SOCIETY OF LAND SPEED RACING HISTORIANS |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Just spoke with Joe Devine and he informed me that Phyllis had "Crossed The Finish Line" last evening approximately 6:00 PM EST. She had returned to the hospital and was close to being released when the end came. She has been in, and out, of the hospital with an intestinal infection since early August. Really bad news for all of us. Joe is going to try to restart The Alternate. Bob Falcon |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I'm trying to contact Bob McGrath, regarding my father Jerald Winchel. My father was a long time friend of Mr McGrath. My dad built the overdrive transmission for him back in the 1960's. It's an important project, if you can direct me it would be appreciated. I've exhausted the internet searches. Sincerely, Vicki (Winchel) Houser, [email protected], and www.VickiHouseR.com. |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The SoCal Chapter of The Society of Automotive Historians held a closed event at The Tom Malloy Private Race Car Collection on Saturday. Would you like a few words and some pix for the issue? After all, our SoCal membership has their roots in hot rods, for the most part. Or I can do some words for next weeks issue. Spoke with Joe Devine, husband of Phyllis (Publisher of The Alternate) and he reports she should be discharged from the hospital again at the end of this week. She has been in, and out, of the hospital since early August with an intestinal infection. Bob Falcon |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jack and Mary Ann Lawford have a special section in their e-line publication at www.hotrodhotline.com, which is called "Feature/Stolen cars." You can see it at http://www.hotrodhotline.com/feature/stolen/. Should you ever have the misfortune of having your special ride stolen, contact the police, then your local friends and be sure to include Hotrodhotline too. |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Would you like me to pass on some comments in support of your stance on racing safety, from the view of my 30 to 40 years as a racing safety official in oval track rule making? Bob Falcon |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Racing Clubs: Historians listed for each club |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Just to let you know that I will draft a word document concerning my views of the status of safety in auto racing. My views are founded on a couple of precepts, first and foremost my service as the secretary of the United States Auto Club for over thirty years and second, of the number of times I have been involved in on track accidents while honing my skills as an oval track race car driver. I can see where there is reluctance on the part of some dry lakes racers to abide by safety regulations due to the low number of on course incidents and to the great amount of lapsed time between the meets. What you learn quickly in oval track racing, especially when you are close to other competitors during the pressure of a race is the fact that if your car is not running on the last lap, you have no chance of winning. Once realized, you begin to analyze each incident that happens to you while racing and plan steps you can take if it happens again into your brain. With the mental "Re-Runs", which are always in slow motion you can focus closely on what you observed and see what you could have done to change the damage inflicted on the car. There is a lot more connected to driving a race car than "Standing On The Gas"! |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I have a request from back East from a writer for any old articles or interviews from 1961-or-prior magazines about Phil Hill or Wolfgang von Trips. They can be in any language. Xerox copies would be fine. Wallace Wyss at [email protected] |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Here is the latest artwork for The 69th running of The Turkey Night Grand Prix. The event T-Shirt Manufacturer has asked me to let you know that the Event Shirt seen below as well as a special "75 Years of Turkey Night Shirt" collectable shirt are available on the website www.TurkeyNightInfo.com to look at or purchase. There are other collectibles available there, as well as a story about JC Jr's recollections of the history of Turkey Night from when he was a kid. If you won't be able to attend the famous event, but want to wear an Agajanian Promotions Turkey Night shirt, this is your chance. |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hello, I�m a great Carrera Panamericana fan and build up some of those cars in 1:24 scale for slot racing. For an example, please have a look here: |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, based at Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, Ocala, Florida has announced the induction to the Hall of Fame for the year 2010. The list of eight inductees is as follows: |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This was forwarded to me by Richard Troy, owner of the Worlds Fastest 36hp Ghia. Fun to watch. Burly Burlile |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear friends, crew, supporters and land speed record enthusiasts. Please follow the link to view the latest PDF version of our newsletter about the Aussie Invader project. See www.aussieinvader.com/newsletters/aussieinvader_dec09.pdf. Visit our website www.aussieinvader.com, it has a lot more information about the project and feel free to forward this newsletter to others who might be interested in reading it. Best wishes, Rosco McGlashan |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Here are a couple more links that are discussing the Challenge for you to explore: http://www.sportscars.tv/Newfiles/36hp.html, and http://oldspeedvw.blogspot.com/2009/09/latest-updat-on-36hp-challenge.html. Burly Burlile |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gone Racin'… Fuel & Guts, The Birth of Top Fuel Drag Racing, by Tom Madigan. Book review by Richard Parks, photographic consultant Roger Rohrdanz Tom Madigan has taken on a most Herculean task in writing about the beginnings of top fuel drag racing and the men and women who created this exciting sport. Madigan writes with feeling and yet his style is non-confrontational. He tries to stick to the facts and his interviews with legendary racers and track promoters provide the heart of this book. Fuel & Guts, The Birth of Top Fuel Drag Racing, is hard to put down. I found myself scanning the pages, looking at the photos and captions, reading some of the interviews, then putting the book down. It wasn't long before I picked up Fuel & Guts, The Birth of Top Fuel Drag Racing, and began scanning it again. The writing style is easy and casual, as if the reader was listening in on the conversation that Madigan is having with our racing heroes. Fuel & Guts, The Birth of Top Fuel Drag Racing, is more than a nice coffee table book. The author did his research and the book stands on its merits as a first class history of top fuel drag racing. Madigan comes as close as anyone can get to writing the definitive story of this class. He writes in a style that brings out the positives in the sport of drag racing, though the author doesn't shy away from disputes. Madigan is a mediator, a writer with tact, and his book is easy to read. It is in his interviews with the early drag racers that the fire in their souls comes to the forefront. The author handles interviews with a deft skill and brings the men and women of drag racing alive as they relate their stories. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gone Racin'…San Diego Motorsports 100 Racing Years, by Johnny McDonald. Book review by Richard Parks, photographs by Roger Rohrdanz Johnny McDonald has been covering the national racing scene for more than four decades. He is a past President of AARWBA, or The American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association, and sportswriter for the San Diego Union newspaper. Thorough and precise, McDonald ranks up there with Shav Glick and other sportswriters in the ability to bring a story to the public with feeling and accuracy. A special passion for McDonald is the unique history and heritage of motorsports racing in the San Diego area, where he resides. San Diego, California is about as far as one can go, and still remain in the United States. It takes a lot of effort to get to, and yet it has a rich history in motorsports racing. Balboa Stadium played host to oval track racing of the highest quality. Paradise Mesa was one of the first dragstrips in the nation. Torrey Pines was a storied road course racing site. The Unlimited Hydroplanes still race furiously at Mission Bay. Many of those racetracks are gone, paved over to make room for homes and shopping centers. A few are still in operation, or changed slightly from their original purposes. McDonald uses his archives and that of the San Diego Automotive Museum, plus his vivid memory to write about this fascinating era in his city's past. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Caption: Military testing out new airless tires. |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ El Mirage dry lake, 1948. An exciting time in the lives of two young Southern California car Hot Rod Racing guys with big dreams. “KEEPER OF THE FLAME” Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster Racing swiftly in the swirling dust from the clay pans of the Dry Lakes of Southern California in the SCTA racing season of 1948… flashed the dark teal blue sleek and innovative Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster, which was the legendary “Albata” Club Dry Lakes- Land Speed racer that established one of the most incredible records in Dry Lakes racing history… “It was the little Chevy 4 that thought it could… and it did” To: Bob Spurgin From: Ernie & Elaine Re: The Spurgin-Giovanine Roadster/ Borgh “Mothersill’s Special/ Cano “Snoot” update Date: December 2, 2009 1.) Thanks for the memo about visit with Bill Erickson last week and to see for the first time (“in the flesh as they say Down Under”)… the great restoration project of the Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster. There is so much more coming down the pipe for the legendary Roadster that thrilled all of the Car Clubs and participants of the 1948 SCTA Dry Lakes racing season… as everyone at the last SCTA Meet of 1948 all holding their breath to see if the little Chevy 4 could pull off the feat of a lifetime… and it was a moment that it was not Car Club against Car Club showdown (the S-G Roadster had already amassed in incredible lead in total points)… but everyone on the dusty Dry Lakes of El Mirage wanting to see the miracle of making it through the last two way pass for the record for the 6th time in the 1948 season… it was the cheer that would last for years. 2.) Your comments are important and Richard Parks (Society of Land Speed Racing Historians) always reminds us that the time is now… and not later to record the oral history from your mother about Rufi- Chuck and Bob… as well as the other significant people that made up the world of racing Hot Rods. Richard is the Editor and we all want real stories and your mother is a key link to provide that. 3.) We hope to get invited to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2010 and that would be a gesture of high tribute and honor for the two guys in 1948 with big dreams… as our team has worked so hard to make this all happen with all of the historical details in place with the help of so many. William and Will have put their heart and soul into the restoration project with a vision… with sweat and tears that is priceless. 4.) Stay in touch and glad you are on board as we just knew that you would be thrilled… Ernie & Elaine Nagamatsu ELEMENTS OF ACHIEVEMENTS – SPURGIN- GIOVANINE ROADSTER 1.) “Long lost” from sight was the legendary record breaking Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster and it was in a backyard of a home in Apple Valley for over 42 years… it has been discovered intact and restored to the record breaking 1948 SCTA Dry Lakes racing season configuration. 2.) For your kind consideration… the Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster… for 2010 “Legends of the Lakes” 3.) Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster -1948 Season SCTA Dry Lakes Champion- record breaking and “High Points” Dry Lakes- Land Speed Racer… during the year of the highest average entrants for racing the Dry Lakes. After 1948, there were more Drag Strips and the starting of racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats (1949) which affected the number of entrants at the Dry Lakes Meets. In 1948, the Rusetta Timing Association began and also started to attract entrants and their cars. Hot Rod Author/ historian Don Montgomery states…”The 1948 season was a tremendous year for SCTA … record numbers came to the Lakes Meets and expanded to two days. The 1948 SCTA club roster had also expanded to a record of 38 clubs… not only did SCTA have possibly the greatest season in 1948, the competitors blasted the records.” There were crowds up to 10,000 race fans at some of the meets. 1948 was the peak of Dry Lakes racing with up to 400 plus entrants per meet and the meets were two day meets. 4.) The 1948 SCTA overall High Points Season Champion- Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster- Class A- season total of an incredible 1800 points. The second place in total points was Doug Hartelt with 1480 points and third place went to the Burke and Francisco Streamliner with 1400 points. 5.) The Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster established an unmatched historic record, as the Class A roadster in the 1948 SCTA racing season. The Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster broke the existing world record in it’s class at every consecutive SCTA racing meet of the season which consisted of 6 very competitive racing meets. It was an incredible feat that would set a mark in Land Speed Records. 6.) It was a difficult and complicated process in achieving a world SCTA record- “All SCTA records are based on the average time in miles per hour, of two runs through our quarter mile photo electric timed course from opposite directions. Both runs must be made within a total elapsed time of fifteen minutes. Any car exceeding the previous existing record in it’s own class shall be entitled to run for the record as such a time during the day’s meet as he chooses. Every car in the SCTA competition must be powered with an American automotive production engine, but may especially equipped with overhead valves, cams, or blowers subject to the 1947 Class regulations.” The official record run consisted of an average of the two way run. 7.) The Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster exemplified reliability and durability in the days of inconsistent performance in racing. There was consistency in performance during the 6 scheduled SCTA Dry Lakes sanctioned meets and multiple runs for an approved and official record for it’s class. The Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster established a record in the 1948 SCTA record books that would stand for two years! 8.) The Sprugin – Giovanine Roadster raced with a Chevy 4 engine and was in the true minority as most engines used were Fords or Mercury engines for Dry Lakes Racing. The team had the experience of Ralph Schenck, Bob Rufi, Duke Hallock to help Spurgin and Giovanine. A banner at the Los Angeles Second Annual Hot Rod Exposition at the Armory in Los Angeles… stated “Out of the 597 cars at the El Mirage event, all but 22 were powered by Ford or Lincoln Mercury Flathead V8s”… and the writer for the event stated “The banner did not say that the little Chevy four ‘banger’ got the first perfect score and broke the world record each time, and was almost as fast as Alex Zidias in a streamliner with a Ford V8.” 9.) The Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster was the “Hot Rod of the Month” and “Cover Car” for the March 1949 Hot Rod Magazine 10.) The Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster was featured in many magazines, and with many stories of achievement/ records, in the Hot Rod Magazines and Timing Association Programs. 11.) The Spurgin – Giovanine Roadster continued racing which then included Drag Racing and Bonneville Salt Flats racing. The legendary roadster was the “Mothersill’s Special” and later the Cano Snoot’ and rarely does a race car… race in Dry Lakes, Drag Racing, and Bonneville during it’s racing career. 12.) The Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster was built in 1939 and first raced in 1940 and the last race was in 1957 at Lion’s Drag Strip in Long Beach as the Spurgin- Giovanine Roadster- Borgh Mothersill’s Special– Cano “Snoot” racer. This long tenure in racing reflected many years of recorded racing history and the many types of racing was the hallmark for the legendary Land Speed- Dry Lakes roadster. |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Caption: Chris Karamesines photos. Bob Brown collection. |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Caption: Five Photos from the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Knoxville, Iowa. Dave Hill Collection. |
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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