Editor's notes: You may have been wondering why you have been getting more than one newsletter per week. The

normal procedure is to accumulate the research and correspondence as it comes in and resend it out to the members

on each Wednesday.  At some point there will be a lack of research or news and the newsletter may be very brief

or I might be away and be unable to send it that week.  More likely, the readers may receive two or even three

newsletters a week because of volume of mail received.  If that happens, I cut off a newsletter when it has gotten to

be larger than 5 or 6 email sized screens.  There is no use tempting the automatic spam filters of your systems.  Since

I have been recovering a lot of emails from my crashed computer system, that has necessitated extra issues.  Soon,

we should be getting back to a normal, once a week routine for sending out newsletters.

Editor's notes: Received in March 2007.

2) I will be in Detroit signing my new Deuce-75 years of the '32 Ford book at Autorama.  For more info

  see  http://www.autorama.com/casi/detroit.htm, Cheers, Robert Genat, www.zonefivephoto.com 

Editor's notes: This came to me in February 2007.

3) Southern California has produced plenty of horsepower and heroes since Barney Oldfield headlined

  San Diego’s first automobile race in 1907.  That historic event kicks off 100 Racing Years, a new book

  from HotRodNostalgia.com.  More than 400 vintage photos document a century of evolution for all

  forms of competition vehicles — including SoCal inventions that became known as hot rods, dragsters,

  off-road racers and speedway bikes.  Everything from go-karts to unlimited hydroplanes is covered by 

  author Johnny McDonald, 25-year motorsports writer for the San Diego Union.  Newspaper excerpts

  and detailed photo captions document long-gone race tracks including Paradise Mesa, Torrey Pines,

  Balboa, Cajon, Ramona, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Silvergate and Legion Ascot.  Hot-rod artist Bob (“Father

  Of The Flame Job”) McCoy illustrated both front and back covers.  The 144 inside pages are B&W. 

  This softbound book measures 10-3/4 by 8-1/4 inches.  Touring pros such as Oldfield, Don Garlits,

  Jimmy Caruthers and Roger DeCoster are pictured alongside homegrown heroes Phil Hill, Rex Mays,

  Don Prudhomme, Jim Rathmann, Don Vesco, Jack McGrath, Rodger Ward, Troy Ruttman, Johnny

  Parsons, Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby, Dan Gurney, Jimmie Johnson, Bill Thomas, Ted Cyr, the Bean

  Bandits, Emory Cook, Jerry Baltes, Jim Nelson, Jess Van Deventer, John Mulligan, Tommy Allen,

  Sandy Belond, Bill Muncey, Bill Stroppe, Parnelli Jones, Ivan Stewart, Mickey Thompson, Larry Minor,

  Marty Tripes, Frank Arciero, Marty Smith, Broc Glover and Rick Johnson, among many more.  “San

  Diego Motorsports:  100 Racing Years” (PN 1066) can be purchased 24/7 from Hot Rod Nostalgia’s

  SECURE Web store at http://hotrodnostalgia.com/Store/Books/books01.html#1066.  To charge to Visa

  or Mastercard, call (209) 293-2114 Monday through Friday, 9-5, PT.  To order by mail, send $24.95

  plus $8.95 delivery charge to Hot Rod Nostalgia, P.O. Box 249, West Point, CA 95255-0249.  (Calif.

  residents, add $1.81 tax.) 

Editor's notes: This came back in January 2007.

4) 1/23/2007 - Photojournalist Peter Brock Injured at SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge Las Vegas, Nevada,

  Photojournalist and Vintage Motorsport contributor, Peter Brock, 66, was badly injured Saturday, January 20,

  while covering the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge event in the Nevada desert.  Brock was photographing

  on a section of the course when an out-of-control 1600-class race truck left the course and hit him from behind,

  throwing him about 30 feet. He suffered a badly broken leg, including his femur and ankle and numerous bruises.

  Medical personel on site immediately rendered aidand transported him to a nearby hospital, after which he was

  airlifted to University Medical Center in Las Vegas for surgery.  Brock spoke to us today from his hospital bed

  and is in very good spirits despite his injuries and knows that it will take some time to get his leg back in shape.

  His wife Gayle, who accompanies him to all the races and who also is a photographer, has been with him since

  the accident. He's expected to remain in the hospital for several more days and then will recupertate at his

  Washington state home.  Although Brock is widely known today for his work as a photojournalist covering

  races around the world, he is also known as the designer of the world-famous Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

  back in 1963, a car (six were built) that went on to beat Ferrari for the World Manufacturers Championship in
  1965. He is also the designer of the current Brock Superformance Coupe.  www.vettefinderjim.com
Editor's notes: The following was received in January 2007. Ken Kelley sent this in.

5) Here are some photos of an engine an ex-Rod Rider has for sale. He has two of them. Contact George

  if interested. I have no first-hand knowledge of these engines, but they look good in the photos. Summary

  is from an e-bay ad. His name is George Noriega. hotrod93561@yahoo.com.  Summary; Built by an

  experienced racer and professional builder, this engine is made specifically for alcohol. This is a power

  packed engine right for the professional racer. This has been run only 5 times and then removed and

  stored. Here's what you get: Moon timing cover with 110 Enderle Pump Steel Crank Aluminum Rods

  Aluminum Pistons Iskenderian Cam Mondelo Heads Donovan Rocker System Weiand Intake Manifold

  with Certified SFI Burst plate and Down Nozzles Hampton Blower Crower Injector Hat With Nozzles

  Vertex Magnito Zoomies Exhaust This is a dry block engine perfect for your short runs down the track.

  What's your record? This complete 392 Chrystler Long Block Engine is located in Tehachapi, CA.

  Tehachapi is located only 2 hours from the San Fernando Valley, 2 1/2 ours from LA, 1 hour from

  Bakersfield and 2 1/2 hours from Ventura County.

  that A&A Mobile Homes has finally finished their task of relocating it to our El Mirage site.  Prodding

  them along required numerous phone calls during this past year.  Tiny and Ruth Roberts moved in on the

  Saturday of our September Lakes meet.  All utilities are now in place and operating.  We are currently

  operating on the storage tank for water supply.  I met with Mike Simons (Bell Steel) Friday morning at 7

  AM on my way to the World Finals and did a walk thru on the storage building.  This was my first sighting

  of the building and it is definitely a landmark. My son taking a commercial flight spotted it from the air.

  With the exception of a few nuts and bolts that needed to be tightened everything looked great. Pat Morin

  of Pro Line doors arrived at 8 AM to measure the openings for the large sectional doors for the parking

  bays. It takes about 2 weeks to get the doors made so they more than likely will not be installed by the

  weekend of our October Lakes meet.  At 8:15 Tiny and I are off to the SALT.  The drilling rig for the water

  well arrived on Saturday while the advance work party was gathered at roads end looking at the lake that

  we normally refer to as the Bonneville Salt flats. A heavy duty rain storm Friday night deposited about an

  inch of water down the whole course as attested to by Mike Waters and Fast Freddie Dannenfelzer braving

  the lake in Mike's amphibious Ford Courier.  (BNI is investigating an air boat for future course checks.)

  I'm sure that some of the water was from the tears of our gathered volunteer group.  It was a huge

  disappointment to be forced to call the meet.  Back to the water well.  It will be done in a couple of weeks.
  Jay Bowman will soon finish the electrical work in the storage building which includes a few fluorescent

  lights and a couple of outlets along with power to the radio tower.  This electrical is on the permit and

  is the last item remaining to call for a final inspection on the building.  We will be doing some concrete

  flat work for approaches, etc., which does not require permits.  Be sure to visit the property during the

  upcoming lakes meet and don't forget BLM's Annual El Mirage Trash Cleanup on Saturday.  Info is on

  the web site.  Jim Dunn

Editor's notes: The following email was sent by Charles Shaffer in October 2006, but my system couldn't receive

it at the time and open it.

8) I have been able to confirm the rumor--there is no doubt.  Two or three weeks ago, Craig Breedlove

  sold his 1996-1997 jet car to wealthy aviation and sailing record-setter Steve Fossett, complete with

  semi-trailer and presumably parts.  If you would like more information on Fossett, see
           http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Fossett.

  Breedlove believed he was within sight of a possible sponsorship deal, but the offer from Fossett was

  too good to pass up.  Sir Richard Branson, a sometime collaborator with Fossett, is not thought to be

  involved with this particular venture.  The Deseret Morning News reported on Oct. 3 that on Sept. 30

  Fossett drove 298 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Ron Main's EcoFire streamliner to gain some LSR

  driving experience. http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view2/1,4382,650195707,00.html?textfield=Fossett

  Breedlove will remain involved with the car and the record attempts, though not as owner nor primary

  driver.  I think that his role could be characterized as team operations director, consultant, designer,

  and driving instructor/coach.  He has opened a shop facility in Reno to serve as the project base.  The

  car will probably be moved there within the next few weeks.  Presumably a crew of mechanics and 

  technicians will be hired.  I do not know if the car will continue to be called the "Spirit of America" nor

  do I know of the planned color scheme.  It is anticipated that the cockpit and perhaps some of the body

  will have to be modified to allow Fossett adequate room to sit in the car; he is somewhat larger than

  Breedlove.  The planned venue for running the car will not be the Black Rock Desert.  More than a year

  ago, Breedlove located another dry lakebed in Nevada of suitable length.  It is on BLM land, but there

  is no public access.  Access is only possible via privately-owned ranchland.  He has secured agreements

  from the ranchers for the team's access.  This will allow them to control access as necessary to avoid

  safety issues with large crowds.  The location is secret--I do not know any more about it.  We may not

  be able to see the runs.  I hate to hear of Craig having to give up part of his dream, but as an LSR fan

  it is good news that the car may be run again with possible record attempts 11 months from now (just

  my guess).  He remains firmly convinced that the car is easily capable of speeds above 800 mph.  In

  1998-2000, considerable work was done on the frame to straighten it from damage done by the world's

  fastest U-turn accident in Oct. 1996.  Some other aerodynamic modifications have also been made, and

  there may be further modifications that are planned but not yet implemented.  Charles Shaffer

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Members: Jonathan Amo, Brett Arena, Henry Astor, Glen Barrett, Lee Blaisdell, Warren Bullis, Gary Carmichael,

G. Thatcher Darwin, Jack Dolan, Ugo Fadini, Robert Falcon, Rich Fox, Glenn Freudenberger, Don Garlits, Bruce

Geisler, Stan Goldstein, Andy Granatelli, Walt James, Wendy Jeffries, Mike Kelly, Mary Ann and Jack Lawford,

Fred Lobello, Dick Martin, Ron Martinez, Tom McIntyre, Don McMeekin, Tom Medley, Jim Miller, Don

Montgomery, Mark Morton, Louise Ann Noeth, David Parks, Richard Parks, Wally Parks (in memoriam), Eric

Rickman, Willard Ritchie, Roger Rohrdanz, Evelyn Roth, Ed Safarik, Frank Salzberg, Charles Shaffer, Mike

Stanton, David Steele, Doug Stokes, Bob Storck, Pat Swanson, Al Teague, JD Tone and Jack Underwood.