History "Renegades cc" History and scrapbook!!!

That is the first version of Saint Vasquez' 50 Chevy.

 

+I don't like typing so this will be short. I threw a surprise birthday party for Watson, several years ago (his 65th). We had several Renegades there they brought their jackets, after the party I got a look at the book, Watson was the caretaker for a while. (Larry also had Stecks Moonglow book). While I agree maybe the jacket should not have been worn, I understand what Trace is doing, and I'm sure the stuff will be returned to Harold, I also want the "Show Case of Kustoms" to be great. I know Trace has put a lot into it. Go to the web site and check it out. You guys back east start planing your vacation now Sept will be here before you know it. Roger

 

Well before my time but it seems long beach, compton, bellflower etc.. seems to have been a hotbed of hotrods and customs lots of history was made right there, fitting to have a showcase/tribute to the renegades right there in long beach.

 

Subscribed!!! This is gonna be EPIC!!!

 

Thanks for the history lesson Bad Bob.
Looking forward to the next installment.

 

Thanks Bad Bob!

 

Hey,

The "Story" , as i was told on The Renegades car shows was that the earlier shows did O.K. from a business standpoint. Sadly, the later shows ran into the red, and actually cost members out of pocket money. Due to poor bookeeping, the gross receipts from eariler shows were counted as income for the club and taxed as such. As a result of this, there was no 1961 show.

'' All Great Truths Begin As Blasphemies "

 

Unbelievable find. If it's as definitive as it would seem, the material should be published as a book or at least a RJ article.

Could someone provide a link to complete info for this summer's Long Beach custom Show?

 

http://www.showcaseofkustoms.com/

 

I have known Trace for a while.. He is not disrespecting anyone!! he if anything is about to change the whole So-Cal Indoor car scene as we know it.. He's got big plans to make the showcase of Kustoms the primer show in So cal.. his only competition is GNRS and we all know the politics around that show.. + 20,000.00 for Best in show.. not to bad.,,

Any hoo its cool to see this stuff...

 

It's great to see
Keep it comming

 

this was about the Renegades car club.. right?


Larry watson really likes them.. he has a large section of his wall devoted to them... this is part of it.

Rob Radcliffe photo

 

thanks for presenting this for us Bob.. great history..

 

I go back as far,and am as old as "dirt" in Hot Rodding,i didnt find any dis-respect,instead i found met a nice guy at the breakfast that took the time to bring and share in person an interesting piece of history.

 

Rik,
There is all the original photos in that scrapbook from those shows. Taken by club members. We only looked at about 15-20 pages,cause they were all coming apart and he wants to be careful with them. Like I said before,he's gonna scan all the pages,send me copies to post on here and have some blown up for banners at the show. I'm excited for the show! There gonna be a cruise down Shoreline drive,around the Convention Center,for anybody with a car parked at the show. This is really gonna be great! I'm supposed to take a part in the show with him,the Cruise monitor or something,so I can't wait!!!!

 

Great stuff! Thanks for posting

 

Past Members

George Evans
Gary Niemie
Al Lazarus
Bill Moore
Darol Jorgenson
Dick Ward
Duane Steck
Ed Cousins
Ed Ducazau
Ed Schmidt
Gerald Twamley
George Collins
Gordon Rorison
Harold Johnson
Hector Arevalo
Jerry Landis
Jim Ashley
Jim Hagins
Jim Hurley
Jim Jackson
Jud Morgan
Lee Rhodes
Paul Janich
Pete Angress
Ron Guidry
Ronnnie Priest
Santo Vasques
Zeno Stephens

And some members cars!

 

Some more History from Kustomrama

The Renegades was a Car Club out of Long Beach, California. The Renegades were organized and a very active club in the 1950s. The members had a meeting every Sunday night in a garage at Long Beach off of Studebaker & Wardlow Rd,. Prospective members would be invited. As a prospective member you had to fill out an application, you had to be introduced to the club, and your car had to be "inspected". After the members had checked out your car, the prospective would be sent away, while the members would vote about if they wanted him in the club. As a member you would get an aluminum plaque to hang on your car, a jacket with the car club name emblazoned on the back, and a membership card. According to member Gerald Twamley the Renegades were headhunting people with nice cars that they wanted to join the club.

The Renegades worked close with the Long Beach Police, wanting the public to accept them in order to promote good relations with the community, showing that them that they were into have nice cars instead of racing them on the streets. In order to maintain your membership in the club, you had to constantly keep your car in an excellent shape, both safety-wise and appearance wise.

The Renegades held car shows and poker runs in order to generate money for local charities. From 1958 to 1960 the Renegades put on their Renegades Rod & Custom Motorama at the old Long Beach Municipial Auditorium. The space was small, so they had to limit the car entries, something that made the participation very exclusive. It was Ed Cousins' idea to put on the show. In 1959 65 cars were exhibited, and about ten thousand spectators showed up for the show.
In 1959 the Renegades won the first annual Car Craft Car Club of the Year Award. The club was chosen from hundreds of entries. The article states that their qualifications for wearing the best car club crown are many, but among their many activities are all of the time, money and service the club has donated to many Southern California charity organizations. An example was their donation which furnished four needy families in their locality with dinners and gifts during Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.

In 1959 the 27 members of the club participated at 28 shows during 1958, winning 162 trophies. Among these were 8 Sweepstakes Awards, 13 Club Participation Trophies, and 84 First Place or Best in Class awards.

The Renegades car club was set up as a non-profit organization. With the money they earned off the shows, they bought a property in Signal Hills for a club house where they could work on their cars. This lead to the government claiming that the club wasn't non-profit, and the club had to pay a lot of money in taxes. They paid the taxes, and split up the rest so that everybody would get a few bucks. This was also the end of the club. According to an interview with Gerald Twamley in Trend Book 207 Custom Cars 2009 Annual this happened somewhere between 1962 and 1964.[1]

Ex-members of the Renegades went on and formed the Sultans car club. In the 1970s the Renegades resurfaced for a short while.[2]

 

Thanks John! I knew you were the "man"!!!!! with the history...

 

Ed Cousins’s 32 Ford PU is Killer. This is a great thread already, thanks. Slim

 

Here is one of the most Famous cars from the club!
In the early 60's Duane traded the Moonglow away for a sports car. After that, the Moonglow was last seen by Duane's brother Steve as the car was on its way into a crusher near the L.A. Harbor.

And it was originally painted by Earl Sheib (sp)

 

Also an old car club from Long Beach was this one!
I have had this card for many years, seeing this thread inspired me to share it with the other clubs that might be checking this thread too!-----------------Don

 

Can ya guys talk more about Pete Angress and Larry Watson, and some more deatils of the car. Thanks, Slim

 

Damn Bob!!
now that is cool!!!

 

Sure is!!! There's more to come...

 

Okay...Larry Watson did the Orchid Scallops with white pinstripes, to lower it he reworked the front A arms and C'd the rear! the grill shell is a 53 Chevy, the grill in the car is custom made, the front fenders are extended with headlight rings from a 55 Chevy. The rear fenders were extended with 55 Lincoln with Mercury fender skirts! It was upholstered by Pacific Custom, the body work was done by Ed Schelhaas's the same guy that did alot of the Renegades cars!

Oh and Pete was from Bellflower!

 

Thanks so much John, Bad Bob. Slim
Going to spend time learning more.
http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_...cars/watson_custom_cars/pete-angress-52-ford/

 

My favorite car club ever. Watson is my biggest fan. thanks for the pics

 

Thanks for sharing Bob!Can't wait for the next installment!