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Lonnie Rix - AC's 'Man from Savannah'


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#51 Jerry Entin

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Posted 14 September 2007 - 14:09

I am glad that you enjoyed this thread iharos. And Joel I think Willem and I are going to give up on all you can eat buffet's so we can look like Lonnie also. And thank you Richard for enjoying this site.

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#52 Ian Evans

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Posted 06 December 2007 - 01:16

Outstanding information!!! I can account for the owner after Mr. Rix. My dad, Bill Walters, according to my mother, bought the car from him, had the engine reassembled, and raced it in the Northeast, including Upper Marlboro, Watkins Glen, others.. Some photos of the car posted on this board under "mystery OSCA"


Ian Walters-Evans

#53 Lotus23

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Posted 06 December 2007 - 03:02

Welcome aboard, Ian! Thanks for your update on the OSCA.

I think you'll find the TNF gang is a pretty civilized group whose breadth and depth of knowledge is awesome.

#54 HistoricMustang

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Posted 06 December 2007 - 12:31

Originally posted by Lotus23
Welcome aboard, Ian! Thanks for your update on the OSCA.

I think you'll find the TNF gang is pretty civilized group whose breadth and depth of knowledge is awesome.


Ditto! :wave:

#55 Ian Evans

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Posted 08 December 2007 - 06:20

Thanks guys. Can't tell you how exciting it was finding this info about Lonnie Rix and the story behind the OSCA.
Great to see pictures of the car in it's heyday too. If I could figure out how to upload the few photos I have of the car while dad owned it I'd stick them here... Sadly it was not in the same condition.

Ian
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#56 Jerry Entin

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Posted 08 December 2007 - 17:37

Posted Image
Ian Walters-Evans dad Bill Walters in the Lonnie Rix's Osca

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Lonnie's Osca looking a little worse for the wear as they say.
That is Lonnie on the far side in the hat working on it.

photos: lent site Ian Walters-Evans

Edited by Jerry Entin, 05 November 2009 - 15:09.


#57 Ian Evans

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Posted 15 December 2007 - 03:03

Just to set the record straight, Seems mom was in error. Mr. Rix was simply allowing dad to shuttle the car around the pits, so rumors of dad's ownership have been greatly exaggerated. Lonnie is the chap leaning over the right fender. The other gent with his backside to us is Clarence Fleeger. :blush:

#58 Jerry Entin

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Posted 15 December 2007 - 03:16

Ian: We only said it was your dad in the car. We didn't discuss who owned it. It is a very nice picture. Lonnie took the OSCA to south Florida with him when he moved there. His wife Jessie thought it was in the way. She asked him to sell it. This was around 1970. He did and is glad that it has found a good home and is still running in Vintage races.
We are all glad that Lonnie has shared his stories and pictures with us.

#59 flat-16

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Posted 27 December 2007 - 18:22

Jerry: you’ve really surpassed yourself with this thread – absolutely outstanding! Aside from the magnificent photos (as usual - I particularly like the one of Ed chasing Lonnie in the XK120), the deft touches of information about the people involved are most educative. I second Wolf Sun’s request for a book. If sufficient volume of material is available, a book containing a compendium of your threads here, along the lines of “US Amateur Racers of the 1950s-60s”, would certainly have a space on my bookshelf!

Many thanks to Lonnie, Jerry and all involved – great thread!


Justin

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#60 Jerry Entin

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Posted 27 December 2007 - 21:15

Justin: First off, thank you very much for your very kind words. As you know this site couldn't have been possible without Lonnie Rix telling his stories and loaning his pictures to the forum members. All the research on this site was done by Willem Oosthoek. All the photos were scanned for this site by Laurie, Willem's beautiful wife. My brother Dennis Entin has helped touch up some of the damaged parts of some photos.
Willem Oosthoek has an article that has just come out in the January issue of Vintage Racecar Journal . It is on Ed Rahal, including a photo of Ed and Lonnie Rix and the AC they shared at Sebring in 1959.
I also like the picture of Ed Rahal's Jag with the eyeballs for headlights. I think that was a neat touch for the kids at the races. I hope you can find a copy of Vintage Racecar Journal to read and that you will enjoy this great story on Ed Rahal.

#61 HistoricMustang

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Posted 28 December 2007 - 10:13

Originally posted by Jerry Entin
Here the car is in Ed Rahal's shop being worked on. Ed Rahal is the one in the hat. His shop was in Savannah, Georgia. It was located at 5 East Perry Street. The building was formerly the local Packard dealership.


Great thread Jerry! :wave:

On Sunday I will be within 5 miles of this location. Will attempt to get a modern day photograph of the building (or at least the location if building is no longer present).

Henry

#62 flat-16

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Posted 28 December 2007 - 12:45

Jerry - I've sent you an email

Thanks again to you and all your researchers - keep up the good work :up:


Justin

#63 NEDRA WARE

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Posted 27 March 2008 - 21:26

JERRY/LONNIE THANKS FOR PUTTING ALL THOSE GREAT PICTURES UP LONNIE RIX YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED ONE BIT YOU LOOK THE SAME TO ME ED RAHAL LOOKS LITTLE DIFFERENT LIKE THE CAR HE IS STANDING BY LONNIE I FORGOT TO TELL YOU SMOKEY DROLET AND I KEEP IN TOUCH SHE AND HUBBY HAVE BEEN IN HOUSTON A LONG TIME BUT MOVING BACK TO FLORIDA.

NEDRA WARE

#64 Lotus23

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Posted 30 March 2008 - 17:33

Nedra, I know this is OT, but is there any chance you could invite Smokey to join us on this site?

As I hear life's clock ticking in my own life, I feel quite strongly about getting input from those, like Lonnie and yourself, who can give us first-hand info.

Thanks!

#65 Robert Wilder

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Posted 19 May 2008 - 01:02

Jerry,

I noticed your post on Lonnie Rix. I am the guy restoring the Bro Crim OSCA Speciale and am looking for the original OSCA engine and Siata transmission, last seen leaving Ft. Worth TX to Chicago around 1958- sans car. From your post, I noted that Lonnie raced an OSCA in 1957 and originally saw his first SCCA race in Eagle Mountain TX in 1954 where in 1956-57 Crim reportedly raced the OSCA Speciale. Also Rix was in the air force in Waco about the same time that Hartman and Johnson, two A. F. guys who helped remove the damaged OSCA engine from my car. Lonnie was very gracious and spend some time on the phone with me; however, there was no Rix- Bro Crim OSCA connection nor a connection to Hartman and Johnson.

The OSCA engine search continues and thanks for the posting that lead me to L.R.

The link I found I do have to L.R. is that I own BEX 490 and RSX 5018- 2 AC's.

#66 HistoricMustang

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Posted 13 August 2008 - 22:22

Originally posted by Jerry Entin
Posted Image
The Rahal premises at 5 East Perry Street, Savannah, Georgia in 1956, showing the three new Arnolt-Bristols of the Savannah Sports Car Club.
From left, team members Tom Waring, Ed Rahal, John Rueter, Harry Harkins and Robert Roebling, the sponsor of the cars. Roebling's great-grandfather built the Brooklyn Bridge.
all research Willem Oosthoek- photo Ed Rahal collection


Put in 5 East Perry Street Savannah Ga for modern day view!

http://maps.google.c...n&utm_medium=ha

If only they realized and I must get by for a photograph. Joel, are you game? I believe the girls could handle the two hour trip to Savannah for a weekend (while we do Roebling Road and Ogelthorpe Speedway).

Jerry, thanks again for a wonderful thread. :clap:

Henry

Henry

#67 kris-kincaid

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Posted 14 August 2008 - 02:16

Nice thread. I hope I got the right building, but here's the Google Maps photo:

Posted Image


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#68 HistoricMustang

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Posted 14 August 2008 - 10:41

That appears to be it, right up to the curbing leading into the former showroom. I must get by to inform the current ownership what took place under their feet. Perhaps even drop off a link to this thread. :smoking:

Henry

#69 rlg

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Posted 23 March 2009 - 16:12

Lonnie is living in Margate .Fla.With his wife Jesse,two sons the oldest son is in the Air Force.I have no update on him.His younger son Eric.work at the Nissan dealership with his dad for a time Delivering parts.Eric went off and got married a girl named Kathy and gave Love a beautiful grandchild.I have since loosed touch with Eric about 4 years ago.But you folk have portrayed Lonnie with 100% accuracy.lonnie an Jesse all so had a middle child named terry.

#70 Jerry Entin

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Posted 05 November 2009 - 14:55

Posted Image
Ian Walters-Evans in Lonnie Rix's Osca
The fellow in the blue and white print shirt is the current owner of the Osca. His name is Jerry Rosenstock and he is from the Los Angeles area. He has done a beautiful job of showing the Osca. It looks a whole lot better then when we last saw it.

Posted Image
Ian Walters-Evans as they say Striking a Pose
Ian's dad Bill Walters was seen in the car in the earlier photos on this site.

photos: Ian Walters-Evans collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 06 November 2009 - 03:36.


#71 Jerry Entin

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Posted 06 November 2009 - 03:58

Posted Image
Jerry Rosenstock along side his Osca
Jerry is in the blue and white print shirt. With the hat and sunglasses on.

photo : Ian Walters-Evan collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 06 November 2009 - 03:59.


#72 leroy

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Posted 23 November 2009 - 01:07

Hi LOnnie,Remember me? Roy Van Dyke from Pennington,N.J.!I was involved with you in the accident at Sebring. I was behind you in my MG and pulled you from the wreck. Our friendship grew and we raced together on the east coast. Marlboro,Vineland,etc. You used to stay at my house sometimes. My wife Susan and I visited you at your home in Savannah. We haven't been in touch with each other for years, and I'd love to hear from you. My e-mail address is 0911roytheking@gmail.com. phone # 609-575-4404.We live in Granby,Colorado and would love to hear from you. Roy

Edited by leroy, 23 November 2009 - 16:17.


#73 Vettefinderjim

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 21:43

What a great string Jerry. As I said last Sunday when we talked, these old cars just bring great people together, and every story has inter-related history of other cars at the same event. WE NEED TO DO A CONVENTION where all can visit and share more of these stories and cars. The FABULOUS 50'S CLUB here in Los Angeles is always fun, and I missed their annual CONCOUR d'PROVENANCE, which took a year off this past October.

#74 Jerry Entin

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Posted 10 January 2012 - 15:10

Posted Image
Lonnie Rix and Willem Oosthoek
This was taken last Sunday after brunch in Upstream restaurant in Charlotte, NC.


photo: Laurie Williamson

#75 HistoricMustang

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Posted 10 January 2012 - 19:23

Jerry, my new residence is only 20 minutes or so from 5 East Perry Street, Savannah, Georgia.

Really need to get by there and dig around a bit.

Henry :wave:

#76 BPBird

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 22:59

Gentlemen I came across your fascinating thread when trying to fill in some history of the first Ace sold to the public and possibly the first Ace to race in the U.S. - AE22 owned and driven by Gene Spalding. Sadly Gene died in 2011. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dallasmor...522#fbLoggedOut and that left me with some blanks to fill in with his old car's history. I wonder if you are familiar with Rinsey Mill's 'A.C. Six Cylinder Sports Cars' which notes a little of the history of these early racing Aces and the drivers involved, not least Lonnie Rix? AE22 was crashed at Fairfax in 1955 and never thereafter completely repaired. I have her in pieces here and reassembly has started. If anyone remembers Gene and the story of his Ace I should love to hear from them.
Turning to the mention of a special 'Tojeiro' which Lonnie turned down the description is more correctly The A.C. Ace le Mans, chassis number LM5000. She did indeed have a Tojeiro designed space frame, but the pretty bodywork is from the pen of Cavendish Morton - an interesting character with aeronautical connections who is worth a Google. The panels were wheeled by Maurice Gomm and the whole car erected by A.C. Lonnie's loss was my gain as I have owned LM5000 since the early sixties. Lonnie was right in regretting not being able to vintage race this car as she is lovely to drive and has been quite successful, especially since A.C. did some development work on the rear chassis to improve some slightly suspect Tojeiro suspension features. She was second in class and eighth overall in her first outing at le Mans in 1958.


Gene Spalding at speed in AE22, but where ? Coffeyville ?
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#77 Tim Murray

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 23:25

Gene Spalding at speed in AE22, but where ? Coffeyville ?
Posted Image

You've inadvertently ended up with an extra http:// in the photo URL and thus ended up with the dreaded red cross; getting rid of it gives:

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#78 Jerry Entin

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 23:30

BP Bird
The following comes from Willem Oosthoek:

"I briefly met Gene Spaulding at the Fort Worth Old Drivers Reunion in May 2011. Unfortunately, he was already in bad shape and wheelchair bound. I also had the pleasure of talking to Gene's widow at the October 2012 Reunion. She attended thanks to his friend Delmo Johnson, who brought her along. She mentioned that she still had a large collection of memorabilia covering Gene's racing days. I don't have her contact information, but of course Delmo does. Jerry Entin can put you in touch with him."

I am glad you are enjoying this thread. Lonnie Rix is one of the nicest people I have ever dealt with.


Jerry Entin

#79 Jerry Entin

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Posted 29 January 2013 - 01:38

Posted Image
Gene Spaulding in his AE 22
Thanks to BP Bird on the indentifying

The following comes from Willem Oosthoek:
"I always wondered who was at the wheel of the red AC/Bristol in this image, which Bob Schroeder gave to me in 2011. Based on the gold-colored helmet, the driver may well have been Gene Spaulding. The location was either Texas or Louisiana."

Photo: Bob Schroeder

Edited by Jerry Entin, 29 January 2013 - 19:11.


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#80 BPBird

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Posted 29 January 2013 - 11:09

Well thank you for the responses. I will try and get the picture posting right this time Tim. For Jerry and Willem that shot of Gene in Ace number 40 looks as if it is from a series of transparencies, most of which, somehow survived and came with AE22 when we found her in California. However the one you post is new to me: I believe the shot was taken in 1955 at Alvin Calander Field during the Delta Region Sports Car Races. I'm sure it is simply 'common usage' but Gene's Ace was AE22, not an Ace Bristol - there would be no 'B' prefix cars in 1955 and only the A.C. sohc engine was to be seen. By the bye is some kind of le Mans start depicted ? If so I don't fancy the marshal's chances......
I should like to contact Mrs Spaulding - if nothing else to let her know that Gene's old car is being restored to health. Incidentally I notice that Gene also raced a Lotus IX with some success, after the Ace and this might even overlap with Lonnie's Osca racing.

This is one of my favourite transparencies from the set that survived with the old Ace. Gene is in the car, but who are the other characters and where is the venue ? My inclination is to say Coffeyville - like the previous shot I nearly posted, but without any hard evidence. Any detectives out there ?

Posted Image

Here is a shot of LM5000 last summer, just to let Lonnie know that his sacrifice was not in vain....

Posted Image

Edited by BPBird, 29 January 2013 - 16:48.


#81 HistoricMustang

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Posted 29 January 2013 - 18:53

Am only 15 miles away from the former shop at my new family home in the Savannah, Georgia area.

Must get by for a visit at the new establishment.

If only a gear head knew as he was marrying his new bride.

http://www.brysonhall.com/

Henry :wave:

#82 Jerry Entin

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Posted 20 October 2013 - 21:21

kaao.jpg
Dunnellon, November 1958. Lonnie Rix [AC/Bristol] tried every trick in the book to get by Bob Kingham's Corvette. Kingham remained undeterred, though, and finished 6th overall, with Rix in 7th.
 
photo: Bob Bellows
all research: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 20 October 2013 - 21:34.


#83 Vettefinderjim

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Posted 21 October 2013 - 03:35

 

kaao.jpg
Dunnellon, November 1958. Lonnie Rix [AC/Bristol] tried every trick in the book to get by Bob Kingham's Corvette. Kingham remained undeterred, though, and finished 6th overall, with Rix in 7th.
 
photo: Bob Bellows
all research: Willem Oosthoek

 

The # 18 Corvette above is in good hands and has been since 1986 when I saw it the very first time. The car today is in Rhode Island with a good friend collector.

Generation: C1
Year: 1957
VIN: 5053
Race Numbers: 88, 18
Ownership: Bob Kingham, Lee Boozer,Bill Rhodes, Steve Prewitt, John Justo
Sponsors: self
Drivers: Bob Kingham, Les Boozer, Steve Prewitt
Status: sold June 29, 2012


Original Color: white
Tires/Wheels: 5.5 x 15
Engine: 283 with 684 and 579D AIR BOX
Driveline: 4 SP, 684 Suspension brake
Top: 
Interior: red
Condition: stored in Race condition since 1992.
URL: 
Unique Characteristics: 
Modifications: race prep
Notes/Race History: Sold new in Colorado Springs, CO August 1957 to Bob Kingham, a Florida citus grower. Successfully raced SCCA Rocky Mt. Division for a few summer months. Then Bob moved back to Florida who entered it in 83 SCCA events in the East and Southeast from late 1957 thru 1959. The car raced Lime Rock in 1958, and then 83 east and southeast SCCA events including at Daytona Sept 5-6, 1959 and finished third driven by owner Bob Kingham.Two scrapebooks of history include this time period. Cover car Daytona Speedway 1959 and 1960. Sold to Les Boozer of West Palm Beach in September 1959. Lee wrote to Chevrolet looking for parts and JOE PIKE, Chevrolet PR man and creator of CORVETTE NEWS answered him on December 9, 1960. The vin number 5053 is referenced in the letter. Bill Rhodes bought the car in 1974 and restored it to original specs and showed the car from 1981 until he sold it in 1986 to Steve Prewitt, from Iowa. NCRS Bloomimgton Gold Certified, and Special Collection. Steve Prewitt purchased in 86 as a trailer queen from Dusty Rhodes, and has since raced the car again in over 50 vintage race events until 1992 when the car was retired. After Steve's death in October 2007, the car was returned to Iowa to other family members. It was sold in June 2012 to its current owner. I WILL POST PHOTOS TOMORROW WHEN I HAVE MORE TIME.
Registry ID Number: 185

View Original Size 
57king.jpg
DAYTONA Archive: Bob Kingham at Daytona 9-5-59




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Edited by Vettefinderjim, 21 October 2013 - 03:36.


#84 Jerry Entin

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Posted 05 December 2014 - 02:01

lonnieandgmc-1_zps0f931573.jpg

Lonnie and Jessie Rix and their restored GMC motorhome

This was a visit to Willem Oosthoek and Laurie Williamson this summer.

 

 

photo: Willem Oosthoek


Edited by Jerry Entin, 05 December 2014 - 02:03.