I borrowed and collected lots of early hot rod photos when I was doing my hot rod history books. Many of the photos were not used, so I thought I would put some of them on the HAMB so those who are interested could see them. These photos are from Blackie Gold's (Pasadena Roadster Club) album. Peter Eastwood gets the credit for loaning them to me. This photo is of Al Hawkin's 1927 Chevy phaeton with a '34 Ford grill shell. It had a Ford model B engine with a Winfield head. The important thing here is that Hawkins, in addition to being a Pasadena Roadster Club hot rodder, was a professional photographer. Al took all of the photos here. Al's '32 Ford sport coupe, camera car can occasionally be seen at street rod events today. This is Al's phaeton at the Lakes in 1946.
The next photo shows a group of guys with a Pasadena Roadster Club entry in the line to run at a 1946 SCTA lakes meet. Three of the racers has white coveralls with the club name on the back, similar to the 'big time" track racer crews. The roadsters had to get in long lines behind the starting line to get a run down the course. Note the typical clothes they were wearing and the "official" white golf style caps.
Hey down in front !! It's Don Montgomery brother ... "THE" Don Montgomery .... patience please. Continue kind sir. Great stuff. http://www.montgomeryhotrodbooks.com/
This photo shows the roadster owned by the guy who owned the album the photos came from. It was owned by Blackie Gold of the Pasadena Roadster Club. The '32 roadster was a very nice machine, with lots of Lake's dust as shown here. Blackie had worked at Al Hawkin's speed shop in Pasadena before. The guy standing beside the roadster is Marvin Lee (Pasadena Roadster Club); later remembered for his City Of Pasadena streamliners. He was an SCTA official and on occasion partnered with Blackie's entry, and later, I think, was involved in the formation of the NHRA..
This 4th photo shows a nice '32 roadster of a Pasadena Roadster Club member being worked on while in line to run down the strip. This is at a 1946 SCTA meet. Note the solid hood sides and louvers in the hood tops. Also note the level "stance" of the roadster. Apparently no dropped axle and not much of tire size difference from front to back. Also note the aftermarket radio antenna on the side panel and headlight bar made from a stock headlight bar. Kelsey spoked wheels with beauty rings topped off a very nice appearing roadster. As before this photo is by J. Allen Hawkins, by way of Blackie Gold's album, courtesy of Peter Eastwood (who is a very well known hot rod builder, restorer and drag racecar collector).
Here is photo taken at the Lakes that I was not able to identify. The album noted that this T roadster was from Eagle Rock and it recorded a time of 95 mph (it may seem slow to us today, but 70 years ago to get to 100 mph was more of an accomplishment than we realize - it took me longer than I had hoped). This photo shows a basic T roadster with what appears to be a Model A frame, a 24 stud engine and Kelsey wheels. Note the "torched" rear spring: not uncommon back then. Back then, a hot rodder could build a Lakes racecar for only a small outlay of cash. Many of the roadsters were build just to run at the Lakes, as this one appears to have been.
Thanks, Mr. Montgomery for taking the time to post these. I for one enjoy your text, almost as much as the images. Nothing quite like a history lesson strait from the horses mouth!
Dan O'Regan was a member of the Gophers club and a friend, who hung out at Parker's Nite-Owl restaurant in Glendale with the Glendale Coupe and Roadster Club (GCRC) guys - including me - in the early 1950s. As a Gopher he was friends with fellow Gophers including John Ryan, Don Blair, Jack McGrath, Jack Mickelson, Nelson Taylor and other Lakes racers. Dan took a lot of photos back in the late 1940s. He was nice enough to loan me his album which helped me get started doing my books. Here is a 1947 photo taken at an SCTA meet with Dan in Jack Mickelson's neat '32 roadster. The this group of photos came from Dan O'Regan's album
Here is another look at Jack Mickelson's roadster taken at the Lakes in 1947. As noted, Jack was in the Gophers club and close with John Ryan, Nelson Taylor and Earl Evans. His Evans equipment roadster recorded a time of 129.31 mph that year making it one of the faster '32 roadsters at the SCTA meets. Prior to forming the successful Taylor and Ryan engine business John, Nelson and Jack had all worked at "Pop"Evans shop. This roadster has the correct 1940s hot rod look. It is interesting to note the use of solid hood sides on many of the hot rods. Also note the level stance.
Also from Dan O'Regan is this photo of Jack Calori, a member of the Lancers club. Jack's '29 roadster was one of the fastest class C roadster in 1947 at 128.38 mph. Here Jack is at the starting line waiting for the OK to start his run. His low entry number (12) shows that he finished 12th in the SCTA points standings for 1946. Then in 1947 Jack earned the number 3 position. The upsweep chrome headers made Jack's roadster one of the most recognized cars at the Lakes.
In addition to being a fast Lakes racecar, Jack Calori's '29 roadster was his daily driver. There are lots of things that were special on this car in addition to the exhaust. It had sunken license plates (front and back), a '32 frame with chrome shocks and radius rods. Jack moved on to a family car next - a beautiful 1936 Ford 3 window coupe that he customized and was featured on the cover of Hot Rod magazine. A few years ago Jack's old '36 coupe was a winner at the Pebble Beach Concours in the Hot Rod class.
Thanks Rockerhead...priceless stuff here with stories to boot... I am honoured to have front row seats to this. The perspective is a beautiful thing...
Me too don thank you very much. My grandpa ran el mirage starting in late 47 and 48-49. He was a Pasadena roadster club member so I'm hoping to see his car in the back ground of the pictures you post. Car number 370 in 47 then new number car 390 in 48-49 of the prc. He's 86 now and I just had him up tuning the carbs on my 32 roadster I recreated his car. Keep them pictures coming I love these photos. Your the man.
Thanks for these, Don. Your books validated what I told the younger guys for years! Spent lots of time studying what our uncles, grandfathers, and elder friends did. Great to have you on here, as you are regarded as "the Gatekeeper".
Again from Dan O'Regan is this photo of Bert Letner's Elco Twin roadster. Bert was in the Road Runners club. This roadster was running the twin spark plug Elco heads. Bert ran the roadster at the Lakes in 1947 but the car was most famous for winning on the circle tracks. The car won a CRA Points Championship with one of the best records in roadster track racing. One of the drivers who handled the Elco Twin was Troy Ruttman who went on to win the Indy 500. This photo shows some work on the car with the racecar nose removed. Note the "knobby" style rear tires as often used on dirt tracks.
Here was Bob Buswell of the Glendale Stokers club (he later jumped to the Glendale Sidewinders club) at the August 1947 SCTA Lakes meet. "Buzz" hit a 114.50 mph time that day with his channeled '32 roadster. His Mercury engine had all Glendale area equipment - Navarro, Kong and Winfield. He has his aircraft goggles and leather aircraft type soft helmet on ready to attack the strip. At the bottom of the photo you can see the condition of the lake bed. It was not very good and would break up after heavy use, but it was the only place available for high speed runs. This photo also came from Dan O"Regan's album
Heres the Old Man about a month before I was born. On the property I grew up on. He used to paint it couple times a year in suede colors with an attachment for my moms vacuum.
And here is the car my dad had in 56. Can you believe he loaded my mom and I up and left Fresno headed for Beverly Hills to work for Otto Zipper........thats right, the Beverly Hillbillies was my life story.
One more...my dads 40 Chev Carson topped and my Uncle Bruces Ride with what I think is a Packard grill.... about 53. Coming from a hot rod family I have many more, but Ill leave space for others.
I love Old...I can smell the old, paint, grease and gasoline yes...Its one thing to dream, imagine and replicate what it was like but nothing beats someone who was there backing it up with pics and stories...Thanks again...You was theres...
This 25' T was my Dad's hot rod in 32' - 33' loaded with all the good stuff, built by the riding macanic for the then Indy Car racer Ernie Triplet It had a drilled crank - Fronty Head - Winfield Carb - Ruxtel Rear end - exhaust header with cut out and Special Wire Wheels and lowered Went 108 at the lakes, must have some ride in the baby
Hey guys and gals...I was just thinking about a thread like this the other day. When I read the profiles I see so many stories about Ole Hotrod after Hotrod or custom or Jalopy while growing up back in the day...by many of you that were there. Please do share...It matters and they are welcome. Us Hambers want to see them. Quality show so far all...This may be one of the most cherished threads ever shaping up here. Thank You All again.
The Jalopy Journal
