By Richard Parks
1) EDITOR’S CORNER: Some readers asked me why I take ADS. I don’t take ADS, nor do I ever receive any remuneration for what I do including stories, bios or anything else I’ve written or helped other people write. If someone sends me something, I’ll put it in the newsletter as a notice. I like to know what people in motorsports do for a living so send me something. It has to be short, and fact filled though.
AND: All links in the newsletter need to be copied and pasted into your browser in order to work.
TIME SENSITIVE DATES: 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. The Parks family will be there, come and meet us. For those wishing to call me my phone number is 714-818-1281.
AND: November 8-9, 2024, is Steve Gibbs Nitro Revival Reunion at Irwindale Dragway. I plan on going with Dick Martin.
APOLOGY & RETRACTION DEPT: You’ve got the wrong date for the Speedway Motors GOODGUYS Scottsdale car show. The correct date is November 22-24, 2024. I texted you last newsletter, but you have not corrected the date yet. Phil Smith
PHIL: You are not going to believe this convoluted account. The editor did and didn’t make the correction. I told you it “was complicated.” When I get show information I put it in several different issues, like issues #1, #4, #7, assuming it is correct. Then when a correction comes in the sappy editor (that’s me) changes the date in your email but FORGETS that he has put the wrong information in future issues. I apologize (again) and will await Dave (Blacksheep#2) Wallace Jr’s hearty, “I told you so, Richard.”
AND: The Motorsports Newsletter comes out on Wednesday-Friday. The deadline to submit news is 10PM Tuesday.
2) REMEMBERING OUR LOST FRIENDS DEPARTMENT: August “Augie” Pabst, courtesy of Pagenkopf Funeral Home (serialized part 3). He won two National Championships during his storied career. He competed in Europe in the 24hrs of Le Mans twice, and Brands Hatch in the UK. He even managed to throw in a handful of stock car races including the 1963 Riverside NASCAR event, in a Ford Galaxy. After a successful racing career, Augie went to work for Pabst Brewing Company. He learned the science of brewing while attending Siebel Institute of Brewing in Chicago. He mastered the business from the ground up by working in each department of the brewery. Through time and experience, when Augie left the Brewery in 1983, after 17 years of service, he’d risen to the position of Executive Vice President and was a sitting member of the board. Sent in by Dave Nicholas.
AND: A Celebration of Life for Larry Ofria was held on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at the Valley Relics Museum, 7900 Balboa Blvd, Hangar C3 & C4, Lake Balboa, CA 91406. Drinks and finger food were served and a large crowd showed up. From Doug Stokes at stokes28doug.
AND: RRDC President Bobby Rahal wrote on the passing of Bob Riley, recipient of the 2023 RRDC Phil Hill Award: “All of us at the Road Racing Drivers Club are saddened by Bob Riley’s passing. I knew Bob Riley. He was not just a creative, practical engineer/designer but a humble, energetic gentleman. I was fortunate to work with him in 1983-84 on the Ford Mustang project. A victory in its first race clearly showed its capabilities, but engine unreliability hampered our efforts in virtually every race. Despite this, there was no question the car handled beautifully and therefore such a shame that Bob’s car never achieved the success he deserved. I saw Bob at Road Atlanta two weeks ago. As always, he was in good spirits, and we spoke. Motorsport is the poorer with Bob’s passing. RIP my friend. You will be missed.” Bobby Rahal, President, Road Racing Drivers Club, www.rrdc.org. From Judy Stropus
3) MESSAGES CONCERNING SEMA SHOW: You have to have a ticket from a sponsor or vendor. You just can’t walk up and purchase a ticket. Thought you might have some connections. ANON
AND: For consumers, we have a Friday experience- you can go to the SEMA Show on Friday. There are a few options- SEMA Show Friday Experience is the SEMA show. SEMA Show Friday experience plus Fest GA of FEST VIP includes the concert Friday night. Your choice of just the show or show and concert. See the link at https://www.semafest.com/#tickets. From Mike Spagnola, President of SEMA
AND: In respect to the SEMA Show (I’ve attended every one since it inaugurated at Dodger Stadium in 1968) and it is a trade-only event. The primary focus is for manufacturers to show their products to performance retailers, engine builders, tuner shops, etc. I’m sure that Mike Spagnola can fill you in on what SEMA is doing for the general public this year —there’s been an increased outreach in recent years. By the way, I think you added a “0” to the number of exhibitors —there were about 2,100 exhibiting companies at last year’s show. Bill Holland
BILL: I received the following from Epartrade. “COBB Tuning will be at the SEMA Show in Booth #23229.” You are the authority so perhaps 23299 means the 2329 booth with the extra 9 being a check digit of some sort.
AND: I will be at SEMA this year, appearing in the Quarter Mile Foundation booth, #22299, located in Hot Rod Alley. I haven’t been to SEMA since 2019, and I am looking forward to seeing a lot of dear, old friends! Please come by and say hello, as I can’t get around very well these days! “Big Daddy” Don Garlits
4) My good friend, Richard Nicholson (Dyno Don Nicholson’s nephew retired LA County Schools Consultant for Trade/Technical Education), who got me into the volunteer role with the NHRA COF Committee. He told me his son; Evan Nicholson found the “Dyno Don” car and has had it completely restored. I believe it will be at the Steve Gibbs Nitro Revival Reunion at Irwindale Dragway (also Speedway) on November 8-9, 2024. A few years ago, Richard collaborated with Doug Boyce in publishing: “The Cars and Career of Dyno Don Nicholson.” The whole family is doing a lot to keep the Dyno Don memories alive. Marv Weston
5) 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. About the author: Pete Lyons. Known in Britain primarily for his Autosport reports during the 1960s and 1970s from Formula 1 and North America’s Can-Am, the USA’s veteran motorsports journalist and photographer Pete Lyons has also covered such memorable classics as the Sebring 12 Hours, Le Mans 24 Hours, Indy 500, Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Kenya’s Safari Rally, Mexico’s Baja 1000 and Reno Air races, plus numerous Trans-Am, F5000, ALMS, CART, NASCAR, NHRA, USAC, motorcycle and vintage events. Sent in by: Doug Stokes. Pete Lyons’ website is at
https://www.petelyons.com/my-books.
6) One could say, “Once a drag racer, always a drag racer.” This was instilled in me back in the 1950’s, as all of us high school kids were all about cars and girls. I ran a ’46 Ford Coupe in “E” stock at the old San Garbiel Dragstrip. Hardly ever missed a Saturday night or Sunday at a local dragstrip and was early on, entering Pomona up at gate 17 paying per person and hiding a couple in the trunk. If it were not for persons like your dad and step-mom, it would have been over as cars got more into the foreign market. Marv Weston
7) Next Issue we cover the Mackay Dynasty, a feature to honour the late Ronald Mackay. Sad news August 19 with the passing of former Sydney star and NSW Speedcar Champion Bryan Cunneen, 95. Bryan was very highly regarded and respected as a true gentleman. Bryan was one of the forming members of our club where early meetings were held at Bryan’s home. From John & Maria Green at ajkake.
8) Other books by Don Emde include: The Daytona 200; The History of America’s Premier Motorcycle Race (2004). Finding Cannon Ball’s Trail (2016). Freddie Ludlow; His Life on Two Wheels (2021). Unlimited; The Fred Fox Story(2023). Contact Don Emde at don for more information.
AND: Don Emde’s Speed Kings was the winner of the Motor Press Guild’s “Dean Batchelor Book of the Year in 2020.” From Doug Stokes at stokes28doug.
9) “It is extremely exciting to announce not only a return to Firebird Motorsports Park, but also a long-term extension for the NHRA Arizona Nationals at the historic facility. The amazing work from the NHRA fans, the track and the Gila River Indian Community will continue to keep NHRA drag racing in the area for years to come. Last year was a tremendous event with a reimagining of racing at Firebird Motorsports Park, and we’re eager to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the NHRA Arizona Nationals next season, as well as events well into the future,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. From: National Hot Rod Association at nhracommunications.
10) BAD PEOPLE, by Joe Scalzo ($21.95) ISBN 9798335291811. Perhaps a typical quote from the book might well be in order here. Try this one: “Frank Sinatra alone escaped from Judith Exner’s tarring unscathed, even having the wit to manage a Sinatra quip: ˜Never trust a hooker who keeps a diary!” Reviewed by DOUG STOKES at stokes28doug.
11) The Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Classic Daytona 24 Hour runs for the 11th time next year, November 5 – 9, 2025, while a more than familiar venue closes the season at month later. Adam Saal SaalGoodPR@Gmail.com.
12) The Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) was organized early in 2011. It was established for motorcycle and snowmobile drag racing teams to compete regularly in an organized and professional racing environment. The Series comprises a qualified field of 16 quick motorcycles and snowmobiles and presents the best in E.T. style, dialed-in drag racing. This Series competes on a Sportsman ladder. Contestants race in the four-to-five-second range at speeds approaching 140 mph in the eighth mile. Bruce Mehlenbacher is at Bruce@JAJentertainment.com.
13) Books and Manuals from CarTech Publishing, 6118 Main Street, North Branch, Minnesota 55056, 1-800-551-4754, www.CarTechBooks.com. AMC Javelin, AMX and Muscle Car Restoration 1968-1974. Modern Engine Blueprinting Techniques. And Mopar B-Body Restoration 1968-1970.
14) Wally’s stories: courtesy of DRIVE Magazine, by Wally Parks (to be serialized in coming newsletters). LAW ENFORCEMENT article written for DRIVE Magazine. (source-Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way)
“Recent recognition of drag racing’s mega world champion John Force by the Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles County and the California Highway Patrol reminds us of the highly important roles that law enforcement has played in the transformation of a once renegade, illegal form of racing into the highly successful major league motorsport that drag racing has become today. And just as there were pioneers in cultivating today’s organized racing events, so were there an abundance of leaders in law enforcement who saw both sides of a controversial picture and added their efforts to finding a solution. It applied to many parts of the country but was more visible in the West where much of the sport’s roots were planted.
15) Books from Dalton Watson Fine Books: One Last Turn, by Martin Rudow and David Gaddis. QPRS: F1 Grand Prix Racing by the Numbers, 1950-2019, by Clyde P. Berryman. Shelby Cobras: CSX 2002 – CSX 2125 (2 volume set), by Robert D. Walker.
See: www.daltonwatson.com.
16) 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 and 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.
17) National Motor Museum exhibition – Burnout! 60th Anniversary of British International Drag Racing Festival. The exhibition, which is on until 2 February 2025, is a community collaborative project. The National Motor Museum Trust partnered with the British Drag Racing Historians (BDRH) who researched and curated items for this exhibition from its members’ private collections and other archives recommended by the group. The museum’s Library Curator, Carina Taylor says, “As one of Britain’s foremost motoring museum we love to share stories of motoring history. It’s been very interesting working with the Drag racing community on this display which celebrates the heritage of this very distinct and thrilling sphere of motor sport.”
18) Books on Mark Greene’s Cars Year website mentioned by those appearing on Mark’s Podcast.
Neil d’Autremont – Portland Speedway, by Jeff Zurschmeide.
Paul Morrissette – The Red Car, by Don Stanford.
Eric Peterson – Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert A. Heinlein.
César Pieri – Fare L’Automobilia, by Aldo Agnelli Mario Favilla.
Andy Cohen – Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson.
Neil Jaffe – Sports Car Market, Keith Martin’s Magazine.
Pete Aylett – AFAS A Celebration of Automotive Art, by Gerry Durnell.
Louise Noeth – Bonneville Salt Flats, by Louise Ann Noeth.
Ben Hsu – The Stainless-Steel Carrot: An Auto Racing Odyssey, by Sylvia Wilkinson.
Mike Pennington – Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, by Richard Carlson.
19) Ak worked at his garage until age and infirmity made him stop. Then he moved a trailer inside a workshop owned by his ex-wife Marilyn Miller, so that he was never far from his good friend and partner, Jack Lufkin, who kept Miller’s Garage humming and successful. I remember going over to Marilyn’s shop and talking to Ak. I taped a lot of what he said, but years later I could never find those tapes. But they aren’t necessary because I got the drift of what he was saying over time and when I write down his stories, I tell them the way that he wanted them to be told, only better. You see, there are historical facts and those we get right and then there are stories that tell a moral that we want the next generation to learn. That’s what Ak did; he told stories that left us with a core of truth that made us all better people if we would only listen. There are a lot of people who collect Millerisms, or stories told by Ak Miller. They have a life of their own; a special kind of world inhabited by hot rodders. Ak always stopped what he was doing, sat you down, and regaled you with another of his amazing stories, and as I’ve said before, they are all remarkably true. (source-Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way)
20) Aussie Invader Newsletter (Oct 2024): “My wife Cheryl and I watched David Warby testing his Spirit of Australia 2 at Blowerin Dam in New South Wales. David achieved a peak speed of 278 mph in slightly choppy conditions. We met many people who were there to support David, as well as quite a few Aussie Invader 5R supporters. David’s father, Ken Warby MBE, has held the world water speed record since 1978, when he achieved an incredible 317 mph (511 km/h). I was also honoured to be asked to speak at the Spirit of Australia 2 dinner on Saturday night.” Rosco McGlashan is at rosco.
21) The Smothers Brothers’ Flirtation with Oldsmobile, written by Diego Rosenberg for The ClassicCars.com Journal: Your daily dose of steel, rubber and soul. Part 11. What was so special about this car goes deeper than race pedigree: This car was a Cutlass S convertible, which was a nice cruiser in its day, though no 4-4-2. But this one was equipped with the W31 package, part of a trio of W-Machines available in 1969 that included the 4-4-2 W30 and W32. The W31 was the odd duck of the bunch, a 350ci screamer rated at 325 horsepower, but it pulled stronger than that thanks to a camshaft with 308-degree duration (both intake and exhaust), 82 degrees of overlap, and 0.474 of lift (again, both intake and exhaust). The compression ratio was a reasonable 10.50. This is arguably the most impressive factory mill Oldsmobile developed during the muscle car era from a hp/ci POV but, as John DeLorean once said, it was a 400+ci world, so few were sold. In the case of this convertible, only 26 were built with the W31 package.
22) NHRA officials announced the eight NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors in contention for the 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year award. Funny Car driver Daniel Wilkerson took over driving duties in 2024 after his father and long-time tuner, Tim Wilkerson, retired. Wilkerson finished runner-up at the Charlotte Four-Wide event earlier this spring and is in the top 10 in points. From: nhracommunications.
23) The MSHFA is housed in Daytona International Speedway’s Ticket & Tours Building located in front of the famed 2.5-mile DIS tri-oval. Access to the MSFHA museum is included with every Daytona International Speedway tour, which run throughout each day, or as a museum-only ticket. The museum is open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. nearly year-round except major holidays. It is visited by more than 150,000 guests each year from every state in America and countries all over the world. For museum tickets call 1-800-PIT-SHOP. The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MotorsportsHOF/ and Instagram and Twitter at @MotorsportsHOF. Sent in by Adam Saal.
24) The Stand 21 Safety Foundation, “Racing Goes Safer” at racinggoessafer.org is a non-profit organization with a primary purpose of promoting enhanced motor racing safety. It aims to achieve this goal in collaboration with medical and scientific bodies, as well as with major racing series’ entities in order to bring awareness of safety issues and offer solutions to the motor racing world through seminars and educational videos. https://motorsports.charlotte.edu/evrsafe. From Don Taylor at dtaylor.
25) This Week on Cars Yeah podcast Mark Greene will interview Chad Hiltz, Art Garner, Winston Goodfellow, and Zak Brown.
From: Mark Greene at Cars Yeah info, or write to Mark at 4618 131st St Ct NW, Gig Harbor, Washington 98332.
READERS: Are you signing up for Mark’s excellent interviews? He’s working on his 2515th show and I KNOW there are interviews that you would love to hear. It’s free. Did I mention it is FREE. Did I mention that YOU could ask Mark to be interviewed about your car experiences?
26) Books from Dalton Watson Fine Books at www.daltonwatson.com: Tom Tjaarda, Master of Proportions, by Gautam Sen.
Audi RS: History, Models and Technology, by Constantin Bergander. Augie Pabst: Behind the Wheel, by Robert Birmingham.
Books can be found at www.daltonwatson.com.
27) Special Webinar: “Antifreeze/Coolant-Aren’t all Coolants the Same” by PEAK. This webinar will be presented by Joe Long, Old World Industries Senior Field Technical Trainer. Hosted by Brad Gillie from SiriusXM, Channel 90, The Late Shift. The Zoom presentation will be available live at 9AM PST, Wednesday, October 30th. From: team.
READERS: This notice reached me after I sent out the newsletter. It is possible to hear the interview by going to the email listed and seeing if they can let you hear it from their saved records.
AND: Just wanted to make sure you got the info for our latest tech webinar scheduled for 10/30: https://www.epartrade.com/more/epartradelive. Francisque Savinien, Founder & CEO www.epartrade.com.
AND: Larry Foyt, former NASCAR and IndyCar driver, has joined the impressive lineup of featured speakers for the 5th Annual RACE INDUSTRY WEEK, Monday through Thursday, Dec 2–Dec 5, 2024.
28) SHERM PORTER’s Calendar of Events at fuely32. Suggest calling or contacting responsible parties for each event, to make sure there are still openings. WEEKLY-SATURDAYS-SUNDAY
MORRO BAY Saturday morning from 8am-11:30am, held in the Embarcadero Parking Lot, next to the PG&E stacks.
BAKERY BUMS: Every Saturday morning from 7am, held at Cider Creek Bakery in Paso Robles, Niblick/South River Road.
ORCUTT DERELICTS: Every Sunday morning from 8am, held in the Oak Knolls Shopping Center, corner of Clark/Bradley.
Pismo Derelicts: Every Saturday morning from 7am, held in the OSH/ROSS Shopping Center in Pismo Beach, CA.
SANTA BARBARA CARS & COFFEE: Every Sunday, La Cumbre Plaza, 8-10am, see sbcarscoffee.
JR’S DRIVE-IN: Santa Maria, CA, 2nd Friday of the month, 603 E. Main, 5-8pm, 805-925-5556.
29) Brian Clune will be at Autobooks/Aerobooks store on Saturday, November 9, 2024, to sign copies of his book Haunted Heart of Los Angeles, with photographs by Terri Clune, from 11am-3pm. From: manager. 2900 W. Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505, or call 818-845-0707
30) Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series Points Standings: 1-Khalid Al Balooshi 956,2-Justin Bond 944,3-Jordan Lazic 932,4-Kenneth Quartuccio Jr 930,5-Mason Wright 921, 6-Kristopher Thorne 918, 7-Kevin Rivenbark 906, 8-Billy Banaka 887, 9-Dmitry Samorukov 881, 10-Mike Castellana 876, 11-Jose Gonzalez 875, 12-Stan Shelton 858, 13-JR Gray Jr 855, 14-Michael Stavrinos 836, 15-Lyle Barnett 796, 16-Mike Thielen 780, 17-Nicholas Januik 751, and 18-Tony Wilson 715.
31) Sci-Fi fans who love fast moving vehicles go to video trailer at railstankers666.
32) 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 have also had a number of competition cars, including a Datsun 260Z, Alfetta GTV, and a BMW 2002, but I have always owned an MGB which has been my regular comp car. I purchased the current MG in 2001, it was originally a dark grey and was repainted orange in 2017. It is still a road car with some slight mods so it is driven to nearly all the events including the Albany Round the Houses in June each year. I especially enjoy the Round the Houses regularity events as the short street circuits suit the MGB and the locals really appreciate coming down to the pits area and talking about the cars. The MGB has proven Rami takes the MGB through a corner at Albany closely followed by Greg Willimot in his Triumph TR6.
33) Hidden Pioneers and Patty Collins join a Cincinnati public school Rockdale Academy. Hidden Pioneers is dedicated to Technology and Automotive innovation. From hiddenpioneers.
34) Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Michigan. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit nhracommunications.
35) Fifty Years of Speed the Long Beach Grand Prix Story 1975-2025, by author Dave Wolin. From the 1975 Formula 5000 race, won by Brian Redman, through the Formula One years, CART and up to the 2024 Indy Car race; plus, the Toyota Celebrity Race, Trans Am, Historics, IMSA and more. Results, photos, magazine articles, stories. Everything you ever wanted to know. Comes with a DVD of all the photos, magazine articles and more. 357 pages, B&W, Softcover, Autographed by the author. Go to www.racinghistoryproject.com, or write to Racing History Project, Box 5578, Bakersfield, California 93388.
36) BLAST FROM THE PAST…… From the Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way. Autonews and other media clippings in the files.
Burt Chalmers in the August 4, 1947, issue of Autonews wrote, “In our book there’s only two deals in the entire country that’s completely on the ball, the ARDC (American Racing Drivers Club) and the SCTA.” Parks was the General Business Manager of the SCTA at this time and was highly complemented. Autonews also noted that John Cobb would be going after the unlimited land speed record at Bonneville in a brand-new car. Cobb would drive the $100,000 Railton Special. It was also mentioned that Danny Oakes would drive the Johnny Balch-Carol Landis Midget at the AAA sanctioned land speed run at Bonneville. This was before the SCTA was granted permission to use the Bonneville Salt Flats for hot rod and roadster land speed records
37) New EVLC Podcast episode. This week, we sit down with Bill Montgomery from Hidden Pioneers to talk about his mission to educate and inspire the next generation through STEM and electric vehicles. Hear his journey, insights, and the incredible work he’s doing in the community, at https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/stemeducation, and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msv3H95QWyA.
38) Hidden Pioneers Team profile: (20+) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiddenpioneers/. From: Bill Montgomery at HiddenPioneers.
39) Start racing today with NHRA Street Legal. From: National Hot Rod Association updates. DIVISION 5 –
Interstate Raceway, Glyndon, Minnesota (1/4-mile) 218-236-9461, http://www.interstateraceway.com/.
Flying H Dragstrip, Independence, Missouri (1/4-mile) 816-533-3300, https://www.flyinghdragstrip.com/.
Kearney Raceway Park, Kearney, Nebraska (1/4-mile) 308-750-2049, http://www.krpi.com/.
Sturgis Dragway, Sturgis, South Dakota (1/8-mile) 605-431-0841, http://www.sturgisdrags.com/.
Rock Falls Raceway, Eau Claire, Wisconsin (1/4-mile) 715-875-4233, http://www.rockfallsraceway.com/.
40) The Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA) was founded in Cayuga, Ontario, in 2005 by Bruce Mehlenbacher, and has become one of the strongest Pro Modified drag racing series in this popular class. It features a solid contingent of teams at some of the best facilities in Eastern Canada and the United States. Featuring Pro Modified cars, often referred to as ‘door-slammers,’ and turning speeds of over 200 mph in the eighth mile, Pro Modifieds are the fastest class of drag cars with working doors. Pro Modifieds are purpose-built race cars cloaked in replica streetcar bodies and range in style from the 1930’s to the present day. The PMRA has been a significant player in the Pro Modified ranks and has produced some of the best racing in North America, with top cars and drivers doing battle on drag strips in Ontario, Quebec, New York, Michigan, and Maryland.
41) Actor Rodney Allen Rippy interviews Yakuba KB Brown of the FIATM Group in Southern California video at FIATM stem center in Riverside CA. Watch video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QV0GjozluA&list=UULFR5eTqg5g9_lefsQdfnBl4A&index=24. Rippy is at rmgworldwide.
42) Wally’s stories: courtesy of DRIVE Magazine, by Wally Parks (serialized in coming newsletters). LAW ENFORCEMENT article written for DRIVE Magazine by Wally Parks.
Dating back to the 1940s, when hot rods were coming into prominence, there was an emerging problem with street racing, as hot car owners wanted to prove the results of their experiments. Side by side challenges, usually over a few blocks distance, were the common means for letting off steam. These drag-it-out challenges, usually late at night, quite often drew large gatherings of onlookers eager to watch the impromptu side by side contests. Neighbors’ phone calls and complaints by motorists led to police roundups in endeavors to snuff the problem. But no prospective alternatives were offered – except in the western areas where a few dry lakes racing events were run periodically by organized club groups, like the long-established Southern California Timing Association and Russetta Timing Association.
43) The companies’ key offerings include after-school programs, field trips, a Global Diversity Transportation & amp; Technology Summit, internships, and facilitating participation in the Optimist contest. Hidden Pioneers also prioritizes social impact through initiatives like promoting sustainable transportation with electric vehicle charging stations on campus. Hidden Pioneers is at hiddenpioneers.
44) National Motor Museum exhibition – Burnout! 60th Anniversary of British International Drag Racing Festival. The exhibition is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and members of BDRH, particularly John Hunt and Nick Pettitt, organized and managed research for the project. John Hunt says, “As a dedicated group of enthusiasts, we’re all very proud and grateful for this opportunity to have the 60th Anniversary of the 1964 British Drag Festival celebrated at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. This exhibition will give visitors a view and understanding of how the motor sport of drag racing started in England and then in Europe.”
45) 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. To be a great comp car, it may not be the fastest, but it’s easy to drive, reliable and parts are plentiful. The great thing about the car is that most people I talked to either owned one or their father, uncle or aunt owned a B, and it brings back fond memories. I would recommend anyone who has the inclination and opportunity to compete in a regularity to take the leap, you don’t have to drive flat out, it’s a regularity. It’s a lot of fun and will get your heart racing and put a smile on your face. It also gives you the opportunity to hone your driving skills and make some good friends. Everyone competing and officiating is very helpful with advice, or even a spare part, which makes for a great day. Now I am retired I will also take the opportunity to get involved with some social events and when not competing, volunteer as an official. I am very lucky to have a very competent and very patient mechanic in Colin Bonney who keeps the car on the road. I would also like to thank all the volunteers at the VSCC and officials at the events, as these competition events wouldn’t happen without them.
46) NHRA officials announced the eight NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors in contention for the 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year award. Pro Stock’s Brandon Foster made his debut in Gainesville where he defeated 2023 winner Troy Coughlin Jr. He then advanced to the quarterfinals in Phoenix before advancing to the final round at the Las Vegas 4-Wide race. From: nhracommunications.
47) The Ultimate Guide on NHRA Drag Racing Series Betting in the US. Responsible Gambling Practices: Setting limits on the amount of money and time spent on betting can help prevent excessive losses and maintain control over gambling behavior. It’s also essential to recognize the signs of gambling addiction and seek help if betting starts to negatively impact other areas of your life, such as finances, relationships, or mental health. https://nxtbets.com/the-ultimate-guide-on-nhra-drag-racing-series-betting-in-the-us/. From John Towle
48) BLAST FROM THE PAST…… From the Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way.
Ralph Hepburn was born on April 11, 1896, in Somerville, Massachusetts and passed away on May 16, 1948, at the age of 52 while practicing for the 1948 Indy 500 race. He had been an American motorcycle racing champion and then graduated into oval track racing after World War I. Friendship with Joe Petrali led to a sponsorship for Petrali at Harley-Davidson. Petrali would later become a steward for the AAA where my father would make Joe’s acquaintance. Hepburn would qualify for 15 Indy 500 races with his best finish a 3rd place in 1929. Hepburn was inducted into two Hall of Fames, the first at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1970 followed by the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.
49) Books on Mark Greene’s Cars Year website mentioned by those appearing on Mark’s Podcast.
David Carl Peters – Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, by Dr Joe Dispenza.
Chris Anthony – Finding old papers by NACE, National Advisory Committee on Aerospace.
Raffi Minasian – A Century of Automotive Style, by Michael Lamm and Dave Holls.
Derek Hill – The Architecture of Happiness, by Alain De Botton.
John Kruse – The Five Disfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni.
Lyn Smith – Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert Pirsig, and Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, by Richard Bach.
Spike Feresten – Howard’s Gift, by Eric Sinoway.
Markus Haub – Cars and Girls, by Werner Eisele.
Matt Myrick – Crawl Magazine.
50) WE’VE BEEN ASKED FOR HELP DEPT: I read your Gone Racin’s article recently about Lee and Mamie Blaisdell, and apparently several of his children participated, you list Michael, Allen, Charles and Gerri. I have a bit of an odd question for you, and particularly for them. I’m hoping you might ask one or all of the Blaisdell family about this or have them be in touch with me. We recently finished a documentary about Fred Ross, who was an activist and organizer in California from the 1930’s to the 1980’s. We used a couple of photographs that we believe might have been taken by Lee Blaisdell, and we would love to confirm this with his children and speak with one of them regarding the images. I know Lee had several lives as a SCTA photographer, then as a photographer for postcards, especially of the Monterrey area, and that he even became a Deacon at the First Presbyterian Church in Monterrey. Many thanks, Kenn Rabin (Archival producer, The Fred Ross Project, LLC), PO Box 515, Fairfax, CA. 94978. kenn, IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0704899/?ref_=nv_sr_1
