Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Speed Shops / Karl and Veda Orr's

This little jewel of a "Speed Shop" looks kinda' lonely sitting there. Well why wouldn't it, it's one of the first Speed Shops that came along to help ignite the world of hot rodding. This is Karl and Veda Orr's shop that opened up in 1940 in Los Angeles after George Wight's Bells Auto Parts in 1923, Lee Chapel's shop in 1929 and Jim White's in 1932 years before the postwar hot rod boom. Orr's shop quickly became a hangout for local hot rodders as it was considered one of the best.

Karl ran his shop as a mechanic, parts supplier and early member of the SCTA(Southern California Timing Association). Both Karl and Veda were racers, however before WWII women were not allowed to belong to the SCTA. This did not stop Veda, as men went off to war and with her interest in racing on dry lakes, she introduced her own "California Timing" news publication pictorial featuring popular race cars of the period that she produced at the shop. When SCTA's activities were put on hold during the war, she extended her "CT" news to a special-interest mailer sent to hot rod interested military servicemen gratis, at least to ones she could locate. It was a little touch of home.

"She was the glue that held hot rodding together during the war years." - Tom Medley

Veda was granted membership to SCTA after the war and the speed shop continued at the original location in Culver City until it closed sometime in the 50's. The shop was reopened in the 60's on Sierra Highway in Mint Canyon, California.

The Deuce sitting outside the Culver City Speed Shop. Notice the track car inside the shop on the left.

Friday, December 23, 2011

That Time of Year...

Well as the blog finishes it's second year, I would like to take the opportunity to thank each and every reader, subscriber, friend and devotee to "Along For The Ride" and wish you all, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas with a cartoon that harkens back to the likes of Ed Roth....


Finishing the first year there were 15,000 clicks to the blog...finishing the second year there were 65,000 clicks from readers all over the world; the U.S. leading the way, then in order, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, France, Netherlands, Italy, Brazil, Spain, Japan, Kuwait, Turkey, Slovenia, Mexico and others. Keep the faith, please share with a friend and keep on reading.

If you have old stories or photos to parcel out to others, please let me know. Email me here.

Now it's time to suck it up and head into year three...

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Monday, December 19, 2011

Bonneville / A Case Study in Experimentation

The salt has called many a driver, and in 1966 it was Tom Bruch's turn with his 1956, 356 Porsche Speedster. However, this was a return trip after the previous year there with a VW, he had obviously caught the "Bonneville bug." It seems that once a driver touches the salt, he's destined to find his way back one way or another and why not, the Speedster was a more aerodynamic shape.

Back in those days drivers experimented without the aid of computers with engine modifications, such as "scrapers" to pull the oil off the cranks, cams, head designs as well as other engine tweaks, and including body aerodynamics. It was a giant test lab and still is today.

"You are trying to get the most out of whatever cc's you are playing with, but it's not just the engines and horsepower...you have to look at the whole system, which includes aerodynamics, gearing, and even the weather."- Tom Bruch

Dick Koenig did a wonderful interview with Tom that was published through the excellent  "356 Registry" in 2001 along with photos from, Carter Kudrle and Mark Bouljon. It's a great read about the ingenuity that Bonneville competitors are up for. You can find the full story by clicking here.

The Bonneville crew; L to R, Dr. John Dickinson, Tom Bruch, Carter Kudrle and Howard "Bud" Jackson with the Speedster in 1966 sporting Goodyear "Blue Streak" tires.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Just Passin' Time...

Joe tugged the corner of his sweat laden hat to bring it down over his left eye. A gray-blue whiff of smoke from his unfiltered Chesterfield brought his right eye to squint. The coffin nail twiched up n' down between his chapped lips as he asked, "Where you goin'?" Betty turned and looked back as a shell of a smoldering ash from his cigarette hit the dusty ground. She had already loaded two suitcases in the Meissen Blue Speedster. Her reply said volumes...



Saturday, December 10, 2011

"Magicar" / Time with... Bill Pitts

Imagine you are fourteen or fifteen, sitting on a wooden boarded grandstand with your dad, watching a golden colored dragster called "Magicar" blast down the local strip...now imagine forty-five years later you had rescued the outdated rail, restored it and had the opportunity to show it to a new generation. That is just what Bill Pitts is doing.

It goes along with the increasing popularity of survivor and historic cars. People are no longer looking at old race cars as outdated relics. They get excited about what they are seeing, hearing and the history of those cars. It's also about past owners, drivers and builders brought back to the surface, and we all get a glimpse of how it really was.

At many of the drag meets and local car shows there is a spectacle called "Cacklefest" where nitro-methane dragsters are started to wow the crowds. I had the opportunity to sit down at a Goodguys show, and do an interview with Bill to find out more about his "Magicar."


Monday, December 5, 2011

Drag Racing a 4 Cam... / Jack McAfee

This is for all my Porsche 356 buddies. Jack McAfee, the Hollywood Imports and Burbank Imports Porsche Dealer was not only a veteran lakes and road racer, he also challenged the Model A and Model B motors that dominated NHRA's X/Dragster class with this 600 pound 4 cam strip car that he built. The new car was running competitive mid-11s at 107 mph in the quarter. Notice it has no starter motor, is topped with Solex carbs and is seen wearing skinny Michelin tires.

Does anyone out there in the 356 world know any more about this car?

Image © Eric Rickman


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