SOCIETY OF LAND SPEED RACING HISTORIANS
NEWSLETTER 162 - May 6, 2010
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, I talked to Zeke Zackersen this morning, I received an email from Tony Thacker Executive Director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum about a very special event hosted by Banks Power, Mailbox Responses to the Mickey Thompson testimonial at the museum on May 15, You've done quite a masterful job maintaining historical archives and research on America's enduring and long running love affair with speed and performance technology, 2010 marks a seminal year in the history of Volkswagen motorsports as this year is the fiftieth anniversary of the very first speed record ever set by a Volkswagen, The Aussie Invader Land Speed Record Newsletter for May 2010 is now available, We're official now and out there on the world wide web, New mini-video by "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, I did a photo at the Gas-Up that I want to get to someone involved with Walsh/Walsh and Cusack roadster, How can we get copies of John Chambard's Teenage Experience, Friends of the Challenge World of Speed 2010 will be a special year for the 36hp Challenge as well as all of the air and water cooled VW's running in the 130 Mile Per Hour Club event, The 6th Annual Norwood Arena Reunion Norwood Massachusetts is set for Sunday June 6, Extremely Rare 1935 three window Ford Coupe Street Rod, Don Weaver's Legends of Ascot Reunion will be held on October 23 2010 at Perris Auto Speedway on the county fairgrounds below the dam, The following news comes from the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles California, I write "Suzy's Scrapbook" a social column that appears in National Dragster once a month, Gone Racin'...The Road Ahead; the Automobile Club of Southern California 1900-2000 by Kathy Talley-Jones and Letitia Burns O'Connor, Gone Racin'…Hot Rodder! From Lakes to Street an oral history by Albert Drake, Teague Bentley Model A Roadster Sent in by Alan Fogliadini, This is the car that I am trying to find the history on for my mate Greg Kentwell, Collectible 1/16 scale models of the Speed Demon and photographs of the original car

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President's Corner:  
   Last weekend Dan Warner took a ride over to see the start of this year's edition of the Pasadena Roadster Club Reliability Run. There were tons of cool looking cars that yelled out photograph me. One get into shooting all the cars and then getting in close for some of the details. I was snapping away and then walked up to a neat looking '34 roadster and glanced inside the cockpit to check it out. Then I spotted it, an S.C.T.A. tag on the dash. I've been shooting all that I find to kinda build a historical record and this new find was no exception. I walked around to the other side of the car and zoomed in on the tag. Yikes, it was a fake. The first clue was it said Muroc. That's no biggie except the date said 1948 so were out of sinc by about six years already. Was somebody trying to pull a fast one? I'm thinking so. When I got home it was head for the May 16th results to check out the name, speeds etc, but surprise again as the date was also a fake. Seems the first meet of the year was on April 23-25, 1948 and the second was on June 5-6, 1948 so now we have two fakes perpetuated. A quick check of the April program said there was indeed a Roy Siegner entered and his car number was 535 and it was a Class B roadster so something is true about the tag at last. A check of the results for that meet told some more of the story as there was no evidance that Sieger ever ran. A look at the June results had Roy running a nice slow 107.78 mph, only about 14 mph off of what the tag says so welcome to fib land again. Boy whoever made the fake really screwed up big time on this one. For kicks I then checked the July, August, September and October programs and Roy was listed as an entrant but again no speed was listed in the official results.
   My big peeve is that there are a lot of fakes out there so if you're gonna buy something do a little research first to see if it's the real deal. Second, if you decide to fake something at least have the dates, etc, correct so you won't fool some historian in 20 years into thinking something that isn't true is true. Talking about old land speed stuff, yesterday I went down to Jack's Garage for a little gab fest and picture sharing. Then it was off to Scandinavian Street Rods to check up on a relic from the past that is undergoing a little resto job and took a couple of binders full of pix to answer those little old questions of how did this go together or the missing part as built like this. Owner Don and fab master Eric were right there and the pictures told the story of some unanswered questions. Luckily I have tons of snaps because when you grow up 20 feet from where the car was built and when being a pack-rat is family tradition saving the stuff was a no brainer. In fact the first pix of the car (JMC_1197) shows me in it at El Mirage 58 years ago. The same day I even got to drive it across the lake bed about 50 mph. WOW! Like they say once bit by the dirt, always bit by the dirt. The second shot shows the car in process with the body undergoing a little massage. I'll do a little begging now. If you've got any old car pix let me copy them for who knows when somebody will find your old ride and want to put it back in original shape. Isn't that what we historians do? Only eight day to Friday and the first inspection of cars for this years dash to the championship.

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Editorial:   
   I recently visited Jack's Garage, a place where the past is relived. Jack's Garage is really a garage; and it belongs to Jack Underwood in Fountain Valley, California. Many people have heard about the garage and the people that show up every day around 7 AM to bench race and to see their fellow racers. Just about every type of racing and racers are found there, including a few boat racers. Jack opens the doors around 7 AM and closes them somewhere around 10 AM, so if you're in town, don't dawdle getting over to his place. It used to be that Jack was down at the Donut Shop at Magnolia and Adams, where the Donut Derelicts hang out, in Huntington Beach. Now he just holds court at his place and what an interesting place it is. When I'm falling a bit behind on the news and am wondering what the hot rodders are up to, off I go to Jack's Garage. They even have their own t-shirts and jackets and you can order one for a really inexpensive price. Today I met old friend, Ted Bowen who was escaping the snow and cold of his native Colorado. He's the guy with the roadster powered by the Ardun. Ted, like all the guys at Jack's are knowledgeable and willing to share their experiences from the dry lakes and Bonneville. Also at Jack's were Keith Allen, Bob Webb, Warren Bullis and J.D. Tone. Sometimes you will run across Jack Stewart, the Barbee Brothers, Jim Miller, Stuart Van Dyne, Steve McElroy and dozens of other well-known men and women of land speed racing. Jack Underwood is the host and Nita Underwood is the hostess. Nita only comes out to visit when the guys get too wild and need a strong woman's touch, or when the guys bring over their dogs. I brought Kona, the whateversheis mutt from the pound. Jack, Keith and the others always have a few dog biscuits to make our four-footed friends feel welcome.
   There are thousands of places around the nation just like Jack's and I invite all of the readers to send in a report about their clubs, meetings and events. Places like Jack's are important, for if you think about it they are museums and libraries of hotrodding. Maybe we are not large, expensive and elaborate like state, county and city museums, but we hold the history and heritage of hotrodding within these mini-museums. Jack even has book cases and filing cabinets filled with interesting and important historical records. The value of Jack's Garage and all the other garages and club houses cannot be measured, but without them our history and heritage would dwindle away. It's a goal that we have here at the SLSRH to find these little gems and bring them to your attention. We also want you to report on them and send us a story so that we can publish your favorite hangout. Tell us where it is, when you meet, what people show up and what you discuss. You would be surprised at the knowledge you can get from some of these bench racing garages. A good half dozen or more of those who show up at Jack's Garage, including Jack himself, are Hall of Fame recipients of the Dry Lakes Racers Hall of Fame located in Buellton, California. We're talking about some well-known and very experienced guys in the sport and they are willing to tell you all that you wish to know, whether it be history or how to build that fast car or bike for the lakes or Bonneville.
   I'm starting to get some feedback from the car builders. Dave Crouse is sending me reports on his staff and on some of their projects. Lenny Schaeffer has promised me some reports on his projects from his Massachusetts custom car shop. I'm trying to reach Rick Peterson in San Diego county and Dennis Webb in Anaheim. If you are a builder we want to hear from you. Tell us about the cars you have restored and the projects you are working on. The importance of a car builder, restorer or customizer is the knowledge and research that they do before they even begin to reproduce, clone, restore or customize a car. I've heard some great testimonials to men like Dave Crouse and Dennis Webb among others. I've also heard some real horror stories about builders who created a fictitious history and then oversold the cars they built for a fraudulent profit. Like any industry, there are men and women of great worth and integrity. Alas, there are also scoundrels too. I believe that the SLSRH should do whatever it can to seek out and find those with great reputations and give them as much notice in our newsletter as possible. We need to know more about them and their staff and operations. We need to understand how they do their research and ask them to tell us what they have found out. Reputable car restorers need to be noticed and they need to have their research confirmed with others who can cross-check and prove the origins of the car they are rebuilding. In that way we learn more about the past and the public learns more about the car and the restorer. It is important that we identify those cars with the greatest provenance and history and set them above all the other restorations and reproductions. This is not to say that a clone or reproduction has no value, because they do have value. The truth is that we just want to be as accurate as possible in telling the story and informing the public.
   On other issues; people have been sending me requests to link up with them on twitter and other internet sites. I apologize to you all, but I must decline. I'm really busy with this and other newsletters and have no time to get involved. I've even had to surrender my membership in the Gear Grinders and the SCTA because literally, I have no time to give them. I do appreciate it when a reader signs their full name, because when they don't and I'm not familiar with the email address I have to go through a time consuming hunt in my database to find your name. Strange as it seems, I'm terrible with names but better at remembering odd facts about you. For example, I recognized Ted Bowen at Jack's Garage instantly and knew that he was the Ardun guy from Colorado, but couldn't remember his name at all. My father was great at remembering names or at least he had mental tricks to help him do that. It could be that I'm simply getting older, but more likely it is because I am like many of you, trying to learn too many facts and names that it's sometimes hard to recall a specific name. I find that if you ask a lot of questions that eventually you'll hit on one that triggers a memory and that's why I'm always pestering you for details and more details. When writing to me include your phone number just in case I need to call you. I probably won't, but it can be a great time saver for me. Try and proof read your letter, because it takes me time to make little corrections. Remember, whatever you send me is going to go into the newsletter unless you tell me that what you are writing is PERSONAL OR CONFIDENTIAL, or if I determine by your language that it is personal in nature. I can't guarantee to you that I will correctly understand your intentions, so to end all doubt, tell me if you don't want your letter posted. I will make small changes in spelling, grammar or punctuation, to spare you any embarrassments, but I will not change the meaning of your email. For example, I'll put a period BEFORE "quotation marks" and not after it. I will make little changes like that to standardize the newsletter. In the case of Jim Miller I will leave some of his quirkier colloquialisms, because that's who and what he is and to change that would change his personality.

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I talked to Zeke Zackersen this morning. He has finished with the chemo and is being fitted with the radiation mask today. They will start the treatment next week. He is feeling pretty good but his energy level is down from the chemo. I will keep everyone updated as I hear. He said to tell everyone hello and to go fast and be safe at the meets. Glen Barrett
   Glen: Didn't Zeke help Marv Jenkins restore the Mormon Meteor endurance car up in St George? Give our best to Zeke.
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Yes he worked with Marvin Jenkins on the restoration of the Mormon Meteor. It was a great project. The car is now located in Salt Lake City in a private collection. The owner is building a museum to display a lot of LSR and other vehicles. Glen
   Glen: I've heard about the sale of the Mormon Meteor from Jack Underwood. Can you give us more information on the new owner and when his museum might be ready for the public to see?

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I received an email from Tony Thacker, Executive Director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum about a very special event hosted by Banks Power, concerning Mickey Thompson. The event is a panel discussion about Mickey Thompson and his impact on American auto racing. Our family has known Mickey and his family since the mid-1940's and the speakers have a great deal of knowledge about Mickey and the times that he was influencing American racing. Judy is Mickey's first wife and Danny is Judy and Mickey's son. Alex Xydias and his So-Cal Speed Shop was at the center of dry lakes, Bonneville and land speed racing in the late 1940's and '50's. Tom Jobe knows drag racing's ins and outs. Gale Banks at Banks Power knows land speed racing and how to build powerful engines. Dave McClelland is one of the best at announcing all types of auto racing events. Every panel discussion that I have attended at the Museum has been a great experience and I hope that you will be able to attend. 
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                                          INVITATION
Dear friend of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum:
   I would like to invite you to join us for a panel discussion celebrating the life and achievements of Mickey Thompson: First American to 400 presented by Banks Power.
WHEN:  Saturday, May 15, 2010 from 2 - 4 p.m.
WHERE: Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Bldg 3A, Pomona, CA 91768. For more information on this event call 909-622-2133, or Google http://museum.nhra.com.
PANELISTS: Judy Thompson Creach, Danny Thompson, Alex Xydias, Tom Jobe, and Gale Banks.
MODERATOR: Dave McClelland
COST: $20 includes museum admission and light refreshments. Tickets can be purchased at the door and all proceeds benefit the museum.
FREE PARKING: Enter the Fairplex at Gate 1 on McKinley and turn right into the museum parking lot.
   We sincerely hope you can make it and feel free to bring a guest. Sincerely, Tony Thacker, Executive Director, Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum

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Mailbox; Responses to the Mickey Thompson testimonial at the museum on May 15.

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"I would love to attend except I'll be running at El Mirage that weekend." Dick Martin
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"We will be at the El Mirage opener that weekend and will break away for the event. I am working on getting tickets now, but no luck so far. I will keep hammering against the phone system, and start with Rose when I get through to them. " Jack Dolan
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"This has been posted on the www.oilstick.com website under events." Evelyn Roth
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"Mickey Thompson is no longer with us? Cindy A. Meitle
Cindy: Mickey and Trudy Thompson were murdered by hired hit men. His ex-partner is in jail and convicted for the crime.
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"Thanks for sending this along. Wish I was headed for California to attend. Looks like a great event. Just wondering if you know Fred Carrillo? We haven't spoken in 20 years and I was wondering if he was still living. Thanks, Bill Johnson"
Bill: I heard that Fred sold his business and was living in Dana Point, California.
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"That will be a great occasion, and if I lived in So Cal instead of Virginia I'd be there for sure." Bill Hoddinott, Bonneville Racing News.
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"Is this invite open to the public?" Mark Maynard
Mark: The museum invites the public to these panel discussions and they appear to be quite popular. My favorite panel discussion of all time was Carroll Shelby and Wally Parks on the podium in soft sofa chairs and they kept the audience in stitches as they talked about the early days of road course and drag racing. It's a fund raiser for the museum in Pomona at $20 a person and for the average person to see and talk to people they have admired is a reasonable fee. The Mickey Thompson panel discussion looks to be another very popular event.
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"I commend you for keeping folks informed about things that matter. I wish I still lived in SoCal so I could attend the Mickey Thompson panel discussion. I saw a TV show about poor Mickey's murder. I worked at the LA Times when it happened. Wish they would catch the shooters." Jeff Yip
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"Hope I can make it, living North of the 49th makes it hard, remember the day it happened, was at Joe Reath's Speed Shop in Long Beach." Bob Painton Victoria B.C.
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"I would love to attend but I live north of Chicago so the commute would be a bit of a problem. Danny Thompson was my roommate on a Colorado 500 ride many years ago. All my best for a great event." Michael Dunn
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"Wish I could, but it's a long way. Don't forget to mention the important role he played in 1963 when he visited the UK." Brian Taylor
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"Mom and I will be there." Robin Millar
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"I'll be at El Mirage. Will it be video taped?" Jim Snyder
Jim: I left a message with Greg Sharp at the Motorsports museum to see if they will tape the panel discussion to sell to the public.
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"Sorry, but I am currently in bed, following a twenty foot fall and breaking both my feet. If all goes well, I should be back in action by mid-June. Have fun, Ciao Sir Stirling Moss, OBE"
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"I would love to attend, however I am trying to finish a car to run in Denver that same week end. " Sincerely Dale Pulde
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"Thank you for the invitation not able to attend as I am racing the Pacific Sports nationals that weekend." Sincerely, Tom Bogner
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"Thank You, will try to make it there. Keeping the Legends Alive." Tony a2z Adamowicz, www.a2zracer.com, www.a2zracergear.com, www.prdaracing.com/, www.LegendsofRiverside.com, www.RiversideInternationalRaceway.com, www.DesertConcours.com.
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"Thanks for the invite but I am stuck here in the midwest." Ron Nelson

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"BUMMER...that is El Mirage weekend and many of us will be there trying to hold on to the legend that Mickey helped create. Sorry those of us racing that weekend cannot attend. Hope you have a great turnout for a true racing Legend." Sincerely Lee Thyer, High Desert Racers
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"Too bad it's the same day as the first lakes meet." Dave McCain

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You've done quite a masterful job maintaining historical archives and research on America's enduring and long running love affair with speed and performance technology -- as well as paying tribute to those great innovators whose achievements would've been lost in the dust of Muroc and salt of Bonneville if it wasn't for your assiduous research and writing. I'm doing an article for Vintage Motorsport on Bonneville streamliner innovator and driver Bob Herda and have been fortunate to obtain the cooperation of his daughters, Melidda and Marie, Charlie Markley, Harry Hoffman, Sr., Dr. George Miners and several others. Your colleague Jim Miller is providing me with a compilation of Herda speed records at Bonneville. I've contacted Jim, but you might also be able to help me with a query. I quite mistakenly and earlier assumed that the Cagle in the Herda Cagle streamliner was Gary Cagle, who of course built high performance drag racing motors. Pressing forward, of course, I find that it was Clark Cagle who built the earlier Chrysler motors for Herda's streamliner.
Are the Cagle's related? Do you have an archive file or information on Clark Cagle -- other than his involvement in Okie's Speed Shop? One of the successful Bonneville cars from that period was the Cagle-SanChez '53 Studebaker coupe. Which Cagle is associated with that vehicle? Your constituents are sticklers for accuracy and you're now the keeper of the archives (so to speak) -- so I'll turn to you for information that will insure accuracy at the highest level for this project. My condolences on your mother's passing -- and I continue to miss your dad. Think of him often. He was a great influence on my life. Thanks for your help, Richard. Sorry I'll miss the Mickey Thompson presentation as I have business conflicts at that time. We continue to work with Tony on other matters and will support the museum (possibly through Toyota, too) whenever we can. Michael Dobrin
Michael: Thank you for your nice comments. My father thought very highly of you and your staff. The Toyota Challenges were some of my favorite events to cover. I will post your letter and see if any of our readers can help you with your question. There are some sources that you should check with. They will come in a follow-up letter below. Any credit for whatever success we have attained goes to those men and women in the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians who diligently save our racing history on a daily basis. I get the fun of putting all that research into a format that Jack and Mary Ann Lawford put into their fine website at www.landspeedracing.com.
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Michael: I received a phone call from George Callaway and he gave me more information about Clark Cagle. Clark was married to Geri Cagle and they had three children; Craig who lives in south Orange County, Debbie who lives in Washington state and Charlotte Griswold who lives in Orange County. Clark passed away some time ago and Geri in November, 2009. Belmont Sanchez was the owner of the black Bonneville coupe, Clark Cagle worked on and owned the engine and Gary Cagle drove the car. Gary was an ex-drag racer. Gary was racing his bike with his son at El Mirage and hit a duney bush and crashed, losing his left eye and left arm in the accident. Clark was a licensed chiropractor who never made a profession out of it and was called Dr or Doc Cagle. When racers had pain in their backs they would go over to Clark's shop and he would clear off a work bench and do chiropractry on them for free. Clark owned Lakewood Muffler Shop and after he sold the business he became a muffler parts salesman. Clark would work on engines and especially flatheads if the owners took the engines out of their cars. He wouldn't bend over the fender to work on an engine that was still in the car. Clark had a lot of experience working on flathead engines. I asked if any of his crew were still alive. Mort Crane committed suicide and Belmont Sanchez passed away as did Gary Cagle. Sanchez was called "Beachball" by the racers for his rotund build. Clark was very close to Bob Sykes and gave all his Chrysler parts to him. George thinks that Bobby Sykes might know more about Clark Cagle. Clark and Callaway built a car for Mort Strange, who decided not to drive it and so Callaway got the chance to drive the car. Craig sold the #36 car.

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Thought you might find this interesting. You've probably heard about this guy. This is for all my friends who love "old" cars. Grandpa's Old Ford Garage in DeSoto, Kansas. Google; http://kansastravel.org/grandpasoldfordgarage.htm. The builder is Dean Weller. Sent in by Marilyn Lachman

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2010 marks a seminal year in the history of Volkswagen motorsports as this year is the fiftieth anniversary of the very first speed record ever set by a Volkswagen. In 1960, Dick Beith took his humble little1958 Beetle powered by mildly modified 36hp engine and set a class land speed record on the Bonneville Slat Flats. Equipped with a homemade dual carburetor system, Dicks 58 streaked across the salt to a top speed of 80.874 miles per hour and a two way average record of 77.107 mile per hour. Volkswagen land speed racing had begun. To celebrate fifty years of Volkswagen racing, Dick, a California native is planning a return to Bonneville during the USFRA's September World of Speed event to compete in the 36hp Challenge and attempt to double his original record speed. This time the VW will be a heavily modified 1968 Beetle competing in the H/BFC Competition Coupe category and running on the longer three mile competition course. The top of the Beetle has been severely chopped while an axle beam narrowed 19 inches will allow the body to taper to a point following the Beetle hood lines providing a streamlined effect. The engine will be a 1450cc 36hp motor fitted with an Eaton supercharger, fuel injection and intercooled. Cylinder heads will be stock 36hp heads highly modified by Dick and similar to those that took his Pepco 36hp supercharged lakester to a 129 mile per hour top speed in 1963, an unlimited 36hp record that still stands today as the fastest speed ever recorded for a vehicle powered by the mighty little motor. The World of Speed will be held on the Bonneville Salt Flats this coming September, beginning Wednesday the 15th through Saturday the 18th. Additional information on World of Speed can be found at www.saltflats.com. Burly Burlile

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The Aussie Invader Land Speed Record Newsletter for May 2010 is now available to be read on-line. Google; www.aussieinvader.com. Rosco McGlashan

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We're official now and out there on the world wide web. http://www.mendenhallmuseum.com/. Mark and Vicki Mendenhall

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New mini-video by "Big Daddy" Don Garlits. http://www.garlits.com/.  Clare Sanders

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I did a photo at the Gas-Up that I want to get to someone involved with Walsh/Walsh and Cusack roadster. Do you have any connections to either of the Walsh's or Cusack? I'll attach the photo. It won't do much to identify her but you will see why I want to get the photo to her.  Glenn Freudenberger
   Glenn: I checked my email list of 3000 names and couldn't find a Cusack, but I did find a Ken Walsh. I don't know if it's the same person you are looking for or not. Try calling the SCTA/BNI offices and speak to Joann Carlson. Her phone number is on the webpage. Also, try George Callaway or Warren Bullis.

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How can we get copies of John Chambard's Teenage Experience. Really Appreciate any help. Bob was a close friend of George Rubio. Thanks, John Williamson and Bob Chrisman
   John and Bob: You can't purchase the Chambard booklet, Teenage Experience, because it isn't a published book, but you can contact the author and ask him if he has an extra copy. What Chambard did was to write his memoirs down on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper, paste photographs to it, add text and take it to a copy shop to have several copies made for his family and friends. This is the simplest and cheapest way to create a book and leave behind a history of one's life. I wrote a book review and published it in as many publications as I could not because it was a purchasable booklet, but because the simplicity and ease made this a good point to get across to those who would like to write their history, but haven't got the money to have a professionally done book made. I also pointed out that Chambard's writing style was exceptionally good and his photographs and captions very creditable. He got the same impact for a fraction of the money to have a book published and he didn't have to wait months to see it created. He simply wrote it, added photographs and captions and took it to a copying shop. I was so taken back by what he did that I gave him all the publicity that I could. According to the booklet, John's address is P.O. Box 4292, Cary, North Carolina 27519. He may have extra copies to send you, or he may have to make a few more copies at the copy shop. It shouldn't be much, but whatever it costs, it was a very interesting little booklet and well worth having a copy.

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Friends of the Challenge; World of Speed 2010 will be a special year for the 36hp Challenge as well as all of the air and water cooled VW's running in the 130 Mile Per Hour Club event. In addition to the return of the original 36hp Bonneville racer, Dick Beith, who will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of his and the worlds first 36hp record, in fact the first world record for a VW of any kind, a large contingent of 36hp powered cars as well as an equal amount big block air cooled cars are expected to participate. The VW's include Beetles both stock bodied and modified, a large group of Karmann Ghias, a bus or two and even a few Formula Vees and Super Vees.
   I have just received the latest USFRA newsletter indicating they are now accepting entries. The fee for racing in the 130 MPH Club is $135 plus you must be a member of the USFRA which costs an additional $40 for a total of $175 per entry. Late entries are NOT penalized so you can still race at the last moment without additional cost! This is for ONE driver! If you plan to have a second or third driver, they must pay separate entry and membership fee's. Each driver receives five passes down the mile and additional groups of five runs for each driver can be purchased. If you are planning on running in the 150 MPH Club or competing on the longer full competition course, go to www.saltflats.com for detailed information and costs.
   It was great to hear from so many last month that are planning on competing this year and please keep me updated on the progress you are making, or obstacles you are encountering. I look forward to renewing acquaintances with the many I have met at Bonneville and Maxton and making new VW friends with those I have only met online. It is going to be a very special year and I am glad you will be there. Till the next update, keep smilin' and movin' forward.  Burly Burlile

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 The 6th Annual Norwood Arena Reunion, Norwood, Massachusetts, is set for Sunday, June 6, 2010 at Bezema Buick-GMC on the Auto-Mile. This event assembles former drivers, car owners, officials and fans for the annual gather to reminisce the great racing that occurred at the famed quarter-mile oval from 1948 through the glory days of the NASCAR Modifieds which produced some of the best stockcar racing in the northeast. Some seem to feel that those were the best days of racing in New England. The Norwood Arena opened in the late 1940's with the midgets then moved on to the so-called Cutdowns which became the Super-Modifieds. In the 60's the NASCAR Modifieds came on the scene at Norwood Arena and top drivers from all over New England and New York came to battle on the high-banked quarter-mile.
   The battles between "Wild" Bill Slater, Mario "Fats" Caruso, Leo Cleary, Johnny Thompson, and Hop Harrington, among others, have been covered in the racing trade papers as well as recent books recalling the "Glory Days." Norwood Arena also hosted a NASCAR Grand National in the early 1960's as well as sports cars, flat track motorcycles and even eighth-mile drag races in the paved parking lot. That venue was dubbed New England Dragway South and included AA Fuel and Jet Dragsters which ultimately led to the demise of the famed track. Every year this event ends being the annual gathering of the faithful racing clan. The event on Sunday, June 6, 2010 will go off rain or shine. It starts at 11 a.m. and continues through 4 p.m. If you have any memorabilia from the Norwood Arena bring it to the event for others in attendance to see. Also, a light lunch will be provided in the nearby Marty's Cafe. In recent years many vendors of racing memorabilia have been attracted to this event.
   Vintage race cars from NEAR, STARS, ACOT and unaffiliated have joined in on this celebration including vintage drag racing machine. This event also attracts a strong turnout of classic, muscle cars and antique street vehicles. The first 110 racing and street vehicles will get a dash plaque. A trophy for the best race car, street car and motorcycle will be awarded. If have missed this event in the past put it on your calendar now. If you have been to the event plan on returning to meet old acquaintances and talk about those glory days at Norwood Arena. For further information call the Bezema dealership at 781-769-4700 or the organizer, Lou Modestino, at 781-784-7857. Bezema Buick-GMC is located at 402 Providence Highway (US Route 1) in Norwood, Massachusetts.

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Extremely Rare 1935 three window Ford Coupe Street Rod; "World's First Pro Street Rod," for sale. All Steel, Excellent. Pics and full description on AZ Cars website; Google http://www.azcarsandtrucks.com/1935coupedp.html. Advertised for $105,000. Offered for quick sale at $69,500 firm. New Phone #386-562-1154.
Streetiron: If you give us your name I will run your request in The Society of Land Speed Racing Historians Newsletter at no charge. Also, tell us a little more about the car, how long you have had it and who was the previous owner. We are at www.landspeedracing.com.
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Thanks Richard, The AZ website contains all the info in a paragraph. I've owned the car since 1979. It's been restored 3 times, the latest in 2005. But in 1980 I Pro Streeted it before Pro Street was a word. So it has historical significance. The proof is my 1937 Chevy Del, also Streeted out and the first chopped sedan delivery, which HOT ROD Magazine designated as one of the 20 most influential rods in its 1993 issue. Gray Baskerville did the feature in the 1980 issue. It literally kick-started the Pro Street Rod revolution. However, my '35 Ford was built before the '37. I've never personally gotten or really sought credit for that innovation but HOT ROD did (attached pdf). I own Main Event Video which originated home videos of drag racing and automotive video entertainment. www.maineventvideos.com. Thank you for your interest, Dean Papadeas

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Don Weaver's Legends of Ascot Reunion will be held on October 23, 2010 at Perris Auto Speedway on the county fairgrounds below the dam. Tickets are $55 if ordered before September 1 and $65 if purchased after that date. The admission also covers the USAC/CRA Sprint car races at the oval track following the reunion. You can expect a huge gathering of oval and other types of racing notables. There will be a static display of some of your most beloved cars, bench racing, raffle, auction, program to pay tribute to the reunion's honorees and delicious luncheon and snacks. This year's honorees include; Vel Miletich, Paul Jones, Evelyn Pratt, and Tony Simon. The 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to the Agajanian brothers; Cary, JC Jr and Chris. A special award will be given to Parnelli Jones. Prepaid admissions will receive a special gift bag that will include; Event program, lapel pin, raffle tickets, decals and other prizes. The Legends of Ascot Reunion is one of the largest such events honoring oval track racers on the West Coast. It tends to sell out the maximum number of tickets early and there will be no tickets sold at the door. I have seen latecomers who have been turned away at the door, so be sure to order your tickets now and find appropriate lodging in the area. Send your check to: Gator Supply, P.O. Box 5331, Torrance, California 90510. Be sure to print your name clearly, because Don has to preprint your name on the pit passes. The pit passes will not be mailed to you. They will be held at registration desk at the event. For more information email Don at [email protected] or go to www.legendsofascot.com.

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The following news comes from the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California.
Automobiles of the Robert and Margie Petersen Collection opens Saturday, June 6, 2010 through February 13, 2011 in the Grand Salon. Robert E. Petersen started Hot Rod magazine in 1948, which helped to create through publicity the automotive aftermarket, motorsports, and performance O.E.M. vehicles that we see today. Petersen Publishing quickly grew beyond Hot Rod, Motor Trend, and Rod & Custom, into a publishing powerhouse with titles diverse as Teen, Modern Bride, and Guns & Ammo. After funding the creation of the Petersen Automotive Museum, Mr. & Mrs. Petersen expanded their automobile collection to include some of the most exciting and exquisite vehicles ever created.
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Fiberglass Day and Car Show at the Petersen Saturday, June 26, 2010, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Petersen Automotive Museum parking structure. The Petersen will be hosting a public car show for fiberglass-bodied cars of any make or model in the Museum's parking structure. Guests of Honor include Bruce Meyers, father of the dune buggy, and Harry Hansen, creator of the Hansen Cobra. Both guests will give talks on their long careers, famous creations, and experience working with fiberglass. Jim McFarland of SEMA will also be on hand to explain the rules and regulations involved in registering hot rods, replicas, and special construction vehicles. From micro-cars to Corvettes, owners of fiberglass cars of any kind are invited to participate in the car show. Registration is free so sign up early to reserve your spot for this unique opportunity to meet automotive legends and view the amazing diversity of fiberglass cars at the Petersen. Cars must be driven to the Museum; there is no trailer parking. For more information or to register your car for the show, contact Clayton Drescher at 323-964-6347.
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Fantasies in Fiberglass; Open through October 3, 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 are on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum. 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.
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What were they thinking? The Misfits of Motordom through Sunday, June 6, 2010 in the 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!
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New car showroom in the Streetscape. The three makes that we feature in our 1939 New Car Showroom are: LaSalle created 1927 and discontinued 1940, Oldsmobile created 1897 and discontinued in 2004, and Pontiac which was discontinued in 2010.
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Sounds of Speed, through April 25, 2010 in the 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.
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Imagining the future: The Southern California Automotive Design Studio, presented in cooperation with the Art Center College of Design. 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.
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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.
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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 others.
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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.

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I write "Suzy's Scrapbook," a social column that appears in National Dragster once a month. If you can think of anything you'd want to share with me please don't hesitate to contact me at the below address. I also knew and loved Mickey - he was one of a kind. Suzy Beebe, Suzy's Scrapbook a National Dragster column, [email protected].
Suzy: My website is at www.landspeedracing.com and you can check it to see if there is anything on it that is helpful to you.

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Gone Racin'...The Road Ahead; the Automobile Club of Southern California 1900-2000, by Kathy Talley-Jones and Letitia Burns O'Connor. Book review by Richard Parks, photographic consultant Roger Rohrdanz.

An excellent historical and pictorial book on motoring in Southern California is The Road Ahead; the Automobile Club of Southern California 1900-2000, by Kathy Talley-Jones and Letitia Burns O'Connor. The Automobile Club of Southern California does everything well and with high standards. They work with youth programs to instill good driving habits. They produce quality literature, maps and historical books and pamphlets. This is one of their mandates and they take great pride in bringing to the driving public a sense of accomplishment in their century as a great insurance company. Their road assistance programs are top notch and set the bar for others to follow. So it is always a delight to see what sort of publication that they are working on next. The Road Ahead; the Automobile Club of Southern California 1900-2000, represents a century of achievements by this well-respected company. The Road Ahead is a hard-bound book measuring 9 by 11 inches and 128 pages of text and photographs on high quality, waxed paper. The pages are glued to the spine of the book and not cloth-bound. The dust cover jacket has a clean and pleasant look in sepia and gold tones. The Road Ahead was published in 2000 by the Automobile Club of Southern California and printed by R.R. Donnelley & Sons. I did not see an ISBN number, so you would need to check with the Auto club nearest you to see if they still have copies available. You might also check local book stores, used book stores and on the internet. No price is listed on the book cover jacket. There is a Table of Contents, a preface by Thomas V. McKernan, Jr. the present CEO and President of the Auto Club and a highlights page of the achievements of the organization. Following are six chapters and that completes the book. There is no index which is a shame, for there is plenty to see and read in this book. There are 43 color and 173 black and white photographs throughout the book and they range from excellent quality to very small and grainy pictures. But that is not the fault of the Auto Club or the writers, for they are constrained by the era in which they are researching and reporting and some photographs of poor quality are all that exist. On the main, the photographs are very good and the paper that they are reproduced on is of the highest waxed bond type
The Auto Club is famous for their drawings by famous artists and three are included in the book, along with four posters. The color and design is in the art deco movement. There are 25 magazine covers presented including the Auto Club magazine Westways, and these are absolutely fantastic pieces of historical art work. The Auto club is also famous for their maps and members can go into the offices and select local and national maps for free and there are seldom any maps that can better what the Auto Club provides for their members. There are 27 reproductions of actual Auto Club articles and they range on all sorts of subjects related to travel and driving. There are 8 ads in the book and two reproductions of signs. The Auto Club had signs made and posted all over the West and wherever they had offices to help early travelers reach their destination safely. Today those signs are extremely valuable. One membership card was displayed and 7 medallions as well. The Auto Club made beautiful metal and porcelain medallions to display on cars and businesses. One license plate made by the Auto Club and six pamphlets rounded out the diversity of objects portrayed in The Road Ahead. The Auto Club is famous for their safety programs and the pamphlets are an attempt to educate and inform the public on such matters. At 128 pages, the book is rather on the smallish side, but it is packed, page after page, with fascinating facts on the history of the Auto Club and what it has achieved over the years. And it has been a lot of years, over a century in fact that the company has been in operation. Tom McKernan is the latest CEO and President of the Auto Club and he is a huge supporter of driving safety. He directs programs geared to getting young people to drive safely and to race on safe and sanctioned race courses and not on the streets. The Auto club has been in the business of helping people use the roads more safely in their travels to and from home and vacationing.
There are six chapters in The Road Ahead. The first chapter is titled 'Good Roads' and is my favorite, because I have a predilection towards the pioneers in anything. The 1909 photograph of a farmer with his two horses pulling a car out of the mud is a classic one. The Auto Club waged a relentless campaign to encourage the government to build new roads and improve old ones. The wooden board track road from Yuma, Arizona to San Diego, California was literally the only way to get across the sandy desert in 1916. I'm told some of the planks are still there in parts of the desert. The second chapter is called 'Service to Members' and depicts the programs, brochures, maps and other assistance that the Auto Club has rendered to the motoring public in its more than one century of existence. The Auto Club's first magazine was called Touring Topics and premiered in February 1909. They also started the 'Touring Bureau,' a mobile safety and rescue car that helped stranded motorists and has evolved into the famous road service tow trucks that we now can simply place a phone call to get a response. In those early days the van or truck driver working for the Auto Club would simply drive around the roads looking for people in trouble and there was no lack of desperate motorists. Another service was the posting of signs to help motorists find their way. The west not only had deserts to contend with, but the cities were not as congested as they are now and even the towns needed signs for directions. Along with the signs were the maps given out by the Auto Club and we all used them. They are a favorite of mine and I have rarely found maps that equaled those of the Auto Club. The beautiful posters, ads, magazine covers and magazine articles helped to popularize the west in the imagination of the American people. The Auto Club can rightfully say that they also helped the tourist industry and encouraged people to do more traveling. Another benefit to the public was the sponsorship of car racing. Promoters could rely on firm backing of the Auto Club and in return they created safer rules and venue sites for the races to take place on.
The third chapter is named 'Model City of the Future' and discusses the period of the 1920's and '30's. This is the golden age of the automobile, although at the time we probably couldn't see that. In 1923 the State of California registered their one millionth car; which was an almost unbelievable figure to most people. Where had all these cars come from in the two and a half decades of the motorcar in America? But they were here and the automobile was changing America and especially the west coast forever. Hollywood picked up on this new sentiment and hyped the use of cars to the fullest. This stimulated the demand for roads and more roads increased the demand for more cars. As you read the captions and look at the old photographs you can see something very familiar in this book that you once saw in your grandparent's albums. Another thing that was happening and the Auto Club was right in the middle of it all, were the political campaigns involving motorists. The Auto Club was encouraging an increase in taxation in order to improve the roads and to start programs on auto safety. The Auto Club was also in the forefront of fighting for the creation of new roads, highways and the concept of freeways. Freeways would increase the flow of traffic and improve efficiency in our road system and the Auto Club was supporting that concept too. The Auto Club also supported the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games and made special road maps to help tourists and travelers find the venue sights that were spread all over Southern California. In 1934 the name of the magazine was changed from Touring Topics to Westways, which it has remained to this day. California was becoming the outdoor playground for the nation and people were flocking to the state to take in the wonderful climate and scenery and the Auto Club was promoting that idea far and wide.
Chapter four was titled 'Grown up with the Automobile,' and discusses the war years of the 1940's through the middle years of the 1960's, two and a half decades of unprecedented growth in California. The Great Depression had brought an influx of people, but World War II had an even greater impact on the Golden State as military bases were created by the thousands as embarkation points for our troops in the Pacific Theater of Operations and as a defensive force in case the Japanese Imperial Navy and Army should invade. After the war many of the soldiers, sailors and airmen stayed or they moved to California after they were discharged. They also came to enjoy the wide open spaces that the automobile made possible to see and to visit. I remember those days when we would drive for hours on any road that was passable just so that we could see where it would lead. It was the greatest of surprises to see where the road went and what we would find there. The Auto Club sold war bonds, supported the war effort, encouraged motorists to conserve valuable fuel and rubber and to support the desperate efforts needed to win the war. Westways often showed pretty models in the most fashionable styles of the times to take our minds off of the war. The end of the war came and growth exploded. Freeways were built; smog and pollution became so bad that many people moved out of the urban areas. Chapter five is called 'California at the Crossroads,' because something had to be done about the congestion and smog and the Auto Club was one of the leaders in this field. As they did in 1932, the Auto Club helped to support the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and again they put out maps and helped tourists and travelers to find adequate lodgings and their way around the vast Southern California area. The last chapter, number six concluded with this name, 'We're always with you,' and for those who need a tow, that's very appropriate. But it's also the case that if you need to take care of problems with your car, the Auto Club can help. You can register a car, or pay fees at the Auto Club offices and save a trip to the congested DMV offices. The Road Ahead is a book written by the Auto Club to tell us more about the Auto Club. It is a bit biased in favor of their views, but that's reasonable as the company has a solid reputation that has stood the test of time. Personally, I like this book for the historical narratives and photographs. If you see it in a bookstore, add it to your library. I rate it a 6 out of an 8 sparkplugs. Gone Racin' is at [email protected].

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Gone Racin'…Hot Rodder! From Lakes to Street, an oral history, by Albert Drake. Book review by Richard Parks, photographic consultant Roger Rohrdanz.
I don't believe that I've ever spoken or seen Albert Drake, but in talking with tried and true hot rodders they all tell me that he exists. I even called Glenn Freudenberger, the Dry Lakes Hall of Fame member and hot rodding historian and he doesn't know who Albert is. Today's review is on Drake's book Hot Rodder! From Lakes to Street, and it is a real gem. Now Albert self publishes his books from Flat Out Press and his books are not in the same class as Motorbooks, which spends a great deal of money and effort to make their books look spectacular. But where Albert's book lack that coffee table feel they more than make up for it in the quality of the text, research, photographs and sheer exuberance in loving the sport of hot rodding and land speed racing. Drake is first and foremost a fan of motorsports and it is his love and loyalty that shines through loud and clear. There is nothing fancy or fussy with any of Albert Drake's books, just a delight in the writing of it that makes us all want to see what Drake sees. Sometimes the crafting of the books that Drake creates can be exasperating. Let's look at the construction of the book and its positive and negative points before I tell you why you have to have Albert Drake's books in your library. Hot Rodder is a paperback book with a glued spine and matte paper. The matte paper is not the type that you would use for high quality photographs and indeed the photos for the most part are grainy. They are clear and precise photographs, but just not of the quality that you normally find in books of this type. Most of the captions are thorough and professional, but some have little or no detail. There is no index and with all the text, nouns and data in the book, that makes it hard to find what you are looking for. It also makes historians cringe. Hot Rodder is 8 � by 11 inches, with 176 pages and 187 black and white photographs. There are no color photographs, but there were two programs, two logos, one timing tag, two time slips, three business cards and six magazine covers. The book was published in 1993 and the author may have copies for sale. You can reach Flat Out Press at 9727 SE Reedway Street, Portland, Oregon 97266.
Now that you know the drawbacks in Hot Rodder, let's look at the positives. Albert Drake is a true hot rodder and he understands hot rodders of all kinds and skills. He knows how to interview people and draw out the best material. He is zealous about his hobby. He finds people to interview who have been overlooked, but who made huge impacts on hot rodding and motor racing. Hot Rodder has a simple but effective Table of Contents, an introduction actually worth reading and then he jumps right into the subject matter. The interviews are simply great. He makes the interviewees feel comfortable and they reward us with fantastic stories of the past. I have to admit that the material is so fresh that I have heard very little of what is in this book before. Drake finds people who have been overlooked by other writers. But that doesn't mean that they aren't important. It's surprising how we tend to overlook great people simply because they have grown old and those people that knew them well are gone. It is possible to outlive one's fame. Young people today have no idea who these men were and yet they see them at car shows, reunions and races. I admit to this same error. For all the people that I think that I know, there are a hundred more whom I have never met nor have the slightest inkling who they might be. The rule of thumb is this, if they have white hair at a race or a car show, they were probably an active hot rodder in their youth. Here are the hot rodders that Drake portrayed in his book; Eldon Snapp, Dick Ford, Big Bill Edwards, William Kenz, Karl and Veda Orr, John Riley, Vern Houle, Jack Henry, Ken Jones, Rolla Vollstedt, Len Sutton, Burke LeSage, Joe Bailon, Bob Kaiser, Roger Huntington, Peter Sukalac, Henry Gregor Felsen, Keith Peters, Larry Purcell, Dee Wescott, Dave Juhl and Stan Ochs.
The young hot rodders probably can't name a single one of these pioneers. The older hot rodders, like myself know who Snapp, the Orr's, Edwards, Riley, Henry, Vollstedt, LeSage, Sutton, Kenz and Wescott were. It simply makes my heart sing to know that Drake found Snapp and got his history down before it was too late. Eldon Snapp was a sign painter by trade, during the Great Depression when one took any job and excelled at it, or starved. Eldon and my father were close friends and his wife Betty and my mother Mary often went out together socially. Eldon was also an artist, cartoonist and designed the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) logo. He was also the co-editor with my father on the Road Runners club newsletter that morphed into the SCTA Racing News. Most of the cartoons and ads were designed by Snapp and signed Snappe. My father did some of the cartooning, but Eldon did the majority of them. Eldon was a constant, but often silent voice in the SCTA and a loyal friend to my father. Few people know how important Eldon was to the well being of the SCTA and how it was an effective force in curtailing illegal street racing. I have some of Eldon's paintings and treasure them. Karl and Veda Orr are perhaps somewhat known among land speed racers and a few even remember going to his speed shop and buying some of the best equipment available at the time. A few more people remember how Veda Orr took over the SCTA Racing News or what was left of it after Parks and Snapp went into the military. Veda sent the newsletter to as many of the dry lakes racers as she could, with news of home and whatever racing related information that she could find. Receiving those newsletters kept the morale up and many racers today covet those little sheets of yellowed paper. Karl was also known for the roadster that he built and maintained and let Veda drive at the dry lakes in the 1940's, when no other women were allowed to race. She was a special lady and Karl, as crusty as he could be, had a loyal following of younger men who idolized him.
John Riley was an original member of the Road Runners and was there when the SCTA was formed in 1937. He was the treasurer of the club when Snapp, Parks, my mother Mary and a friend of Eldon's "borrowed" the club treasury, all $6 of it and took off for a two day vacation to Yosemite National Park in the 1930's. Gas, food and a tent for the group cost just $6 in those days, though they made my mother sleep in the car. That brings us to Jack Henry, the Road Runner's club President and sometimes Sergeant of Arms for the SCTA. When on dates, my mother and father would go with Jack in his roadster. It wasn't that they needed a chaperone; it was that they needed a car. This was the Great Depression and you went on a date in the most unusual manner or you didn't go at all. Drake didn't overlook Burke LeSage, a person who is always helping others, but who gets very little recognition in return. LeSage was racing before he could legally drive and he's been at it since the early 1950's. His memory is still sharp and when we want to know something, we go to Burke. I can't tell you, because no one has that good a memory, how many times Burke LeSage officiated at a memorial service, or helped a fellow racer or lobbied on their behalf. He is a member of the Dry Lakes Racers Hall of Fame and he was elected for his kindness to other racers as well as for his outstanding dry lakes records. Drake doesn't forget the men from the Pacific Northwest either. It is a region that often gets overlooked as fans of motor racing look towards the great oval tracks in the mid-west or east coast states and the drags in Southern California and stock car racing in the south. Washington state and Oregon produced their fair share of racing legends and two of them in this book are Rolla Vollstedt and Len Sutton. Both Sutton and Vollstedt wrote books detailing their lives in motor racing and their reviews are listed on the web under my Gone Racin' by-line. Sutton was a hard-driving and successful oval track open wheel racer who ran at the Indy 500 when roadsters roared. Rolla was a car builder and owner who gave many an aspiring driver a seat in his cars. Vollstedt also placed cars at the Indy 500. I just loved the stories. This alone makes the book worth adding to your library. Contact Albert Drake and see if he has a copy left. I rate this book a 6 � on the stories alone, out of a possible 8 spark plugs.
Gone Racin' is at [email protected].

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Captions:
Historic.jpg............This is the car that I am trying to find the history on for my mate Greg Kentwell. Paul Field, [email protected]  -  Click Image For Larger View

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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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