Hello guys, I'm looking for anyone who might be able to help me with advice (anyone who is involved in SCTA). About 1 1/2 year ago I bought a vintage 1958 Ex-Bonneville race car. At the time I didn't have any history on it and was told by a fellow hamber that Jim Miller of the SCTA was the guy to ask. I've heard over and over what a nice guy he is. I had called Jim Miller and he seemed like a very good guy. He said he would take a look and see what he has. I offered to pay him for his time and services as well. About 3 weeks later I call him to see if he found anything and he is like a completely different guy. Out of the blue he goes off on me telling me that he found I had already made a request and I was wasting his valuable time. I explained to him that my original request was my only request and that I'm sorry for any confusion but I swore I hadn't requested it more than once. He then goes on telling me that he already found my name and number somewhere and it's proof that I was trying to waste his time. He really was fit to be tied... which really set me back. I stayed completely p***ive knowing this guy holds the do***entation for my car. I said sorry a million times and ***ured him I only made one request, but he wasn't having any of it. It was really strange how wound-up he was, but I made every effort to smooth it out. He then told me that he did indeed have do***ents of my car's runs but I wouldn't be getting them. I have called back at least 10 times over the last year and he won't take my calls. I have sent a certified letter saying sorry for the confusion but he still won't answer and I have sent emails but still no reply. I have tried to give him an out, saying that maybe the guy who referred me to him gave him my info or maybe it was one of the driver's other cars, but he insists it's a ploy by me. Everyone has told me how great Jim Miller is, but man.. for some reason he hates me. I'm really lost on this one. Anyone have any idea how to deal with trying to get a copy of my car's do***entation? I appreciate any constructive suggestions! I'm at a complete loss. Josh
Didn't I say constructive? I know he is a good guy. So many people say so... I just don't know why he has chosen to flip-out with me? I'm hoping someone might have some insight. I don't know if there is any formality at SCTA or if I'm screwed and my car's history is lost due to the mood swings of this guy?
BTW what you're doing and the info you're asking for has absolutely NOTHING to do with the SCTA. Jim runs a historical hot rod foundation (cant think of the name right now) but you should already know this. He happens to also be involved with the SCTA but not in any context that involves you or your car.
Interesting. I found a ton of references to him being the AHRF & SCTA historian. I didn't realize the SCTA is not an official capacity. I ***umed that this repeated ***le and the fact he keeps all the old SCTA papers meant he held an official position. I will try to remove the SCTA from the header if I can.
Jack Underwood is who you want to contact about your car's SCTA history..... Try this e-mail.....only one I have on him... jacksgarage@socal.rr.com I hope that gets you what you want....... I have met Jim Miller on a few occasions and he was most cordial to me......of course, I wasn't asking him to do anything for me either..... Good luck.... CB
Then it sounds like, contrary to beef stew's comment, that what you're asking for has everything to do with the SCTA. But is it the papers you need, or the information in the papers? The information should be a matter of public record (or maybe semi-public record...).
I'd like to get copies of the papers so that they can always be with the car. It isn't the end of the world if I don't get them. I just want to have as complete of a history as I can get. I don't understand how someone who has dedicated so much of his p***ion to preserving history can have this mentality. It doesn't make sense. I'm hoping it's a misunderstanding of some sort.
I don't know anyone mentioned in this post, I just have a love for old race cars, and the do***entation that goes with them. Doing research is a lot of fun, frustrating at times, I got a guy pissed off becaust it took longer than I thought to get copies of photos/literature reproduced. Hope this works out, maybe a third party is needed to smooth things out. Bob
You seem to have not seen that the historical work Jim has done is seperate from the SCTA. This seems hard for some people to understand. Same as the 200 MPH Club is different from the SCTA.
Jim Miller not only is an official SCTA Historian but is one of the head technical inspectors at El Mirage and Bonneville and I've never seen that man pissed about anything. Jim is not the only SCTA historian as cuzinBrucie suggested you can get in touch with Jack Underwood who holds court daily (his garage door opens at 7:00 AM ) at his famous Jack's garage in Fountain Valley at the e-mail given. Jack has a copy of every event publication from the Rosetta and SCTA timing ***ociations beginnings to present. There are a number of salt flats racer that hang out ( me included) that are very knowledgeable. It is always helpful to have an idea of the specific info you are looking for and the event (month and year) that it tool place. Also I might suggest if your looking for info on Norm Thatcher's 58 Chrysler 300 you contact the Sidewinders as I belive Norm was a member of that club, Ron Main is the president, his e-mail address is rmain@canogarebar.com. Hope this helps
THANK YOU! Great info. I appreciate the help! As I said earlier, I'm sure he is a good guy with all the positive feedback. I don't want to sound like I'm bad mouthing him, but it is what it is. There is no doubt he has contributed a huge amout to our hobby. I'll follow the other leads and move on! Thanks guys! Josh
Just to put this into perspective, let's consider for a moment that I do the rookie orientation, work as a starter, and have been a tech inspector for the SCTA for nearly 15 years. Now lets say you want an old rule book that I happen to have and I said I'd give it to you. You call me the first time and I'm nice then you call me the second time asking where your book is and I'm a **** and I tell you to go to hell. You could in fact come onto the HAMB and start a thread saying "Nathan Stewart of the SCTA is a ****" because I in fact am tied to the SCTA in a few ways. But me arranging to give you an old rule book has nothing to do with my duties as an SCTA volunteer. You couldn't contact the president of the SCTA and say "hey that Nathan Stewart guy is an ***hole and he won't give me the rule book that he said he'd give me". They'd say "Sorry, that's between you and him" which is exactly the case in this instance. Jim is a good, nice, reasonable guy. I too have never seen that man mad or yell or even get remotely heated and I've known him for a long time. Maybe you caught him on a very bad day. Is he a historian for the SCTA? Yes, certainly. Is it to some official SCTA capacity? Well I'd say no, not really. It's what he loves doing and he's obviously a wealth of information and there's only so many guys around that really know this stuff and he being one of the guys that probably knows the most and has the most resources. I'm only trying to help and I think under the right cir***stances Jim would be more than happy to help you. And this isn't a matter of who's right or wrong but I really don't want people to think that this really has anything to do with the current ***ociation as it sits now in 2012 because it doesn't... at all. Joining the SCTA won't help, contacting the SCTA won't help, yada yada yada. Seriously, come out to the next meet and talk to him face to face. The guy's as mean and angry as a kitten. But he does have a killer sweater collection so watch out for that.
Exactly what "papers" do you think the SCTA may have for your car? I will forward this thread to Jim, he doesn't look at this board. I will be seeing him tomorrow and maybe we can get this deal settled. DW
I appreciate the feedback. I've been meaning to take my son to El Mirage for a couple years now. I don't want to stalk or ambush the guy, but I'm up for the racing. Hello Dan, I sent you a PM. ***** (06/02/12) I wanted to update this thread without bumping it. I visited Jack and got all my papers. Jack is world cl***! THANK YOU GUYS! We'll let the thread die. Josh
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