I was helping in the AFFTC Museum on Edwards AFB recently. While chatting with one of the museum directors in his office, I caught a glimpse of a white and red ball cap under a stack of papers. Thought to myself "those look like the SCTA colors". I pulled the had out, and sure enough it is. It is a hat from the second annual "Return to Muroc" run in 1997. It has never been on anyone's head. I made a comment that it would be cool if the base sponsored that again. We started chatting about some of the non aircraft history of the base and land speed racing out here. Anyway I was about to leave, and he hands me the hat. Said it was for helping with a big project in the past. I don't know how rare if at all these hats are. If it is rare I'll feel bad about hoarding it at the house too. The thought has crossed my mind to bring it to the Wally Parks Museum. I definitely don't want to profit from it since it was given to me. Anyway here are a couple pics.
If you are unsure of what to do with the hat, I can drive down the hill real quick and gladly take it off your hands!
I guess the intent of my post is a bit confusing. It won't be for sale, or "given" away to any individuals. I am more curious as to how rare these hats may be. Like in my first post, should I bring it to the Wally Parks Museum?
It's cool, but I think it's far too new to be rare or a museum piece...probably quite a few floating around. Hang onto it for 50 years, and you might have something!
That's exactly what I figured. I know things like this are made in m*** to sell. As for having more events on Muroc. Well there have been several leadership changes since the last one. I do not know if the new base commander has been approached with any proposals for anything either. From what I hear he is keen on the history and heritage of the base. I would bet if approached in the appropriate manner through the base public affairs office by the proper organization it may be considered. This is just a guess though. I am only a jackwagon enlisted guy out here with no power to say, propose or approve anything.
I know that what finally killed the Muroc reunion was the security measures put into place right after 9/11. I don't know if we will see the millitary wanting to open they're base to the grneral public like that any time soon again. It was a very special feeling though to drive out onto the lake and realize that I was at a place where my hero's had all been, and that I was some of the first poeple to be back out there in almost 55 years. A very spiritual place for me.
Military bases open up to the public all the time. Well at least the Air Force does for Air Shows. Over a weekend these crowds can be HUGE, like 500k+. based on that I don't think security is that much of an issue. I heard there was some snafu/hard feelings between Edwards AFB and the SCTA the last time they did the Return to Muroc. I think it was something about the lakebed itself and the dried up ancient shrimp. Possibly the eco-freak/tree huggers had some negative input. Anyway I feel that time heals wounds, and erases memories of trivial matters. Consider that a base commander usually does not hold that position for longer than 2/3 years. At***udes between the outgoing and incoming guy can be drastically different where things like this are concerned. I for one would love to see another Return to Muroc. It would be nice to see what could become of a new attempt to revive this "gathering". I work about 1/4 mile off the lakebed itself. It saddens me every time I look out the window, or get the rare chance to run (the 2 legged type) on the lake bed, knowing the little I do about the hot rod history there. A couple years back we had an Air Show and they had parking on the lake bed. I am betting less than 1% of the airshow attendees realized how great an honor that alone is, and how many people would give their left nut to do the same, for other reasons.
I was there. Even set a record. I never saw those hats that I remember. Says more about my memory than anything else. I remember Bruce Johnson getting killed out there. I think that had something to do with the decision not to allow us back. Also the track wasn't that great. It was a lot of extra work for the SCTA volunteers. We did it and it was fun. But maybe we didn't need to do it forever.
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