Motorsports Newsletter 10/23/24

By Richard Parks

1) EDITOR’S CORNER: A reader asked if they could share a photo of a lost racing car. The answer is yes and no. Where the owner or restorer asks us not to then we follow that advice. In the case you are referring to the answer is yes, spread it far and wide. The more of these old cars that can be restored and preserved the better. Thank you for your reply.
AND: All links in the newsletter need to be copied and pasted into your browser in order to work.
AND: Lions Hall of Fame, Thursday, November 14, 2024, 4:45pm nitro start-up, 5pm cocktail mixer & silent auction for the Lions youth engagement and career path program, 6pm welcome and opening ceremony, 7pm dinner served, 7:45 pm awards ceremony. Contact Lana Chrisman for tickets at LanaChrisman@LionsAutomobilia.org.
AND: Also in November is Steve Gibbs Nitro Revival Reunion at Irwindale Dragway.

2) REMEMBERING OUR LOST FRIENDS DEPARTMENT: August “Augie” Pabst, courtesy of Pagenkopf Funeral Home (serialized part 2). In 1956, after founding Pabst Motors, an imported car dealership in Milwaukee, Augie began his racing career in the SCCA, which quickly led to opportunities driving for some of the greatest teams of his time, including Meister Brauser, Shelby American, John Wyer, Briggs Cunningham, NART-Ferrari, and John Mecom. His teammates included Walt Hansgen, Roger Penske and Bill Wuesthoff. Driving many of the most renowned cars of his era — Ferrari, Maserati, Mercedes, Corvette, Lotus, Jaguar, Chaparral, Lola, McLaren, Shelby Cobra, Ford GT40, and his all-time favorite, Scarab – Augie won many races. These include major events at Sebring, Watkins Glen, Meadowdale, Nassau, Mosport, Daytona, and the Road America 500. Sent in by Dave Nicholas.

3) The California Hot Rod Reunion, Friday, October 25th through Sunday, October 27, 2024, with Blake Bowser this year at Famoso. Blake is running the event with proceeds going to the Museum: Go to https://famosodragstrip.com/hotrodreunion/. From
David Kennedy

4) I was at the finish line when Jim Brissette’s roadster came by on fire with no driver. This was a hell of a fire for sure. He had gotten out of the cockpit and was holding on to the upright to the roll bar and the car was still going very fast. Then he jumped off to get away from the flames. At the time a leather jacket and jeans were the standard issue fire suit. The ’53 Studebaker that Dean Lowe crashed was the car I built in high school auto shop. I put a Chrysler engine in it. Dean and his dad, Buzz, had Frank Kurtis redo the car and installed an SBC. I was on the timing stand when Dean crashed about 100 feet in front of me. Forty years later I called Dean at his company, L&L Screw Machine. He picked up the phone and his first words were, “I don’t want to buy another Studebaker.” Tim Kraushaar (aka) Weed
WEED: My father tested out the Avanti when it first came out. Why it never reached the heights of the Corvette or other sporty cars is baffling. Stude racers, can you give us an answer?

5) Books from Dalton Watson Fine Books at www.daltonwatson.com: Imagine too!, by Patrick Kelley. Meister Brauser: Harry
Heuer’s Championship Racing Team, Tom Schultz. Mid-Atlantic Sports Car Races 1953-1962, by Terry O’Neil. Books from
Dalton Watson Fine Books at www.daltonwatson.com.

6) Books and Manuals from CarTech Publishing, 6118 Main Street, North Branch, Minnesota 55056, 1-800-551-4754, www.Car
TechBooks.com. How to Restore Your C3 Corvette: 1968-1982. How to Fabricate Auto Fiberglass & Carbon Fiber Parts. And
TransAm & Firebird Restoration 1970 1/2-1981.

7) Off-Road community and race car owners’ contacts. Please consider donating to my personal friend of 25 years who has self-funded a network of independent helicopters and paramedics in North Carolina getting medical aid, food, water and temporary power generation to the people in need. PLEASE donate whatever you can as it goes directly to hard costs:
steve, Website: https://srp24.com/?mc_cid=31ba647985&mc_eid=6d60
4189e0. Corporate Brochure: contact. (last in the series)

8) My biggest thing, if I can say I actually did something notable that had a huge outcome was to contact and arrange to bring high school bands to the Winternationals and World Finals. At Winternationals (April 2023), I was successful in getting Bell Gardens High School to perform, (John Force’s High School Alma Mater). He was stunned, coming into his pits on his scooter in the midst of the band playing, over 130 with color guards. Showing on Fox TV, they presented him with a beautiful band jacket with John Brute Force embroidered on it. Never seen John get almost emotional as it was put on him. He has quite a history at BGHS. At 2023 World Finals, Los Osos HS from Rancho Cucamonga, 2024 Winternationals rained out so Bonita HS from La Verne is scheduled for World Finals in November of 2024. Marv Weston
MARV: My hat is doffed in honor of what you and the NHRA YES program does for high school students. Also, a doff of the hat to Bill Montgomery and Jerry Rangel at the Hidden Pioneers program.

9) Books on Mark Greene’s Cars Year website mentioned by those appearing on Mark’s Podcast.
Raffaello Porro – 100 Years of Innovation in Half the Time, by Luca Molinari. The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemmingway
Brian Graff – Entrepreneur Magazine and Highline Autos Magazine
Eric Keller – Zero to One, by Peter Thiel
Tony D’Amato – Start with Why, by Simon Sinek
Jim Schwarzkoph – General Norman H. Schwarzkoph, by General Norman H. Schwarzkopf and written with Peter Petre
Leanne Marin – The One Thing, by Gary Keller
Dustin Troyan – The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexand Dumas. The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, both by Ayn Rand
Michael Harley – Go Like Hell, by A.J. Baime

10) Next up is the Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Classic 10 Hour at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, September 25-28, 2025, which carries on the tradition of this weekend’s Fall Historics while being moved later in the year to be closer on the calendar to IMSA’s season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans, October 8-11, 2025. Adam Saal at SaalGoodPR@Gmail.com.

11) The Quick 32 Sportsman Series and Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) Championship Point Award Series banquet for the 2024 season will be held in conjunction with the Empire Dragway Banquet at the Genesee River Restaurant and Reception Center in Mount Morris, NY on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Visit the Quick 32 Sportsman Series at www.facebook.com/quick32,
the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) at www.facebook.com/probikeandsledseries, the Empire Dragway at EmpireDragway.com, for more information and event updates. Bruce Mehlenbacher is at Bruce@JAJentertainment.com.

12) It’s true that Ak Miller 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)

13) Wally’s stories: courtesy of DRIVE Magazine, by Wally Parks (to be serialized in coming newsletters). TRAILBLAZER
“As they headed east across the bridge, our team and Mr Cole’s companions were loading into our cars for hot pursuit. But when we reached the steep east bank of the dry sandy riverbed, neither they nor the ‘Trailblazer’ were anywhere in sight. And then, fast approaching from upstream and weaving back and forth across a graded sandy berm, there came a small speck with two people aboard – until it hit a big rock and stopped. My first concern was for Ed Cole’s safety as we managed our way down the steep flood-controlled riverbank. But that concern was short-lived when Mr Cole stepped lightly from behind the wheel and Vic did his demonstration of shoveling sand into the top of the running Corvair engine, to prove its worthiness as a rugged air-cooled source of off-roadable power.”

14) BOOK REVIEW: The Speed Kings; The Rise and Fall of Motordrome Racing, by Don Emde. 10×12 inch, hardbound, 372 Pages, 600 illustrations, 40 chapters plus prologue and epilogue. 4-color sepia tone throughout, self-published and printed in the United States of America, available from EmdeBooks.com. Emde, whose previous books include a history of the Daytona 200 and Cannon Ball Baker’s transcontinental ride of 1914, has been collecting motorcycle history materials for over 50 years. In addition to his large collection of historic scrapbooks and photographs—many not seen in 100 years—he made use of over 1,000 magazines with first generation information about board track racing. Added to that were numerous newspapers, race programs, books and more. These publications yielded more than 6,000 pages that he scanned into a chronological database and used as a guide throughout the project. The Speed Kings: The Rise and Fall of Motordrome Racing provides more details about motordrome racing than any previous publication. Available now direct from EmdeBooks.com. Contact Don Emde at don for more information.

15) Events in New South Wales, Australia: 6th Oct 2024, Static display at Stroud Brick-throwing Show Sunday. 13th Oct 2024, Static display at Davistown Putt Putt Regatta. Saturday 19th Oct 2024, Illabo Vintage Speedway, demonstration runs. Saturday 26th Oct 2024, to Chromefest @ The Entrance. Sunday 27th November 2024, and Saturday 9th Nov 2024, Demonstration run at Tamworth Speedway. Sunday 10th Nov 2024, Static display at Linwood House Guildford. Sunday 17th Nov 2024, Combined Picnic Day. New venue: Pioneer Village Park Wilberforce. Monday 25th Nov 2024, General Meeting Community Hall – River Rd – Ermington. From John and Maria Green at Vintage Racer, New South Wales, Australia, ajkake.
READERS: Aussie vintage racing is alive and well in the Great Down-Under. Great racing on iron-rich red dirt, asphalt and concrete courses. Illabo Motorsports Park is set in a beautiful, red dirt racing, park and showgrounds area, population 144, about 200 miles southwest of Sydney, Australia, in a beautiful agricultural center.

16) Charter Local Edition with Bill Montgomery, Marketing Team, Prime Motivation, YouTube: HiddenPioneers.

17) BLAST FROM THE PAST…… From the Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way. Thomas Seabrook Glover Jr was born in Fresno County, California on March 23, 1929, and passed away on May 2, 1948, at the age of 19 at the El Mirage Dry Lake, California in a time trial event. Glover was driving a Model-A Ford and broke his neck when his car overturned while traveling at about 100 mph, as the car skidded about 160 feet. It was the second fatal accident at El Mirage in two weeks however the other accident, which killed two young men, occurred during an unofficial race off the timing course. Glover was a high school student, from Bell, California. Sources included the Nevada State Journal, May 9, 1948, and the Los Angeles Times, May 3, 1948. This information was provided by LSRdeaths.com.

18) BOOK REVIEW: BAD PEOPLE, by Joe Scalzo ($21.95) ISBN 9798335291811. By trade they might be Movie Stars, Gangsters, Sea Captains, Racing Drivers, Gunslingers, Molls, Secret Agents, Dukes, Earls, Presidents, Cowboys, Cops, Dignitaries, Dancers, Preachers, Prancers, and/or Crooks: and you just take this to the bank, Bob: they are unrepentant each and all. This one is hot off the presses in Las Vegas (honest) and available directly at Amazon. Reviewed by DOUG STOKES at stokes28doug.

19) The Smothers Brothers’ Flirtation with Oldsmobile, written by Diego Rosenberg for The ClassicCars.com Journal: Your daily dose of steel, rubber and soul. Part 10. As it turned out, Jeremy responded in the negative, but he happened to mention that he had “just” the King Oldsmobile, which was sitting in the corner of his dad’s building. Though filthy, it was recognizable due to the Saffron paint. Jeff checked the door jambs, which featured remnants of the Crimson hue that had been used to decorate the sides. Jimmy still had the paperwork for the King Olds as well as the Smothers Brothers contract. Though Jeff was checking out fuelie parts, as well as rare 1956 dual-quad pieces, he was distracted by this magnificent piece of drag racing history tucked in the corner.

20) Almost forgot the most interesting thing going on in my family related to racing, shame on me, my son-in-law runs a modified Pull Tractor. GIT R DUN, a 4-engine hemi. Was sponsored by Lucas last year. He does pretty good. Runs mostly here in California. Cool tractor. Keep up your newsletter, I enjoy it. From: Shirley Shahan Bridges at amxdragonlady1.

21) My Travels on Racer Road: Can-Am and Formula 1 in their golden age, by Author Pete Lyons, with Foreword by Sir Jackie Stewart, ISBN: 9781910505878, Epilogue with Mario Andretti. Lyons witnessed Chaparral, Lola, McLaren and Porsche create ever-more-monstrous Can-Am beasts to be tamed by the likes of Jim Hall, John Surtees, Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Mario Andretti and Mark Donohue. His cameras, notebooks and typewriter also were there when Tyrrell, Lotus, McLaren and Ferrari were the dominant forces in Formula 1, with Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, Niki Lauda and James Hunt the World Champion drivers. Immersed in this golden age of racing, Lyons brought a unique blend of evocative description and fastidious factual detail to his craft, putting his devoted readers at the heart of the action. This captivating memoir will transport you back to those times. Sent in by: Doug Stokes at stokes28doug. Pete Lyons’ website is at https://www.petelyons.com/my-books.

22) From the MSHFA website at https://www.mshf.com/. 2021 inductees: Davey Allison, John Cobb, Larry Dixon Jr, Janet Guthrie, Nicky Hayden, Robin Miller, Fran Muncey, Ray Nichels, and Judy Stropus. 2022 inductees: Peter Brock, Helio Castroneves, Harley-Davidson Founders, Dick LaHaie, Banjo Matthews, Denise McCluggage, Raymond Parks, Jack Roush, and Vance & Hines. 2023 inductees: Zora Arkus-Duntov, Henry Banks, Dick Burleson, Art Chester, Ray Evernham, Fonty Flock, Darrell Gwynn, Ab Jenkins, and Olvey & Trammell. 2024 inductees: Austin Coil, Scott Dixon, Downing & Hubbard, Bud Ekins, Earl B. Gilmore, Jimmie Johnson, Paul Newman, John Surtees, and Phil Walters.

23) NHRA officials announced the eight NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors in contention for the 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year award. Tony Stewart was one of those nominated, a motorsports legend, stepped into the seat of his Top Fuel car at the start of the 2024 season after starting up his nitro team in 2022. Stewart has advanced to two final round appearances including the Las Vegas 4-Wide and Sonoma races. From: nhracommunications.

24) BOOKS: Mercedes-Benz Cars, £19.99 and $30, by James Taylor, 96 pages, 220 pictures. Jaguar Cars £22.50 or $35, by Nigel Thorley, 160 pages, 387 images. Volvo Cars, £19.99 or $30, by Trevor Alder, 112 pages, 210 images, each Volvo model (1945-1995). From: Veloce at newsletter.

25) National Motor Museum exhibition – Burnout! 60th Anniversary of British International Drag Racing Festival. 27th September 2024. Thanks to Bryn Jones from National Motor Museum Trust for sending this announcement regarding 60th Anniversary of British International Drag Racing Festival: A major milestone in the history of British motor sport is being celebrated with an enthralling new exhibition at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, England. John Hunt can be reached at johnhunt.drn.

26) Hi Richard, I did reach out to Jim Miller. He has some confusion about this car and the Harris Special. Although the two cars look similar, I have done extensive research on the Harris car, which still exists, and can definitely state they are two VERY different cars, and this is NOT the Harris Special. As you suggested we considered this car might have been built for other motorsports/racing purposes, but the body and substructure are so heavily built it would not be good for drag racing or road course. Additionally, the suspension/steering is really modified for straight line use and would be frightening to take a corner at speed with. All of which lead us to it being a possible land speed car. I had Scot Sargent from Sargent Metal Craft, a Pebble Beach restorer who has helped on some current land speed attempts, look at it and he said the design and weight would be what you’d expect for a 1940-50’s lands speed car. Let’s hope your readers can shed some light on this one. It will be interesting to see what might come out. If you need any additional information, please let me know. All the best, Shawn Coady, OD President Hicks Oil, 106 N. State Route 54, Roberts, IL 60962 or shawn.coady.
READERS: Let’s try and find the history of this “lost” car and bring it back to life. Shawn is ready to restore.

27) PRI Show, December 12-14, 2024, Indianapolis, Indiana. Go to Prishow.com. From NHRA at updates.

28) Renamed Firebird Motorsports Park in 2023, the historic facility enjoyed a memorable grand re-opening last year, with the name referencing back to Firebird International Raceway, the original name of the facility, from 40 years ago. After an outpouring of support from the racing community in the Phoenix area hoping to see NHRA drag racing remain at the facility, the Gila River Indian Community was proactive in its efforts to keep racing at the track, continuing one of the hallmark events on the NHRA tour. The Arizona Nationals has consistently attracted sellout crowds thanks to its strong local fanbase and enjoyed sellout days on both Saturday and Sunday at the 2024 event. Over the years, the event has become a must-see race for any NHRA fan, delivering record performances and incredible early-season action. From: nhracommunications.

29) All American Truck Show & veteran coat drive, November 9, 2024, 9am-2pm. Collector car & parts sale Lions indoor swap meet, March 15, 2025. 2024 Lions Automobilia Hall of Fame Awards dinner & silent auction, November 14, 2024, hosted by Jack Beckman, contact Lana Chrisman for tickets at media. 3 Museum Couples Cruise, February 15, 2025, including Segerstrom Shelby Museum, Marconi Auto Museum & Lions Automobilia Museum, 7:30am to past 2 pm. From:
media, Lions Automobilia Foundation, 2790 E Del Amo Blvd, East Rancho Dominguez, CA 90221-6008.

30) As North Carolina’s urban research university, UNC Charlotte leverages its location in the state’s largest city to offer internationally competitive programs of academics, research and innovation, including BATT CAVE, the North Carolina Battery Complexity, Autonomous Vehicle and Electrification Research Center. BATT CAVE is addressing the increasing demand for a talented engineering workforce and technology in a top emerging US industry, electric vehicle manufacturing. See https://
dtaylor.

31) Tom Matano’s Interview with Hidden Pioneer’s Jennifer Rodriguez at the Global Diversity Summit, February 2021 here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y2E1flzti0odWZav_zJwZ4HKPGYOaqdU/view?usp=sharing. Jennifer Rodriguez, a High School student had just recently finished college: We displayed at this car show downtown Glendale before Covid 19 with her
parents. See more videos of Hidden Pioneer’s Jennifer Rodriguez’s work in High School Pop Art: Comic Girl Look | Jennifer Rodriguez – YouTube, My Art Progress 2012 to Now (2016) | JRDesignz – YouTube, by Jennifer Rodriguez, Jenny Rodriguez’s 1st Mural | JRDesignz – YouTube. Bill Montgomery at HiddenPioneers.

32) Jeff Dickerson, the co-owner of Spire Motorsports and CEO and co-founder of Spire Holdings, has joined the impressive lineup of featured speakers for the 5th Annual RACE INDUSTRY WEEK, Monday through Thursday, Dec 2-5, 2024.
Australia-based Uniclutch will be at the SEMA Show in Booth #21237 in Las Vegas, Nevada, in November. Shopmonkey will also be at the SEMA Show in Booth #11861. From: team.

33) This Week on Cars Yeah Mark Greene interviews the Brinkerhoffs, Joey Benjamini, Joan Klatil Creamer and Jennifer Maher. Cars Yeah is at info, or write to 4618 131st St Ct NW, Gig Harbor, Washington 98332.
READERS: There are 4 very pretty ladies on this podcast. Tune in to hear their motoring stories.

34) Start racing today with NHRA Street Legal. From: National Hot Rod Association updates. DIVISION 5
Tri-State Raceway, Earlville, Iowa (1/4-mile) 563-923-3724 http://www.tristateraceway.com/.
Kansas International Dragway, Maize, Kansas 316-833-4556 http://www.kansasdragway.com/.
SRCA Dragstrip, Great Bend, Kansas (1/4-mile) 620-792-5079 http://www.srcadragstrip.com/.
Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minnesota (1/4-mile) 218-824-7223 http://www.brainerdraceway.com/.
Grove Creek Raceway, Grove City, Minnesota (1/8-mile) 320-857-2152 http://www.grovecreek.com/.

35) Daytime events include the annual inductee welcome luncheon on Monday, presented by Firestone this year, and the annual inductee brunch on Tuesday morning. Next year’s Historic inductees, Unser and Vanderbilt, will be ushered into the MSHFA as a featured highlight of the brunch, which was sponsored by American Honda this year. Through April’s Class of 2024 induction, 297 Heroes of Horsepower are currently in the MSHFA, a number that will grow to 306 with the 37th Induction Class. For more info or to purchase Class of 2025 Induction tickets, visit the MSHFA at www.mshf.com or contact George Levy at 248- 895-1704 or
glevy. Sent in by Adam Saal

36) Royce Rumsey just published “Reaping the World Win.” The “Maharajah” SJ Duesenberg is one of the many and renowned Duesenberg’s of the Lyon Collection (one of the world’s largest and most famous arrays of the famed Indianapolis marque) commissioned in 1935 by the 28-year-old Maharajah Holkar of Indore. For the full story and excellent photos of this boat tailed speedster go to roycer924_2.

37) The Ultimate Guide on NHRA Drag Racing Series Betting in the US. Using Bonus Offers and Promotions to Maximize Profits: Many online sportsbooks offer bonus offers and promotions to attract punters. These bonuses may include sign-up bonuses, deposit bonuses, free bets, and enhanced odds. You can utilize such offers to maximize profits and increase your betting bankroll. Remember to read the terms and conditions since most offers often have certain requirements or restrictions. https://nxtbets.com/the-ultimate-guide-on-nhra-drag-racing-series-betting-in-the-us/. John Towle

38) Vintage Metal magazine (www.vsccwa.com.au), October 2024-Issue #391 of The Journal of The Vintage Sports Car Club of Western Australia. We have just returned from America where we went to the Brickyard 400 event at the Indianapolis International Speedway which was a weekend of NASCAR racing on the 2.5mile oval track. First time they have competed on the oval there in 4 years. Sunday feature race was 160+ laps while on Saturday it was the Brickyard 250 event which was 100+ laps. The plus was the added laps required following restarts after the numerous crashes. An amazing circuit for Motorsport. The following weekend Ed was treated [as a birthday treat] to 3 hot laps at the Michigan International Speedway at a speed of 160mph. He absolutely loved it. Cheers, Cris Farrar.

39) IF NASCAR switches to EV cars, I AM NOT THE ONLY FAN THEY WILL LOSE. I just talked to an engineer with a local TV station. I get my signals over the air. He mentioned NASCAR & I told him the same thing. HE SAID I WOULD NOT BE THE ONLY ANGRY FAN. Karen Nelson
KAREN: Oh, my goodness, Big Bill is turning over in his grave. Electric vehicles will enter the sport someday, but they will have their own category in racing. Can you imagine the time in the pits to CHANGE the batteries? But once the weight of the batteries drops significantly this might be the next fad in motorsports. READERS, what say you?

40) BRM Chronographes celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the HSR Classic Daytona 24 Hour. Founding Partner of the HSR Classic unveils two limited-edition BRM timepieces to celebrate Historic Sports Car race on the road course at Daytona International Speedway. Takes place at Daytona International Speedway, October 30-November 3, 2024. From: Adam Saal

41) Lee Noble: Supercar Genius, by Chris Catto. Lee Noble: Supercar Genius, by Chris Catto. £60 or $90, Hardback, 20.7x25cm, 336 pages, with 574 pictures. Ever since the M10 and M12 wowed the press in 1999, the marque has taken its place within the British sports car landscape alongside the likes of Lotus, TVR, and Morgan. From: newsletter.

42) BOOK SIGNING: The Other Side of the Fence: Six Decades of Motorsport Photography, by Bill Warner. Bill tells his story and will appear at Autobooks/Aerobooks on Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 11am to 3pm, 2900 W. Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505, 818-845-0707. manager.

43) Hidden Pioneers is an advertising, education, and marketing company solely owned by founder Bill Montgomery. The company aims to provide hands-on STEM education programs and career mentorship to high school students, filling a gap in existing alternatives that often lack engaging, immersive learning experiences. hiddenpioneers.

44) The Quick 32 Sportsman Series was established in 2009 for high-horsepower Sportsman class teams to compete on a special event basis. The Series is comprised of Top Sportsman, or doorcars (full-bodied, full-fendered cars) and Top Dragsters. “Quick 32 denotes 32 qualified teams, 16 entries in the Dragster class, and 16 in the Sportsman class. The race format is such that cars must qualify for a 16-car elimination field for each class. The unique race format pits Dragsters against Dragsters and Sportsman cars against Sportsman cars. There are two sets of eliminations, one for each class. Secondly, the winning Top Dragster entry faces off with the winning Top Sportsman entry to determine the overall event champion. Competitors must race within a dialed-in, indexed racing environment, using the full lighting system on the starting Christmas Tree in the eighth mile. Bruce Mehlenbacher is at Bruce@JAJentertainment.com.

45) “Optimizing Boost Control: The New Era of Wastegate Technology,” by DSPS Engineering will present this live webinar on Wednesday, October 23 at 9 am PST. Presented by Perry Cohn, Owner. Hosted by Jeff Hammond from SiriusXM, Channel 90.
AND: Wiseco Pistons will be at the SEMA Show in Booth #22763. From: team.

46) A first-time winner that foreshadowed Sunday’s results of the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 secured the victory in Saturday’s HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Petty’s Garage race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In his HSR NASCAR Classic debut, Adam Boatman broke through for the victory in Saturday’s 16-lap feature race in his 2018 No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Boatman’s Chevy carries the same Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 and HendrickCars.com livery as the more contemporary Camaro of NASCAR superstar Kyle Larson drove to victory in Sunday’s Bank of America 400 on the same Charlotte ROVAL circuit. From: HSR Communications

47) BLAST FROM THE PAST…… From the Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way. Hot Rod Exposition Show. The
first mention for a hot rod car show was on March 26, 1947, although there may have been discussions prior to this date that are not recorded. Parks had met Pete Petersen and discussed opportunities; these were men of ideas. Most likely Pete had called my father and on March 26th Dad called Petersen to set up a meeting which was held during a safety meeting at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on April 7th; probably a lunch meeting. That first meeting discussed the possibility of Hollywood Publicity Associates (HPA) becoming a Publicity arm of the SCTA on contract. A second meeting on April 11th between Parks and Petersen was also held at the Biltmore Hotel and this time Parks suggested a car show with the proceeds to be split in half between the SCTA and HPA; the SCTA having no funds to hire HPA at this time.

48) SHERM PORTER’s Calendar of Events at fuely32.
November 5-8, 2024, SEMA Show, Las Vegas Convention Center, Nevada. www.SEMAShow.com.
November 8-9, 2024, 2NITRO Revival, Irwindale Dragstrip, Irwindale, CA, 559-797-6176 or www.nitrorevival.com.
November 9-10, 2024, Fuel Curve Autumn, Pleasanton Fairgrounds, CA, 925-838-9876 or www.good-guys.com.
November 9-10, 2024, El Mirage, www.scta-bni.org.
November 14-17, 2024, In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, Fairplex, Pomona, CA. For info: www.nhra.com.
November 15-17, 2024, Speedway Motors SW Nationals, WestWorld, Scottsdale, AZ, 925-838-9876, www.good-guys.com.

49) Celebrating a special 25th anniversary in 2025, tickets are on sale for the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance, which takes place May 15-18, 2025, at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago. The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series at www.nhra.com/tickets.

50) A 1935 Swallow Sidecar SS1 two-door coupe, owned by Eduardo Zavala of St Petersburg, Florida, won Best in Show in Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance at the Fifth Annual Chattanooga Motorcar Festival. This SS1 is a British sports car produced by the Swallow Sidecar Company, which later became Jaguar Cars. The model was introduced at the 1931 London Motor Show, and this rare surviving example of an SS1 Coupe was delivered new to Argentinian tango performer Ada Falcon. It spent 80 years in Buenos Aires before coming to the United States. Here is a link to a full gallery of images from the entire weekend: https://www.sparkplugsociety.com/Galleries/CMF-Media-2024. From Judy Stropus

51) Now through Sunday, October 27 the Simeone Museum presents “It’s A Drag! Too!” All local drag car owners to be part of this event honoring the rich history and bold culture of drag racing. Alfa Romeo; 8C Piloti Demo Day Saturday, October 26 from 11 AM to 2PM. People’s Choice Demo Day Saturday, November 2 from 11AM to 2 PM voting for our annual People’s Choice Demo Day. From: Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum newsletter, Philadelphia, PA.

52) Yes, I am getting them (newsletter) and thank you. Todd Martin
TODD: Please send me news and schedules for events in the Midwest for the newsletter.

53) The Museum of American Speed is celebrating Bob McKee, who was a mechanic on the Jim Rathmann roadster that won the 1958 Monza (Italy) race setting a record at 186.788 mph. From: museum, 599 Oak Creek Drive, Lincoln, NE 68528.

54) Books on Mark Greene’s Cars Year website mentioned by those appearing on Mark’s Podcast.
Alain Raymond – The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.
Mark Greene – The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It by Michael Gerber.
Juan Carlos Ferrigno – Men Women and Engines by Alfred Muhlbauer (out of print).
The Ring Brothers – The Men of the Gambier Bay by Edwin Palmer Hoyt.
Jason Godsil – Chrysler: The Life and Times of an Automotive Genius by Vincent Curcio.
Howard Mackert – The Shack by William Paul Young.
Kyle Neal – Hammer by Armand Hammer.
Peter Hageman – The Kings of the Road by Ken Purdy.
Art Smith – The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.

55) Burt Levy’s new book, Lifelong Lotus Love Affair, has been delayed. Plans are to do the official retail launch with a book signing in the Hall of Fame Museum during the 12 Hours of Sebring March 13-15, 2025. Followed by a presentation at the Revs Institute in Naples, Florida the following Monday, March 17, 2025. Burt is at thinkfast.

56) Royce Rumsey just published “Sechs ne Zehn,” Luft’s meteoric rise from a backyard BarBQ gathering to automotive event stardom continued with its triumphant return to Universal Studios Backlot for Luftgekühlt 10. For the full story and great photos go to roycer924_2.

57) Jeff Dodds, Chief Executive Officer of Formula E, has joined the lineup of featured speakers for the 5th Annual RACE INDUSTRY WEEK, Monday-Thursday, December 2-5, 2024.
AND: Haltech will be at the SEMA Booth #22763, in Las Vegas in November 2024. From: team.

58) National Motor Museum exhibition – Burnout! 60th Anniversary of British International Drag Racing Festival. 27th September 2024, in the museum’s In Focus gallery, presents a fascinating display recounting the 1964 International Drag Racing Festival was the first large scale event to bring the motor sport, which was hugely popular in America at the time, to the United Kingdom. Drag racing, born from the Hot Rod scene of 1930’s America, involves two specially adapted vehicles racing side by side at extreme speeds, fueled by petrol or nitromethane over a quarter mile distance or 440 yards. Winners are decided through a knockout competition format. From John Hunt at johnhunt.drn.

59) WE GET LETTERS DEPARTMENT: You are doing a great service for the auto industry with this newsletter. John Dinkel
JOHN: Many thanks for the high praise. Send me more news. Loved the “KidCar” articles you sent.

60) Wally’s stories: courtesy of DRIVE Magazine, by Wally Parks (to be serialized in coming newsletters). TRAILBLAZER
Afterward, following this introduction and demonstration, Mr Cole was enthusiastic about the Trailblazer’s prospects and he had it shipped to Detroit for evaluation of its production costs vs prospective sales potentials. Much later, after dismemberment and reassembly, it was returned to its builders with a fair-compensation for its use, and a purchase of the name rights to ‘Trailblazer’ – which was shortened to ‘Blazer’ for its introduction as a pickup truck. Jack Henry later produced his two-piece dual-carburetor intake manifold for flathead Ford V8s at about the same time Vic Edelbrock and Eddie Meyer were introducing theirs. And Vic Hickey, later employed by General Motors in research and development, was heavily involved with the Land Rover space exploration vehicle and was originator of the military’s HumVee and later Hummer vehicles – still focused on ingenuity and off-road action.” (source: Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way)

61) Adventure Rally to Las Vegas November 21-24, for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Each ticket is one car, two attendees. No participants under age 18. For questions, please reach out to ksaville. From: Petersen Automotive Museum.

62) How can I get a pass to the SEMA Show here in Vegas? Sent in by a reader.
EDITOR IS PERPLEXED: I’m not sure as I’ve never been. A friend told me that one has to be a garage owner, or work in motorsports, but I think that would be too exclusive. I’m writing to Mike Spagnola, President of SEMA to get the correct answer. Don’t people just buy a ticket? Some sponsors may have tickets to give out. As there are 20,000 booths someone told me then there has to be a way. Good question.

63) Nice to meet you. We are almost done with our 2025 schedule. I will send it as soon as we have it. Ellen Eschenbacher, Event Director, Mid-West Drag Racing Series is at ellen.
READERS: I believe the Mid-West Drag Racing Series uses Tulsa Dragway.

64) The Championship Point Award Series, “Night of Champions” for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS), will be held in conjunction with the Empire Dragway Banquet at the Genesee River Restaurant and Reception Center in Mount Morris, NY on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Visit the Quick 32 Sportsman Series at www.facebook.com/quick32, the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) at www.facebook.com/probikeandsledseries & Empire Dragway at EmpireDragway.com, for more information and event updates. Bruce Mehlenbacher is at Bruce@JAJentertainment.com.

65) NHRA officials announced the eight NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors in contention for the 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year award. Nominee Ida Zetterström is a European drag racing champion and made her NHRA debut in Brainerd this season, where she advanced to the semifinals after defeating former champion Steve Torrence in the first round.

66) The Quarter Mile Foundation (QMF) will be at the 2024 SEMA show in Las Vegas, NV, November 5-8, 2024, in the Central Hall, at the end of the Toyota booth in Hot Rod Alley in Booth #22299. Traci Hrudka is at hrudka, 6210 Beverly Dr, Cleveland, Ohio.

67) Hidden Pioneers has assembled an experienced management team and advisory board with expertise across various industries. The company plans to leverage partnerships with top publications, creative promotional tactics, and emerging channels like music entertainment to effectively reach its target demographic of high-net-worth individuals and youth. Hidden
Pioneers is at hiddenpioneers.

68) Vintage Metal magazine (www.vsccwa.com.au), October 2024-Issue #391 of The Journal of The Vintage Sports Car Club of Western Australia. Member Spotlight: Rami Brass. “I first joined the VSCC in 1997. It all started with an invitation to enter the Goomalling regularity. You had to be a member and therefore I joined up. My first competition car was a British racing green, 1970 MGB roadster. A couple of mods, for example, tow hooks, wired sump plugs etc, and the car was ready for a regularity. With my new helmet, a CAMS license and some race gloves, I was ready for my first competition event. I am not sure about the results at Goomalling, and I didn’t care, I just had a ball driving fast through the streets cheered on by the crowd at the local pub. From then on, I was hooked and have entered numerous events including road rallies, sprints, hill climbs and regularities.”
READERS: From 1949 to 1955 a racing circuit for sports car racing was held in this picturesque town of Goomalling, with a population of 460. The race included short sprints and handicaps for cars and motorcycles. The feature race was a 50-miler. The town is 83 miles northeast of Perth, Western Australia, in a wheat growing area with clear blue skies.

69) LOOKING FOR ORIGINAL OWNER: Thanks for stirring up some interest in this quest. Here’s a bit more detail on the car to maybe jog some memories. These measures are approximate: Wheelbase 100.5 inches. Front track 53 inches. Length 160 inches. Width 68 inches. Ground clearance 5.5 inches (w/16” wheels). Based on the little paint left on the car, it appears to have been light blue (like a Gulf GT40) then a dark blue (think Sunoco blue) and lastly maybe white, but this could be primer too, for photos contact Shawn Coady at Shawn.Coady. The center engine cover/tail may have been a different color than the main body, but very tough to tell. It is possible that the car was just a custom/hot rod, but my logic in thinking it was likely something more: a) No shocks in the suspension. Only front/rear transverse leaf springs and rear has a travel limiter welded to the axle. b) This would have been a ton of work to execute a full body build from scratch for just a custom/hot rod. Why no just start with a stock body and modify like everybody else? Build quality although robust is actually quite good. The contours of the engine cover and tail section are not easy metal fab. And the wheel openings are all rolled edges and leaded. c) Not that custom/hot rods are known to be remotely practical, but an open cockpit, single seater would be even less so than most. d) Road course or Indy type car is questionable as there was so much better suspension technology available in the 1950’s than this. If the car is actually much older than we are thinking, say 1930/40’s then maybe? e) It’s a bit hard to perceive from photos and is much easier to appreciate in person, but the body/substructure build is quite stout. The body support framing is 1” x ” strap iron and the body work appears to be 16-gauge sheet metal. Which is heavier and harder to work with than I would expect for a standard custom build. f) The rust. I’ve done enough restorations to have categorized rust in 3 types. 1) stored outside general rust from the elements, small uniform shallow pitting – like you see on the exterior surface of this car, and 2) wet rust from water pooling in corners/pockets or long term storage in a building with a dirt or gravel floor – generally on the bottom horizontal surfaces where the moisture condenses on the car deeper pitting and localized rust through, or 3) salt damage – deep pitting, lower surfaces of the vehicle, and worse in tight areas where it can be trapped. I could be totally wrong, but the way the lower portion of this car has corroded, and the type of pitting appears to me to be salt damage. I doubt the builder drove an open single seater in the snow so likely dry lakes, beach, or it’s possible it was in a costal flood at some point, no idea. Thanks again for the help. One of your contacts recommended I put it out on the land speed Facebook page. Since I don’t do Facebook, I may have my wife do that later this week. Shawn Coady, OD, Hicks Oil.
SHAWN: Could it be an early Daytona LSR car?