Who cruised Van Nuys Bl in the 70's?

Yeah, ya FIRED me for that one too! Do you remember? It blew the driver's side, front of the block to where one lonely pan bolt held the chunk from hitting the ground. You blamed me for making the power steering pump bracket too tight (you were kidding of course-you were always good for a laugh!)
Hell, I'm laughing NOW!

 

Hey Bob. Here's a cool shot. Me in the black jacket w/grey stripe on sleeve over the fender. One of your Street Race days @ LACR. Remember the Camaro we had? After I got busted, you'd race it on the street, and I at the track. You let it be my pet project, so it'd always be a running car in the stables (no motor eaters-that's another story). Anyway, I got a "money" race w/the L.A.guys, and here they're crawling all over it looking for a hidden unit, (which they never found-another decent story). Hemi-Coupe, you getting all this? Anyway, I won. With a sorta mild 355, and a small hidden unit, it'd go 10.90 at around 126-8(?) through the mufflers at LACR which is 3-4000 feet above sea level. PS-Bob, check out Steve Johnsons turbo bike in the back of his Elcamino in front of the Camaro. Yes, guys, THAT Steve Johnson. Since we're at a track, it should be OK to mention. Pic taken by Karen Stoffer. Yes, THAT Karen Stoffer

 

Jeez, its been 26 years since those days. I don't know if I can draw anymore.

 

Check with Jim G, it was one of his biggest races/gudge match. I wonder if he still has the cartoon I drew?

 

This vatto has the right idea. Take your streets back, like we did in Washington. Walt still around? I'd like to put his brushes in water like he told me to do when I first started striping. A costly joke that didn't leave me smiling but he was so high all the time he probably forgot. No matter, I forged on and still respect his ability, just not the man. GOT'CHA!

 

Walt's still around, in Simi Valley, and driving the SAME Nomad

 

Grouch:

Steve Johnson?, man have I got a juicy story about him giving me like 15 or 20 and the go with his turbo bike TWICE, for a VCR. And you mean I can't tell it? Oh well. LOL

--
BottleBob
http://home.earthlink.net/~bottlbob

 

Walt and I both had '40 Coupes, his was Candie Apple Red, mine was Piss green w/blue and green Murano pearl and had Gold flames. Painted by the best pearl man in the business, William Bryant of Paintmasters in compton. Where Walt USED to pinstripe until I came along.

 

I never made Steve any promises, so let's hear a story

 

Killer stories man!! Keep them coming! Groucho thanks for the heads up.
Jimmy White

 

How ya like the Camaro in #212?

 

I remember when they shot corvette summer on vn blvd & I was racing the vet in FANTASIA but Fantasia made the vet look like poo so it didnt get in the movie.

 

Groucho, That thing is Killer man!! Fernando and I are working on our "secret project". The parts gathering has begun!
Jimmy White

 

R U the same Bill that hung out with the Lironis brothers? Orange Camaro with the 4-speed and circle track heads?? What made ya join the HAMB? All this race talk?

 

And the pilot patiently awaits

 

Groucho:

Actually you probably remember it better than me, it was with "your" Camaro in your picture. One race was at Lumber city, and the other was at Woodley & Saticoy.

Remember it now?

--
BottleBob
http://home.earthlink.net/~bottlbob

 

The race for the VCR was with Robbie. Big mouth Robbie that got killed at Harry's shop. He was being called Omar Kudafe by a guy name Ronnie Rector. Robbie had all our names as a target on the gas tank of his bike. He'd cross em out as he won, similar to Connie Kalitta in the Bounty Hunter

 

The same Bill

 

Reid Stolz told me about this last night.

 

Groucho:

Are you sure it was Robbie? I remember jumping the start at Woodley and feeling guilty about it. I don't believe I would have feet guilty if it were Robbie, but I would have if it was Steve. But for some reason this particular race doesn't stick in my mind, so you could be right.

--
BottleBob
http://home.earthlink.net/~bottlbob

 

That name don't sound familiar. What the hell you been up to all these years? Any hot rod stuff?

 

Bringing back some great memories.

 

No hot rod stuff to mention. Had an 04 Gt Mustang for a few years. Never guess what plates it had. Ill just tell you "TRICK 04" After FANTASIA "TRICK 1" It ran in the 13's at LACR. not bad for a stock 4.6

 

Yes, Robbie. Well, as I remember it, it was our $150(?) against a new VCR in the box w/remote. A big deal in those days. We lost. You, for some reason, bought the VCR from Robbie on the spot. Later, when we opened the box, we found out the piece of shit had a "corded" and NOT a wirless remote. I also, vaguely remember a "problem" of some sort with our car, that we kinda agreed afterwards, we shouldn't have raced until it was addressed. On the same Camaro, we went to race someone at Lumber City on an off night. I can't remember who, but they backed out after I talked you into coming there to drive (I'd been busted and quit driving by then). So, we get talked into a race with Ray's Nova. The opposition money was a conglomeration of Lee Jennings, Frick, Frack, and Ray. They searched the Camaro for a hidden unit for a long time. I started the race and couldn't believe the 2 black stripes you painted all the way to the finish. You beat the Nova, and Ray paid right away. Then I went into long debates with each of the other 3 until we got our money. They egged us to race, thinking we were easy pickins. Boy were they pissed. I loved it. Those fuckers whined................

 

Well, it's good to hear from you. And to see you're right under my nose here in the east Valley. I don't remember you racing the orange Camaro, but me and you went at it on the way to a street race. You pulled me so bad, I decided NOT to race my car when I got to the location. I told Jim, Bill outta be racing the guy

 

Nice '67 Camaro, you mean Bob owned a NICE vehicle? Yur still blown smoke my friend. Hey, it feels like a well fitting suit to be labeled correctly, thanks to you, Curtis and Ryan. Thanks guys.

 

Groucho:

Yeah, the VCR part sounds right, it must have been worth $800 back then.

God I hated racing fast bikes. Not only because they were so much faster than cars to make it hard to calculate the needed car-lengths accurately, but because they could make pass after pass after pass with about zero strain on their engines, whereas a hard pass in a car puts a major load on all moving parts.

Another point to consider, winning street races isn't always about having the fastest vehicle, it's about accurately calculating the needed handicap start (either giving or receiving cars).

Example: You could have the slowest car on the lot, but if you were good at calculating the carlengths you needed to win - AND were able to convince others to give you more cars than you really needed - you could win virtually all your races.

Another thing I liked to do when a potential race wasn't a sure win is have a "Pot Race". That's where everybody (or as many people as possible) would throw $1-$5 into a hat just to SEE the race. That way the loser of the race wouldn't lose any money. The racers had the choice to make it a winner take all situation, or negotiate a 50-50 split, or 60-40 split, or whatever. Some pots got pretty big if the race was between a couple of dramatic cars.

--
BottleBob
http://home.earthlink.net/~bottlbob

 

I remember trying to collect money for a pot race between two fast cars. A must-see for a lousy $1. It was as if I was asking for a fucking arm or something. I told the cheap fucks that I would remember who they were and be absolutely certain the race would NOT go on if they were present. They really thought they could watch on someone else's "dime". I was always convincing enough to get their money. I'd ridicule the fuck out of them in front of their girlfriend or something. A dollar. Can you imagine? I now return you to your regular scheduled program.

 

A couple short stories on Jim G, sometimes, actually called Bottle Jim as a result of his friedship to Bottle Bob, and having a similar (and FAST) Vette. Now he's got a turbo Kawasaki Z1-R that's pretty fast. Ah fuck it, it was real fast. Jim's a pretty big guy, not what you'd expect for a Jockey on a fast bike. But, deep into Martial Arts, Jim's in great shape for sure. But, a possible deterent as a bike rider as far as an opponent might consider. NOT SO! An out of town Camaro shows up as a representative a newer nitrous company called Lazar. This is some 28(?) years ago. So,when the rumors are the Camaro is an EIGHT second street car, we're very impressed. After getting chased from a couple places Jim just "kills" this Camaro. Another night, some guy, responding to Jim's successes on the bike says, I got a race for you. Jim's like, yeah go get it. The guy's pretty cocky, and says, if I go get it, you'd better race me. Jim's like, If I haven't fallen asleep waiting for you to stop bullshitting and get the car. Anyway, this Corvair shows up. HOLY BATSHIT, BATMAN! No top, tunnel rammed rat motor in the front seat, and the driver in the rear ala Funny Car style. It was just fucking embarassing how bad Jim beat that pile.

 

You ever have a "race?" jacket? Didn't think so, WHO sqeaked when they walked BOB? LOL.