The title on the pic was Porkmeister, and he looked kinda like a pirate. I had no idea who he was, and I didn't know he was Porky Pirate.
It seems he should be honored as Porky the Pirate because nobody would know him as Frederick Burmashave III.
One of the best threads I've read in a long time. Good work Phil (BTW: I was going to guess Bruce Vilanch)
Someone on the 1320 once posted a pic of the Porky The Pirate club card and a better pic of him in black n white. Who was it? Might be someone who left the board or left all together! And that has been way too many of them. To all our fallen comrades and Porky Pirates of the world! I hoist my Brew in salute! Salud!!
I would guess the picture was taken at Bakersfield. Here is a response from Steve Gibbs of NHRA: If I ever knew his real name...it has escaped me. When anyone mentioned "Porky", you knew who they were talking about. Diamond Jim Annin truly believed he was an eccentric millionaire. Porky traveled around to different events doing repair work. I'm not sure he would be your "first choice" in fixing your race car....but in an emergency he could probably get you by. He had a raggedy old truck - that towed another older and even more raggedy pick-up, which served as his parts trailer. He would back the two trucks up together, and use the tailgates as the work bench. It was a treat to watch him work, as he took an occasional break to sip on whatever booze he had in his Moon tank artificial leg. Following an event at Irwindale in '67 or '68, I was getting ready to lock up the gate and go home, when I heard this hammering noise coming from the darkened pit area. When I went to check it out, I found Porky with a cold chisel and hammer, beating the hell out of his "work bench". He had somehow managed to weld the two trucks together during one of his repair jobs.... Hook
Wouldn't be that easy with today's plastic, energy absorbing, front fascias, but from what I've been reading on this thread, I'll just betcha he would have figured out a way. Being an East Coast guy, sad to say I missed many interesting folks that prowled the pits on the left coast. I'm a poorer man cuz of that.
Here you go ! Duh, here is what I can remember, Porky the Pirate was an Mechanical Engineer at FMC Ordinace Division in San Jose, California and lost his leg in a industrial accident. He use to live in a very high end neighborhood in Morgan Hill, Ca. He passed away quite afew years ago.
Are you sure that is not Big Daddy Ed Roth's alter ego, " Special Ed" ? The characters are who made racing fun. It doesn't matter if it was at the drags, the stock car races or the motorcycle short tracks. There was always someone who was there doing their weirdness and at the same time helping out those who had a touch of bad luck. They just loved being part of the scene. I wonder how long it will be until the sanctioning bodies close off the tracks all together and just sell DVD's of the races? If they are not careful, it will bring back street races and all that goes with it. And the cycle may just start over.
sounds like he got bored with his boring life and decided to have some fun.we need more people like him, someone on here who can draw good needs to do caricature of him in the spirit of rat fink.
Porky was the REAL DEAL ! He lived like he wanted and not many of us can do that. He was pretty harmless, but entertaining. At one race at Fremont, a Top Fuel Racer had a couple of the girls from the Brass Rail (Sunnyvale) come over to spend some time with Porky. No not that ! He was lovin it !
[QUOTE=Chili Phil; Hint#2 He had a false leg that was full of wine with a tube that ran to his mouth. Shit Chili, the above statement describes 'bout 1/2 the painters I ever knew or worked with! I never met the "Pirate" at Lyons or OCIR, but I heard 'bout him. Swankey Devils C.C. " Spending A Nation Into Generational Debt Is Not An Act Of Compassion!"
We need a thread on Bob Beezer stories too. He is a riot to talk with and has done a lot in the drag racing world.
we need an entire section on the hamb just for these crazy nuts, they are just as much a part of hot rodding history as the cars, there wouldn't be much hot rodding history without them. a lot of old timers are getting up there in age, and some of these stories should be collected and saved here. before they vanish with the people. the general public doesn't even know these people exist, once the hot rodders who remember them pass away,the stories are gone forever. something to think about.
From Gil Rothweiler : <TABLE class=MsoNormalTable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>This is what I was told by his brother in law, Jim Packard, who was a dispatcher at Piazza. Porky was working with a backhoe at san jose state on the weekend up next to a newley tilted up wall. well the wall fell and caught his leg and all most took it off. he finished the job with his pocket knife and crawled to the house across the street for help. Had he not done this he would have bled to death. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Fabled Tales of Porky the Pirate and the truth comes out.
Did you find his real name? I remember those strange dudes growing up at Milan Dragway as well. Must have just been the 'In Thing' to do. Moose, Cowboy, and a few others were names I remember as a kid. I remember them all being tall and all being hairy!
Shit, I'll tell ya, as far as other notorious drag racing personalities go, yup, Beezer is one for sure. Uncle Gene Beaver, of LA Hooker F/C fame, is another. And, uh, there are several crewchiefs and team owners that have lurid tales to tell. But, most likely tales to hide from. he heh he Friends, when the alcohol goes into those guys at the hot rod reunion deal Friday before the races, I find myself crying with laughter. And unfortunately lifting a glass too often for the guys who aren't there. Too often...
we need to find a way to archive this stuff for future hot rodders, a lot of the stuff that happened only people on this board know. those stories are way to cool to let them disappear.
Man, this internets deal impresses me more and more. I Googled Mr Rothweiler's name and found this: http://wingnutsmotorcycleclub.blogspot.com/2009/02/schaller-cams.html I'm gonna email him and ask him about Porky.
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