Motorsports Newsletter 4/30/25

By Richard Parks

1) EDITOR’S CORNER: I received this message recently,”You may set some people off (numerous people mentioned), but it’s your call brother, if you’d like a few bars let me know, but would love to see it on your newsletter.” Anonymous

Yes, I do annoy people from time to time. On the POBB I allowed the most outrageous content and even used pseudonyms to mask identities. It’s a Parks Family trait and I am guilty of being a real “riler.” However, wiser souls advise me to use content that reflects the type of newsletters that I create and send out. For example, a suggestion came in that the books mentioned on the

CARS YEAH podcast should reflect the theme of the Motorsports Newsletter. Very wise advice indeed, so books on politics, religion, political figures, psychology and the like were removed. What was left was pure magic; books that reflected what the newsletter is about. However, I include topics on aeronautics, water and ice racing, etal, since they use motors that power speed. Perhaps one day we can add “space racing” since rocketships have engines too (sort of). Keeping the newsletter focused is what the group wants, but I can help others create their own group emails that cater to other themes and topics. Fun is a key component and while we’re on the “top side” we ought to have a few laughs; just not always on this site.

Now for a difficult topic. Are books still important in the internet age? In my opinion, yes, even more so. Most people still have book collections. Jim Miller and I often interview people and one of the highlights of what we do is see their collections, books, memorabilia and cars. The sad lowlight of our research is how many collections, including books, are thrown in the dumpster. This happens most often when people in motorsports move or pass away. Often there are no children, or family members who want or can handle book collections. Either the executor of the estate hires an Estate Sales group or ask family and friends to clear out “non-valuable” objects, as if there is a non-valuable object to historians. What isn’t sold or donated is tossed in the garbage. I’ve argued with Estate Sales groups, and they just don’t care; they have more estate sales to handle. Attorneys and Accountants advise anyone nearing 80 to start disposing of their collectibles to make future probate easier. Please send me lists of libraries, museums and other institutions that will take our books. It is urgent that we prepare to save our “treasures.”

AND: All links in the newsletter need to be copied and pasted into your browser in order to work.

2) REMEMBERING OUR LOST FRIENDS DEPARTMENT:

a) A Life on the Limit: Revisiting Jochen Rindt’s Remarkable Rise and Tragic Fall Written by Bob Gates, April 17, 2025. Jochen Rindt’s life was short, but his impact on motorsport was immense. Known for his fearless driving and magnetic charisma, Rindt’s story is one of relentless pursuit, incredible talent, and a tragic end. A posthumous World Champion, he remains an unforgettable figure in racing history, achieving greatness in an era where the risks were all too real. His story serves as a powerful reminder of what it means to live fully and race with purpose, even when the odds are stacked against you. From: Society of Professional Motorsports Journalists (SPMJ) at info.

b) 1 year ago, April 10, 2024, we lost more than just a friend, Chris Miller, we lost someone who was loved and respected by many. You will never be forgotten. Thanks for what you did for us racers. Rest in Peace Chris. Dawn Perdue

c) I was at the Hayward Headhunters Club meet at Harry’s Hofbrau restaurant yesterday and we were remembering Rich Guasco of the famed Pure Hell drag car. He passed away at the age of 88. From Spencer Simon.

d) Rich Guasco made his mark racing his trademark altered 1932 Austin Bantam dubbed “Pure Hell” in the 1960’s before transitioning to funny cars, then as a mechanic for professional drag racers and later running his own team. He was inducted into Don Garlits’ International Drag Racing Hall of Fame and the Grand National Roadster show Hall of Fame. Pleasanton Weekly.

e) Motorsports Hall of Famer found success building engines in all forms of racing. Written by Mark Vaughn for Autoweek. Ed Pink, known throughout racing as “The Old Master,” whose engines powered racers from Tony Stewart, Don Prudhomme, Ed “The Ace” McCulloch, Kasey Kahne, and Eddie Cheever to victories in Indianapolis, NHRA, USAC Sprint cars, IMSA, and Infiniti IRL, has passed away at age 94. See https://www.autoweek.com/racing/more-racing/a64603591/ed-pink-obit/.

3) WE GET MAIL AND OOPS DEPARTMENT:

a) Bone’s Balogh’s 90th Birthday at the Lions Museum, May 31, 2025. 2790 E Del Amo Blvd, East Rancho Dominguez,

CA 90221, media.

b) Hal Canode sent me articles on RacingJunk.com. It’s a fine site and I send them my newsletter as well. There is a nice tribute to Mitzi Valenzuela’s Pin-ups. If you don’t know about Mitzi, then look up her work at MitziAndCo. Her photos are done in the classic 1940’s and ’50’s style, and they are done tastefully. She is a fantastic photographer and I’ve written articles on her models and Mitzi too. You can also reach RacingJunk at rjnewsletter. I’ve written articles for RJ’s other company’s newsletter, HotRodHotline.com. RJ is at https://www.racingjunk.com/news/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_

medium=email&utm_campaign=RJnewsletter.

c) Enjoy your motorsports outreach. At one time, the Motor Press Guild held a yearly Literature Faire event to exchange and sell motorsports and automotive related paper treasures, brochures, magazines and photographs. There were events at the late Irwindale Speedway, and I remember a few events held at the Wally Parks Motorsports Museum in Pomona. Has anyone out in SoCal found an event that’ll rival the Ol’ Literature Faire? You can’t take it with you. Thanks for any guidance. Darr Hawthorne, Lions Automobilia Foundation & Museum, 2790 E. Del Amo Blvd. Rancho Dominguez, CA 90221. 818-424-6656.

DARR: It was the Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), Southern California Chapter that hosted the Literature Faire. I joined with Joan Denver, Stan Chersky, and others. Harold Osmer was our Chapter President. Jay Leno often came to the Faires. They were held at the Motorsports Museum, Irwindale, Automotive Driving Museum, and other places. Anne Proffitt sold her photos at the Faire. It was an amazing place to pick up collectibles and add them to one’s collections. A perfect place to hold the Faire would be at the Lions Museum. Contact any of those named above to see if it’s possible to bring back the Faire.

d) I want to thank all those that helped put this event & show together at Steve Saleen’s Lab in Corona CA. People came from all over So Cal to see what needs to be done and happen in our High Schools Nationwide. From Rodney Allen Rippy, Jerry Rangel, and Bill Montgomery. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukgfFPKd51k&feature=youtu.be.

e) Royce Rumsey just published “Fast Fashion at the Ranch.” Recently, two prime member of Ford Motor Company’s Total Performance history joined the series of performance cars participating in the Barn Find photographic campaign at the Irvine Ranch Historic Park. Adding style and fashion to Jeff Wombacher’s Wimbledon White 1966 GT350 and David Miyasako’s 1969 Le Mans victor Oliver & Ickx Ford GT40 at the Irvine Ranch were international cover model Eugenia Kuzmina and Maxum Model Regan McKenna. For the full story and beautiful photographs see: https://roycer924.exposure.co/fast-fashion-at-the-ranch.

Royce can be found at roycer924_2.

f) If you discover a good or great place to give books, I have 50 years of Automobile Quarterly to donate. Don Prieto.

DON: Your email prodded me into another editorial. I’m asking that question of others, as my collection has to go somewhere as well. The Automotive Driving Museum had a great library, but they closed down. The Nethercutt Auto Museum has a wonderful reading and research library. So does Watkins Glen. The Nethercutt is in Sylmar, CA.

g) I want to email some photos. What email address do I use? Don Hale

DON: My email address is RnParks1. Please include Jim Miller at Miller212.842 in the CC box. I will enjoy whatever you send and Jim records it for posterity. If it is only meant for me then exclude Jim’s email address and tell me that it is personal. If you haven’t written your bio or stories, please do so. My process is simple and fast. It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be written. My favorite stories are those that are heartfelt and unique. I have thousands of stories and it’s never, ever enough.

h) Roy Robinson and I were attending the Art Center College of Design for degrees in commercial photography. In 1962 Roy became the official Lions photographer. We were roommates at the time, so I often went with him to photograph the drags at Lions. We photographed 1962-65. We had free processing at Art Center, and we shot a lot of color. At the time there was so little use of color in publications that most of the pros at that time just shot black and white. A lot of our work is on display at the new Lions Museum. The Lions book was done by John Glaspey who now suffers from dementia. For that reason, there will be no more books printed. I shot at Indy in 1967-68, the World Finals in Dallas and a few other tracks after my Lions work. Don Hale

DON & ROY: Thank you for the photographs. I sent them to Jim Miller as he keeps them in his files so that I can use them if needed. Jim does photos scanning for the American Hot Rod Foundation and is a good friend of mine and very trustworthy. Your photos are great, some of the best I’ve seen. If you haven’t written your stories or biographies, please begin. We need to save our heritage for the next generation.

i) I think the Fab50’s has mostly disbanded since Art Evan’s died. Ginny Dixon kind of took it over but not much has happened in recent years. Here’s a couple more Oscar Koveleski pics. Dave Wolin

DAVE: Not only Art, but Bill Pollard, John Dixon, Rodger Ward, Carroll Shelby and so many others have now left us. There were a lot of 2nd generation (sons and daughters) who came to the events. Losing the Ranch in the San Fernando Valley was a big loss. Paramount Ranch, Monterey, and the Bird are the few spots remaining.

j) Doug Stokes sent in an interesting on-line newsletter from the International Motor Racing Research Center at

research, called The Logbook. It has news on open wheel and sports car racing. Contact Kip Zeiter at

kip to be added to the list.

4) STORIES OR BIOGRAPHIES IN THE GONE RACIN’ ARCHIVES: Just write and ask for a free emailed copy (Editor).

CODDINGTON, Boyd……2008

COKER, Harold……2014

COLON, Randy……2023

CONZE Brothers; Vince, Andy (Elaine) ……2008

COOK, Dale……2024

5) BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR SALE:

a) BMW Cars 1945 to 2013, by Trevor Adler, £23.99, 160 pages, 350 pictures, a comprehensive pictorial history of BMW cars covering the post war models right through to 2013, when electric and hybrid models started to make an appearance. Write to: newsletter.

b) In the Veloce series: Triumph & Standard, Morris, Rootes: (Hillman, Humber, Singer, Sunbeam, & Talbot), Rover, Austin,

Ford, Riley & Wolseley, Citroën, and Jaguar. Write to: newsletter.

c) FORMULA 2: The Glory Years, 1967-84. Photographs by Jutta Fausel, Foreword by Jacky Ickx, Afterword by Chris Witty, US price $130, CDN price $180, ISBN: 9781910505199, Format 272x223mm, portrait (10.7in x 8.8in), Format: 272x223mm, Hardback, Page extent: 560pages, Illustration: 890 photographs, including color. From: Judy Stropus.

d) My new book just came out April 22, 2025, titled Orange County International Dragway, by Steve Reyes. Steve is at

sreyes.

e) SoCal Thunder…When Lions Roared! A History by John “Waldo” Glaspey, photos by Don Hale & Roy Robinson, Foreword by Jon Lundberg, “The Voice of Drag Racing.” This was a limited edition and has since been sold out. From: Don Hale at

spidonhale.

f) Mercedes and Benz Racing 1900-1955 An appreciation, by Roy Smith. £150/$200, Hardback, 30.5cm x 25mm, 592 pages, 1200 pictures. From: Veloce newsletter.

6) EVENTS, SHOWS, MUSEUMS, TOURS, REUNIONS AND MORE:

a) Happy Father’s Day, Cars & Coffee at Rick’s Diner. Dad’s get free Museum Entrance if they bring their Hot Rod, Saturday, June 14, 2025, 9am-Noon. Lions Automobilia Foundation, 2790 E Del Amo Blvd, East Rancho Dominguez, CA 90221-6008.

b) The Kern County Motorsports Hall of Fame 2025 Inductees are: Bowser Family, Marion Collins, Kevin Harvick, Ernie Hashim, Marshall “Digger” Helm, Terry Henry, Huth Family, Owen Kearns, Kurtis Family, Steve McGowan, Rick Mears, Rosie Roussel, Schweitzer Family, Frank Secrist, George Snider, and Marion Whittington. The official induction ceremony will take place at the “Streets of Bakersfield Car Show” on October 11, 2025. The Kern County Motorsports Hall of Fame is sponsored by the non-profit cruzin4charity, producers of the “Streets of Bakersfield Car Show, at racinghistoryproject.

c) Russo-Marvel 2025 Award Ceremony, May 23, 2025, Indianapolis, Indiana. From: Society of Professional Motorsports Journalists (SPMJ) at info.

d) Tri-5 Car Show, featuring Nomads, May 3, 2025, from 9am to 3pm. Cruise to Lions with Mom, May 10, 2025 (Mother’s Day), free admission for mom. 2790 E Del Amo Blvd, East Rancho Dominguez, CA 90221, media.

e) Sherm Porter’s Calendar of Events for hot rodders and more.

MONTHLY: Jr’s Drive-In, 2nd Friday of the month, 603 E. Main, Santa Maria, CA, 5-8pm. For info: 805-925-5556.

WEEKLY-SATURDAYS-SUNDAY AUTOHANGOUT: open to anyone, no leader, supervision, trophies or vendors.

Every Saturday morning from 8am-11:30am. in Embarcadero Parking Lot, next to the PG&E stacks in Morro Bay.

BAKERY BUMS: Every Saturday 7am, Cider Creek Bakery, Paso Robles, CA, corner of Niblick/South River Road.

ORCUTT DERELICTS: Sunday 8am, Oak Knolls Shopping Center, Orcutt, CA corner of Clark/Bradley.

PISMO DERELICTS: Saturday 7am, OSH/ROSS Center, Pismo Beach, CA, 100+ cars on a sunny day.

SANTA BARBARA CARS & COFFEE: Sunday, Santa Barbara, CA, La Cumbre Plaza, 8am-10am.

MAY 8-10, 2025, West Coast Meet 2025, “The British Invasion,” Atascadero, CA, LGBTQ Show.

MAY 10, 2025, 2nd Annual Lake Hughes Canyon Run Car Show, ’72 and older autos, live music, vendors, food, raffles,

pinstriping, 9am-3pm. Call 661-383-8115.

MAY 10-11, 2025, Woodland Street Cruisers Show, Berry Fest Strawberry Festival, Yolo County Fairgrounds, Woodland, CA.

MAY 14-18, 2025, 5th Annual Old Town Motorama, Clovis, CA, Friday Kick Off Party, Saturday Classic Car Show, Sunday Garage & Shop Tours. For info: www.hotrodcoalition.com

MAY 16-17, 2025, 45th Annual San Luis Obispo, CA, Roadsters Run, cruises, catered lunches, dinners, Limited to 100 pre-1949 entries. For info: Sherm Porter at 805-441-3773 or sanluisroadsters.

MAY 16-17, 2025, The 39th Annual Pacific Southwest Zone Show, Oldsmobile Club of America, Pismo Beach, CA, at the Hilton Garden Inn. For info: www.oldsmobileclub.org.

MAY 16-17, 2025, Spring Fever Revival, Reno/Sparks, Nevada. Limited to 400 1979 and older vehicles. For information go to: https://hotaugustnights.net/spring-fever-revival/.

f) The Philadelphia Concours d’Elegance (https://www.coolcarsforkids.org), event organizers have decided to postpone the 2025 event. This year’s eighth annual Concours was originally scheduled for June 21-22, 2025, at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, where it has been held since its inaugural event in 2017. From Judy Stropus

g) The Chattanooga Motorcar Festival organizers have announced that the 2025 Festival will be postponed until 2026, due to continuing restructuring and expansion of the Chattanooga community, and the festival’s ongoing re-evaluation of the dynamic family-friendly activities it can offer. From: Judy Stropus

h) 14th Annual “Run with a Winner” Car Show Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Santa Anita Park on the infield. Classic cars, live horse racing, cars of all makes & models, live music by The Gaslighters, trophies, awards, raffle, food, vendors, pony rides, bounce house for the kids, pre-registration: $40 (includes admission for up to 4 people). See gdriscoll.

7) NHRA, IHRA, DRAG, LAND SPEED & STRAIGHT-LINE RACING: Where is the news from IHRA?

a) A program of focus for Tim Huddleston will be the NHRA Street Legal program. Since its formation in 1951, NHRA has worked tirelessly to combat and eliminate the dangerous and illegal practice of street racing. To this day, that continues to be the primary mission for the association. In the decade Huddleston led Irwindale’s dragstrip, the facility had record growth and became the benchmark track for NHRA’s Street Legal program with its weekly Thursday Night Thunder program. From: Joe Skotnicki jskotnicki.

b) Buffalo Turbine will continue as the “Official Track Blower of NHRA” as part of a long-term extension. The partnership between NHRA and Buffalo Turbine dates back to 2010, as the two companies continue to work closely together. As part of the long-term extension, the Simpson NHRA Safety Safari will continue using a dedicated fleet of 13 Buffalo Turbine debris blowers at all NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series national events.

c) The Road to 1,000 Top Fuel races:

1: 1963 NHRA Winternationals – Don Garlits, winner

100: 1979 NHRA Mile-High Nationals – Kelly Brown, winner

200: 1987 Dallas NHRA Nationals – Darrell Gwynn, winner

300: 1993 Columbus NHRA Springnationals – Doug Herbert, winner

400: 1998 NHRA Mile-High Nationals – Cory McClenathan, winner

500: 2002 Dallas NHRA FallNationals – Doug Kalitta, winner

600: 2007 Atlanta NHRA Southern Nationals – Brandon Bernstein, winner

700: 2011 NHRA Mile-High Nationals – Spencer Massey, winner

800: 2015 NHRA Carolina Nationals – Antron Brown, winner

900: 2019 Las Vegas NHRA Nationals – Brittany Force, winner

1000: This weekend at ZMAX Charlotte?

d) Here is an update on the SCTA events: The SCTA season at El Mirage Dry Lake is starting on May 17-18, 2025. The race starts at 8am. Check the SCTA website at rulebookinfo.

e) The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series has been dominated by one driver through the first two events in 2025, but plenty of standouts will be looking to change that during the wild and unpredictable four-wide setting as part of this weekend’s American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

f) American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals Race 5 at Charlotte, of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

Brittany Force National Speed Record HendrickCars.com Top Fuel. Force clocked the fastest Top Fuel pass in history on Friday at the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at 341.59 mph. Force will be seeking her first win of the season at this weekend’s race at zMAX Dragway. nhracommunications. BTW: she went 301 in the 1/8th mile.

g) The Quick 32 Sportsman Series & Pro Bike and Sled Series (PBSS) will start the season at Empire Dragway in Leicester, New York, June 20-21, July 18-19, August 15-16 and September 19-20 in 2025. The events will include the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS), and the 5.50 Index Series, Box and No-Box divisions. The competition will be held on the Empire Dragway eighth-mile track surface and compete for their respective Championship Point Award Series. From: Bruce Mehlenbacher at bruce.

h) Final finish order for professional categories at the 15th annual American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway. TOP FUEL: Shawn Langdon. FUNNY CAR: Austin Prock. PRO STOCK: Dallas Glenn. PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: Matt Smith. PRO MODIFIED: JR Gray. Top Alcohol Funny Car: Sean Bellemeur. Top Alcohol Dragster: Brandon Greco. Mountain Motor Pro Stock: Brad Waddle. Factory Stock Showdown: Jonathan Allegrucci. Factory X: Lenny Lottig. From nhracommunications.

8) BOOK REVIEWS: On file in the Gone Racin’ Archives. Free by email on request to the Editor.

a) The Old Car Nut Book #1, by David Dickinson.

b) The Old Car Nut Book #2, by David Dickinson.

c) The Old Car Nut Book #3: A Century of Road Trips around America, by David Dickinson.

d) Fifties Flashback: A Nostalgia Trip, by Albert Drake.

e) Flat Out, by Albert Drake.

f) Have you read Adrian Newey’s, “How to Build a Race Car?” From Don Prieto.

DON: No, I haven’t. Would you send me a synopsis or book review on Newey’s book?

g) I’m attending a premiere of the new documentary ISKY this evening in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Would you like a review? LandSpeed Louise Ann Noeth

LANDSPEED: YES, please send me a review and I will archive it in the video and movie section of Gone Racin.’

h) I’d like to promote my book, The Other Side of the Fence, 6 Decades of Motorsport Photography in your blog. Realizing few make money selling books, ALL proceeds from the sale of the book go to Spina Bifida of Jacksonville to aid those stricken with this terrible birth defect. Let me know where to send a copy for your review. Bill Warner, billwarner

BILL: I’m running behind by half a dozen books, but if you want me to do a review, I will be glad to. If you want the book back, please send prepaid pouch. I also suggest having others write reviews too, especially if they have already purchased a book. It isn’t difficult to do, and they can copy my formula. Afterwards, submit one or multiple reviews to newspapers and magazine. I’m trying to make my reviews shorter, but it’s hard for me to do.

i) BOOK REVIEW: You Didn’t Block Mark Once, by Dave Wolin. Reviewed by Richard Parks. (part 1)

Dave Wolin created the best example of a self-published book that I have seen so far. It is all about the story, with enough photographs to move the action along. This is the way for the independent writer to create his work at an extremely reasonable cost which takes all the pressure off in finding a market and promoting his book. The paper quality is average, nothing fancy, but sturdy. The black and white photographs are clear enough, but do not push up the price of printing. The paperback format with a glued spine will be adequate for the reader. Wolin is concerned with the story, not the trimmings and that gives him the ability to get the best deal in printing costs. That only leaves two issues, finding a publisher or doing the publishing himself, and promoting and marketing his work. It isn’t clear if he did his own publishing, mainly putting his writing into a file that the printer can use, but the writing is solely Wolin’s. We’re looking at printing costs lower than a typical Subway sandwich, which means he can order thousands of books for a sweet price. That guarantees Wolin can recover his expenses and donate the rest to The Racing History Project or his favorite racing library near Paso Robles, CA. This is what I have been advocating all racers and fans do should they wish to write their own biographies or stories.

9) AUTO & CAR BOOKS mentioned on Ginger Baker Rust’s Cars Yeah website by those appearing on her Podcast:

Donald Osborne – Stile Transatlantico, by Donald Osborne.

Jan Hyde – Corvette Racing, by David Kimball.

Mitch Wright – The Art of Racing in The Rain by Garth Stein, Out of the Mist, by Burt Levy.

Richard Rawlings – Fast and Loud: Blood Sweat and Beers, by Richard Rawlings.

Les Duellman – The Art of Racing in The Rain, by Garth Stein.

Francisque Savinien – 50 Years with Stand 21, by Yves Morizot. Editor: A fascinating history of Yves’ life in motorsports.

Jon Saltinstall – Jacky Ickx: His Authorized Competition History,by Jon Saltinstall.

Jon Saltinstall – Niki Lauda His Competition History, by Jon Saltinstall.

Jill Amadio – Raoul ‘Sonny” Balcoaen, by Raoul F. Balcaen with Jill Amadio and Pete Lyons.

Raoul ‘Sonny’ Balcaen – Raoul ‘Sonny” Balcoaen, by Raoul F. Balcaen with Jill Amadio and Pete Lyons.

Sharon Spurlin – The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein, Books, by Burt Levy and Nathan Chadwick Book Reviews.

Brad Phillips – Ferrari Owner’s Manuals,for sale at RM Sotheby’s.

10) SPORTS CAR RACING NEWS:

a) Thank you very much for passing this along to the many who you reach out to monthly. It’s greatly appreciated by me personally, and collectively by the entire staff at the Watkins Glen Research Center. I’m very excited to have Jim Oddy join the program. He’s a legend. Kip Zeiter
KIP: You’re welcome. Send more news of your events.

b) Michelin North America & Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) announced a multi-year agreement that will see the tire maker become an official partner of HSR, the sanctioning body in North America for historic and vintage motorsports competition.

c) Starting from the pole and maintaining control throughout the 90-minute race, Pierce Marshall and Eric Foss co-drove the Matador Motorsports 2017 #02 Cadillac DPi to their first HSR Prototype Challenge presented by Michelin victory late Saturday afternoon at the 47th HSR The Mitty presented by Hagerty. Third overall went to Bob Neapole and Guy Cosmo who garnered P3-class honors in the Hudson Historics #47 Ligier JS P320. Topping the largest class in the race with nine entries, Neapole and Cosmo shared the P3 podium with teammates John Reisman and Eric Curran in the sister #74 Hudson Historics Ligier JS P320. The CB Motorsports 2017 #18 Ligier JS P315 of Matt Forbush and Caleb Bacon completed a solid run of three LMP3 entries in the overall top five with a third-place P3 class showing. In P2-class competition, Wally Owens and his son Kevin Owens co-drove to victory in their Owens Racing 2014 #09 Coyote Corvette Daytona Prototype. Next up for the HSR Prototype Challenge presented by Michelin is Round 3 of the 2025 championship at Watkins Glen International, June 12-14, 2025. From: HSR Communications, SaalGoodPR.

d) The May Vintage Metal Journal of the Vintage Sports Car Club (VSCC) of Western Australia is at https://indd.adobe.com

robertcampbell4.

11) NEWS FROM EPARTRADE:

a) Jim Campbell, Vice President of GM Performance & Motorsports, joined us. Hosted by David Malsher-Lopez of RACER.com. From: team.

b) D&J Precision Machine will present this webinar on Wednesday, April 30, at 9am PST. Presented by Drew Pumphrey, Founder. Hosted by Jeff Hammond from SiriusXM, Channel 90.

c) Steve Phelps, Commissioner of NASCAR, joined us. Hosted by Brad Gillie of SiriusXM, Channel 90, The Late Shift.

d) The motorsports world lost a giant. In honor of our friend, Ed Pink, we are sharing our webinar with him and Steve Lewis, trade show producer, publisher, and USAC race team owner. Hosted by Ralph Sheheen of SPEED SPORT.

12) BLAST FROM THE PAST…… From the Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way. 26 JUNE 1950.

W. A. Huggins was assigned by Commissioner Clifford E. Peterson of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to oversee the Safety and Education Office. His article outlined the work that CHP Officers Ezra Ehrhardt in Northern California and Charles (Chuck) Pollard in Southern California were doing to deter dangerous driving by young men. The program outlined by the CHP called for youth activities in car clubs and other groups. Those activities included road rallies, racing and other forms of the car culture that appealed to young people. It was a step in the right direction, but it did not go far enough; the answer lay in a national format, not a regional one. Solving California’s problems did little to solve the illegal street racing throughout the nation.

13) OLD TIME HOT RODDERS SPEAK:

a) Others who came to show their respects to Ak Miller included: Stormin’ Norman Benham, Richard Miazga, Don Kanotick, Phil Hara, Johnny Ryan, Bob Keller, Mark Saxlond, Bruce Eikenberger, Jim Moran, Rory Rinebold, Eric “Rick” Rickman, Michael Rickman, Don Blair, John McDowell, Dennis Jones, James and Earlene Smith, Mike Jones, Nancy Corn, Pete and Doris Pierce, Barbara Parks, Roger Rohrdanz, Jack Gingrich, John Watt, Dan and Doris Eames, Chuck Nippress, Vic Cunningham, Wayne Phillips, Jim “Jake” Jacobs, Tim Timmerman, Mike Cincola, Bill “Whizzer Bike” and Joey Graham, Bruce Glasscock, Jim Miller, Louis Senter, Ross Haas, Rick Burley, Bob Millner, Nick Arias Jr, Randy Schmitt, John Della Porta, Sherry Watkins, Lee Wasden, Bob Wildoner, Ernie and Dion Chapman, Don Zabel, George Callaway, Jon Meyer, Duane McKinney and many others.

(source: Richard Parks June 28, 2005)

b) Hank Williams owned and raced his rare Cobra for 60 years, never having an accident on the track and the car is in its original condition. Hank competed in 394 events and took home countless wins and many top of the field placements. His home looks like a shrine of trophies and plaques. Hank was commemorated as the first African-American to drive around Indianapolis Speedway. Hank went on to be the 1st African American driver for Carroll Shelby. Bill Montgomery is quoted saying “Many people have no clue of Hank’s greatness. He cared for the youth, and he supported many Hidden Pioneer events with his presence, he shared inspirational stories with our guests, and he would often display his rare AC Cobra.” Williams passed away on Dec 5, 2023, at the age of 99 years old. Go to: 1964-Shelby-289-Cobra-1-e1720696005972.jpg. And: 1964-Shelby-289-Cobra-2-e1720696047941.jpg.

15) WALLY’S STORIES: courtesy of DRIVE Magazine, by Wally Parks. INDIAN MOTORCYCLE DAY-WEST.

In the garage we fashioned a pair of front spindles and brackets for a rear axle. And we also found some small elliptical springs, just right for our unplanned suspension system. There were no brakes, yet, and no steering, but the chassis looked promising as we continued to search for cost-free components. Much of the work thus far had been done in the repair garage, where the Indian was now stored in a corner, awaiting our next decision on what to do. But a time came when space was needed in the overcrowded garage, and I agreed to take my work in progress would-be race car back home. I had no means of transportation, but my friends had access to their dad’s big old Studebaker four-door sedan, which would be our transporter. But when we tried to load the chassis assembly, it wouldn’t fit through the doors – so we decided that out best measure would be to tow it the two or three miles to my home, on the street – and that is when the ‘project’ got real tricky.

16) The Trakbytes website has been updated with nearly sixty new entries. The earliest is from 1965 and the most recent from 2005. With the Festival of Power starting today we take a look back at the events from twenty years ago as a new section of the archive beginning in 2005 opens. Back then the Easter event was known as the Thunderball and featured the fifth running of the popular Pro Fuel Shootout which saw the Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars battling it out for the honours. Among the competitors for the 2005 event there are a number of names that appear on the 2025 entry list, including Andy Robinson, Steve Woolatt, Spencer Tramm, Dave Cherrett, Brian Pateman, Conrad Stanley and Collin Morrice. Danny Cockerill was running his first six second passes in Pro Mod, and Jon Webster achieved his first four second run in Top Fuel. Martin Hill put in a pass in Fireforce 3 that set an astonishing new World best and Chief Starter for 2025 Dave Warren was running in Super Street Bike, a class which was seeing its first seven second runs. One name who will be at Santa Pod this year was unusually not present in 2005. Showtime crew chief, and my old race day boss, Bob Jarrett returns with a new Showtime Funny Car driven by Terry Haddock. Good luck guys. There are also details from the first of Shakespeare County Raceway’s first major event of the year which saw the Street Eliminator field whittled down to one car before eliminations had even begun (a one-car cruise did take place). Clive Rooms and Jerry Cookson have been busy scanning programme covers and entry lists, and the 2000 and 2001 sections look considerably brighter as a result. There are also details from some of the sixties Elvington records weekends, seventies and eighties meetings from Santa Pod, Blackbushe, Snetterton and York, and 24 new names have been added to the Competitor Index which now contains 2762 racers from the UK’s Drag Racing history. The Hall of Fame entries for Sydney & Alan Allard, Alf Hagon, Clive Skilton, John Hobbs, Dennis Priddle and the Page’s team have also been updated. Go to: www.trakbytes.co.uk. From: Chris Dossett, United Kingdom.

17) YOUTH PROGRAMS, HIDDEN PIONEERS, SEMA, ETC:

a) Those attending and speaking to the high school young people at the Hidden Garages event at Steve Saleen’s in Corona, CA included: Greg Quirin, Tuan Nguyen, Bob Rosas, Carmen Rosas, Caroline Powers, Jazmin Jaime, Garth Newberry, Shawna Bushell, Rosa Munoz, Emeline King, Mad Mike, Jim Jordan, Scott Parks, Brock Parks, Pam Marshall, Shain Hymon, Donia Moore, Jerry Rangel, Bill Montgomery, and many more. Go to: hiddenpioneers.

18) The Quick 32 Sportsman Series & Pro Bike and Sled Series (PBSS) will start the season at Empire Dragway in Leicester, New York, June 20-21, July 18-19, August 15-16 and September 19-20 in 2025. Charlie Emler, the 2024 Quick 32 Sportsman Series Champion, plans to return along with Top Dragster regulars Buddy Forrest, Tyler Rudolph, Brett Bennett, Craig Giordano, Burt Lyon, Greg Kerl, Rich Yacos, Don Kiekel, Ray Agro Jr., Mike Kalin, Mark Romanofsky, Lucas Salemi, Jessica Bennett, Bob Bauer Jr., Art Cioffi, Davy Markle, Dave Markle, Steven Markle, Scott Church, Shawna Woudstra and rookie Top Dragster drivers Ryan Harris and Ashton Halas. From: Bruce Mehlenbacher at bruce.

19) 2025 MSHOFA Ed Iskenderian Induction speech by “LandSpeed” Louise Ann Noeth.

Many thousands of engines have been made faster and more reliable, simply by using one of Ed Iskenderian’s racing camshafts. Ed is a charmingly casual, unfussy fellow who conquers his competition one lobe at a time. This 103-year-old man, a lynchpin in Los Angeles when hot rodding gave birth to the speed equipment industry, still goes to work daily and contributes to his company and motorsports with enviable gusto. His self-taught mechanical engineering adventure began in the 1940’s. He bought a two-inch ad in the August 1948 issue of Speed Age magazine which inspired a couple of road racing brothers to buy his camshaft. The boys not only ran the fastest lap in front 100,000 spectators but also won the inaugural Sports Car Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. Sam and Miles Collier sent Isky a 2-page letter of their marvelous milestone.

Ask Don Garlits who rocketed him into worldwide renown. Though commonplace in motorsports today, ISKY was elected the First President of SEMA because he had already started paying racers contingency money for using his products and created wearable advertising by giving racers free tee-shirts. Being fast and first is critical but what about Isky’s decades of discreet philanthropy helping thousands? He helped a poor village in Baja, Mexico and made a friendship with Javier Vasquez. Years later Vasquez, who had moved to the United States, opened the Foundry Works that today makes high performance aluminum castings and the wheels on the Martian Rover.