Hi all, long-time lurker, first-time poster. I'm curating a forthcoming 2025 museum exhibit that focuses on the history of Japanese American car culture in the Southern California area. One artifact we're trying to find to borrow for the exhibit is a copy of the August 28, 1949 program for the Russetta Timing Association. (One of the clubs that participated in that specific day of racing was The Turtles, a Japanese American group formed in Hollywood. We have photos and timing tags from the event from the son of one of the former Turtles' members). A copy of this program came available in the spring but I missed bidding on it, alas. I spoke to Jim Miller at the NHRA if they had a copy but they don't. I figured someone here might know where a copy might be available that we could borrow for the exhibit?
Long shot but @15ASedan might be of some help. He was on here the last of September.....his Dad ran the RTA at one time. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/9-18-1949-russetta-timing-association-el-mirage.995072/ Edit: I miss-read the post....his Dad raced RTA events during that time period.
I just was poking through some Rodders Journals and they did a well done spread on just that...I'll see if I can find the issue...maybe you've seen it already...note the second image The Nisei Racers...I've never read it but it's about 9 pages long... If you can't find this perhaps I can get you this copy... Welcome to the Hamb... I went to your link I recall seeing that Custom group...later history but I think you're covering the periods so this may be applicable...Rodders Journal has been reborn so maybe an email to them may also yield some fruit...
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1949-august-russetta-timing-1978301393 ...not the whole book but a look at the Cover with 3 more pages at the link... Paging @woodiemike...he might be able to help... Paging @Jimmy B...another...
The program probably only had 3 pages. The last page shown in the Worthpoint auction shows the Turtles were 20th in the points at that point in 1949. Mick
Thanks Mick... I popped the other pages on there...I think those are old auctions in a form of archive... I guess this may have been what he mentioned missing out on bidding on as these Worthpoints are Ebay Ads I believe... That looks like a Medley Artwork on the back...
Thanks folks. 1) Tom Madigan's story was a fantastic one. I spoke with him a couple of years before he passed away but never had a chance to interview him formally for the exhibit which is unfortunate. He really put time in to research the story of those racers. 2) That Worthpoint auction page is for the copy of the program that was sold in April that I missed out on. I asked the seller if they had the contact info for the buyer but alas, too much time had passed. But yes, because the Turtles are mentioned in the program, it's the reason we'd want it for the exhibit. And like I said, we have photos from the actual event. Here's one of them. Anyways, I appreciate folks sharing all this info. But yeah, if someone has a line on the actual program, that'd be amazing. Maybe @15ASedan has a copy of that August program? We'll see...
If anyone had one they'd likely be a member here or be known by someone here...so we bttt for another reach out for the 4 pages of rareness... @Oliver Wang that's an incredible pic...reminds me of @15ASedan's shots...clear and historically awesome...
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