Ruth Elder was known as "Miss America of the Air" and was a charter member of the Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots. In October 1927, she attempted to become the first woman to complete a transatlantic flight, flying the Stinson Detroiter "American Girl" with co-pilot George Haldeman.
21-year-old beauty contest winner and pilot Ruth Elder (1902 - 1977) arrives in New York. She plans to fly to Paris accompanied by Captain George Haldeman. Original Publication: People Disc - HD0076 (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)
Hello, Anytime I see an XKE Jaguar in a TV show or movie, it reminds me of the odd ball drag race one year in our teenage cruising years. The hot spots we knew of in Long Beach were great to cruise in on different weekends. There was always someone who thought they were the “kings” of the road. So, after a burger, Coke and fries, now, we were talking about a race. So, as the conversation moved on to where, we mentioned Cherry Avenue Drags location, as it was our home court. It was just a few blocks away from either burger drive-in teenage hot spot to settle any disputes. But, if we were in Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar or other beach towns, then it was a toss up as to where we would go. The closest place in the “sticks” was the U.S. Naval Base in inland Seal Beach. When cruising the southern Belmont Shore area, the lonely 2 mile stretch of highway, in a not so popular area late at night, was just perfect. It runs through the Naval Base and is fenced off with minimal lights. The original idea during the covert skirmishes was to have an ammunition storage facility disguised as a neighborhood street from the high in the sky view. It actually looked like a neighborhood several miles away. Street lights, blocks with bumps that looked like a house from above, but were storage warehouses with ammunition and rockets launched from ships’ deck guns or supports. Jnaki Today, it still is a U.S. Naval base and the ammunition storage is still there. But, because it is actually a lonely set of warehouses out in the “sticks,” it is relatively empty and void of daily traffic inside of the facility. But, the road is now a busy connector between Belmont Shore of Long Beach and Westminster in Orange County. Westminster Blvd in inland Seal Beach Note: One Easter Vacation, (Spring Break in modern times) my friend wanted to go to Newport Beach and Balboa for some cruising and a stop over for snacks at the famous, Merle’s Drive In Restaurant on MacArthur and PCH. It was a fun coastal drive through our local cruising area. When we got there, it was a standard thing to, not just find a spot, but to cruise through the front row driveway all the way through the parking lot, go around the whole circular drive in lot and come back in the same way. Now, it was ok to find a spot. Not in the front row as you were closer to the food service, but just in the front row looking at the cruising driveway. That, to us was the front and center spot to see everything coming down the track… ha! It was not long that several hot looking Chevy sedans and one Ford coupe with a SBC motor showing, came by. They spied the blue Henry J sitting there with us watching. 409 Chevy motor, 4 speed, pure power No one made any challenging moves or odd ball looks, so they just chugged by us. Then a sleek Jaguar XKE with wire wheels, came rumbling down the same driveway. A Jaguar XKE “rumbling???” That was a good one for sure. But, sure enough, it did come “rumbling” down to stop in front of a black 55 Chevy sedan with a couple inside. They pointed fingers at each other and started yelling. Soon, the 55 Chevy pulled out behind the XKE and were gone out of the main driveway. About 30 minutes later, the XKE comes back in again and the driver had a smug smiling face. He was pointing to all hot rod sedans and coupes as if he just won and would take on all comers for money. So, another sedan pulls out and follows the XKE out of the driveway. Then in about another 30 minutes, the XKE comes back again. Now, both of the Chevy sedans did not come back to the parking lot. So, now, the XKE driver had a smirk and yelled out, “any others want to lose their money?” What an idiot. What could the XKE have that would make it so fast as to win each race? Now, he was pointing at the Henry J sitting quietly watching the show. The guy walked over to us and challenged us to a race for $100 dollars winner take all. What? we had about $28 dollars between the three of us and we still had to pay for the burgers. Ha! After deciding what to do, we drove about 30 minutes away for the “big race.” There was nowhere in that part of the beach community with a quarter mile designated run area, so, we told the XKE that the Seal Beach Westminster Blvd was the only place we would race. So, we all drove out there with a following of cars interested in the outcome. It was dark and empty when we arrived. Everyone had their lights out and lined the inside street. We hassled the particulars as we told him we did not have $100. But, that our $50 would match his $100. He agreed reluctantly. I was designated to drive the Henry J, but the XKE driver said owner’s only. So, the novice builder friend said ok. We went over the starting procedure and all was ok. The first race was pure 409 power. Our Henry J got off well and won by a car length. The second race he missed a shift and the XKE won by a fender. Then the final race came down to a good start, no missed shifts and lots of power. The Henry J took off with a flurry and never looked back. When, our friend returned, we then found out the XKE had a 352 bored/stroked SBC and dual quads. Yes, he gave us the money and took off with dirt flying everywhere. He was mad… Yea! No, we did not go back to Merle’s Drive-in to the glory accolades, as it was late and too far away. So, we took the money and had another round of cheeseburgers for the two other teens and gravy/fries for me. YUM! A victory snack for growing teens… and, yes, the Henry J owner paid for it with the cash he won. YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
