Wally Parks Tribute Page 2


	Wally Parks 1913 - Sept 28, 2007 RIP

Dear Richard and family,
It was such a shock to hear the terribly sad news about your father on the eve of the Dry Lakes Hall of Fame Annual Gas-up. It was very poignant that the day of celebration for dry lakes racing included many conversations about Wally - as you walked among various groups of racers you could hear his name being mentioned with smiles, stories causing laughter, and sadness for his passing. He was instrumental in bringing all these people into this setting by his determination to get street racers into safer venues, being a founding member of the SCTA organization - that guides Dry Lakes Racing, and ultimately creating a need for recognition of these same racers.

Wally Parks was inducted into the Dry Lakes Hall of Fame in September 1995 which prompts me to share my "Wally Parks Story": I was new to land speed racing that year and as a member of the Gold Coast Roadster & Racing club my first official entry into this way of life was to attend my first "Gas-Up" and see and meet some of the people involved. I listened to the introduction of Wally Parks and read his biography in the program and was suitably impressed by his vast history.

A month later I was in the Rookie Line at El Mirage, awaiting my turn for my first licensing run in our POP Motorsports race team's Austin Healey Sprite Modified Sports car. Imagine my surprise when I watched another car get in the Rookie line after me - a beige 1957 Plymouth with "Hotrod Magazine Spcl" and "1960" across the side in red and Wally Parks leaning against it in a beige and red fire suit. This "Hall of Famer" was behind ME in the ROOKIE line! Again, I was suitably impressed, but this time not too shy to go up and introduce myself to him and we discussed our thoughts about the course (will it hold up?), the cross wind (will it shut the course down before we run?), the #&*%@ dust (yeah, it sure was dirty dust and gets into everything), and our nerves (yes, we were both nervous), and I asked him if he would sign our car's log book. This legend of hot-rodding and racing fame wrote: "Gail, Thanks for breaking the trail in the El Mirage Rookie line. Wally Parks". Thank you, Wally, for making it possible for me to be the land speed racer I am today!

Thank you Richard and David for continuing his legacy - historically - with his memoirs.

Gail Watson Phillips
Pismo Beach, California
POP Motorsports
Gold Coast Roadster & Racing Club/SCTA
Bonneville 200 MPH Club

Dear Richard & David,

I met your dad over 60 years ago and from that day forward, I loved and respected him more than I can express. His bravery was second to none, especially when he drove the Belly Tank at Bonneville. I know that his first love, as is mine, is and was Bonneville. He was truly a gentle giant. His accomplishments are legendary. I have never heard a single person say anything bad about your dad, only good things and more good things. I never knew him to raise his voice. I only called upon him twice to do me a favor and he did not hesitate one second to grant them. I loved him and most of all respected him for the man he was and the giant footsteps he has left behind. He lived a great life and we should all be proud of him.

Yours truly,

Andy Granatelli

Dear Richard and David Parks,
The Institute for Cancer and Blood Research (ICBR) has received a generous donation from:
Dolly and Andy Granatelli
1469 Edgecliff Lane
Montecito, CA 93108-2810
“In memory of your beloved father, Wally Parks.”
ICBR is engaged in early detection of cancer prevention. We are devoted to closing the gap between new fundamental discoveries in research and the practical and clinical application of those findings to today’s patient.
Prevention of cancer requires imagination and knowledge.
We are grateful to all of our friends for their ongoing support.
Sincerely,
Susan Kane, Administrator

Institute for Cancer and Blood Research


Dear Richard and family: I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to all of you as to the passing of your father. I currently am writing a piece for the 500 Oldtimers Newsletter that I publish the theme of which is that all of the giants who brought auto racing into the main stream of sports are now gone. Wally follows in death Tony Hulman and both of the Frances, Bill Sr. and Jr. Wally brought the U.S. Nationals to Indianapolis Raceway Park and it has evolved into the biggest event in drag racing. I got to know Wally quite well over the years and found him to be a kind and caring man with a wide-ranging vision for his sport that continued into the last days of his life. I last talked to him when my wife Pat & I attended the AARWBA banquet there at the museum in 2005. It was my great privilege to have known Wally and the others who were the true post-World War II pioneers in all forms of auto racing in the United States. Their legacies are the status of their sports in the 21st Century. -- Sincerely, Dick and Pat Mittman, Indianapolis.

	knew Wally early on. In the 50's , Wally was at the dry lakes. We had a number of early racers and car guys.Car clubs and drags were very much happening. Ran at Pomona in the beginning with a Chevy and Olds. Open at San Fernando with "the snake", TV Tommy, Sush, and Woods. Dragged raced every Sunday in the 50's and 60's. , for over 13 years straight. Held "D" gas record in Fontana for awhile. We could have not done much of any of this without Wally. Thank God I could see him each Twi- light cruise at the meausem when he was there. Stood next to him at his tribute a while back. Never a more respected and dedicated man have I met. I thank him for all he has done for the motorsports world. I'll miss him along with everybody else. Gary Ewing [aka] D.J. Gary

		On behalf of my late partner Vel Miletich’s family and of course my own, I would like to first offer our sincere condolences to all the members of the Parks family and to the NHRA for the loss of their beloved patriarch. In fact in many ways, Wally was a patriarch to all of us in almost every form of motorsports. I believe that this man, who portrayed confidence and stature, firmly instilled class and brought great respect to the sport of drag racing when it needed it most, and continued to do so until his recent passing. On personal note, Wally also took great interest in oval track racing and in particular, my career both as a driver and as a car owner with Vel. Each time he attended the Indianapolis 500 or any other race we happened to be at simultaneously, he always made it a point to seek me out and discuss current events within the racing world. Also, I could feel he was genuinely interested in what was happening in my life by asking questions that had nothing to do with racing, just two guys discussing their families and personal interests. Always, Wally acted like the gentleman he was when I was in his presence, and I cannot express more pointedly how much I truly respect the man and his accomplishments. Obviously there is no telling what would have happened to street roddding and drag racing had Wally become a doctor or an acountant instead of what became. In my mind however, no one on the planet could have forged those activities into what they are today without the vision and leadership of this icon, Wally Parks. Sincerely, Parnelli Jones


	What a loss this is to Drag Racing and the Hot Rod Hobby. I was just looking at a picture of Tommy Ivo and Wally from 1964 last week. And I thought what a (great picture) of these two Legends. He will be missed by everone who ever knew him. God Bless his family and friends. Cecil Musick in Dayton Ohio

I have just returned from a three week trip to Europe and just learned of the death of Wally Parks. I first met Wally in 1977 when were having considerable difficulty with a member club in ACCUS; the late JC Agajanian suggested that I call Wally and try to get a meeting with him for some advice. Wally immediately took my call and listened to my woes and we had quite a few - not only trouble with our Sanctioning Body but also financial troubles. He agreed to meet and we did in North Hollywood a couple of days later. He patiently listened to my story and at the end said he would make a couple of phone calls. The next day I got a phone call from the sanctioning body in question and immediately the attitude had changed - they were friendlyand wanted to resolve the differences!! I did not know Wally and had not met him before, but it was clear that he believed in what we were doing in Long Beach - it was not until a fewyears later that I came to understand the challenges he faced in getting the NHRA up and running - he clearly related to what I was trying to achieve and wanted to help... and help he did and for that I am ever grateful to him.Motor Racing around the world has lost a true friend and a great innovator - he will be missed but not forgotten.
Christopher R. Pook
Founder
Grand Prix of Long Beach.


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