SOCIETY OF LAND SPEED RACING HISTORIANS
NEWSLETTER 130 - September 24, 2009
Editor: Richard Parks [email protected]
President's Corner: By Jim Miller (1-818-846-5139)

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Some Names To Look For In This Newsletter:
 President's Corner, Editorials, Word from Don Rudy is that William "Wild Bill" Alexander was assaulted and beaten up in a robbery attempt, Mary Ann Lawford our website owner and publisher is going in for surgery on her hip and we wish her well, Please tell Walt James' family that he has been a wonderful help and has made great possibilities for me to be able to go forward with my project to get this far, Walt James passed away Wednesday September 9 2009, Walt James passed away peacefully September 9 at home in Acton California, If you have any Walt James stories, Just to let everyone know Ron Lachman is back at UCLA-Westwood again, I went to the hospital today and they told Ron he would be going home, I knew Rodger Ward and even raced a few times in his open road races that his daughter put on in Nevada for a few years, Burke LeSage and Gail Phillips sent in the announcement on the Gold Coast Roadster & Racing Club's 17th Annual Gas-Up Party and Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Cruisin' for a Cure will be held on September 26 2009 at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa California from 7 AM to 5pm, Jackie Arnett Sonka sent in the following websites, Our ongoing search for Road Runners history and missing documents continues, Road Runners Bonneville Speedweek 2009 Report, I believe this photo in the collection of Jimmie Stevens 1932 roadster is the Vogel Balchowsky car, The Jimmy Summers car ended up in the hands of the Vogel Brothers, You might suggest to Hila Sweet about contacting the PAS (Perris Auto Speedway) for future events, The 36hp Challenge at the 2009 World of Speed on the Bonneville Salt Flats saw three of five class records set and a new Ghia category record established, Art Evans sent us two websites to visit, The USFRA's 2009 World of Speed event on the Bonneville Salt Flats came to a conclusion Saturday afternoon, This is a little later than usual but I wanted to give a damage report also, I talked to Jim Correia and he said that the photographs of the men were from the Oakland Roadster Club just a little after the war (WWII), "Memories of the California Jalopy Association" will go into a second printing and be available beginning September 20 2009, Crazy Horses - the history of British drag racing is now available in the USA from Motorbooks, Gone Racin'… When the Hot Rods Ran May 15 1938 by Bill Carroll, Gone Racin'…A Teenage Experience by John Chambard, Random Photos and Videos

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President's Corner:  
   As most of you know I spend lots of time digging for information on our favorite subject, land speed racing. At the present time I've got enough stuff to keep me tied up at a computer 24-7 for the next couple of years. Also every time I turn around more stuff turns up. Yep I'll end up being a few hundred years old by the time I'm finished. The cool thing about the above is that it is fun. 

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Editorial:
Ron Main humorously sent a link concerning the Running Blade team, a new land speed project by the Brits to beat the riding lawnmower record held by a man in Ohio. What may seem silly is indeed serious and the speeds are exceptional. The current record is 80 mph and the Brits are attempting to increase the record to over 100 mph. See www.fastestlawnmower.com. The reason this is not a frivolous record and should be taken seriously, even with a chuckle and a twinkle in the eye, is that going that fast was out of the question for most dry lakes racers in the 1930's. That a small lawnmower engine could attain that speed is remarkable. We also receive reports from the VW Challenge where they are trying to set records in the 100 mph range and have set up their own performance standards. At a Gear Grinders meeting once, Derek McLeish, or one of his brothers, brought an engine that literally fit in one's hand. Records are made in classes. At first, the only record that existed was an open category, but as the types of cars proliferated and steam cars were competing with gasoline piston driven cars, a new classification had to be devised in order to make the competition fair. From an open and unlimited class, to one based on cubic inches of engine size, to modified, streamlined, roadster and other types, the evolution of classes has moved forward. And these class creations will continue to move forward and vex officials in Timing Associations as long as car builders and designer push the limit of their inventiveness. So what's really funny about a class for riding lawnmowers? There is nothing funny at all and as Ron asks, "Why not?" But the SCTA doesn't have to be that particular timing association to maintain a class. It takes a lot of time, experience and volunteering to keep a class open and have trained inspectors and rules committees to oversee that class. If the volunteers are not available, then there has to be another sanctioning body willing to maintain the records and train the timers. Their training, ability and equipment must be standardized and recognized as capable and competent. If they meet those qualifications, then this newsletter stands ready to publish their records and our historians to study and write on their importance.
On another issue, Tom Malloy sent in the following email; "Appreciate your help and found the article on politics in racing very interesting. Hope I can get 3 of the 5 supervisors to vote in favor of the Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park. We will keep you posted with updates. Respectively, Tom Malloy"
Here the issue is whether a person can develop his own land and not be forced by the state to leave it undeveloped. Tom Malloy wants to build a motorsport racing park on his property and special interests, like environmentalists and county government want him to gift his land to them to run. It is very common for the non-productive class of government serfs to "demand their rights to things earned by those that do work." The name for this is sloth, laziness, indolence and ingratitude. Racing endeavors are left out in the cold because we are a "minor effort." Since we vote consistently for one political party or the other, the politicians don't fear us, but they do fear those who march and parade in their streets. I've written an article called Politics in Racing, and you can read it at www.hotrodhotline.com, guest columnist/Richard Parks. In effect, the article says that if we don't come together for our common car culture, then bit by bit we will surely lose it. The spotted owl and the striped butterfly will win over that habitat while we lose another drag strip or land speed dry lake.
The Santa Ana Drags/Main Malt Shop Reunion was held on September 19, 2009. This was the second reunion of the year for the Jenks and their friends who raced together back in the 1950's at the historic drag strip run and operated by C. J. Hart, with help from Creighton Hunter and Frank Stillwell. I didn't receive notice of it until two days after the event was held in Orange, California or I would have attended and wrote a report on the reunion. Never assume that people know about your event. Always be sure to send letters, emails and phone calls so that everyone is made aware of your activity. Leslie Long has compiled a list of names for those who have raced on the dry lakes and also those who have drag raced at the old Santa Ana drag strip. He has surnames and initials of the first names and needs our help in locating the people and in getting their first names on record. More information on this project will be given out later. The Petersen Automotive Museum will be holding an auction on September 26, 2009 at their facility in Los Angeles, California. There are more rumors going around on the internet about the NHRA and I want to re-emphasize that I've heard nothing. We need to step back and stop spreading these rumors, because that only makes the job of those in charge that much more difficult.
Mary Ann Lawford informed me that there are roughly 641 individuals receiving the newsletter or at least signed in to be notified about it. There may be even more people who simply go to the website and read it without signing in. I recognized a few of the email addresses and they have great hot rodding and straight line racing credentials. The odd thing is that very few of these readers ever write in to tell us about their exploits and stories and the strength or weakness of this newsletter is in how many will actively take a part in what we do. Jim Miller and I will shortly run out of stories and facts that we have dredged up and will need your input and observations about the racing scene. I spend time going over these lists because they tell me if we are on the right track. Here's an interesting fact. There are 32 readers whose email address shows an origin outside of the United States. There are 4 from New Zealand, 2 from Germany, 2 more from the UK, 10 from Australia, 9 from Canada, 1 from Italy and 4 from miscellaneous countries. There might be more, but I can't be sure of that. The Society was never intended to be a Southern California dry lakes group. Jim Miller and I are quite international in scope and you will notice in his President's Column that he often brings up land speed racing from other parts of the country and the world. It just seems like we are parochial in nature since the bulk of land speed racing has been done at El Mirage and the other dry lakes. Of course, we have to include Bonneville as well. We can't overlook Daytona Beach, Pendine, Black Rock, Lake Gairdner, the Autobahn and many other sacred spots to land speed racers.
We are also interested in early drag racing, that first decade when the sport was searching for its identity and separating itself from land speed racing. The only reason that we don't go very far past the 1950's in drag racing is that the sport is so huge, it would simply overwhelm us and there are other fine websites and blogs that specialize in more recent drag racing. On occasion we do report on drag racing in the 1960's and later time periods. We aren't rigid, but we do set some sort of loose parameters. The important thing about our international members is that we desperately need their research and knowledge about straight-line racing in their countries. We really need to know more about the early attempts at the ultimate land speed records, in France, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom. Over the years the venue sites for timing trials has shifted progressively westward, first to Wales from the continent, then to Daytona Beach, Florida, next to Southern California and Bonneville and in more recent times to Australia. The SLSRH Newsletter is not meant to conflict or compete with any other blog or website. Our sole purpose is to bring all the facts that we know out into the open for historians and writers to use in their works. Another goal is to search for museums which will save our memorabilia before it is lost. A further goal is to help support all the websites and blogs that now exist. We want to promote them to the hilt. Furthermore, it is in our interest to recognize and support all museums, businesses, racing teams, builders, racers, car owners, drivers and individuals who in some way make a living in straight-line racing. Finally, we want all of you, every 641 of our members to write their biographies and caption their photographs.

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Word from Don Rudy is that William "Wild Bill" Alexander was assaulted and beaten up in a robbery attempt and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital with a broken jaw and internal head injuries. The swelling in the brain has receded and the doctors believe that he may not have to have surgery to remove pressure within the brain. To contact Wild Bill and cheer him up you can call him at 1-626-796-1103 or send get well cards to him at Marlinda, Imperial Convalescent Hospital, 150 Bellefontaine Street, Pasadena, CA. 91105. Attn: William Alexander room 35-A. I called the number given and the nurse transferred me to 1-626-796-7529. I tried this number but could not get through. It repeatedly was a busy signal. There was also a bad language connection, so if you call and wish to speak to Bill to cheer him up, be extremely patient. It took me a long time to understand the English of the caregivers. I finally got through and spoke to Bill and he's making good progress. As soon as he gets home I will send him the bio outline and get him started on his bio. He began drag racing in the late 1950's and '60's.
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The word on "Wild Bill" Alexander is that he's still recovering at the Marlinda rehabilitation hospital in Pasadena. Bill got jumped in front of a liquor store and was beaten up pretty good in a possible robbery attempt. This came from Edmund Janke via Bill Larzeleer. Don Rudy
Don: I called Wild Bill and he sounded upbeat. Can you tell us more about him?
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I've heard that "Wild Bill" Alexander was assaulted by a local thug, known to police, after coming to the aid of a store clerk who was being threatened by the guy. I understand that when he turned to walk out, he got sucker-punched, then worked over real good (broken jaw and ribs). Dave Wallace Jr
Dave: Do you have any bio or historical information on Wild Bill?

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Mary Ann Lawford, our website owner and publisher, is going in for surgery on her hip and we wish her well. Her assistant, Anita at Hot Rod Hot Line is going to take over her duties in Mary Ann's absence. Emails can be sent to the editor and I will post them in the newsletter

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Please tell Walt James' family that he has been a wonderful help and has made great possibilities for me to be able to go forward with my project to get this far. Send my condolences to them. Since you have mentioned the CRA, I have been temporarily given 3 photos with a list of names, all grouped with guys that were part of the Oakland Roadster Association or club from Jimmy Correia. He has asked me if anyone knows anyone from the pictures. I do not have a scanner available, so I have to find a way. But I did make Jim Palmer some copies. He has made some copies of them. I hear he talks to Greg Sharp once in a blue moon. I would like to thank Jim Miller and you for making life happen with your great Landspeed Racing Historian Newsletters. It does a lot in this black and white world. Thanks, Spencer Simon
   Spencer: Walt James was a great man in our racing heritage. He simply is not replaceable. I miss him more and more every day and will be lost as to how I'm ever going to find out things that only Walt seemed to know.

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Walt James passed away Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Memorial Service: Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside, California 92518. (951) 653-8417. Friday September 25, 2009 10:15 A.M. See www.westernracing.com.

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Walt James, known as Mr. CRA for leading the California Roadster Assn./California Racing Assn. sprint car sanctioning body, passed away peacefully September 9 at home in Acton, California. He was 86. He was hospitalized at the Veteran Administration Hospital in West Los Angeles for two months with debilitating back pain and had two surgeries to connect four vertebrae to relieve back pain shortly before he succumbed. Walt will be remembered for his quick smile, fascinating racing stories, helping hand for all, and respected leadership in racing over the decades. He worked for the best interests of racers and was a gentleman, family-man, competitor, and racing pioneer with a wealth of knowledge that he shared freely. Walt was president of CRA for 21 years from 1950-1970. He then worked as founder, architect, builder and general manager of the new Indian Dunes Motorcycle Park in Castaic, north of Los Angeles for Newhall Land and Farming. He ran the 600+ acres facility-a motorcycle, recreational and motocross park--from June 1970 until 1985. The jovial, popular leader also served as president of the Western Racing Assn. vintage racing car club for four years. Walt and fellow racers in 1982 revived the WRA sanctioning body name which had been inactive since the mid-1950s. He was still active in WRA and drove his vintage No. 15 CAE-built, non-wing sprint car in recent years at WRA speedway events. Walt was an inductee into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1993 and later the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. He was a nominating and selection panel member for both groups. Walt and his family organized the annual CRA Reunion luncheons held each January at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park. Walt served as the emcee each year, introduced guests and the honoree, and told stories about many of them from his active memory.
   Walt and his younger brother Joe, a 1951-52 Indianapolis 500 driver who started 16th and finished 13th in 1952, were born in Mississippi. They raced roadsters in Southern California after their World War II military service. Walt raced CRA roadsters, which served as a springboard for many drivers to the Indy 500, until the mid-1950s. A serious car crash on a country road near Fresno in 1950 claimed the life of famed Novi engine designer/builder Bud Winfield and hospitalized Walt for months with leg fractures and rib injuries. The crash possibly cost him a 1951 Indy 500 ride. Walt was elected to the CRA presidency in absentia while he was hospitalized after others declined the job. Joe lost his life in November, 1952 after a racing crash on the San Jose mile dirt track. Walt entered the war as an enlisted man and served three years as lead bombardier/navigator on B-17 bombers, flying 26 missions out of England. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal of Honor. Walt left military service as a Captain and remained active in the Air Force Reserve. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel before retiring in May, 1983. Walt designed, consulted on or built various racing tracks such as Gardena Bowl (Western Speedway), Pacoima Speedway, Santa Maria Speedway, Indian Dunes tenth-mile oval, Willow Springs Raceway dirt oval in Rosamond, a track named Walt James Stadium by track ownership. The track named in his honor hosted an annual WRA on-track experience over the Thanksgiving Day weekend. Willow Springs owner Bill Huth said that 17th annual tradition will continue.
   Graveside services with full military honors will be held Friday, September 25 at 10:00 am at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd. in Riverside. The cemetery is located just west of the 215 Freeway and March Air Force Base where Walt served on active duty. His final resting place is northwest of Perris Auto Speedway, where Walt was honored at the September 19 USAC-CRA sprint car race with a parade lap in his honor and monetary awards to leaders of laps 15 and 24, car numbers Walt used. A celebration of Walt's active and distinguished life will be held in the future when plans are formalized by WRA associates and his family. He is survived by wife Dottie, son Lee, a winning CRA sprint car and World of Outlaws sprint car driver in the 1970s, daughters Vicki and Wendy, daughter-in-law Lori, son-in-law Bobby Lovgren, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His younger sister Annabelle Allen, of Florida, also survives. In lieu of flowers or cards, the James family requested that donations be made in Walt's honor to one of the following organizations: the Castaic Lions Club, where Walt was a member for 40 years, c/o the Lyon Walt James Memorial Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 312, Castaic, Calif. 91384; to the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, P. O. Box 3661l, Princeton , N. J. 08543-3661, or to Road to Recovery (for downed motocross riders), 23623 N. Scottsdale Rd, Suite D-3420, Scottsdale, Ariz. 85255.  By Tim Kennedy
   Readers: Tim Kennedy is a track writer for Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, California. He is one of the most thorough and dedicated investigative reporter and oval racing track writer. You can see his accurate and to the point racing articles and news stories on http://www.hotrodhotline.com/feature/guestcolumnists/timkennedy/. 

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The last funny thing I remember about Walt James was a few years ago out at the Willow Springs dirt track. Walt always graded the track after the racing was over. I was talking to him and asked if he was getting ready to grade the track. He said, "Not until after I have my glass of wild turkey, I can't keep the grader straight without it."   Billy Cruce
   Billy: If you have any more Walt James stories, please send it to me to put in the newsletter. Walt was a very special person to all of us.

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Just to let everyone know, Ron Lachman is back at UCLA-Westwood again. Sunday about 2pm he woke up from a nap with, what he says, was the worst headache he ever had. So rather than fool around, I got him into the car and we went straight to UCLA emergency. They took a CAT scan of his head and today they were going to do some other tests and then a spinal tap. His headache was gone this afternoon and he was doing ok. His vision was double but they said that could be from some of the pain killers and other medications they were giving him. Hopefully, I will know more and he will come home tomorrow. Things become magnified when you have a healing fractured hip and can't get out of bed at the hospital. Will keep you all posted...more tomorrow. Marilyn Lachman

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I went to the hospital today and they told Ron he would be going home. He feels pretty good except he is weak and because of the hip fracture repair, where he cannot put any weight on it, he is not too steady. I think part of that weakness is from inactivity since Labor Day. The tests showed he did not have a stroke and the headache could be from the change in medications. Then the doctor from the heart transplant team said he should stay in one more night and he could go home tomorrow. They had him get up and sit on the side of the bed and then stand up for just a minute or two and he was exhausted. So, as it stands now, tomorrow will be the big day for him to come home. He is truly more frustrated than anything and says he is not in any pain from the hip and his headache has gone away. Marilyn Lachman
   Marilyn: That's good news about Ron. He is well-liked by everyone and we want to see him get back on his feet and recover his health.

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I knew Rodger Ward and even raced a few times in his open road races that his daughter put on in Nevada for a few years. I knew Walt James and a whole lot of others that are not with us anymore. In fact I even worked with Johnnie Parsons Sr when I was a teenager. I am a youngster by comparison at 49, but have been around racing since I was a child and know or knew quite a number of the old time racers. Bob Falcon is the Great Uncle of Tony Thompson, who I gave him his start in racing. The kid was something else behind the wheel. After a few years he decided he didn't want to race anymore and now builds hot rods for a living. But Tony still holds most of the records at both Orange Show Speedway and the Perris Automotive Speedway, or PAS, in my cars.
   On another subject, a while back in one of your weekly columns, or newsletter, you had mentioned something about how it would be nice if there was someone or a business out there that specialized in helping families after someone passes away who had spent a lifetime collecting racing, auto type memorabilia instead of it all going to Goodwill or the trash dumpster. In fact until reading your article I had planned to leave most of my and my late father's things to the Wally Parks Museum. I hadn't thought that it might not be there forever, or that they wouldn't possibly want our stuff, or would sell it off to pay bills, etc. Since reading what you wrote I have been thinking about starting a small part time business out of a corner of my shop. The business would pick up in the Greater So Cal area what the families didn't want to save, go through and inventory and catalog everything, appraise it, and then sell it all. Either on eBay, or once it is out that the business is here, keep a list of people that are looking for certain items, etc. I would then contact them if we came across something that they were looking for. I would keep a small percentage for this service. I have been meaning to write to you about this for a while now to get your input, thoughts, etc; on this project.
Michael Snider (951-776-9770)
   Michael: It's an excellent idea and one that you should pursue. In my editorials I made clear that the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is still in operation, has said nothing about closing and that all the staff and administration has told me that their intentions are to keep the museum going. The museum welcomes contributions, donations and memorabilia. I would always say to the public that donating collectible and historic artifacts to any museum is a worthwhile cause. I have dealings with many museums, some of which are not automotive in nature. I like to see all history preserved and taught to the next generation. My father, family members and I have given large donations to historical foundations and museums, including the museum that bears my father's name. But I have to report the facts, not as people want to hear them, but as they really are. All museums quickly run into a problem with space, budget and staff. The Motorsports museum, as well as the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, was filled to capacity soon after they opened and had to turn away vehicles. They only have so much space to store things and then they have to rent more space, stick it in their garages, rafters and wherever they can find room. Their budgets are limited and each time they gather new collections they need more archivists, researchers and historians to work on the new material or leave it in boxes unattended to. Look at it this way, every day in this country you could fill a football stadium with memorabilia left behind by people who die and whose heirs simply can't store or keep the material. What is that in terms of cubic yards, perhaps thousands? 
   Museums are constrained by their budgets and space, thus they usually can't add any more staff to take care of the new material that was donated to them, nor can they store it since their space is already filled to capacity. What good are historical artifacts if they sit in boxes getting old and forgotten? Each day that goes by means that objects deteriorate and the knowledge stored in those collections become lost to us. Objects are most valuable when people are still around and alive to tell us the story behind them. After years go by, they just become junk. What do museums do with tons and tons of collectibles that they cannot store and that they cannot archive and research? They auction the valuable material off, keep what suits them and toss the rest in the trash. There really isn't anything that they can do other than that. It happens over and over again at all kinds of museums and not just at car museums. Sometimes a museum finds another museum that wants the material and they trade or lend objects back and forth. But if you knew just how much is out there to be saved, you would realize that putting memorabilia up for sale or auction is the BEST thing that museums can do to SAVE objects from destruction or neglect. The collector who buys the objects will take good care of it because they have money invested. The alternative is the dumpster and the landfill. So as the editor of the newsletter I heartily encourage everyone to think carefully before disposing of their collections, but selling their memorabilia to other collectors is a valid, safe and natural course of action. I once asked the staff at the museum if I could get someone's car displayed. I was told that the museum could take 70 race cars. "There is a short list of 350 cars that we have promised to take into the museum should an opening occur," said the former director. "These cars are very special and they are owned by people who we owe a great deal to and can't say no to their requests," the director added. "After that there is a 'long list' with another 600 cars that are worthy of showing off in a museum setting and the people who own these cars also have done a great deal for us," the former director concluded. Since most cars are exhibited for 3 to 5 years, longer rather than shorter is the rule, you can see that in order to exhibit all 950 cars that you will have to live 4750 years to get to see them all in the museum. 
   Every year there are dozens of newly restored famous old cars that ask to be exhibited in the museums in the area. There just are not enough museums available nor do these few museums have the space, staff and budget available to take up the surplus. Thus, the only recourse is for people to find other collectors to take their collections. What you are proposing to do is not new, there are hundreds, if not thousands doing exactly what you want to do and still there are more relics to be saved than men like you to save them. I have been approached by many who want to inquire about my father's effects and collection. My brother and I have saved everything and will soon catalog and attempt to archive it. We are not alone, for there are many other children who are perplexed with the problem of saving our cultural and automotive history. It is a huge task and that was the major goal that Jim Miller and I had when we decided to found the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians. If we do nothing more than simply find more museums and help people save and archive their collectibles, then we will have succeeded in doing a most worthwhile objective.

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Burke LeSage and Gail Phillips sent in the announcement on the Gold Coast Roadster & Racing Club's 17th Annual Gas-Up Party and Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The date is September 26, 2009 at Mendenhall's Petroleum Museum, located in Buellton, California. The time is from 9 AM to 5 PM. Mark and Vicki Mendenhall are the hosts and provide a Santa Maria style barbecue with tri-tip steak, beans, salad and drinks. The pit passes are $55 each and you must register by September 15th. For more information call 805-245-8519 or email Gail at [email protected]. The honorees for 2009 are;
Historical vehicle - Mickey Thompson's Attempt Streamliner
Presently running vehicle - Walsh/Cusack/Walsh 333 Roadster
Motorcycle - (One of) Scott Guthrie's Multi-record Hayabusa
People who have contributed - Tanis Hammond, Lee Kennedy, Gail Watson Phillips, Mike Nish, Bill Taylor and Bob Sykes Jr
People from the past - Meb Healey, Eddie Kuzma and Walt Scott
Manufacturer - Mooneyes and Chico Kodama
Historian - Mark Brazeau

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Cruisin' for a Cure will be held on September 26, 2009 at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, California from 7 AM to 5pm. More than 3400 vehicles will be on display. All proceeds benefit prostate cancer research at the City of Hope. Men 40 and over can receive a painless screening. There is a $12 entry fee with AAA members getting $2 off. Call 714-803-9216 for more information, or visit the website at www.cruisinforacure.com. Vic Enyart

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Jackie Arnett Sonka sent in the following websites. The first concerns the Bean Bandit Club from San Diego, California and is found at http://www.beanbanditsracingteam.com/contact.html. The next website is an e-magazine called www.Motormavens.com and has an excellent article on Fabian Valdez and his land speed record setting, rear-engined roadster. The website also has excellent articles on other dry lakes and El Mirage activities, see http://motormavens.com/2009/09/carspotting-vintage-hammer-strikes-el-mirage/. The last website is Fabian Valdez' own website at http://vintagehammergarage.com/.

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Our ongoing search for Road Runners history and missing documents continues. Recently 44 completed Road Runners membership applications from the early to mid 1960's were found by Mike Wheeler, a former Road Runners Secretary. The documents were given to me, last month, at Speedweek which seems a very appropriate place to receive this kind of information. I have just completed researching these new documents and adding the info to our Road Runners archives and to our website. Of the 44 applications, 19 helped me confirm the beginning dates of membership for known former Club members and 25 were brand new finds. Two significant discoveries from the 25 previously unknown Road Runners members: Bob McGrath and his Redhead Streamliner (1965) and Don Nicholson and his '61 Chevy 409 (1961). I have confirmed that this was "Dyno Don." I'm eager to find some still missing membership applications to see what other "nuggets" are found. The search goes on. Jerry Cornelison, Road Runners - SCTA (est. 1937). See http://www.ussarcherfish.com/roadrunners.

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Road Runners Bonneville Speedweek 2009 Report - We had five Road Runners Teams racing at Bonneville this year. Several members also came up to spectate and lend a hand. Racing teams included the Harris & Wester Camaro (Bill Harris and Dale Wester), McRat Racing (Pat McSwain), Riley Land Speed Racing (Pat Riley and Jerry Cornelison), Scott Baxter's BSA (Scott Baxter) and Mark Cavender Hayabusa (Mark Cavender). Other Road Runners on the Salt included Jim Kitchen, Gary McGavin, Charles Shimko (working in Motorcycle Tech Inspection) and Mel Weber. We had a variety of results: some "hurt" race vehicles, some new records and one new Red Hat. Dale Wester driving their XXO/GCC Camaro qualified on Monday with a down run of 201.517 (202.664 exit speed). The next morning he backed it up with a 199.564 pass for a new class record of 200.540 and his RED HAT! Congratulations Dale! Pat McSwain driving his "street legal" GMC diesel pickup laid down an amazing pass on Saturday. His 2 1/4 trap speed was a blazing 197.068. In mile 2 he heard a "bang" and pulled the chute rolling through the 3 mile lights at 193.033. Investigation in the pits revealed a blown intercooler hose which they were able to repair. However, the EGT's all had been up around 1700. Suspecting he might have hurt the motor, he started his backup run on Sunday morning with an easy first mile. When he nailed the power in mile 2, the engine literally went up in smoke. He turned in at mile 3 at 149.432. When all the dust settled his mile 2 times were averaged for a new A/DT record of 175.033. Congratulations Pat and sorry you hurt your engine.
Pat Riley, driving his XO/VGC, was fighting handling and trans/clutch problems for his first two runs. After a spin in mile 2 of his second run, adjustments were made. A third "easy, shake down" pass to test out adjustments and changes made to the car resulted in a 147.960 qualifying run (on his own 143.778 record). On the backup run on Wednesday morning the trans problems re-occurred resulting in a disappointing 3rd gear pass at only 130.244. Looks like the off season head and cam change have produced a very strong engine but the trans problems continue to be a bug-a-boo. Rumor is that the little maroon coupe is about to get a new trans, probably an automatic like the one Harris & Wester run in their Camaro. Scott Baxter and his 1946 BSA have finally earned a well deserved Bonneville Speed Record. His vintage BSA still presented some challenges during his qualifying and backup runs but Scott's hard work and persistence finally paid off. Scott added a side car to his bike this year and was running in the 350CC/SC-VG class. On his down run on Saturday, the bike stuck in a middle gear and ran 52.605. During the return run on Sunday morning, the engine quit and he coasted through the lights at 45.153. The result was a new record at 48.879. Congratulations Scott. You worked hard for this for a long time and it is well deserved. Mark Cavender brought his 1350cc/P-P Hayabusa out for his first Bonneville experience. Even though he is licensed for 200mph at El Mirage, Mark had to go through the full licensing procedure for Bonneville. After several days of licensing passes, Mark was consistently laying down 185mph passes on the Short Course. He changed sprockets for higher gearing and moved to the Long Course. He ran 183 and 184 passes on the Long track. Mark had a great time, ran the fastest ever times on his motorcycle and says he will be working on the bike to find the additional 20mph he needs to run on the existing record. All in all, it was a great Bonneville Speedweek. Hope to see more Road Runners on the Salt next year! (posted August 16, 2009) Jerry Cornelison

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I believe this photo in the collection of Jimmie Stevens 1932 roadster is the Vogel Balchowsky car. The photo seems to be era 1945. The Rad and split window are quite unique. Can anyone confirm a connection to between Stevens and Vogel. Tom Householder, Doretti Vehicle Consultant, Vintage Triumph Register, See www.Doretti.com, http://www.ahrf.com/view_collection.php?page=2&CollectionID=18. View the entire Dave Thormin Collection © 2006 AHRF ID: MTH065.
Tom: I'm sending this on to our president, Jim Miller, to see if he has any additional information and will also post it to the newsletter.

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The Jimmy Summers car ended up in the hands of the Vogel Brothers. The brothers hired Max Balchowsky to put a prewar flathead Cad V8 in the car and Max drove it for them. Later Max bought the car from the Vogel's and then stuffed a Buick V8 in it and continued to road and drag race it. I'm still trying to fill in some holes but that's the general story. Jim Miller

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You might suggest to Hila Sweet about contacting the PAS (Perris Auto Speedway) for future events. Don Weaver has his Ascot Park Reunions there every year. It is normally during the day before a large Sprint Car Race. Don Kazarian who runs the track is very approachable. Just a thought. Michael Snider
   Michael: I passed your message on to Hila today so that she can consider your suggestion. Hila, Parnelli Jones and a number of oval track racers attend Don Weaver's event every year. I used to take Danny Oakes, Rodger Ward, Ralph Foster and other racers, but they are now gone and it is a lonely ride for one person. It's a fun ride when a carful of guys are carpooling together.

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The 36hp Challenge at the 2009 World of Speed on the Bonneville Salt Flats saw three of five class records set and a new Ghia category record established. Details will follow soon. Additionally, over thirteen VW powered cars were on the salt in both the long course racing category and the 130 Mile Per Hour Club short course. This is the largest known VW contingent to ever compete at a land speed venue. Have a great day and watch for a future update. Burly Burlile

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Art Evans sent us two websites to visit; www.petelyons.com and www.jaylenosgarage.com.

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The USFRA's 2009 World of Speed event on the Bonneville Salt Flats came to a conclusion Saturday afternoon after torrential rains early in the week, possible cancellation of all the racing activities and finally blue skies and sun, warm weather and great racing. A record number of thirteen Volkswagen powered cars, both air and water cooled, both gas and diesel, ran for top speed. There were streamliners, pick-ups, bugs, bajas, Formula Super Vees, a turbo powered big VW motored splittie bus(94.891 mph) and even a VW Lupo powered Honda Insight hybrid. All in all, it was a record event for Volkswagen land speed racing. This event also welcomed the largest contingent of VW spectators supporting the racers with folks from Michigan, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Texas and elsewhere coming out to experience to aura of Bonneville and be witness to the Challenge. The 36hp Challenge saw three new records set in the five available bug classes and a baseline Ghia record established with a Ghia equipped with a rare Denzel modified 36hp motor. Two new 36hp Challenge "1" Club members were initiated into the elite club which also consists of Dick Beith and Tom Bruch (yes, just four total !). The Blackline 57 project which so many folks have been following on the Samba and Ultimate Air Cooled Vintage Speed forums returned from being dead just three weeks ago thanx to Chip Birks who donated his street car for the effort to establish a new DSS (Vintage two barrel carb) category record of 103.056 mph and qualify for the "1" Club. Team Ireland's Britt Grannis, along with the Beaver Geezers crew of three different drivers vied for the SS (Stone Stock) record with the Beav's Al Leggett eventually driving to a new 36hp record of 73.492 mph.
Tom Bruch and Gaylen Anderson brought their record holding bug back to the salt with more gear in the trans and a Weber 40 DCNF carb on top of the turbo and boosted the all time 36hp bug and NA36 (New Age 36) record to a new high of 106.514 miles per hour. The carb provided the power but ran out of fuel at sustained high RPM's and damaged the engine, preventing further speed run attempts. Richard Troy worked on his 58 low-light Denzel Ghia back home in Northern California through half of the meet overcoming the normal pre-race obstacles that seem to pop up when time is of the essence, threw on the tow bar, drove through the night and arrived on the salt for the very last days racing. With no sleep and just a half a day to race, he tuned and with the Blackline/Birks crew helping taking care of small details, was able to not only get all his passes in, but gain membership in the "1" Club with two passes above 101 miles per hour topping out at 101.163 miles per hour. Experiencing tragedy and frustration, all the 36hp Challengers muscled through to set four new 36hp records and make the 2009 World of Speed the most successful 36hp Challenge event to date. Bruce Cook from North Carolina, holder of two of the records that were exceeded called to offer congratulations. At next months ECTA Maxton, N.C., meet, Bruce's Canadian 51 split will attempt to reclaim the DSS record from the McAllister brothers with a Whitey Worsham tuned 36 engine and if that does not do the trick, he recently acquired an Okrasa set-up that will also enjoy Whitey's magic touch. 2010 is just around the corner and the 36hp Challenge just becomes more challenging. Hope you find the opportunity to view these little mighty mouse motors racing down the black line or even participate with your bug, bus or Ghia. For more info and 36hp Challenge links, visit www.saltflats.com or go to www.burlyb.com. See you on the salt. Burly Burlile

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This is a little later than usual but I wanted to give a damage report also. Saturday morning was good starting with breakfast with the gang at the Firehouse cafe in Simi. Then it's off to El Mirage arriving around 10AM. Got the truck inspected then off to the SCTA property for a little plumbing project with Mike Waters. It is starting to warm up pretty good after lunch provided by Steve T, then back to the plumbing. Course walk is at 5 PM and the wind is blowing pretty good by now. The dirty 2 Club is having its annual BarBQ in the SCTA building and I was invited as a guest. Great food! We are off to Victorville for R and R. Five AM and we are off to the races. Got to get there early to prep the truck and be at the Drivers Meeting. It is a beautiful morning, almost makes you want to buy some local real estate. We are #12 in line and since we are tied for first place in our LSR club points in a tightly contested race this is an important meet for us to do well. The engine is fresh with a new set of trick injectors so we should do well. I am driving the first round with about 90 entrants so 2 runs are in the picture. All is going well with the run until the top of 3rd gear when there was a catastrophic engine failure.
   Engine tear down yesterday and today showed #2 liner failed. The total liner was in the pan leaving the piston to rattle around in the block. This all happened at 3500 rpm. The block will require some machine work to get it going again. This brings us to decision time on upgrading to a different power plant. There are a lot of options for engine choices, some good and some bad and all expensive. Stay tuned for more engine updates. Now it's time to think about the BNI World Finals while contemplating our next move for the little diesel truck. Best of luck to my fellow LSR racers in the points chase.  Jim Dunn
   Jim: Thanks for the report. Your reports and stories are always welcome here at the SLSRH.

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I talked to Jim Correia and he said that the photographs of the men were from the Oakland Roadster Club just a little after the war (WWII). Then they became the Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA), which started around 1939 I believe. He believes he got the photos from George Mehalas of Hayward, California. George was a top sprint driver and could have driven at the Indy 500. Mehalas' son gave Jim Correia his father's album. Jim said he could give you a disk on him for his recognition. Jim has a large collection of history and knows a lot of people that does have history on other people. His shop business is named Quick Silver Enterprises, 22146 Mission Blvd, Hayward, California 94541-2645. Jim may have some connections for you. I have not mentioned to him about Walt James. Who knows, if you ask him maybe something will click. But I have a feeling that possibly Carl Schmid may know as he has been around for a long time and is up there in age. His memory is still sharp. I have his phone number and address. He has shown me his collection and it took some time to see it all, but well worth the time and effort. He has the first sprint car that was built by Frank Kurtis, I heard, as told by Jim Palmer. Mariella Allinger lives 20 minutes away and she has a scrap book with racers as well. She is not your average woman; she can actually bench race with you. Careful, you might not be able to keep up.  Spencer Simon
   Spencer: Thank you for the three photographs and the list of names for most of the men. This is just the sort of detective work that is so valuable. We have to work hard to save the names and pictures of our hot rodding pioneers. Were they oval track, land speed or drag racers?

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"Memories of the California Jalopy Association" will go into a second printing and be available beginning September 20, 2009. The 2nd printing of this encyclopedic work has employed a new printing method to bring more detail to each and every image. As a result all 1,550 black and white photos virtually explode off of the 288 ultra glossy 8 � X 11 inch pages giving the reader almost the sensation of "being there" in person during the 31 years (1938-1969) that are reviewed through 20 heart pounding chapters. There is a thoughtful Foreword article by Parnelli Jones (a successful jalopy driver who went on to be crowned 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner), an Epilogue by the author, Thomas D. Luce, a jalopy "Hall of Fame" list, with action photos of Bob "Lover Boy" Hogle, Wilkerson, Oskie, and more. This book represents an incredible 14-year journey hunting down nostalgic memorabilia from former drivers, owners, officials, families, and fans that dug through hundreds of closets and garages. The combined information has proven timeless, as racing fans across the country have spoken loud and often saying it's OK to go back in time, to be 21 again, and experience the joys of broad sliding a 1932 Ford through a turn on a quarter mile dirt track with eight other guys ("on your donkey") all trying to beat you out of whatever position you were in. This book documents Day-1 of legendary Southern California jalopy races in 1938 and its incredible one-in-a-million chance re-birth in 1948.
The book then examines the 1950's in a year-by-year format, with spectacular Saturday night & Sunday afternoon action photos from all of the racetracks that hosted jalopy races such as Culver City Speedway, Huntington Beach Speedway, Carrell Speedway, Gardena Stadium, Orange Show Stadium, Balboa Stadium and from 22 others included in a list. "Memories of the California Jalopy Association" further documents how a 1932 Ford could be bought for $5 and converted into a jalopy racecar, and, as the 1950's progressed they could be seen on local and national television with Bill Welsh and later with Dick "Mr Whoa Nellie!" Lane. With the dawn of the '60's author/historian Luce documents the shift in equipment from flat head to over head valve engines, and the introduction on the West Coast of another form of racing, the wild, fabulous Figure-8 racer of Ascot Park, Gardena, who found the 1937 Chevy, among other cars was superior. As Doug Stokes said, "This glimpse back at the jalopy years in So-Cal is just amazing. Termite, Parnelli, Frenchy, Hila and all the rest of them are back making noise and beating mightily on each other. The air is flat loaded with dust, dirt, smoke, and rubber and the crowd is screaming. And the announcer is bellowing WHOA NELLIE!" "Memories of the California Jalopy Association" is available at $39.95 plus Handling and Tax (only if applicable). ISBN: 978-0-9729868-0-9. Thomas D. Luce, Luce Publishing, Costa Mesa, California. Phone 949-631-1598 or email [email protected].

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Crazy Horses - the history of British drag racing is now available in the USA from Motorbooks. Written by Brian Taylor. E-mail Brian at [email protected] for more details. This is the first comprehensive history of drag racing in the UK. It traces the roots of drag racing from its UK sprinting and American speed trial and hot-rodding origins in the early 1900's, moving on to the landmark opening of Santa Pod in 1966, through the boom periods of the 1970's and 1980's, and finishing with the sport's rejuvenation in recent years. The book features many historic photographs and a wealth of first-hand memories from the leading racers. Brian Taylor first saw drag racing at the 1965 Drag Fest at Blackbushe. He commentated at Santa Pod, chaired the British Drag Racing and Hot Rod Association, and is still closely involved in the sport. He lives in Sidmouth, Devon.

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Gone Racin'… When the Hot Rods Ran; May 15, 1938, by Bill Carroll. Book review by Richard Parks, photographic consultant Roger Rohrdanz

How often do you hear someone say, "this is a must buy book." Well, this is one of those must have books for your hot rod library. This is a statement that is placed at the beginning and not the end of a review and the reason is rather strange. For this book has a lot of flaws, but it is one of those books that is a pace setter and the flaws are unimportant. Why is this book so important? Because it is the first book of its kind, before any other was even thought about. It was written and published in 1991, but the photos and ideas came from the very first SCTA (Southern California Timing Association) land speed time trials. That event occurred on May 15, 1938 and William Carroll was there to record it. Strangely enough, Carroll was attracted to the event by all the excitement buzzing in the young hot rodding movement. He went to Muroc, which is now called Edwards Air Force Base, in the Mojave (pronounced Mo-ha-vay) Desert to see what this race was all about. He never went back and his career progressed in other directions. There are many other books that have more text and photos and are indexed. But Carroll's book is superior to them all because he was the first. The analogy is this; if you could have an expensive Bible, or go back in time and watch the first authors of the Bible write their books, which would you want? Carroll's book, written recently, still contains his thoughts, feelings and photos from that original event that transformed auto racing in the West. From that day, land speed and drag racing trace their roots. This is the book that starts your library.

When the Hot Rods Ran; May 15, 1938, by William Carroll, is a softbound book on thick, non-glossy paper. All the photos are in black and white, but the quality is superb and the lack of color does nothing to lessen their value. The book is oddly shaped and is shorter and longer, which make it difficult to fit into your library shelves without sticking out. The size is 8 � inches tall and 11 inches long. William Carroll is a free spirit and I sort of feel that he chose this shape so that you couldn't avoid the book. It has no index and you should know by now that a book without an index is very irritating for a reviewer and historians. But since there is hardly any text and the captions are very general in nature, it does not impact this book as much as some others. When the Hot Rods Ran; May 15, 1938 is 80 pages in length and has 113 black and white photos with an additional 22 miscellaneous charts, map and program inserts. The book is small, the text is nearly non-existent, but what it lacks in size it makes up in originality. The photos are stunning. Carroll even flew in an airplane over the event and took aerial photos, which are breathtaking. It would be nearly six decades before Ralph Foster would take to the air and replicate these photos with color photography of his own on the anniversary of the Muroc Reunion. The author mentions very few of the participants on that historic day. He names Nellie Taylor, who would start up the Taylor and Ryan Garage in Whittier. Carroll follows Taylor from his home to the dry lakes and back, documenting the events of the weekend. Others mentioned include Ernie McAfee, Johnny Junkin, Tom Dowlen, among other young racers. He gives a brief history of the event, some of which he observed and some that he learned about later.

The photos are rare and unique. I've seen lots of photos from the early and late 1940's, which are in other collections. Photos from 1938 are much harder to come by and the period 1942 through 1945 is almost non-existent because of the elimination of auto racing because of World War II. Carroll's photographs are simply first class. They are exceptional, rare and evocative. He took photos from every angle and perspective imaginable. These aren't the run of the mill photos of a car standing alone. He wasn't interested in just the cars. He was recording the people and the historicity of the event, although he may not have realized it at the time. You will see photos of young men warming themselves by a bonfire and others sleeping under a car, just as I remember it as a boy. The photos of the chill night air, the morning sunrise and the stirring of life as the racers embrace the day. Carroll shows, through his photos and captions, the organization that the SCTA members developed so that they could race on the dry lakes of Southern California. He shows photos of the timers, judges, starters and other officials. Young men committed to a cause and a sport that is still going strong to this very day. The faces of the men and women are fresh and full of anticipation. This is their version of Woodstock and they will take this experience with them back to the towns that they came from and spread the word of this new form of auto racing. Carroll paid a pilot $2.50 for a ten minute plane ride and the aerial photos are outstanding. That sounds like very little in today's currency, but in the 1930's that amount would have purchased ten hamburgers, fries and malts for you and your friends. When the Hot Rods Ran; May 15, 1938 is self-published by the author, William Carroll through Auto Book Press, and copies can be purchased directly from the author at [email protected] or P.O. Bin 71, Raton, New Mexico 87740. $20 includes shipping within the United States. Also on Amazon and Google Books.

Gone Racin' is at [email protected].

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Gone Racin'…A Teenage Experience, by John Chambard. Book review by Richard Parks, photographic consultant Roger Rohrdanz.

John Chambard has created a wonderful little booklet called A Teenage Experience. It isn't a book, nor has it been published, and yet it is worth reviewing. Chambard told me recently that he has made 35 of his booklets for his children, friends and interested parties, though he didn't quite tell me how. The question needs to be raised as to why I should even bother to review a book that few people will ever see or buy for their libraries. The reason is simple. John Chambard went about creating this book in a unique way and this is why I want you to read this review and consider adopting his methods. A Teenage Experience measures 5 � by 8 � inches in size and is made with normal computer bond white paper. The cover is heavier computer bond paper. Chambard simply typed out his story on a normal piece of paper, copied it, used heavier bond paper for the front and back, cut the normal 8 � by 11 inch computer paper in half, assembled the pages in sequence and put three heavy duty staples on the left hand margin to hold the book together. Cost to make each book is estimated at two dollars, plus postage. A Teenage Experience has 84 pages and is self-published by the author. There are 52 black and white photographs, 19 color photos, 1 diagram, 1 letter, 14 chapters, an introduction, an epilogue and a section on new developments. There is no table of contents and no index. You cannot buy this book unless you contact John Chambard and he will most likely give you a copy. The photographs are computer generated on normal bond paper and there is some degradation from the originals. The writing style is straightforward and has a personal charm to it. Chambard tells his story simply and factually as if you were bench racing with him. A Teenage Experience is a story of a young man growing up in California and the car culture and friends that he makes. It is an interesting story that is too short to make up into a book, but is refreshing and quick reading in a booklet format.

Chambard lays the background for his book in Chapter one. His father is an oilman who senses that the Great Depression is coming to an end and that war with Germany and Japan is imminent. He sells his small holdings and invests in machinery in order to take advantage of military orders for parts that are sure to be placed as the government rebuilds the military that has been allowed to age. The chapters are short, barely covering a single topic. Chambard tells us about the local area that he grew up in and the origins of the Bung Holers club. He tells us about the cars they owned and the experiences that he had at high school. It is sometimes hard to follow the story line as it doesn't always go in sequence, but each chapter holds the reader's interest. He tells us little about World War II itself, which had such a great impact on daily life in the early '40's. John's dad, Lee Chambard had made all the right decisions right up to the end of the war. Lee sold his machine shop in 1944 and tried to build parts for rockets, which fizzled. A Savings and Loan and lumber business in Orange County, California, failed simply because he was ahead of the boom. Lee's business problems actually brought him closer to his son. The father always wanted to own a Duesenberg. Only 400 of these cars were ever made and the rich and powerful drove them around in opulence. Lee purchased engine number J-157 and he and John built the car around this engine. John would race this car at the dry lakes, turning a very respectable 125 mph in 1947. John Chambard was a member of the Bung Holers car club and in turn, the club was a charter member of the new Mojave Timing Association. John was a charter member of another car club, the Road Dusters, which divided from the Bung Holers.

John met George Rubio and formed a lasting friendship that was to affect his entire life. George introduced John to Esther Felix, who would become Chambard's wife. George was also older and influenced John to change his college major from business to engineering. John was now the president of the Road Dusters and was involved with dry lakes land speed racing and club activities. Rubio would meet Bob Morton and they would team up to set records in land speed racing, and Chambard would help crew for them. Chambard was also a crewman on Doc Boycesmith's track roadster and they raced at Saugus, Gardena, Huntington Beach and other oval race courses. Boycesmith hired Don Freeland to drive his car and Chambard got to know other famous oval track race drivers of the era, including Manny Ayulo, Jack McGrath, Troy Ruttman and Pat Flaherty. John's first trip to Bonneville was in 1950, as a crewman on the Rubio/Morton team. A Teenage Experience is filled with wonderful remembrances of friends and events. Chambard recalls PK Vawter and how this young man found school boring and so left classes to spend his time in the public libraries. There are warm stories about the trips into the desert with his father and the deserted cars that they discovered. Lee Chambard moved the family to New Mexico and John finished his college degree at the University of New Mexico. John would go on to earn a pilot's license, learn to sail a boat, work as an engineer for duPont for thirty one years and write his memoirs. He gives us a summary of what happened to his high school friends and racing buddies. A Teenage Experience is easy to read and very interesting. Chambard does an excellent job of recording events and making us want to care about the people that he knew. More than just a memoir, A Teenage Experience is a template for you to copy as you write your own life's story. Every person has something of value to leave behind to their family and friends. Every person has a story to tell. Chambard simply does it in an engaging and interesting way. You may not be able to get a copy of this booklet, but you can copy Chambard's style and format to create your own work of art and storytelling. This booklet is rated a 7 out of 8 sparkplugs for readability and interesting characterizations.

Gone Racin' is at [email protected].

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Caption:
Allen Fogliadini's Bonneville spinout at 281 mph. Sent in by Don Rudy

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Caption:
Speed Demon On the Salt. Photos and Text Courtesy of Ron and Bob Main. Shootout 2009 Blog & Chat Posting

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

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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.

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