By Richard Parks
1) EDITOR’S CORNER: The Nobel Committee in Oslo, Norway selects award participants in a number of categories and their selections are often strange to say the least. Recently they honored two dozen women of the world among 4 billion possibilities. However, they overlooked women in drag racing, and I believe that ought to be rectified. Phil Burgess and National Dragster did just that in issue 1, volume 66, titled “Women of Power.” Kudos to NHRA for righting the wrongs of the Nobel Committee.
The Editor wishes to apologize to anyone who’s name I have misspelled or misunderstood. It doesn’t happen very often but when it does it seems like I am being smug. That is not my intention at all. Names, dates, places and facts are important, and I do regret mistakes. Please bring them to my attention so that I can correct them. A second apology when the editor forgets that he has made a correction and makes the same mistake all over again. Believe it or not, but my father made those same mistakes in his early days as editor of the SCTA Racing News. It happens. We are rueful. We’ll do better.
Ray Motes wrote to me about his racing experiences, and I learned a great deal. You would think that I know everything about drag and motorsport racing after spending 5 years researching and writing a 35-volume work on my father, the NHRA, drag racing and the people in the sport, but then to learn so much more from Ray. The more we learn, the more we want to learn. It is a never-ending jig-saw puzzle, and I am so thankful that motorsports people have opened their lives and memories to share with us. I will post the names of the stories in my files and if you want to see one (or all), just let me know.
AND: All links in the newsletter need to be copied and pasted into your browser in order to work.
AND: Always indicate what is printable and what is not. I try to use judgment, but if you tell me then I’ll know for certain.
AND: Thanks to all the contributors. I will have to send out the newsletter earlier due to the great volume of news.
–
2) REMEMBERING OUR LOST FRIENDS DEPARTMENT: Across the Pond, by Chris Romano and Bob Storck.
Rene Metge, 82, was a three-time Dakar Rally Champion.
Alberto Colombo, 77, was an Italian Formula Three champion and after several years in Formula Two and three brief attempts at Formula One retired to run the San Remo Formula Two Team.
John Webb, 92, ran Brands Hatch for decades when it hosted the British Grand Prix, eventually branching out to run several other British circuits during his career.
Jan de Rooy won the Dakar Rally in 1987 in the Truck division and went on to contest the event for several more years.
Pietro Corradini, 77, joined Ferrari in 1970 and served as a mechanic to the stars for the next thirty years.
Wilson Fittipaldi, 80, followed his brother Emerson to Formula One in Europe but never had the opportunities his younger brother enjoyed. Undeterred he formed Copersucar in 1975, Brazil’s only Formula One Team, and convinced Emerson to join the following year. His day of days came when Emmo finished second at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 1978.
Hugh Chamberlain, 82, was a perennial British entrant in national events and a 26-time entrant at Le Mans.
Kenjiro Shinozuka, 75, won the Dakar rally in 1997.
Ted Toleman, 86, founded his eponymous Formula One Team after winning a Formula Two Championship with Brian Henton. In 1984 Ayrton Senna made his Formula One debut with the team.
John Walker, 79, won the Australian Driver’s Championship for Formula 5000 cars in 1979.
Indu Chandhok, 93, was the godfather of motorsports in India, leading several organizations.
Tommy Robb was a five-time winner of the Northwest 200 bike race.
Dave Brodie raced touring cars in Great Britain and Europe for ages and had a stint as director at Williams Grand Prix.
Dave Walker won the Monaco Formula 3 support race along with a British F3 championship which led to a number two seat with the Lotus F1 team in 1971, but it wasn’t easy being number two to Emerson Fittipaldi. He did eleven Grands Prix with Lotus before returning to F2 and F5000.
Peter Procter started racing bicycles but switched to cars in the 50’s racing on the British club circuit. He brought the Ford Mustang a class win at the Tour de France in 1964 and ran the Monte Carlo rally eight times and Le Mans on four occasions, along with Formula Two, usually racing for Alan Mann Racing. In 1965 a horrendous accident at Goodwood left him with burns over 65% of his body, but he managed to survive and become a tireless advocate for fireproof driving suits in an era where drivers still raced in cotton uniforms. He remained a member of the British Racing Driver’s Club for decades and left us this year at age 94.
Alan Rees, 86, raced in the lower formulas in the 1960’s achieving some wins in Formula Two, but will be best remembered as one of the founders of March cars in 1969, a company that manufactured everything from Formula 1 to Indy Cars, to sports cars and a host of lower formula cars.
Rupert Keegan, 69, was billed as the next James Hunt, and he certainly lived up to expectations off the track. On track Rupert was the 1976 British Formula Three champion but never quite could get a decent ride in Formula One. He did well in the Aurora FX F1 series in Britain, claiming the 1979 championship.
3) WE GET MAIL AND OOPS DEPARTMENT:
a) BIG JOHN and the EDITOR: Greg Sharp’s been residing at a nice assisted-living place in Glendora for the year or so since suddenly losing vision in both eyes (a rare nerve condition). Below, find a recent note to Richard that appeared in his past xlnt newsletter. Dave Wallace Jr
Will (let) Greg Sharp (know) ASAP. He LOVES the ‘letter; doesn’t have a whole lot else to look forward to (although a teeny-tiny bit of blurred vision occasionally returns, in brief bursts). He especially enjoys the direct quotes from your dad. If you haven’t already called, why don’cha? I try to time calls between normal mealtimes because he’d rather talk than eat whenever a call comes in. NOTE: The basic Siri-speaker system in his room works only for IN-coming calls; he’s unable to “dial out.” If you call & get no answer or tone, he’s either on the phone or out with an attendant. Keep trying: 626-650-5452. DWjr
BIG JOHN, DAVE, GREG and other readers: OOPS, I did have the information after all. Is it my memory fading or am I cramming too much info in my small cranium?
b) Happy Birthday to Mario Andretti on Friday, February 28th. Former Formula 1 world champion will be a director on the board of the newly approved Cadillac F1 team, which puts a famous American car maker with racing partner Andretti Global on the grid in 2026. From: Jim Murray Memorial Foundation
c) I thoroughly enjoy your Motorsports newsletter. The most recent had a note about a Garry Gabelich story. Please consider this my request for a copy of that story. Tom Burkland
TOM: I’m copying and sending the story on Gary Gabelich today. Gary was beloved by so many and sadly passed away too soon. How about some of your family’s stories in land speed racing. I would love to hear them and keep them in my archives.
d) I like your new format much better. It has a lot more interesting news in it and a lot less detail of things that I am really not interested in. Keep it up. Brent Cannon
AND: The most often question that I get is are you related to Frank Cannon? I can tell you with certainly I am not related to anyone else is drag racing except my son who is the track manager at World Wide Raceway for Chris Blair. Other than that, anything I have done in Drag Racing has been on me and all of the wonderful people that I have met over the years. Thanks for asking and I hope this helps. Brent
BRENT: That lets Chic Cannon off the hook. Chic was an early friend and employee at NHRA, and the Cannon Brothers were influential in the early SCTA of the 1930’s and ’40’s. Would you tell us more about your drag racing experiences and your son’s experiences at World Wide Raceway. With your permission I will add it to the stories I’ve archived.
e) The Petersen Automotive Museum might archive collections. Call and ask for Laura Fisher about it. Anna Marco
ANNA: The only contact for the Petersen that I have is Leslie Kendall at lkendall. He has helped in the past with questions about collections.
f) Don Hale and I have probably the largest collection of color photos from 2 years of shooting during the early ’70’s all digitized (all color) that we would like to donate to a place where they would be displayed. The Lions Museum might be a good home. The price is free. Just give us some suggestions that maybe we have not thought of. We still have that large group of color photos from Lions in the early ’70s. We were there with Ralph Guldahl, Jim Kelly, Don Hale and me Roy Robinson. CJ gave me the jacket that I still have, and it still fits me. Keep up the good work. I always enjoy your articles. Roy Robinson
DON and ROY: The ideal situation is to have your photo collections scanned and captioned and placed on a thumb drive or disc to be copied and sent to several museums or universities, maybe including American Hot Rod Foundation, Watkins Glen Archives, NHRA, Petersen, Lions and other facilities. That way if a collection is lost due to a catastrophe, it will still be available elsewhere. Scanning and captioning can be time-consuming. Readers, do you have an alternative?
g) Regarding your first issue: Jim Miller scanned my entire photo collection, and I can draw on it whenever I want. Don Prieto
DON: Thank you for the suggestion. Jim scanned my documents for the American Hot Rod Foundation (AHRF) and gave me the originals back and thumb drive copies for my own use at no charge. The cost was covered by the AHRF.
h) Would it be possible to receive a copy of the Gary Gabelich story from the Gone Racin’ Archive. Many thanks, Phil Evans, Speed Record Club
PHIL: I’m copying and sending the story today.
i) I appreciate the shout out in the Lost Friends listing and think you’re spreading it out in a good way, grouped as it is for proper attention. However, please give Chris Romano all the credit … I only passed his excellent and worthwhile annual effort on with a few edits and additions. Bob Storck
BOB: Chris is a great researcher, and I would be proud to put his email address on the newsletter list.
j) May I take you up on your offer of the Gary Gabelich story from the recent newsletter, please? I’d love to have a read of that. I met Gary at Black Rock back in 1983 and always had a lot of time for him. Good guy. Also, coincidentally, I recently sent some photos and a model to Dana Dietrich, Dean Dietrich’s daughter, who was keen for Dean’s grandchildren to see what their grandad had done in his career with the Natural Gas Industry. David Tremayne
4) LOOKING FOR FRIENDS, DISABLED EMAIL ADDRESSES, AND OTHER WOES DEPARTMENT:
a) Does anyone have an email address for Roy Caruthers (racer5c), which was returned to me as “mailbox
disabled.” Roy is a dry lakes and land speed racer and member of the Road Runners car club in the SCTA. My father’s club.
b) Spoke to Greg Sharp by phone and he loves getting calls. He hasn’t written his bio; call him at 626-650-5452. He said TV Tommy Ivo will be celebrating his 89th birthday on April 18, 2025. Greg is a young 79.
c) Called Dick Martin and he is looking for a home for his collections. So many of us are, but the problem is that Museums and other archival centers are full already. It cost money to add space or rent storage and hire archivists, historians and staff. Be prepared to see some of your collection added to Museums, but much of what you have will most likely be sold off at auctions to raise funds to maintain museums.
d) Looking for David Steele of the American Hot Rod Foundation. Phone calls and emails have not succeeded.
e) Looking Editor Randy Fish. I used to have his contact information on file. Also, for Dave McClure.
–
5) The British Drag Racing Historians are proud to present Beadle Brothers Part 1. Tony and Don Beadle played a big part in British Drag Racing and this first part covers the years 1964-1970 when they teamed up with Allan Herridge racing the Pulsation and Motovation slingshots. These dragsters were built with information from articles in American magazines, often quite technical, and learning from other drag racers, in the UK and America. They used their ingenuity to design and build their own dragsters with a limited budget, using a lock up garage without electricity. At the time Hot Rod magazine contained quite detailed technical articles, also Allan Herridge worked at an engineering company, so he had access to machining equipment. Some of the bits he made for us was of a fantastic standard, like John Harrison also made, so that should be recognised. Some things they could do quite easily; it was the lack of a workshop with power that made it harder. Mick Gleadow has been in touch with Don Beadle and Tony’s widow Jennie gathering information along with his own memories of the Beadle brothers to write these stories. Parts 2 and 3 will follow over the next few weeks. Produced by Mick Gleadow with help from Don Beadle and Tony’s widow Jennie. Edited by Nick Pettitt. For photographs go to: johnhunt.drn.
–
6) NHRA NEWS: Tony Stewart will race in the Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout for the first time in his NHRA career, as the reigning NHRA Rookie of the Year is officially part of the eight-car bonus race that takes place on Saturday, March 8, 2025, as part of the season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, in Florida.
–
7) ADDITIONAL PASSINGS IN 2024: Other notable passings, by Chris Romano & Bob Storck.
Eddie Gossage, 65, made his bones at Charlotte Motor Speedway before becoming the GM at Texas Motor Speedway. He learned his promoting craft from Humpy Wheeler and spent 32 years with Speedway Motorsports, planting TMS firmly as one of the crown jewels of the company.
Jerry Gappens, 63, spent 23 years with Speedway Motorsports, including a stint as GM of NHMS, and was the GM of Eldora Speedway at the time of his death.
Juanita “Lightnin” Epton, 103, worked the ticket booth for every Daytona 500.
Eloy Gutierrez, 75, co-created a timing and scoring system for the World of Outlaws in the late 90’s.
Chad McQueen, 63, followed his movie star dad Steve’s passion for racing, participating in sports car events until a crash in practice for the 2006 Daytona 24 Hours left him in a coma for almost a month. He retired from driving but not from his love of cars, forming a company that built classic replicas and worked with many Hollywood studios.
Maurice Schnitter, track commissioner for years at the Circuit Anneau du Rhin, just north of my beloved Colmar in France.
Malcolm Smith, 83, won the Baja 1000 six times on his motorcycle.
“Motorcycle Mary” McGee, 87 was the first woman to compete in the Baja 1000 and the only woman to finish the Baja 500 solo. She was a member of the AMA Hall of Fame.
And what will we do without Brian Cleveland and Chuck Welling? A friend to all in the Northeast Midget Ass’n pits, Brian drove midgets and could always be found helping brother Doug in his midget efforts. It was impossible not to find Brian with that Hollywood smile and positive attitude. At 63, he left us far too soon. Chuck left us too soon as well, at age 60. A fixture in the NEMA pits Chuck was another one with a quick smile for everyone, and a talented fabricator and driver. Both good guys. As ever, while we shed a tear over their passing, let us not forget that oh, how they lived, and raise a glass to them all for Auld Lang Syne. Bon Annee, Joyeux Noel. Chris Romano, New Bern, NC.
–
8) Firestone returns as presenting sponsor of the expanded Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC) annual legends dinner in Long Beach, California, on Thursday, April 10. The 2025 gala will celebrate the 50 years of racing on the streets of Long Beach, California, and will honor Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr and Brian Redman – legendary drivers from the Grand Prix’s rich history.
Michael Donnelly, owner of The Paddock, a blue-ribbon restoration shop for classic and vintage cars in New Britain, Connecticut, has announced the addition of technician Mark Dion to the company’s staff of car restoration experts. From: Judy Stropus jvstropus.
–
9) MUSEUM NEWS:
Goodyear marks the 100th Anniversary of its iconic Goodyear Blimp airship program this year, and one winning bidder and a guest can be part of the celebration in high-flying style thanks to the latest Motorsports Hall of Fame of America fundraising auction on Bring a Trailer. Bidding is live now and will be through midday Eastern time this Thursday, February 27, on this truly priceless experience available exclusively on BaT. From: Motorsports Hall of Fame of America SaalGoodPR.
Lions Indoor Automotive Swap Meet Buyers Pass – Pancake Breakfast Available, Saturday, March 15, 2025, 8AM-2PM, Rancho Dominguez, CA 90221. Saturday, March 15, 2025, 9AM-2PM. Museum Experience, Wednesday March 19, 2025, 9AM-2PM. Feature Car Club – Mercedez-Benz Club of America – LA Chapter, Saturday, March 22, 2025, 9AM-2PM.
–
10) BOOKS, PERSONAL APPEARANCES AND MORE:
From COASTAL 181; Reading for Racers: Trophies and Scars, by Ray Evernham, with Joe Garner. TEXAS LEGEND: Jim Hall and His Chaparrals, by George Levy. Still Racing, by Ken Schrader, with Joyce Standridge. Lazarro, The Man and His Machines, by Ron Moshier. 1-877-907-8181.
From CarTech Publishers: Ford 429/460 Engines; How to Rebuild, by Charles Morris. How to Build Cobra Kit Cars; Buying Used, by D. Brian Smith. Dyno Don; The Cars and Career of Dyno Don Nicholson, by Doug Boyce (review at Gone Racin’). Ford Y-Block Engines; How to Rebuild and Modify, by Charles Morris. 1-800-551-4754.
AND: Saturday, March 29, 2025, 11am-3pm, Chevrolet Corvette: The Owners and the Cars, by Mario Brunner, who will meet the public. Autobooks, 2900 W. Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505, 818-845-0707. www.autobooks-aerobooks.com.
–
11) Vintage Metal magazine (robertcampbell4.
–
12) Wally’s stories: courtesy of DRIVE Magazine, by Wally Parks (to be serialized in coming newsletters). DEAN MOON
He (DEAN) also graded a small dirt track next door for go-karts, where visitors could match their skills (and which he declared ‘Off Limits’ to me, HOT ROD Magazine’s editor, for what he labeled as ‘reckless driving’). Meanwhile, an enterprising Dean Moon had been developing and/or testing performance parts, mostly on his own car, and rebuilding engines – sans a building to work in. As a temporary shelter from sun and weather, he erected a makeshift tent, using an old aircraft parachute, on the lot beside Pop Moon’s Café. And he then recruited his younger brother ‘Buzz’ as a partner to help him establish a business under the Moon Equipment banner.
–
13) Books and Manuals from CarTech Publishing, 6118 Main Street, North Branch, Minnesota 55056, 1-800-551-4754,
www.CarTechBooks.com. Chrysler A-833 Transmissions: How to Rebuild and Modify. Chrysler Torqueflite A904 and A727 Transmissions: How to Rebuild. How to Repair Automotive Air-Conditioning and Heating Systems.
–
14) BLAST FROM THE PAST…… From the Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way. 9 MARCH 1950 Bonneville National Speed Trial.
La Var Tate, manager of the Tooele (Utah) Funeral Home wrote to Wally Parks concerning the rental of an ambulance for use by the SCTA at their August Bonneville National Speed Trials. Tate still referred to my father as the General Manager of the SCTA even though my father had resigned that position in 1949 in order to take the job of editor of Hot Rod Magazine. Tate was also the president of the Tooele County Chamber of Commerce and could provide staffing, equipment and Sheriff’s deputies to patrol the meet. My father replied on March 15th and asked Tate for estimates; he could have referred the matter over to the SCTA Board to handle but preferred to assist the association since he was well acquainted with the contractual procedures.
–
15) Earl Wooden honored Ak Miller for all that he has done for the land speed racing community over the years and spoke with pride about having Ak attain the red cap of the 200 MPH Club in his Crossley Coupe in 1991. He talked about the days at Bonneville and on the dry lakes of Southern California. (source Earl Wooden June 28, 2005)
–
16) Books mentioned on the Cars Yeah website by those appearing on the Podcast.
Dan Palatnik – 50 Years of Automotive Style, by Dick Nesbitt and Design Just for Fun, by Bob Gurr.
Craig Blake-Jones – A Biker’s Life, by Henry Cole and Paddock Life Magazine, published by Craig Blake-Jones.
Ken Gross – Books by Ken Gross, and Deuce: Hot Rods from the Bruce Meyer Collection, by Ken Gross.
Luigi Chinetti – Luigi is writing a book about his family that will be published soon.
–
17) EPARTRADE NEWS: Lauri Eberhart, ESQ, CEO of Friends of Laguna Seca, joined us for the 5th Annual Race Industry Week. Hosted by George Tamayo of RACER.com. From: team.
Brian Carter, CEO, World of Outlaws, joined us. Hosted by Mike Kerchner of SPEED SPORT.
Highlighting EPARTRADE’s Premier Suppliers Exhibiting at PRI: Precision Racing Components (PRC) Booth #3606; Pyrotect Racing Booth #4833; Racetronix Booth #4548; RacingRivets.Com Booth #2630; Reid Rocker Arms/Reid Machine Booth #2133;
Sadev Transmissions Booth #3139; Scribner Plastics Booth #525; Shopmonkey Booth #4443; Smith Systems Booth #2140; OBR Control Systems Booth #4551; PAC Racing Springs Booth #825, #925; PE Racing Booth #417; Performance Plus Global Logistics Booth #3421; Race Industry Week Sponsor Pistal Racing Booth #2832; Platinum Racing Products Booth #2535; PMAS Technologies Booth #3227; Power Auto Media Booth #540; PWR/C&R Racing Booth #3721.
–
18) Vintage Metal (robertcampbell4.
–
19) FROM HIDDEN PIONEERS: We are having an event April 19, 2025, Saturday from 10am-2pm in Corona, California, down the street from an In-‘N-Out restaurant from the Serfas Club on Auto Center Drive. Here is a video of what you can expect with a Hidden Garage filming for the first episode of 10. See https://www.saleen.com/saleen-open-house-2024/.
Emeline King on Fords and Hidden Pioneers. Go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWkY42vklDo. Bill Montgomery
–
20) BLAST FROM THE PAST…… From the Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way. 23 MARCH 1950.
In the midst of all the turmoil my father receives a letter from Don Johnson, a new recruit in the Air Force; he keeps Johnson’s letter as a reminder of the work that he has set out to do and to give him encouragement. It is a simple letter; Johnson seems so happy with his future career in aviation mechanics and his love of hot rodding. He asks if my father is aware of any of his buddies in the Dragons of Long Beach and ends with a request to renew his subscription to Hot Rod Magazine, and Motor Trend. Letters like this rejuvenate my father and give him renewed enthusiasm for the fight ahead.
–
21) Vintage Metal magazine (robertcampbell4.
–
22) Wally’s stories: courtesy of DRIVE Magazine, by Wally Parks (to be serialized in coming newsletters). DEAN MOON.
Dean adapted his Mooneyes logo – a design that has gained worldwide recognition – from the 00 number on the sides of a popular drag racing car of its time, Creighton Hunter’s T roadster. Once an overseas military aerial photographer, he stockpiled photos of his merchandise items, which he offered to car magazines as ‘what’s new’ items – gaining much in enterprising, cost-free advertising exposure for his efforts. He also was one of the industry’s forward thinkers who advocated moving the SEMA Show from its Anaheim, California location to Las Vegas, despite strong objections voiced by some members.
–
23) Books mentioned on the Cars Year website by those appearing on the Podcast.
Donald Osborne – Stile Transatlantico , by Donald Osborne.
Alec Carlson – Hot Rod, by Henry Gregor Felsen.
Jeff Zwart – Rennsport Reunion I-IV, by Jeff Zwart.
Brian Redman – Daring Drivers, Deadly Tracks, by Brian Redman.
Patrick Long – Unfair Advantage, by Mark Donahue.
Frank Wiesmann – Driving Ambition, by Doug Nye and Ron Dennis, and Rennsport Reunion I-IV, by Jeff Zwart.
The post Motorsports Newsletter 2/28/25 appeared first on Drag Racing List.