Art & Inspiration Saturday Art Show, Prints,various Artwork, Automotive Related

Studio 66 Artworks.

 

Hello,

When I met John “Waldo” Glaspey, it was at the original grand opening of the Lion’s Dragstrip Museum in 2017. He had a table with copies of his book, the visit was the most informative of our own drag racing/photo history.


John Glaspey was a student at the Art Center in Los Angeles during the time of our involvement with the Willys B/Gas And C/Gas creations. Every time he and his friends came to Lion’s Dragstrip, he always saw our Willys Coupe running.

We talked about drag racing and what he saw. It was one of those one in a million events where he was so close, as to be able to describe our final drag race event of our teenage years. It was as if he was a journalist with the sight to describe how my brother got out to a two car lead and continued to put the opponent away with ease. Then, all of a sudden just before the traps, a huge bang, explosion, and resulting fire was witnessed by everyone sitting in the spectator’s side stands. John was one of those closest to the event at Lion's Dragstrip in August 1960.

As they all were amazed, the Willys slowed down, then all of a sudden, it veered across the track to crash into the chain link fence near the end of the stands. The term "horrific" was used. He was sure he saw Atts Ono and myself jump out of the black Impala and start spraying the extinguishers onto the burning Willys Coupe. There were plenty of racers and people coming with extinguishers, but to no avail.

Atts Ono stayed there into the late night until it burned itself out. I was already back at the ambulance and saw my brother being taken away in our friend, Mr. Childers, and his Pontiac ambulance. After contacting Atts Ono again, I went to the hospital. Horrific was a good term as it was an amazing terrifying thing to see and feel helpless.

John said that he will never forget that scene. And, as a young teen, he remembers it vividly. So, we exchanged phones and emails to complete the saga. His book arrived and sits proudly on the living room gl*** table for all to see. In trade, he is the recipient of the whole saga of the Lion’s Dragstrip movies from 1958-64. But, I explained to him that the films I took of our Willys Coupe from late 59 to 1960 was missing from the archives.

Jnaki

The copyrighted art work is fabulous: John “Waldo” Glaspey.

Speed Sport 2 : Drag Cars in Motion

 

artist Hoon Auto Gear

 

Ritchie Valens Art Mural Pacoima, CA

Hello,

If anyone is driving up the I-5 freeway out of downtown Los Angeles, as you leave the crowded area, you will drive past the location of little cities like Glendale and Burbank as you head north to Bakersfield. But, as you p*** Burbank, the city of Pacoima comes and goes quite fast at 70 mph. So, if you know anyone that lives there, it comes up fast.

We have taken the I-5 plenty of times going up through the G****vine and into the inland areas of California. It is pretty much a fast route to inland California and only during the winter months, does it get clogged up in the local mountain range just before dropping back down to the flatland areas.

My wife’s family once lived in Pacoima back in 1949-52 due to her dad’s work being in the local area. She remembers it being hot and hotter. As a little girl, she remembers her mom buying a 1947 Buick convertible and going for top down rides in town.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/any-love-for-40s-buicks.1226981/page-2#post-14050837

Jnaki

When I found this 58 Impala photo years back in an old Impala research project, it looked like what our Black, 1958 Impala would have looked like if I had taken a photo prior to the Skylark rims being stolen. (not including the Purple top)

But, upon discovery of the Levi Ponce artwork in Pacoima, now I can see it may have been a tribute build for a Ritchie Valens Memorial. Ritchie Valens was born in Pacoima in 1941, but tragedy works itself into the picture and 17 years later, we all know what happened in Rock and Roll history.

 

artist Hoon Auto Gear

 

Hello,

When I was doing some memory writing and research of my early college years in Santa Cruz and the Bay Area, the place always held a place in my heart as a “one day…I will return…thing.”

I was in San Jose which is a cool hot rod cruising route from inland to the beach areas of Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay Area. Back then, there were plenty of spaces to purchase and settle down, but as a college kid, it was a cool place to surf and hang out.

It was a 35 mile drive one way through some of the best forested areas for hot rod road trips. (Highway 17) The traffic was a lot less, but still scary, with only a set of yellow lines separating the oncoming traffic. But, the rewards were outstanding. When I left the area in 1966, it was what I thought a sad way to say goodbye to such a great place to visit and perhaps live. I had vowed to return as soon as possible.

But, in the following year, my college discovery (girlfriend then wife) and I made many road trips up the coast to the S.F. Bay Area and consequently stopped in Santa Cruz area of the Monterey Bay to check out the motels and land purchases.

The surf in that whole Santa Cruz area was almost as good as So Cal. But the water was a lot colder. Our road trips included staying in that bay area for different reasons. Of course, we wanted to be on the waterfront. But the prices were above what we could afford. So, we visited a 5 acre plot of land with 360 degree views of the ocean and bay. It was in the Soquel area and priced right for our budget. We thought it was because it was so far away from the downtown coastal area of Santa Cruz. But, it was a short two mile drive downhill to Pleasure Point.

It was hard not to keep thinking of that piece of property as we always drove through the area on following years of our road trips. Stopping at the location several times.

Jnaki


The current cities that line this whole coast does have a different feel than So Cal. But the beach is the key, as well as great artwork and designs. Also, it has the only other pier in California that one can drive their hot rods or daily drivers out into the ocean/bay.

As most cities have accepted the idea that art comes in all forms, this painting in Santa Cruz shows what people did in the 1980s as graffiti is now great artwork for the town/city, as part of the cultural art/beautification programs.

Santa Cruz Artist, Danny

 

Ruben Duran

 

Sergio Ramirez Art

Hello,

The mural at Jenni Rivera Park in Long Beach, CA is a tribute to the locally born and raised in Long Beach, girl. She went to Long Beach schools and eventually finished at Long Beach State College with a business degree. She became famous for being the top selling artist of women, who popularize Regional Mexican music.

Sadly, she died in an airplane crash in 2012. In tribute, the city selected Sergio Ramirez to design and implement this artwork on a long, neighborhood park wall adjoining children’s play climbers and other park toys.

Jnaki

The old time hot rodders familiar with the old Long Beach Model T Club swap meets and other organizations using the dusty old Hamilton Bowl fields will know where this place is located. It is near the 2nd campus of LBCC on Coast Highway. (The Automotive Education buildings) The old Hamilton Bowl was renamed Chittick Field and now, it is a new sports complex has been created for Dee Andrews.

Dee Andrews was a Long Beach Poly HS multi-sport athletic star when we arrived in 1959. He was noted as the one of the best athletes to attend this noted high school. After college, he became ***ociated with city government and was the vice mayor of Long Beach. A councilman many times over, it was a recognition well deserved. The sports complex park is just across the street from the Jenni Rivera Park and mural.


Jenni Rivera Park and artwork

 

Britt Madding

 

The city itself is an old California coastal town and should not be hard to find the artwork.

Hello,

With the latest satellite images and showcase “Big” storm headed for the Westcoast of the USA, it reminded me of this place in California that takes the brunt of most west coast storms and weather patterns. From the So Cal stance facing the ocean, the northwest/west swell is going to be a big one and headed right for the coastline. After the coastline gets pummeled, the storm usually heads East and becomes a heavy duty snow storm as it approaches the big mountain ranges. So, get ready…

When my wife and I were on one of our many road trips up the coast of California, there were cities and towns that always had some ocean indications for us in So Cal. During the winter months, we always looked north to see where the swells were coming from and it never disappointed us. When those swells would head down the coast from those winter storms in Alaska area, there were good spots in So Cal that picked them up and the “lines” were endless around the big points in the surfing area.

Rincon in Santa Barbara, the LA basin were now our destination surf spots. The LA South Bay area was just a short drive west from our Westside of Long Beach home. The South Bay was pumping and we enjoyed the different spots. If the waning swell had some power, the OC coastline took the brunt and overhead waves hit most of the West and Northwest facing beaches.

Our journeys always were So Cal surf spots and only when we drove many years later up the coastline, did we see the famous places that also had some surf history. The santa cruz area, the SF coast line and points. But, it was the names like Eureka and Crescent City, near the Oregon borderline were wave spots to be amazed and see. those were too far away, so we were satisfied with the newspaper photos and stories.

So, when my wife and I actually were in those two major winter big wave cities on our travels, it was a sight to see. The impressive thing were the waves, of course, but it was those Coast Guard folks that drove right through those huge waves to rescue those in need. Amazing… it was a first for us, but also was a first for us to see those cool Tsunami route signs along the beach roads. (in South Orange County, they finally added those similar signs to the shoreline escape routes.)

Jnaki

So Cal local, Art Mortimer was commissioned to paint a mural on the streets of Crescent City and name it Tsunami! The direction and location on the California coastline is in direct angle to the majority of the waves from across the pacific and the northern Alaska region. These two cities are the recipient of the largest storms waves to damage the coastline over the years.

Tsunami Capital of United States

“The harbor was rebuilt after the March, 2011, Tsunami which caused so much widespread devastation in Japan and totally destroyed the Crescent City Harbor. The harbor was also rebuilt after the 1964 earthquake which leveled Anchorage, Alaska, and generated a Tsunami which destroyed the old harbor and much of downtown Crescent City. Home to the state's most northern fishing fleet, specializing in Dungeness crab.”

 

Saw this car run in the mid-sixties, now my favourite T-shirt.

 

Hello,

In our past early days of racing and filming as much as we could for our entertainment, sometimes a surprise pops up that goes down in history. 1960 at Lion’s Dragstrip tower side action recorded of a visitor to So Cal.

Jnaki

Nice photo/poster of one of Canada’s best race cars…

The following write up was posted a year or so ago.

Hello,

One of the most impressive race cars was the Syndicate Scuderia streamlined FED. As my brother and i were in our last Impala racing days, I found a semi-secret filming area at Lion's Dragstrip that no one else, except one guy with a super telescopic lens on a 35mm camera was using. Over the months I wandered over there, i became friends with Mr. Childers, the famous white Pontiac Ambulance driver from the local Dilday’s Mortuary Service of Long Beach.
Mr. Childers, Dilday Ambulance Services
The two brothers in their khaki pants and blue nylon jackets talking with Mr. Childers.

What was the most exciting spot for taking my drag racing films? Across the dragstrip from the spectator’s side bleachers and not having a chain link fence in front of me. But, wait, that puts me on the other side of the orange tower where the white Pontiac Ambulance was always parked. Yes, that was the secret spot that would be good for maybe 15-20 minutes.

The shots were easier as it was a good background and closer to the action. (I did this enough, to time it, when the security guard would come by and yell at me to get back to the bleachers.) I went over there plenty of times and actually struck up a friendship with Mr. Childers, the ambulance driver from Dilday Mortuary. We became friends from the talks during the break in the action. The sons of the Dilday Mortuary Family went to our local high school during the same time period.

Jnaki

Note: When my brother was in the Willys Coupe accident and the ambulance took him to the hospital, Mr. Childers told me that he would stay at the hospital to keep tabs, until my parents and I came back to the emergency department. Friends help friends in an emergency.

The action filming from that tower side was not always available, as 90% of the professional photographers were in front of the spectators next to the actual dragstrip. Their camera equipment allowed them to be level, but far enough away to get great shots at the start.

So, when I was going through my converted digital archives of all of the films that I took at Lion’s Dragstrip, i came across this cool clip of the Scuderia Dragster in action.
Scuderia at Lion’s Dragstrip

A different outlook on a previous post:
1960
Hello,
While editing my old Lions Dragstrip films for the umpteenth time, I came across a race that was filmed by me in 1960 from below the Lions Dragstrip Tower. It was very short and maybe that is why I p***ed over it so many times. I had been standing there filming my brother racing his 58 Impala and thought it was the best filming location I could find. Watch the black 58 Impala entering the staging lanes behind the Silver FED race car in the fire up lane.

Impala in the background

Then when other racers came up, I was still on the tower side down on the actual dragstrip near the ambulance. Over time, after editing the Lions films to try and get the correct dates and times, (as well as identifying the racers from back then) I must have skipped over this very short clip.

I was amazed that the streamlined FED in my early films was identified as the Scuderia in a race. It was over in a flash, but enough to identify the shape and design as the blue race car on a fast run down the dragstrip. Other racers from this time period have also identified the image as the Scuderia FED.

So, the famous, blue Scuderia FED racecar created by Canadian, Jack Williams:
Lions Dragstrip 1960
The Tower location was a great place to film the starts, but that was it. Everything was not clear in a few seconds. But, the sound and action so close by, was a little thrilling. The security force did not like it that I was standing on the dragstrip while filming and gave me a few choice words to get the #&%% out of there.

The streamlined “Scuderia” FED race car has been around a long time, with the original in the early 1960 to the reconstructed streamliner for the current nostalgia shows. The Canadian FED was beautifully constructed and was the envy of many drag racers back then.

The odd thing was in my research, there is no mention of the Scuderia FED prior to 1961-62 season.

“The car was the most famous race car in Western Canada in the 1960's, won best appearing at the 1962 Winternationals and held the A/Dragster national record in 1963.”

“Scuderia made her debut at the 1963 NHRA Winternationals at Pomona, California in Top Gas, recording a best p*** of 8.83 seconds at 169.17 mph, before mechanical trouble sidelined her. She also won the "best appearing" award. At Arlington, Scuderia set a top gas record (average of two p***es) at 162.22 mph.”

Recently, the Scuderia FED is one of the more popular race cars in the vintage/nostalgia drag race circuit/events. It certainly stands out, with the bright blue paint. But, it was one of the first full body streamlined FED racers on the scene that makes it unusual.

2016 family legacy:

“Thirty years since its last, disastrous local appearance in compe***ion, one of Canada’s greatest AA/Gas dragsters came to cackle with late builder-driver Jack Williams’ daughter under its signature canopy. Wendy Williams rescued dad’s original trailer from nearly six decades of British Columbia Winters.”

 

Masters Kitchen and ****tail on Coast Highway in downtown Oceanside.

Hello,

John Lamb is well known for his custom artwork. Historic old trucks are part of the scene all over the Westcoast communities. (Work trucks, delivery trucks and just plain old trucks.) He was commissioned to paint a mural in Oceanside CA, in the San Diego County. It stood for a while until a mistake was done and another artist was given the permission to paint over the old truck mural with a geometric design. Controversy covers that topic…


Here is an early drawing from John Lamb.

Jnaki

He has also made a cool little movie that has the aspects of early art that we all tried to emulate. When we were sitting in our high school cl***es, drifting off to fabulous wave riding spots all along the Westcoast, there was a little wave drawing here, a kid riding a cool tubular wave, etc. The lower corner stick figures will never be the same in textbooks or notebooks, when flipping the pages…

John Lamb's artwork can be found online and at the California Surf Museum in Oceanside.

 

My 2 cents for today

 

we use this on our letterheads