwood Eliminators
2000 Lonnie Martin Sidewinders
2001 Keith Allen Super Fours
2002 Ed Safarik Sidewinders
2003 Jim Jensen SDRC
2004 Bob Webb Gear Grinders
2005 The Barbees Super Fours
2006 Larry Burford High Desert Racers
2007?
2008?
-------------------
Vera Aldrich Award. This trophy is awarded to the female that helps promote SCTA racing.
1987 Veda Orr
1988 Phylis Lindsley
1989 Joane Warner
1990 Beverly Stanley
1991 Elise Tucker
1992 Louise Opperman
1993 Elise Tucker
1994 Elise Tucker
1995 Mary Carson
1996 Penny Cook
1997 Penny Cook
1998 El Mirage Ladies Auxiliary
1999 Pam Manghelli
2000 Dottie Higbee
2001 Judy Sights
2002 Carolyn Sager
2003 Tammy Barrett MacDowell
2004 Joyce Jensen SDRC
2005 JoAnn Carlson Milers
2006 Vicki Spring High Desert Racers
2007 ?
2008 ?
-------------------
Wheels of Fame Award. No year is given for most of the awardees and this will have to be rectified as we find SCTA Banquet programs. Most of the honorees are thus given in alphabetical order without the years in which they were honored with the award.
Ed Adams, Roy Multy Aldrich, Tom Beatty, Glen Barrett, Gray Baskerville, Dean Batchelor, George Bentley, Keith Black, Tom Bryant, Warren Bullis, Bill Burke, Gary Cagle, Don Carr, Mel Chastain, Ron Cohn, Jim Colbert, Mike Cook, Penny Cook, Roy Creel, Otto Crocker, Fred Dannenfelzer, Pete Dean, Mark Dees, Julian Doty, Jim Deist, Vic Edelbrock Sr, Ed Elliott, Tom Evans, Don Francisco, Bruce Geisler, Elmo Gillette, Bill Graham, Emil 'Griggs' Grisotti, Andy Granatelli, Meb Healy, Bob Higbee, Stu Hilborn, Ed Iskenderian, Kong Jackson, Ab Jenkins, Harold Johansen, Howard Johansen, Chuck Kalbach, Berry Kaplan, Jim Lattin, Burke LeSage, Lester Leggitt, Mel Leighton, Jim Lindsley, Phyllis Lindsley, Jack Lufkin, Verlin Marshall, Ak Miller, Jim Miller, Larry 'Dad' Miller, Barney Navarro, Karl Orr, Wally Parks, Bob Rufi, Roy Richter, Charles Scott, Eldon Snapp, Clyde Sturdy, Paul Stanton, Miler Mike Stewart, Bob Summers, Bill Taylor, Al Teague, Al Thayer, Mickey Thompson, Roscoe Turner, Don Vesco, John Vesco, Rick Vesco, Dan Warner, Mike Waters, Nolan White, Bozzy Willis, Dana Wilson, Alex Xydias. The following people who were honored and the dates that we know they were honored in; 2006 Wheels of Fame Jim Dunn, LSR and Earl Wooden, Sidewinders. 2007 and 2008 are not known.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Speed Racing Websites:
www.hotrodhotline.com, www.landspeedracing.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 1999 - 2007 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