Racin' as Fast as the Gas Pedals Would Let Them... / Riverside Raceway

This was shot from the bridge over the straight at Riverside Raceway in California. The start of a "Small Bore" race with the usual traffic jam. What I find interesting is the mix of cars, an Alfa, Sprites, a "Balboa" Datsun 2000, a Morgan, and a few Sports Racers/Can-Am type cars thrown in for good measure. Must have been fun!

Shot in 1971 at Riverside Raceway. Image © Mickey Pleasant

Riverside had its inaugural race in 1957. It fell to progress and development and held its last race in 1989.

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Monterey Car Week ... 2012

It seems as though this week just creeps up, slowly simmering continuously on a back burner in my brain. It's car nirvana. If you've never been, try it at least once. Here's a list of "Don't Miss" events for the week. Check the web sites listed for cost and dates/times.

The 1982 Historics, first year for Porsche...great memories. Image © "Along For The Ride"

Wienermobile / Miles of Smiles...

Immigrant Oscar Mayer first began working in a Detroit meat market in the late 1800s and later opened his own market with his brother in Chicago, but it wasn't until 1936 that Oscar's nephew, Carl, came up with the idea of a automobile shaped like a hot dog on a bun to promote the companies products. The Wienermobile was born.

1936 Wienermobile custom built by General Body Company, Chicago.

Petroliana Crack... / Matthews Auctions

Well, well, whaddaya know? Paging through a magazine yesterday, I came across this auction for "Petroliana." It's the stuff nobody really needs, but, lots of us think it's kinda cool. I even have a few signs nailed to the inside walls of the garage.

The colors and retro graphics keep luring me back like an ugly drug, to purchase another piece. You could call Matthews Auctions, a pimp of some sorts, supplying us addicts. For those of you that haven't kicked the nasty habit, I've included a link at the end of the post to their on-line catalog. It's certainly worth a look just to check out the prices. I may even have to sell a car to get another fix! Their current action ends, June 23rd.

Rare Easy Pour sign, estimate, $6000 - $8000.

L.A. River Basin Drag Racing / The Nights Rocked...

It was the mid-fifties and not unlike the streets today when it came to drag racing, the allure of going fast and getting away with it, you and your friends, was hard to resist. And, what could be better than night racing?  Sure there was a strip to the south in Orange County, California that held weekly events, the first on its kind, where John Wayne Airport now sits. But, that wasn't like impromptu racing that was conjured up at Bob's Big Boy Drive-in, Grisinger's, or Harvey's Broiler after a burger and malt in front of your best girl.

Naturally, there were plenty of places to race, San Fernando Road, North Sepulveda Blvd., Ventura Boulevard, anyplace with a stop light to "choose off" and light them up to find out who was the fastest. Sometimes it would even come down to racing for "pinks." But the cops weren't amused.

The law was trying to crack down on the hoodlums any way they could. They were cruising along side the kids on the street trying to nab them, so the kids came up with the idea to take it off the streets down into the L.A. River Basin. It was called, "The River Road," a wide concrete channel with a trickle of water running down the middle during the summer. It was smoothed out from water running over it for years during the winter, long, wide, and straight, with banked sides, perfect to sit and watch the action below.

The cops finally figured it out and would sit at the top of the entry/exit road to the channel, and when the kids would leave they would hand out tickets for equipment violations or exhibition of speed. Life Magazine was there to capture the images with a long shutter.

The river basin would end up being a place to film movies such as, Grease, Gone in 60 Seconds, Repo Man, The Gumball Rally and more, with racing no more.

L.A. River Basin Drag Racing,1950s. Image © Life archives

Carmel By The Sea Concour on the Avenue 2012

As I sit here thinking about the upcoming summer car adventures, there's one special event that stands out among the multitude of gatherings. The "Carmel-By-The-Sea Concours on the Avenue" claims the spot as a Must-Do...Must-See over the top event. The date is August 14, 2012.

This year as in the past, the concours will have special classes for Porsche's as well as Ferrari's through the year 1989. For those of you that are caretakers of Porsche 356 or early 911 cars, this is definitely the place for your car to be seen. You say, "I don't have one of those." Don't worry, this is also a multi-marque friendly show including hot rods, 1940 through 1973 along with the Heritage Avenue Exhibit, any vehicle, any year. If you haven't entered, do it today. If you just want to go as an onlooker, the event is designed to be a fun, free, family friendly, pedestrian walk-about with the streets closed, lined with beautiful cars and key to education for all. What better way to spend the day than on the streets of Carmel checking out the machinery. And, I almost forgot to mention, the shops lining the streets are decked out in window displays to celebrate the concours occasion.

Rare Corvette "Grand Sport" rolls across the podium. Image via Road & Track.

Here's a link to the Carmel-By-The-Sea Concours on the Avenue. See you there!

Related Post: The Action Replay, 2011...photos.

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