8 replies to this topic

[Jim Thurman]

This was posted to another group and I thought I'd check in here to see if anyone can provide some more details on this car (I checked with the original poster and he said it was ok)...

I just received this email from a fellow who owns Clem Proctor's supercharged Chevrolet powered sports racing car that he drove in Triple 'R' and USAC professional and CalClub amateur races at Willow Springs and Riverside. Can anyone help him?

Hello Ron, remember me? I am the guy with the mystery car. I finally got the equipment to look at the Norton CDs I purchased from you and Allen. I'm very excited as the photo you mentioned on the cover of Vol. 3 No 21 showing "Phil Cooper" winning the RRR race I am quite sure is my car!! The cut out hole for the supercharger is exactly the same as a filled in spot (fiberglassed) that my car had when I got it! The photo I bought from Allen of #229 appears to be an earlier shot of the car - no supercharger, no roll bar and a Dana 41 tapered style rear axle (my car has a Dana 41 that was converted to flanged style axles at some point) The Norton photo shows these flanged axles. Do you think Allen's early photo is Clem Proctor's "Chrysler Special" and the car was re-engined with the blown Chevy? I do. Perhaps the Chevy went on to power the Aston Martin? All questions I'm pondering, and the guy with the answers is Clem Proctor. Do you know if he is alive? Do you have any contacts who might know / have known him that you could send my way? You mentioned speaking to a Bill Hitchcock. Would this guy be a lead to finding Clem Proctor today? Your help has unlocked the mystery now we need ol' Clem to finish the story! Look forward to hearing from you.

I can add that Clem Proctor passed away in 1995. He was a Stock Car racer of some note on the West Coast, having raced in NASCAR's Pacific Coast Late Model division and also in short track races at Ascot, where his '53 Dodge convertible set a track record that stood for years. Clem was also famous for going on a winning streak in major Late Model Sportsman races at Riverside and Ontario in the early 70's when he was well into his 40's. He also ran a bar in Paramount, California - The Starlite Lounge. Being a "professional", he made several starts in early Pro road races in the West, including the inaugural Times GP at Riverside.

Can anyone help with info on the car?

[Don Capps]

It is Issue 22 of Volume 3....

When I saw the photo the first time, I recall wondering, "Do I know what that is?"

Nothing has popped up in the Girdler specials book or the VM specials either for that matter.

The bodywork seems to favor that of the Glasspars, but probably something by Devlin.

Perhaps there is something in an issue of R&T or SCI?

[dretceterini]

Please post a link to a photo...

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by dretceterini
Please post a link to a photo...

Unfortunately, I do not have a photo. I'll see if I can get in contact with the person who posted this and see if he has one.

Originally posted by Don Capps
It is Issue 22 of Volume 3....

Thanks Don. I do not have Bob Norton's full CDs (yet), so I could only go by what this person posted.

[Don Capps]

Jim, I will send you a copy of the picture to post for others to see. Don


Aaargh! I thought I had your email address!! PM me please. Ditto for dretceterini.

[dretceterini]

Sorry but I don't know a thing about the car other than it's some fiberglass bodied special.

[Jim Thurman]

Thanks for checking dretceterini.

Originally posted by Jim Thurman


I can add that Clem Proctor passed away in 1995.

Correcting myself here, it was November of 1994 when Clem Proctor passed away.

[Frank S]

Not much help on the original question, but it may put a face on some musings:

At the 13th Hila Sweet California Racers Reunion at Parnelli Jones' Torrance shop/museum there were several displays of photos from past reunions. Here's one from the year 1998:



I'm pretty sure it's the right guy, in spite of the misspelling.


Also present were two book guys I can name:



Anyone know the third fellow?
(on the right; Schilling and Wallen are the others)

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by Frank S
Not much help on the original question, but it may put a face on some musings:

At the 13th Hila Sweet California Racers Reunion at Parnelli Jones' Torrance shop/museum there were several displays of photos from past reunions. Here's one from the year 1998:



I'm pretty sure it's the right guy, in spite of the misspelling.

Frank,

That is definitely Clem Proctor, misspelling and all.

While I don't recall passing by him in the pits or seeing him around after the races, I do recall him getting out of his car in front the stands after winning a dash. That and the many photos of him in magazines and newspapers make me absolutely certain (I would have been able to identify him even without the name written on the photo).

Thanks for posting the photo from the 1989 event (sadly, it wouldn't have been possible for Clem to attend in '98 )

A truly sad thing is despite his status in Stock Car racing on the West Coast, I saw nary a word on his passing. And it's only been since discovering TNF that I've found out about his Sports Car racing. It certainly explains his great success in the Permatex races at Riverside (he also won a Late Model Sportsman race at Stardust International Raceway).