What HOT ROD LEGEND would you like to meet?

Blackie, have met him a number of times and he always has a cool story to share. The best time to sit and chat with him is AFTER a show when he's sitting down relaxing and not being pulled in a zillion directions.


Gene Winfield, very willing to share his thoughts and ideas on ones ride if you ask him. Spent ALOT of time with him and his lady friend Joyce at B'ville one year. He has this very cool old s****book from 1948 that he shared with us.


Kent Fuller, expressed his opinion on the direction I should take Big Olds and it was suspesly similiar to Gene's ideas..... I think I was set up.


NormiePoo, one of my all time favorites. It's always a party when Norm's around

 

My good buddy Robert "Poncho" Rendon


Troy Trepanier, another one of the greats of my generation


Pete and Alex


I have meet a number of others throughout the years that I admire. Some I have photos of/with, others just memories in my head.
Linda Vaughn was staying in the same hotel as me about 10 years ago and we chatted on and off all weekend.
Met Vern Tardel on the start line at B'ville.
Met Jimmy Shine a couple of times and feel time will tell if he turns into a legend over time.
Have met Ryan a number of times and I feel he's done more for spreading the gospel of hot rodding then any other person thusfar. I believe his name will be talked about for generations to come. (of course I have photos but know better then to post)
Chip Foose, in my opinion, has done more for car design and building then anyone. Just when you think you've seen his best he produces another work of art.

 

I've met a few old timers, mostly drag racers. Other than guys on the national circuit like Glidden and his boys, it's mainly been local guys like Dee Westcott, Ernie Hall, Clarence Everett, Earl Floyd, and Bill Ireland. Probably the guy that I knew the best, and my favorite was Danny Kilcup. I met Danny in about '61 and visited his shop in NW Portland (in the back of his tavern) many times. I talked to Roland Leong once. Don't know if they're still around, but would like to meet Mike Sorokin (Surfer's) and Danny Ongais. I p***ed up a chance to go to the Smoker's meet in '65 and will always regret it. Earlier in the this thread, someone mentioned Ed Bingelli. Was that the guy who had the 12 second Flathead powered Willys back in the old days?

 

Jim Jacobs, because it was his work that set me on this path.

Actually, I'm a bit surprised his name hasn't come up already. Some mentioned Pete Chapouris, and there's a single P&J somewhere at the top of this thread.
I guess it's just me being odd, as usual.

 

duntov,iskedierian,bill jenkins,von dutch

 

Bob Rufi
Bob Giovanine
Chuck Spurgin
Don Tognotti

Ak Miller

Tex Smith
Wally Parks
Blackie Gejeian
Barris Bros.
**** Bertolucci

Australian Rodders
Daryl Harvey
Darrol Fingers
John English
Jim Gullen

 

Oh, he did come to Jersey. We hung for three days!

Does Starsky and Hutch count? Ok, I would like to meet Blackie!

 

You guys have made a hellofa list. I have met Garlits (cool guy) and my son & I got to help load the Mooneyes dragster into the trailer at Super Chevy one year. To actually have my hands on a piece of drag racing history was awesome.

But my add ons to the list would be;

Wild Willy Borsch

Darryl Starbird

Pete & Jake

Tex Smith

Bill Cushinberry

 

Art Chrisman.

 

Al Joneac , famous east coast FE engine builder from the 60's . I've got 1/2 of a 428 SCJ motor he built . The one machinist (old school Philly guy) that looked over my crank went nuts when I said he did it .

 

'New'
Cole Foster

'Old timers' (MUCH respect meant)
Bill Hines

 

Bill Hines

 

Harry Miller
Fred Offenhauser
Frank Kurtis
A.J. Watson
All 3 Granatelli brothers
Frank Lockhart
Barney Oldfield
Louis & Gaston Chevrolet
Ak Miller
Enzo Ferrari (oh yes he was!)
Ed Winfield
Eddie Meyer
Kong Jackson
Art Arfons
Dyno Don Nicholson
Fast Eddie Shartman
Mickey Thompson

Of the guys still living, I've already met the ones I respected.

 

Wow!

A course in "Early Hot Rodding 101" is needed here:
There are so many legends mentioned, but absolutely no real early guys, Y'know the guys with the minds that made the parts that broke the records.

(1). Mendel "Cookie"Ledington= Ultimate Hot Rod Machinist In Early Day Hot Rodding.-Cook's Machine Works-Cyclone Racing Equipment.
This guy made guys like (2.)George Riley,-Riley 2&4 Port & "Cook" 4 Port
banger head. He made speed equipment that powered SCTA-CRA record holder- (3.)Bert Letners' Elco Twin special = 3x2 Cyclone Intake & Quickchange Rear End.
Mickey Thompsons World Record holder Challenger 2 streamliner = All of the drive line was designed by him and 4 Cyclone Quickies were machined & used.
Brought the record back to our shores.
J.E.Riley Special Dragster-Driven by (4.)Calvin Rice = 1st Ever NHRA World Champion 1955 Great Bend Kansas. Cook's Cyclone Rear End & Intake as well as engineering advice. "Cook's did it all"
(5.) Lee Chappell - 1st Speed Shop known.-Tornado Speed Equip.
(6.) George Wight - Bell Auto Parts-1st mail order speed shop.
(7.) CRAney GARtz - Cragar 4 Banger Head = Miller Hi-Speed Derivitive.
(8.)ANderson-SENter - ANSEN Speed Equip.
(9.)Honest Charley - Speed Shop Retailer-Mail Order
(10.)Karl & Veda Orr. - Karl Orr Speed Shop-Veda Orr's 47 Dry Lakes Pictorial-Both Dry Lakes Racers
(11.) "Double Dollar" Don Blair-Blair's Auto Parts-Later Speed Shop-Pasadena - Dry Lakes Racer
(12.)Gene Scott-Jim Gordon- Antique Auto-PSI Rosemead,CA. 1st Modern Street Rod-Suspension Mfg'r,Supplier-Shop as well as NOS parts for Old Fords.
(13.)Speedy Bill Smith-Mid-Wests Hot Rod Connection.Mfg'r-Racer
(14.) George Duvall-Timless windsheild design-fabricator
(15.)Duke Hallock Timless windsheild design & fabricator-Dry Lakes Racer
(16.) Bob Stellings- Speed Equipment & Air Cleaners
(17.)Ed Winfield-Winfield Speed Equip-Early Racer
(18.)Kong Jackson Kong ignitions-cams & speed equipment-Early Racer
(19.)Clay Smith Smith & Jones Speed Equipment -Dry Lakes Racer
(20.) Pierre Bertrand-Clay Smiths Mentor-Cam Grinder
(21.) Ed Iskenderian Cam Grinder-Speed Merchant-Dry Lakes Racer
Others are mentioned in previous posts, but these people above made it so we as HAMBERS have the industry that fills our need for speed & bling!
They are true Hot Rod Legends.
They,as I do now-took the chance, put out the $'s in an up & coming market and while doing that, They created a multi-billion dollar industry
that continues to grow to this day.
My hat's off to them
They're my heros

 

ditto

 

Tommy Ivo.

I have met Ed Roth about 6 years ago. I had my hair up in big liberty spikes, and he left his booth at a car show to come tell me he digs my hair. We ended up talking for a good 45minutes while people waited in line at his booth for an autograph.

 

I've always wanted to be the cheese in a Linda Vaughn-Jungle Pam sandwich.

 

Lesseee....here's who I'd like to meet in a perfect world where nobody ever dies.

Circle track dudes:

Ralph Moody
Smokey Yunick
Curtis Turner
Fireball Roberts
Roy Tyner


Drag Racers:

Dyno Don Nicholson
"Fast Eddie" Schartman...actually, I used to see him at the Berea (OH) auto auction but he was alwas busy
Don Garlits
Connie Kalitta

Kustom and Rodder guys:

Sam Barris
Bill Cushenberry
Bill Hines
Frank Maratta<sp>...I like East Coast style Kustoms and rods of the late '50s/early '60s
Pat Gandahl...my favorite all-time hot rod writer!

Actually, I met Linda Vaughn in the pits at Daytona many years ago. Despite her '***ets' you guys are drooling over.. , she's an articulate and fun person to BS with. Somewhere I have a pic of the two of us. If I ever run across it, I'll post it.

Jan

 

Probably Stu Hilborn, and Barney Navarro

 

Andy Southard Jr. I'd love to see some of his photos that never made publication.

 

I met Roth at a local car show a couple years before he died. That made my whole life worth it all. I display the Rat Fink decal that I bought from him in my daily driver pickup to this day, right next to the American flag!

pigpen

 

Andy is great, I went and met him at his longtime residence in Salinas, CA.
and he autographed his book for me, then took me to his garage to see his 40 coupe, and the walls of his garage are COVERED in pics, most of which are o.g. and have never been published.
if you're ever here, look him up. his name is in the local Salinas phone book

 

fabian from vintage hammer

 

Don't know why anyone would consider me a legend, I'm a relative newcomer, but still around. jimb3@earthlink.net

 

Your an old timer legend to me!

Progressing slowly on the roller cam idea....

Good to see your now posting on the HAMB.

 

Met so far:
Gene Winfield, George Barris, Jimmy SHine (a legend to be ...), Dave Tucci (if you are into the new stuff) Jesse James (enough said) , Ron Covell etc.

They are all just great guys who did really well for themselves with what they love.
Treat them fair and with respect and you'll get the same.

 

I'm gonna say Foose. Not only talented, but he has also demonstrated repeatedly that his interest cross the spectrum. There may be comparable talents in a given genre of the hobby, but he has all that across the board. Maybe not a legend yet, but one day he'll be up there with the highest.

 

Met Ed Roth years ago.
Burt Munro, but I'm too late, sorry. What an inspiration.

 

Don Garlits
Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins

 

I'd have to Say Bill Hines, he reminds me of a smaller way older version of me in some ways. I'd say Gene Winfield but I've met him twice at Autorama so he probably doesnt count.