Motorsports Newsletter 3/26/25

By Richard Parks

1) EDITOR’S CORNER: I am a book reviewer, which is akin to a 20-year Alcoholic Anonymous person repeating to the group that he is an alcoholic. Newspapers and magazine editors say, “Oh, crap, another book review from Parks, there goes our Ad space.” What is a book reviewer and what do they do? Well, a book review is like a term paper, you know, those things you dreaded doing in high school. But I like doing reviews, and I’m seriously behind. Let me tell you some things about a book review. 1) magazines and newspapers hate them; they take up add space. Wives hate them, because they are eyeing their spouses’ bookshelves growing larger with every review and think, “I could use the space for my clothes, sewing and quilting.” I would send my shelves to the garage if my wife hadn’t already claimed the space. I need my shelves close by to “protect them” from the better half. 2) I don’t charge for a review. 3) Few people read book reviews because they are boring, like essays in school. 4) Authors and Publishers want promotional reviews, “Great writing, exciting photographs, few words but lotsa photos, exceptional topic.” Such promotional reviews run 20-50 words. I don’t do them; ergo few people read my reviews. However, you can “selectively use” bits and pieces of a review and turn them into whatever you like. 5) I return books as I’m not a book hog and know the author needs to sell every book he prints to break even. I ask that the author send me a book and a prepaid “pouch” to send the book back. That’s a lot of work and they just send me their books. I wish I could pay for the return but the better half checks receipts. 6) I enjoy reading your books, generally liking them, and telling people so. I don’t have a lot of time, so I read selected passages and scan the rest; again, I’m very busy and often sick a lot. I also nap frequently. Yet I admire what authors do and want to help. 7) Magazines and newspapers will print reviews, but you have to send it to them. They get an email or letter from me and shudder. 8) What happens to my book collection when I’m no longer topside? The better halves (ladies)
round them up and send them to the library to make space for their sewing, clothes and quilting. Then the Librarian says, “Crap, more work,” and puts them onto the Library Book Sale rack, as they reserve books that only talk about politics, religion and pornography. After all this I still nag and berate you to, “write your own story.” After all, I am an inveterate book reviewer and that’s what we reviewers do, nag, nag, nag. Next week we will discuss Self-Publishing. The week after that we’ll tackle Publishers and Printers.
AND: All links in the newsletter need to be copied and pasted into your browser in order to work.

2) REMEMBERING OUR LOST AND INJURED FRIENDS DEPARTMENT:
a) Jim Kerr was a good friend since the 1980’s and my sales rep at Royal Purple from the late ’90’s and on. He was a great guy; always happy and always willing to help anyone. One thing I learned quickly with Jim—he liked to drive everywhere but didn’t like to stop! When you drove with Jim you were not going to stop and eat lunch; more likely you would go through the Burger King drive-thru. It was great to hear all of his history at Hurst from Dennis Kerr and others; I had no idea he was there from the beginning. My thoughts are with his family. RIP Jim. Herb Kutz
HERB: My father was the same way. A typical outing for my brother and me was a trip with dad from Orange County, around the Salton Sea to the Mexican border (no fence back then) and back home. If we were lucky dad would stop at the cafe near Amboy crater for a burger. We learned to eat when food was available and do without when food and water wasn’t available. Every back road in California was home to us.
b) EDDIE JORDAN: In the long history of Formula One, amid flamboyant characters like Teddy Yip, Lucky Castner, Flavio
Briatore, Mike Hawthorn, Colin Chapman, etc, Irishman Eddie Jordan rose above the throng. While other team owners sought to make their cars fast or dominating, Eddie’s oft expressed desire was to make racing sexy. If you do a search for his images, most will be splashed with his signature yellow everywhere, and invariably they will include two or more bountiful babes. The scrappy former Dublin street-trader also captured imaginations with his lucrative, swashbuckling sponsorship deals including one when he managed to convince delivery firm DHL to repaint their entire international fleet of white vans and planes with his famous “Jordan Yellow.” Eddie once recalled: “We were like cowboys in the Wild West, chasing around finding money.” Few were his equal. (part 2 will appear next week)
c) March 23, 2025, Melbourne Alfred Hospital Trauma Center. Everyone at the Sunday March 9, 2025, ultra-high speed 5-car crash at the Phillip Island races said it is so amazing that my husband, Ernie Nagamatsu survived. The crash was brutal. Two
cars, one was a Formula V, and the Safety car were stalled at the start of the race. 18 Formula Vs were given a 20 second delayed start behind Ernie’s big race group of 27. They had trouble removing the formula V delaying the tow. With top cars lapping at sub 2 minutes and coming around fast in the 1st lap. The two stalled cars had concrete walls on both sides. The faster front race car group had no place to go and there were no waving red flags to stop the race immediately and should have been red flagged at the time of the start of the race. Everyone along the front straight watched in horror and panic, as they just knew the inevitable would happen with the oncoming cars. The massive and violent 5 car crash occurred with Ernie leading the front group of race cars. The #00 Corvette was violently hit in the left rear, rotated and again hit hard in the front left. Mark, the race shop crewman, said the seat twisted around and the strong tube-trussed chassis was bent from right at rear. The two metal attachments to the new FIA Hans Device were bent. Ernie will send you a summary when he is able. The pain Ernie suffered was severe. He just started to walk with assistance, has no stamina and will undergo mandatory rehab in Australia for six weeks. He can’t fly due to the thoracic injury, but he is in the best Trauma Center Hospital in Australia. From Elaine Nagamatsu
ELAINE: We are so sorry to hear of Ernie’s injuries and wish him a full and speedy recovery.
d) Dr Ernie Nagamatsu’s MacDonald Corvette. According to the Victorian Historic Racing Register (VHRR), on the occasion of the 36th Phillip Island Classic in Australia, “On Sunday afternoon (March 9) we were reminded that motorsport is dangerous. What was otherwise a brilliant meeting was marred by a serious accident. Sadly, the crash involved the popular Ernie Nagamatsu in his beautiful Dave MacDonald Corvette which was badly damaged. Ernie remains in hospital at the time of writing.” Our thoughts go out to Elaine and Ernie…two of the best ambassadors vintage racing has ever had. We wish him a speedy recovery. from Velocetoday.com
e) I wish my friend, Ernie, a quick and successful recovery. Ad noted, he is a wonderful ambassador and to have this happen to him is tragic and hurts everyone involved. One of my tasks at the Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion is that all drivers recognize that the “Car is the Star” and Red Bull is not there seeking out driving talents. Additionally, we have a great supporting team headed by Steve DeBrecht and Dorsey Schroeder to ensure the competitors do not lose sight of the purpose of the event. Ernie has always been a driver who exercised talent and restraint, and it hurts me to see him injured. We all wish him a speedy and complete recovery. Bill Warner
f) Victorian Historic Racing Register OFFICIAL STATEMENT https://velocetoday.com/dr-ernie-nagamatsu-update/
As many of you will be aware, there was an incident at the Philip Island Classic last Sunday which unfortunately resulted in one of our regular overseas drivers, Ernie Nagamatsu, suffering injuries that have required hospitalization. I know all VHRR members and race fans alike, will join with me, the Executive and Committee in wishing Ernie all the best for a speedy and complete recovery, and offering Elaine and the family our support and best wishes in the meantime. One of our members, John Gillett, was also injured in the same incident and is recovering at home. We extend the same wishes to John and his family. Noel Robson – VHRR President

3) WE GET MAIL DEPARTMENT:
a) The Vintage Speedcar Association Newsletter. PO Box 73 Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia, 2145. 249th Edition – Issue 4, February/March 2025. For Sale Phil Powell’s Ex Don Murray N.S.W. 4 Speedcar V8 Daimler powered. Complete with trailer and spares $40,000 ONO Contact: Phil Powell. From John & Maria Green.
b) The Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA) and what it represents to the teams, sponsors, media, race venues, and most importantly, its fans, is very pleased and honored to present The John Massingberd Memorial Award to a deserving individual again this year. The award will be presented this year during the Drag Strip Memories Show on April 13. It is appropriate to recognize John Massingberd through this annual award. John was a national ambassador of Canadian motorsport in all disciplines through his keen insight and entrepreneurial creativity. Bruce F. Mehlenbacher, Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA) at Bruce@JAJentertainment.com.
c) “It is interesting how many people are asking, why are you doing this…especially…for free…or as a volunteer. I’m still writing the Bonneville and historic articles, also providing the photos for these articles, since 1999, for the Speed Record Club (SRC) magazine. Sometimes, I translate articles from friends into English (when they ask me). We, who are taking care of the SRC magazine, doing it as volunteers…after all these years, filling the pages of the magazine…I still pay every year for my membership. Back to the question, WHY? Simple, we just do it…as someone has to do it…otherwise there would be no information about what’s going on. Stay crazy and enjoy every day.” Pork Pie aka Tom Graf
READERS: For all things land speed racing write to Pork Pie at pork.pie. Also, we do it because it’s FUN.
d) Hidden Pioneers (HP) was able to have a private meeting with an All-Star Luncheon. At 103 years old and still going strong HP Ed Iskenderian, enjoys a lunch with HP Richard Parks, whose father, Wally Parks founded the NHRA, Bill Montgomery founder of HP, Jerry Rangel, HP Executive Assistant, and Rodney Allen Rippy, actor, global reporter and founder of The Nitty Gritty Report. See short YouTube video at hiddenpioneers.
e) Regarding the special newsletter about Jim Kerr, a big thumbs up. Paul Escudero
PAUL: Thank you. Readers, Paul, a long-time member, is a noted and well-read author of best-selling science fiction novels and if you enjoy the genre then look him up on Amazon and in bookstores.
f) As usual, thanks for the newsletter. With reference to Steve Reyes’ editorial, and his comment that ‘the only one who cares about any photo archive is Don Garlits’ is not correct. I’ve also found Lou Hart at the Lions Automobilia museum very helpful and committed to the cause. He is currently assisting me with background on the ex-Mickey Thompson FED that I own. Steve’s point about not losing more of the historical material is however correct, which is why the work of The American Hot Rod Foundation should be encouraged and supported too. Regards, Lloyd Wilson (New Zealand)
LLOYD: Thank you for correcting the record, because I too respect and admire the AHRF.com website owned and operated by Steve Mesmishian, with research by Jim Miller, David Steele and other great historians such as Lou Hart, author and friend. Don Garlits runs an amazing museum and does constant research, never stopping on his quest for more knowledge.
g) Please remove me from your mailing list, thank you. Aggie Kobrin
AGGIE: I’m sorry to see you leaving, but I want to thank you for letting me know and for your fine efforts on Ad Astra Magazine, a truly great publication.
h) The track photographer for the Pond (San Fernando Raceway drag strip) was Rod Flint, if anyone has any information regarding him or what happened to his photo collection, Harry Hibler would like to hear from you.
i) This is a very nice review. If you could mention these drag books in your weekly email newsletter, it would be greatly appreciated. We also have a book on the history of Lions Drag Strip coming this summer. Bob Wilson (CarTech)
BOB: I’ve listed Butch Leal, The California Flash in item 14. The full review is available free by sending me a request.
j) Our CAL-RODS car club is returning to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum for monthly meetings. Gary Driscoll
GARY: Will the CAL-RODS continue with their monthly car show on the Museum’s parking lot? Those were great events.
k) Tom Cataldo is walking history. He has done so much from inventing walkie talkies; to help broker a deal to power a whole county and now he is trying to save children lives from amblyopia. Tom Cataldo: “Age is irrelevant but the mission is important – YouTube video” hosted by Rodney Allen Rippy. See hiddenpioneers.
l) Carol & I did five stops & events (book signings) over 6 states, 21 road-trip days and a thin whisker shy of 3000 miles–I should mention here that Carol and I have not been on a major, long-distance road trip together since before Covid–and I’m both justifiably proud and much relieved to say that we made it. Burt (BS) Levy
m) SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association), whose mission is to foster the success of the automotive aftermarket, and PRI (Performance Racing Industry), a key resource for the motorsports industry, will support the reception at the April 10 RRDC Celebration of 50 Years of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, presented by Firestone. The event’s proceeds will benefit The Mark Donohue Foundation of the Road Racing Drivers Club and The Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach. From: Judy Stropus
n) The International Motor Racing Research Center presents: “Straight Line Speed-the History of Niagara Dragway.” A day of memories, stories, photos and more as seen thru the eyes of Dean Johnson, Promoter, Niagara Dragway, 1964-1974. On display will be a 1963 AA/Top Fuel Dragster “Dead End Kids.” Free and open to the public on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 1pm at International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), 610 South Decatur Street, Watkins Glen, NY. Relive the history of drag racing in western NY. Call: 607-535-9044 or email: kip, or www.racingarchives.org. From Kip Zeiter
KIP: I’ll ask around. There are a great number of resources for you to follow up on. I rewrote your notice as it’s easier just to receive a simple email. Word and PDF documents require much more work on my end to process and put into an “emailed” newsletter like mine. The number of groups that you could contact is nearly endless. Try East Coast Timing Association by going to the web. Also, Division 1 of NHRA 717-584-1200 Mark Dawson, and of course IHRA. There are also podcasts in the East.

4) STORIES OR BIOGRAPHIES IN THE GONE RACIN’ ARCHIVES: Just write and ask for a free emailed copy (Editor).
BONDURANT, Bob……2012
BONIN, Gordie……2009
BOVAN, THOMSON and BLAIR……2015
BOWSER, John and Blake……2007
BOYD, Megan……2009
BRADY, Richard……2022
BRADY, Richard……2022
BRANT, Dave……2008
BREEDLOVE, Craig……2023
BREEDLOVE Sr, Norman Craig……2023

5) BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR SALE:
“My Travels on Racer Road: Can-Am and Formula 1 in Their Golden Age,” by Pete Lyons, EVRO Publishing. About the Author: Born in 1940 in New York State, Pete Lyons is an international motorsports reporter, photographer and award-winning book author in the fields of Formula 1, Can-Am, endurance sports cars, IndyCar, Trans-Am and many more forms of racing. In his decades-long, worldwide career, Lyons covered events on all six populated continents for numerous enthusiast publications, including Autosport, AutoWeek, Car and Driver, Racecar, Road & Track, Vintage Motorsport and many others. He is also the author of 20 published books including, for Evro Publishing, Shadow: The Magnificent Machines of a Man of Mystery, which won ‘Specialist Motoring Book of the Year’ at the 2020 Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of the Year Awards (UK) and ‘Best Book’ at the 2021 Automotive Heritage Awards (USA). From Judy Stropus at jvstropus.
Formula 1 All the Races 2016-2024 Liberty Media’s Makeover, by Roger Smith. £55/$85, Hardback, 233mm x 169mm, 240 pages, 70 pictures. Write to newsletter.
Cranswick on Classic Chevrolet Corvette 1953-1996, by Marc Cranswick £60/$90, Hardback, 207x250mm, 352 pages, 425 pictures. Write to newsletter.

6) EVENTS, SHOWS, MUSEUMS, TOURS, REUNIONS AND MORE:
a) The Lion’s Roar Newsletter: The official podcast of the SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) features Kevin Oeste and industry icons like Ridler Award winner David Kindig, SEMA President Mike Spagnola and marketing guru Dan Kahn. Don’t miss these inspiring interviews available on Spotify and Blubrry. Lions Automobilia Foundation, 2790 E Del Amo Blvd, East Rancho Dominguez, CA 90221-6008.
b) CAL-RODS car club 14th Annual “Run with a Winner” car show returns to Santa Anita Park, May 17, 2025. A car show on the infield grass during horse racing at Santa Anita. Show cars on display, all makes & models, live music by The Gaslighters, trophies & special awards, huge raffle, food & vendors, pony rides & bounce house. Show car registration: $40 pre-registration (includes 4 passengers). 626-827-3744. From news.
c) 30th Cruisin’ Brea, June 15, 2025, 10am-4pm, Birch Street in Downtown Brea, CA. From: news.
d) 2025 International Speedsters Trials & Reunion – Registration Now Open. June 18-21, 2025. Event includes hill climb, tech seminars, road tour, awards dinner. Contact Museum of American Speed, 599 Oak Creek Drive, Lincoln, Nebraska 68528 or museum.
e) Record Entry for HSR Sebring Classic 12 Hour Presented by Mission Foods Delivers Record Results. Next up on the 2025 HSR schedule is the 47th HSR Mitty presented by Hagerty at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (MRRA), April 24-27, 2025. For more information on the HSR Mitty, please visit the Official Event Page at www.HSRRace.com. Adam Saal
f) The inaugural HSR Classic Endurance Championship presented by Mission Foods will be the HSR Watkins Glen Classic 6-Hour race presented by Mission Foods, June 12-14, 2025, at Watkins Glen International. From Adam Saal, at 321-890-2848, or SaalGoodPR@Gmail.com.
g) San Clemente High School Auto Shop’s Meet the Industry & Car Show at SCHS Auto Academy, 700 Avenida Pico, San Clemente, CA 92673, Apr 19, 2025, 11am-2pm. kntuckerking.
h) There are car shows and then there are AUSTRALIAN CAR SHOWS! We should copy some of their events. Saturday, July 12, 2025, is the Stroud Brick Throwing and Rolling Pin Competition sent in by Kevin Gilkison. Don Anderson of (Atlantic Oil) has asked me to invite any members of the VSA who would like to attend this great Stroud event in July. As per last year Don is having a number of current Speedway cars and hopefully bikes at the event and also vintage TQ & speedway memorabilia on show. The event’s festivities include a themed street parade, brick throwing competition, rolling pin throwing competition, rubber chicken throwing competition, market and food stalls, tug-o-war, wood chopping competitions, quilt displays, face painting and games for the kids, animal petting zoo, and a large display of vintage and classic vehicles. There is camping available at the showgrounds on the Friday night and room for caravans etc. Listed in The Vintage Speedcar Association Newsletter. From
John & Maria Green.
i) CAL-RODS car club will be holding their monthly general membership meetings at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum beginning June 3, 2025. The Museum celebrates the rich heritage of motorsports and hot rodding. Founded in 1954, CAL-RODS is one of Southern California’s oldest and most respected car clubs. Meetings are the first Tuesday of each month, at 7pm, located at 1101 W. McKinley Ave, Bldg 3-A, Pomona, CA. For more information go to gdriscoll.
j) Saturday, April 26, 2025, Pete Lyons will hold a book signing from 11am-3pm, for his book, My Travels on Racer Road; Can-Am and Formula 1 in Their Golden Age, Foreword by Jackie Stewart, Epilogue by Mario Andretti. Autobooks-Aerobooks, 2900 W. Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505, 818-845-0707, www.autobooks-aerobooks.com.

7) Vintage Metal Journal March 2025: Ferrari Takes Best of the Best at The Peninsula Paris A Ferrari 250LM took the top honours at the Best of the Best Concours at The Peninsula Paris, a competition between winners at major concours events in 2023. A similar car, driven by David McKay and Spencer Martin won the 6 Hours Le Mans Race at Caversham in 1965. New Zealander Andrew Buchanan brought the car back in 1966 but dropped out after 76 laps with a failed rear wheel bearing. Ron Thorp won in 1966 in his Cobra. Buchanan did win the 1966 Surfers Paradise 12 Hours with Jackie Stewart co-driving. The car also won at Surfers in 1967 and 1968 with Greg Cusack and Bill Brown driving in 1967 and the Geoghegan brothers, Leo and Ian driving in 1968. The Caversham winning car was last heard of in the Ralph Lauren collection.

8) SCTA, USFRA, DRY LAKES, BONNEVILLE & LAND SPEED NEWS: From the June 2024 issue of the SCTA Racing News sent to me by Jill Iversen (Editor). “A Cook back on the dirt; a tribute to Mike Cook Sr, the Brauer & Mike Cook Jr roadster.” Inside the SCTA’s Timing Tower, by Debbie Dannenfelzer (column). Safety First: hangin’ out the laundry, it’s all about parachutes. Troy Langlo has the fastest Camaro at the El Mirage Opener…and Arley Langlo does 301.528. Dustin King’s bike goes 209.099. Impound Insights at El Mirage May meet, by Pete Shotrosky (column). Club & individual points. We Salute the Volunteers, by Werner Schwarz (column). Wire winding party, by Mike Manghelli (column). Remembering Mike Cook Sr, by Tom Burkland (column). Hooked, by Troy Langlo (column). Ensuring Safety, by Lee Kennedy (column). Motorcycle Tech: Running with fuel, by Scott Mattern (column). A sincere note from a spectator at Speedweek 2023, by Lee Sherwin (column). Heads up: when he (Miler Mike Stewart) goes, will the Dirty Two Club go too (column)? The Big End; Pipe Dreams, by Tony Thacker (column).

9) NHRA, IHRA AND OTHER STRAIGHT-LINE RACING NEWS:
a) NHRA officials announced today that FVP has been named Official Battery as part of a multi-year partnership beginning with the 2025 season in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. A longtime partner, FVP was previously Preferred Battery before moving into an official partner this year. FVP will also continue as an associate sponsor for reigning and four-time Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown.
b) The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season celebrates 25 years of racing at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the 4-Wide Nationals on April 11-13, 2025.
c) Pro Mod driver Mike Stavrinos claimed double Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series trophies at Firebird Motorsports Park this weekend when he won the 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals a day after winning the postponed Gainesville. Ida Zettersom had a massive fireball in her car. NHRA racers trade places with LGPA golfers. Other winners were Shawn Langdon (TF), Paul Lee (FC) and Greg Anderson (PS). From: updates.

10) Vintage Metal magazine (robertcampbell4.

11) NEWS FROM EPARTRADE AND CARS YEAH PODCASTS:
a) Ken Schrader, American Professional Racing Driver and owner of Schrader Racing, joined us for the 5th Annual Race Industry Week. Hosted by Jeff Hammond from SiriusXM, Channel 90. From: team.
b) “How the Latest Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology is Redefining Performance and Range of ePowertrains,” by INOCEL Advanced Technology will present this webinar on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 9am. Presented by Charles Boulanger and Pierre Lion. Hosted by Brad Gillie from SiriusXM, Channel 90, The Late Shift.
c) This Week on Cars Yeah Ginger Baker Rust will interview Angela Savage, Nitro Allie and Matt Dibenedetto. Angela Savage was in her mother’s womb during the running of the 1973 Indianapolis 500. Her mother watched in horror as her husband, racecar driver Swede Savage, crashed in turn four as he led the race. It was a crash that took his life and defined Angela’s life. From: Ginger Baker Rust at Cars Yeah info.
d) Ron Knoch, President, NADM (National Association of Diesel Motorsport), Chris Calkins, 4-Time Street Truck Champion, and Vince Neiderhauser, 4-Time Race Points Champion, joined us. Hosted by Jeff Hammond from SiriusXM, Channel 90.
e) The Salt finally received a rainstorm! There is currently some water on the salt. There are more storms lined up and we are hoping Mother Nature will cooperate. The State of Utah has not allowed any pumping this year because the Aquaphor, that had been used, was too depleted from the draught we have been in. The camera on the salt is also working again. SCTA-BNI has changed to SUNOCO. If you are running for records VP will no longer be accepted. We are working on making fuel available on the Salt at the event. If you are NOT running for a record, you can use what you normally use. From Ellen Wilkinson

12) Vintage Metal Journal March 2025: A Circuit at Burswood. The subject of a racing circuit in the Burswood area has come up again. The Perth Now free newspaper had a feature on it a few weeks back and Kevin Dorn told me that he heard something about it on the radio. Then there was a piece about it on the television news. The WA Government is donating $217 million of taxpayers’ money to the project, if the Labour government is re-elected. I have had a great deal of email correspondence from friend of the VSCC Lindsay Taylor, who is one of the few surviving drivers from the Caversham era (he was very young…), and he has pointed out that the cost of converting the roads and car parks around the casino precinct to a racetrack is prohibitive. That’s without considering the interruption to business while the work is carried out – for one weekend of racing, once a year! The people of Adelaide are not totally enamoured of the disruption to the city caused by the annual Supercars round. Melbourne gets away with the F1 Grand Prix because Albert Park is neither a main commuter route nor a business and entertainment facility like Burswood. The logical solution is to make sure that the Wanneroo facility is maintained at a suitable level to host the Supercars, which benefits the motor sports community generally as the circuit is in use all year round.

13) The HSR Sebring Classic: 12 big winner was the 901 Shop – the Florida-based team that has raced and won in HSR for decades – that swept three of the race’s four competing Run Groups. Even better, 901’s drivers each secured their first overall HSR Classic Endurance Run Group victories, with all three runs to victory largely controlled and trouble free. One of HSR’s top drivers, Todd Treffert has been victorious in just about every class and series he has contested in HSR’s season-long sprint and endurance championships. A victory in any HSR Classic race has eluded Treffert over the past decade, however, but that dry spell finally ended Sunday.

14) BOOK REVIEWS: a) Phillip Island; The inside Story of Australia’s fastest Racetrack, Our Home of Motorsport, by John Smailes (cont’d). When I saw the announcement of the release of Phillip Island, I searched my local library for it and was delighted to find that I could borrow it from the City of Swan libraries. Having read it, I suspect a copy will end up on my bookshelf anyway. It is a book you can go back to on many occasions, even if it is only to flick through the excellent selection of photographs that cover everything from Arthur Waite’s win in the first Australian Grand Prix at the island in 1928 to NT rider Joel Kelso’s first podium in the Moto3 World Championship in 2023. Bob Campbell, Editor, robertcampbell4.
b) Butch “The California Flash” Leal, by author Bob McClurg. Car Tech Publishing, 6118 Main Street, North Branch, Minnesota 55056. 651-277-1200, 800-551-4754, www.cartechbooks.com. ISBN: 978-1-61325-710-4. 8½ x 11 inches, 160 pages, softbound, BW photos: 139, Color photos: 122, Graphs, drawings, charts, etc: 34. Dedication, Acknowledgements, About the Author, Foreword, Introduction, 17 Chapters, & Appendix, there is no Index.
The first thing I noticed is how colorful and jam-packed this book is. It is a feast for the enthusiast who wants to read and reread the contents. Butch “The California Flash” Leal, by author Bob McClurg is filled with charts, photographs and additional facts about the Golden Age of drag racing. (For the full book review write to Gone Racin’ at RnParks1@Juno.com)
c) Henry’s Cars: A Toddler’s Guide to Rods & Customs, by Christian Pogue. Bay City Productions Unlimited, Seal Beach, California. Self-published by author through Bay City Productions, no price or ISBN listed.
A remarkable book written for small children is Henry’s Cars: A Toddler’s Guide to Rods & Customs, by Christian Pogue. This is a field that is under-utilized in the car and motorsports world. As with all children’s picture books, it is small in size, but huge in thought and high-quality construction. Henry was about 3 years old when his father, Christian Pogue, decided to make a book that would attract his young son to the custom car world. Henry’s Cars: A Toddler’s Guide to Rods & Customs, is 8×8 inches, containing 20 pages, 35 drawings by the author and two-color photographs. The book is hardbound, with a double-glued spine, extra heavy bond paper for durability, and high-quality glossy paper. Shake it, toss it, trample or put this book through a child’s hands and it will last the test of time. An endearing book especially meant for fathers to read to their sons or daughters, with catchy, rhyming phrases or sentences to keep a child’s attention. This book is well suited to ages 2 through 6, and because of the excellent drawings, probably for slightly older children as well. The drawings and artwork, all by the author, is excellent.
d) Hot Rods Trains, & Planes: From the Scrapbook of “Gentleman Joe” Schubeck, Drag Racing Entrepreneur, by Joe Schubeck. Preview (proof) copy, no publisher or printer listed…
All sixty chapters detail events that made Schubeck the man that he is, and it is fitting that chapter 1 starts with his parents, Joseph and Margaret Schubeck. A review going into detail on sixty chapters would be a book, not a review. I will say this; Joe’s writing is clear, concise, interesting and informative.
Here are a few chapter headings: A Run-in with the Law; NHRA is Formed in 1951; My First Dragster; An Alligator on the Loose; Lakewood Chassis is formed in 1959; The World Series of Drag Racing; Mickey said, You Need a Handle; Switching from Gasoline to Nitro; Hurst Harry Oldsmobile; Linda Vaughn; Dale Smith; …
The Index is replete with names we all recognize; Don Alderson, James Warren, Darrell and Jerry Gwynn, Brock Yates …
“Gentleman Joe” Schubeck is, well, a gentleman after all and his stories of well-known personalities are portrayed in a humorous way and never salacious. My favorite stories from Hot Rods Trains, & Planes: From the Scrapbook of “Gentleman Joe” Schubeck, Drag Racing Entrepreneur are about his personal encounters with Wally Parks, Linda Vaughn, and Ed Iskenderian (and others) … (for the complete review write to Gone Racin’ at RnParks1@Juno.com)

15) BLAST FROM THE PAST…… From the Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way. 28 MAY 1950 Kenny Parks at the 500 Lap Jalopy Race. Jalopy racing was not demolition derby racing where cars deliberately smashed into one another, but they were just as brutal to the body work. I was six years old in 1950 and remember my Uncle Kenny’s pink painted car crash through the wooden fence and roll down the embankment into the mud; my father jumped out of the stands and raced across the infield and down the slope to rescue his younger brother. Some of the names of the racers that are still familiar to me were Erick Erickson, Fuzzy Anderson, Don Weaver, Howard Gardner, Lou Figaro, Art Galbraith, Rosie Roussel, Jasper Lopiccolo, Wally Galloway, Bob Anderson, Joe Pisano, Jack Gardner, Rex Schendley, Chuck Hulse, Jim Lindsley, and Danny Weinberg.

16) The HSR Sebring Classic: Todd Treffert finished first or second overall in the combined Run Group A and B races for all four segments. Avoiding the attrition that sidelined several of his main competitors in Group B, Treffert carried a lead into Sunday’s fourth and final round. A late but non-contact spin barely cut into Treffert’s lead, and he finally secured an HSR Classic win in his 1975 No. 41 Porsche 911 Carrera Cup RSR “Baby” Turbo. Adam Saal SaalGoodPR@Gmail.com (321) 890-2848.

17) Jim Travis spoke of the time Ak Miller took him out in his roadster and went over 120mph down the city roads. “That was the last time I let him do that to me.” Jim spoke fondly of the Miller/Lufkin/Carr team at Bonneville. They would have 4 cars at the Salt Flats, and they were always breaking records and later the parties would be notorious. Lufkin was known as quite the gambler and had a mathematical method for winning. (source Jim Travis June 28, 2005)

18) Automotive books mentioned on the Cars Yeah website by those appearing on the Ginger Baker Rust Podcast.
Steve Rendle – Formula 1 Technology: The Engineering Explained, by Steve Rendle.
John Starkey – Lola GT: The DNA Of The Ford GT40, by John Starkey.
Michael Milne – 75 Top Car Museums and Roadster Guide to America’s Classic Car Museums, both by Michael Milne.
Nolan Browning – Car Guys Vs Bean Counters, by Bob Lutz.
Vernon Estes – The Last Open Road, by BS Levy. Reviewed in the Gone Racin’ series.
Pete Thelander – MG NE Archives, by Pete Thelander and The Works MG, by Mike Allison.
Patrick McKay – Asphalt Assault Magazine, by Patrick McKay.
Gary Duncan – The Future of Automotive Retail, by Steve Greenfield.
Dave Amantea – Paninfarina 90 Anni, by Paolo Pininfarina and Giorgio Nada Editore.

19) Vintage Metal magazine (www.vsccwa.com.au), October 2024-Issue #391 of The Journal of The Vintage Sports Car Club of Western Australia. 7. Zephyr Special (continued). The whole car was clothed in a close fitting aluminium body with vents where appropriate and six holes in the bonnet through which six stub exhausts protruded. The Zephyr Special was and still is loud.
Norman first raced the car at the AGP at Port Wakefield and it developed into a fast and reliable racing machine. In 1957 it was sold to Keith Rilstone who upgraded it with a Mk II Zephyr engine fitted with a Raymond Mays head. The front suspension was modified and an anti-roll bar added. At the same time the front brakes were upgraded to Standard Vanguard units. In this form the car was extremely competitive and could match it with the Cooper Climaxes that were beginning to dominate the local scene.
Bob Campbell, Editor, robertcampbell4.

20) Wally’s stories: courtesy of DRIVE Magazine, by Wally Parks (to be serialized in coming newsletters). INDIAN
MOTORCYCLE DAY-WEST.
“Surrounded by Indians! That was many a wagonmaster’s biggest fear, in escorting early pioneers on their Westward-Ho journeys across the plains and mountains of North American in the new settlement days. But for several hundred motorcycle enthusiasts, being surrounded by Indians at the recent premiere of “The World’s Fastest Indian” exhibition in the NHRA’s Motorsports Museum at the Fairplex in Pomona, California was an unforgettably great experience. The occasion was hosted by Cycle World Magazine and Indian lakes racer Eric Vaughn. With an early morning’s cruise through the hills of the nearby Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas, Indian bike riders assembled in front of the Museum’s large entryway, where an awesome assemblage of early vintage and late model Indian motorcycles were on display, along with a lineup of antique and restored cars, to add even more interest to the very special occasion.

21) 2025 MSHOFA Ed Iskenderian Induction speech, by LandSpeed Louise Ann Noeth, Copyright 2025, part two.
During the 1960’s Isky adopted a destitute village in Baja, Mexico repeatedly donating clothing, bedding, food and toys. Selling burritos on the side of the road to off-road racers was 9-year-old Javier Vasquez who had no toys of his own. When Ed noticed the boy staring at the model cars lying atop his dashboard, he picked up a little Red 1937 Chevy Coupe and gave it to him. From that moment Javier staunchly believed that he was a real hot rodder because he now owned one. Javier told his siblings and others, “You can look at it but not touch it.”
Javier still cherishes that little red car confessing that this toy has been his touchstone of acceptance, focus and success for more than 50 years. Here’s why: Javier’s family emigrated to the USA, and he perfected his English, concentrated on his lessons and in high school learned how to make castings. This led to a job in a foundry where he mastered the craft focusing on racing blocks. By 1989, Vasquez opened Foundry Works that today only makes high performance aluminum castings and the wheels on the Martian Rover. May this story inspire you to light a flame in the lives of others. I am, so thoroughly honored to welcome this Centenarian Speed Merchant, the oldest inductee ever elected to the MSHOFA. Ladies & Gentlemen please help me warmly welcome: Ed Iskenderian, the Camfather. Landspeed Louise Ann Noeth is at louise. (last part)