Motorsports Newsletter 3/15/24

By Richard Parks

1) EDITOR: Any and All readers may submit news for the newsletter. This is for fun and knowledge. You would be surprised how much I have learned in just 20 years in editing numerous newsletters. No fees or charges are ever involved. So, get busy and inundate me with news.
AND:Joe Adams is looking for Sponsors and advertisers to help offset the costs involved for a new website focused on motorsports. He’s at wefilm1.

2) Passings in 2023. In order not to overwhelm readers with grief this will be serialized in coming issues. Don Bowles, a
three-time NHRA national event winner in Modified Eliminator, passed away on April 19, 2023, at his residence in Madisonville, Kentucky. He was 84. Bowles collected NHRA national event victories in his familiar Ford Fairmont at the 1979 Fallnationals in Seattle and back-to-back at the Springnationals in Columbus, Ohio, in 1980 and ’81. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Betty Jane, and sons, Donnie and Mark, and three grandchildren. https://www.nhra.com/news/2023/
memoriam.
AND: Master chassis fabricator Kent Fuller, who built some of the sport’s most memorable creations, including the famed the Greer-Black-Prudhomme Top Fueler, Tommy Ivo’s four engine “Showboat” and the Magicar from his California shops, has died. Fuller, who built dragsters, Funny Cars, and even Pro Stockers, almost 300 to his personal count, was inducted into The International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 1996. https://www.nhra.com/news/2023/memoriam.
AND: Three-time NHRA national event winner in Top Gas, Robert Donald “Don” Cain, passed away April 11, 2023. He
was a longtime drag racer and was inducted into the NHRA Division 5 and Bandimere Speedway halls of fame at Don, and also built street rods for many years. Following retirement, he and his wife Nan owned KC Street Rod Parts in Kansas City until 2009. During his racing career, Cain won Top Gas with partner John Pusch at the 1967 US Nationals as well as at the 1970 Supernationals and 1971 Le Grandnational. After Top Gas was discontinued in 1971, Pusch & Cain competed in NHRA’s Funny Car class 1972-75. Cain is survived by his wife Nan; daughters, Brenda, Donna Walker, and Debbie Roe; three grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
AND:More relating to the passing of William “Bill” Bader Sr in 2022. “Bill wasn’t just a friend he was our second father. He pushed us to do and be our best, to never stop striving for our goals and to always love with everything we have. He was always a voice of reason, a kick in the pants when needed and an amazing hug whenever it was needed. I was honored to have him ask for my opinion and feedback in situations as well. The track will never be the same without him, however, the memories will always be there from polka music to ice cream to belly laughs. We will always be there for the family for anything at any time. Our love, sympathy and condolences are with you all. Bill, we love you now and forever.” Jennifer and Michael McClellan
“I will always treasure the memories I have as a kid at the Speedway, at the drag strip and riding on an Allsport 3-wheeler, but most treasured will be the memories of Bill Bader Sr as my brother-in-law and mentor. I am confident this strong, loving, giving man is in the presence of Jesus and telling Him wild stories of a life well lived.” Jeff Bertram
AND: I really enjoy the newsletters, but the repetitive obits get a little old. It’s sad that with each new newsletter I dread reading who has passed that I wasn’t aware of. Guess it’s part of getting up in years. I’m involved in all variety of motorsports with my company SEATINSERTS.COM. Just did seats for this Lamborghini Hyper Car. Is it time to bring the POBB back? Jeff Garvin
JEFF: I agree, it hurts to lose the pioneers, but I feel that I must notice them when word comes to me. They deserve to be remembered. The obits are more numerous because I copied the NHRA website. I’m not sure about the POBB as the Motorsports Newsletter keeps me pretty busy, but I won’t rule it out.

3) ERRORS AND OMISSIONS DEPT: If you spot an error or omission, please let me know. I make a cursory effort to check what comes into the newsletter, and yes, I do catch some errors. But I can’t catch all of them and so the only tool in the editor’s kit is a retraction and apology, which doesn’t always suffice. I’m sometimes forgetful (so my spouse says) so remind me when there is an error or omission. Please establish a PR committee for your group; that helps me a great deal. The newsletter is simply for fun and knowledge. Send me everything and anything you want others in the motorsports community to know. Use some humor, don’t be mean, and anniversaries of events are welcome.

4) BLAST FROM THE PAST…… From the Wally & Barbara Parks story, We Did It Our Way. 8 FEBRUARY 1940 Parks argues for safety at the dry lakes. “Wally then spoke about the question of crash helmets and asked whether they would be compulsory or not and where we could go to buy them in quantities at a discount. The question of season awards for last year’s races was brought up by Wally and the Secretary had a little to say on the matter of cups for last year and for the coming year. Plaques were suggested for the two seasonal awards and Wally was to find out if such an award would be acceptable to the parties interested. Jack Prickett had quite a little to say on the coming assessment as levied by the Hospital Board and stated frankly that his club was against the Hospital Fund and suggested that the remaining money be refunded to the clubs. The other side of the question was upheld by Wally, Mel and Bill Baird who very graphically pointed out the benefits derived from the Fund. Art Tilton, Secretary.”

5) John Hunt of the British Drag Racing Historians Association wrote in about their group. Here are some of the articles that they have on file for UK drag racers. Mick Gleadow: “Outside of racing, I’ve been researching my family tree and what I have learned about accessing public records has been really useful in working with John Hunt and Nick Pettit to trace racers from the 1960s and 1970s – there have even been some racer reunions, which is wonderful I’ve also met up with racers from those early days and look forward to future Pioneer articles coming to fruition. Finally, I also race my injected Chevy dragster in Wild Bunch which for me captures how racing was when we started out, long may that continue!” John is at johnhunt.drn.

6) Editor Bob Campbell sent in the February issue of Vintage Metal, the Journal of the Vintage Sports Car Club of Western Australia. To see it google robertcampbell4.

7) Karting: The Complete How-To Guide to this Fascinating Sport, Wheels, Steering, Engines, Competition, Rules, Repairs, Souping & Safety, by Leroi “Tex” Smith. Tex wrote one of the first (and still one of the best books ever) on Karting. I loaned out my original copy and never got it back; this is my replacement copy, it’s a 1978 edition and the EIGHTH printing of this timeless classic. Doug Stokes is at stokes28doug.
DOUG: How about a book review for the newsletter? Write a review in any way you wish.

8) Big Daddy Returns: Gone Racin’ To see ”Big Daddy Returns.” Video review by Richard Parks, 30 August 2022. The classical music heightens the tension and then lowers it better than the normal background music you find in most drag racing videos; country, rock ‘n roll, etc. Though the music is there you hardly notice it after a while and the music Papadeas uses helps to put you right in the action. He deftly blends interviews with celebrity drag racers, fans, and officials with starting line burnouts and night vision header flames to keep you interested. The video is 35 minutes long and it was over before I realized; showing an ability to keep the viewers interest from wavering. Gone Racin’ is at RNPARKS1.
deanpapadeas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25O
FMRsb4wU. (to be continued)

9) http://www.eurodragstereventcoverage.com/features/gerry_belton_drag_festivals_pt3/default.asp.
http://www.eurodragstereventcoverage.com/features/wally_parks_pt2/default.asp.

http://www.eurodragstereventcoverage.com/features/gerry_belton/default.asp.

John Hunt of the British Drag Racing Historians Association is at johnhunt.drn.

10)Sir Jackie Stewart, three-time F1 World Champion, will be honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club in Long Beach, California, on Thursday, April 18. The “RRDC Evening with Sir Jackie Stewart Presented by Firestone” is the RRDC’s 14th banquet honoring auto racing’s most influential leaders and icons. It will be held prior to the 49th Annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The Firestone brand will return as presenting sponsor of the RRDC banquet for the 13th year. Tickets may be purchased at jstropus.

11) Happy Birthday to auto Historian Jim Miller on March 17th. Happy Birthday to Alex Xydias on March 22 (his 101st).
AND: I absolutely enjoy the Newsletter. Keep them coming! Please. Yesterday was Bob Muravez’ birthday (March 10), he is 86. Karen Nelson
KAREN: I promise to send it, if you will send me some news to the newsletter. Have to have news and lots of it.

12) Bob & Carmen Rosas attended the February 23rd SEMA Youth Conference, this power couple have been married for 52 years and have 5 show cars that are iconic at home in Long Beach. Bob is known for Mattel/Hot wheels for more than 22 years and US Army Vet. His wife is a President of Optimist International Club and very focused on the Education of our Youth. I’m also a member of this great 100-year organization that saw my talents. These two people are key to the country’s growth while we have them. They loved the building and will share the word as they can. They are also members of the Hidden Pioneers. Bill Montgomery

13) The Bill Thomas Motors Cheetah, an Almost-Cobra-killing Sports Car Unfair Fight: The Cobra vs The Cheetah, by Dave Wallace. For reasons dating back to a catastrophic 1955 sports-car race, the all-American Cheetah never got its chance to fulfill Chevrolet Division’s not-so-secret mission: upset the upstart Cobra that was upstaging, and outrunning, Corvettes on SCCA’s national stage. Worse, Carroll Shelby was doing it with Ford’s smallish new small-block in 1962, instead of Chevy’s new 327, after being rebuffed by GM. https://www.hemmings.com/stories/the-cobra-vs-the-cheeta.

14) Birthplaces of Australian Motor Racing: The History of 150 Defunct Car Racing Venues, by Bill Pearson. Book Review, by Bob Campbell. Bill Pearson has been involved in motor sport in many ways and in many places. He has been a competitor, official, writer and photographer. He has been involved in building and running race tracks and feels a strong connection to those tracks that have faded out of existence. The result of that connection is this remarkable 430-page book that lists the places where Australian motor racing took root but was unable to thrive into the present day, whether because of laws, regulations or simple lack of funding. (for the full review go to https://indd.adobe.com/view/bb73e4a6-30ca-
461a-8144-1cc85026cbf3)

15) Mick’s Paint to Support US Drag Team. Pomona, California. Mick’s Paint has announced that they will be supporting the 2024 United States Drag Team and the return of the Dos Palmas Machine Special and the Mooneyes dragster to England. Mick’s Paint owner Mick Jenkins said, “We have been involved with American cars, hot rods and racing since our inception in 1995. As one of the US’s leading, award winning body and paint shops, it seemed only natural to get on board and help the 2024 United States Drag Team.” Tony Thacker tonythacker32, also see www.dragstalgia.co.uk.

16) Upcoming events for Hidden Pioneers TEAM. Hidden Pioneers hiddenpioneers.
March 21-22, 2024, 2-day STEM/Soccer School Tournament (Centennial High School, CA).
March 22-24, 2024, NHRA STEM/YES program (In ‘N ‘Out Burger Pomona Drag Strip, CA).
March 29, 2024, Friday Fun night under the stars in Downey, CA, 6 to 8pm, Columbia Memorial Space Center.
April 19-21, 2024, Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, CA.

17) BOOK REVIEW: Drag Racing’s Warren “The Professor” Johnson, the cars, people & wins behind his Pro Stock Success, written by Kelly Wade, from CarTech Publishers. Reviewed by Richard Parks for the Gone Racin’ series.
There is also a subtle sense of humor in the family which may act to dispel anger. His approach to life is to see the broader picture; what is really important. He argues that stress is self-induced and only makes things worse. “First, establish the goal. Once you understand the parameters, then you go to work. But you have to keep an open mind, because every day you learn something new.” Perhaps this is why racing against Kurt and Warren Johnson seems to be so exasperating. Yes, his winning record and achievements just keep piling up but that is not what bothers drag racers when they are paired up against the Johnsons.’ It is the fact that this family can see the larger picture; family is everything, hard work is a necessity, attention to detail is vital, and if they win or lose there is always next week and another race to prepare for. (to be continued)

18) Executive Committee member for the Engine Builders Hall of Fame is Paul “Scooter” Brothers. Paul grew up as a mechanic and got his first job right out of high school. He was drafted to the Navy during the Vietnam War where he served as an aircraft mechanic. When he came back home, he got a job at Racing Head Service around 1972. They were having trouble finding good camshafts for their market, so they started Cam Dynamics (now Comp Cams) to fill the need. Scooter has also been very involved with SEMA. He spent 6 years on the Board of Directors and served 2 of those years as the Chief Executive Officer.

19) Supercars 2024 calendar (Australian Circuit)
February 23-25, 2024, Bathurst 500, Mount Panorama Circuit.
March 23-24, 2024, Melbourne SuperSprint, Albert Park Circuit.
April 19-21, 2024, Taupō Super400, Taupō International Motorsport Park.
May 17-19, 2024, Perth SuperSprint, Wanneroo Raceway.
June 14-16, 2024, Darwin Triple Crown, Hidden Valley Raceway.
July 5-7, 2024, Townsville 500, Reid Park Street Circuit.
July 19-21, 2024, Sydney SuperNight, Sydney Motorsport Park.
August 16-18, 2024, Tasmania SuperSprint, Symmons Plains Raceway.
September 20-22, 2024, Sandown 500, Sandown Raceway.
October 10-13, 2024, Bathurst 1000, Mount Panorama Circuit.
October 25-27, 2024, Gold Coast 500, Surfers Paradise Street Circuit.
November 14-17, 2024, Adelaide 500, Adelaide Street Track.

20) “Tom Davey was crusty (as described by RRDC member and dinner organizer Lisa Noble), often ennobled and sometimes a bit martyred … but he commanded our respect and admiration and affection because his artistry was superb,” said Mullen. “Tom’s videos kicked ass because he himself was a kick-ass race car driver. We knew Tom as a hard-core racer, but his day job was as a senior art director in the advertising business, first on accounts like Ford where he sold a few million F-150s with the words ‘Ford Tough.’ Later, Tom had his own one-man company where he wrote ads for Skip Barber’s racing school. 2023 winner of the Road Racing Drivers Club RRDC BOB AKIN Award.” From: Judy Stropus
jstropus

21) The Gumball Rally, round 1, 2/24/24 by Howie Zechner. Weather was great as Speedway motorcycle racing returned to the Industry Hills Expo Center. The first of a two-day extravaganza on this night the program would feature the ‘Big Kids’ with Division 1, Support and Sidecar events. National Sidecar Champions Main Event Winners Joe Jones & Tom Summers. It’s a popular race with roots that go back over 40 years. First stated to celebrate our Junior/kids divisions that tradition would continue as they have their own race the following day. Far from the Gumballs (gum) that they originally raced for Sunday’s kids’ event would feature a purse of over ten thousand dollars. Industry Racing Promoter Kelly Inman and Press Agent Howie Zechner howie.

22) Yes, I enjoy your newsletter. You do a great job pulling together a variety of topics. Only update from me is Ernie Elliott is home recovering from a triple bypass and pacemaker installation. I’ve been busy designing and manufacturing 1/32 scale CNC routed custom slot car tracks. If you would post a link to my website CNCtrackdesign.com, I would appreciate it!
Thanks, Patrick Baer, retired Chrysler/FCA/Stellantis, former: SRT Motorsports Powertrain Manager, current: Motorsports Engineering, LLC (Powertrain Consulting) and CNC Track Design at patrick.baer426.

23) Drag Racing’s Rebels: How the AHRA Changed Quarter-Mile Competition, written by Doug Boyce, from CarTech Publishers. Reviewed by Richard Parks for the Gone Racin’ series. 2023. (to be serialized)

Let’s look at the nuts and bolts of Drag Racing’s Rebels: How the AHRA Changed Quarter-Mile Competition. This is a soft-cover book with 190 pages on high quality, glossy paper, with a glued spine and containing about 164 black & white photographs and 275 color photos. In addition, there are another 15 extras (posters, ads, graphs or statistics). The photographs come from a varied and wide range of sources and overall are of high to good quality. The author dedicated the book to all those who helped to create the AHRA and their many fans. Gone Racin’ can be reached at RnParks1
@juno.com. CarTech Publishers can be reached at 1-800-551-4754 or www.cartechbooks.com. (to be continued)

24)I’m just an observer behind the scenes. I’m friends with Dave Wallace Jr and he probably turned me onto it. I have no news, but I do enjoy reading it. Diego Rosenberg
Diego: Love the name. Reminds me of the moniker Pancho Barnes, an early aviatrix and founder of the Stunt Pilots Union, used. That will bring back memories of the pilots and dry lake racers.
AND: The Hidden Pioneers continue to bridge the gap with the Education system and outside industry. We look forward to further growth. The NHRA event at In ‘N ‘Out Burger Raceway is coming up in two weeks and we should collaborate as one team! Bill Montgomery

25) For those who do not know the connection between DRAG cartoons and Sweden, here is the scoop. For years in the 1960’s, my dad, Pete Millar, would draw for a Swedish Magazine Start & Speed (excerpt from Kustomrama). At the end of 1965, Start & Speed, Motorentusiastens magazine, was started by Bengt Björklund and Chris Wollin in Lerum and the enthusiasts finally got a magazine that (somewhat) matched the area of rebuilt US cars and drag racing. Kustomrama is located in Oslo, Norway), and the stories were translated into Swedish. From Robin Millar MPC-DRAGcartoons, daughter of Pete Millar, King of Cartoons Publisher, Cartoonist, Dragracer, the creator of CARtoons Magazine, publisher of DRAGcartoons, Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth, 310-529-1831 or www.laffyerasphalt.com.

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