SOCIETY OF LAND SPEED RACING HISTORIANS
NEWSLETTER - , 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, Obituary for Gene Burkland, Don Robl, who had been in racing since in 1950's passed away from a heart attack this morning in his Phoenix home, Hi Dan Chase called this am to let us know that he is having surgery today at Beth Israel to remove a tumor from his brain, Hi everyone; There is an article about KS Pittman in the Rod and Culture book by Ron Crable and it is in the book stores now, December 7 2009 Dear Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park Supporters; Thank you all very much for your continued support of FBMP, Hi all do me a favor and go to this link and vote for "Garlits Gift", Road Runners and Friends The meeting notes from our Dec 8th meeting are now posted on the Road Runners News Webpage, Racing Clubs: Historians listed for each club, Mike: Stan never exceeded the SOS (speed of sound) in the timing equipment that was provided by the FIM (it was a 3 wheeled motorcycle by International definition) or any other circumstance, I was referred to your web site by Jim Lange of Bonneville fame, What ever happen to Jeff Foulk's Cougar?, New article about Noble and Green building a car in Britain to go 1000 MPH, Vendor cost for three-day Rockabilly Rod Reunion at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, The Petersen Automotive Museum in December 2009/JANUARY 2010, Gone Racin'… Hot Rod History; Book Two - The Glory Years by Tom Medley, Gone Racin'…Rocketman; My Rocket-Propelled Life and High-Octane Creations by Ky Michaelson, Here is another copy of the inventory for the Bill Hill collectibles sale, From All American Racers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

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President's Corner:  
I got a call last week from Kay Kimes. He was getting rid of a bunch of stuff and thought I could make some use of it. He brought it over on Saturday. Bob Falcon passed on an interview so we know more about him. Bev Stanley donated around 1000 photos. Joyce (Higbee) Jensen lent a bunch of pix too. Looks like what we're doing is working. What with Christmas just around the corner one thinks of all the goodies they will find under the tree. Well I didn't have to wait as last week seemed like the 25th. Contributor Kay Kimes unloaded some of his "old stuff" on me that's beyond description. And Bob Falcon sent a CD of him being interviewed by Bill Pollock at the Petersen. Joyce (Higbee) Jensen lent us some cool shots from papa Bob. Last but not least Beverly Stanley passed on a bunch of photos. Yep it really is Christmas. When one looks at Land Speed Racing in the modern age you automatically think of Muroc, El Mirage and Bonneville. I look a little deeper and think of public roads and sandy beaches as closer to the beginning of our speedsters. And if you look even deeper you'll find velodromes as maybe where land speed racing really got noticed first by the public, especially in the states. It wasn't cars but Bicycles that got the craze going in the late 1800's when they held races on the board tracks. On these tracks they could actually time laps and distances accurately to establish records. The first of these tracks I can find used by gas burners is in Atlanta Georgia in November 1909 when Louis Stang ran 95 mph in a Fiat. In 1910 Jack Prince took this concept further and built a one mile board track in sunny Southern California in a beach city named Playa Del Rey. Some cat by the name of Barney Oldfield ran the mile track at 99.0 mph March 16. As one would expect a lot of the early racing stars started their careers on bicycles like Oldfield.
   The drivers on these tracks were the first to use Muroc for speed runs like Nikrant and then later Lockhart. I've always linked roundy-rounders and the lakes guys together. The track guys could go to the lakes and test in private like Lockhart with his centrifugal blower. The early T hop-ups and later the A's and B's used speed parts made for the track guys that wound up on their street cars and be used for the early Muroc races in the late 20's. When the AAA showed up and the track became known as Legion Ascot a lot of the early bob-tail track cars were deemed too ugly and ended up at the lakes. A lot of them even sprouted narrowed roadster bodies. These were later seen at Southern (Ascot) Speedway that was the training ground for future lakes racing stars like Ralph Schenck. We all know after the war lakes racing exploded. Many of the racers soon discovered they could even make some money playing with racers and abandoned the lakes for track roadsters, Midgets and Big Cars. Others took up boats, motorcycles and sports cars. Kay Kimes and Bob Falcon are two such men. Kay ran at Bonneville in '49 then went roadster racing. Later he was involved with sports cars and Indy. Bob like to slide around corners on the dirt with the tail hanging out and did the same with sports car on pavement before going to work for Ted Halibrand. Best of all we can pick their brains with dumb questions and get great answers.
   All their knowledge is important to a few of us land speed wackos because we can track how land speed players went on to bring that out of the box thinking to other forms of motorsports and blow the competition away. Just think of guys like Ord, Edelbrock, Hilborn, Carrillo and Thompson for example. They played in a lot of sandboxes quite successfully. Everybody knows Bob Higbee or should we call him Mr. Bonneville. His lovely daughter Joyce, through her hubby Jim Jensen (He's the Chief Starter at the salt and lakes these days) was kind enough to lend us some of Bob's old photos to help us fill in more of the blanks of land speed history. No I haven't forgotten Bev Stanley. She's one of the folks you never hear about. Hubby Paul was a dry lakes staple for many years and he sucked her in. Besides being a secretary to the organization and taking a few laps behind the wheel she had the thankless job of honchoing the Bonneville program for years. Her contribution this Christmas is around 1,000 pictures for future generations to enjoy. Thank you all.

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Editorial:   
There are some great websites and blogs out there concerning early drag racing, hot rodding and land speed racing. As the editor of the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians newsletter I enjoy notifying all of you about these wonderful sources. But there is a caveat and here it is; blogs and websites are not always alike and they have their merits and demerits. They are also unlike the SLSRH newsletter and that's because over the years I have copied some formats and rejected others. One interesting thing about a blog is that anyone can write in and just about anything goes. In fact, they tend to be chat rooms for people who need to get in touch with others and who would rather not run up expensive phone bills. Blogs also tend to be more current and have hardly no research involved. Another aspect is that they are common grounds for people with gripes and complaints. Now there is nothing wrong with this type of blogging format and blogs tend to attract a great many more people than do newsletters like the SLSRH which tries to reach a level between the academic and that of the common man. The SLSRH is not arty, but it strives to be erudite, as in learned. We want to know facts, even trivial ones, in order to come to a rational and intelligent conversation on the events themselves. Blogs are gossipy. In fact they are boringly so. Another thing about blogs is that they are extremely long, but most of the letters and spacing is taken up in the formatting or the language of the programmer and not in content. Thus the typical letter might have 500 characters or letters, but the actual content is; "I couldn't make it to the Hot Rod Reunion because my wife wouldn't let me go." A response from another readers also had over 500 characters and letters, mostly programming again, and said; "Boo Hoo, same here." 
   I do allow opinions, but they are heavily edited. I also allow letters from the public that are redundant, thus you will see in this issue that Gene Burkland's passing is mentioned twice by two separate sources. I do that so that we can leave a record behind us that stipulates what has happened in the present time as witnessed and reported on by two separate sources. Unlike a blog, I edit out material that has no historical or current event importance. Thus the following is deled out; "From so-and-so to thus-and-that, December 12, 2009, Subject: response to Sad About Not Going to Reunion, from Boo Hoo I'm not allowed to go either. Message ID: 305u3wp [36#%^&3543 5#$%#$$#$% 435345435#% $#%$%$# %#3545 478##@*&$^$& 097976322." Thus 200 letters or 38 words are removed from an email that I received, because they are nonsense words and letters, only necessary for the programmer of the internet server. I will even go through letters and articles and get rid of unnecessary words of flattery. Thus, you might see in a blog the following; "Fantastic day, I can't believe my experience and the feelings of exuberance at leaving the house and not having to daydream about going to the reunion." That will be reduced to "I attended the reunion and this is what I saw there." I don't always change what the writer sends me. In some cases I refuse to cut and edit, because what is being said is not flowery, but accurate reporting. Thus Jim Dunn's weather reports stay in, because the way he reports it always has something to do with that day's racing or lack of it. 
   A blog or website can be a potent source of news. Heavens, I've become addicted to it as a source of news, history and current events. But a blog or website can include a ton of words, very few of which actually TELL you something. The SLSRH is edited, if ever so slightly, so that it reduces redundancy and extraneous information that has no bearing on history or facts. I do repeat myself though. That's hard not to do at times, because this is the 142nd issue and I can't remember what went into all those issues. Sometimes I repeat something simply because it is important and repetition is a way that editors emphasize a point, even a historical point. The newsletter is not entertainment. I know that many of you tell me how much they enjoy the newsletter as if it were one of those Hollywood paparazzi magazines, but that is not Jim's or mine's intention. We, that is YOU and Jim and I are supposed to do research, caption our photographs, write our biographies and the histories of others who have passed away and cannot do it for themselves. We are supposed to document and research this topic and sometimes what we say is really boring. At other times what you send in is just beyond description. Jim and I have remarked at times that we feel like we clumsily fell in a stream and there in front of our bruised noses are huge chunks of golden nuggets. We muddle through as best as we can and yet we look for historical documents and facts that will tell the story of straight-line racing. That you write in and tell us that the SLSRH newsletter is as good as those gossipy blogs is really great to hear. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

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Obituary for Gene Burkland http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/greatfallstribune/obituary.aspx?n=gene-burkland&pid=137113397, sent in by Glen Barrett
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Gene Burkland. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory. His memorial service is 2 p.m. Sunday, December 12, 2009, at First United Methodist Church. Gene left us on December 8, 2009. We expect he's gone racing with his departed friends, or is beginning another great project. Gene was born in Great Falls on November 1, 1936, to Carl and Phyllis Burkland. His brother Jack died in 2004, and his sister Bonnie Flanagan lives in Missoula. In 1959, he married Betty Hunter. They have two sons; Tom and his wife Linda and daughter Carly from Ogden, Utah, and Bill and his wife Barb and sons Nick and John from Clancy. Gene grew up in Great Falls, and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1954. Gene began his career with the Montana Air National Guard in 1956 and worked there for nearly 30 years, welding everything from titanium aircraft parts to tricycles and red wagons. When he retired, he moved into race car production and welding/repair work at his home shop. His love affair with cars began in 1951, when he bought his first car for $7.50. After investing in a $10 piston, he was ready to roll!
During the 1960's, his was a familiar face at drag races across Montana, first with a 1932 Ford roadster, and then with a dragster. Classics Car Club, custom show cars, stock cars and dragsters grew into a Bonneville land speed racer produced and run with the assistance of hundreds of friends. In 1971, he took his home-built Studebaker and many friends to Bonneville for the annual Speed Week. He set a national record in 1978 at 255 mph, becoming the first Montanan in the exclusive Bonneville 200 MPH Club. His next car put his son Tom into the 200 MPH Club. Since 1986, Gene, Betty and Tom have been building and racing their streamliner. They set a National Speed Record in October 2004 at 417 mph and a World Speed Record in September of 2008 at 416 mph. Gene's life revolved around the love of his family and the friends he accumulated through his skill and creativity in welding, his love of cars and curiosity about everything. He was a magnet who drew people to his garage and he had that stubborn streak needed to see an idea through to the end. He began battling his lung disease in earnest in 1997. We're glad he's finally breathing easy, but we'll miss his ever-present smile. In lieu of flowers, please bring or send your favorite picture of you and Gene to Croxford Funeral Home, 1307 Central Avenue, Great Falls, Montana 59401. Donations can be made to "Save the Salt" c/o Russ Eyres, 3673 Millikin Avenue, San Diego, California 92122. Condolences may be posted online at www.croxfordfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries. Published in Great Falls Tribune on December 10, 2009

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The following was sent in by David L. Parks and is from: [email protected] on behalf of Jon Wennerberg. Gene Burkland obituary. Obituary for Gene Burkland http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/greatfallstribune/obituary.aspx?n=gene-burkland&pid=137113397. Jon Wennerberg

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Don Robl, who had been in racing since in 1950's passed away from a heart attack this morning in his Phoenix home. When I first met Don in the early 1960's, he was with Joe Pitman, later with Fletcher and Goodyear. His widow Emily has Alzheimer's and he has been caring for her for the last many years. She found him on the kitchen floor early this morning, she doesn't know what is happening. Fletcher was called and was there when I reached him just couple of hours later. I have spoken to Dennis Woods and Mike Devin who were good friends with him. Don was 71. Pat Pollard is in route to Phoenix to help with the arrangements and Emily…she has a sister here and children and Don's son is flying in tomorrow from Florida. Joyce Downey, Pat and Emily "Big Red" were the trio for so many years. Dick is with NASCAR GOODYEAR, was with Speedway Goodyear for many years, a dear friend of Don Robl's. Don's son is here in Phoenix. Services will be Friday, December 18, 2009, viewing at 1 pm, services at 2 pm, at the Menke Funeral Home, 12420 N. 103rd Avenue (South of Grand Ave on 103rd), Sun City, AZ 85351. 623-979-6451. Thanks for everyone's Prayers and help! Respectfully, Princeline Roxbury

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Hi Dan Chase called this am to let us know that he is having surgery today at Beth Israel to remove a tumor from his brain - please let the membership know to keep him in their thoughts - we'll try to get an update from his wife later today. Reggie
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How is Dan Chase doing? Someone told me it dose not look to good he cant work anymore at his shop i hope he make butch. Jim Russo
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Hi Butch and everyone. I stopped in at Beth Israel hospital last Friday and they had no record of Dan Chase. Chuck Adams called around today and eventually found out that Danny had the surgery and is home recuperating and preparing for the Strokers Winter Party. We all pray for a full and speedy recovery.  Gil Coraine

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Hi everyone; There is an article about KS Pittman in the Rod and Culture book by Ron Crable and it is in the book stores now. Ron called me today and told me it hit the book stores December 6th and they have had excellent reviews. The issue is #20 and it can be purchased in book stores such as Barnes and Noble, Walden, Books-a-Millon, etc. I can't wait to get it. Hope everyone is well, happy and enjoying the Holidays. KS is stable and still enjoys NHRA events that I tape for him, the old tapes and cds and his favorite is the Lion's cds. Thank you all for the e-mails, pictures, discs and vcr tapes. It is very much appreciated and not only enriches KS's life but mine to. Merry Christmas and the best to all of you in 2010. Love, KS and LaVaun Pittman

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December 7, 2009. Dear Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park Supporters, Thank you all very much for your continued support of FBMP. We are nearing the home stretch for L.A. county approval of the project and hoping we can count on your support once again. As you may recall from my letter in September, we were very encouraged at the first hearing by the County Planning Commission's staff recommendation of the project for approval. We were then scheduled for our second public hearing on December 2, but it was recently postponed and the location changed by the county. The new date is this Saturday February 6 at 11:00 a.m. in the Lancaster Regional Public Library, 601 W. Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster, Calif. Please plan to attend the hearing if you can. As you may have guessed, opponents asked for a change of venue that they hope will benefit their cause. As with the first hearing, interested persons can attend and will have an opportunity to testify. We had a great turnout of supporters last September in Los Angeles but with the second hearing relocated to Lancaster, your support is even more important. We hope you can join us.
Many of you have called asking 'what can we do?' We need more letters of support! The county is again accepting letters as part of its consideration of the project. Opposition groups have organized their own letter writing campaign and have sent over 100 letters since the first hearing. If you did not send a letter of support prior to the first hearing, you have another chance to be heard. Letters should be addressed to Mr. Jodie Sackett, Los Angeles County, Department of Regional Planning, Room 1382, 320 West Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Alternatively, you can e-mail Jodie: [email protected] with a copy to us. You can also send your support comments directly to Los Angeles County Fifth District Supervisor Mike Antonovich via e-mail at: [email protected]. If you do, please make sure to copy Jodie Sackett. To see the project in detail and view updates, all of the official documents (including the Draft Environmental Impact Report) go to: Tentative Parcel Map No. 26805 / Project No. 02-176 / Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park. Also, our own website is nearly complete; it will be the go-to resource for the most current information about the project. We will send out an announcement as soon as it is ready. We have been working for seven years toward the dream of creating the first new dedicated road racing facility in the L.A. area in over fifty years. We're closer to approval than ever, but not there yet. If you too want to see Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park become a reality, please let your voice be heard! Thank you again for your support. Respectfully, Thomas E. Malloy
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Los Angeles County Fifth District Supervisor Mike Antonovich
Mr. Jodie Sackett, Los Angeles County, Department of Regional Planning

Dear Mr Antonovich and Mr Sackett:
Greetings. My name is Richard Parks and I am the son of the late Wally Parks, who founded the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). I am writing to you to lend my support to Tom Malloy's efforts to build a racing facility at Fairmont Butte. The County has the responsibility to oversee the development of the land within its boundaries for the best interests of the people. It is an awesome responsibility. Let me just give you my observations. In the late 1930's and early '40's, street racing was a pernicious evil and the headlines blared about death and destruction on our city streets. It became so bad that any young person with a car was stigmatized as a hoodlum and vicious criminal. The war eased the need to race, but after WWII the servicemen returned in great numbers and street racing became such a problem that the Dills Bills and other laws aimed at car guys threatened to end racing, even at sanctioned and safe race tracks. The public was incensed and they wanted street racing outlawed, but the more the laws tried to do that, the more it was seen by young people as a risky and thus daring thing to do. The laws would have made it illegal to modify a stock Detroit car. Can you imagine what that would have done to millions of hobbyists? Wiser heads prevailed then and perhaps wiser heads will prevail today. Rather than banning illegal racing, authorities worked with the SCTA and later the NHRA and other racing groups to offer alternatives. Chief Parker organized a task force. Men like officers Airhart, Coons and especially Gordon Browning, created youth programs that took the wind out of illegal street racing. Wherever there was a safe and sanctioned race track the fatalities and injuries dropped. Policemen began handing out "race the cops" and "beat the heat" challenges at race tracks rather than tickets. The whole atmosphere changed and young people began to see authority figures as friends rather than enemies. Studies have shown that every time a race track goes into an area, that illegal racing drops within 15 miles of that track. Race tracks have been closing faster than others are being reopened and this can only have serious consequences. Please don't revert to the past when officials tried to solve the problem by incarcerating street racers rather than offer them an alternative. Jailing illegal street racers has never solved the problem, but getting them to move from the streets to safe and sanctioned drag and oval tracks has had a proven and successful result.

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Hi all, do me a favor and go to this link and vote for "Garlits Gift" my brother Don never got over that day and that one race changed history; at least he can win something with this. Feel free to pas this request on to your friends. See http://www.nhra.com/moments.aspx. Thanks, John Ewald 
   John: I voted for Don. Hope that helps. Don may not have won the race that day, but he's won the hearts and minds of all who know him.

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Road Runners and Friends, The meeting notes from our Dec 8th meeting are now posted on the Road Runners News Webpage. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. Jerry Cornelison, Secretary - Road Runners
   ROAD RUNNERS News/Special Events: Last Updated: Thursday, December 10, 2009 09:54 AM. Meet Results and Photos. Road Runner Meeting Notes - Tuesday, December 8th, 7pm at Ed Martin Garage - Prospective Member Robert Miller, Crew Member for Pat McSwain and the Casper Team, attended his second meeting. Bill Harris and Dale Wester will be formalizing a New Member Training and Orientation program for our Club. We have had an informal process in place for a couple of years. The 2010 SCTA Board likely will be encouraging all member Clubs to develop a training and orientation process. In that light, we will be formalizing our procedures. REMINDER: 2010 SCTA and Club dues must be paid by January 31st or member will be dropped (refer to Road Runners Const and By-Laws, VI B 3). The 2010 dues will be $85. ($55 SCTA and $30 Road Runners). Willie Martin invited all Road Runners and friends of Road Runners to the Annual Beer and Brats Christmas Party at the El Martin Garage on December 18th. Festivities begin at 5:30pm. Drive your Hot Rod.
   Mike Ferguson thanked Club members for all their support and presented the President's gavel to President Elect Jack Masson. Willie Martin asked members to give Mike a standing ovation for his long service as President. Pat Riley pointed out the progress the Road Runners Club has made in the past 5 years and thanked Mike for his leadership. President Mike pointed out the long service of Reese Adams as Treasurer and asked members to give him a standing ovation. If you would like a copy of the complete minutes, just drop me a request: Secretary-Road Runners. Next meeting will be January 12, 2010, at the Ed Martin Garage, 7pm. Have a great Holiday Season, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! (posted Dec 10, 2009)
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November El Mirage Results & End of Year Results - End of year SCTA and Road Runners results are now posted on our Results/Points/Standings webpage. Congratulations to Pat McSwain for a new A/DT record at the November meet and to Mark Cavender for ending the season with Top Club Points and Top Club Speed and #26 in SCTA points. (posted Nov 16, 2009) (updated Dec 2, 2009) Road Runners - SCTA (est. 1937) http://www.ussarcherfish.com/roadrunners

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Racing Clubs: Historians listed for each club
Eliminators................................................................none
Gear Grinders...........................................................Glen Barrett
Gold Coast Roadster and Racing Club.......................none
Gophers....................................................................Michael Brennan
Hi Desert Racers.......................................................none
Idlers........................................................................Michael Brennan
Lakers......................................................................none
LSR.........................................................................Mike Cook Jr
Milers.......................................................................none
Road Runners...........................................................Jerry Cornelison
Rod Riders...............................................................none
San Diego Roadster Club..........................................none
Sidewinders..............................................................Ron Main
Super Fours..............................................................Roy Creel
Throttlers..................................................................Michael Brennan

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Mike: Stan never exceeded the SOS (speed of sound) in the timing equipment that was provided by the FIM (it was a 3 wheeled motorcycle by International definition), or any other circumstance. No sonic boom was heard by any of the subject matter experts in attendance. After a long delay, the announced speed was taken from the approach radar on an adjacent mountain top. Several prior attempts with the radar also failed when it locked on to various support vehicles. At a later meeting, the FIM/AMA officials, along with representatives from the vehicle, and primary sponsor, were invited by a number of interested organizations, to answer questions on the subject. Only the FIM/AMA officials chose to participate. It was agreed the claims were based on bad information that clouded the efforts made by the Land Speed community to keep it above reproach. I enjoy the History you publish, but I understand that you are subject to press release enhancements.  Jack Dolan
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Hi Jack, Although I didn't know that info the first time I used this tidbit in TWiRH, I did know it this time. Not the specifics, but that he didn't
really hit the speed of sound. I guess staying with the wording "unofficial" doesn't really do the job. I have rewritten the item in my data base so that when it finds its way back into the column, it will point out that the speed was claimed but in no way confirmed. Thanks for helping keep the info honest. Mike Stucker
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Mike: Thanks again for what you do. As you might imagine, I sent a few copies around to various LSR interests, and the response from many of them has been as fast as they have ever gone. Can you imagine, there is even a Land Speed Historical Society? I trust they will feed you various tidbits for your records that have been well verified. I'll bet one of the principals will even set you up to receive their publications. That was quite a few years ago, but while it is long gone, it is not soon forgotten. You do fine.  Jack Dolan
   Jack and Mike: Please provide more information, such as the date of the event and the names of the parties involved. This sounds like the rocket sled attempt. You provide important documentation and behind the scenes observation, but what you tell us has less value if it doesn't include the who, where, when, why, what and how.

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I was referred to your web site by Jim Lange of Bonneville fame. He is building the motor for my "Bucket List Dream" car. I have been loaned the #88 Burke Bros Avanti to use to fill my bucket list item number four. I plan to use a Studebaker 304 with a Paxton and fuel injection. The car is of course very proven at Bonneville with over twenty records and still holds the 239.208 record set in 1979. I have some very special plans for this car and I hope to be wearing a red hat in September of 2010. I can't wait to see the salt and feel the rush of going flat out. I will send you a slide show of the car as it is today. If you like, I would be willing to send to you pictures of the build. Just thought you would like to know that this very famous car is returning to Bonneville after being saved by Chuck, my new friend. Dan Sallia
Dan: Glad to see you go after the record. Bonneville is starting to get back to the fame it created in the late 1940's and we are glad to see the renewed interest. Who is Chuck? Tell us a little more about yourself, age, previous racing experience, etc. We are happy to post any photos that you send us and the website that we use is www.landspeedracing.com. You can send the photos to me with captions for each photograph and a short note saying, "Please publish."

Click Images Below To See Burke Avanti Bonneville car. Photo by Dan Sallia

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What ever happen to Jeff Foulk's Cougar? I remember seeing it run at Vargo Dragway. Is it for sale?  Bill Hoffert, email address is; [email protected].
   Bill: The Society of Land Speed Racing Historians covers all of land speed racing, hot rodding and drag racing through the 1950's. I will post your question in the newsletter and see if anyone has any knowledge concerning the whereabouts of the car. My suggestion is to start a phone tree. You will need to have one of those all you can call long distance plans for $49.95 though, because you will need to make as many as 20 phone calls a day. As you talk to someone you know and they give you all the information that they know, ask that person to give you at least five phone numbers for people in his records that might know something. This way one phone call becomes 5 more and those 5 become 25. Sooner or later you will come across a person who knows the answer about the car.

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New article about Noble and Green building a car in Britain to go 1000 MPH. See http://www.oilstick.com/britiangreennoble091129.htm. Evelyn Roth

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Vendor cost for three-day Rockabilly Rod Reunion at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. See http://www.rockabillyrodreunion.com/ and http://www.lvms.com/strip/media/news/553965.html. Contact: The Strip at LVMS office: (702) 632-8213 or [email protected]. Vendors can either choose a location at the Drag Strip (daytime activities) or Neon Garage (night activities) or a combo: Single venue displays (2 days of Drag Strip display or 2 days of Neon Garage display). Deadline for vendor space is: Wednesday, May 26, 2010. All wares must be relevant to the event - automotive or nostalgia related. No counterfeit merchandise will be permitted. Merchandise with offensive language and/or graphics will not be permitted. Set-up for advance registered vendors is Friday, May 28, 2010 starting at 11 a.m. Friday, May 28 Neon Garage Rockabilly Rod Reunion Car Show and Concert is 6 p.m. - 2 a.m. Saturday, May 29 Drag Strip NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Drag Races, music and Car Cruise is 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 29 Neon Garage Rockabilly Rod Reunion Car Show, Concert and Pin-Up Contest is 6 p.m. - 2 a.m. Sunday, May 30 Drag Strip NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Drag Races, music, burnout contest and Car Cruise is 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Vendor forms will be available Monday, January 11, 2010 by contacting Mysti Den Hoed at (702) 632-8213 or [email protected].
Special events and activities: PinStripers Showdown, Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Open to the first 20 pinstripers to pre-register beginning March 15, 2010. Participants will be given a blank 11" x 17" item to pinstripe in the period of 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The 20 finished artworks will be on display throughout the evening and fans will vote on their favorite. Winning pinstriper receives $500. The artwork submitted by each striper will be used as car show awards to be presented on Sunday. John Bisci

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Contact: Chris Brown [email protected], 323-964-6320 The Petersen Automotive Museum in December 2009/JANUARY 2010.
New Exhibitions; AMBR Winners. Opens Saturday, December 19th, 2009 through Sunday, January 31st 2010. Bruce Meyer Gallery. Celebrate the history of the prestigious Grand National Roadster Show with a visit to the Petersen Automotive Museum! On January 31st, 2010, the "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" award (or AMBR) will be given to one talented contender at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California. Several past AMBR winners are in The Museum's permanent collection, including the first America's Most Beautiful Roadster, Bill Niekamp's 1929 Ford that won the award in 1950. These roadsters will join many other past AMBR winners in the Bruce Meyer Gallery at The Petersen for a rare display of hot rodding's history.
Fantasies In Fiberglass; Opens Saturday, February 27, 2010. Gordon R. Howard Gallery. Invented in the 1930's, fiberglass was first used as heat insulation before automobile enthusiasts came to recognize its potential as a material for car bodies and other components. From Corvettes to dune buggies, many of the most iconic fiberglass customs and production cars of the past half-century will be on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum beginning in the spring of 2010. Together, they offer an interesting contrast to both the mainstream cars that populate our motoring landscape and those made of carbon fiber, the newest wonder material to be embraced by today's innovators.
New Events; Fourth Annual Carnival And Family Fun Day. Saturday, December 5, 2009, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Petersen Museum. Bring the whole family to the Museum for a day of fun and lessons on child and car safety. Kids will get to participate in unique arts and crafts, and parents can learn the proper way to install car safety seats. Other activities will include face painting and balloon sculpture. For
more information, call Liv Amend 323-964-6308, or email to: [email protected].
Petersen Automotive Museum Garage Sale And Swap Meet. Saturday, December 5, 2009, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Petersen Museum Parking Structure. Now is your chance to buy some of the vehicles, props, parts, store products and duplicate literature that is no longer needed here at the Museum. Several Museum vehicles will be sold in a no reserve silent auction. Museum members will also have booths set up to sell items and vehicles from their personal collections as well. Find that missing part for your exotic, classic, or muscle car or motorcycle, buy a Christmas gift for the auto enthusiast in your life, or purchase a restoration project, or drive home in the car of your dreams!
Cord Day; Saturday, December 12, 2009, 1:00 P.M.-3:30 P.M. Bill Cord, the, great-grandson of industrialist E.L. Cord, will unveil
his new Cord Heritage Collection apparel in the Petersen Automotive Museum Store during a December 12 Cord Seminar and book signing at the Museum. The Cord Seminar is scheduled to run from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Pacific) and will also include a book signing by Josh B. Malks, author of the newly published authoritative book, Cord Complete. Additionally, visitors will be able to see a number of gorgeous Cord cars both from the museum's collection as well as privately owned. The event will be held at the Petersen Museum and is free to the public with purchase of Cord Complete or Cord Heritage Collection merchandise.
Freeway Of Dreams: A Historical And Visual Analysis Of Southern California Freeways, 1940-1980; Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 7:30 p.m. 2nd Floor Racing Corridor. Join us Tuesday, January 19, 2010 as we conclude our popular AAA Exhibit with an exploration of L.A. transportation history. Gilbert Estrada, a University of Southern California Ph.D. Candidate, will share his 10 years of freeway and transportation historical research in an accessible, visually informative presentation. Explore the development, growth, and societal impacts of the Los Angeles Freeway system from the early highways and parkway systems before WWII to the explosive growth of interstate highways and freeways between 1940 and 1980. Know Freeways. Know Los Angeles. Free with Museum admission. RSVP Suggested: Clayton Drescher (323) 964-6347 or [email protected].
Film Screening: For Gold & Glory; Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 7:30 p.m. 2nd Floor Grand Salon. This one-hour documentary retraces a little-known chapter in American sports history: the heritage of the Gold and Glory Sweepstakes, an auto racing circuit for African-American drivers and mechanics, set against a backdrop of racial unrest in America during the 1920s and '30s. The film not only tells of the racial barriers these intrepid sportsmen had to overcome, but also examines the efforts of many whites and blacks to come together, despite the social pressures of the day, to create the largest single sporting event ever held for African Americans. This PBS documentary, produced by WFYI Indianapolis, was the winner of the Crystal Heart Award at the Heartland Film Festival in 2002 and the Society of Automotive Historians E.P. Ingersoll Award in 2004. Free soft drinks and popcorn will be served. Free with Museum admission. RSVP Suggested: Clayton Drescher (323) 964-6347 or [email protected].
Automotive Awareness 101 Class For Teens; Saturday, March 6, 2009, 10:00 a.m. OR 12:30 p.m. This class teaches teens age 14-16 the basics of what is under the hood, how a car works, and how to maintain it. This engaging and exciting class will be taught by award-winning Monrovia High School instructor Phil Jelinek, who is also a member of the Petersen Pit Crew. This class is perfect for teens with their learner's permit and their parents who want to brush up on their car knowledge. For more information, or to sign up for either workshop, please call (323) 964-6308. Class is $15 per each parent/child pair. (Parent attendance is required)
Ongoing Exhibitions; Tribute to Trans AM racing Exhibit. Open through Sunday, December 13, 2009, Bruce Meyer Gallery. From its beginning in 1966 through the summer of 1972, the Trans Am series offered the best racing of the era. More drivers from Indy, Sports Car and Can Am participated in Trans Am than any other single series. The factories used the Trans Am venue to market their new Mustang, Camaro, Firebird Challenger and Javelin pony cars. To win in the Trans Am meant sales success in the showroom. The racing was fierce, fast and feisty.
California Car Design: Local Style, Global Influence; Open through Sunday, February 7, 2010. Gordon R. Howard Gallery. California Car Design will tell the story of locally influenced automobiles and explains how progressive local designers like Harley Earl
and Dutch Darrin brought a fresh approach to a conservative profession. It will also explore California's design evolution from the early days of
coach building, through the trend setting customizing in the 1950's, to currently being the home to the most automotive studios in the world.
New Car Showroom; Through Sunday, March 7, 2010, Streetscape. The three makes that we feature in our 1939 New Car Showroom are: LaSalle (created 1927, discontinued 1940), Oldsmobile (created 1897, discontinued 2004), and Pontiac (created 1926, will be discontinued in 2010).
Sounds Of Speed; Now extended through April 25, 2010! ArtWall. From the Beach Boy's first recordings to The Fast and The Furious soundtrack, see a unique collection of 180 automotive-inspired albums accumulated by "Speedy Bill" Smith. Over A Century of Service: Automobile Club of Southern California Through Sunday, January 24, 2010. Racing Corridor. Come to the exhibit and experience how the AAA has been woven into the rich fabric of everyday life in southern California through vehicles, photos, and stories.
What Were They Thinking? Misfits of Motordom. Now extended through Sunday, July 4, 2010! Grand Salon. This in-depth study of the truly bizarre, the poorly developed, and the unfeasible ideas that people have seriously attempted to sell to the general public has now been extended due to popular demand! This autotorium of automobile oddities from around the globe is certainly the only assembly of vehicles where the Edsel is the "normal" car!
Imagining The Future; The Southern California Automotive Design Studio, Presented in Cooperation with Art Center College of Design. Ongoing Exhibit. Visitors will see a comparison of a 1930's studio with a modern-day studio with various examples of the creative process in 2-D and 3-D form from different points in California's rich automotive history. Design demonstrations by Art Center students will occur in the exhibit on the second and fourth Sunday of every month from approximately 10am-3pm. Check the calendar at www.petersen.org for dates.
Hot Wheels® Hall Of Fame; The Hot Wheels Hall of Fame at the Petersen Automotive Museum, features Hot Wheels® full-size and die-cast cars, original models, wooden patterns, injection molds and drawings of original vehicle designs.
Hollywood Star Cars; Vehicles of Hollywood lore including the Batmobile, "Black Beauty" driven by Bruce Lee in The Green Hornet television series, the "Hannibal 8" driven by Jack Lemmon in The Great Race (1965), a replica of the "Mach 5" from Speed Racer (2008), "Herbie the Love Bug", the VW bus from Little Miss Sunshine (2006), plus cars once owned by Steve McQueen, Elvis Presley, Elton John, Fred Astaire, and more!
Alternative Power: Lessons From The Past, Inspiration For The Future. From the highly styled 1963 Chrysler Turbine to the General Motors EV1, automobiles equipped with innovative propulsion systems are presented to illustrate the growth of alternative vehicle technology.
Ongoing Programs For Children & Families, May Family Discovery Center. Open Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 10am-5pm. The May Family Discovery Center is an interactive learning center that teaches basic scientific principles using the fundamental elements of the car.
Discovery Day; Car Activities & L.A. BookPALS. First Saturday of every month, 1-4pm. Join us on the first Saturday of each month for arts and crafts, and at 2:30pm, actors from L.A. BookPALS read stories. The program is included in Museum general admission. Call 323-964-6308 for more information. Future topics include: January 2, Petersen Car Calendar. Ring in the New Year right and stay organized by creating your very own car calendar. February 6, Automotive Flip Books. Become an animator by designing a cartoon flip book!
Special Features At The Petersen, Special Events And Filming - Please call (323) 964-6348 or visit www.petersenevents.org to host your event or shoot film at one of LA's most exciting venues! Birthday Parties - The Museum offers a wonderful venue for children's birthday parties. Party guests can enjoy all three floors of the museum including the May Family Discovery Center. For more information or to book your party, call 323-964-6373.
School Tours; Taking a field trip to the Pete is an excellent way to teach your students about the history of Los Angeles and its intertwined relationship with the automobile. Students learn basic scientific principles and their applications as they explore hands-on activities in
the Discovery Center. School Tours focus on history/social science, visual arts, and science & technology. Call (323) 964-6358 for information and reservations.
Groupe Tours - A docent-led tour is available to groups of ten or more. - (323) 964-6346.
Volunteer Opportunities - Come and be a part of the Petersen's "Pit Crew". New Docent Training Class will be held in the fall of 2008. For an application or more information call - (323) 964-6358, email [email protected], or visit www.petersen.org.
Museum Store - Excellent souvenirs and gifts for auto enthusiasts (323) 964-6328.

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Gone Racin'… Hot Rod History; Book Two - The Glory Years, by Tom Medley. Book review by Richard Parks, photographic consultant Roger Rohrdanz

Hot Rod History; Book Two - The Glory Years, is written by esteemed Hot Rod Cartoonist Tom Medley, from Tex Smith's Hot Rod Library Publishing Company. This book is a soft-covered edition and measures a standard 8 � inches wide by 11 inches in height. The book is 182 pages in length with one color photo, 34 program and magazine covers, 27 drawings and 432 black and white photos. There is no index, which makes finding something very difficult to do. The cover has a 'how-to' look to it, but it otherwise pleasing. There is no just jacket provided. The paper is non-glossy heavy bond acid free, which will last a lifetime. Tex Smith's Hot Rod Library is famous for the quality of the hot rodding and mechanical books that they publish. They seek out well-known hot rod writers and photographers and commission them to produce a book or 'how-to' manual that is first class in quality. Tom Medley is a renowned writer, photographer and cartoonist for auto magazines and he has a natural and easy to read style. The format of the book is a question and answer style, so Medley is more of an editor in the compilation of Hot Rod History; Book Two - The Glory Years. Tex Smith's Hot Rod Library has a large selection of books of interest to car enthusiasts.

Tex Smith writes the Foreword and introduces the story, explaining that this is book two in the series. The chapters are broken down into interviews with 7 exceptional hot rod legends. The first chapter is about Chuck Abbott, or 'Red' to his friends. Medley, who knows these men well, asks questions and the hot rodders answer. Abbott raced on the dry lakes prior to World War II. I met Abbott up at the land speed record trials at Black Rock in Northern Nevada in 1997 and he was surprised that anyone remembered him from the dry lakes era. Abbott's stories and photos are crucial to understanding the hot rodding craze of the 1930's and an active member of the Glendale Sidewinders. Likable and dedicated to his sport, Abbott is still active today in the Gold Coast Roadster and Racing Club. Chapter Two is on Stan Betz, the nephew of Dick Kraft, and one of the best paint mixers around. Betz works in the sun and can match paint to an exactness that defies even the computers. He began going to the dry lakes just after World War II and was affiliated with the Lancers of Hollywood. Stan was also involved in oval track and drag racing. Chapter Three is on Don Francisco, the Technical Editor for many years at Hot Rod Magazine. Francisco was laconic until he started talking about his hot rodding past then his sense of humor came to the forefront. An accomplished pilot, Don would fly into events all over the country. In later years he would travel with his good friend, Jim Travis and the two of them would play hilarious pranks on each other. Francisco was honored by the Gold Coast Roadster and Racing Club at the Dry Lakes Hall of Fame for his contributions to land speed racing. He was a partner with Bill Burke and their famous Bonneville Belly Tank car was driven by their good friend, Wally Parks.

Chapter Four is about Duffy Livingston who raced at the Dry Lakes just after his discharge from the Navy after World War II. Duffy was involved with road course racing in his car, which he called 'Eliminator' and which he always placed high in his class. Duffy built go-karts that captured world championships in go-kart racing. Chapter Five interviews Ak Miller who was famous for his Millerisms. These were stories that constantly changed over time with each retelling but which kept the listener spellbound. Miller and his older brothers were pioneers in the sport and he was a close friend with Wally Parks. Parks would return from the war to rebuild the SCTA as president, with Miller as his vice-president. Then Miller became president of the SCTA for two terms and followed Parks into the new NHRA (National Hot Rod Association). Miller was simply irrepressible. He raced the Pan-American Mexican Road Race, the Mil Miglia, Pike's Peak, the Baja 1000, Bonneville and the Dry Lakes with Jack Lufkin and Leonard Carr as his partners. Ak knew everyone and forgot more stories and events than there were people and races. He was the heart and soul of hot rodding. Chapter Six is about Johnny Price, a good friend and employee of Harry Weber of Weber Cams and Flywheels. Johnny was a member of the Gopher's Car Club and this legendary car club included Johnny Ryan, Nellie Taylor, the Weber Brothers, Harry and Bill, Bill Zaring and many others. They were known for their competition in racing and partying, much of it having passed into legend and myth. Price raced at the Dry Lakes in the 1930's, flew P-38's in WWII, raced at Bonneville, went to the Indy 500 with Mickey Thompson, drag raced in the early days and built the Volksrod.

Chapter Seven concerns Bob Rufi. Rufi and his partner Charlie Spurgin raced at the Dry Lakes in the 1930's. Hammering out an aerodynamic aluminum body, Rufi created a streamlined car that went over 140mph pre-war and shocked the land speed racing community. Leading the championship points race in 1940, Rufi's car crashed and he almost lost his life. He retired soon after that. A short career but a reputation for design and horsepower that would be remembered by land speed racers to this day. His record would last for 10 years, an amazingly long time, until Stu Hilborn broke it in 1950. Following the interviews there is a section on Wes Cooper's collection of rare four-cylinder racing heads. Medley includes chapters on street rodding, dry lakes racing, a scrapbook of his photos, program covers, and hot rod art. The artists include Gus Maanum, Dick Teague and Bob Stender and their work is exceptional. Medley ends the book with short sections on car clubs and early drag racing tracks. The book is highly recommended to those who enjoy hot rodding and its history and heritage. Gone Racin' is at [email protected].

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Gone Racin'…Rocketman; My Rocket-Propelled Life and High-Octane Creations, by Ky Michaelson. Book Review by Richard Parks, photographic consultant Roger Rohrdanz
A famous Country and Western song warns mothers "don't let your sons grow up to be cowboys." Well, mothers of America, Ky Michaelson's book Rocketman; My Rocket-Propelled Life and High-Octane Creations should be warning enough. If ever there was a life filled with creation, ambition, purpose and zeal, then Ky Michaelson would fit the description perfectly. Here's a life cram full of invention, adventure, discovery, friendship, trial, tribulation and creation. I had heard rumors about the 'Rocketman,' more rumor than fact, until Captain Ed Ballinger handed me a copy of the book and asked me to review it. This is a man and his friends who are true hot rodders at heart. The book is simply fascinating and I found myself going back to it and rereading it over and over again. A suggestion, start with Appendix A and review the list of cars, rockets and vehicles Ky has been involved with, then as you read the book you will appreciate the depth of his inventiveness. Rocketman is a hard-cover book on waxed and glossy, high-quality photographic paper, published by Motorbooks, an MBI Publishing Company, in St Paul Minnesota. The book comes with a dust-cover jacket and is priced at a very reasonable $27.95. The dimensions of the book are 6 � by 9 � inches, with 240 pages of text and photographs. The book is cloth bound along the spine and not glued in as you would find with lesser quality works. The dust-cover jacket is well done and eye-catching and you should take extra care to preserve it. Far too often readers cast aside the jackets and regret it later. Collectors will tell you how valuable a jacket is to the overall worth of a fine book. There are 102 color, and 87 black and white photographs, with 6 drawings and one map in the book. Rocketman has a table of contents, acknowledgments, introduction, prologue, 27 chapters, 3 appendices, but sadly, no index. The ratio of text to photographs is excellent. The writer explains each chapter clearly and fully. The ISBN number is 13-978-0-7603-3143-9, but you should have no problem finding this book in most book stores.
When I'm asked to do a book review the first thing that I look for is the dust-cover jacket. It tells you right away whether you are dealing with a quality book or just a niche book. Self-published and niche books are not bad, they simply have a smaller and more specific audience. Some books have cross-over appeal and are meant for larger audiences. The jacket will have a drawing or photograph that tells the reader in an instant what the book is going to offer. It will also tell you the publisher, in this case it is Motorbooks, and this publisher always turns out quality books. Motorbooks has an uncanny ability to spot a quality story and they back it up with quality craftsmanship, PR and marketing. But they are a picky company and many people have tried and failed to get their work published by them. In the case of Rocketman, the publisher has chosen wisely, for the story and graphics have an appeal that crosses over to so many subjects. The tinkerer and inventor will fall in love with this book. The adventurer and traveler will find many wistful things to dream about. Rocketman involves the hot rodder, car guy, airplane fan, racing zealot and most of the male population. But it also has a great deal of interest for the distaff side as well. This is not just a man's world that we are talking about. Rocketman also tells us the story of Paula Murphy, Kitty O'Neil and other women who have braved the seemingly impossible and those women who have worked on the projects mentioned in the book. I've never met or interviewed Kitty O'Neil, but I know Paula Murphy and her story is one that inspires us all to reach for greatness. She is truly one of those pacesetters and trendsetters that we look up to regardless of gender. Men predominate in the story, but more and more women are entering the 'need for speed' race. This book shows how one man and his friends took on the challenge and thrived.
Book reviewers, when they like a book, tend to tell too much about the storyline. Reviewers simply want the public to see what they see in a book and so we over-review. What stops me from doing this is the sheer volume and breadth of the projects that Ky Michaelson and his friends have taken on. Yes, I like the book and unabashedly tell you so, but the reason is more personal as I've met many of the people mentioned in Rocketman and can't help but like and admire them. About the only failing in this work is a lack of an index and I'll say it again, all books, except fiction, need to have an index. That said, let's delve into Rocketman and see why it's the book I think it is. First of all the photographs are 'stand alone' in their excellence, even though the captions are sometimes sparse. You can understand the story line simply by looking at the photos and reading the captions. But it is the text, often overlooked in books put out by racers and car guys, that is extraordinary. Michaelson tells his story and that of his associates with a real passion and with clarity and detail, but he doesn't allow himself to become so technical that the average reader cannot follow along. What Michaelson does is create vehicles that go faster than most of us ever will and cause a person's heart to pound. We might think that he takes chances, but Ky Michaelson is highly skilled and knowledgeable and his vehicles work. He takes us on a journey, that to most of us seems impossibly unreal and yet, after we see how he has crafted, created and solved his problems, becomes a reality in our eyes. Don't ask "what kind of vehicles has Michaelson created?" Instead ask this question, "What kind of impossible vehicles has he NOT created?" The Rocketman, as he is lovingly called, propels vehicles with, yes, rockets! The propellant is usually hydrogen peroxide, the very stuff you use to clean out cuts and wounds and kill bacteria. Hydrogen peroxide is simply H2O or water with an extra oxygen atom squeezed in. If you're not a chemist or if you did poorly in your chemistry class in high school, the point is that this extra oxygen atom really doesn't like to be with the normal two hydrogen and one oxygen, which forms normal water. It really wants to break out of this relationship, which is why you hear the fizzing noise when you open up the bottle of hydrogen peroxide.
Michaelson uses hydrogen peroxide that is much more concentrated than the 3% solution that we use. So concentrated and powerful that one has to be licensed or authorized to use it. Rocketeers have other propellants that they use and all have the same properties of explosive power. Michaelson finds ways to package the propellants inside the cars, planes and rockets needed to safely move a human being at very fast speeds. It never fails to amaze me when the controlled reactions starts that the driver actually survives. To Michaelson and his friends, it probably rarely enters their minds. Ky uses propellant laden rockets to power drag cars, Bonneville land speed streamliners, Go-Karts, space rockets, boats, airplanes, snowmobiles, hover craft and just about anything that you want to go, and go very, very fast. Some people prefer piston powered motors that produce the power to turn drive trains, that turn the axles and then the wheels. There are lots of complex parts that could break and go wrong. Some people like to simplify all of this by using jet engines or turbines, which allows for the exhaust to exit the vehicle, pushing it forward in a simpler manner with few parts to break. Then there are the rocket people who create the body and the power plant and light the fuse. It sounds simple, but it really isn't, or quite possibly, maybe it is. Perhaps all that we really need to do is watch the expert, Ky Michaelson, at work. Rocketman contains the story of the Sonic Challenger, Pollution Packer, Captain Ed Ballinger, Kitty O'Neil, John Paxson, Paula Murphy, Lee Taylor, the Space Shot, Gary Gabelich, Craig Breedlove, Lew Arrington, Dave Anderson, Vern Anderson, Doug Brown, Jerry Hehn, Brent Fanning, Sammy Miller, Jack McClure, Chuck Suba, John Allen Hudson, Fred Goeske, Jim Hodges, Russell Mendez, Ramon Alvarez and many more men and women who have fearlessly advanced 'our need for speed.' I've never given out a perfect rating of 8 out of 8 sparkplugs before, and the lack of an index keeps me from doing so here. Rocketman is rated a 7.9 out of a possible 8 sparkplugs. I'm saying you will love this book. I did. Gone Racin' is at [email protected].

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Caption:
From All American Racers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Dan Gurney collection.

Dan Gurney’s All American Racers is celebrating its 45th year in business.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our fans, friends and
business partners for their loyalty to our company through the decades.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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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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