Autograph

Gene Winfield and Ed Roth.........got both.

 

I've got quite a few drag racing autographs over the years.I suppose the best ones I've got are Richard Petty & Dale Earnhart. Giz'

 

You entered a car in a car show when you were 12? Did I read that wrong? That's amazing.

 

True story. Bakersfield about 10 yrs ago. The Fuel guys are testing for the upcoming Winternats. I'm in an elevator, at the Motel with John Force. I ask, can I get your autograph.....on this blank check of yours that I found near your Pits earlier. He paused over the question for a second, then started laughing his ass off. Then I got histerical too. Maybe ya hadda been there?. Then he said, Hell, you couldn't keep that check in a bank with a tennis racket (more laughter)

 

"You entered a car in a car show when you were 12? Did I read that wrong? That's amazing."
Yep, twelve.

 

gene winfield signed a big picture of my madwagon at one of the shows, it just was cool to have it since my car was done when russ worked with gene at the old shop in cali.

 

THATS funny and I think Force is a nice guy, he talk to my son (at that time 5) and took him and showed him his car and signed a piston for him which he has on his desk...

 

I have George Barris' signature on a photo of the Munster Coach and Ed Roth's on a Moon disc that he painted for me. (a Rat Fink head). I also have my own, but I don't think it's worth much yet.

 

I don't care if the autographs i got are ever worth anything.But it means alot to me to meet the people that are doing the things that i love to do myself and that have made a name for themselves.Shine is my idle he came from nothing and look at him now building cars for one of the most reputable speedshops around or Winfield that guy is the coolest and was and is a pioneer in the hotrod field and to me to that means something and to know that they took the time to put his name on a piece of paper or get his picture with me meant alot.

 

1961, my 11th birthday. Roth airbrushed a sweatshirt for me...still have it.

 

I did some art work for Jimmy Shine and one thing to another I ended up with his, got a lot of mine at the drags. Go pit side and there you are....

 

that shirt is COOL

 

i think hands down the most influential person in Hot Rodding has to be Mickey Thompson. he did it all, Road racing, Drag racing and Land Speed. He did it all.

 

that is the coolest t-shirt !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I wish i had alex xydias, or wally parks on something of value, not for the money. just as a family heirloom. although anything they had signed would be valuable.

 

Sure would be cool to get Henry Ford's autograph. Really the only one I have that is related to cars is Candi Clark's from American Grafitti. Would be cool to get some other American Grafitti autographs.

 

Here's Mickeys from 1962...

 

I'm by no means an autograph hound ... I too could really care less about having someone's signature ... but I will admit that I do enjoy meeting and talking with the heroes of our hobby.

That said, I do have about a hundred signatures of the "Who's Who of Hot Rodding" on a giant "Get Well" card for my father (Gary Goodguy had passed it around at the 1990 SEMA show to cheer him up during the final stages of his battle with Cancer).

I also have a Grabowski "STREET IS SWELL" poster on which Norm scribbled "To Brucie Poo - Love Normie Poo" ... I guess Norm & my father were members of the original Snugglers

 

I'm not a collector of autographs, never had much interest in them. I have a total of 2...George Barris signed the top of a chopped Merc model that I built, and Andy Southard Jr. signed one of the books I ordered from him.

 

I've been lucky enough to get a few autographs but I won't stand in line or pay to get one.Ak Miller when he was Fords Performance Adviser,Dick Smothers,Tiny Tim (ya that one!)and My most meaningfull one is Art & June Arfons I got a Christmas card every year from them for more than 20 years!I met Art at a tractor pull and got to spend several days with him at 2 different times.I have his personal pit pass hanging on my wall right now,He gave it to me from off his belt so I could get in !

 

I have Alex Xidius, Craig Breedlove, Dale Earnhardt, Bob Summers, Roland Leong, Dick Landy. All collected by me, in person. Meeting them meant more to me than the autographs.

 

I have Richard Pettys autograph,,,,I have had it for many,many years,,,he was much youger than I am when he took the time to talk to a kid who thought he was the greatest race car driver in the world,,,he was then and still is a class act. HRP

 

I have Larry Shinoda's.
I was at Zora Duntov's birthday party, talking to Mr Shinoda(more like listening) and some guy asked him for his autograph..so I figured, what the hell...and said "me too" Oh yeah, got Zora's that night too

Almost as cool(maybe cooler)...I've got Jeem's and BobK's too. They're notable hot rod guys, right?

 

wrote to Dean Moon in the early 80s after a mag did a writeup on his history..bought some real moons from the man himself,and he wrote back..using MY letter as his stationary..always thought that was pretty cool,still have it

 

I have Jan Opperman (on a T-shirt), Gary Bettenhausen, Don Garlits, and Arnie "the Farmer" Beswick.

 

I don't his, but I have been in his personal office in the Detroit Masonic lodge.

 

I'd like to have Gas Ronda's. I've never met him but someday I would like to. I guess the coolest one I have is Carroll Shelby. He is tough to get without paying for it....and I didn't.

 

Ed Roth, Ryan and Marcy Cochran's!!!

 

I have Don Prodhomes,Jungle Jim,Pat Foster,Pat Minnicks,Gary Dyer,
Jim clark,Jackie stewart,Tony Bettenhausen,Don Garlits. Gregg Breedlove
signed my book of his life in 1974.

 

Some special ones I have are Ronnie Sox, Malcom Durham, Dick Landy and Dyno Don Nicholson for obvious reasons. RIP