Hey fellas, I recently spent some time at my grandmother's going through a trunk full of family history. My grandfather William Pahl Morlang (went by Pahl) was into cars and motorsports his entire life, and so there were lots of cool photo's in that trunk I wanted to share. Also given his history there is probably a good chance there are some hambers here that may have knew him, so I'll give a little background in case anyone stumbles across this. He graduated from Hollywood High School in 1945, went to school at University of the Pacific (college of the pacific then), and San Jose State. Served in the navy as a sonar man. He and the family lived in Carmel, CA for awhile. He raced a custom aluminum bodied Porsche during the 50's/60's at various tracks in CA, namely Laguna Seca, San Luis Obisbo, and Santa Barbara. He also owned a '55 Lancia Aurelia GT that he drove and raced on occasion He taught highschool autoshop for about 20 years in Reno, NV during the 60's-80's(roughly). He was also a pilot and worked as fuel crew chief at the Reno Air Races for a number of years during the 90's. So if anyone stumbles across this post that may have known him, I'd love to hear about it. And finally those photo's I promised, with whatever info I have about them... These I don't have any real info on, but I can gues there were from the 40's and early 50's, both in Bonneville and at the dry lakes near LA: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759160640/" ***le="Pahlphotos - May 16, 2013, 4-25 PM - p1 by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759160506/" ***le="Pahlphotos - May 16, 2013, 4-25 PM - p3 by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759160494/" ***le="Pahlphotos - May 16, 2013, 4-25 PM - p4 by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759160430/" ***le="Pahlphotos - May 16, 2013, 4-25 PM - p5 by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759160356/" ***le="Pahlphotos - May 16, 2013, 4-25 PM - p6 by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8758034599/" ***le="Pahlphotos - May 16, 2013, 4-25 PM - p7 by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8758034585/" ***le="Pahlphotos - May 16, 2013, 4-25 PM - p8 by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759160294/" ***le="Pahlphotos - May 16, 2013, 4-25 PM - p9 by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8758034541/" ***le="Pahlphotos - May 16, 2013, 4-25 PM - p10 by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8758034499/" ***le="Pahlphotos - May 16, 2013, 4-25 PM - p11 by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759160230/" ***le="Pahlphotos - May 16, 2013, 4-25 PM - p12 by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759162704/" ***le="Photo May 16, 5 31 17 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8758036081/" ***le="Photo May 16, 5 31 35 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759161212/" ***le="Photo May 17, 11 59 10 AM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8758035081/" ***le="Photo May 17, 11 59 25 AM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a>
The next two are his Porsche, sporting a funky but cool handmade aluminum body. The first photo is from Laguna Seca, the second either at SLO or SB, both Circa 1959. Third is a time sheet from a race at SLO, Aug. 1959 (he was in 5th, Wm. Morlang) <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8758038991/" ***le="Photo May 20, 12 00 12 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759164562/" ***le="Photo May 20, 12 01 20 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759162920/" ***le="Photo May 16, 5 09 37 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> Below is his Lancia, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759161544/" ***le="Photo May 17, 11 58 50 AM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> Some undated photo's of the cars of his and of friends, some of which were pictured on the lake beds above: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8758039461/" ***le="Photo May 17, 12 03 30 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759160606/" ***le="Pahlphotos - May 16, 2013, 4-25 PM - p2 by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8758038265/" ***le="Photo May 16, 4 59 04 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8758037487/" ***le="Photo May 16, 5 00 41 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> I don't have any info on the following but they're interesting none the less: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759165900/" ***le="Photo May 17, 12 02 39 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759165656/" ***le="Photo May 17, 12 02 50 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759160190/" ***le="Photo May 17, 12 02 08 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> His second Lancia, which now belongs to my uncle and has sat for many years, I'm hoping to eventually encourage/help him to finally finish the resto that my grandfather had started, or just adopt it <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8758039237/" ***le="Photo May 17, 12 04 28 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> a photo signed by Pat Frank (not sure if that is significant or not, couldnt find any info on her online) <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8758038041/" ***le="Photo May 16, 4 59 29 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> And finally the man himself during his navy days, kneeling front left: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8758037805/" ***le="Photo May 16, 4 59 55 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a> These were all scanned with my iphone which was the best I had at the time, and in a few weeks I will be returning with a scanner to do***ent these and the rest of the family history properly. Pat
Might contact this guy... http://www.mazdaraceway.com/profile/gregg-i-curry At the very least, he'd be happy to see the photos of the early days at Laguna.
One more.. from the same corner as the photo of him in the Lancia, maybe someone recognizes the track... <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patbrochill/8759164718/" ***le="Photo May 20, 12 00 30 PM by ptrizle, on Flickr"></a>
You sure got some good family racing history there, be proud of it. Really cool photos, thanks for sharing.
GET THE ***K OUTTA DODGE! I had Mr. Morlang as my high school shop teacher at Reno High School! One of the nicest people I remember at school and a very good teacher. So laid back. Thank you for sharing these photos and the information about your grandfather. I don't recall the odd spelling of his first name, but I vaguely remember maybe hearing his first name was Pahl/Paul. I wish I'd known any of this back then, it was not something that was known at the student level I don't think. At least not when I was in his cl***. I hope these are photos you're just going through just because and not due to his p***ing. My condolences, if he has p***ed. I'd have attended services if ever I'd have seen his obit.
Leo, I'm sorry to let you know he p***ed away in 1997. I was 6, a too little young to be really interested in all of his racing but I do remember horsing around with him on visits, riding around in the lancia, and sitting in his old single engine Maule taildragger that was probably the coolest thing ever when I was that age.(ok maybe it still is) Much of what I know though has been p***ed on to me by my grandmother, so it's awesome to be able hear from people that knew him. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
I'm happy I can offer my memories for you. I was a very short, insecure brainiac sort in the mid 70s when I took auto shop. I wanted to take it, though it was a scary idea for me then, all that automobile engine stuff and all, but he was a very pleasant, centered patient man and I have to say he helped me, indirectly (I was too young when I was in his cl*** for any direct questions about cars 'n stuff) but when I was old enough to drive and need to work on a car, I can say being around him in his basic auto shop cl***, I acquired enough self confidence that, when I did have cars I needed to work on, I knew I could do some stuff. Enough so, that with a friend who had rebuilt his VW, when mine had a leaking rear seal 3 years after any shop cl***, I took my VW engine apart, replaced the main seal, warmed it up a bit and put it back together, successfully. The only snafu was the not uncommon putting the spark plug wires on wrong and not realizing I'd done that! Considering people who know better have done just that, I'm not too embarr***ed I did that. I had that car when we moved from Reno to Cincinnati and I drove it for several years after. Until midwest salt ate the body away. The engine never failed me though. I'm still not very mechanically -ept, but taking shop cl*** from your grandfather is part of what mechanical competence I've built since then, without question. Thank you again for sharing those photos.
Love these little pieces of history, especially when you have the backstory to go with them - thanks for posting 'em! I like that belly tank; is that a centrifugal supercharger from an Auburn or a Graham? Was his Porsche built out of a wrecked 550? #74E is a Siata; Rod & Custom had an article about stuffing a Buick 215 V-8 in one back in '67. Last car on the corner looks like a Ferrari 250 GT.
Cool! My grandma had that particular issue at one point but couldn't find it when I visited, it would be awesome if anybody has it and could scan it.
Wow,youve got some nice pics there and history.Glad you made a connection with someone who knew him.Im sure theres someone else here that can shed some more history.
Hi Patrick I knew your grandfather as a teacher at Reno High and as a pilot/aviation enthusiast. He was a close friend of a friend of mine. They owned a Luscombe airplane together, and later he owned a Maule and used it as a towplane for gliders. Get in touch with me via email renoperk@nvbell.net and I can get you more info. Jack Perkins
I've dredged up enough high school contacts to remember to ask anyone if they remember your grandfather and to contact you: https://www.facebook.com/mel.shields1 You might also contact someone with this group: http://www.renohighalum.com/Names/Names.html
Hi Patrick, Not sure if you're still keeping tabs on this old post or not, but was randomly searching for Pahl today to see if someone had put up any of those cool old pictures I remembered seeing around the house. I'm glad you did. My Mom worked together with Bev for a long while and we became close family friends. Thought I would chip in with a few memories as Pahl was one of the coolest people I've ever known. He had a way of treating everyone like an old friend, even as a kid and a teenager he would just talk to you like you were a peer. He was also the only person I ever met who could pull off smoking a pipe without it looking like an affectation. It's cool to see that you guys still have the 2nd Lancia, always wondered what became of that car. My favorite memory of Pahl is the time that he, my dad, and myself flew out to Bonneville in his Maule and landed on the salt flats alongside the course during speed weeks. It's not easy to cause a stir around all those speed machines but we managed to score some major cool points that day! The seat was taken out of the back so I spent the flight sitting on a milk crate. I was about 12-13 so that would've been around 91-92. The other was a time that I somehow managed to play hooky from school and we were at their house, he asked who my auto shop teacher was, and it turned out to be one of his former students. So he said "Let's go for a ride" and we jumped in the Lancia and drove out to the high school to shoot the breeze with my teacher and show off the car while all my buddies were stuck in cl***. Pretty big win for a ****y freshman kid.
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