Cruising returns to Van Nuys Blvd

Back at ya Reid. Remember, the smart money is on pants with an elastic waist band tomorrow!!!

alan

 

Hey guys,

This is a photo that John Goms sent me, and it was also posted here before they shut him down. Anyway, he said "it was taken at the corner of VNB and Burbank (where Rydells is). What used to be on the corner was a bank, then came the car wash. The shutter bug was Steve Amos from American Speed Centers (he was standing in front of his speed shop taking the picture"

Now my question is how do you remember it?

I noticed that there is a street sign in front of this car wash which seems to indicate that there is an intersecting street that dead ends at Van Nuys Blvd. so I don't believe it was the exactly the corner?

 

That would put that car wash only a couple blocks from the one nearby at Chandler/Van Nuys. Also, that's a pretty good size sign, possibly indicating that a larger street is what dead ended there.

 

So the photographer's vantage point would be on the east side of the blvd. looking to the west. All I can remember is Bank of America being on the NW corner and I go back to the late 60's on this deal. The photo says 1973 on it's file label.

Funny, I don't remember that car wash. Was it north of the bank? But wasn't Rydels the old Buick dealership back in the day?

Driveways and street lights could be moved since then but streets? I am pretty sure no new streets have been added at that point. Could the sign say Burbank Bl.?

alan

 

Looks like there was a Car Wash, as clearly shown in this pic, @ Burbank and Van Nuys

 

According to Gotcha, it was next to the bank (just north) and a car dealership...So that would make it in the same place as the lot we use now.....

 

Pic didn't load...

 

Cool Avitar VNCRUISER...Thanks to all you guys for ram-rodding the Great Van Nuys Cruise Night.

 

I don't know what the Hell's going on. It shows to me on my post AND your post that says it didn't load.

 

Might be my computer here at work...have to check it when I get home...This has happened before...

 

Maybe not your 'puter. It's happened before, when I can see images I post, but no-one else does

 

Hey Guys,

Thanks for wresting this car wash location out for me, it's really a big help.

Also, in this upcoming issue of Rod & Kulture is a 5 page article on the Van Nuys Boulevard revival. Thanks for all the help on that too, I hope you approve.

Hope you're all having a great holiday.

 

Here's the picture that Reid sent me last night, thanks.

You can compare it with Gotcha's photo, I appreciate the help trying to pin point the location.

The talk of computers above reminds me of a night a while back in a friends garage where we all got together to talk about and to work on our cars.

However, what was so surreal about this evening was that no one spoke about their cars, or the big block they were building, instead of bench racing it was computer glitches, and instead of Ford or Chevy it was PC or Mac.

I felt like someone dropped a hit of purple ozley in my beer. And I guess they did because I forgot to upload the post card. Ha!

 

Here it is...

 

Groucho, if the picture is just on your computer, it will load for you but no one else. For it to load you have to have it on a web site like Photobucket so that when the page loads, it goes to a web address and inserts it into the post automatically.

alan

 

I don't know about that Alan. I post pics here that are on my computer all the time. Like this one.

 

Looks like somebody's been eating too many beans.

 

I agree w/Rob. I've "copied" and "pasted" lots of pics with "right" clicking before from one site to another. I think it's got something to do w/my switch to Mozilla Firefox

 

Hey Guys,

I have another question about street racing. Now I'm not trying to start an argument, piss any one off, put it down, judge it, but to understand what was going on when I stopped cruisin' Van Nuys as much as I once did.

Anyway, I understand that in the 1970s an association was formed called the ACCVN (Associated Car Clubs of Van Nuys, a "part of" the VN PD) It was apparently formed in an attempt to curb street racing, the Van Nuys Police Department created an association with 26 different clubs with the promise of acquiring a strip some place where street racers could race. However, due to the actions of a particular police captain the association split up, and serious street racing took off once again.

Now, this is what I've heard. Does anyone know how this thing was formed, what happened, and why it split up.

Thanks

 

I don't know Grouch, what's a Mozilla Firefox. I wouldn't use them just because of the name.

 

Mozilla Firefox is a web browser you can use to replace IE browser.

I use Firefox and like it much better than Internet Explorer.


Here is their webpage if you want to see what it is about.

http://www.mozilla.org/

 

The only thing along those lines I remember is a bunch of Merchants and Politicians had a huge meeting @ Monroe High School, trying to build a Strip in the Sepulveda Basin or where Indian Dunes used to be (behind the now Magic Mtn). Bob(?) Nordskog, several Newspaper reporters, T.V. cameras, Big Willie, Tony Nancy....to name a few were in attendance. You shoulda seen the race cars all over that parking lot. It was amazing. A lot of guys, Tony Noto for one, jury rigged lites/cooling systems to be able to drive a race car to this event. They even took collections for the Strip. This was either late 70's or maybe 1980. It was a pretty big deal. But amounted to nothing. But, if I remember, a bunch of us took advantage of the situation, and negotiated street races for that night. Hey, life gives ya lemons...you go street racing. That is what we did. haha

 

Hmm, you guys could be right. When I click the "insert image"
icon, a box opens up asking for a http address. I am not a paid subscriber, perhaps that is the difference?

alan

 

Wow, it sounds like you were there for that one.

I have talked with bottle bob via email, and he was very insightful about the scene during that time, and was a great help.

But, I have a question for you if I may?

What is the attraction to street racing, over racing at the strip? I can think of dozens of reasons myself, not the least of which would be the freedom to do what you want, without interference.

Anyway, what do you think, or what is your feeling on the subject?

Thanks

 

Yes, I was there. It was an experience. HMM, what's the attraction for street racing? Well, it's a bit hard to answer unless you've read elsewhere, HOW we did it back then, and not to confuse it with the stupidity going on now. But, it was a really cool social event for one thing (which led to the best friendships that have lasted 30+ yrs). A lot of people with common interest getting together, once a week, that didn't hang with eachother otherwise. You didn't have to tow or drive your car 50 miles to spend a grip at the gate, get hassled at tech by someone that didn't even no the safety rules, and sit in the staging lanes for an hour waiting to make a pass, next to a car that was grossly enevenly matched to yours. Then, go to your pit, and have to listen carefully to the shitty PA system, to hear your class get called back to the "lanes", an hour before they needed you. I can go on, but do I need to?
Short answer? Street Racing was fucking exciting as Hell!!!!!!!!!!!! Massive adrenaline rush. Good stuff. Big yummy. Right up there with quality pussy!

 

I would like to continue to talk with you about this topic, so if at anytime you want me to go to emails just say so, thanks.

What you say makes perfect sense to me.

Was the use of nicknames a way to preserve some aspect of anonymity, and stay off police radar?

Also, was the street racer hangouts on VN Blvd a common location to plan such events?

Thanks,

 

I believe that it was in about Oct. 1980 (Definitely 1980). I was there. Interesting night, indeed!

 

Bash:

Your E-mail today made me look in at the HAMB here for the first time in awhile.

I don't think nick names had much to do with anonymity. Some people got nick names attached to them, some didn't.

The back of the Bank of America was the street race meeting spot for years. But the racers eventually moved on to other spots across the valley.
The donut shop at Sepulveda & Plummer.
The Market at Sepulveda & Devonshire.
Tommie's Burgers at Roscoe & the 405 Freeway.
A market at Balboa & Lassen or was that Mission Blvd.
Devonshire & Reseda.

To name just a few.

One other point. The moderators can be SOO TOUCHY on the subject of street racing (since it may often lead to confrontational responses), it's probably best to discuss it in a different thread and not to chance this particular one being terminated. The "Street Race Stories" thread has a similar venue for your questions.

 

I can believe some LAPD Captain Poo Pooed the idea of a dragstrip for the Valley. But if you know LAPD then you know he is only saying what a Commander told him who is saying what a Dep. Chief told him and so on. The mentality is you are not to be trusted with your "Toys" whether it be hot rods, guns or whatever. If there is no place to use them then they must be outlawed. Trust me I know. Disclaimer: There are coppers out there that are the opposite as I described., but they do not become ranking officers.

 

Thanks for the date on that.