Written by Thatcher Darwin, Edited by Richard Parks

There is a manila folder full of accumulated scraps that may someday become an autobiography.  There just might be something in it that relates to the Sacramento episode.  I've checked and, Voila! - xerox copies of SCTA News, February through August of 1945!  

Assemblyman Lester A. McMillan seems to have been our prime contact in the Legislature.  He represented Karl Orr's District.  M. Philip Davis was my Assemblyman in the Westwood District, but it appears that McMillan was giving us the best information.  The author of the Bills was Assemblyman Ralph Beal, not Dills.  Dills was on the Committee, but he did not write the two Bills.  The "Fender" Bill was Assembly Bill #908, "An act to add Sect. 675.1 to the California Vehicle Code."  The "Prohibited Equipment" Bill was Assembly Bill #910, "An act to add Sect 675.2 to the California Vehicle Code."  The following is exerpted from the May, 1945 issue of the SCTA News.  I'm re-keyboarding the relevant parts because the typewriter-written original was evidently printed on colored stock.  When xeroxed it became almost illegible.  The editorial announces that I will be at an informal meeting at Karl Orr's home on Sunday afternoon, May 27th, to tell about the trip to Sacramento.  The editorial continues as follows:

The Following is a letter from Mr. Darwin:

"To all members and friends: On Thursday, April 12 [Aha! Now we have a specific date] the Assembly Committee on Transportation & Commerce heard the arguments for and against Assembly Bill 908 and 910."  There followed my description of the two Bills.  "It was my privilege to represent the SCTA at the hearing and to put forth our objections to the two proposals.  Before the Committee met, I had been introduced to several of the assemblyman (sic) including Mr. Beal, the originator of the bills.  During our brief conversation, I urged Mr. Beal to withdraw the bills, pointing out that they would accomplish nothing toward correction reckless tendencies on habitual law violators, and explaining that they would be most unfair to hundreds of fellows who are furthering technical development and research.  Mr. Beal had no intention of giving up this easily and assured me that he would fight the bills through all the way."

"I was very pleased to learn that many of the other men to whom I talked realized that the proposed measures were impractical and that, as laws, they would be very difficult to enforce.  They were all strong on this point however, that street racing and other dangerous practices must stop.  I agreed with them & felt sure that I spoke for every sincere member of the Association.  The debate in Committee on the 'Hop-Up Bills' lasted 2 1/2 hours and during this time, I was able to go into much greater detail in presenting our side of the story.  The hearing ended with Mr. Burns, the Chariman, stating that the proposals were inadequate and action on the bills was postponed until Mr. Beal could re-write the bills with amendments."

"Since that time, the bills have been re-submitted and we are now waiting to hear the final outcome."  The Bills eventually died in Committee.  There's more to my letter but the above is the relevant part.  In the June issue of the SCTA News, there's an account of the meeting at Orr's house with his added information: "The trip to Sacramento cost the Association $29.35.  Money well-spent for a good cause, in fact, if it hadn't been for Mr. Darwin, the Bills might easily have been passed."

The June issue has a cartoon on the cover of Wally in his Veep and there's a long letter from Wally, (still in Manila) that ended with, "P.S. all my thanks to Thatcher Darwin for his swell work," a treasured compliment from a dear friend.  That issue also announced that I was elected Secretary in Wally's absence.  Bit by bit, these little details emerge to help us assemble a historically accurate account.

Gone Racin’ is at [email protected].