More Badass Chicks

So I got to thinkin' about the 'Badass Chicks' in one of my posts and guess what? It's true, there's a German version of the Badass Girls...what more did you expect with a Porsche in the '65 cult film? It's a belted, buckled and booted adventure.

Here's a short 'english' trailer with Steven King's ultra cool song mixed in. The clip has the girls playing chicken, racing their cars through the badlands somewhere in the desert, probably El Mirage.

What do you think of that desert 'Mountain Range'? A comment is worth a click.

Clint Eastwood, Badass Car Guy

Perhaps the icon of macho movie stars, and a living legend, Clint Eastwood has become a standard in international films. Clint started trying out for bit parts in movies, and was signed as a contract player for Universal. He found work as an actor with brief appearances in such B-films as Tarantula (1955), and Revenge of the Creature (1955), but found even bigger and better things with A Fistful of Dollars (1964). He directed his first movie, the thriller Play Misty for Me in 1971. He also starred in the movie, set in the car town of Carmel and Big Sur. But when I think of Clint, I think of "Dirty Harry," a badass dude and car guy.

Not really looking like a "Badass" in 1959 at the wheel of his Turn Pike Cruiser, but still enjoying the Union 76 Ocean Highway section of Pacific Ocean Park in Santa Monica with his wife Maggie Johnson. Image via, Getty.

"I think people jumped to conclusions about Dirty Harry, 1971 without giving the character much thought, trying to attach right-wing connotations to the film that were never really intended. Both the director and I thought it was a basic kind of drama - what do you do when you believe so much in law and order and coming to the rescue of people and you just have five hours to solve a case? That kind of impossible effort was fun to portray, but I think it was interpreted as a pro-police point of view, as a kind of rightist heroism, at a time in American history when police officers were looked down on as "pigs," as very oppressive people - I'm sure there are some who are, and a lot who aren't. I've met both kinds." - Clint Eastwood

Clint working on his 1958 Jag XK 120 in 1960. Image via, Getty.

The genesis of his production company - Malpaso - had a curious origin. When an Italian director approached Eastwood about appearing in what would become the "Spaghetti Western" trilogy: A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965), and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, in 1966, Eastwood was eager for a plum part but was advised against it by his agent, suggesting it would be a "bad move"..."mal paso". Against all odds, the actor went ahead and accepted the "man with no name" role and his decision turned out to be a good move. Eastwood never forgot the irony of the situation and thereafter adopted "Malpaso" as his production company name. He also owns, Clint's Ranch, a lodge/restaurant/bar hangout in the south of Carmel for car people during Monterey Car Week.

Seen here with his Ferrari 275 GTB in 1965. Image via, Getty.

"People have lost their sense of humor. In former times we constantly made jokes about different races. You can only tell them today with one hand over your mouth or you will be insulted as a racist. I find that ridiculous. We didn't think anything of it or have a racist thought. It was just normal that we guys made jokes based on our own nationality or ethnicity. That was never a problem. I don't want to be politically correct. We're all spending too much time and energy trying to be politically correct about everything." -Clint Eastwood

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Cliff Dwellers

It just put a smile on my face. Life Magazine has captured some amazing images over the years documenting our love affair with cars and car people. This one, I'm sure somewhere in L.A., clubs have scribed paintings of their 'Car Plaques' on the cliff, with a Ford Shoebox standing guard. The Toucans, Igniters, Black Rats, Valley Cruisers, Quarter Kings and more.

Image via.
I'm sure in every local, the clubs existed and still do. Close by we had, and still have, the King Pins, Prowlers, Chiefs, Bean Bandits, , Cam Pounders, Axle Dragers, Shifters and others. I guess it's only natural, as all of us go through life, we always look for our packs.
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Carmel-By-The-Sea Concours 2011... Update

The cell phone calls and it's Doug Freedman, the architect, craftsman, and founder of the Carmel Concours. He had just e-mailed me the entry information for this years event in August. As we talked, he relayed to me that his goal was to make this the most prestigious Concours for the Porsche Marque in the States, and well it should be after the previous three shows. But here is what really grabbed my ear... his desire to also get "Hot Rods" to enter with their own class. I had posted more about the upcoming show here, so check it out and spread the word. This is really a very cool show...try to make it.
To quote Doug..."RIDE'em, DRIVE'em, RACE'em and don't forget to SHOW'em"

Here is the link for the entry info and forms: http://www.carmelconcours.com/PDFApplicationEntry.pdf

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John Wenderski's Accident

I received a comment and email from John's son, Mike. He has requested any stories or info about his dad's tragic accident at the Ramona Drag Strip. Some of you posted comments here. If you can add anything, please contact him at, jimista22@verizon.net.

'The Mexican Trot'

I received this from Marty, fellow blog follower, contributor, and all around cool car guy. I just love looking at these old images, the clothes they're wearing, the cars with the old plates, and just the general feel of freedom, as it was.

An "early days" Jaguar Tour to Ensenada

By Marty Goldsmith

In the Spring of 1958, the Jaguar Owners Club, from Los Angeles, organized a tour to Ensenada, Baja California Norte. At that time the coastal toll road from Tijuana did not exist, so the route followed the inland two lane road through the countryside and mountains. It was a good example of the 'twisties', well suited to sports cars, trucks, and burros. The Ensenada police ran escort for us as we approached the then small town.

Our first stop was at the base of the new sub-division called Chapultepec Hills. While the roads were in place, no homes had yet been built. From the picture, you can see that the main road up was long and provided a few bends. Here we staged a hill-climb. You could see the start line from the finish, so as the starting flag was dropped, the timer at the top started his stop-watch. No electronic timers here! No spectators, no problems.


One only wonders, what this looks like today.

Check out the "Floor Shows Nightly" banner hanging high.

From this fine beginning the group moved to the Hotel Bahia. Then it was the best in town, and right on the beach. Now it shows its age and is several blocks from the water. But the owner, Raul Ramirez Funke, had made all arrangements with the local officialdom, and had prepared a rousing fiesta to mark our arrival. Dancing, drinking, eating, and just generally whooping it up completed our afternoon. It all seemed quite exotic to our gang, and we had a wonderful evening.

Nothing like dancing with a 'six-shooter' on your hip.

Party time in the streets, cars and confetti.

After breakfast the next morning we all moved to the town square at the northern end of the business district. It is still there. Under the watchful gaze of the local citizens, we set up a slalom course around the square. As I recall we used dirt-filled paper bags for cones. It was a tight course, but a lot of fun, and the kids really got excited watching.

I just love the autocross through the streets of town with the checker flag waving.

As we wound down, and started packing up, one of the local bar owners appeared on the scene carrying cases of beer. This was offered to all participants in appreciation of the entertainment they had provided.

Time for a beer, pack up, through the helmet in the back and head home.

Can you imagine that happening today? It was a simpler time, and it is not surprising that we old-timers wax nostalgic.

What ever happened to the original Mexico, the real Mexico, the dancin' in the streets Mexico?

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As Talked About... Ramona Drag Strip

In the last Ramona Drag Strip post the comments talked about, John Wenderski and his "Black Beauty" Top Fuel Dragster. Unfortunately, the car in this image and the video, was destroyed and he was killed at Ramona. You can go back and look at Jack Freitas' comment in this post about witnessing the accident.

The music in this video takes me back to Dobie Gillis, Maynard G. Krebbs and Zelda.

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Day In The Life...Pain

I sit here like a stunned "Guinea Pig" gawking at the screen. I just brewed up a nuclear 'Cup of Joe' in the microwave moments ago...as I sipped...damn it was hot! However, not to be distracted with such irrelevant things, I'm glad to say, we got some great comments here on the Ramona Drags. Now, with 3rd degree balloon sized blisters exploding on my tongue, making it hard to breath, I think that's all I can post today. Oh yeah, I added a 'Calendar' page to the blog. Check it out at this spot, if you want me to add anything, shoot me an email, leave a comment, or send flowers.

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Ramona Drags ...Some Rare Images

Got these images from my Facebook buddie, Jon Guilmet. Jon has built, restored and raced more cars than most, and he had these saved from the years he was running at Ranoma. Very cool and rare images of the programs.

This was San Diego's first drag strip to have grandstands and even had a plywood timing tower.

Back in the day, many of San Diego's Car Dealers sponsored race cars, here's a shot of the McCune Plymouth.

I remember the "Shannon" Plymouth well. It was a beautiful orange-red color with the flat white VHT headers poking out - intimidating all comers. However Dick Boynton had the class record there at 120.07 mph in his "Ramrod" Hemi.

San Diego was a hotbed of racing, this strip was called "San Diego Raceway," it was an effort to keep the kids from racing on the streets and put them onto a track. Check out more on that at this post.

Related post: The Accident

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