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Some Names To Look For In This Newsletter: President's Corner, Editorials, I have some very sad news EJ just called me to say that Ed Kowalski passed away today, Hi do you mind please sending everyone on your e-list a reminder to come out to "Cruisin' For A Cure" on Saturday September 25, Editor’s notes: The following is a response to Ed Justice’s question about the mystery car, I write in response to what you posted from Mike Kacsala in issue number 169 of your newsletter, I'm writing an article about the history of the SCTA for Kustoms and Hot Rod magazine, I'm selling "Tribute to Joe Reath" tee shirts as you know, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host two NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series national events, Editor’s notes: A letter was received by a Save the Crawford member who asked that his email be pulled back for the time being, Bonneville and land speed racing signs, Editor’s notes: Again the writer asked me to remove his email and the knowledge therein after my response to him was written, Tommy Ivo will be televised live from inside his home this coming Sunday August 29, I just want to let you know that Bob and I are working on a short story for you to use on your website, For the record as well as I can recall I worked for Ted Evans Triumph-Ariel in Venice California in1956, Is the Tom Medley gig the same as the Throttler’s picnic?, I dropped by Deering Industries today and Mitch the owner, offered to sell some of the shirts at his shop, Everything is looking great for this year's World of Speed to be held at the Bonneville Salt Flats between Wednesday September 15, The following schedule for 2011 was sent in by Burly Burlile, Here's a couple of photos of the shirts, I just wanted to let you know that we have 500+ pictures from Bonneville so if you wanted to mention in the newsletter, To Ron Main: Some great photos from Bonneville, Ron Main sent in a notice from eBay that Art Arfon’s Green Monster was up for sale on the auction site, Vintage Promotional Video: Andy Granatelli Setting Records in a 1963 Avanti at Bonneville, The video is of a 100% stock Avanti on pump gasoline, I read a correspondence to Dennis aXe Sylvia on some film footage on a test done at Whiteman airpark, Dave Argabright has written a new book on Speedy Bill Smith, The following comes from Burly Burlile and may have run in the SLSRH previously but several computer malfunctions have left independent records and emails unaccounted for, Here is a friend of mine checking out my full Titanium aircraft probably fuel tank, News from down under, I recently finished two books, Frank Genco here I'm an old drag racer I ran the first Winter Nationals in 1961, Juan Manuel Lozano has a very interesting website, I was the past crew chief for Ernest Nagamatsu's race team, Count me in Thanks Mike Manghell, This email address is for Dana and Jeff DesRosier, I think the car was originally conceived of by Harlan Fengler, Here's a link to a great batch of photos taken at Pebble Beach by an Australian HAMBer Jimmy B, I have been in Bonneville but it was not during the speed week I would love to go one day, September 18 2010 the Capitol Concours Tour d’Elegance Sacramento California, To Ron Main and George Poteet: Congratulations to you and your team for 2010 Hot Rod Magazine Trophy, Pat Garlits wife of Don Garlits is recovering from a recent illness, Sonny Ates had a stroke yesterday and is in the hospital Dr doesn't think it was a bad one he knew me and the girls last night they asked him what year it was and he didn't know they asked him who the president was and he told them they all looked like ladies and he didn't want to say that in front of them, Whiteman Airpark had the circle track put on it first and CRA races were ran, Gull Wing once driven by John Fitch at Bonneville
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President's Corner: Jim Miller is on assignment and will return next week.
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Editorial: A recent topic over the past few months has been the problems faced at a major historical society and museum in the Cleveland, Ohio area. I’m not mentioning the name of the people involved, because that really isn’t important. What is vital to understand is that when we donate our belongings to various groups that we need to carefully look into whether that institution is creditable and that our agreement with them is clear. Don’t rely on a goodwill hot rodders handshake and expect that the museum that you are dealing with will forever continue to honor your wishes. This isn’t a diatribe against this Ohio institution. It once had and may have again in the future, one of the greatest reputations attainable by scholars and the general public. It is unfortunate that they made some bad decisions and then compounded those bad decisions during a horrific recession. In short, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Hey, that could happen to any of us. What made this worse though was that the group in charge took a very heavy handed approach toward the staff and volunteers, refusing to consider their feelings. Now it isn’t against the law to put your fingers in your ears and whistle a happy tune while committed supporters try desperately to communicate with you, but it is rather senseless. In the long run such action will cause your volunteers, staff and donors to leave and go elsewhere. When that happens your sponsors will recoil and the general public will turn their backs on the institution. This particular museum and historical society, which by all accounts is a world class facility, needs to bring all the groups together and work on trying to undo the harm that they have done. It is simply too fine an institution to continue to be at odds with one another. But how does that affect you, the typical hot rodder who wants to donate your cars, trophies, memorabilia, collections and cash when you leave this vale of tears? One man left his cars, 140 rare and valuable cars, to a museum. Apparently he didn’t define in his agreement that the vintage and classic car collection be endowed and protected from sale. When the museum fell on hard times due to the economic recession and donors shied away from making contributions, the director and the board looked for ways to keep the doors open. They also had a huge debt to repay due to some expansion plans that went awry. The Board admitted that things went wrong and no one is blaming them for mistakes. We all make mistakes. They had a cash cow with these 140 rare and expensive cars and there was no contractual language in the gift to keep them from selling the cars and raising desperately needed funds. By this time the generous benefactor had died, but his wife was still alive and she was aghast that the museum would sell off this collection. The original intent was that this was to be this man’s legacy forever. He was to be remembered as a generous man, giving back to his home town a treasure beyond our comprehension. The ages to come would have men, women and children marveling at the effort that this man made to provide the community with this gift. The donor’s family sacrificed tens of millions of dollars that could have stayed within the family or might have supported other charities. Now this generosity was being used for purposes that the benefactor never intended and never expected to happen. His legacy was being eroded away. All of us have personal treasures that we value and want the world to have and to remember us by. Some of it represents a legacy from the very origins of the automobile. I knew my grandfather and he saw the very first car. My father knew Henry Ford and most of Ford’s competitors. A great many hot rodders are still alive today who can be called automotive pioneers or at least the sons and daughters of those pioneers and we observed and saw them. The analogy would be if we were living in the year 150 AD and we knew our parents and grandparents who walked and talked to Jesus Christ and his apostles. In fact, some of us would have been old enough to have been children when the last of the original disciples had been alive. To be that close to the beginning of a new age and be able to tell the youth of our day would have been an experience both exhilarating and exciting. So our stories, experiences and relics of the automobile age are unique and beyond any measure of wealth. To sell off those experiences and relics for money is akin to a spiritual degradation. We have a cultural treasure and we mean to see that it gets into the right hands of those who will honor and respect that heritage. Alright, enough of sermonizing; we are hot rodders and we have a talent for finding the solution to problems. What can we do? The first step is to take an inventory of what we have, both in material things and in our minds, for what we know is as valuable as what we possess. Write your biography or chronological life history. Write down your stories, which are funny, sad or mundane events in your life that tell us a story about how to live. Ak Miller had a ton of stories and I laugh every time I hear them repeated. A good story tells us everything that we want to know to FEEL what it was like at the time the event happened. Caption your photographs so that we know who, what, when, where and possibly why the photo is so important. Make a list of your possessions and name the person or group that you want to leave the objects to. Better yet, give the objects away as you get older, so that you know that these relics are getting into the right hands. You also get to see the look of gratitude and awe in the faces of the receivers. If you are giving objects to non-family and non-friends, then talk to the institution and to other people to see what they think. Now you may get the green light and everyone tells you that the museum you are going to leave your treasures to is A-1, but what about the future. Will this group continue with the same high standards or will new directors and Boards change the promises made to you? Did you sign a contract that forbids them from selling your donations? Now many museums will tell you, “We don’t accept terms, because we don’t need to, our word is our bond!” I don’t know how many times I’ve fallen for that and said, “A handshake is fine with me because I know that I’m an honorable man and I believe you when you tell me that you are honorable too.” Then they take advantage of me as fast as they can. The most dishonorable men are the ones who claim to be the most honorable of men. Honor is shown by deeds, not by words. If they won’t sign a contract then the chances are great that your collectibles will someday go on the auction block. If you don’t care and want the museum to have the money, then auction off your collectibles and just give them your money. But that’s not what 99% of car guys want. They want their life to be remembered forever for the achievements that they accomplished in life, not to be piecemeal sold at auctions. Here’s another caveat to warn you of trouble. Maybe you were the greatest roundy-round racer of your day and won a lot of races and your car and trophies look great in the museum that you donated your possessions to, but along comes Parnelli Jones, Rodger Ward, Danny Oakes, Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty and they bestow their cars to the museum. The director doesn’t have any room or manpower to handle all these new treasures and the Board of Directors is nagging him to reduce the museum’s debt. What can he do? The answer is to prioritize; who’s the best, brightest and biggest stars of the museum’s collection? It used to be you, but it isn’t you anymore. Your cars and trophies are now second tier, with some value, but clearly not worthy to be displayed any longer. The annual auction is coming up and you didn’t sign a contract specifying that your collection cannot be sold. Are you surprised when a friend of yours calls to tell you that the Museum got 100 grand for your sprint car last night at the yearly auction. You charge down to the director and scream at him, “But you promised me that you were an honest man and we had a handshake deal, remember?” He tells you a hundred sob stories, how his wife mistreats him, how the dog has colic, how the Board of Directors makes his life a misery, but what he is saying is, “Sorry Charlie.” What about your trophies and memorabilia you ask. Well they are now owned by the museum and he isn’t authorized to make a “gift” of them back to you. Out of luck again, aren’t you? They’ll go to the next auction. If you don’t care and just want the museum to prosper and grow and you don’t care if they sell your items, then it’s no big deal. But is that really how you feel? Get it in writing and have a lawyer look for loopholes or your treasures may be toast. Most museums are really great repositories of history and they take great care of your artifacts. But all museums have their space limitations and they all need money. It’s our job to help them raise money or they can’t survive and our artifacts have no home to go to. In conclusion, think carefully how and where you want to give away your possessions.
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I have some very sad news. EJ just called me to say that Ed Kowalski passed away today. EJ found Ed at home when he failed to return after lunch. Ed raced everything from dirt cars to front motor top fuel cars. He had match raced thru the 1960's, racing everybody including Big Daddy. EJ started working in his shop at age 8. Ed and EJ just returned from Bonneville after setting a record, their first in 22 years of trying. Glen Barrett Glen: Could you do a bio on Ed Kowalski so that we can publish it in the SLSRH?
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Dynodon: Hi, do you mind please sending everyone on your e-list a reminder to come out to "Cruisin' For A Cure" on Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 7 am to 5 pm at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, California. It is truly the "save your life" car show and any man 40 years and older can get a free prostate cancer screening too and see more than 3500 cars. As of today, August 25th we are at 1842 pre-registered cars! We have well over 200 TOP vendors attending, live music, fun for the entire family all day. They can visit www.cruisinforacure.com or email me. Thank you. Debbie Baker ----------- Debbie wrote a knock out letter that we used to get AB-1740 Hobbyist SCV Bill thru the Assembly. I believe her letter was a major factor in getting the 2 to 1 Floor Vote in favor. Debbie is asking for our help promoting her car show. ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER! Keep the Faith & Spread the Word. "Dyno" Don B. Editor, the Faithful Net. ----------- I started Cruisin' For A Cure 11 years when my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1996. He fought the battle for 12 years and lost him in early 2009 and he missed the 10 year anniversary show of Cruisin' For a Cure unfortunately. I am bound and determined to find a cure for prostate cancer, but in the meantime, we save lives every single year by offering the FREE prostate cancer screenings. Last year we tested a record 1,153 men and 153 men were told see your doctor ASAP. We started out with 6 known survivors and more than 300 men (that have actually admitted they are survivors --- some men embarrassed and not sure why) but over 300 men will be wearing their blue prostate cancer survivor shirts at the show for the 1:30 at the stage photo all together. When an unknown man or his wife walks up out of the blue and says "thank you for saving my life because of Cruisin' For A Cure" and that is what keeps me going like the energizer bunny! Major sponsors include Meguiar's, AAA of Southern California, Lucas Oil, Prolong, MagnaFlow, FIRESTONE, NADAguides.com, Edelbrock, Budnik, Orange Coast Dodge Jeep Chrysler, Connell Chevrolet, Centerline, just to name a few. Also Dave McClelland will be our master of ceremonies, Casey Simpson will be there to sing at noon until 1:30 country western and The Answer to Classic Rock and Roll will open the show at 9 am and play all day great music. Free prostate cancer exams from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. no appointment necessary. Just come down to the OCFair and Event Center on Sat. Sept. 25th - gates open at 7 am and a simple test that takes less than 10 minutes that could save your life. For more information contact me at [email protected] or www.cruisinforacure.com and monies raised go to City of Hope for prostate cancer research. Debbie Baker
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Editor’s notes: The following is a response to Ed Justice’s question about the mystery car. A race car or land speed car possibly from a movie made in the 1930’s, ‘40’s or ‘50’s. I don't recall ever seeing pix of this car but agree that it is most likely something built for a motion picture. The dudes in the photo look foreign to my eyes...and the fact the car is named "Falcon" gives a lot of creditability to that statement. The copyright label "Falcon" applied to a motor car is owned by Chrysler Corp. who licensed Ford to use it for their line of compact cars in the 1960s. There was a Chrysler concept car named "Falcon" from the 1950s or early 60s. One was on display for a long time in the salon at The Petersen Museum. Dusty Brandel shot a picture of me standing next to it. When we were building the "Shrike" Indy Cars at Halibrand Engineering in 1963, Ted wanted to name the car the "Halibrand Falcon" (not to my honor but because the falcon is the national symbol for Poland...and Ted was Polish). He had the Patent Attorney search the copyrights and found that Chrysler owned the name and would not license its use on a race car. So I got the job to find a new name and discovered the shrike which is a small bird of prey indigenous to North America. That worked well because our car was quite small and very light and in the face of the British imports, was pure American. I recall an old Ava Gardner movie (perhaps starring with Bogart) where her character was involved with a guy who was killed in the process of establishing a new land speed record. The car crashed on a run on the beach sands of somewhere in France. Perhaps that subject car was featured in the European version of the film. Bob Falcon Bob: I checked the 1997 Movie encyclopedia for both Ava Gardner and Humphrey Bogart and came up with a blank. No movie was listed where they raced in a land speed car. There was one movie in which Bogart was a test pilot with the usual crash and die scene, but no cars.
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I write in response to what you posted from Mike Kacsala in issue number 169 of your newsletter. The "SavetheCrawford" website referenced in this issue asks: "Will 40 or 50 cars represent Fred and Kay's dream?" I have been unable to locate any information published by the Western Reserve Historical Society or the PD that would support this statement. There does not appear to be any information coming from the Society that indicates that they intend to reduce the number of cars in the collection to "40 or 50 cars." Indeed, I cannot find any information that indicates that the Society intends to reduce the number of cars below where it stands are this point in time. Perhaps the publishers of the "SavetheCrawford" website would disclose the source of this information? Sincerely, Gregg A. Simpson Gregg: I will post your letter in the newsletter for a response from those in Cleveland who have an interest in the Crawford car collection and the museum where they are located. Also, I will refer this email on to Michael Kacsala, who can contact the members of the SavetheCrawford group. The SLSRH is a confederation of automotive and straight-line racing historians. Our members represent both the professional and amateur historians of the sport and have an interest in saving the history and heritage of automotive racing. For some people the trials and tribulations of this economy and how it is affecting our nation's museums is boring. But for our members this is a critical and important subject, for it determines the health of our ability to maintain archives and research sites. While the comments and editorials have been pointed, they are meant to get at the heart of an issue. Also, though it is a local issue, reserved for the people of Cleveland and the surrounding communities, who have to support this fine institution, we are concerned too. The reason that people around the country and even those in foreign lands are concerned is the precedent that it sets; to sell off cars because they have higher value. I have stated before that the Board of Directors have every right to operate the museum as they see fit, as long as they do so in a legal fashion. No one has questioned that the Board and their director has the right to sell off objects to meet their stated goals. The objection to the decisions of the board and the director of the museum has been in the way that they have handled or mishandled opposition to their decisions. In selling off cars from the Crawford collection, the museum is not destroying the cars, but merely transferring ownership and possession to another source. The SLSRH is not opposed to the buying, selling or donating of collections from one source to another, for in most cases that is the only way to protect objects from neglect or destruction. But this is a worrisome sign as it indicates a problem with the facility and makes future donors, fans, citizens of the area and the general public suspicious. It may also send cars from an open source to a private collector who ends our ability to view, research, photograph and write on the object. It is akin to a transfer of the Rosetta stone from the public arena to a hidden collection and the loss is deeply felt. Due to the concerns of the museum's volunteers, who do so out of intense loyalty, it is highly recommended that the director strive to alleviate this unease. These volunteers are the foot soldiers and dedicated followers that turn the museum of stone and steel into a building of humanity of heart and life. They may claim, rightly or wrongly, for estimates are estimates, that the collection will fall from 140 vehicles to 40 or 50, while the Board has a different number in mind. This is simply a numbers disagreement between two sides of an issue. Neither the SavetheCrawford group or the Board of Directors can say with finite authority that the Crawford collection will end up being slightly reduced or viciously savaged. The SLSRH really has no say, nor would we try and tell either the museum or the dissidents what to do in their area and with their facility and collections. But we can and will put forth a view that there are several problems that are troubling to us. One is that there is no consensus among the disputing parties and this can only lead to serious long term repercussions in the community. The second is that the auctions cannot guarantee that historical objects will not go into private hands where they will be hidden from legitimate research by interested historians. In conclusion, you have every right to contest the estimates of the SavetheCrawford group and they have the right to conclude that the sale of cars in the Crawford collection may continue. This is free speech even if it is conjectural. The Society of Land Speed Racing Historians is concerned with one point; that the dialog with the museum and with the volunteers lead to valid and accurate points. Why? Because museums are integral to the purposes and goals of all historical societies and the health of museums is a paramount point of interest to all historians. We cannot prosper without museums and they do poorly without us.
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I'm writing an article about the history of the SCTA for Kustoms and Hot Rod magazine. The article will probably appear in their December issue that comes out early October (the editor makes that call but it should be in that time frame). As a follow-up, I will be attending El Mirage this year (for the first time) and doing an article on the meet that will run the month after the SCTA article. I've gathered several books (The Birth of Hot Rodding, The All-American Hot Rod and Hot Rod Chronicle) as well as information from the various websites and have much of the article finished. I have sufficient information about the SCTA until the early 1950's and then in the 1980's/'90's including information about the Save The Salt program but I have a void as to the SCTA between those time. Can you supply me with some information such as the growth during that time frame, accomplishments of the organization or any specific information that you believe the readers would enjoy. I typically send 12-15 photos with every article. Is it possible to send me photos of anything associated with the SCTA (the SCTA logo would be great) along with some vintage shots of tech inspectors checking cars, volunteers in timing towers, some cool shots of cars at El Mirage and Bonneville etc? If you don't have photos, can you suggest someone to me? I will, of course, credit whoever is responsible for the photos. I appreciate any help you might be able to give me. I have attended Bonneville 3 times and am hooked. I look forward to El Mirage and I want to let my readers know about the good work that the SCTA does. If possible, can the information be provided by Friday? If you have any questions, I can be reached at 586-260-3291 (eastern time). Best Regards Joe Babiasz Joe: The next issue of the SLSRH Newsletter doesn't come out until the middle of next week and you need to make some phone calls because most guys don't work their emails every day. Some hot rodders may have some photographs that they can send you digitally, but most of us deal in old photos and it takes time to process those. The typical approach is to go to the home and borrow the photos for a few days, then have them made. Since you are rushing for a deadline, then digital photos are your best bet and those from people who were active in the time span that you are talking about. What makes it so hard is that the SCTA and other land speed timing associations fell on hard times as drag racing started to develop as a sport. Land speed racing is usually held at a distant and difficult place to reach, simply because there aren't very many good courses and we have to be far enough away from people so as to not bother them and for them not to bother us. We also need a long course and that was impractical in the cities. Drag racing changed all that and land speed racers, hot rodders and young men in high schools found this new sport to be what they were looking for. The result was a disastrous decline in land speed racing associations and they merged in a desperate attempt to survive. Most simply disappeared and the only remaining one was the SCTA. The Southern California Timing Association even had to change and adopt stock cars and sedans along with their cherished roadster racing. Racers and spectator attendance plummeted and if it weren't for dedicated men like Julian Doty, Jim Lindsley and others, even the SCTA would have faded away. The resurgence began around the late 1980's as men who had left the sport to raise families slowly started to return. A few younger people also found the sport, but the average age in the 1940's had been around 20 or 21, now skyrocketed to around 50 to 60 and has stayed high ever since. Jim Miller and I call the 1955 to 1980 period 'The Dark Ages' of land speed racing. The 1960's saw a Bonneville jet/streamliner war, but this was an independent group who found their own timers and sanctioning body.
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I'm selling "Tribute to Joe Reath" tee shirts as you know. And I didn't sell as many as I would have liked at Bonneville, so I have a fairly large inventory on hand. Can I put a small ad in your newsletter, or on your Events page? Jim Snyder Jim: The Society of Land Speed Racing Historians (SLSRH) is non-commercial at this time so we don't take ads per se. But we do take any and all news items and so your request to sell your t-shirts is acceptable to us, and you can do so as often as you wish. What you need to do is send us a photograph of the t-shirt with an explanation or background history. Tell us all that you know about Joe Reath, why you are doing this, the cost and where our readers can purchase the t-shirts. I would also suggest that you take out an ad in several of the fine land speed racing newsletters and newspapers, such as The Bonneville Racing News and The SCTA Racing News. Another source would be to contact Mary Ann Lawford at [email protected], who is the owner of our website www.landspeedracing.com and www.hotrodhotline.com and see if she will accept a paid ad in the larger HotRodHotLine website. If this is a fundraiser for Joe and Delma Reath then the website might waive or give you a reduced rate. Websites usually only charge a small fraction of what a magazine or newspaper would charge. You will find two options open to you in doing this; one the reaction will be disappointing and you won't pursue it further when the t-shirts are sold, or two, you may end up ordering more shirts to meet the demand. Joe and Delma are wonderful people and pioneers of the sport of racing.
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The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host two NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series national events. The two 2011 NHRA event dates in Las Vegas will be April 1-3 (12th annual NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals) and Oct. 27-30 (11th annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals). The April 1-3 event will feature fireworks and also will mark the return of nighttime qualifying sessions. John Bisci
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Editor’s notes: A letter was received by a Save the Crawford member, who asked that his email be pulled back for the time being. My response though is not contingent on his request for confidentiality, which I will always honor. The issue is critical and I give it a lot of publicity, because museums and the way they operate are very important to historical societies like ours. Here is my response to his email. --------------- First of all I know that whatever I publish and my responses to it gets back into general circulation. My father and I have spent something like 80 years in all creating organizations, reunions, events and also helping others with their activities. I also represent a volunteer society called the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians and so I must weigh what I say carefully, because it reflects on them as well. It is not easy to avoid libel and slander when people are in the midst of a divorce or argument. In effect, the volunteers and the Board of Directors are in this ugly divorce. I say the Board because they hire and fire the Director. As difficult as it may be for the director to work with you and for your group to work with her, the power lies with the Board. There is always the occasion for people to argue and fight over the wrong issues. I was the founder of the Boat Racers Reunion, which was more of a historical society and presented awards to honorees. There was a tremendous amount of infighting and disagreement and it never ended. So whether it is a volunteer or a professional organization, there will be hard feelings on a constant basis. Certainly it was so in my family. When I mentioned to my father on the day he became a grandfather for the first time that his grandson was named in his honor, he replied that the first and middle name was the same as the lawyer who was suing him. Peace simply does not exist in organizations. That said, we must look at several important topics. Whatever is said by all parties must not be libelous or slanderous. It must also not be mean spirited, for the moment that happens we lose the high moral ground and our arguments become weakened. But we can and should put forth our free speech to add, subtract or dispute the other views arrayed against us. That's why I say such things as “it is regrettable that the Board and Director does not sit down and try and understand those that oppose them.” I phrase it as an opinion, not as a fact. That is why I state for the record that the Director, who has been authorized by the Board, has the right to sell, buy, dispose of or conduct any lawful business that he/she has the right to do so. That's why I do not blame the director of the museum in question, because his/her power comes from the Board; it is not vested in him/her by his/her own designs. It isn't easy being a board member. I was a board member on many organizations and it is always difficult. If the Board at your museum is acting within legal grounds, then the members of the Save the Crawford group have little recourse except by lawful and civil persuasion and communication. Now the museum and the historical society in the Cleveland area are renowned for a lot of things and not simply for automotive reasons. Like the Petersen Automotive Museum, it too has political structures within itself and the greater community. Pete Petersen used his fortune to buy the old department store in Los Angeles and create a world class automotive museum, which he donated to the City Los Angeles to add to their other fine museums. In short order the political elites of the other museums began to take over the operating revenues for their own usage. Eventually Petersen realized that the politics would doom his museum and he bought back the museum and ran it under his own Board. Yes, they are selling off the cars from the Crawford collection. Do we know if they are selling off frontier muskets, powderhorns, farm tools, blankets, hats, and various other non-automotive collections to raise operating money and reduce their debt? To this point the only notice has been that cars have been sold off and neither side in this dispute has mentioned the sale of other collectibles. When a vintage and rare car can be auctioned off for $500,000, more or less, that has an impact on the reduction of debt and the raising of revenue. How many frontier hats, bowie knives, farm tools or old horse blankets would you have to sell to raise that sort of money? Perhaps I am farther away and can see this in a different light, but when an institution is struggling the sense of desperation will drive them to do things that do not seem rational to the common man, but which may be their only recourse. This is similar to lay-offs in a company. Who do you fire and why? I've seen some absolutely inane decisions by management and they are inane only because I did not know what their reasoning was. If I had access to their knowledge then maybe I wouldn't be so critical of their decision and therein lies the answer to this enigma. It isn't about selling off the cars, for the cars are about the only valuable assets that the museum can sell when the collector's market is dead. What this is all about is the inability or unwillingness of the institution to bring the volunteers together and discuss the options. By law, the museum or historical society is not obliged to tell anyone anything. But common sense tells us that their way of operating is unwise. The down side to all of this is that each person they tend to anger and drive away is one less ally and one more enemy. The few emails that I have received from the backers of the Board and directors have been civil, if blunt, though in a defensive way. Their views are welcome here, but by reacting in a defensive manner they drive away support from their cause. If indeed they have only one cash cow, then tell us so, but by refusing to interact with the community and the press they create the impression that they are not being fully honest with us. I think that the Save the Crawford group must accept the fact that your options are limited and that the collection may be gone one day, for when each car is so valuable, it becomes a temptation to sell them that is very hard to resist. The director and the Board are going to get criticized by blanket makers if they sell off that collection. Should they sell off their genealogical records? When my father created the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in 1998, he got the lease on the old building that housed the quilt collection for the Los Angeles Fairplex. There are a lot of quilting wives in drag racing's ranks and we felt really bad about taking away their site. But they couldn't generate the revenue that we could and the Fairplex made the switch in an instant. Now the situation is just the opposite; the cars mean money, but only if they are sold. I hope the museum Board and the volunteers can resolve this issue, but if you can't then the future looks grim for the car collection.
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Bonneville and land speed racing signs can be found on www.pasttimesigns.com or call 619-562-5264 or email [email protected].
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Editor’s notes: Again the writer asked me to remove his email and the knowledge therein after my response to him was written. Readers, this is cumbersome for me, as I spend a lot of time in putting the newsletter together, so please write personal and confidential on your emails. But if you have second thoughts, I would rather know that so that I can remove your email rather than cause an embarrassment. Here is my response to this man’s letter. You will have to read between the lines to ferret out the content of his email message to the SLSRH Newsletter. ------------ Your points are well taken. The current issue of the SLSRH has a large amount devoted to the problems of the museum and historical society in general. It's important to separate out the charges, list them and answer them as well as we possibly can. First is the question of legality and unfortunately the museum has sold off items not protected by legal clauses in the donation agreement between the Crawford's and the WRHS. We all want museums to thrive, for where can collections go if there are no museums or archives to house them. But it is expensive to keep museums open, especially if the donor base dries up and this has happened for two reasons; one the economy and two the actions of the Board. There may have been mismanagement. I believe the current Board has alluded to that happening, but was it criminal or negligent and I don't think that can be proven. Therefore the mismanagement is simple errors in decision making and the courts will not intercede. Boards of corporations make good and bad decisions all the time and the proper response of the political governing bodies are to replace the Boards if they do a bad job and reward them if they do an excellent job. It is also true that most museums are sitting on treasure troves of valuable collectibles, but this economy is so bad that many collectibles are terribly depressed. Antique and vintage cars on the other hand are still commanding good prices and have for as far back as the 1980's, with apparently no end in sight. One of the problems may be and I can't tell you for a certainty, is that the Crawford's may not have endowed the collection, that is donate a sizable amount of money to ensure that the collection is never broken up. Now if I owned 140 antique and vintage automobiles valued at some $50 million dollars and decided to give it to a museum to be held in perpetuity in the name of my wife and myself, I would word the contract in just such a way that if the collection is broken up, then the endowment would be returned to my estate as well as the remaining cars and the amount that the sold cars commanded. I imagine that the heirs of the Crawford’s' are aghast at this. They won't inherit any of that wealth and they won't get the status that the Crawford collection accrues to their family honor. But whose fault is that? I've railed and ranted with hot rodders and car guys to do things the legal way and eschew the old "handshake" agreements. Do they listen? No, they never do, but they do come back to me later and whine and moan about how they have been taken advantage of. Museums are vast money pits that can exist only if there are viable sponsors and the reduction of the Crawford collection by the Board and the Director will have a substantial effect of weakening that sponsor support. Right now all racing and automotive endeavors are under severe financial restraints as sponsors are fleeing the market place and finding cheaper ways to allocate their advertising. The Board may make you feel like it is the volunteers that are causing this, but it is a vapid argument and indefensible in any court of law or public opinion. They have only themselves to blame. But this lack of sponsor support is due to the economy just as much as it is due to any problems that the Board or the Director has caused. We can't be too severe on the volunteers or the Board. It is a tough time for everyone. The Save the Crawford group has found out that they cannot stop the sales and auctions and that the community is largely silent, meaning that options are limited. This being the case and the law being the law, then the only viable recourse is a change of thought and action by the Board, or a new Board due to the actions of those who control the Board. If they fail to act, then they are in agreement and your hands are tied. My suggestion is to have someone represent your group who has status in the community and try and work out a plan that would protect what cars are left. Failing in that I would suggest that the volunteers transfer their allegiance to another museum or historical society that knows how to treat people well and in return, receive the loyalty and hard work that your group is well known for. Let this be a lesson to all donors to think carefully before donating their lifelong collections to any institution.
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Tommy Ivo will be televised live from inside his home this coming Sunday, August 29, on Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain. The live segment will be on Speed Channel sometime during the 6 PM hour, Pacific Coast Time. John Ewald
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I just want to let you know that Bob and I are working on a short story for you to use on your website. I still have some fine tuning on the story. Have a wonderful day! Thanks for your interest, and e-mails too. Lynn and Bob McCoy Lynn: I hope the readers of the website will buy your book, because it is a fascinating story of a man well known as a racer and as an automotive racing artist. I will gladly publish your short story in our newsletter at www.landspeedracing.com.
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For the record, as well as I can recall, I worked for Ted Evans Triumph-Ariel in Venice, California in1956. The former mechanic was Rod Koski and he had left Ted’s and was replaced by Pat Patterson. I was hired as Patterson’s underling. Charley Hayden managed the shop, with a very nice man Art (and I can't remember his last name) as parts man and shop front representative. Somewhere in early '56 as I remember the sport of motorcycle ice hockey was presented at the Southgate Ice Arena. There were two teams competing against each other, with the teams formed on the evenings of the event. I do not recall who promoted the event but wouldn't be surprised if it was Bill McKay, who promoted the flat track races at Gardena Stadium. The bikes were Triumph Tiger Cubs which had both tires equipped with "spikes." The bikes were fitted with protective formed steel rod fenders that almost reached the ice surface to protect the riders’ legs in case of contact. I do not remember if the bikes were supplied and modified by Johnson Motors, the Triumph importer located in Pasadena. Being a bike junkie I was allowed to come along as Pat Patterson's backup mechanic for any maintenance required during the event though none was ever needed. I believe that when Pat and I arrived at the arena the bikes were already there, unloaded and ready to go. After the event they were loaded back on a truck for return to wherever they came from. This only lasted several meets and was discontinued due to lack of public support. Probably racers or riders of pre-Ascot Park days might be able to spread more light on the subject. What I wish to find out is: how were the tires "studded?” I know how they do it today but don't believe they had the self-tapping screws at that time. I was and am still fairly observant and can't believe I didn't take note of it at the time. If any of you old guys (I'm 76) that could give me the information, please take the time to do so, I'm trying to assemble an early Goldstar into an ice racer and am stumped. Dick Holt [email protected]
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Is the Tom Medley gig the same as the Throttler’s picnic? Do you have the information on the Throttler’s Picnic on October 3, 2010? Dave Seely Dave: I haven't been told by anyone about the Throttler's picnic. Tom Medley's party is an RSVP sort of event and you would need to contact Dick Martin who is hosting it. Martin is looking for anyone who knows or worked with Medley. I can't tell you the qualifications for attending and you should email Dick to see if you can get an invite.
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I dropped by Deering Industries today and Mitch, the owner, offered to sell some of the shirts at his shop. He is located on Cherry across the street from where Reath Automotive was for many years. He worked for Joe and Delma before buying Deering. Jim Snyder Jim: I'll post photos of the t-shirt and any contact information that you want prospective buyers to reach you at. Tell us all that you remember about Joe and Delma Reath and Reath Automotive. Also, give us some background on Mitch, his last name, and his business, Deering Industries. Send some photos of the two shops as well. Joe Reath knew so much. I called him often with a question and he always knew the answers. He was an expert on the west side around Long Beach. He knew all the car guys over there.
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Everything is looking great for this year's World of Speed to be held at the Bonneville Salt Flats between Wednesday, September 15, 2010 and Saturday, the 18th. I wanted to remind those who may not be able to join us on the salt as racers or spectators that there are three more races to be run where 36hp Challenge cars can compete following Bonneville. Both the ECTA on the east coast and the Mojave Mile on the west coast have events on September 25-26th and the ECTA will also have a final event October 30 and 31. Join them if you can. See http://www.ecta-lsr.com/. This will be at Maxton North Carolina in September and October. Another website is http://www.mojavemile.com/. This is at Mojave, California in September. Dave McCoombs has found that Cip1 has in stock some 145 SR 15 Nankang front tires. These are legal to 99 MPH when installed on 36hp Challenge cars raced in the USFRA World of Speed 130 MPH Club competition and are slightly smaller diameter than stock which will help lower the front end of your VW. I will also attach other tire source information above that may be of help. See www.cip1.com, or call 1-800-313-3811 and ask for Chris or Bill. The part # is 899-c10-6650 Nankang 145/SR 15" $79.95 (S Rated-O.K. for up to 99 miles per hour cars at World of Speed only on 36hp Challenge VW's). PIT LOCATION for VW racers! World of Speed is now only two and a half weeks away. For all of those coming out to race or spectate, we will try to set up our pits toward the north end, hopefully along the east side where we can watch the high speed cars go down course. Look for a VW flag (if I can sort some kind of a flagpole) at our location and would welcome all VW based racers (both 36hp and big block 130 Club) to try and pit together for both support and camaraderie. As of today, August 28th, we could have as many as 20 VW racers competing so this WOS is going to be special. Pray for no rain to dampen our spirits and for those coming out, drive careful and be prepared for a great time. Should anyone have any questions, please contact me and I will do my best to answer or direct your queries to the proper source. Burly Burlile
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The following schedule for 2011 was sent in by Burly Burlile: March 8-12, 2011 SpeedWeek Australia (36hp Challenge). Lake Gairdner, Australia. Annual rodders land speed event (no facilities-very isolated). Volkswagen racers welcome. For information, visit http://www.dlra.org.au/. For 36hp Challenge guideline information visit www.burlyb.com. March 14, 2011 Top Gun Run (36hp Challenge). Miami, Florida. Event runs on the Dade-Collier Airport with additional events to be posted as they become available. Volkswagen racers welcome. For information, visit http://www.topgunrun.com. For 36hp Challenge guideline information visit www.burlyb.com. March 26-28, 2011 The TEXAS MILE (36hp Challenge). One mile standing start time trial, Goliad AFB, Goliad, Texas. All VW racers and spectators welcome. For information visit [email protected]. For 36hp Challenge guideline visit www.burlyb.com. Oct 22-24; Second date/same information. Apr 10-11, 2011 East Coast Timing Association (36hp Challenge). One mile standing start time trial, Maxton AFB, Maxton, North Carolina. All VW racers and spectators welcome. For information visit www.ecta-lsr.com. For 36hp Challenge guideline visit www.burlyb.com. May 22-23, Jun 26-27, Sep 25-26 and Oct 30-31 is the same information. July 30-31, through August 1, 2011 Loring Timing Association (36hp Challenge). One and one half mile standing start time trial, Loring AFB, Limestone, Maine. All VW racers and spectators welcome. For information visit [email protected]. For 36hp Challenge guideline information visit www.burlyb.com. September 15-18, 2011 World of Speed (130 MPH Club and 36hp Challenge). One mile standing start time trial (along with unlimited top speed streamliners and hot rods on the long eight mile course) at the world famous Bonneville Salt Flats, Wendover, Utah. All VW racers and spectators welcome. For information visit www.saltflats.com. For 36hp Challenge guideline information visit www.burlyb.com. Pit set-up and tech inspection begins September 14th. September 25-26, 2011 The Mojave Mile (36hp Challenge), Mojave, California. This will be their second event for the Southern California/Nevada area. Volkswagen racers welcome. For information, visit http://www.mojavemile.com. For 36hp Challenge guideline information visit www.burlyb.com. September 24-27, 2011 SpeedWeek South Africa (36hp size classes available). Verneukpan, Boesmanland, South Africa. Inaugural annual land speed event. All Volkswagen racers and spectators welcome. For information visit http://www.speedweek.co.za/. For 36hp Challenge guideline information visit www.burlyb.com. QUESTIONS? Please contact Burly Burlile at [email protected] or call 435-752 4359 after 7pm, M.S.T.
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Here's a couple of photos of the shirts, Two designs, either the ‘Click to See Dragin Parts' or ‘Click to see Crankshaft' on the back, and the same 'Tribute to Joe Reath' on the front. We have all sizes available. If you are in Long Beach, Mitch at Deering Industries has some for sale. Deering Industries, 3300 Cherry Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807 He is just a block or two North of the 405 on the Right, opposite the Yamaha dealer where Reath Automotive was for so many years. Or just give me a call Jim Snyder at 714-726-0844, or email [email protected]. Gary from Pro Motion Tees did the art work for the tee shirts (he donated his time for this by the way). Reath Automotive was the THE place to get your crankshaft and other machine work done. Joe's machine shop worked on all motors, but the flat heads and the hemis were his specialties. They also had a full parts counter, and enjoyed being in a prime location on Cherry in Long Beach near the Long Beach airport, and Douglas Aircraft company, where I worked. Joe sponsored several cars, including several "Dunn and Reath" altereds, dragsters, funny cars, you name it! I first met Joe when I dropped by on my lunch hour to pick something up, and I asked the chap at the counter how many times a block's mains can be line-honed before the timing chain became too loose? Well Joe overheard the conversation and invited me into his office. That was the first of many trips to Joe's office where I learned a tremendous amount on how to build and tune a motor, not to mention all of Joe's stories! Boy could he tell some stories! I later gave him a photo of my car taken on the Salt, and he hung it up in his office! I was impressed! But Joe was always very generous and helpful to the 'hobby racer'; the ones struggling to participate in this great sport. Ed Stuck told me that Joe once gave a racer, who he didn't know from Adam, his credit card so he could buy gas and get back home with his race car. This guy had spent his last dime just to get there and compete, so Joe helped him out. That's a little about who Joe Reath is, and if you were lucky enough to have met him, you would understand why Ed Stuck and I are selling tee shirts to help Delma and Joe out today! Joe's health is failing, and he and Delma are at home there in Long Beach. They closed the doors to the business a couple years ago. Jim Snyder Jim: Send me updates on your progress. Readers: Buy a Joe Reath t-shirt to honor one of our great pioneers in automotive racing.
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I just wanted to let you know that we have 500+ pictures from Bonneville so if you wanted to mention in the newsletter at www.hotrodhotline.com. We do have a link on the main page. It is www.Hotrodhotline.com/feature/2010show/. That is where you'll find it. Thanks, Mary Ann Lawford Mary Ann: I looked at the photographs and they are fantastic. Did your son take them? The pictures have captured the essence of Bonneville 2010.
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To Ron Main: Some great photos from Bonneville. I've finally had a chance to catch up with the results - many congratulations on some great speeds! You must be delighted that the car is now doing what you thought it would. I'm only sorry that I wasn't here to see it this year - but we've got plans to be there next year if at all possible. How about you? Faster still? Well done again. Please pass my congratulations on to George when you next speak. 4 club - way to go! Andy Green
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Ron Main sent in a notice from eBay that Art Arfon’s Green Monster was up for sale on the auction site. The opening bid was for a minimum $199,000 and it did not receive any bidders. Does anyone know who owns the car and the reasons for the sale?
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Vintage Promotional Video: Andy Granatelli Setting Records in a 1963 Avanti at Bonneville. See http://www.bangshift.com/index.php?id=3935&searched=andy+granatelli&highlight=AS_ajax_highlight+AS_ajax_highlight1+AS_ajax_highli ght2. Sent in by Andy Granatelli Andy: I'm posting this to the newsletter that I edit at www.landspeedracing.com. I thought that your official record in the Avanti was just under 200. My brother David Parks broke your record in that class at Bonneville with a time of 224. He felt very smug about that until Jerry Kugel came along with his Firebird and broke his record by 81mph. But when you set the record those were incredible times for a stock car. When my brother took your record and started to brag, I mentioned the old legends about how you had three passengers, a craftsman tool box and a dog that went along for the ride. Is that a Bonneville legend or did that really happen? Anyway, records are made to be broken, but that Avanti made quite an impression on a lot of people back in the 1960's. I don't think they've designed a more beautiful car since the Avanti.
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The video is of a 100% stock Avanti on pump gasoline. That could be bought off the showroom floor. We also had a 299 cubic inch dual supercharged Avanti named “Due Cento” (200) which ran 199+MPH and was driven by my brother Joe. Everything in your story is true except for the dog. Thank you for posting it to your newsletter and for being my friend. Sempre amore, Andy Granatelli Andy: I was sure that you just missed the 200 mph club with your run. My brother spent more than ten years trying to break your record, which I am sure would have been a bit tougher if you had made your runs without the toolbox. How did the SCTA/BNI allow you to have passengers on your run, or was the sanctioning body some other group? Would you tell us more about the Avanti and the names of the people who rode with you on your record run? You have a lot of friends here at the website www.landspeedracing.com and we love to hear all the stories of your racing days. I met your nephew when he was racing at Irwindale Speedway in the XTreme Racing League. He was the star of that league of stuntmen turned racers and all the guys and gals in the league wanted to beat him. I don't know if it is still in operation, but it was an exciting blend of drag racing, stunt driving and daredeviltry.
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I read a correspondence to Dennis aXe Sylvia on some film footage on a test done at Whiteman airpark. I'm curious about that footage. My dad Vern Reiner had been renting a "T" hanger at Whiteman in Pacoima, California since 1948. I now lease the very same "T" hanger and have been goggling stuff related to Whiteman Airpark history. I remember my dad visiting with a friend at the hanger that had been moved to Whiteman, that had done a lot of racing at the Whiteman Stadium Track in the 1960's. Whiteman was kind of a playground to a lot of Hollywood film & studio workers mixed in with other folks in aviation from the Burbank Skunk works. How do I see that footage? Bill Reiner Bill: I will run your request in the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians newsletter and see if any of our readers know of this race course. Was it a drag strip, a circle track, road course or air race? I'm not familiar with Whiteman. You might try to find one of Harold Osmer's books, wherein Osmer discovered and wrote about Southern California race tracks. Harold is from that area and may know more about that. His works can be found at Autobooks/Aerobooks in Burbank. Since car guys are notoriously bad at writing in, I would suggest that you start a phone tree and call people in your area. As you end the conversation ask them if they could refer you to a few other people. In this way you may get some immediate results. Try Jim Miller first as he is a historian in the Burbank area and may know about Whiteman.
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Dave Argabright has written a new book on Speedy Bill Smith, called Fast Company; Sixty years of racers, rascals and rods. More information is on www.americanscenepress.com or call 317-631-0437.
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The following comes from Burly Burlile and may have run in the SLSRH previously, but several computer malfunctions have left independent records and emails unaccounted for. Editor There is a history of Volkswagen associated land speed racing before 1960 although the lines get a little blurry. Volkswagen was the brainchild of Dr. Ferdinand Porsche who brought the little Beetle to life in 1938. His land speed racing enthusiasm started thirty-eight years earlier during his first job in the infant automotive industry with Lohner, an Austrian automotive firm. His first car was called a Lohner-Porsche Mixte and with the good doctor at the wheel in 1902 he set a new Austrian land speed record of 37 miles per hour. This car also happened to be the 'very first gasoline/electric hybrid car ever produced' with electric motors in each wheel (was it also the first four wheel drive?), with each motor charged by an onboard gasoline engine. A link below offers a photo and more details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lohner-Porsche_Mixte_Hybrid, 1900 Lohner-Porsche Austrian LSR record car by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche. Dr. Porsches second land speed effort began in 1936 when he was contracted by Mercedes-Benz to design the body for the 445 (yes!) liter Messersmitt powered streamliner with a projected speed of 465 miles per hour. The car was completed in 1939 and plans to race the car on the Bonneville Salt Flats were dashed when Germany began WW2 that year. The streamliner survived the war and currently resides in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, never having turned a wheel. The link below offers many photos and details of the project: http://greyfalcon.us/Mercedes%20T80.htm, 1939 Mercedes T80 LSR Streamliner body by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche. The third land speed project undertaken by Dr. Porsche was based on the first Volkswagens produced in 1938 as prototypes. Called the Type 64, three versions of the car were handcrafted and powered by the venerable air cooled flat four we are so familiar with today. This car was a land speed racer in the mold of Marv Jenkins with long distance the goal. The below link tells the tale of these cars: http://thevolkyland.com/vw-history/porsche/175-the-porsche-type-64-the-first-porsche.html, 1938 Volkswagen Type 64 Land Speed Record car by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche. I hope this gives you some history on the Volkswagen, its creator and the land speed racing history that influenced the aerodynamic design of the little Beetle we have all become so familiar with. Burly Burlile
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Here is a friend of mine checking out my full Titanium aircraft probably fuel tank. His name is Dino Fry. You would know him from California Bill's How to Hot Rod Your Big Block Chevy and small block Chevy engine for helping out with some comments. He has built an awesome Chevy 427 for my Valkyrie. Even though it's cast iron it's still about 2000 lbs, more than I will ever need. Originally my car had in 1967 was an 800hp ZL1 with a formula 1 ZF-6 speed transaxle and it was built by Keith Black for Tom Martin. Dino now runs a Dyno shop in Redwood City. Shockingly the shop used to be the place to make agent orange during the Vietnam War. I was told that the stuff is still growing on the floors and the government picks it up once or twice a year. Dino was into the Chevrolet program I think. I will also send the picture to Roger Rohrdanz. Spencer Simon Spencer: Thank you for sending this caption and photo to Roger. He is our newsletter's new Photographic Editor and his email address is [email protected]. Roger is well-known to readers at the other website that we use; www.hotrodhotline.com. He photographs car shows and drag races. This photograph will appear in issue number 172
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News from down under. See http://www.volksculture.com. Great site for following our 36hp mates in Australia. The sites above and below are from our friends below the equator. It is currently their winter and they will race again next March. To keep abreast of their efforts, check in regularly with Volks Culture. Of particular interest is Steve Muller, currently the builder and driver of the fastest VW in OZ who is now working on a dual supercharged 36hp engine for his 2011 campaign. Sent in by Burly Burlile. --------------- G'Day Burly, please note the dates for 2011 DLRA Speed Week at Lake Gardiner are 21-25 March 2011. See http://www.dlra.org.au. Link to Australia's Bonneville racing on Lake Gairdner. Keep the shiny side up! Oz DLRA (Dry Lakes Racers Australia) webmaster. PO Box 349, Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia 3450. Phone number 03-5472-4629. International phone number 61-3-5472-4629. Fax number 03 5472 4370, and the International fax number is 61-3-5472-4370. Phone Information Line: 0435-213-785 and the International phone information line number is 61-435-213-785. Email address is [email protected]. Burly and Oz: Thank you for the information on the DLRA. I'll post it to www.landspeedracing.com. Please continue to send me current and historical information on your organizations.
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My web site is www.hotrodmotors.com. I recently finished two books, one on Bruce Geisler's 219 Studebaker and another entitled Supe Jobs; Fables and Fotos of the Dry Lakes Days. Don Pennington Don: Please send us more updates from time to time so that our readers can go to your site and see what you have to offer. Are there reviews of the books and where do they go to buy a copy?
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Frank Genco here. I'm an old drag racer. I ran the first Winter Nationals in 1961. I currently run an A Fuel dragster in the NHRA Heritage Series with my son Bill driving. We are currently getting ready for the Reunion in October. We met at Art Chrisman's Xmas party several years ago. Roger Rohrdanz introduced us. I enjoy your online Mag. Please keep it going. Frank Genco Frank and Bill: I remember going to that first NHRA Winternational, although my memory keeps playing tricks on me. After 50 of those drag races at Pomona including another 40 or so World's Finals, I find that I run those races together in my mind and come up with events that are often out of sequence. That's normal and a major reason that people keep journals and photo albums, to jog their memories and keep dates and stories in the proper sequence. That's why Roger Rohrdanz and I ask others to write their biographies and caption their photographs. Otherwise we have few memories and stories to leave to our children and grandchildren. In your case your son is with you and knows so much, but our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will not understand what we have gone through in our lives. History is often being rewritten by modern propagandists to portray a past that they want people to believe, not really what truly happened. It's vitally important for each and every one of us to record our past for our descendants and leave the history and heritage of hot rodding to the future generations. You have so much to tell us and so I'm writing to ask you if you would start on your bio and your stories from as far back as you can to the present day, and then get Bill to do the same. With your photos, have a "Caption Day" where all your family can get together and enjoy a reunion with food and your photographs. You can look at the photo and tell another person, those with the best printing, what's in the photograph; who, what, when, where, etc. Use peel off sticker labels to write on and then remove and attach to the back of the photo. Make sure the stickers are acid free and will not damage the photos. For samples of what we do go to www.landspeedracing.com and http://www.hotrodhotline.com/feature/guestcolumnists/richardscorner/. I only wish my father and uncle had written their bios. All the best at the races in October.
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Juan Manuel Lozano has a very interesting website at www.tecaeromex.com. His company is called Space Age Racing.
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I was the past crew chief for Ernest Nagamatsu's race team - 1) 1964 Cobra LeMans hardtop, 2) Old Yeller II - Max's Buick & was also a friend of Max's and 3) Spurgin-Giovanine Roadster. Thanks for newsletter up-dates! Bobby Fukumoto Bobby: Would you write your bio, stories and caption your photos. We are trying to save as much of the history as we can of auto racing and hot rodding. Our website is www.landspeedracing.com and our biographies are on www.hotrodhotline.com/guestcolumnist/RichardParks.
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Count me in. Thanks, Mike Manghelli Mike: Now that you are no longer the president of the SCTA, can we expect your biography and stories that you have accumulated over these past years? One of the problems that we face in recording history is that people tend to believe that what they know is current knowledge and is well known to all. But as time goes by and we forget to write it down that history becomes forgotten as new events and problems arise to take up our attention. We bench race with buddies, but hardly ever write those stories down. Then one day we are gone and the history is lost. That's one reason why we seem to have more knowledge of what happened in the 1930's and '40's and not as much as what happened in the 1950's through the 1980's. Also, have you captioned your photographs so that the next generation will know who is in the pictures?
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This email address is for Dana and Jeff DesRosier. Dana is Danny Oakes' daughter. Let us know if you need anything else or other contact information. Jeff DesRosier Jeff: I think that's fine, or maybe a contact phone number in case I need to reach you. I knew that your email address was a contact point for the Danny Oakes family, but the last name was lost when the computer crashed. Actually, the computer doesn't have to crash to lose information in the address book. I think that I've recopied my email address book about 4 times and I have 3000 addresses, so it takes a lot of time. Sometimes the server simply changes a program and when I open the address book there are no names there. They're all in the old program, which I can't access. Or the computer dies and even though I buy a new computer, if I haven't backed up the files, they could be irretrievable. I kept a back-up in a folder, but it doesn't allow anything but email addresses so the first and last names are gone. Another loss is where the address book allows for "nicknames." A lot of very valuable information can be placed in the nicknames box. So about every three years I'm trying to reestablish the address book. If Dana comes across any more of the history of Danny Oakes, please ask her if she would like to share it with our readers. There were few people who could equal Danny as a midget racer and mechanic.
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I think the car was originally conceived of by Harlan Fengler. For years the car used to sit along the 15 freeway between Solamint and Acton. This car was used in a movie starring James Stewart in about '38 or so. It was also used as a promo vehicle for Golden Eagle Gasoline in '41. Jim Miller Jim: I checked the movie guides and there didn't appear to be any listed movies for Jimmy Stewart from 1936 through 1946 that had any exotic car like this in it. Is Harlan Fengler the same man who was involved in a banking scandal and put money into building unlimited hydroplanes?
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I have been in Bonneville but it was not during the speed week, I would love to go one day. Is it a fixed week or it depends on the conditions of the dry lake? Here in Mexico we have two long dry lakes that are perfect for speed records too, if you have in your computer Goggle Earth you will be able to see them. One is Lago de Sayula, Jalisco and the other is La Pesca, Tamaulipas close to the border with Texas and I think La Pesca is longer than Bonneville, check it! Sincerely, Juan Manuel Lozano G. tecaeromex.com Juan Manuel: I checked the map and La Pesca has more potential for North Americans than Lago de Sayula. I'm sure that land speed racers have checked out many of the dry lakes as well as the salt lakes in Mexico and South America. The problems that they have are many; one being the difficulty in reaching them. Another problem is the current violence that is plaguing Mexico right now. There would have to be a convoy system and a supply system once the racing teams reached the playas. Bonneville has already developed the infrastructure for land speed racing and has 60 plus years of success behind them. Racers are creatures of habit and once they are in a successful rut, they stay that way until that habit fails them. But this could be an excellent opportunity for local people in and around those playas to develop their own land speed, endurance and other kinds of racing on the playas. Such a timing association could start out small with a limited number of classes and grow as they produce more and more racing meets. You have wonderful facilities and the weather looks ideal. The more meets that the timing associations hold in Mexico, the better trained the staff will be and the faster the times. I don't know the history of racing in Mexico, Central and South America. I would appreciate having a land speed fan in your country write up a report to get started on this sort of history. There will be lots of problems, but they can be overcome, because the biggest problem is a venue site to race on and it looks like Mexico is blessed with an abundance of such courses. Come up to Bonneville in August, September or October for one of the land speed races. There are two sanctioning bodies; SCTA/BNI or the Utah Salt Flats Racers Association (USFRA). Google both sites for information on their schedules, then come and witness land speed racing for yourself. Eventually I believe a home grown timing association will develop in your country and it will have a great deal of success.
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September 18, 2010 the Capitol Concours Tour d’Elegance, Sacramento, California. Thunderbirds, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo. The event is supported by SCCA-Sports Car Club of America, Lamborghini Club America, Ferrari Club of America Pacific Region-Sacramento. See http://www.shrinersconcours.com. Sent in by Cindy Meitle
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To Ron Main and George Poteet: Congratulations to you and your team for 2010 Hot Rod Magazine Trophy. When our troop chose the Speed Demon as our mascot we had no idea we had selected the most fastest and awe inspiring race car. The picture on the cover report is very impressive! It is a great honor to be associated with such great racers. Again our many thanks for having us attend the 2010 speed week. I sure we will have many return in 2011. Best wishes to you and we hope your success will continue to inspire the human spirit. Yours in scouting, Bry Davis, Council Commissioner, Great Salt Lake Council (Click for 4 RUNS OVER 400 MPH; Poteet and Main streamliner Picture Sent in by Ed Safarik)
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Pat Garlits, wife of Don Garlits, is recovering from a recent illness. Her condition is stable and her family is giving her all the necessary help that she needs. I'm sure that an email or a card would cheer up her spirits and show her how much she is a part of our racing family
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Sonny Ates had a stroke yesterday and is in the hospital, Dr. doesn't think it was a bad one, he knew me and the girls last night, they asked him what year it was and he didn't know; they asked him who the president was and he told them they all looked like ladies and he didn't want to say that in front of them. I will keep all of you updated as best as I can. Judy Ates -------------------- I am Paula Gross-Wathen, daughter of Ray Gross. Sonny Ates drove my Dad's 3/4 midget for several years so Sonny and Judy are my 'other parents'. Today I received an email from Dee Ates, their daughter, and they are moving Sonny to a nursing home today. Needless to say, Judy is devastated. Sonny has no memory now at all except that he still talks about racing! Some things just can't be erased from the memory bank!! Please keep Sonny and Judy in your thoughts and prayers and I am certain Judy will update you all as she can later on. I just wanted to pass along the information as I received it this morning. Thanks. Paula Gross-Wathen
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Whiteman Airpark had the circle track put on it first and CRA races were ran. I think Walt James designed it, according to web site http://www.wagtimes.com/lostwaltj.html. Then it got high banked and paved. A dirt track put in the middle for the Bikes that got brought in later. The movement or growth of industry in the north end of San Fernando Valley brought the workers in to live close to their jobs. They needed sleep more than play. Mr. Whiteman put the Stadium too close to the "Luxury" trailer park to the Northeast of the airport on De Foe Avenue. Plus having houses built on the hill you can see in the film footage doomed the Privileged Playground. It was fun while it lasted. Bill Reiner Bill: Have you talked to Harold Osmer. He wrote several books on race tracks in Southern California that are no longer here.
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Gull Wing once driven by John Fitch at Bonneville. Photos courtesy of Wes Potter. Click Image For Larger Views
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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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