47 replies to this topic

[Jerry Entin]

Dennis and Gay Losher's Shadow and the Rick Knoop driven McLaren outside the NHRA Museum

 

Dave Wolin and Pete and Lorna Lyons organized an event last weekend that drew many ex CanAm participants and crew members and a Great time was had by all who attended.

 

 

photo: Blake Smith

Edited by Jerry Entin, 24 October 2015 - 15:39.

[Jerry Entin]

Ike and Blake Smith next to the City of Industry Drag Racing Spoprtscar.

This car was driven in the day by Sam Parriott who was the mayor of the City of Industry. In 1964 with a supercharged Cadillac motor and a 4 speed transmission it turned 9.47 seconds in the quarter mile with a speed of 145 mph.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 October 2015 - 00:18.

[Jerry Entin]

Lothar and Olivia Motschenbacher and Alwin and Yolande Springer

Lothar was a CanAm entrant and driver in the day and Alwin was the crew chief on Vasek Polak's Porsches that were driven by Milt Minter and Jody Scheckter and Brian Redman among others. Alwin was also the owner of Andial a Porsche engine service.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 05 January 2016 - 00:51.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Thanks, Jerry. Were other CanAm drives there?

[E1pix]

Affection for Dan aside, Lothar for President! No reunion would be complete without him, the guy would be into his 13th four-year term now.

Am I alone in shock that next year is 50 YEARS since the Can-Am started?

[Jerry Entin]

Howden Ganley with his book Road to Monaco

Howden finished 3rd in the 1971 Riverside Grand Prix driving the BRM P 167.

 

Ike Smith in the photo also, was on the Carl Haas CanAm crew that ran Chuck Parsons and Skip Scott and Jackie Stewart.

 

Next to them is me Jerry Entin.

 

photo: Mary Pozzi

Edited by Jerry Entin, 24 October 2015 - 20:28.

[Ray Bell]

Nice to see you're still keeping good health and good company, Jerry...

I never saw a Can-Am race, of course, but followed them diligently for years. And yes, E1, that fifty years thing is getting to me too. It hit me as I wrote this:

As the last lap began McLaren’s lead had dwindled and Brabham was flying, Phil Hill was still hot on his tail, narrowly ahead of Graham Hill and Clark was trying to go with them.

Fifty years? I'm not THAT old! Or am I?

[Jerry Entin]

Alwin Springer receiving the Peter Bryant award from Howden Ganley and Dave Wolin

 

photo : Mary Pozzi

[E1pix]

... yes, E1, that fifty years thing is getting to me too. It hit me as I wrote this:Fifty years? I'm not THAT old! Or am I?

Rest easy Raymond, you're only 30-something in 730-day years.

[Jerry Entin]

Dave Wolin and Marilyn Fox and Ike Smith and Howden Ganley and George Follmer and Jerry Entin and Davey Jordan and Rod Campbell and Lothar Motschenbacher

 

 

photo: Lorna Lyons

Edited by Jerry Entin, 26 October 2015 - 00:01.

[63Corvette]

Hi Jerry! I see that you are also very well represented in the Argetsinger book "Mark Donohue" too

[Jack-the-Lad]

Howden finished 3rd in the 1971 Riverside Grand Prix driving the BRM P 167.
 

I was there. I'm still looking for the event poster if anyone has one for sale.😉

[Jerry Entin]

Food at the Party

There was a very nice salad and vegetables and Potatoes and Chicken and Steak and all the food was Great.

Also Red wine or white wine on all the tables and cupcakes for dessert.

[JacnGille]

sweet

[oldtransamdriver]

Any news yet re a 50th anniversary tour for Can-Am?  And also for Trans-Am?

 

Robert

[E1pix]

Been wondering the same, Bob, so here you go!:
http://www.historiccanam.com

[Jerry Entin]

Stone and Woods and Cook Drag car

We got to tour the NHRA Museum during the CanAm Tribute

This car ran over 140 mph in the quarter mile with an ET of around 10.4 seconds.

 

 

photo: Blake Smith

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 October 2015 - 08:28.

[Jerry Entin]

One of the first rear engined Dragsters

This car was like a Giant Go kart and had a Hemi engine in it with 6 Stromberg carbs on it.

 

 

photo: Blake Smith

[kayemod]

Hope that Pete & Lorna Lyons are well, did anyone get a pic of them? I think that Pete's writing was responsible for much of CanAm's success, he certainly made it come alive for Autosport readers back then.

[RA Historian]

Jerry, nice to see Ike there. Is he all recovered from his accident at Laguna?

 

Tom

[Jerry Entin]

Pete Lyons interviewing Bruce Burness

Bruce Burness was George Follmer's mechanic when they won the USRRC Series with a Lotus 23 with Porsche power.

Bruce also worked on George Follmer's Lola T- 70 in the day.

 

That is John Morton seated at the table.

 

photo: Lorna Lyons

Edited by Jerry Entin, 26 October 2015 - 00:04.

[Jerry Entin]

Pete and Lorna Lyons enjoying dinner with Davey and Norma Jordan.

Philippe de Lespinay and Scott Bader were also seated at the table.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 31 October 2015 - 04:10.

[Jerry Entin]

Pete Lyons and Paul Van Valkenburgh

Paul Van Valkenburgh helped Mark Donohue with his book The Unfair Advantage

 

photo: Howden Ganley

Edited by Jerry Entin, 26 October 2015 - 01:56.

[Jerry Entin]

Jerry Entin and Ike Smith looking for Howden Ganley's buddy Locke

 

 

photo: Howden Ganley

[Jerry Entin]

Marilyn Fox and Scott Bader and Philippe de Lespinay enjoying dinner.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 29 October 2015 - 06:40.

[Tim Murray]

Jerry Entin and Ike Smith looking for Howden Ganley's buddy Locke
 
 
photo: Howden Ganley

 

Poor old Locke's been missing a very long time now:
 

His friends must be getting quite worried.    

[Jerry Entin]

Sue Krout in white talking to Gay Losher while Dennis Losher looks on

 

Sue Krout is Robert Ryan's crew chief in Vintage racing, they run a very nicely prepared Mk 6 McLaren and have won many events.

Gay and Dennis Losher brought their CanAm Shadow to the event and it was on display at the front of the Museum.

 

photo: Robert Judy

[Jerry Entin]

Robert Ryan and Susan Krout and Dennis and Gay Losher in black shirt Albert Arciero

David Pozzi in Blue shirt at end of table

 

photo: Mary Pozzi

Edited by Jerry Entin, 31 October 2015 - 04:12.

[Jerry Entin]

David Pozzi searching for the Perfect cupcake

 

photo: Mary Pozzi

[Jerry Entin]

Rick Knoop getting advice from his engine builder Leon Patton

Rick Knoop crew member Steve Bounds looking on.

 

Leon Patton owns Patton Racing Engines and he does the engine in Rick Knoop's McLaren Mk 8.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 27 October 2015 - 01:20.

[Jerry Entin]

Graham Collins and Mike Follmer

 

photo: Mary Pozzi

[Jerry Entin]

Ike Smith and Leon Patton and Steve Bounds and Jerry Entin and Blake Smith and Mary Pozzi

[Jerry Entin]

Rick Knoop and Jerry Entin and Ike Smith and Blake Smith and Eric Ramos and Steve Bounds

 

 

photo: Mary Pozzi

[jj2728]

Thanks for sharing the photos Jerry. One of these days I'll get to a CanAm reunion......I promise.

 

John

[fyeakel]

Thanks for posting the pictures. I remember Marilyn Fox when she was Miss Powerine at the Cal Club races.

Fred

[scooperman]

If I might add a comment about the NHRA museum in Pomona:  

 

My company sent me out to work at a customer in San Diego last year.  Two week trip, so I had a weekend in the middle.  I looked for car events and found a vintage race at Fontana.  In about 10 minutes of walking the pits I found a racer needing some help,  they kindly let me jump in and in a few minutes we found the problem, made a fix, and  (as I later learned) they were able to finish the weekend running well.  I stayed around for a few heat races and then headed towards L.A., a town I lived in for a few years in the 80s and had no wish to do other than visit briefly.  My plan was to hit the NHRA museum in Pomona and then the Petersen museum in downtown L.A.  Well, there I was mid-afternoon at Pomona Fairgrounds, I guess it must be packed at the Winternationals but on that day I parked my rentaracer right up front at the NHRA museum....fortysevenzillion parking spots and I am the only one there.  I went in, still oil-stained and grubby from pit duty, the gent behind the counter was as friendly as could be, we chatted for quite a bit,  nicest guy on the planet spoke to me as if I was a longtime friend, extremely helpful.  Then I started walking around and ohmigod the cars and the displays and the memorabilia and it all came flooding back, over there was a car I had seen in a Hot Rod magazine in the 60s, another one over there, another one I had seen at some longforgotten event, over there one I had seen in Car Craft, heck there were cars I had seen drawn in CarToons...what a museum.  Smacking myself on the forehead for not having a camera.  Mickey Thompson's LSR Challenger II sitting there...I touched it..and then looked at my watch and decided I needed to hustle to make it to the Petersen.   If you can, definitely go to the NHRA museum.  If you are torn between the NHRA and the Petersen...go to the NHRA.  

[Jerry Entin]

Lakes Racer at NHRA Museum

The NHRA Museum also has Lake Racers and Hot Rods and tow vehicles and Dragsters on display.

Drag racing evolved from Lake Racing and was initially sanctioned in the early 50's by the NHRA.

 

In the late 50's you needed to be 16 years of age with a drivers license to compete in Drag racing. No helmet or driving suit or seat belts were required at first. Nor did you need a roll bar. This was if you were racing the family car.

 

photo: Blake Smith

[Jerry Entin]

Lake Racer under restoration on display

 

photo: Blake Smith

[Jerry Entin]

Tow vehicle on display

 

 

photo: Blake Smith

[Jerry Entin]

Ak Miller's Hot Rod magazine sponsored Road Racer

In 1951 when the NHRA was formed Wally Parks became the President and Ak Miller was named Vice President.

 

Ak Miller was from Denmark and was born in 1920. He started racing with a group called the Road Runners, which raced mostly on Dry Lakes in Southern California.

 

photo: Blake Smith

[Jerry Entin]

Early Drag Racing as depicted at the NHRA Museum

 

 

photo: Blake Smith

[Jerry Entin]

Lincoln entry for the Carrera Panamericana

These supposed stock cars ran a race on the Mexican highways and the team was supported by the Ford Motor Company.

 

Bill Stroppe of Southern California was in charge of this assault Team. He hired the best drivers of the day to run these cars in Mexico. Bill Vukovich and Troy Ruttman and Clay Smith and Johnny Mantz. The first race in the early 50's was won by Hershel McGriff driving an Oldsmobile.

 

Believe it or not these stock cars ran near 150 mph on this course from near El Paso , Texas to near the border of Guatemala.

 

photo: Blake Smith

Edited by Jerry Entin, 31 October 2015 - 22:22.

[Jerry Entin]

Early Front engined Dragster

These cars ran around 150 mph in the quarter mile

 

photo: Blake Smith

Edited by Jerry Entin, 01 November 2015 - 01:15.

[Jerry Entin]

Super Stock Drag car

By the mid 60's the family car was starting to look like this. Super Stock meant the biggest engine available to the public at the time.

 

These cars ended up with light weight components and aluminum bumpers. They became far from what the public could buy.

 

photo: Blake Smith

[Jerry Entin]

Drag Racing Coupe

These cars were called Altered Coupes and many used 1948 Fiat Topolino type bodies on Tube Frames

 

 

photo: Howden Ganley

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 November 2015 - 01:47.

[Jerry Entin]

Lake Racer called the Beast

These cars were called Streamliners and Chet Herbert who passed away in 2009 at the age of 81 had hoped to build one that could go 500 mph with a piston driven engine.

 

This car ran over 238 mph in 1952 with Art Chrisman driving it. That run made Art Chrisman one of the first 5 members of the 200 mph Club.

photo: Howden Ganley

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 November 2015 - 23:53.

[Jerry Entin]

This mini Lake Racer was powered by a Harley Davidson 88 cu in engine and turned 150 mph in 1959

 

photo: Blake Smith

[Jerry Entin]

An Early twin engined Dragster called the Dragmaster Two Thing

This car ran two small block Chevy engines coupled together through their flywheels, it also had Hilborn Injection on Potvin drive 6-71 GMC supercharges and ran 177.87 mph at the 1961 NHRA Nationals.

 

The car next to the twin engined car was called "Masters Auto Supply Dragliner" and it had a 283 Chevy with a Latham supercharger. It ran 135.32 on gas in 1958. 

 

 

all research: Bill Wiswedel

 

 

 

 

photo: Blake Smith

Edited by Jerry Entin, 05 November 2015 - 05:46.