| By Richard Parks
1) EDITOR’S CORNER: The editor is recovering, slowly. I won’t know the results until the end of this week. Can’t hold my head up for long so the newsletter may be shorter. Thank you for all the kind thoughts and prayers sent my way.
Museums, Libraries, Hall of Fame Program problems continued. Negativity. It is surprising how much negativity is created when people choose whom to honor. It can’t be helped because voters (usually a small group) make a decision that the public may not agree with. Some programs are confronted with cheating, such as the steroid question in baseball where records were improved through unfair means. Voters are human too and they do their best to weigh all the evidence before casting their votes. This is a major reason why the programs that I ran emphasized “Honorary Awards” rather than “Hall of Fame.” It was easier on me, but the public considers the correct honors program to be called a “Hall of Fame, the Best and the Brightest Stars to be honored.” AND: All links in the newsletter need to be copied and pasted into your browser in order to work
2) PASSINGS: Longtime NHRA Funny Car racer Mike Van Sant passed away January 6, 2024. Starting almost from the onset of the class in the mid-to late-1960’s, “Mighty Mike” had a long list of successful rides in high-profile cars, including driving for Mickey Thompson, Stone, Woods & Cooke, and Roland Leong. He started out partnering with Glen Solano on a Corvette-bodied car called “Invader,” a name that Van Sant would use for decades while driving his own race cars, which he began doing in earnest in the mid-1970’s after years of being a hired driver, continuing through the mid-1980’s before retiring. NHRA updates.
8/25/2024 Statement of Acknowledgement from the Family of Alex Xydias. “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, and great grandfather Alex Xydias, who left us peace- fully on August 24, 2024, from complications of Covid, at the awe-inspiring age of 102. A pioneer in the auto- motive industry, a master storyteller, and the visionary behind So-Cal Speed Shop, (among a multitude of other accomplishments) Alex lived a dynamic life. His many achievements and innovative contributions to the automotive world will forever stand as reminders of his enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to the car community he loved so much. Alex’s warmth, wit, and vibrant spirit will be greatly missed by hot rod enthusiasts worldwide, his devoted circle of friends, and most of all, his family. Alex is survived by his 3 children, 7 granddaughters, and 13 great- grandchildren. We want to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support during this time. Alex’s legacy will forever be etched in the history of racing and in the hearts of those who had the honor of knowing him.” Sent in by Mark Vaughn
3) Obitruary: George Poteet, by David Tremayne restspirit. DEMON DRIVER. Part 5 (cont’d). He had become the first of his family to go on to further education when he became a star athlete at Itawamba Community College, before driving a school bus at 15. He had then gone on to create a massively successful nutritional supplements company, Juice Plus NSA. His wealth and unquenchable enthusiasm enabled him to pursue his passion for speed, and with every year he and Ron and the Speed Demon crew formed a closer bond. Our next Commission visit was in 2014, when that conversation between him and Mike Cook took place.
4) Paul Chamberlain’s story continued. As soon as the cars flew by, all hell broke loose: the inside of our car was lit up by red lights and police cars went careening past us on both sides. We had parked directly in front of their escape road. Our pilot was smart enough to fire up and get us onto the road, following the race cars so that we ended up directly behind them at the Police barricade. That’s the only thing that saved us from a night in the pokey. We managed to convince the officers that we were already on the road and had not stopped to watch because, “How could we possibly have pulled up behind the racers that quick?” Others were not so lucky. The raid even made the front pages of the Los Angeles Times and Herald Examiner with a picture of the bus leaving for jail. Oh, and my source officer who was stationed on the other side of the river, in the park on his motorcycle, as I recall, he didn’t capture a single kid but almost fell off of his bike laughing because of the crazy clown show, with kids running everywhere in the dark. (to be continued)
5) Alex Xydias—Hot-Rod Hero, by Mark Vaughn. With Xydias at the wheel, the So-Cal belly tank set the Class A Streamliner record at 130.155 mph. That led to one of the first covers of a new publication, the aforementioned Hot Rod magazine, founded by his friend Pete Petersen. Next, he enlisted another friend and fellow WWII flying vet Dean Batchelor to build a streamliner. They modeled their car after the pre-WWII Auto Union Type C land speed racer, but they put it on the frame rails of a Model T. They used the engine from the belly tank. Neil Emory and Clayton Jensen of Valley Custom built the aerodynamically efficient aluminum body. The first Bonneville Nationals took place in 1949, and the So-Cal team was there, setting a Class C Streamliner record at 189.745 mph with a top speed of 193.54 mph. The following year they set a record at 208.927 mph with Batchelor behind the wheel. (to be continued)
6) Books on Mark Greene’s Cars Year website mentioned by those appearing on Mark’s Podcast. Jeff Zurschmeide – The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachmann. Martin Rudow – Kings of the Road by Ken Purdy, Unbreakable by Laura Hillenbrand, and Walt Hansgen: His Life and the History of Post-War American Road Racing by Michael Argetsinger. Cam Ingram – David And Goliath – Malcom Gladwell. Dwight T. Knowlton – Fifty Shades of Rust by Tom Cotter, and The Little Red Racing Car by Dwight T. Knowlton. Steve Walker – The Old Car Nut Book by David Dickinson, and The Old Car Nut Book #2 by David Dickinson. Barry Meguiar – The Bible. Andrew Evans – Speed Secrets by Ross Bentley. Peter Brock – www.BRE2.net by Brock Racing Enterprises Books, and Corvette Sting Ray Genesis of an American Icon by Peter Brock.
7) Wally’s stories: courtesy of DRIVE Magazine, written by Wally Parks (serialized).
Doc Ostich had a friend in Arizona who owned a huge aircraft salvage yard in the dry desert outside Phoenix, and which had a vast assortment of retired airplanes and jet engines. So, it was a simple matter for Doc to obtain one for his land speed record experiment. The jet car, ‘Flying Caduceus’ was constructed in East Los Angeles, with a crew of dedicated volunteers. But the jet engine’s testing didn’t take place until the assembled vehicle was transported to Bonneville, where it was tied down securely for experimental run-up tests.
8) APOLOGY AND RETRACTION DEPT: 1971 was going to be the first year of the Silver Crown Series and Louie Senter (Editor wrote Louie Meyer) thought it would be fun to run a dirt car before they paved the last of the one-mile ovals, so he bought the #22 car with the Offy and got Don Hawley, to drive it. Don and I worked heavy construction together. There were just four races that year. Nazareth, Springfield, Du Quoin and the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Don did a great job driving and finished 5th in points. We all had a great time running against the big boys and we figured all we needed was more horsepower, so Louie bought the Ford engine from Foyt. We cut the frame, stuck it in and came out for the 1972 season with a shiny new paint job and a #5. The car was fast, but we never could get it to handle and finished way out of the points. I warmed it up once and it scared me to death. That ended my racing days, but what a great experience for a 26-year-old kid, to be able to get in on the tail end of real old school racing with the best of the best. Reb Silay
9) It was really sad to hear of Alex Xydias’ passing. I know how close he and your dad were. He truly was one of stalwarts of our generation. I wanted to remind your flock of one more accolade that’s on Alex’s long list of honors. In 2018 he was awarded the Motor Press Guild’s Dean Batchelor Lifetime Achievement Award at that organizations’ annual dinner at the Petersen. Photo (by Stokes): Bruce Meyer, Alex, Mark Vaughn, John Clinard. Doug Stokes.
10) I thought you would enjoy the LA Times story about Lou Meyer, written by Shav Glick. Bud Meyer and your dad were members of the Roadrunners…and together they “doodled” up a sketch of a rear engine roadster on a napkin after one of the Roadrunners meetings. Bud went back and built the 1st rear engine roadster to run at the lakes, a ’29 Model-A with the new Merc engine and their speed equipment…. going 121+. It was direct drive….no transmission, so, it took longer to get up to speed. Bud and Eddie only ran it one time, and then got a taste of hydroplane racing in 1940, and never went back to the lakes. Bud said the reason they went into boat racing was, a)it was closer to drive to Marine Stadium in Long Beach than the dry lakes, b) it was cooler, and NO DUST or Dirt. and the most important, c) The view along the shoreline was much better! Girls in swimming suits. This was Bud’s description of why they went boat racing! Bud always said he owed you a “Finder’s Fee” for introducing Joan Denver to him at the last Gilmore Roars reunion at the Peterson Museum. Charlotte and I were there with Bud. That sure worked out well. I will send some things your way, as there’s some interesting things your readers will enjoy. Doug Clem
DOUG: All is true. I was showing Joan around the Museum and introducing her to people. The first person she met was Bud. I told Joan, “Let me introduce you to some others.” Bud remarked, “Get lost kid,” and that very same day Bud asked Joan out on a date. The Boat Racer’s Reunion honored Bud for his racing exploits.
11) Back in the fun days of drag racing OCIR was, indeed, a magical place. At that time, I felt I was the luckiest 28-year-old on the planet being the PA Announcer at the premium drag racing facility of that era. My days at OCIR are right up there among my life’s journey fondest memories. But those memories are bittersweet as, to this day, I actually miss those times, and actually fantasize about “if we could turn back time”! Two T/F cars pushing down the OCIR fire up road, in front of packed spectator stands, at 7 in the evening to kick off the program and, once fired up, those same two cars passing right below the tower, and actually causing the tower glass to vibrate and those same two cars making their turnarounds on the OCIR starting line apron to get lined up in their respective lanes is something that is forever etched in this old guy’s mind. At that time there was nothing else like it in drag racing! Then, of course, there was the annual Manufacturers Funny Car Championship. 50-60 of the nation’s best, most popular funny cars vying for one of the 32 car qualifying spots. At that time, it WAS the greatest spectacle in drag racing! Nick Paciulli, OCIR track announcer
12) Ed Iskenderian: The Legendary Camfather Celebrates 103 Years July 2024, by Donia Moore (continued).
A Life of Dedication and Passion: As Isky celebrated his 103rd birthday, it’s clear that his passion for cars and innovation has not waned. Even in his later years, he remains actively involved in the automotive community, attending events, giving interviews, and sharing his wealth of knowledge. His energy and enthusiasm are truly inspiring, serving as a testament to the power of following one’s passion. Isky’s longevity can be attributed not only to his love for what he does but also to his dedication to maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. He has always believed in the importance of staying physically and mentally fit, a philosophy that has undoubtedly contributed to his remarkable longevity.
13) The Ultimate Guide on NHRA Drag Racing Series Betting in the US. Choosing a Sportsbook: PRO TIP. You MUST ACCEPT location tracking on your desktop browser in order to view exclusive NHRA Sign Up Offers available in your state. DFS Real Money Gaming. Underdog Fantasy. https://nxtbets.com/the-ultimate-guide- on-nhra-drag-racing-series-betting-in-the-us/. John Towle
JOHN: Have you heard anything on the results of the betting on drag racing?
14) WHO WE ARE © 2024 GrandPrix+ (magazine). BAHRAIN QUALIFYING by Joe Saward A NEW CHAPTER Arriving in Bahrain there was a sense of excitement about what the new Formula 1 season would bring.
EDITOR: I really enjoyed this on-line magazine. The writing and photographs are tremendous.
15) BOOK REVIEW: The Last Open Road, written by Burt ‘BS’ Levy. “Unable to put the book down I continue to read. In chapter 5 ‘Big Ed’ Baumstein and the young mechanic come face to face with the divide between sports car racing’s blue bloods and old money in the SCMA (Sports Car Motoring Association), which toughens the desire to belong to a sport in which they are not wanted. Buddy Palumbo, our young hero, and ‘Big Ed’ fall deeply in love with sports car racing at Bridgehampton in the next chapter and begin to see a way to enter the sports car world, extending help and money to those who might support their entry into the sport dominated by Old Money.”
Gone Racin’ can be reached at RnParks1. Author BS “Burt” Levy is at thinkfast. To be serialized, part 5.
16) The Vintage Speedcar Association (NSW) Newsletter 245th Edition
Issue #6, June & July 2024. 16 pages. The audience was entertained with highlighted footage of Garry Rush’s International Speedcar Derby win on the final night in the 70-year history of the world-famous Sydney Showground Speedway, April 27, 1996. It was the perfect introduction for what proved a sometimes emotional, but always entertaining interview, with the Sprintcar Champion and two times Australian Speedcar Grand Prix winner Garry Rush. Newlyn’s interview kept the big crowd listening intently as he and Garry remembered, reminisced and related the era covering over five decades in the distinguished career of this Australian Speedway great and Hall of Fame recipient. John/Maria Green at ajkake.
17) Mary McGee happened to be sat next to Steve McQueen at a Hollywood New Year’s Eve party in 1963. They were friendly, and he told her: “McGee, you’ve got to get off that pansy road-racing bike and come out to the desert.” She would be mentored in offroad bike racing by car racing stuntman Bobby Harris. She made her debut in the genre in the AMA District 37 Enduro in Jawbone Canyon, California, riding with Harris, Bob Drake and Al Tinker. The men had 650cc Triumphs, Mary rode a CL72 250cc Honda Scrambler. Though it was a desert, her first taste of offroad was chilled by snow and left her exhausted. From: David Tremayne restspirit.
18) We are looking for Ak Miller stories. Here are some that we have collected. “It’s true that Ak reworked his stories to improve on them. But we all do that. I try and remember children’s fairy tales when the grandkids want to hear them. They always come out different. It’s like the Grimm Brothers and Aesop got the story a bit off and I’ve got to correct the tale. The same was true with Ak, he didn’t so much change the story as improve upon it.” (source: Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way)
19) This Week on Cars Yeah Mark Greene interviews Joe Kimball, Daivd Boice, David Hobbs and Emily Reeves.
Mark is at info.
20) Vail Concours car show, September 13-15, 2024, housing available at the Manor Vail Lodge in Vail. Contact: Vail Automotive Classic, PO Box 111, Edwards, CO 81632. From Mark Bergman
21) On August 24, 2024, the Simeone Museum presented a Demo Day event celebrating the evolution of automotive aerodynamics, the key to pushing the boundaries of speed and performance. “The Advent of Aerodynamics: Going FASTER!” This celebrated some of the most iconic and innovative vehicles that have shaped the history of speed. FAS Foundation, newsletter.
22) BOOK REVIEW: One Last Turn, (road racing) by Martin Rudow and David Gaddis (cont’d). “The photographs are of very high quality on ultra-high glossy paper. One Last Turn was printed by Interpress Ltd Hungary and is very heavy at around six pounds. There are approximately 197 color photographs, and another 163 black and white photos. The quality of both is very good to excellent, with 54 small pictures, 8 magazine covers and 3 drawings. The captions are adequate and not overly long. The bibliography is extensive and used works by Pete Lyons, Peter Bryant, Rinsey Mills, Paul Van Valkenburg, Phil Hill, Tom Madigan, Phil Henry, Doug Nye, Dave Friedman, Jackie Stewart, and many more. Magazine, personal interviews, websites and institutions were contacted, and the information provided in the text. There was also 8 pages of valuable index provided.”
23) The Palm Springs Car Show & Festival, Saturday, October 5, 2024, in Downtown Palm Springs, CA. The Marilyn Monroe street is sold out, but we have $45 & $65 spaces still available. Craig Hoelzel Show Manager at Craig.
24) October 4, 2024, 6-10PM, Luftgekühlt pre-party event celebrating Porsche. We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 911 Turbo. If you have a 911 Turbo, join us for the Luftgekhült Pre-Party with preferential parking. Open September 7th Nearburg Gallery, 2nd Floor, The Automobile in Competition Motor racing. From: Petersen Automotive Museum info.
25) Royce Rumsey published “Voiture l’impressionnisme Français.” Amid all car collectors, the late Peter Mullin was the definitive Francophile. His eponymous museum was a veritable repository of French art—in both auto- motive and artifact form. The subtitle of the Mullin Museum was ‘French Curves.’ Among his collection bequeathed to the Petersen Museum was a pair of Fagoni et Falaschi masterpieces—the 1937 Talbot Lago Type 150 C-S and the 1939 Delahaye 165 V12 Cabriolet and both of these rolling sculptures graced the Lacy Park lawn of the 2024 San Marino Motor Classic. Go to: https://roycer924.exposure.co/voiture-limpressionnisme-francais.
26) While we are talking about the Motor Press Guild’s Dean Batchelor Lifetime Achievement Award I thought might be appropriate to give you the full list (see attached) of awardees since its inception in 1995. Hope that you are feeling better and back to full strength soon. From Doug Stokes
MOTOR PRESS GUILD Dean Batchelor Lifetime Achievement Award: 1995 Dean Batchelor, 1996 Chris Economaki, 1997 Jesse Alexander, 1998 Denise McCluggage, 2000 Shav Glick, 2003 Wally Parks, 2005 Robert E. Petersen, 2007 Tom & Ray Magliozzi, 2010 John Clinard, 2011 Brock Yates, 2012 Thomas L. Bryant, 2014 Ken Gross, 2015 Doug Stokes, 2016 Jean Jennings, 2018 Alex Xydias, 2019 Eric Dahlquist. Dean Batchelor and Eric Dahlquist were both honored posthumously.
27) The Motor Press Guild is saddened to learn of the passing of Alex Xydias, a true pioneer in the field of motor sports. Alex was a friend to MPG for many decades, and we take great pride in the fact that he accepted the MPG Dean Batchelor Award for lifetime achievement in 2018. His legacy lives on through his many contributions to car culture, including the founding of So-Cal Speed Shop in Burbank, his many years working in automotive publishing, and his work in establishing the SEMA Show as the premier aftermarket trade show it is today. Our deepest condolences to his family and close friends. From MPG President Ryan ZumMallen
28) The Piston Foundation, whose mission is to help more young people become collector car technicians, announced its partnership with Hearst Autos, the leading automotive media organization in the world, and its brands Autoweek, Bring a Trailer, Car and Driver, and Road & Track. From: jstropus.
EDITOR: Young people are starving for a chance to enter into the car culture. Kudos to Hearst Magazines.
29) Jennifer Rodriguez, a High School student that just recently finished college: We displayed at this car show in downtown Glendale, California, with her parents. See the interview at HiddenPioneers and Rodney Allen Rippy at rmgworldwide.
EDITOR: As in #28, more Kudos go to the Hidden Pioneers for reaching out to our youth in America.
30) Gridlife’s Chris Stewart, Founder of Gridlife, joined us for the 4th Annual Race Industry Week. Hosted by George Tamayo of RACER.com.
AND: December 2-5, 2024, 5th Annual Race Industry Week. From: team.
AND: Greg Gill, President and CEO of SRO Motorsports America, joined us for the 4th Annual Race Industry Week. Hosted by Jim Roller of SPEED SPORT. From: EPARTRADE
31) HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Petty’s Garage Series this Weekend at VIRginia International Raceway. Past and present Stock Car and Road Racing driving stars and the nation’s top Historic Stock Car drivers compete in Saturday’s restored Historic and Vintage NASCAR stock cars. Stock car Hall of Famer Richard Petty to visit VIR Friday afternoon at the Petty’s Garage hauler area in the main VIR paddock. Adam Saal SaalGoodPR.
32) BLAST FROM THE PAST…… From the Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way. Kid Killers of the Highways in Woman’s Home Companion.
Helena Huntington Smith and Robert Clark wrote an article in the January 1947 issue of Woman’s Home Companion magazine with the title “Kid Killers of the Highways.” To call the article a HATCHET job would be unfair; although they unanimously held the view that most, if not all, young people were bad drivers. Yes, even my father admitted that good drivers at that age often did heinous things with their cars. He also admitted to street racing as a young man. It was also true that many accidents were caused by teenagers; and that their parents looked the other way. The statistics aren’t in question; young drivers can be dangerous drivers. (continued)
33) The Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) Championship Point Award Series is led by Lee Burgess with 470 points, followed by Josie Brooks in second place with 460 points. The Championship Point Award Series Banquet, “Night of Champions” for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS), will be at the Genesee River Restaurant and Reception Center in Mount Morris, NY on January 25, 2025. Bruce.
34) Start racing today with NHRA Street Legal. From: National Hot Rod Association updates. DIVISION 2
Southeast Florida top Bradenton Motorsports Park Bradenton FL (quarter-mile) 941-748-1320 http://www.bradentonmotorsports.com/. Gainesville Raceway Gainesville FL (quarter-mile) 352-377-0046 http://www.gainesvilleraceway.com/. Orlando Speed World Dragway Orlando FL (quarter-mile) 407-568-5522 http://www.raceosw.com/. Member Track Spotlight Video Georgia top Silver Dollar Motorsports Park Reynolds GA (quarter-mile) 478-847-4414 http://silverdollarraceway.com/index.html. Member Track Spotlight Video South Georgia Motorsports Park Cecil GA (quarter-mile) 229-896-7000 http://www.goracesgmp.com/.
35) Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) was launched with the support of IMSA and its President John Doonan, top motorsports journalist and online personality Marshall Pruett has been producing
with the great field production expertise of innovative content creators CoForce
social media posts and video features from RMMR throughout the event. In addition to a Paddock Tour with HSR President Chris Ward on RMMR opening day, other video features across all three platforms include “My HSR History” competitor profiles. Highlight content on Facebook and X includes Run Group “Sights and Sounds” posts and Reels. SaalGoodPR.
36) The Piston Foundation, in partnership with Lime Rock Park, presented its 3rd annual Piston Technician Award to Davin Lindy at the Lime Rock Park Historic Festival 42. The presentation was made by Jeff Mason, president and COO of The Piston Foundation, and Dicky Riegel, president and CEO of Lime Rock Park. Joining in the presentation were John Goldbeck, Automotive Technology Department Head, J.M. Wright Technical High School; 15 students from J.M. Wright; and CTECS auto program leader Lou Camacho. From: Judy Stropus
37) BOOK REVIEW: 12 Hours of Sebring 1970, by Harry Hurst. Reviewed by Thomas L. Bryant, Editor-in-Chief, Road & Track magazine, Published: November 6, 2012. Part 1 (to be serialized) The joys of being a car enthusiast are boundless. Some people just love cars, love driving them, love the freedom they provide, and the sense of adventure inherent in a full tank of fuel and a few dollars in your pocket. Others are enamored of the technicalities of cars and love the engineering and mechanical aspects. Some are so deeply into styling and design that they make a career of it and can teach the rest of us about why some cars are classic and timeless, and others are stillborn. And then there are the racing aficionados, people who cannot dream of a world without auto racing. They may be drivers; they may be mechanics, or “gofers,” timekeepers, corner workers, tech inspectors, journalists or photographers. And let’s not forget the most important group — admission-paying fans. But what they all have in common is passion for motorsports. Harry Hurst is at harry.
38) Looking for sponsors for the 2024/25 DRAG Cartoons Comic Paper. I’ll sell original Pete Millar Art. $200- $500 per page. Contact me for details Millarkey. Going to print September 20, 2024. Long live the flies! Robin Millar
39) Randy Walls story continued. “A similar thing happened at a national records meet at Carlsbad, and I set the National record and so did another guy. They P/G’d and weighed both cars and mine came out completely legal but not so for my competitor. He claimed his engine was 283 c.i., but he his car was too light and didn’t have the required weight for that size. When they measured his engine, it showed that it was 337 cubic inches. My car checked out at a 288 c.i. and was actually overweight. The lighter the car the faster it goes as long as you don’t go under the weight limit for your class. I was legal and he wasn’t. Guess who they gave the record to, it certainly was not me. There was a race back east where a guy was able to cheat even more than my opponent and had better contacts so he actually wound up with the record.” (to be continued)
40) One fifth-prize winner will be awarded a $1000 RevZilla.com gift card. The gift card is only valid at RevZilla.com and is subject to terms and conditions. The NHRA sweepstakes will begin at 9am ET on July 19, 2024, and end at 11:59pm ET on December 6, 2024. Go to: https://www.nhra.com/2024-nhra-sweepstakes-official-rules.
41) The Historic Category is for nominees whose main motorsports achievements occurred prior to 1960. Induction is decided by a straight vote among 40+ historians, authors and experts. “It was an honor to announce our Historic Inductees for the first time at last year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Earl B. Gilmore and Phil ‘Ted Tappett’ Walters
and now we are delighted to not only be welcomed back to the Rolex Reunion but to also unveil another pair of American racing legends truly deserving of a place in the Hall of Fame of ALL American motorsports,” said Motorsports Hall of Fame of America President George Levy. Sent in by Adam Saal.
42) Hi Richard. The latest September Vintage Metal Magazine is at robertcampbell4.
READERS: Check out the articles on a great journal out of Western Australia. The Aussies know how to go car clubbing and racing in the right way, and with a fascinating clubhouse, large and roomy for all their uses.
43) QUICK 32 Sportsman series and Pro Bike & Sled series Championship Point Award Series for 2024 will be decided September 13-14, 2024, at Empire Dragway in Leicester, New York. Due to inclement weather, the first scheduled event of the season was canceled, so a slick, three-race series would decide the Championship. Kayden Wicke leads the Quick 32 Sportsman Series Championship Point Award Series with 473 points, followed closely by Anthony Platania in second with 469 points, Charlie Elmer Jr in third with 459 points, Craig Chadderdon in fourth with 457 points, and Buddy Forrest rounds out the top five with 440 points. The Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) Championship Point Award Series is led by Lee Burgess with 470 points, followed by Josie Brooks in second place with 460 points, Josh Costa in third place with 455 points, Bill Pippard in fourth place with 438 points and Drew Nearhoof in fifth place with 410 points. Bruce Mehlenbacher bruce.
44) Prime Motivation Auto Tech Expo, by William Kidston Photography. View full Gallery at williamkidstonevent HiddenPioneers.
45) AK Miller could also be a bull of a man; stubborn and confrontational when his sport was attacked or betrayed. His friends felt the same way and he rarely tolerated those who put down hot rodding and land speed racing. His heart was in Land Speed Racing, and he left the NHRA to return to racing at Bonneville and El Mirage, where over the years, the Miller/Lufkin/Carr team set and reset hundreds of records. In 1953-54, Miller raced a modified T-roadster in the Mexican Road Race. Quick on the turns and curves in the mountains, the little roadster would give up its lead in the straight-aways to the more powerful European cars, but he still placed 8th in 1953 and 5th in 1954. (source: Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way)
46) From the MSHFA website at https://www.mshf.com/. 1993 inductees were: George Bignotti, Craig Breedlove, Jacqueline Cochran, Al Holbert, Ted Horn, Dick Mann, Louis Meyer, Ron Musson, Wally Parks, & David Pearson. In 1994 the inductees were: Sir Malcolm Campbell, Roger DeCoster, Chris Economaki, Bill Falck, Bob Glidden, Jim Hall, Bernard Little, Eddie Rickenbacker, Bobby Unser, & Cale Yarborough. The 1995 inductees were: Keith Black, Louis Chevrolet, Peter De Paolo, Chip Hanauer, Rex Mays, Bruce McLaren, Roger Penske, Fireball Roberts, & Rodger Ward. The 1996 inductees were: Betty Cook, Henry Ford, Bill Jenkins, Lee Petty, Peter Revson, Mauri Rose, Johnny Rutherford, Malcolm Smith, & A. J. Watson.
47) The Vintage Speedcar Association (NSW) Newsletter 245th Edition
Issue #6, June & July 2024. 16 pages.
The interview also covered Garry Rush’s racing days in America, his stint in Formula Fords, racing touring cars with four appearances in the Bathurst 1000, Garry’s involvement with NASCAR in Australia and, of course, his great success in Sprintcars and Speedcars. The “Thanks for the Memories” on stage presentation has been completely revamped in recent years and now features a lounge chair setting with coffee desk in a relaxed and much more professional overall presentation modelled along the same lines of sporting personality TV interviews. Many thanks go to Dennis Newlyn who conducted a tactful and sometimes delicate interview extremely well, utilising his vast knowledge of the sport and Garry’s career, to ask the right questions that drew wonderful and at times emotional answers from Garry. John/Maria Green at ajkake.
48) SHERM PORTER’s List of Events and car shows for 2024, fuely32. SEPTEMBER 22 Fall Turlock Swap Meet & Car Show, Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, gdriscoll. SEPTEMBER 28 Los Alamos Old Days Car Show, Vintage, Classics, Imports, Rods, Custom, Race Cars, Bikes, bandmjarvis. SEPTEMBER 27-28 California Chaos, by NITROCHAOS, 1/8 mile, Famoso Dragstrip, Bakersfield, CA 32 car field guaranteed $55,000 payouts. https://nitrochaos.com/. SEPTEMBER 28 Cruisin’ for a Cure, OC Fair, Costa Mesa, CA 949-353-7353 or www.cruisinforacure.com. SEPTEMBER 28 Humdinger Car Show, Penngrove Park, Penngrove, CA. Pre 1965 cars & trucks only 707-529- 2521 or Jason at 530-864-6913. SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 1 World Finals Land Speed Time Trials, Bonneville, Utah, www.scta-bni.org.
49) Displaying soon 2018 McLaren MCL33, 1966 Lola T70 Mark II, 1957 Chevrolet 150. Waymo Exhibit Walk around. The history of autonomous vehicles. Discover our new exhibit “Driven by Possibility: Waymo’s Road to Autonomous Transport” with Andrew Chatham, a Director of Engineering at Waymo. From: info.
50) Wally’s stories: courtesy of DRIVE Magazine, written by Wally Parks (serialized). “During that process (jet engine) I was impressed by the volume of exhaust emitted from the vehicle’s giant tailpipe and it occurred to me that if properly directed, it might be used to blow away debris and dry the track at our drag racing events, and I salted the idea away for later. I visualized a self-driven unit on an Olds Toronado chassis, with a large, flared funnel that resembled a vacuum-cleaner attachment as its prospective concept. And after making sure that a jet-engine was available, at a price, I got excited. One good prospect for underwriting at that time was Thrush Muffler Company, an NHRA major sponsor in Toronto, Canada. And I sketched a prototype that resembled a muffler, with its jet exhaust blower extending out the back.”
51) Trailblazers Gazette: Newsletter of the Trailblazers Motorcycle Club, August 2024. CYCLE ACTION magazine
There was a classic motorcycle Concourse D’Elegance show, a motorcycle swap meet, and free styling MX motorcycle stunts. Did we mention great food? Come race time, the double decked grandstands were packed from one end to the other. We had a cool ocean breeze and a view of the Pacific Ocean. We were treated to nearly a decade of this fabulous venue thanks again to promoter Chris Agajanian. We cannot even fathom the logistics of what it took to promote Del Mar. 130 MPH plus often not knowing who was going to win with riders’ inches apart until the checkers waved. The track was seventy feet wide and one mile long. One foot deep of amended soil, all the way around the track, had to be removed for the motorcycles and replaced after the event for the horses. A Dan Mahony photo. Sent in by Chris Agajanian. (last in the series)
52) The Ultimate Guide on NHRA Drag Racing Series Betting in the US. Your sportsbook choice can define whether you’ll have an impressive or frustrating experience with NHRA drag racing betting. Betting sites can be difficult to navigate, especially if you are a beginner, and betting on drag races can be trickier without guidance. We suggest that you go for legal online casino betting sites, which are easier to navigate and offer abundant bonuses and an exciting user experience. https://nxtbets.com/the-ultimate-guide-on-nhra-drag-racing-series- betting-in-the-us/. Sent in by John Towle
53) 2024 events include Watkins Glen International for the HSR NASCAR Classic at the NASCAR Go Bowling at the Glen, September 13-14, 2024, and the HSR NASCAR Classic at the NASCAR Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, October 11-12, 2024. Adam Saal at SaalGoodPR.
54) Ed Iskenderian: The Legendary Camfather Celebrates 103 Years July 2024, by Donia Moore (continued).
The Legacy of the Camfather: Ed Iskenderian’s impact on the automotive world is immeasurable. His innovations in camshaft design and high-performance engine components have set the standard for generations of engineers and enthusiasts. The “Camfather” moniker is a fitting tribute to a man whose contributions have shaped the very fabric of hot rodding and performance engineering. His legacy is also reflected in the countless lives he has touched through his work and mentorship. Many of today’s leading automotive engineers and builders’ credit Isky with inspiring them to pursue their own careers in the field. His influence can be seen in every corner of the performance automotive industry, from grassroots racing to professional motorsports.
55) BLAST FROM THE PAST…… From the Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way. JANUARY 1947 Kid Killers of the Highways in Woman’s Home Companion (continued).
On the other hand, the authors found only one significant program to commend: school driver training. They overlooked the SCTA and my father and concentrated on a man in Lancaster who conducted a program for 30 or 40 boys; hardly balancing out their subject matter. The article was a follow-up to another hatchet job in the magazine giving substance to the argument that “kids are killers.” Many might be and still are for that matter over 80 years later. H. R. Brunnier, President of the American Automobile Association, added his two cents worse (yes, worse, not worth); echoing the hit piece by Smith and Clark. Is it a fair assumption of the authors? The answer is yes and no; facts are facts even if twisted to prove your side.
56) If you love reading about automotive history, you’ll be pleased to hear that Myles Kornblatt’s Max Hoffman: Million Dollar Middleman is back in stock. We think it’s a fantastic book covering some fascinating social history. We’re not alone, either: it won the Royal Automobile Clubs’s 2023 Motoring Book of the Year (Below £50) category.
Max Hoffman £30.00 By Myles Kornblatt Hardback • 20.7x25cm 160 pages • 227 pictures. The story of Max Hoffman, who started his career as a racer in Europe, but became the catalyst for getting some of the most celebrated sports cars into the hands of the American public. His dealer network might have been based in North America, but his influence and impact were global.
Also in the series: Triumph & Standard, Morris, Rootes (Hillman, Humber, Singer, Sunbeam, Talbot), Rover, Austin, Ford, Riley & Wolseley, Citroën and Jaguar. From: Veloce at newsletter.
57) Alex Xydias—Hot-Rod Hero, by Mark Vaughn. By the early 1960s, seeing what he thought was a decline in the hot-rodding industry, or at least a decline in the flathead Ford V8 So-Cal specialized in, Xydias decided to start filming races and screening the films in auditoriums around Southern California. “We had a station wagon and a couple cameras,” Xydias once recounted. They’d set up in corners at Indianapolis, Sebring, Pikes Peak, and other racing venues and start filming. With a limited amount of film and a shoestring budget they had to make sure they were in the right place at the right time. When the race ended, they’d pack everything up and drive right back to Hollywood to process the film, edit it together into a race report, then sell tickets at auditoriums. This was the only way racing enthusiasts could see what happened at Indy or Daytona. It was long before our modern sense of racing on television. Time was of the essence. “One guy would drive, one guy would sleep in the back, and a third guy was there to keep the first guy from falling asleep at the wheel,” he once told us of his trips around the country. (to be continued)
58) Obitruary: George Poteet, by David Tremayne restspirit. DEMON DRIVER. Part 6 (cont’d).
On September 13th pre-run prayers went unanswered. Perhaps the traction control wasn’t activated, as some body suggested. Perhaps George had been stung by all the press surrounding Danny Thompson in his father Mickey’s Challenger 2 and Marlo Treit’s streamliner and wanted to lay down a marker. For sure he laid down some rubber as he took off like a wildcat headed south towards Floating Island. But as we subsequently followed his course we could see where Speed Demon gradually began to spin away the grip of its rear wheels at 370 mph until the back end exceeded the critical 14-degree yaw angle. After that George ceased to be the driver and became a passenger in a tumbling missile. “Ole George only knows one way to go, with the throttle down,” Ron Main said, compassion for his friend and business partner disguised by black humour. “Like when he’s on his tractor and just slams the throttle forwards same time as he drops the backhoe.”
59) Subsequently her name was linked with Husqvarna motorcycles from 1967, when Mary McGee began racing on the famed Baja events, likened elsewhere in this issue by that great desert-racing exponent Parnelli Jones to “a 24-hour plane crash.” She became the first woman to finish the Baja 1000, in 1968, and the highlight of her career came seven years later when she rode a 250 Husqvarna solo in the Baja 500, passing 17 two-man teams. “It was very barren, no electricity, no doctors, no phone,” she recalled. “I carried Percodan in case of injury because you’d have to ride injured to get to someplace where someone had a car to get to Ensenada or La Paz to a clinic or back to the States. Luckily, I never had to use the Percodan, but I did come off the bike several times.” From: David Tremayne at restspirit.
60) We are looking for Ak Miller stories. Here are some that we have collected. Ak worked at his garage until age and infirmity made him stop. Then he moved a trailer inside a workshop owned by his ex-wife Marilyn Miller, so that he was never far from his good friend and partner, Jack Lufkin, who kept Miller’s Garage humming and successful. I remember going over to Marilyn’s shop and talking to Ak. I taped a lot of what he said, but years later I could never find those tapes. But they aren’t necessary because I got the drift of what he was saying over time and when I write down his stories, I tell them the way that he wanted them to be told, only better. You see, there are historical facts and those we get right and then there are stories that tell a moral that we want the next generation to learn. That’s what Ak did; he told stories that left us with a core of truth that made us all better people if we would only listen. There are a lot of people who collect Millerisms, or stories told by Ak Miller. They have a life of their own, a special kind of world inhabited by hot rodders. Ak always stopped what he was doing, sat you down, and regaled you with another of his amazing stories, and as I’ve said before, they are all remarkably true. (source: Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way)
61) Books on Mark Greene’s Cars Year website mentioned by those appearing on Mark’s Podcast. Richard Adatto – www.adattoauto.com/books, Adatto Books, www.coachbuiltpress.com, by Coachbuilt Press. Dennis & Beverly Little – Customers for Life by Carl Sewell and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Michael Furman – My 1001 Cars by Gabriel Voisin, and Porsche Unexpected by Randy Leffingwell, Cameron Ingram, and Michael Furman (Photographer). D. Randy Riggs – Inside Shelby American by John Morton. Ed Bar – The Limit by Michael Cannell. Ray Marchica – Sports Car Market (magazine), Garage Style (magazine), Hemmings Motor News (magazine),
and Auto-Italia (magazine). Chris Runge – Porsche by Mailander, by Karl Ludvigsen. Tim Miller – Eating the Big Fish, by Adam Morgan.
62) 2024 Spirit of Competition Award Honoring “Big Daddy” Don Garlits. Saturday, October 12, 2024, from 10 AM-2PM. The Simeone Museum has selected “Big Daddy” Don Garlits as the 2024 Spirit of Competition Award Honoree to recognize his revolutionary contributions to drag racing and motorsports. Garlits’ relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence not only led to numerous championships but also transformed. FAS Foundation, 6825 Norwitch Drive, Philadelphia, PA. Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum newsletter. |
