Folks Of Interest My Uncle's stuff

Cool, thanks for sharing ! Ed.

 

You have some very historic items in that collection.

Thanks for sharing your find. Jimbo

 

Hey SR,
There is an Al Palamides from Oakland listed in the results. Is he related to Romeo Palamides (also from Oakland, then Chicago) of the drag racing and wheels fame?

Also another old name pops out... R. Cortopassi. These names were pretty significant in the 60's if they are related or are the original drag racers. Cortopassi: the "Glass Slipper" FED from Nor Cal. Palamides: dragster/wheel fame also from Nor Cal.

Jnaki
Finally another name pops out...Don Menges from Morgan Hill any relation to Gene Menges from San Jose, just up the highway? I took several classes from Gene Menges at San Jose State College back in the 60's. A So Cal transplant and great guy.

 

G. Winfield is #1 on the list in 1950 with his T roadster. The guy is still #1! Very cool stuff, priceless, really!

 

Thanks for sharing the treasures left to you, and the papers and photos. I knew an old Sacramento-scene fellow and wish I'd paid more attention to his stories before he passed on. He was a returning Army vet in the late '50's/early '60's.

 

Hi SR.Very nice thanks for posting.Please keep the updates coming as you are able.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

Your uncle's surname was Brocchini?

 

@stillrunners

 

There some beautifully crafted machines back in the day. Wow.​

 

Very cool !

 

Junji, Romeo's given name was Al.
The Cortopassi listed is Ed Cortopassi's brother. They built the Glass Slipper together.

 

Yes Jimmie....my mother was his older sister and the first born in the states from the east of folks that came at the turn of the century for the railroad business.

Thanks Dean for your input...thought there was a connection there.....not sure about Don and Gene ?

 

The T-body with the GMC/Injected/Wayne Horning head was built for 1954 BVille and ran better than the 116.27 dash plate it received for 1954 -he made some comments about the 1954 meet - maybe had to do with the belly pan or the axle covers he made - George Barris took some pics of it fully dressed - I'll share latter. It ran in the modified roadster class both 1954/1955 and received a dash plate with a run of 168..06 for 1955. The motor was sold off to a dirt track racer - from all places - Texas - and I believe parts or the head lives on - on a HAMB dragster on here.

 

Jimme - wow - some pics I've never seen - most likely my pop's shop - looks like Leroy's or maybe by then my uncle's Chevy coupe inside the door - Leroy towed my uncle's roadster to BVille in 1950 and after the Korean war my uncle bought it from Leroy - thanks !

 

Should note - my uncle said Leroy went faster than he did - so the 168mph was most likely Leroy's time.

 

Wanted to share my sweet Aunt Betty Annette - she was the one that said "show him(me) the roadster picture's " and this maybe the late 80's ?

She came over from Hale Barns England on holiday to visit family that was over here and was shown around town to include San Francisco by my uncle. On her next visit - soon after - my uncle got down on his knee - she said - and we know cars were a mere distant second thought.

Here with the first of their Corvette's which they spent many a day/hour cruising California !

 

think it's from left to right - Al Garcia - Buck Davis - Dick King - my uncle's - then maybe Harold Kasarrag with the Kilmont disks and Jack Odberts 36? convert...more pics from the show later....

and the uncle's # from the show.....

 

There is a program from the first show I've seen....have to out live another uncle for it...here's another pic of the 54/55 BVille modified roadster....Automotive Service Co. was my pop's shop in Sacramento.

 

This photo is from '55 108 is their number for that year. 1954 their number was 247 going off the Bonneville programs I have. There is a colour photo from the life archives of the car at speed at bonneville in '54. I am on a ipad now but when i get on my desktop tonight i will post the pic and reply further to some of your posts above. Ido have 12 photos of the roadster that i will post later.



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That is a good looking rear engine roadster. You mentioned what happened to the engine but what ever happened to the car?

 

Wow JB....thanks for posting - haven't seen those as yet ! In regards to the T body car - the uncle said it sat around the shop with out the engine and by the 60's it was not wanted....he did say it got cut up. Up next the funny lakester they ran in 1956.

 

This is a treasure trove...the whole thread!
I knew quite a few of the older racers, at different times of my life. (and different towns!)
Paul Shultz was the Santa Cruz guru of flatheads...(Shultz Machine Shop, on the opposite side of the driveway to the Skyway drive-in theater. Think it was Paul's Dad that was the actual 'spark plug' for the early Skypark Airport drags)

Les Joseph of San Jose. Operated one of the best machine shops in town, on Montgomery St.
Les partnered with Babe Royer, (Babe's Mufflers) on a '30 Model A pickup, chopped, channeled, shortened bed...'52 Cad power, ran 'Little Bonneville', San Jose's own drag strip.

Fred Zaft, of San Francisco: former member of the S.F. Ramblers, Fred told me at the '55 San Jose Autorama that he actually built his '32 Five Window in a single stall garage at his home. Channeled it with a hammer & chisel, and some hacksaw blades!
I was 13, and replied to Fred that I had done the same thing to my '31 Cabriolet, over Deuce rails. Instant Buds!

This is the virtual 'guts' of our lives, our 'hobby'. These times are sacred...May the remaining pictures, notes, and mementos be preserved!

 

@stillrunners these are all 12 images of the roadster in the backyard. It is a shame the roadster was cut up but is not surprising, that was common once cars were no longer able to run due to rule changes. I look forward to seeing the lakester.

 

Have you found any vintage hardware, especially on 4 wheels?

 

Such a great thread. I really like the Sacramento/Nor.Cal. history as that is where I was born and still live. The car that turned the 12th fastest time at the Reno meet covered in the Rod Dust was owned/driven by Fred Blackard. These two pictures were taken 60 years apart. The first is Fred and his car in 1953. The second is of Fred and his car after I put it back together. I brought the car for a visit with Fred and he loved the short ride we took together. The trophy in the pictures is one he kept all of these years. Thanks for your posts. I hope you continue to share what you have.

 

Well holding off on that 1956 BVille car....and back to the 1950 Sacramento Autorama cars....
Buck Davis roadster,
Ronnie's car - kilmont disk's...
Jack Dobert ? 1936 Custom Ford (maybe got that wrong on earlier post )

Leroy's coupe - a late entry per the program and the attendees and a class winner

Dick King's track T

That # 5 roadster entry

 

Oh....the photo of my Aunt Betty is from about 1962.....the first I heard of this stuff was the late 80's and got to see some of these pictures. A few I was able to get then....the rest I would have to wait for.
Hooked up to Leroy's Chevy - heading out in 1950 to BVille
Ready to rumble and off for a run
Salty dog's return from BVille

 

Wow!


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X2=Bigger Wow Power...thanks @stillrunners for sharing precious history and to all you others filling in the voids to take it to the finish line.