Hi, I was wondering if any HAMB members had any pictures of my grandfather's old cars, drag cars or street cars, anything interesting. If you have some, I would be grateful if you posted them on this thread or PM'd them to me, thanks.
Welcome Aboard Dane....there was a great article in The Rodders Journal #39 featuring your grandfather's AA/FA Topolino...if you don't already have it. If you don't have it, I imagine TRJ can provide you with a back-issue as it is relatively recent. Beyond that, you have definitely come to the right place to ask...I'm sure you'll get some very insightful responses soon.
I went to high school with Gary, is that your father or uncle ? You grandfather use to hang out at the Flying M gas station at Sawtelle and La Grange in W.L.A., my friends father owned the station, it is also the location of the original Kecthies Stand "the best burgers and chili tamales" on the west side. I remember talking to him about his funny cars days "great guy" If I remember correctly, Gary drove a lowered yellow and primer Chevy Luv pick up with huge flares to clear the Cragar SST wheels he ran. Welcome and good luck with your photo search.
Your grandfather was an amazing guy. I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but I was always a big fan. That clip of him in Funny Car Summer, calmly taking a hit off his cig after he stuffed the Vega is priceless.
Check the "Drag cars in motion" thread. There are several snaps in there. Actually, I think that thread has a picture of every car that has ever been down a drag strip... LOL
Yeah, Gary is my dad, and he did drive a Luv truck like you described. Thanks for the replies and good words guys.
Dane we are having a charity car show on Aug15th in burbank[see flier on my personal page for details] you are welcome to come&sit in the Ratican/Jackson/Stearns AA/ALT Fiat&hear&feel what it was really like;if you havenot yet done so........
Jim Sorenson's fuel altered site has lots of pictures of your grandfather's cars. He was a class racer, really talented, and a great driver. Yeah, he stuffed a car or two into the rails but back then a lot of us did..great guy!
Hi Dane. I went to Donovan Eng. a while back with Mikio Yoshiyoka. He and the manager of Donovan (I think his name was Fred) were reminiscing the old days. Don't remember if it was Sush talking to Mikio or the other way around, but they were talking about nick names. You know like The Snake or The Mongoose. Well one of them came up with this. "Why don't you call your self the SLAP HAPPY JAP. We all got a great laugh. Mikio is still in Pomona playing with heads...........This picture is Mikio
Thanks for the pictures John and Mark. Actually John, someone recently sent that drawing to me via e-mail. Did you find it on here? Mark, what does slap happy jap mean? Thanks guys. Dane
Slap happy is an old time term for a happy, easy going person. The slap part is probably from another phrase when someone tells a funny joke they say it was a "real knee slapper!" I'm sure you know the rest. Be sure to post any updates you find. I'm always interested in the role Japanese (both Japanese Americans and Japanese) have played in hot rodding (I actually think it would make an interesting movie, intertwined with stories about how the war affected Japanese Americans). And Sush is definetly a key player in that history.
Dane, my partner, Dan Bell has quite a collection of old race pictures...I am sure he has many that you would like to see.........email him at Femadman1@aol.com Mark
Not sure, have to ask Mikio..... but both being of Japanese ancestry that might have something to do with it....
Watched your Grandfather race many times...he was a RACER! That is the highest praise you can receive in the racing world Dane, you granddad was one of the best.
Dane I spoke with Dan this afternoon.......he said to get in touch with him at that email address..........he has quite a few pics and links to many more that he can hook you up with. Mark
A friend of mine worked for Joe Pisano for about 30 years. I'll try to look through what he has and see if he has anything interesting.
No pictures but we spent a lot of time racing with Sush was a fun guy Joe Thomas Thomas-Pritchard-Harrison the Beaver Hunter AA/FA
I had my Ha/Gr gasrail at Union Grove, Wi this wk-end for the "Legends of Drag Racing", spent quite a bit of time with Joe Mondello. Great, great guy!!! I brought a copy of the "Rodder's Journal" mentioned above, he signed it "In Memory of Sush". He brought 400 copies of this mag, sells them for $20 signed. I also picked-up a "Mondello & Matsubara" T-shirt signed for $15. I spent my study halls reading about the AA/FA altered they ran. If you would want to get ahold of Joe Mondello I could pm you ph. no.
Hey Lowkat, that picture on the far right is really cool, thanks for posting it. Actually, I have met Joe Mondello before, and he was a really nice guy, as well as the guys who currently own Joe and Sush's old fuel altered. Thanks again guys. Dame
Won first place in a model contest way back when in jr. hi with the Vega flopper. took me two kits till I was happy with it and after the awards some jealous f*# emptied a tube of glue on top of bug catcher. That was one beautiful funny car!
The Jalopy Journal
