Motorsports Newsletter 4/03/24
By Richard Parks
1) EDITOR: I am going to try to mail out newsletters on Wednesdays thru Saturdays on a steady basis. Hopefully.
AND: Many readers have sent in photographs and sadly I can’t use them. I can only admire and delete. I often send photographs to Jim Miller, a close friend who scans and saves old photos for the AHRF.com. Jim is very trustworthy, but if the photos are for my eyes only, please tell me so.
AND: A frequent question is, "What if I piss off some group or other. Is that Okay?" The answer is that you should send in material for the newsletter in the way you express yourself. Don’t try and be anyone but yourself. I will then do one of four
things: 1) accept it as is, 2) reject it as is (rare), 3) change the wording but not the meaning (common), 4) rewrite it and send it back to you to see if you are okay with my redactions (very common). Don’t worry, just send in your news.
AND:J.E. Adams, at wefilm1 has created the American Motorsports News International website and
needs sponsors and advertisers to help offset the costs involved.
AND: Please let me know if you don’t want your letters published. Just say something like, "Personal," "Confidential," or "Please don’t put my letter in the newsletter." I use my judgment, but sometimes my judgment can be faulty.
AND: If you forward a message to me, please explain why at the top of your email. It saves me time and makes it easier for me to know why you are sending me a forwarded message from someone else.
AND: Something is happening to my computer that is causing errors and when I correct them, they come right back again. Please accept my apologies for errors.
2) Passings in 2023. In order not to overwhelm readers with grief this will be serialized in coming issues.
Longtime Division 3 announcer Jon Gentry, who called the action for years at Kil-Kare Raceway and Edgewater Sports Park, passed away March 2. https://www.nhra.com/news/2023/memoriam.
AND: Former Top Fuel racer Doug Kerhulas, a rising star of the 1980’s whose driving career was cut short by a top-end accident at the 1984 Springnationals, died March 1, 2023. He was 70. https://www.nhra.com/news/2023/memoriam.
AND: Walt Rhoades, who had a successful NHRA career in nitro, alcohol, and gas-burning dragsters, passed away earlier this week, bringing to a close an amazingly diverse career, passed away March 1, 2023, at age 79 of brain cancer.
https://www.nhra.com/news/2023/memoriam.
3) Did you hear about the assault on Ed Iskenderian lately? Ed is as good as you can be for 100+. Tim Lewis
TIM: No, I wasn’t there, but someone did mention it. Do you have a source that I can use for others to find the story. We are wishing Isky well and hope he wasn’t seriously injured. My father was robbed in his nineties, but all that happened is that someone followed him home from the bank and grabbed the manila envelope he was carrying and ran off. Dad wasn’t injured. Older people are often victims of these "follow home" robberies and snatches. Be careful, take a friend or family member with you and pay attention to your surroundings. If it looks suspicious go back into the bank and call police.
4) I really enjoy your newsletters. They reflect your deep history and genuine passion for all forms of motorsports. Please keep them coming! Also, I was recently on hand at the March 7, 2024, induction ceremonies for the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. This prestigious hall was originally created by Don Garlits. Held each year in Gainesville, Florida, on the first day of the NHRA Gatornationals, this marks the beginning of another NHRA racing season. Being included has also become a much coveted, career benchmark for drag racers and persons involved in drag racing. One of this year’s inductees was Bill Holland, who was presented with the IDRHOF Founders Award for his decades of involvement. From: James Hill jameshill1947. (to be continued)
5) BLAST FROM THE PAST…… From the Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way.
3 JUNE 1940 Otto Crocker becomes the Chief Timer at the dry lakes. "Ed Adams had a few things to say regarding the destruction of personal property in and around the vicinity of the lakes and stated that it would have to cease or there would be no more races at Harper. …Wally had some remarks to offer in regard to the Modifieds and streamliners and made a recommendation that the present ruling be revised or dropped completely. He then made a motion that we revise the present ruling we have on point standings. Motion was seconded and quite a bit of argument followed after which a vote was taken, and the motion passed. Suggestions were offered from the floor as follows. Do not give any points to a Modified or streamliner turning slower than the 12th fastest roadster to receive points. The discussion seemed to center around this point and after a while the suggestion was put into the form of a motion and seconded. Discussion was called for and after a vote was called the motion was passed. …Wally made a motion that we pay gasoline expenses to Mr (Otto) Crocker (official timer) to the Lakes and back. Art Tilton, Secretary.”
6) Lions Automobilia Foundation & Museum is Proud to Announce the 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees and Event. Join the Lions Automobilia Foundation Board of Directors and founder Rick Lorenzen as they introduce the third annual class of Lions Automobilia Foundation Hall of Fame inductees on Thursday, November 14, 2024. The Hall of Fame awards dinner and silent auction fundraiser at the Lions Automobilia Foundation in Rancho Dominguez, California will honor the following eight individuals who have made a major impact on motorsports: JC Agajanian, Jack Chrisman, Steve Gibbs, Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Wally Parks, Carroll Shelby, and Bill Stroppe. Passes are $150 per person & pre-registration is required.
7) Oscar Koveleski drove in a Novice class at Thompson Raceway, in Thompson, Connecticut on August 16, 1952, with an MGTC car, #30 and took 3rd place. Thompson Raceway was located near the town of Thompson, Connecticut, in the northeast of the State, barely five miles from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. After the hurricane of 1938 in the New England area, John Hoenig began building a 5/8-mile paved oval track and a 1.7-mile road racing course on his farm in 1938 and opened to the public in 1940. He attracted various forms of racing including NASCAR. (Source: Racingsports
cars.com). (to be continued)
8) Know your motorsports personality. Carlos Ezpeleta, Chief Sporting Officer of MotoGP/Dorna Sports SL, and Dan Rossomondo, Chief Commercial Officer of Dorna Sports. Ezpeleta is directly responsible for the Sporting and Technical areas of the Championships as well as overseeing activities in the Promoters, Operations and Talent Promotion departments. Compiled from Epartrade.
9) Past Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC) BOB AKIN Award honorees are: 2003 Sam Posey. 2004 Charlie Gibson. 2005 John Fitch. 2006 Jim Haynes. 2007 Cameron Argetsinger. 2008 Jim Downing. 2009 Steven J. Earle. 2010 Augie Pabst. 2011 Don Knowles. 2012 Miles Collier. 2013 Peter Sachs. 2014 Bill Warner. 2015 Judy Stropus. 2016 Murray Smith. 2017 Archie Urciuoli. 2018 Jeff Zwart. 2019 Rob Dyson. 2020 Jeremy Shaw. 2021 Awardee Not Selected. 2022 John Fergus. 2023 Tom Davey. From: Judy Stropus is at jstropus.
10) Here is the second in a two-part series on Australian drag racing by Lex Swayn. "In 1991, then NHRA Competition Director Steve Gibbs and wife Gloria attended the Nationals at Willowbank Raceway, on the east coast near Brisbane, and cast his experienced eye over the track’s operations, providing guidance and recommendations. The track soon earned fame for super quick performances. Then there are the Top Fuel, Funny Car and Alcohol teams (too many to mention,
except for Gary Densham who toured multiple times) that visited over the decades. I offer this praise for the enormous contribution made to the sport by Americans in Australia (and many other countries). The positive influence of exporting the world’s fastest straight-line sport cannot be underestimated." Lex Swayn is at lex.
11) Mick’s Paint to Support US Drag Team. Pomona, California. Mick’s Paint has announced that they will be supporting the 2024 United States Drag Team and the return of the Dos Palmas Machine Special and the Mooneyes dragster to England. Mick’s Paint owner Mick Jenkins said, "We have been involved with American cars, hot rods and racing since our inception in 1995. As one of the US’s leading, award winning body and paint shops, it seemed only natural to get on board and help the 2024 United States Drag Team." Tony Thacker tonythacker32, also see www.dragstalgia.co.uk.
12) Book review, City of Speed: Los Angeles and the rise of American Racing, by Joe Scalzo. Reviewed by Doug Stokes.
"Dangerous Los Angeles, whose red devil winds kick in the hormones, jump-speed pulses, and spiral brain-revs off the tach!
Yes. The racing millennium was erupting right along the Pacific shore. Straining with vitality, L.A.’s big and belly-laughing family would ride out the twentieth century mingling and networking like a pack of frenzied lab rodents set loose in a wild think tank of speed. Nobody has ever quite figured out all the reasons why, but L.A. was racing’s pulse, the planet’s most imitated tribe of racers. Our addictive and cutting-edge brand hurtled along years ahead of racing anywhere else." (to be continued in the next issue of the Motorsports Newsletter)
13) From Voyage LA Magazine at hiddenpioneers.
14) DRAGSTRIPS in the USA and Canada. National Speedway Directory, 2504 Lake Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois.
Rolling Thunder Drag Strip, Pacific Junction, Iowa, 1/8-mile.
Roswell Dragway (Formerly Roswell Raceway), Roswell, New Mexico, 1/4-mile.
Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Illinois, 1/4-mile. MENTIONED IN MY FATHER’S BOOK
Roxboro Motorsports Dragway, Roxboro, North Carolina, 1/8-mile.
15) The following letter from Doug (Potvin Doug) Peterson describes his nostalgia drag racing experiences. "I also had begun looking for Potvin pieces to eventually build my dream engine. It took several years to accumulate all the right parts. I wanted it to be totally Chuck Potvin equipment, no oddball parts filling in gaps. This adventure caused us to meet all kinds of wonderful people from the early years of the sport, and at the California Hot Rod Reunions at Bakersfield. That wonderful happening played the biggest part in our success. All these folks became our friends, it’s been fantastic. Because of these friends, we put together probably the only raced Potvin-blown engine in the country, and it was a huge success. A grand successful experiment. Some-where along the line someone dubbed me ‘Potvin Doug,’ and I didn’t discourage it. It might have had a little to do with Doug King being called ‘Ardun Doug.’ He preceded me by a few years and raced Ardun equipped flatheads both at Bonneville and nostalgia drags." Doug Peterson potvindoug2. (to be continued)
16) September 22, 2024, Singapore Grand Prix, Singapore.
September 22, 2024, Marina Bay Bass Pro Shops 500 Bristol, Tennessee.
September 22, 2024, Betway Carolina Nationals zMax Charlotte, North Carolina.
September 22, 2024, Indianapolis RC Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana.
September 22, 2024, India Buddha Circuit, India.
September 29, 2024, Hollywood Casino 400.
September 29, 2024, NHRA Kansas Midwest Nationals Madison, Illinois.
September 29, 2024, Indonesia Mandalika, Indonesia.
17)Drag Racing’s Rebels: How the AHRA Changed Quarter-Mile Competition, written by Doug Boyce, from CarTech Publishers. Reviewed by Richard Parks for the Gone Racin’ series. 2023. (to be serialized)
Drag Racing’s Rebels: How the AHRA Changed Quarter-Mile Competition is a deliciously good book. I could argue and yet agree with the author on so many subjects; and I know that fans will enjoy this book for that reason. I can see proponents, fans, racers and even sponsors saying that the story of the AHRA brings back memories. Yes, the AHRA, IHRA and NHRA, as well as other groups fought tenaciously to promote their brand of drag racing, but I need to remind everyone that all the sanctioning groups promoted insurance coverage, safety rules, classes and regulation to give the drivers a fair chance at success and to come out of a meet safe and with little engine damage so they could race again. Gone Racin’ is at RnParks1@juno.com. CarTech Publishers can be reached at 1-800-551-4754, www.cartechbooks.com. (to be continued in the next issue)
18) Lana Chrisman lanachrisman. Roar of Lions Nitro Car Show, Saturday, June 22, 2024, 9am to 2 pm, racing legends, nitro start-up, music, food trucks, drawings, hot rod show, museum tours, vendors, car awards, from Nitro Revival, General Admission $30, car show registration on-line at Lionsautomobilia.org.
19) EDITOR: The following is serialized. The Mehlenbacher Family and the Kohler Dragway (AKA Super Boss Dragway,
and Cayuga 1320 Dragway). Fans are treated to the PMRA Pro Modifieds, known as the “world’s fastest doorslammers,” the full-fendered cars and dragsters of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the two-wheeled motorcycle and snowmobile action of the Pro Bike & Sled Series. These race series draw a large number of competitors and continue to thrill spectators at events in Canada and the USA. These inductions will also be celebrated at a special Open House for the public on Thursday November 30, at Shelly’s Family Dining in downtown Kohler (the home of Dragway Park) from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, where several of the CDHF Inductees will be present. Bruce F. Mehlenbacher is at Bruce.
20) For anyone who wants a copy of The Nitro Mash, send your request to rossgallagher. Ross Gallagher
21) HIDDEN PIONEERS: Basic Electronics Car/Home is CSI Bill Montgomery, David Earhart, and Mad Mike.
Chess Club Mentors are Andy Peng, and Bill Montgomery.
DATA Information Manager is Shain Hymon (Next Level Global Solutions Inc).
22) In the same more than 10-year time span Tuma, Pace & Hinton were building Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR), Chris Ward became a fixture in the IMSA paddock for over a decade. He was a key part of the management team operating the IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series from 2014 through last year, ascending to the position of Head of Motorsport for Lamborghini North America in 2017. Among his vast managerial responsibilities was the oversight of all day-to-day operations of the Super Trofeo series and the introduction of the GT3 platform to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. From: Adam Saal at adam.
23) BLAST FROM THE PAST…… From the Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way. Dad races and finally earns his first timing tag. The next program in my files is dated June 25, 1933, and the name of the dry lakes racing organization was spelled as the Muroc Racing Association. The organization had made a huge leap forward from 1931 to 1932, and a year later in 1933 there had been even greater strides toward a modern racing organization. The printing errors were less and the number of spectators at the dry lakes grew larger as the number of participants increased. Speed was 82.19 mph.
24) There has been a serious rise in interest in motorcycle drag racing over the last decade or so. Grudge bike races continue to attract hundreds of competitors and bikes to "Bike Only" Three Day Events! It is NOT unusual for some Four Hundred or more bikes enter to race at major Drag Bike Only events! Don Redmon at replikad.
25) Harvey Firestone, the brand’s founder and a pioneer of sports marketing, was one of the first to use racing as the ultimate proving ground for his tires. Ever since Ray Harroun’s Firestone-equipped Marmon Wasp won the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911, Firestone has worked to constantly evolve and advance race tire technology. Overall, Firestone tires have carried the winner of the Indy 500 to victory circle 74 times – more than double all other tire manufacturers combined. Firestone has served as INDYCAR’s sole tire supplier since 2000, and the brand’s on-track success translates to durable, dependable performance and uncompromising quality on the open road. Judy Stropus jstropus.
26) Supercars 2024 calendar (Australian Circuit)
February 23-25, 2024, Bathurst 500, Mount Panorama Circuit.
March 23-24, 2024, Melbourne SuperSprint, Albert Park Circuit.
April 19-21, 2024, Taupō Super400, Taupō International Motorsport Park.
May 17-19, 2024, Perth SuperSprint, Wanneroo Raceway.
June 14-16, 2024, Darwin Triple Crown, Hidden Valley Raceway.
July 5-7, 2024, Townsville 500, Reid Park Street Circuit.
July 19-21, 2024, Sydney SuperNight, Sydney Motorsport Park.
August 16-18, 2024, Tasmania SuperSprint, Symmons Plains Raceway.
September 20-22, 2024, Sandown 500, Sandown Raceway.
October 10-13, 2024, Bathurst 1000, Mount Panorama Circuit.
October 25-27, 2024, Gold Coast 500, Surfers Paradise Street Circuit.
November 14-17, 2024, Adelaide 500, Adelaide Street Track.
27) Video clip of my son, Scott Parks (mrscottparks) at the 5 hour and 26-minute mark of NHRA Today
28) Dave Wallace Jr reports on circulation problems in the 1970’s drag racing publications. (continued from last week).
I never saw Doris again. I expected to get that chance years later for her IDRHOF induction in Gainesville, but she was a no-show. Reason given: Doris refused to be in the same room as brother Chet, who was a fellow inductee. Ironically, it was Chet who purchased Drag News for his li’l’ sis in 1959! Further ironically, in Doris’s absence, this former employee was tabbed to accept her trophy from nephew Doug Herbert. Instead of telling these stories that I’m sharing with you, Richard, I reminded the audience that she was among the most-powerful & -influential in drag racing for a decade & a half, producing some 800 weekly editions of Drag News. (to be continued).
29) Coastal 181 Book Store (serving East Coast racing fans) www.coastal181.com or 1-877-907-8181. Titles include: "Toby, The Star-Crossed Story of an American Racing Family (Tobias)," by Lew Boyd. "Two Lane Roads and County Fairs (IMCA)," by Bill Haglund. "The Fifty Greatest Drivers of Stafford Motor Speedway," by Phil Smith. "Four and More, the Standridge Brothers, Big Wins, Big Wrecks, Big Fun," by Joyce Standridge.
30) I realize that the way the newsletter is constructed, you don’t have room to put all of the information above. Possibly you could simply put the program Title and refer anyone interested to the Research Center. Should you wish to include either of these in some way in the newsletter, that would be great, and I would be most appreciative of your efforts. Kip Zeiter at kiparchiveswww.racingarchives.org.
KIP: I will find a way to get all of the info about Watkins Glen and your research in the newsletter. Please keep sending.
31) "KARTING" by Leroi Tex Smith. Review by Doug Stokes at stokes28doug (continued).
I think that anyone with an interest in racing will have some fun looking back some 50+ years at the division of motorsports that gave us (among others) the likes of Tony Stewart, Ayrton Senna, Tommy Kendall, Scott Pruett, Michael Andretti, Max Verstappen, and Louis Hamilton. SIDEBAR: A little quick Karting history story if you have room: In 1979 I was hired-on as the Executive Director of the International Kart Federation with headquarters in Covina, CA. The late Frank “Duffy” Livingstone, one of the widely acknowledged “fathers” of Karting, was still on the Board of Director at the time. We had a special trophy for Grand National events that was a bronze statuette (designed by the great motorsports artist Pete Millar) of a Kart racer holding a trophy. The weighty, 14-pound artifact had come far and near to be know of and called “Karting’s Oscar.” (to be continued in the next issue)
32) Scott Parks and his wife Stacy attended the February 23rd SEMA Youth Conference and came to support and speak on his grandfather’s (Wally Parks) behalf and to help me. Wally and I go back in the Sport Compact racing days where he liked my drive and passion for the youth with education. He often looked for me to tell his staff about me to work with me and help me. I did work with NHRA for two years on tour across the country. That was fun but after Wally passed away it all changed. Scott and Richard have given me full access to his name and rights to move the program of Prime Motivation forward with Hidden Pioneers staff leading the way. I’m blessed and honored to have this great family name behind me. He was happy to be there and impressed with the presentation. He also told me to say Thanks to SEMA. Bill Montgomery
33) DRAGSTRIPS in the USA and Canada. National Speedway Directory, 2504 Lake Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois.
Lake Cumberland Dragway, Jamestown, Kentucky, 1/8-mile.
Lakeland Dragstrip (Formerly Lakeland Motorsports Park), Polk City, Florida, 1/8-mile.
Lakeview Dragstrip, Lakeview, Oregon, 1/8-mile.
Lapeer International Dragway, Lapeer, Michigan, 1/4-mile.
34) Remembering Jim McLennan; courtesy of Don Smith.
"My first encounter with Jim McLennan goes way back to when I was a young man growing up in Auburn and traveling down to the races in Lodi (Kingdon Drag Strip). He first captured my attention with the beautiful Champion Speed Shop dragster that he drove. I was fortunate that over the years I became friends with Jim. Although he will always be remembered as a gentleman, my number one remembrance of him will be of the great smile he always flashed when we would first see each other. It made you feel good to know that he was as happy to see you, as you were to see him. His words were always kind and caring, and there was usually laughter too. It is because of his unwavering warmth and class that today, as a much older person who is still racing, I continue to look up to Jim as an inspiration." Henry Walther
35) Big Daddy ReturnsGone Racin’ To see ”Big Daddy Returns.” Video review by Richard Parks, 30 August 2022. With his wife, Pat Garlits and his family present, Don Garlits thundered down the drag strip to reach the goal that had eluded him of having driven a dragster over three hundred miles an hour. There was also a tribute to Darrell Gwynn as he also was in a dragster to take a slow victory run down the track in front of his fans. Gwynn previously suffered a serious accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Papadeas created an amazing video on drag racing that provides action scenes with touching interviews. This video will appeal to drag racing fans and those who have never seen a drag race before. Gone Racin’ deanpapadeas, and https://www.youtube.com/
36) FIA World Rally Championship/Date/Country/Venue.
28 January 2024 Monte-Carlo Rallye, Monte-Carlo.
18 February 2024 Sweden Rally, Sweden.
31 March 2024 Kenya Safari Rally, Kenya.
21 April 2024 Croatia, Croatia Rally.
15 May 2024 Portugal Vodafone Rally de Portugal.
2 June 2024 Italia Rally, Italia Sardegna.
30 June 2024 Poland ORLEN Rally, Poland.
21 July 2024 Latvia Tet Rally, Latvia.
4 August 2024 Finland Secto Rally, Finland.
8 September 2024 Greece EKO Acropolis Rally, Greece.
29 September 2024 Chile Rally, Chile BioBo.
3 November 2024 Austria, Czech Republic, Germany Central European Rally.
24 November 2024 Japan FORUM8 Rally, Japan.
37) Hidden Pioneers Bring you the Industry Leaders of today & tomorrow of Transportation & Technology. Meet & talk with some of these Pioneers at the Summit. Ralph Giles – Stellantis, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IeLkN0g5fr4QwY
Oa0PqmwAO 3kIX5Ust7/view?usp=sharing.
38) The Bob Russo Heritage Award has been presented just 14 times in the 35-year history of the MSHFA, but that number will actually be increased by two at next March’s two-day MSHFA Induction Celebration. For the first time, the MSHFA Board has recommended dual recipients in a single year. Edsel B. Ford II’sannouncement that Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, the Owner and President of In-N-Out Burger, will also receive the Heritage Award Honor in 2024 for her efforts to preserve the future of drag racing in the United States. The 36th Annual MSHFA Induction Celebration Presented by Toyota Racing will take place March 11–12, 2024, in Daytona Beach. To purchase tickets, visit the MSHFA, glevy. Adam Saal at saalgoodpr.
39) Vintage Metal Magazine (Western Australia) VSCC of Western Australia. Calendar 2024/May. Editor Bob Campbell.
4 Dad’s Army (this is where they get to work on their really great clubhouse)
5 Classic Cars & Coffee, UWA Business School Carpark, Hackett Dr, Crawley
6 General Meeting
14 Management Committee
17-19 Perth Supersprint (Supercars) Wanneroo Raceway
20 Competition Group
21 Dad’s Army
28 Dad’s Army
40) Alex Berg Racing Newsletter #58, abjr. Make sure to follow my 2024 UK Travel with the links below. Website: ABJR. Rohde & Liesenfeld: https://www.roliprojects.com/. BBC Chartering:
https://www.bbc-chartering.com/. FLS Group: https://fls-group.com/. TransCar Projects: https://www.transcar.co.uk/. ATNA Consulting services: https://www.atnaconsult.com/. Penn Elcom: https://www.pennelcomonline.com/. EasyDrift USA:
https://www.easydriftusa.com/. MySim.CA: https://www.mysim.ca. Foxxr Digital Marketing: https://foxxr.com/. DAE Systems:
https://dynamic-air.co.uk/. F1 Geeks Official: https://www.f1geeks.com/. Alex Berg
41) About Race Against Dementia was founded by Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, after his wife Helen’s frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, funding early-career researchers to accelerate progress towards a cure for dementia. With over 55 million people affected globally and someone diagnosed every three seconds, Race Against Dementia is taking immediate action to drive significant breakthroughs and develop leaders in the field. Supporting Race Against Dementia can help talented research scientists continue to seek preventative treatments and cures for dementia. jstropus.
42) STORIES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST FROM THE GONE RACIN’ ARCHIVES; WRITE TO RnParks1.
GRAND National Roadster Show 2007
GRAND National Roadster Show 2008
GRAND National Roadster Show 2009
43) New associate sponsors for this weekend’s Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip; TransActionLaw.com and Grant Air Conditioning & Heating. Teamwork makes the dream work at Hot-4-Teacher-Racing. “We can’t run at the level it takes to be competitive without the gracious support of long-time sponsors Ver Steeg Trucking, RSF RedShirtFriday.com and L&N Linens. Added support from Bill Brinckloe at TransActionLaw and Darin Grant of Grant Air Conditioning this weekend puts us in a great position to get this hot rod on the qualifying ladder in a stacked NHRA Funny Car field,” said Alex. Alex Miladinovich is at amiladinovich.
44) Book review, City of Speed: Los Angeles and the rise of American Racing, by Joe Scalzo. Reviewed by Doug Stokes.
"Hundreds, no thousands of go-fast addicts toiling in harmony and creativity, our explosive multi-generation counter-culture comprising geniuses, legends, clairvoyants, witch doctors, struggling artists, nervous small businessmen, sugar daddies, doomed playboys, and war heroes; plus romantic fools, tragic villains, joker screwballs, blacklisted victims, tax deadbeats, deranged alcoholics, sad suicides, and disgraced bankrupts; hard-asses, dumb-asses, and pain- in-the-asses; danger-junkies, epiphany-seeking berserkos, desperately crazy kidnappers, and knife-crazy carvers; doll faces, sirens, divas, pinups, and mobster molls; silver- tongued devils, public-relations shills, ballyhoo merchants, world-owes-me-a-living elitists, money-grubbing stock-market soothsayers, and battling impresarios; muckraking publishers and yellow journalists; drop-dead handsome Hollywood idols, million-dollar babies, and boy millionaire recluses. All right up my alley." (continued)
45) Know your motorsports personality. With Karun Chandhok, Professional Racing Driver and Formula 1 Commentator and Analyst, and Ben Willshire, Founder and Managing Director of Driven International. Hosted by Mark Hugues, Founder and Managing Director of Mrk1. Compiled from Epartrade.
46) Combined World of Outlaws and High Limit Sprint Car Schedules/Date/Track/City/Series.
9/1/2024 Huset’s Speedway Brandon SD (Outlaws)
9/5/2024 Port Royal Speedway Port Royal PA (High Limit)
9/6/2024 Stockton Dirt Track Stockton CA (Outlaws)
9/6/2024 Port Royal Speedway Port Royal PA (High Limit)
9/7/2024 Kings Speedway Hanford CA (Outlaws)
9/7/2024 Port Royal Speedway Port Royal PA (High Limit)
9/13/2024 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA (Outlaws)
9/13/2024 Lernerville Speedway Sarver PA (High Limit)
9/14/2024 Merced Speedway Merced CA (Outlaws)
9/14/2024 Lernerville Speedway Sarver PA (High Limit)
9/20/2024 Thunderbowl Raceway Tulare CA (Outlaws)
9/20/2024 Eldora Speedway Rossburg OH (High Limit)
9/21/2024 Thunderbowl Raceway Tulare CA (Outlaws)
9/21/2024 Eldora Speedway Rossburg OH (High Limit)
9/25/2024 TBD (High Limit)
9/27/2024 Wayne County Speedway Orrville OH (Outlaws)
9/28/2024 Sharon Speedway Hartford OH (Outlaws)
9/28/2024 Florence Speedway Walton KY (High Limit)
47) Under Chris Ward’s leadership, Super Trofeo reached unprecedented growth, particularly in recent years. Record fields and capacity grids have been commonplace and new car orders for pending seasons of competition have frequently been early sell outs. Despite the obvious differences in the series, Ward sees similar growth possibilities to the Super Trofeo success that will keep Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) on its current upward trajectory. “The opportunities for HSR are boundless,” Ward said. “We will never dismiss the stated core values on which HSR was founded but rather will continue to expand and further the mission of original founders with some creative promotions, enhanced event experiences and just some good old fashion cool, common-sense and unique ideas.” From: adam.
48) Sherm Porter’s Schedule of car shows and events (fuely32)
APRIL 26-28, 2024, 47th Annual NSRA Western Street Rod Nationals, Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield, CA, 1988 and earlier, 574-875-4032 or www.nsra-usa.com.
APRIL 26-28, 2024, 18th Annual “Woodies in the Valley,” Visalia, CA, 559-967-1357, info or
APRIL 26-28, 2024, Holley LS Fest West, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, registration coming soon, www.lsfest.com.
APRIL 27, 2024, 1st Annual Lake Hughes Canyon Run Car Show, ’72 and older autos, live music, vendors, food, raffles, pinstriping, 9am-3pm, 661-383-8115.
APRIL 27, 2024, 3rd Annual ‘Motors on Main’ Car & Motorcycle Show, Downtown Gustine, CA, DJ, live band, food trucks, raffle, photo booth, 209-652-5223.
APRIL 28, 2024, Pasadena Roadster Club Reliability Run, Start location: Pasadena Elks Lodge (CA), Pre-1937 steel bodies (Brookville-bodied OK), INFO.
49) From Greg Wapling Speed Week 2024. "First it was off, then on and then off again, what a year! We truly gave it our best shot and the weather beat us again, we ended up with 141 entries for Speed Week, much less than normal and I’m sure many held off because of the less than favourable reports we were publishing. The good news was there were 15 entries for new Salt Attack extension to Speed Week. Demonstrating to us that there was a need for some extra time by some of the entrants. Here’s the message that I sent out on Sunday 4th March 2024 to all members, entrants, stakeholders, and media. On Thursday night there was a storm that dumped 8mm of rain at Mount Ive in a very short period of time. Nonning got 30mm and closed the road from Iron Knob to the lake." Gary Satara at gsatara. Follow the DLRA on https://www.dlra.org.au or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/, DryLakesRacersAustralia or Instagram @ drylakesracersau.
50) DID YOU KNOW DEPARTMENT: The following comes from P. E. Escudero, our resident novelist and screenplay writer.
"If you go to bookstores, you can buy screenplays that look like paperbacks or hardbacks. All my screenplays will soon be selling in bookstores and online as paperbacks and eBooks."
51)Rodi Basso, the CEO and co-founder of the E1 World Championship, joined us for the 4th Annual Race Industry Week. Hosted by Joe Castello of WFO Radio. From: EPARTRADE at team
AND: Michael Cobb, President and CEO of SCCA (Sports Car Club of America), joined us for the 4th Annual Race Industry Week. Hosted by Paul Pfanner of RACER.com.
52) Take a look at this video to see what it’s all about for the kids. 2022 NHRA YES Program – YouTube. Google: https://
hiddenpioneers
53) Silent Cruise-in, April 7, 2024, 8 AM-11 AM. Escape the Petersen, April 12, 2024, 7 PM-10 PM. Road to Eccellenza May 17- 25, 2024. Road to Pebble Rally, August 12, 2024, 8 AM-11 AM. In case you missed it: we had a chance to talk with the fastest woman on two wheels: Valerie Thompson, listen On Apple Podcasts. Bonham Cars, April 27, 2024, Middletown, Rhode Island. Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. From: Petersen Automotive Museum.
54) Looking for the CAR GUY Radio show host, Steve Ford at thecarguy. His mail was returned.
55) 100 Years of Legends: The Official Celebration of the Le Mans 24-Hours, by Denis Bernard, Basil Davoine, Julien Holtz & Gerard Holtz. USA price is $85, Canadian price is $110. ISBN: 978-1-910505-88-5. Format: 10.25inches x 11.75inches, 336 Illustrations and over 600 images. Judy Stropus, jvstropus, or www.evropublishing.com.
56) NASCAR tradition takes a hit with Easter night race at Richmond, Virginia. Former NASCAR matriarch Anne B. France felt Easter was for religious services and family gatherings, and mostly she got her way. NHRA Funny Car champ Matt Hagan shares what it’s like to drive for Tony Stewart, ‘makes it fun to come to work.’ Closed cockpit an eye-opener for Sebastian Vettel at Porsche Penske test. Four-time F1 champion gives Porsche 963 hybrid LMDh a 360-mile workout at Motorland, Aragón, Spain. Carlos Sainz Jr Is a hot property with growing list of F1 suitors after Australian GP win now a three-time Formula 1 winner, Sainz is the first to admit that he’s ‘still without a job for next year.’ Autoweek Racing on TV, Livestream: March 25-31, 2024. A publication of Hearst Autos, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY. From:
autoweek.
57) A few of the Hidden Pioneers at Family Friday night. Hope to see you tomorrow night at 6pm for another awesome event. Columbia Memorial Space Center @columbiaspace). Instagram photos and videos at https://www.instagram.
HiddenPioneers.
58) APRIL 7, 2024, 8 AM-11 AM, EV, Hybrid & Hydrogen Car meet join the Petersen for its annual Silent cars & coffee.
Some of the most exciting electric vehicles ever built, including rarely shown concepts, land speed record vehicles, and one-off customs. Stroll through 100+ years of electric vehicle history as the show is open to all battery-powered vehicles. Full electric, hydrogen, and hybrid vehicles are welcome. We’re excited that Tesla’s own Chief Designer Franz Von Holzhausen will be at this cruise-in to share his insights on current EV’s and the future of the automotive industry as a whole. From: Petersen Automotive Museum info 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.
59) This Week on Cars Yeah: Jack Griffin of Garages of Texas. Jake Wolf from Warehouse Motorclub. Tony Principe from
Finish Line AutoClub. Bill Tybur from The Podium Club. Cars Yeah mailing address: Cars Yeah, 4618 131st St Ct NW, Gig Harbor, Washington 98332. From: Mark Greene at Cars Yeah info.
READERS: Mark Greene has interviewed 2486 and counting of the most interesting car people on the planet. You will be astonished who is on the list (including me). Write to Mark if you want to be interviewed and go on air. It was easy, even for me, but even if you don’t, sign up and listen to these interesting people. It’s free to join and listen to the programs.
60) Motorsports Hall of Fame of America launches major auction fundraising campaign with lunch with GM President Mark Reuss. Reuss auction goes live on BringaTrailer.com this Tuesday, April 2 for one week only, winning bidder’s one-on-one lunch with GM’s global leader takes place Wednesday, July 24, at the GM Global Tech Center in Warren, Michigan,
initial Reuss lunch auction first of several fundraising blockbusters planned for 2024 and beyond to generate funding for the nonprofit Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Daytona Beach. From: MHFA SaalGoodPR.
61) More and more bike racers have been moving away from the NHRA. The cost to run a PSM class operation is very high and unless you are seriously funded and well connected. You have little to no chance at getting competitive equipment. The NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class has problems providing a full field at many and even most Nationals. Don Redmon
at replikad.
62) The Hidden Pioneers will be there with a display for the students at the Ontario Convention Center, Friday, April 5, 2024, from 4pm to 9pm. See Home/SkillsUSA California/CareerTechnicalEducation, google https://www.skillsusaca.org/. SKILLS JAM: The High-Stakes Competition You Can’t Miss (Trailer) (com/
watch?v=u1SU1-U7iNU. Hidden Pioneers at Skills USA 2023 Ontario Convention Center google https://www.you
hiddenpioneers.
READERS: Schools offer Liberal Arts, but our country is over-run with over-educated lawyers, media majors, community activists, women and gender studies. What we truly need are engineers, welders, mechanics, and blue-collar workers who often make far more than college educated students do. Bill Montgomery and the Hidden volunteers reach our elementary, middle school and high school students and advocate for technology, lab and automotive subjects. Please support Bill, who is loved by young people for his ability to relate to them. He’s committed to our nation’s youth.
63) BY SPECIAL REQUEST: The Harry Hibler story, written by Dick Martin. "If circumstances had played out differently, Harry Hibler, of Shadow Hills, California (born in 1935), wouldn’t have been managing San Fernando Drag Strip to turn a blind eye when the Fueler guys showed up during the nitro ban, or at the helm as publisher of Hot Rod magazine, because he’d have been busting some organized crime crook for the Bureau. Harry was an exceptional student in high school, plus he was willing to get his hands dirty, with dirt, picking beans in the fields of Springfield, Oregon, after school. The FBI was so impressed with his choice of work and top grades that they offered to send him to DC to college and eventually to their academy when he was in the eleventh grade. Harry’s father (his mother died when he was 11) would have none of it, refusing to sign the necessary papers, reasoning Washington was no place for his boy. Mr. Hibler’s decision did not sit well with Harry at the time, but looking back he would have spent a greater part of his life driving around in ‘plain brown wrapper’ four-doors and wearing a suit, instead of a hot rod and jeans." For the full story write to the editor at RnParks1
and I will send it to you.
64) The 15 NHRA Yes events we plan to support. 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Season Schedule
April 5-7: 39th NHRA Arizona Nationals, Phoenix (#2 Hidden Pioneers tour)
April 12-14: 24th NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, (#3 Hidden Pioneers tour)
May 17-19: 24th Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance, Chicago (#4 tour)
June 27-30: 18th Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio (#5 Hidden Pioneers tour)
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