Motorsports Newsletter, 5/17/23

By Richard Parks

1) SEMA FRIENDS: The SEMA Board provides strategic direction to the association and plays a critical role in shaping the future of our industry. The SEMA Board of Directors election is open through May 23, 2023. If you are not sure who to vote for here are my suggestions: Melanie White for Chairperson-Elect and Ted Wentz for the SEMA Board. Thank you. Don Smith, San Mateo, CA. Founder & Former Director Emeritus of PWA, and the SEMA Hall of Fame.

2) On Thursday, May 25, 2023, we are having KSBY-TV doing 5-minute interviews on their news hours, at 4, 5 and 6 O’clock, with the Batmobile and Erik Estrada. The Batmobile will be on display at the car show at the Santa Maria Fairpark Saturday and Sunday, all day. Joji Barris, George Barris’ daughter will be available to answer questions and will be selling memorabilia, during that time. Erik Estrada will be at the show, both days at 9-4 Saturday and 10-2 Sunday. Friday night, May 26th, is the BIG SANTA MARIA CITY CRUISE from 7-9 pm. The cruise is on a 1.6-mile loop, double file, bumper to bumper. This is an old fashion cruise, with 400 cars or more in the cruise. This is a small portion of the cars that will be displayed at the car show. Then the car show is on Saturday from 8-5 pm and Sunday from 7-2pm. DougMason, douglas57k

3) Cruisin’ Brea Classic Car Show on Father’s Day, June 18, 2023, downtown Brea on Birch Street, 10 AM to 4 PM. Craig Hoelzel, Show Manager, Craig@Flyingdeuces.com, and SoCalCulture.com.

4) NHRA race dates: May 19-21, 2023, in Chicago. June 2-4, 2023, in New Hampshire.

5) Regarding the Fox Gap Hillclimb and Oscar Koveleski, there will be a Marlboro gang meet at Summit Point soon. I’ve asked that they spread the word about wanting info on Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association contacts and Oscar K information. PHA may be inactive. Good luck on the Oscar bio. Cheers, Bob Storck

6) I have a small Motorsports newsletter. It is a hobby, free to anyone, I don’t need sponsors or do I take in ad revenue, but I know many of you are dependent on subscribers to keep going. I have around a thousand names and it’s an eclectic group, but normally in the car culture. I try to send out 2 newsletters a month. The topics are usually shows, events, reunions, races, obituaries, and other items of interest. Often, I receive information way too late to help put out a notice. After 20 years of newsletter editing, here are a few tips:

A) For annual events send out the 1st notice to me 9 months ahead, the 2nd notice 6 months ahead, the 3rd notice 3 months ahead, the 4th notice one month ahead, and the last notice two weeks ahead of the event. Make it short, about 2 or 3 lines. Leave out adjectives, you only need facts, and vary the subject matter often. You can send out more notices than that if you want. Use LINKS to websites.
B) For obituaries, copy and paste the notice or provide a link and I will copy and paste the obituary.
C) Don’t forget important occasions. I don’t notice anniversaries, but your wives, children, relatives and friends do, so honor them.
D) What else should you think of? Be brave, think of how it will make others feel to be recognized and send it in. If I think it has negative consequences, I won’t run it and I’ll notify you. Perhaps you can rewrite it and send it back in.
E) Have fun with newsletters. It’s a hobby after all. And if you despise newsletters and constant, irritating emails and never want to hear from me again, just write back and say REMOVE. I may forget in the future and re-add you by accident, but that is done in error and not spite. A 2nd raucous, thwack across the head will make me remember who likes and who doesn’t like these newsletters.

7) The very first NHRA FX Class Chevrolet COPO Camaro, Tony Stewart wins Top Alcohol Dragster at ‘Cleetus and Cars,’ TJ Zizzo set for Top Fuel return at Chicago, at Dragzine.com! Sent in by Don Smith PWA-Founder & Former Director Emeritus

8) Mark Greene at Cars Yeah info has a podcast with interesting people. Tune in and listen to some great lives and stories. If you want to be on his program, just write to Mark and give him a little info about your life. As a biographer I can tell you that everyone has an interesting story to leave behind for future generations. This week Mark will interview Sean Mathis (Miles Through Time), Gary Digva (Road Angel), Will Sellenraad (Collector Chassis), and Pete Thelander (Vintage MG Club).

9) I am putting together the DRAG Cartoons Comic Paper. (MAD Magazine of drag racing) The DCCP is handed out for FREE, but advertisements really help me out. The DRAG Cartoons Comic Papers are in many car show goodie bags. They are included in the Bin exchange at SEMA. Pomona races. Bakersfield races. just to name a few. Thank you, Robin Millar MPC-DRAGcartoons 310-529-1831, millarkey.
Readers: The ads in the Drag Cartoons are often as funny as the content. Let’s help Robin out because she works tirelessly to keep her father’s art and wit alive.

10) READERS CORNER: “4-Wide is akin to Monster Truck Racing whose primary audience is 10-and-12-year-old children. It is difficult enough to see details being moved so far back from the edge of a regular track. How can you see anything in a drag strip that is now twice as wide as it used to be? I was in NASCAR “Cup.” Humpy was a great promoter and was good at making money from racing. He turned racing into an event first and a race second. His races became giant spectacles. I was in a few of his events. But how sustainable was his new direction? He attracted tons of casual spectators but as time went on, they stopped attending.” Don Redmon

11) Ascot: Where the 91, 110 and 405 Freeways Collide, by Dave Wolin. Book signing from 10 am to 2 pm on June 10, 2023, at Autobooks-Aerobooks, 2900 W. Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505, or 818-845-0707. www.autobooks-aerobooks.com.

12) Lyons Air Museum in Santa Ana will be having a hot rod show along with their fantastic old airplanes all summer long. More details later.