Gone Racin'  Newsletter by Richard Parks #100  Dec 7, 2005

 

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News:
*I received an call from Dick Martin who has done some articles about Akton "Ak" Miller.
  Apparently Ak is in very serious health.  When I got the call, 12-03-05, Ak was at: Brookfield
  HealthCare, 9300 Telegraph Rd, Room 208, Downey, CA. 562-869-2568  (Ron Cummings)
*Joann Brock and I visited Ak last week at Brookfield. He is eating well and doing as well as
  someone that age and in poor heath should be expected to do. I personally don't think his con-
  dition has changed much in the last year. The only big thing that has changed is that his ex-wife
  Marilyn can no longer take care of Ak at the old shop so he has moved to this nice and clean
  facility on Telegraph road. I am sure he would enjoy a visit from any of you and he is lucid and
  alert. The old memory is pretty good but memories of recent events may come and go. He may
  surprise us all and live a while longer now that he is in a bright and active setting, he is definitely
  not on day to day status.   (Charles Rollins at www.bench-racing.com, via Rex McAfee)
*Jonathan Thompson, 10 June 1935-19 Nov 2005, talented artist, researcher and writer, died
  Saturday in Orange County California. Thompson was best-known in the Ferrari world for his
  books including the revised version of Fitzgerald and Merritt's classic work, Ferrari, The
  Sports and Grand Tourismo Cars.  Jon had been the editor on the original edition. He also
  wrote the text for Cavallino publisher John Barnes' book of illustrations of Ferrari Formula
  One cars.  Another Ferrari title was Thompson's Ferrari Turbo.  Other books included one on
  the Porsche 917 and several on aircraft including the definitive work on Italian military aircraft.
  John's talents were noticed early and he had automotive drawings published as early as the late
  1950s.  He attended the Los Angeles Art Center, long the holy grail for automotive designers.
  During his career, he took on tasks as varied as making final models to be used to make molds
  for slot racers, designed American market trim packages for Alfa Romeo and created drawings
  for books and magazines.  He did two stints at Road & Track magazine, contributing both editor-
  ial and editing skills. He was known for his guidance of less experienced writers, including this one.
  His love and appreciation for Italian cars was unmatched.  Long before the Alfa 8C 2900B was
  recognized as the greatest pre-war sports car, John wrote an extended piece on these cars for
  Road & Track that began the model's ascension into the pantheon of automotive design.  John's
  wife, Beverly Narkowitz, also a talented writer, predeceased him three years ago.  John shaped
  our view of cars from the time of the golden age of 1950s California sports car racing.  His work
  and encouragement will be missed.  (Michael T. Lynch) 
-----------------------------
*Dec 10-11, 2005, 1st Annual MC Builders Winter Challenge for Pro Stocks and Street
  Stocks and Drag Racing at The PAS on Friday night, Dec 9.  Perris Auto Speedway, Lake
  Perris, CA.  For more info call 951-940-0134 or email them at racesatthepas@aol.com   (Kim
  Donner and Scott Daloisio)
*The Budweiser Autosport 2005 Show, 7 PM EST from McGilvery's Speedway... 3009 North
  High School Road.  Scheduled guests are Bob Falcon, developer of the "Shoe Horn" devise that
  extracts injured drivers from their car without further back or neck injury.  Bob will be recieving
  another award at the 50th Anniversary Dinner for American Auto Racing writers & Broad-
  casters Association being held in Indy on December 3rd.  Dr. Kevin Scheid, Orthopedic Sur-
  geon, member of the Ortho-Indy Staff and a member of the on track IRL/IMS Medical staff.  Dr.
  Scheid helps co-ordinate on track safety and medical care for injured drivers.  Pam Boas, will
  give her thoughts on her son, Tony Stewart, as the 2005 Nextel Cup Champion, his second
  series championship.  The Autosport Show can be heard live on the internet by logging onto:
  www.autosportradio.com   (Don Kay)
*New NASCAR track. See http://www.racingwest.com/news/story.php3/12583  (Vicki James)
*Dirt Nation has an all new format, see http://www.dirtnation.net  Listeners can participate on
  the Monday shows by calling 877-899-7223 or by instant messenger at dirtnation2003 at any of
  the following instant messenger services online: AIM, MSN, or dirtnationradio@yahoo.com and
  submit your track/tour/team results and news to DocLehman@sssnet.com, or tune into radio stat-
  ion, WLRT FOX 1490 AM in Hampton, VA.  (Doc Lehman)
*Robert Genat will be at Autobooks/Aerobooks, on Magnolia Street, in Burbank, California, on
  Dec 10, to discuss his new book on Challenger & 'Cuda: Classic Chrysler Combo.  For more
  information call Doug Stokes at 818-845-0707.
----------------------------
*Linda Murray/McCoy wrote in to remind us that the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation's
  Golf Tournament is this Dec 12-13, in La Quinta, California.  It is a worthy cause to raise funds
  for journalistic scholarships.  For more information see the www.JMMF.com
*www.laffyerasphalt.com  is a website dedicated to the memory of Pete Millar (1929-2003).
  Pete was a great drag racer, brilliant cartoonist and a best of friends to those who knew him.  He
  left us on February 28, 2003, but his work lives on.  His wife Orah Mae and daughter, Robin
  will continue to offer the works available on this site and more neat stuff Pete did that was prev-
  iously unavailable.  (Robin Millar)
*The 12-race 2006 Star Mazda championship presented by Goodyear opens March 17-18 as
  part of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla.
  (Linda K. Mansfield)
*Season tickets for 25 races at The PAS (Perris Auto Speedway) are $350 for reserved seating,
  and general admission season seats are $300.  The 2006 Perris Auto Speedway season will start
  on Feb 4 with the Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Cars. The PASSCAR season opener will be
  on Feb 11.  Call 951-940-0134 or email racesatthepas@aol.com  (Kim Donner/Scott Daloisio) 
-----------------------------
Racing schedules:
*7th ANNUAL CRUISIN' FOR A CURE, Sept 23, 2006, Orange County Fair and Expo
  Center, Costa Mesa, CA.  All proceeds go to Prostate Cancer Research at the Jonnson Cancer
  Center Foundation at UCLA Medical Center. Free PSA testing for men. Food, entertainment,
  sponsor's booth, drawings, celebrities, 3000+ hot rods, antiques, sportscars, classic and muscle
  cars on display. For more info call Debbie Baker at 949-752-5115x10 or dbaker52@aol.com
*ASA SPEED TRUCK CHALLENGE 2005 racing/television schedule:
  2005 Season Review to air Dec 10 and 17 at 8PM     
*AutoZone Super Chevy Show Tour XXV (AutoStar Productions)
*CALIFORNIA DRAGWAY 2006 schedule. Located at the dragstrip, on the grounds of the
  California Speedway, Fontana, CA.  For more info Contact Dave Danish at 909-429-5060
  or go online at www.Californiaspeedway.com.  All dates and times are subject to change:
*CROWN ROYAL IROC Series 2006 schedule: 
*DirtRacers Radio airs every Sunday evening on WQKT 104.5 FM from 6-8PM. The show
  is hosted by Doc Lehman & Ryan Pearson, and can also be heard at: www.wqkt.com 
  MACS Late Model series racers will be invited on the show. (Doc Lehman/Ryan Pearson)
*GOODGUYS 2006 Schedule of Events.  See www.goodguys.com or call 925-838-9876:
*GRAND AM CUP 2006 Racing Schedule:
  Jan 4-7, Daytona Test Days, Daytona International Speedway
  Jan 26-27, 150 Miles/2 Hours, Daytona International Speedway
     *Points-paying heat races to set field for final event.   **Grand Touring Only
     ***Daytona Prototypes Only   (Nate Siebens and Linda K. Mansfield)
*GRAND AMERICAN ROLEX Sports Car Series 2005 schedule (Linda K. Mansfield)
  Dec 2-4 Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez 400 Km-1000 Km
*GRAND AMERICAN ROLEX 2006 Series Schedule: 
  Jan 4-7, Daytona Test Days, Daytona International Speedway
  Jan 26-29, 24 Hours, Daytona International Speedway
     *Points-paying heat races to set field for final event.  **Grand Touring Only
     ***Daytona Prototypes Only    (Nate Siebens and Linda K. Mansfield)
*INDUSTRY HILLS SPEEDWAY MOTORCYCLE Races at the Industry Hills Event
  Center, in the City of Industry, CA.  Wednesday Nights, AMA Sanctioned. Adults $12,
  Juniors $8, Children $4, and those 5 and under are FREE!  Tapes Up 7:30 PM. Contact:
  Freddie Orosco at 909-681-4911, For rider signup see Ryan Evans at 626-643-7598 or
  email sideways31@aol.com. 
*IRWINDALE DRAGWAY, Located at Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, CA.  NHRA
  Street Legal sanctioned drag racing every Thursday night from January to November.  Pros
  and street legal racing welcome.  See www.Irwindalespeedway.com for Summit schedule and
  Junior Dragster program.  1/8 mile track.  Entrance fee $20. Spectators are $10.  See Dragstrip
  track manager Bob Klein 626-358-1100 x 211.  (Carrie Rogers)
*IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY programs, see www.Irwindalespeedway.com for schedules and
  updates.  Gates open 4:30, races start at 6pm.
*JOHN FORCE Cruise Night is held on the last Wednesday of each month from 5-8 P.M.
  at the shop in Yorba Linda, CA 92887.  Contact Craig Hoelzel for details about vendor space,
  how to show your car, or for directions.  Craig is at craig@johnforceracing.com  While you
  are there, check out the Force Racestation gift shop next door.  It is a fascinating store filled
  with all sorts of collectibles, including broken parts from John's Funny Cars, autographed by
  the 13 time NHRA Funny Car Champion himself.  You'll find artwork, paintings, photographs,
  hats, jackets, apparel, pins, die cast cars, souvenirs and just about anything that you could want. 
  If Force is in town and not on the race car circuit, he will be glad to sign your collectible.  See
  hundreds of hot rods and vintage cars, rock to the music of the '50's, purchase some delicious
  food, and meet your fellow hot rodders.  Celebrity racers and hot rodders are known to show
  up for this one of a kind hot rod cruise night at the legendary John Force Racestation.
*KING of INDIANA Sprint Series 2005 Schedule: For info call Mike OLeary 812-825-9614 
*LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY 2006 Schedule at The Strip
    JANUARY 20-22 – Nitro Blast-Off preseason test session -- 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    27 – Bracket Test ‘n’ Tune – 11a.m.–5 p.m.
    27 – BFGoodrich Midnight Mayhem – 7 p.m.–Midnight.
    28 – Bracket Championship Kick-Off – 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
    28 – Silver State 1/8-Mile Bracket Challenge – 4–9 p.m.
    29 – Bracket Championship Kick-Off – 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
      (John Bisci, LVMS Public Relations, 702-632-8231, jbisci@lvms.com)
*MATTEL Children's Hospital 2nd Annual Car Show and Easter Egg Hunt, April 15,
  2006, 9am-3pm, at the John Force RaceStation, 22722 Old Canal Road, Yorba Linda, CA 
  92887.  Open to all street rods, muscle cars, classics, trucks, antiques, exotics and sports cars. 
  Food, awards, entertainment and sponsor's booths onsite.  All proceeds go to cancer research. 
  For more info call Debbie Baker at 949-752-5115x10 or dbaker52@aol.com
*MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS contact points for writers, journalists, photographers, etc:
  Automotive Press Association, Detroit - jdgilbert@cbs.com,
  Detroit Press Club Foundation   www.icnpr.net
  International Automotive Media Awards - whaessner@earthlink.net,
  International Motor Press Association, NYC - www.impa.org,
  Midwest Automotive Media Association, Chicago - www.mamaonline.org,
  Motor Press Guild, Los Angeles - www.motorpressguild.org,
  New England Motor Press Association, Boston - www.nempa.org,
  Northwest Automotive Press Association, Port Orchard, WA- www.nwapa.org,
  Phoenix Automotive Press Association, Phoenix- ledsall@cox.net,
  Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Denver - vince@theweekenddrive.com,
  Society of Automotive Historians -  www.autohistory.org,
  Southeast Automotive Media Organization, Charlotte, NC www.southeastautomedia.org,
  Texas Auto Writers Association, Red Oak TX - http://www.TexasAutoWriters.org,
  Truck Writers of North America, www.twna.org
  Washington Automotive Press Association, D.C. - www.washautopress.org,
  Western Automotive Journalists, San Francisco  - www.waj.org,
*MID-ATLANTIC Championship Series (MACS) 2006 racing schedule:  See
  macs1@verizon.net and  http://www.macsracing.com  (Andy Geesey)  
*NEXTEL (NASCAR) Cup Series 2006 schedule:   
*NHRA POWERade Drag Racing 2006 Series schedule. 
  Feb 9-12, Pomona, CA.           Feb 24-26, Phoenix, AZ
*PERRIS AUTO DRAGWAY, Street Legal Drag Strip at The PAS (Perris Auto Speedway)
  will open on Friday, January 6, 2006.  Drag racing will continue on every Friday thereafter. 
  The course is a 1/8 mile dragstrip and is open to anyone 16-years old or over with a valid
  registration, drivers license and a helmet. Cars, trucks and motorcycles are allowed. Gates will
  open at 4 PM every Friday with racing from 5-10:30 PM.  Tech will close at 9 PM, and you
  cannot run if you do not go through tech inspections. Spectators $10, competitors $20.  The
  Perris Auto Speedway is on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds. Take the 215 Freeway, exit at the
  Ramona Expressway and go east two and a half miles to the fairgrounds. For more information
  call 951-940-0134, or email them at racesatthepas@aol.com   (Scott Daloisio/Kim Donner)
*PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY, 2006 Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Cars schedule at Lake
  Perris, CA: Feb 4 (daytime), Feb 18, Mar 4, Mar 25, Apr 15, Apr 29, May 13, May 27, June
  10, June 24, July 1, July 22, Aug 5, Aug 19, Sept  2, Sept 16, Sept 30, Oct 21, Nov 2-4 for
  the 11th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals, Nov 18-10th Annual Jack Kindoll Classic. 
  (Kim Donner/Scott Daloisio, call 951-940-0134, or email them at racesatthepas@aol.com)
*SCTA El Mirage Dry Lakes (Southern California) Timing Trials 2006 schedule: 
*SEMA Club Newsletter (SAN Club Events) is at www.semasan.com  (Jason Tolleson)
  Dec 10, Rome, GA, Christmas Car Show, Empty Pockets Car Club  706/292-0209
  Dec 11, Long Beach, CA, Hi-Performance Swap Meet/Car Show www.toppingevents.com
  Dec 11, Belton, TX, 22nd Texas Swap Meet Winter Nat'ls texasexports@webtv.net
  Dec 12, Fanning Springs, FLA, Festival of Lights Classic Car Show  352-463-9089
  Dec 17, Estero, FLA, Hoops, Hot Rods and Hogs  arish@nba.com
  Dec 17, Inverness, FLA, SMTS Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show monkey4x4@mfi.net
  Dec 17, Tucson, AZ, Toys for Tots Show at Little Anthony’s www.samctucson.org
  Dec 17, Honolulu, HI, Hot Import Nights showinfo@visionevent.com
  Jan 8, Countryside, ILL, 35th Super Swap Meet   Goofygirlblaha@aol.com
  Jan 6-8, Chattanooga, TN, Chattanooga World of Wheels  www.customautoshows.com
*SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TOP COMP   (Gregg Suyenaga)
*SPECIAL REUNIONS AND EVENTS during the year: 
  CRA Reunion in January, hosted by Walt and Dottie James
  Car Racers Reunion in April, hosted by Hila Sweet and Parnelli Jones  
  Gas-Up Party and Dry Lakes Hall of Fame in September, hosted by Gold Coast Club
  Legends of Ascot Reunion in October, hosted by Don and Belita Weaver
*STACKER 2 World of Outlaws Late Model Series 2006 Schedule: (Doc Lehman)
*WALLY PARKS NHRA Motorsports Museum 2005 schedule of events: 909-622-8562
  Dec 7, Twilight Cruise Night 4:30-8pm.  Annual Holiday toy drive. 
Notices:
*California Exhaust Noise: August 2005 marked the two-year anniversary of California's ex-
  haust noise testing program. The California Bureau of Automotive Repair continues to report that
  about 90 percent of vehicles which have undergone the states exhaust noise test have been
  certified to be in compliance with California law. The program is the result of a SAN-sponsored
  law, which allows California hobbyists to prove their vehicles comply with state noise standards.
*Georgia Blue Dots: The SAN amended legislation in Georgia to permit the use of blue-dot
  taillights on antique, hobby and special interest vehicles. Under the new law, these specified
  vehicles can display a blue light or lights of up to one inch in diameter as part of a vehicle's rear
  stop lamps, rear turning indicator lamps, rear hazard lamps and rear reflectors. (SEMA)
*Hawaii Exhaust Noise: The SAN defeated legislation in Hawaii that sought to provide a sche-
  dule of increased fines for those who violate the state's ban on the sale, installation and use of
  certain motor vehicle mufflers without providing an objective standard to enforce. Current Hawaii
  law essentially prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle unless it is equipped with an exhaust
  system of a type installed as standard factory equipment. The bill may be considered again next
  year. (SEMA)
*Illinois Exhaust Noise: The SAN stalled final action on Illinois legislation to ban vehicles equip-
  ped with a muffler or exhaust system that clearly has been modified to amplify or increase the
  noise of the vehicle.  The bill was quickly passed by the House in the final days of the legislative
  session, before being stopped in the Senate. Under the measure, vehicles determined to have
  been modified by virtue of a visual observation would have failed emissions inspection.  How
  emissions inspectors would have determined that an exhaust system increases noise by virtue of
  a visual inspection was not explained in the bill. (SEMA)
*Illinois Inoperable Vehicles: The SAN again beat back Illinois legislation that threatened to
  further restrict the ability of Illinois hobbyists from maintaining inoperable vehicles on private pro-
  perty.  The bill removes historic vehicles over 25-years of age from a list of vehicles exempt from
  county inoperable vehicle ordinances if they are not kept within a building. Under current law, a
  county board may declare all inoperable vehicles a nuisance and order their disposal.  This bill, if
  it had been passed and signed into law, would have subjected ungaraged historic hobby cars to
  disposal and possible fines.  The measure will be carried over to the 2006 legislative session.