VOLUME 167, ISSUE 12 DECEMBER 2012

Hello all fellow Road Kings.

Well this is it, it’s the last one. After this one I got nothin for ya, that is until next year’s January newsletter. You know our car club has had one hell of a year, and you all should be very proud of the club. We have all worked very hard in many different ways to accomplish the successful year our club has had.

Also, all you guys that supported our E board throughout the year, your great ideas and suggestions helped the officers make in my opinion, some very positive decisions. And as far as Frank, Don, Chuck, and Roger are concerned, I couldn’t have performed my duties as club president without your support, and I thank you guys for that. I look forward to next year in helping the Road Kings in whatever way I can.

At the next meeting we will discuss the car shows for next year, voting on a couple of new perspective members, and hopefully some guys will step up and help with our events next year.

We have two new officers coming in, Chuck Null as Treasure and Brain Pucio as Secretary. They stepped up to help when the club needed them; more to come.

Don’t forget, club membership (dues) are due NOW!

So that’s it! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. Wishing everyone a great NEW Year to come. God Bless and remember, yep keep em out of the garage.

Rick

I want to thank everyone for a great year and looking forward to 2013.

With the 60th anniversary behind us, it is back to planning for the car shows, finding a member to plan our events, and get on with cruisin’ on down the highway again. Several of the wives have asked to put together a cruise through the back country, stop at a couple of shops and end up at a restaurant for lunch. So come on, let’s get started.

Have a safe and family filled Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!

HAVE FUN! Frank Nay

ROAD KING’S AWARD BANQUET

What a blast! Tons of fun, food, drink (coffee), friends and family, gifts and more gifts. In order to eat Brian Pucio would ask if anyone had a $2 bill, or a lighter (not a bic), hole in your sock, almost anything (scavenger hunt). The person that produced the item, their table received their dinner. Our table was really hungry by the time we were served.

A Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Bill Loven for his support throughout the years, (Road Kings I and Road Kings 2nd generation). Several members got up to speak about their life experience with Bill, and to his surprise his immediate family were there. CONGRATS Bill!

Following Bill’s award came the awards handed out to the Executive Board and the outgoing officers. This year we had two Racers receiving awards, Al White racing his fantastic GTO and to the surprise of many “Fast” Jack Beckman (Top Fuel Funny Car Champion) for 2012 was present to receive his award.

Party was fun, and it was wonderful to have in the same room TV Tommy Ivo, “Fast” Jack, and Jimmy Miles. Thank you all for coming.

BILL AND NANCY LOVEN WITH FAMILY

“FAST JACK”, JIMMY MILES, TV TOM

OUR PREZ SCHMOOZING WITH THE LADIES

CAN YOU GUESS WHAT IS INSIDE?

November Drag Race Report

Hi Kings and Queens, can you believe another year went by. All and all I had a great year racing the G.T.O, as always the support I get and enthusiasm from the Road Kings is immeasurable, and I really appreciate it. I really had a great year winning a championship in A/GAS with WCHRA, and 3rd and 4th in my other 2 assoc even though I missed several races during some family tragedies. The last race was a great happening, (THE HOT ROD REUNION) which is a compete circus, but a blast. I want to thank Bob Beck for his supper announcing. Thanks to Doug Auzene, Carl Grossman,Joel Embrick, and Stan Dalton for coming up for support. I fed and gave them as much to drink as I could. Thanks to Joe Heinemann for the best crew I’ve ever had. I was pitted across from 5 beautiful gals that were skimpily dressed for 4 days I think that made my quests very happy.

Oh yea the race,  I was #1 Qualifier for a while with a 7.606 on the 7.60 index. I wound up 3rd out of 32 cars, this class is really tight. I won round 1 on a hole shot running a 7.63 to a faster 7.62, but I left first and got there first. I red lit in round 2 with a .001 red, almost perfect, but red. Any way I had a great time and the car is all apart being freshened from one end to the other. Can’t wait for next year, and I think my first points race is the March Meet, Maybe we can have another Road King outing, I would like that. Til then Yours  truly  Al White  Again special thanks to Sue, Joe and Beverly Heinemann, Stan and Sharron Dalton.

“Todd Smith is the baddest hombre in the nitro pits right now. Those nine Valvoline guys gave me a chance to live my fantasy.”
In 2003, Beckman had to win the last 12 rounds of the season to win the Super Comp world championship.
“They’re both incredibly special,” he said of his championships. “This is different because there are so many more people who helped us get here from our crew to all the guys back in our fab shop and machine shop in Brownsburg, Ind., that build these cars. They bust their cans all year long.
“I still can’t believe we’ve done this.”
The following are Beckman’s results from Pomona’s Auto Club Raceway:
FUNNY CAR
Event winner: Cruz Pedregon (Cruz Pedregon Racing)
No. 1 qualifier: Ron Capps (DSR) 4.007, 319.29
Jack Beckman, Valvoline NextGen Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 3
1st round: BECKMAN (4.038 sec., 317.19 mph) def. Alexis DeJoria (6.564, 98.95 mph)
2nd round: BECKMAN (4.027, 317.79) def. Jeff Arend (4.113, 311.92)
Semifinals: Cruz Pedregon (4.023, 314.09) def. BECKMAN (4.086, 311.99)
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 4.117 sec., 273.00 mph

FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 4.025 sec., 319.75 mph

SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Session 3: 4.292, 219.72
Session 4: 5.653, 121.44
NHRA FULL THROTTLE STANDINGS
(Unofficial final standings; DSR drivers in CAPS)
FUNNY CAR
1. JACK BECKMAN, 2,610
2. RON CAPPS, 2,608
3. Mike Neff , 2,497
4. Cruz Pedregon, 2429
5. Courtney Force, 2383
6. JOHNNY GRAY, 2,357
7. Robert Hight, 2302
8. Tim Wilkerson, 2,293
9. John Force, 2,281
10. Jeff Arend, 2,267
11. MATT HAGAN, 1,216
2013 MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES OPENER
Feb. 14-17, 2013: 53rd annual NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, Calif. cited:shoeracing.com

Jack Beckman
2012 Funny Car Champion makes NHRA history

POMONA, Calif. —

Talk about Cinderella. In one of the most surprising runs to a championship in NHRA history, Beckman went from the afterthought step-child to the top

For Beckman, it was elation, a stunning championship season that seemed unimaginable seven months ago. Beckman was asked to give up his car and crew to help Capps and his big-money sponsor, NAPA, swapping teams when Capps was down and Beckman was up.

“It’s incredible to be here now,” Beckman said. “It wasn’t my decision [to make the swap]. I thought we would be lucky to finish in the top five. People called and said I got the short end of the stick, but this is a business and Don always has given me a car that could win. I knew he would again.”

Don Schumacher hired Todd Smith to tune Beckman’s car, which had been Capps’ struggling car. But magic happened. Things clicked with Smith, Beckman and the crew.

Beckman said the championship happened because Rahn Tobler, his old crew chief who switched to Capps, helped Smith learn the ropes when he first arrived.
  
“Rahn and that team did everything they could to make sure Todd and this crew had everything it needed after the switch,” Beckman said. “I can’t say enough about these guys. My name goes in the record books, but they are the reason it goes in there.”

Beckman, however, is the man who kept his head up and stayed positive no matter what was thrown at him this season, including this weekend.

On Thursday, Beckman sat in his car while it became a four-wheel grenade, burning off one of his eyebrows while flames engulfed his car as its body shattered into a hundred pieces. The next day he was the top qualifier.

On Saturday, Beckman watched Capps become the No. 1 qualifier, making his lead over Capps only two points entering Sunday’s eliminations.

None of it mattered — not changing teams, changing cars, changing crew chiefs, not even an exploding hot rod three days earlier. When you beat cancer, every other challenge seems a little less difficult.

“Maybe it gives you a better perspective,” Beckman said. “It changes your frame of mind. Losing a round of racing isn’t the end of the world when you’re just glad to be alive. I’m just really glad to be here.”

Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire

“THE FOLLOWING ARE PHOTOS TAKEN FROM MY TELEVISION WHEN “FAST JACK’S” CAR EXPLODED”

CITY OF BURBANK CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING PARADE
Mickey & Minnie Mouse arrive at Burbank City Hall’s Tree Lighting via Rich Raad’s 57 custom chevy on Saturday, December 1, 2012. Representing the Road Kings…

VOLUME 166, ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2012

Hello All Road Kings

It is close to the end of a great year for our club. We had a lot of good times, laughed a lot and were lucky enough to be members during our 60th year. The events that took place for our anniversary brought great pride and notoriety to our club. The different events throughout the year has taken us a long way with just two months left to enjoy this trip.

So in continuing a great run we should all celebrate our CHRISTMAS PARTY with a bang. If any of you out there have any ideas for the best Christmas party ever, please let the fearless Frank Nay know what you believe would be a fantastic party. Yeah! Yeah! some of you think, not another Christmas party, but remember it is your club, and you need to get off you asses and show up! Oh yeah IT’S FREE.

Hey! Thanks a lot everyone for not nominating new officers for the coming new year. The five of us are so excited we get to do this again. Ha! Ha! I guess the joke is on us, but you can bet we are looking for replacements really fast.

In addition, we are looking for four people to organize events for the coming year. Seems like we already have six events on the books, so yeah, we need some help with the rest.  Also this year we are looking for speakers for our monthly meetings, so put your thinkin’ caps on and suggest someone that will speak at the meetings. It is always interesting when we have a speaker.

Well, I’m tired of this letter, as you can probably tell. See you at our next meeting, there will be a sign-up sheet for the Christmas party, or if your arm is broken or you can’t make the meeting, have someone sign your name.

Keep Em Out Of The Garage!
Rick

I want to thank everyone that showed up for the Santa Anita Show. We were all busy but some of us were able to watch the horses run. We won a little money and lost a little, so not a bad day in the scheme of things.

The officers have been working on nominations for officers next year, and will have further information at next month’s meeting.

Just a few scheduled events at this time:

Nov ? – Mystery Run
Dec 1 – Christmas Awards Banquet

HAVE FUN! Frank Nay

CREW DISTRACTIONS

The above photo shows the miserable site found across the road from the Al White Racing camp, and creating such a nuisance(?) for Al White, Joe Heinemann, Stan Dalton, Karl Grossman, and Joel Embick. SURE! photo sent in by Joel Embick

SANTA ANITA CAR SHOW

Frank and I would like to say thank all the Road Kings that participated in this year’s Santa Anita Car Show for supplying raffle gifts, and working extremely hard day of  show. The members that failed to show up, or call, please remember this is one of the prerequisite of being a Road King.
A SPECIAL Thanks to Roger Nevrel, and Chuck Hanson for the great job they did for the vendors, sales & raffle.  It was a long day, but as you will see when the numbers come out, it will be well worth it.

Again the Road King’s wives on the registration table and sales did a fantastic job.  T-shirts, posters, and dash plaques will be at the club meeting. Shirts are $10 per shirt until they run out…. Thanks again… Don Baldaseroni

August Drag Race Report

Three weekends in a row, I’m exhausted. I had some great moments and a few not so great. 1st weekend was the last of the Heritage series, qualified 8th out of 16 with a 7.63 @ 180MPH. LOST IN the quarter finals with a breakout 7.598. second weekend was the most exciting, qualified 7th with a 7.62, the class is getting so tough. won the 1st round against  the Valley Head Service blown 57 Chevy on a hole shot win my .040 light to his.065. we both broke out.  My 7.59 was less than his 7.58. next another blown 57 Chevy, a promod blown hemi with a 19 kid, and I treed him .018 to his .055 my 7.67 got there first to the kid’s 7.65. next in the semis a 63 vette went red and I ran a perfect 7.60 trying to catch him. I’m in the final, however there is a puddle of tranny fluid under my car.There must have been 5 old geezers under my car helping me put the spare trans and converter in. Gimme a 1/2 inch wrench, gimmie a 9/16 etc, etc, etc. It was like the keystone cops. Any way, we were the last 2 cars down the track and the weather cooled off a lot, but I did not even think about the tune I only had 35 minutes to change the trans! Well the car came off the jacks as I was adding trans fluid(it was over filled a lot I found out later), it was a seen out of nascar as I put on fire suit as I drove to the line with 30 seconds to spare. We both broke out, but what a race, I was so amped up I cut a .001 light to my opponents .012. I went 7.549 to his 7.52. I passed him in the lights by just a little too much, his break out was 3 thounths less, and he won. I was just glad nothing fell off the car. I will recap the 3rd race, the reunion next month. Thanks again to Stan &Sharron Dalton, Joe and Beverly for their hospitality and Joe’s help on the car and Sue for her great work, Happy Hot rodding   Al White

Jack Beckman Report

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 28, 2012) – Beckman advanced to the championship round at Las Vegas but his Dodge Charger R/T lost traction and Capps produced a time of 4.070 to record his series-best fifth event title of the year.
“We had an off weekend,” Beckman said. “Our car didn’t respond to a lot of the changes on Sunday and we still went to the final round.”
Beckman received a big break in the semifinals when he faced rookie Courtney Force.
Beckman’s Dodge lost traction early then went every which way but straight before coasting across the finish line in 7.278 at 91.44 mph. Although Force’s time was 4.119 (312.93) she left the starting line too early and was handed a redlight disqualification.
“That was our lucky win,” Beckman said. “My guys must have put a four-leaf clover, horseshoe and whatever other good-luck charm they could find in our Dodge.”
Force was the third John Force Racing driver he eliminated on Sunday. He also beat three JFR drivers at the 2009 event near Atlanta.
A big win for Beckman that also benefitted Capps was in the second round when he beat Mike Neff of JFR. Neff started Sunday 48 points behind Beckman and third in points, but Neff fell 88 points out of first place.
“The nice thing is that we went from having a remote chance when we were almost 100 points behind (Capps) to now having as good as chance as anybody to win the championship,” Beckman said. “I’m excited to get to Pomona. I think we’ll figure out what was ailing our car and Pomona is our kind of race track.”
cited: http://www.shoeracing.com/news/capps-tops-beckman-in-championship-round-at-las-vegas-but-beckman-maintains-four-point-lead-heading-to-finale

VOLUME 165, ISSUE 10 OCTOBER 2012

Hello All Road Kings:

We are all getting ready for the Santa Anita Car Show, and any support from the members is as usual, greatly appreciated. Don and Frank will give everyone an update at the next meeting. Nothing should change, but never the less we should all be at the meeting. Also, if each member donates a raffle small, no matter how small, it will really help our sales.Please bring to the October meeting.

Speaking of the next meeting, this is the Club officers nomination meeting. All the officers, including myself would like to say that if you liked the way we handled the operation of the Club, especially the E board decision making, and want to see it continue into the future, keep that in mind when you nominate the next officers. We always had an open door policy to the E board, and it seemed to work really well. So remember when deciding the right people for the job, according to the By-Laws Section IV “F” the selection must come from past elected officers or from the executive committee, past or present.

A very sad note about our friend and Road King buddy Mike Fennel. He passed away at his work. Mike was very instrumental in our hobby cars. He has built some very beautiful and notable cars. The Road Kings Club will miss him, so let’s all say a prayer for Mike, his wife Julie and their family.

We will see you all at our next meeting, Oct. 9th and I am working on a garage run in November for the first Saturday, November 3, 2012. If anybody wants to be put on the list please call me or I will select the Places, and all will be in Burbank. Also same day, there is a new Go Kart place in Burbank. I’ll try to keep that on our list of fun for the Nov. 3rd garage cruise.

Keep Em Out Of The Garage!

Rick

Reminder! Everyone get ready for the Santa Anita Show. This is our big one, and everyone is expected to show up. We need help in the sales booth, so give Chuck Hanson a call to sign-up.

Don’t forget, this month we nominate new officers, so give it some thought and come ready to nominate your choice.

Just a few scheduled events at this time:

Oct 14 – Santa Anita Car Show
Oct 21/23 – Hot Rod Reunion
Oct 28 – Roamin’ Relics Car Show
Dec 1 – Christmas Awards Banquet

HAVE FUN! Frank Nay

WOULD THEY MISS YOU

Are you an active member, the kind that would be missed?

Or are you just content that your name is on the list?

Do you attend the meetings and mingle with the flock;
Or do you stay at home and criticize and knock?

Do you ever go and visit a member who is sick?
Or leave the work to just a few and talk about the “clique”>

Do you lend your strength to everybody’s gain?
Or are you ever a missing link in the Road Kings chain?

If by the grace of God you do what you can do. The there is no doubt, we would miss you! . . . . unknown author

CAR SHOW
We need all Road King members to bring their cars, late model Is ok as well YOUR STREET ROD. Fill out application and bring it in. WE NEED CARS!

The Santa Anita show is our main fund raiser and expected to really make a showing, so ask your neighbors, friends. WE WILL SEE YOU THERE!
Don Baldaseroni

Freeway Close: 210 Fwy. exit Santa Anita Avenue proceed south. Right on Huntington Dr.
Veer right onto Colorado Place to Gate 6
(Spectators & Entrants). Admission $5 – Parking $4.

MIKE FENNEL

As most of you have heard, one of our owe left us on October 18, 2012. Mike Fennel was a friend, mentor, and all around great guy to many. Many of us have been remembering his love for Julie and the cars that he transformed back into their original beauty, or turned into a work of art.

Mike, you will be missed by all that passed through your life, and the car world will never be the same. You will be missed buddy!

Julie, you are in our thoughts and prayers!

August Drag Race Report

Larry Dixon
Three-time world champion Larry Dixon will pilot the Dote Racing Top Fuel dragster at three of the remaining NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events this season, beginning with this weekend’s 5th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at zMAX Dragway.

Dixon, whose 62 Top Fuel victories rank second on the all-time list, has also signed on to compete with the part-time team in St. Louis and Reading.

“We are thrilled to partner with a driver of Larry’s caliber for the remainder of our scheduled races,” said Connie Dote, co-owner of Dote Racing. “Larry is one of the best drivers of all time, and we couldn’t be more excited to combine his talents with our car’s improving performance.”

“I’m really happy the Dotes offered me this chance to drive their car,” Dixon said. “It’ll be fun to get out there and duke it out with everyone again. I’ve been working hard at putting my own team together, and I know the Dotes are looking at what their next move will be in 2013. In the meantime, I’m happy to sub in for them. I feel like a free-agent quarterback who just got the call to come start the next game.

“I’ve known Doug [Kuch, crew chief] for 25 years, and it will be fun to work with him. Hopefully, they’ll get as much out of me driving for them as I will taking their car through these three races.”

The Dote team, with tuner Kuch, has turned heads this season by consistently posting competitive elapsed times on the scoreboard. The team has qualified at all seven races it has contested so far and reached the semifinals in Chicago, its best finish to date.

“We’ve gone rounds at the last two races, and with the car’s increasing performance, I’m interested to hear what kind of feedback Larry can give us,” Kuch said. “We are all looking forward to having him behind the wheel as we return to Charlotte.”

cited: http://www.nhra.com/story/2012/9/10/dixon-dote-racing/
 

Jack Beckman Report

In the championship round, Beckman, who has won three titles this year, faced reigning Funny Car world champion and teammate Matt Hagan who did not qualify for the Countdown or win a race this season. Beckman caught a break when Hagan left too early and drew a redlight foul, and the Valvoline car powered to a 4.132-second run at 306.53 mph.

Or it might be Beckman’s Valvoline Dodge.

The following are DSR results from the NHRA Midwest Nationals near St. Louis:

FUNNY CAR
Event winner: Jack Beckman (DSR)

No. 1 qualifier: Beckman 4.049 sec., 308.85 mph

Jack Beckman, Valvoline NextGen Dodge Charger R/T

Qualified: No. 1

Round 1: BECKMAN (4.127 sec., 306.12 mph) def. Alexis DeJoria (4.233, 294.37)

Round 2: BECKMAN (4.093, 306.95) def. Jeff Arend (broke)
Semifinals: BECKMAN (4.093, 302.35) def. Tony Pedregon (5.957, 134.52) 

Final: BECKMAN (4.132, 306.53) def. Matt Hagan (DQ, redlight)

cited
http://www.shoeracing.com/news/beckman-valvoline-nextgen-dodge-win-near-st-louis-move-within-30-points-of-funny-car-points-lead-in-countdown

VOLUME 164, ISSUE 9 SEPTEMBER 2012

Hello to all Road Kings!
Man, what a great time we had, celebrating the club’s 60th anniversary banquet at the world famous NHRA museum. What a site! I was speechless standing there, looking all the way through the museum, viewing all that history in Hot Rods with the likes of Ed Iskenderian sitting in plain view. I’m still in awe of all that history. All of “YOU” absentee members sitting at home, just think, we will never ever be able to repeat that night again, so you all missed a great event in the history making of our club history.

A very special “THANK YOU”, and I mean a really special “THANK YOU” to Mr. Karl Grossman. He and his crew really did a fine job. All the men and of coarse wives that helped put on this event did an outstanding job. The officers and myself want to THANK you for a wonderful time. Sue Baldeseroni, with the help of Chuck Null provided us with the greatest slide show, with all kinds of cars from the club’s archives along with photos provided to us from some of the original members. We all looked at them all night long just reminiscing We also had a superb racing panel to field any and all questions that people had. That of coarse was headed up by the one and only Bob Muravez. We had our banner on hand for all Road Kings to sign. The food was great, and drink was swell. It was a good time had by all!

The next meeting is a very important one. We are donating money to the club’s Charities, so please, everyone that can show up, please attend and bring your significant other. You know all you guys raised a hell of a lot of $$$$, $18000.00 to be exact, which represents a lot of hard work. Just know, if it weren’t for all of you, there wouldn’t be any $$$$ to help any of our Charities. I know some of you guys out there are thinking, that’s a lot of money, but we still have plenty more for the club to enjoy.

One more bit of business, we need all of the 60th anniversary banners back. They are the club’s property, and I don’t want anyone pissed off, especially if they end up somewhere that no one has authorized. So for now we will keep them in the trailer, unless we need them for an event.
We can possibly take orders and have them made for the guys that want banners. I know some of you guys mentioned you want to hang them in your garage. Next eboard we will see if its OK to order some (at club member expense of coarse). 

Also, Jimmy Miles is home from the hospital and doing great. Too much spicy food!

Keep em out of the Garage!  Rick

I want to thank all the members and Road Queens that supported the 60th celebration at the NHRA Museum. We all had a blast listening to the club’s history and antics. Not just drag racing but our club has several drag boat members as well.

We came across several photos of the water jockeys some balls-out and some upside down in the water. Good old Nick Sfetku still doesn’t know if he is up right or on his head. GREAT TIME!

Just a few scheduled events at this time:
Sep 9 – Harbor Run / BBQ at the Nay’s
Oct 14 – Santa Anita Car Show
Oct 21/23 – Hot Rod Reunion

HAVE FUN! Frank Nay

A MESSAGE FROM OUR 60TH EVENTS CHAIRMAN
I want to THANK all that came to the dinner at the NHRA Museum. You made it the tremendous success that it was, with great food and tons of fun.

The OLD (original) members that spoke about the old times; Bob Muravez, Don Gaide, Don Johnson, TV Tommy Ivo, and Tom Jandt were great, and couldn’t have expressed the club’s experiences any better. The poker walk worked out fantastic.

A special thank you to all that helped set up and tear down, you know who you are. For those that chose not to participate you missed a GOOD time and can’t imagine why you would miss out on your event of the year, but even so, you really did miss a great time.
Karl Grossman, 60th Event Chairman

SANTA ANITA CAR SHOW
Remember October 14th is our Santa Anita Show. We are asking for donation for the raffle again. If all of you bring in one donation, or buy something for the show, it will be greatly appreciated. Jim Gascoigne is our Fund / Donation Chairman.

ROAD KINGS CELEBRATE 60 YEARS AT NHRA MUSEUM
What a blast! Can’t believe what a fantastic job provided by the museum people to celebrate our 60th year. Karl Grossman did one hell of a job, and deserves a big ATTA A BOY from all of the members, even the members that should have showed up but didn’t.

Don Hoffman and Jimmy Miles greeted everyone at the door handing out everyone’s event packages, and Walking Poker Run opportunities. It was amazing to watch the cluster of original members come through the door dressed in their Hawaiian shirts and colors as if they had never left racing.

Everyone gathered around the slide show presentations listening to them describe the photo on the screen and reminisce about the good old days. We roamed through the museum remembering our favorite cars and drivers from the 50’s and 60’s finally returning to our tables for a BBQ feast of Tri Tip, Chicken, all kinds of salads, and mouth watering desserts. The chef came in and spoke of the old glory days when he ran with Ivo, Prudhomme, Safford and the crew, along with stories of the tracks we had all forgotten.

After dinner Muravez and Miles called up Don “The Beachcomber” Johnson, Don Gaide (Sour Sisters), and Tom Jandt. It was like a jam sessions, everyone hanging onto every word about the good old race days, but especially the racing days before safety and sanctions. WOW, YOU ALL MISSED THE BEST TIME OF THE 60TH!

ED “ISKY” ISKENDERIAN

DON “THE BEACHCOMBER” JOHNSON

“TV” TOMMY IVO

TOM JANDT

JIMMY MILES

BOB MURAVEZ, A.K.A. FLOYD LIPPENCOTT JR.

JOHNSON, IVO, JANDT, BOB MURAVEZ, DON “SOUR SISTERS” GAIDE

OUR PREZ TO THE RIGHT

BIG BEAR / AIRPORT CRUISE
Sorry but no story to go along with photos. All we know is that it rained at the Big Bear show and as seen in one of the photos Ed Drogmund refused to get wet.

AIRPORT CRUISE

August Drag Race Report

What a great turnout at the NHRA museum for the club’s 60th. Lots of fun, food, and drink, and it was all good. Such great Road King’s memorabilia and history, and always great to hear from my old Road King role models like Jimmy Miles, TV Tommy, Bob Muravez, and the others that showed.

Lynda and I had a great time, and want to thank all that made it happen. The club makes me proud when we put on such memorable events.

OK, on to the current racing. I locked up another A/Gas championship with WCHRA. The class has been canceled with WCHRA for now because there just are not enough cars that show up. It has become a 1 day event, and the guys that come from a distance like 2 and 3 day events, plus the event is in the heat of the summer. I was way ahead in the points so I am the Champ. The other associations fill the class quite nicely, so I will have plenty of races. I’m looking forward to October, when I will have 3 races in a row in Bakersfield, and hope you can all come up on Friday Oct. 19th for the Hot Rod Reunion. It’s a wild show.

Thanks again to my friends and helpers Joe Heineman, and Sharron & Stan Dalton, you make my racing fun!
Thanks for the club support and Sue for the news letter. 
As Always Al White

Jack Beckman Report

SORRY GUYS, RAINED OUT
RACE RE-SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 6-9

Court’s Ethanol Decision Jeopardizes Historic Vehicles, Specialty Parts

SAN Urges Congress to Ban E15
The U.S. Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit which challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to permit 15% ethanol (E15) content in gasoline for 2001 and newer model year cars and light trucks.  Over a year ago, the EPA raised the amount of ethanol permitted in gasoline from 10% (E10) to 15% (E15).  The agency has approved applications to sell the fuel and it may soon appear at a gas station near you.  The SEMA Action Network (SAN) opposes E15 based on scientific evidence that it causes corrosion with incompatible parts.  In light of the court’s decision, the SAN is now seeking passage of congressional legislation (H.R. 3199) that would prevent the EPA from permitting E15 sales until the National Academies has conducted a study on how E15 may impact gas-powered vehicles.  The bill has been approved by the U.S. House Science Committee and is pending on the House floor.  With little time to address the bill before the fall elections, it is important that lawmakers hear from you on this important issue.
We Urge You to Contact Your Members of Congress to Request Their Support for H.R. 3199
• The EPA permits ethanol in gasoline to be increased from 10 percent (E10) to 15 percent (E15).  Ethanol increases water formation that can then create formic acid and corrode metals, plastics and rubber.  Older cars and certain high performance specialty parts are not constructed with corrosion-resistant materials or able to tolerate the higher temperatures at which E15 may burn.  
• The EPA has acknowledged the dangers and made it “illegal” to put E15 in pre-2001 vehicles.  However, the EPA is willing to risk destruction of the vehicle/parts by relying solely on a gas pump label cautioning motorists not to misfuel their older vehicles.  The EPA estimates that there are 74 million such vehicles in harm’s way, along with millions more boats, lawnmowers and other gas-powered engine products.
• Many auto enthusiasts have complained for years about damage caused by E10, which is now in over 90% of gas sold in the U.S.  For example, corrosion has time to damage the engine, fuel line, fuel tank and exhaust systems when classic cars are infrequently driven.  E15 increases the risk of corrosion by 50 percent.
• The EPA permitted the sale of E15 before there was conclusive information with respect to materials compatibility, tailpipe emissions and fuel efficiency.
• H.R. 3199 would stop the sale of E15 until the National Academies has conducted a study on how gasoline blended with 15 to 20% ethanol may impact gas-powered vehicles. 
DON’T DELAY!  Contact your members of Congress immediately by phone or e-mail to request their support of HR 3199.  To identify your federal Representative and Senators in the U.S. Congress, click here: http://semasan.com/lookup.asp?g=semaga
Please e-mail a copy of your e-mail to Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.  Also, please forward this Alert to your fellow car enthusiasts.  Urge them to join the SAN and help defend the hobby! Thank you for your assistance.

VOLUME 163, ISSUE 8 AUGUST, 2012

Wow! Can you believe it is already August? It seems like the new year just started. We all get so busy time just screeches by.

Annual Donations
The officers got together and discussed our charities a few weeks ago. We have our list made up and will announce later this month. We plan on honoring our charitable organizations at the September meeting, and of course I want to invite all the Road Queens to attend. Further details to follow later this month.

NHRA Dinner Program
I want to take this moment to remind every member about the NHRA dinner, on August 25, 2012. Please bring your checkbook and see Chuck Stein to pay for your dinner. It is going to be a blast, with several of the Original members attending. Please show your support!

City of Burbank Car Show
For the members that attended the Downtown Burbank Car Show, man what a blast. The City presented our club with awards for our charitable work, and the fact that we have survived for 60 years. What an honor! There were cars from the Petersen Museum, and our old friend Bruce Meyer (remember his black and yellow checkered car and airplane)? So for those of you that did not make the event, you really missed out. This was far superior to Be-Boppin’ In The Park that was held in Magnolia Park.

Thanks for all of your support and remember to keep em’ out of the garage!
Rick

I want to thank all the members and Road Ueens that came out to the picnic. It was a blast. I don’t just mean the temparature either.
We are on the 2nd half of our 60th year with more fun and events to come. Get your ride ready for the NHRA Museum dinner, and your ears accustomed to a bunch of one-up-men-ship from some of our original Road Kings. See ya there!

Just a few scheduled events at this time:
Aug 10-12 – Big Bear Car Show
Aug 25 – NHRA Dinner for RK Club
Sep 9 – Harbor Run / BBQ at the Nay’s

HAVE FUN! Frank Nay

The next 60th event is the Dinner Cruise at the NHRA Museum, the 25th of August at 4:00 PM. It would be nice to have at least 100 and we can accommodate 150. This should be a great event and member participation would be appreciated, remember this is YOUR CLUB and the members make the club. The price is $30 a head and is due at the August meeting, please pay by check, it makes it so much easier on me. We will have full run of the Museum, a slide show of our cars and past events and a Liefest by some of our past and older members, not to mention a “Walking Poker Run. Also get your Hot Rods out for this event. If you want to bring guests it looks like we will have room.

Thank you for your support and patience.
Karl Grossman, 60th Event Chairman.

CONGRATULATIONS GO OUT TO TED SARAF
Put your hands together, and give Ted a warm, event stopping ATTA Boy! Award given by CHP Southern Division Chief Steven Beeuwsaert on CHP Day 6-13-2012.

We also owe Ted and his crew a big thank you for their work retrieving the Club’s stolen trailer. If it weren’t for him and his sources the trailer might have been placed on a freighter out of the country, along with all of our operating equipment and the thousands of dollars worth of Santa anita silent auction prizes.
“WE LUCKED OUT!” THANK YOU TED!

ROAD KING PICNIC A GAS!
What a blast! The day was fantastic, even if it was a tad warm. Most of the guys brought their cars, but a few decided to bring their better half in the cool convenience of an air-conditioned family car.

Handy Market served up a faire of Tri Tip, sausage salads, beans, and not to forget the piece d’ resistance, fruit cobbler. I did notice that the cobblers went fast, even faster then the Tri Tip. “What, the Road Kings with a sweet tooth! Say it ain’t so!

Everyone sat together and reminisce about past picnics, some wanting to go back to the beach, and others not really caring, just as long as the food was there. And for the group of Road Kings that sat in the shade on the hilltop, hey I wore my deodrant, and we saved you a spot under the tree, (although the City trimmed a tad to high for shade purposes.

ENJOY THE PICNIC

THE RODDERS

THE RACERS

THE FOODIES

THE BULLHORNS

AND. . . . .

July Drag Race Report
 
Sorry Race Enthusist, no report this month from our Buddy Al White.

Jack Beckman Report
MORRISON, Colo. (July 22, 2012) – Jack Beckman finished second for the NHRA Funny Car world championship last season, but after four races this year not many of his fans believed he would challenge for the prestigious crown this year.

Their Valvoline NextGen Dodge Charger R/T made a profound statement this weekend when the team was the No. 1 qualifier and won the event title Sunday in the Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in the Rocky Mountains near Denver.

SONOMA, Calif. (July 29, 2012) – A little bit of luck and some great driving skills propelled Jack Beckman and the Valvoline NextGen Funny Car team to a semifinal finish Sunday at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals in Northern California’s Napa Valley.
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS

First round: BECKMAN (4.323 sec., 235.47 mph) def. Dale Creasy Jr. (5.514, 128.87)

Second round: BECKMAN (4.972, 214.38) def. Alexis DeJoria (5.214, 168.40)

Semifinals: Johnny Gray (4.092, 307.16) def. BECKMAN (4.118, 304.19) cited:http://www.shoeracing.com/news/beckman-valvoline-nextgen-funny-car-team-
satisfied-with-semifinal-finish-at-the-nhra-sonoma-nationals

KENNY SAFFORD AT ROAD KING SHOW
Can you believe Kenny Safford of Safford-Gaide-Rattican (the Sour Sisters) was at the Road King’s Car Show sporting his famed Olds Top Fueler. Kenny has been a Road King since 1958. He came all the way from Chicago to help us celebrate 60 years. Thank you Buddy! You know we always save the best for last!

Safford found his drag racing roots as a member of the Road Kings car club. Arguably the Road Kings is not only the oldest “car club” still in existence, but it has also spawned more drag racing “super stars” than any such organization in history. To think that a bunch of kids from the San Fernando Valley could endure (and basically survive) 60 years of drag racing is remarkable. And the Road Kings are? To name a few: Tommy Ivo, Don Prudhomme, Tony Nancy, Tom McCourry, Bob Muravez, Roy Fjastad, Don Prieto, Don Johnson, Harry Hibler, Jimmy Miles, Ralph Marshall, Skip Togerson and many more. cited:http://cacklefest.com/Safford.shtml

The famed Safford-Ratican-Gaide/”Sour Sisters” Olds Top Fueler qualified seventh at the first Lions UDRA meet. Safford lost early on Saturday, but on Sunday opened eliminations with a first-round win over the previous night’s winner, Don Prudhomme. cited: http://www.dragracingonline.com/special/udra64_1.html

The Bent Axles Car Club of Santa Maria, put on a 3 day Rod Run every 3rd weekend in July. Rod Run consist of Meet and Greet with Strawberry shortcake on Fri., car show on Sat. in Old Town Orcutt, and a Poker Run, to a great Santa Maria style BBQ at a local park. They say it is the Best run in Ca., and we should all try it.

Burbank Classic Car Show: The show covered six blocks and 200 vintage automobiles, featuring our club’s 60th year, with awards handed out to our president and vice president. The spotlight was on the V8 Ford Mustang fastback driven by Steve McQueen in the 1968 film Bullitt, Herbie the Volkswagen Beetle of The Love Bug fame, a 1965 Sunbeam used for the 2008 Get Smart movie, the 1965 Lincoln Continental Convertible seen regularly on HBO’s Entourage, the original Bat Mobile and more.  In addition to vehicles with TV and film credentials there were several cars with huge pedigrees, such as a 1929 DuPont Model G Speedster (only nine are known to survive,) 1928 Studebaker President Sedan (complete with a rare period-correct radio) and 1934 La Salle Series 350 Convertible Coupe (the first General Motors car designed by the legendary Harley Earl) from the collection of the Petersen Automotive Museum.

All the Road Kings that did not show for the Downtown Burbank show really missed out on this one. The crowd was mindfull of the cars, with one of the spectators asking if he could sit in one of our cars, and no was accepted. Gail Stewart did a fantastic job, and had us all park together, not to mention the officer’s were awarded plaques for the club’s 60 years. Downtown afforded us many diverse restaurants and a whole new venue, and of course my choice was Story Tavern’s Bratwurst and all the trimmings.

There was only one complaint, and that was, the Police need a lesson in parking. I want to thank all the Road Kings that cme out. We had four cars that couldn’t make it due to problems getting them on the road, but all in all, a great time.
Thanks again…. Don Baldaseroni

VOLUME 162, ISSUE 7 JULY 2012

What a car show! We had more than 600 cars, not counting club cars, and more spectators than any one of our past car shows, not to mention the news press photos on line.

OH YEAH! What about That Cackle fest! The people that came to see the cacklefest were coming out of the wood work! The grin on  every one’s face when those race cars were lit up were a mile wide. Over and over, the roaring of those motors was sooo coool.

I want to thank all Road Kings and Queens that worked very hard too put this show on. Also a thanks to all committee chairmen that did a great JOB in organizing their committee. What a lot of fun that day was. How are we going to top it next year?

Chuck Stein will let us all know about the money side of the show at our next meeting, as well as a report from our show chairmen. Again, “I want to truly thank everyone for putting on an event that all will talk about for a long long time to come.

About the Charity Awards. The officers and Eboard met to discuss the charities that are going to receive a check from us, and the amounts. I will let everyone know the results at the August club meeting. I’m very sorry, but I wont be able to attend our July club meeting, for I’ve started a new company and need to attend a mandatory corporate meeting on the day as our club’s. Frank Nay will handle the July meeting.

I want to send out a shout to Mary Nay. She is home from the hospital and doing well.

All for now, and keep em’ out of the garage!
Rick

I want to thank all the members and Road Kings that came out to the show and participated in the success of the show. As members, it is our obligation to keep the Road Kings name visible and to make a prominent place in history as the earlier members have done. It was the cherry on top of my chocolate shake from Bob’s to have Don Prudhomme, Tommy Ivo, Kenny Safford, Spider, Jack Beckman and all those that made the Road Kings what it was and what it has become.

Just a few scheduled events at this time:
Jul 14 – Club Picnic
Jul 28 – Downtown Burbank Car Show
Aug 25 – NHRA Museum Dinner for 60th Year

HAVE FUN! Frank Nay

A MESSAGE FROM OUR 60TH EVENTS CHAIRMAN
The Dinner Cruise at Bob’s turned out very good. But it would have been nice to have had more there. A big THANK YOU to Jim Gascoigne and all the rest who assisted. Bob’s also went above and beyond to make this a great event.   

What a great car show and a big THANK YOU to all that were involved. I think it will go down as the best ever. The Cacklefest was a huge success and having the old member, racers on stage and talking about the good times in racing in the good old days was fantastic.

The next 60th event is the Dinner Cruise at the NHRA Museum, the 25th of August at 4:00 PM. As of this writing we have only 68 people signed up plus a few old members. It would be nice to have at least 100 and we can accommodate 150. This should be a great event and member participation would be appreciated, remember this is YOUR CLUB and the members make the club. The price is $30 a head and is due at the August meeting. The last time to sign up will be the July meeting as we need numbers for the caterer. We will have full run of the Museum, a slide show of our cars and past events and a Liefest by some of our past and older members. Also get your Hot Rods out for this event. If you want to bring guests it looks like we will have room, so think about who for our July meeting.

Thank you for your support and patience.
Karl Grossman, 60th Event Chairman.

A MESSAGE FROM CAR SHOW CHAIRMAN

Thanks to the insight of Jimmy Miles the Cacklefest came off without a hitch; not one complaint, however we did receive calls on how great the cars and event was, and they hope we would do it again next year…. Thanks all Road King members for the participation and hard work…. The wives in sales did a tremendous job and worked harder and longer than most..

BURBANK CAR SHOW
More information regarding the City of Burbank Car Show. The City is very excited to have the Road Kings this year and have a great show planned.

Date: Saturday, July 28th
You do not have to send in a photo of your car unless you choose to!
The Road Kings will be parked from Orange Grove to Palm on both sides of the street
The City is going to award the Road Kings with a special award on stage for our 60th year.
Don Baldaseroni will bring extra registration forms to the meeting, you just bring money $30
The City has extended the date to July 11th for us to turn in our registration, so Don needs all applications turned into him at Tuesday’s night meeting on June 10th.
We need to support our club, so please know, this event will not be like last year’s Centennial celebration, not nearly as many people to jam up the streets.
The is plenty of entertainment with the stage going up Orange Grove by the parking structure . great entertainment

JOHNNY CARSON PICNIC & CHARITY CAR SHOW
What a blast, from the opening ceremonies to the taillights blaring all different colors on the way out of the park. We had a fantastic car show. The Cacklefest was a hit and believe it or not, no complaints. I had one guy come up and tell me that they had to park on Alameda down by the hospital. They did not see the cars but all of a sudden there was a big blast bouncing off all of the buildings up and down Alameda and Olive when the vintage dragsters lit up. What a thrill!!!!

All the members were so proud when the original racers of the club got up on stage along with the second generation of racers to talk about their careers, and pranks played on one another. TV Tommy Ivo, Kenny Safford, Don Prudhomme, Spider Razon, “Fast” Jack Beckman, and interviewed by our own Bob Beck.

l-r front row: Kenny Safford “Fast” Jack Beckman & his sone, TV Tommy Ivo, Spider,
Back row: Safford’s grandsons, Frank Nay, “Fast” Eddie Salvatore, Joel Embick

Bob Beck interviewing Don “The Snake” Prudhomme

Road King’s president Rick Kalisz presenting TV Tommy Ivo with a special
commendation from Congressman Adam Schiff’s office

Bob Trainor & Jim Gasgoigne collecting donations

Ed Drogmund looks like he is in 7th heaven

No words needed

WOW!

Hoffman is ready for take off

Addict

Hi Gary
Bob, where is my car?

Remember Gilmore

June Drag Race Report
 
  Hi Brothers and sisters, June was great racing for the G.T.O. I got to test one day and on Fathers day weekend there was an ANRA race. I did not qualify great, 10th( 7.68 sec.)  out of 16 cars, but I was a little rusty after missing 2 races due to family commitments. Sunday was awesome, my first round was my good Friend Rick with the blown hemi, I treed him good .038 to his .133 light, and a good thing I did because I got loose in the middle and he got by me, but as I gained on him he was forced out with a 7.57 breakout to my 7.70, remember its a 7.60 index.

Next my good friend an other Rick in a really neat 55 chevy. I was better on the light again, my .036 to his slower .046. we both ran 7.70, but my reaction gave me a half car lead at the stripe. Next victim was another buddy, Ray in a gorgeous 64 vette, and he treed me .048 to my.109, but I was not worried, my baby bit hard and caught him at 189mph to his 180, and I went 7.61 to his slower 7.69. It was 106 degrees out there, and they rushed me a little for the final, but I was happy to get it on and over, I was ringing wet and home sick.

My next opponent Keith in a beautiful yellow Nova, and I knew I would have to be on my game, this guy won the 2 races I missed, so every body, (even those who don’t care for me) were pulling for me. This guy’s worst light is like .028. so we’re at the line, my engine was a little warmer than usual; burnouts complete, he plays a little staging game with me, but I was intent on doing my job at the line, it bothers me none. When it was all over I had done my job my .021 was better than his .023 off the line, but when I left the car bogged bad and then lit the tires and got out of the grove. I feathered it and tried to catch him but I needed another 50 feet or so. I lost to his 7.69 to my 7.80, but I was going 189 mph to his 169 mph. The sad part was, he could not go any quicker in the heat and if not for the bog I could have beat him easy. I will get him next time!

Anyway last 2 races, 2 finals, 1 win, 1 runner up, so were back on track and I’m going to test, and find my new bog I’m still in first place with WCHRA.  Special thanks to Sue, Sharron and Stan Dalton and Joe Heinemann
 
Happy motoring     Al White   p.s. Thanks for the kind words and cards for my mother-in-laws passing.

Hey Frank…. Glad to see you
and Cindy down from Colorado

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Jul 14
Club Picnic
Johnny Carson

Jul 20-21
Bent Axles Santa Maria

Jul 28
Possible new venue for
Be-Boppin’

Aug 10-12
Big Bear Car Show

Aug 25
NHRA Dinner for RK Club

Sep 9
Harbor Run / BBQ at the Nay’s

Oct 21-23
Hot Rod Reunion

Nov ?
Mystery Run

Dec 1
Christmas Awards Banquet

VOLUME 161, ISSUE 6 JUNE 2012

Just a couple of weeks left until our infamous Car Show celebrating 60 years of rodding and racing. Just a reminder that our generaal membership meeting has been moved ahead by one week. Meeting is schedule for the June 5th, same time, same place. Everyone get ready for the show.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Al White and his family due to the loss of his mother, and to “Fast” Eddie Salvatore and Karl Grossman dealing with the illness of their children.

The following is a Casting Call for the movie in production regarding The Snake and Mongoose.

Got some spare time on your hands and want a shot at being in a drag racing movie?
Carol Grant Casting is currently seeking non-union background extras for a feature film that will be shooting at Auto Club Famoso Raceway from Monday through May 24. The film — “Snake & Mongoose, The Movie” — is a period piece that takes place in California during the 1970s. It’s an untold story of how two drag racers, Don Prudhomme and Tom McEwen, changed the face of sports and ultimately became the most famous rivalry in racing history.
Producers are also looking for pre 1972 cars — pickups, station wagons and muscle cars — for pit scenes Tuesday and Wednesday. Anyone with period-correct cars are welcome to be in the pits.
 
CASTING CALL
The following roles are being casted for the film, “Snake & Mongoose, The Movie,” which is be shooting Monday-May 24 at Auto Club Famosa Raceway:
Kissing couples: 18-25 years old
Boy: 9-14 years old
Race starter: Male early 20s-50
Pit crew guys: Male, late 20s-early 40s
Racing fans: 18-60 years old
Hot groupies: Female, 18-early 40s
Visit famosoraceway.com to apply.
Pay is $64 for eight hours.

http://collider.com/snake-and-mongoose-movie/87610/

We have an exciting year ahead of us, and hope that everyone will participate. We are proud to celebrate 60 years of rodding and racing, but even more the giving back to our community. So, get your ride out, pump up the tires, change the oil and join us for an exciting year. Remember meeting is bumped up a week to June 5th.

Just a few scheduled events at this time:

Jun 2 – Bob’s Big Boy celebrating our 60th year
Jun 10 – Johnny Carson Show
Jul 28 – Downtown Burbank Car Show

Aug 25 – NHRA Museum Dinner for 60th Year
HAVE FUN! Frank Nay

MORO BAY CAR SHOW MEETS THE ROAD KINGS

The Cruisin’ Morro Bay Car Show featured 500 classic cars, and street rods cruising through the streets, and up the Central Coast, Showing off their chromed and polished splendor. The cars cruised up the coast for lunch, and then made a nighttime cruise through the streets of Morro Bay. There were two show-and-shine events, where fans got an up-close look at the cars. Happy Crusin’

NICE SIGNAGE BOYS!

SURE IT’S A FARMSTAND… CHECK PHOTO BELOW

TASTING THE GRAPE AGAIN… AND AGAIN…. AND AGAIN….

JUST WETTING THEIR WHISTLES

FINALLY THE FOOD KINGS HAVE ARRIVED!

May Drag Race Report
 
   Hi Gang, no time for a lot of details, but after a couple of great test sessions I went to The West Coast Hot Rod Assoc. Spring Nationals. The following is a quote from timingtower.com
 
       In A/Gas Al White was both number 1 qualifier and class winner. White won the final at the starting line with an.024 reaction time to Perkins .103. White finished with an e.t. of 7.65 @ 185 mph to a break out 7.57 e.t. @ 182 mph for Perkins.White Ran the number on the button 7.60 to take the top e.t. package of the Race.
     
Thanks for your support and kind thoughts.   Al White…..   
thanks Sue, thanks Stan and Sharron

Jack Beckman raced to his first Funny Car victory of the season Sunday at the Dollar General NHRA Summernationals at Heartland Park Topeka.
David Grubnic (Top Fuel) and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) also were winners at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.
Beckman used a quicker reaction time to defeat teammate Ron Capps in the final round with a performance of 4.158 seconds at 303.09 mph in his Valvoline/NextGen Dodge Charger. Capps’ NAPA Auto Parts Charger posted a quicker but losing performance of 4.107 at 304.39.

Jack Beckman
Following the Las Vegas event in early April, Beckman and Capps switched cars and crews within their Don Schumacher Racing organization. Since then, Capps has been to four consecutive finals, and Beckman has struggled a bit, posting one DNQ, a first-round loss and two second-round losses.
“It’s a big win for us,” Beckman said. “We’re right back in the hunt. So much has transpired since Las Vegas. We switched cars, we switched trailers, and we switched teams. It’s great to know that we have a car that we can win with again. That was my 13th win, and I try to appreciate every win because you never know when it can be your last.”
cited: http://www.nhra.com/story/2012/5/20/2012-topeka-sunday/

MATCHING SET 1931 ORIGINAL CALIFORNIA LICENSE PLATES.
EXCELLENT condition.
ASKING PRICE:  $175.00
Lee Toffel
818-848-6121

Williams to star as Prudhomme, Blake as McEwen in ‘Snake & Mongoose’ film
Thursday, March 15, 2012

Richard Blake, left, will play Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen and Jesse Williams Don
“the Snake” Prudhomme in the upcoming major motion picture chronicling the lives of the drag racing legends.
(Cliff Kramer, Nathanson’s Photography)

Snake & Mongoose film producers Robin Broidy and Stephen Nemeth have announced the casting of Jesse Williams (Grey’s Anatomy, Brooklyn’s Finest, The Cabin In The Woods) as drag racing icon Don “the Snake” Prudhomme and newcomer Richard Blake (Dragonball: Evolution) as fellow legend Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen. Award-winning British commercial director Wayne Holloway will make his feature-film directing debut on the project, which he wrote with Alan Paradise. The story details the friendship, rivalry, personal tragedies, triumphs, and business successes of “the Snake” and “the Mongoose.”
Not only did the two men make drag racing history as champion drivers and owners of drag racing teams, but they also modernized the sport in 1970 by shrewdly enticing toy giant Mattel Inc. to make its then-new Hot Wheels line the sport’s first corporate sponsor. When Mattel put logos on dragsters to make them 200-mph billboards for its toy line and put real-life drivers into its TV commercials, Mattel became the first nonautomotive sponsor in a racing sport, and the industry’s first commercial tie-in was born. The Mattel sponsorship money and revenue from other sponsors that immediately followed enabled Prudhomme and McEwen to produce remarkable innovations in their dragsters and to make racing a major sport globally. The filmmakers have partnered with NHRA, which will be an important marketing ally, utilizing the organization’s extensive reach to millions of fans around the world.

The actors first met the drag racing legends they will play at a get-together last year at the home of producer Robin Broidy.

The movie is produced by Nemeth’s Rhino Films and Broidy’s Entertainment Universe, which will also finance. Paradise, Prudhomme, and McEwen are executive producers, and co-producers are Betsy Stahl, Edward Michaels, and Williams.
Screenwriter Paradise is a longtime automotive industry journalist and broadcast producer who began developing the film after being commissioned by Mattel to work with Prudhomme and McEwen to write and direct a documentary celebrating the 35th anniversary of their historic partnership with Hot Wheels. Holloway was tapped to helm the project after an acclaimed career directing commercials and videos all over the world for major brands that include Samsung, NFL, NASCAR, Adidas, and many others.

Broidy commented, “Jesse Williams has always been our first choice. He immediately embraced the story and dove headlong into its development. Jesse has spent personal time with Don and the material, understanding his passion and motivation.”  
She continued, “Richard Blake is that very talented young actor who quietly works for years until the ideal role comes along. During the casting process, we discovered him and ultimately decided he was the right actor to portray the wonderfully complex Tom McEwen.”
Nemeth added, “It’s very exciting to be a part of a broadly appealing, groundbreaking action sports film that has a lot of heart and presents a fierce rivalry that’s factually true and compelling.”
Holloway said, “I am fascinated by this high-octane world and how it is reflected in the relationship between these two great men and rivals. Set against the backdrop of a revolution in a great American motorsport, the drama and intensity is inescapable.”
cited: http://www.nhra.com/story/2012/3/15/snake-mongoose-film/

VOLUME 160, ISSUE 5 MAY 2012

Hello all fellow ROAD KING members!

Well here we are in the month of May! Do you know the club’s 23rd Annual Car Show celebrating our 60 years of rodding and racing is right around the corner. Wow, it’s really going to be a great event.

The event shirt looks really great. Steve did a fantastic job with the car show chairmen’s input. Remember, all you guys need to get together with your lead committee chairman and work out the details of the show, cause some things may have changed. If anyone does not have an assignment please contact Gene Kendrick, because parking for the show has changed. He will need additional people helping, particularly in the morning.

As you all know Fuzzy has carried our Road King inventory to an from his house to our meetings. He doesn’t seem to be selling much so what we’re gonna do is offer most items at half price, and a few of the items those items will be reduced another 50%. So you do the math; that spells out CHEAP CHEAP. Please help him out so his load is lessened in travel.

For those of you that attended Tony Wade’s car show, know he had quite a few cars participate. Thank you for representing our club at the Kiwanis show.

That’s all for now! Keep em out of the garage!  
Rick

We have an exciting year ahead of us, and hope that everyone will participate. We are proud to celebrate 60 years of rodding and racing, but even more the giving back to our community. So, get your ride out, pump up the tires, change the oil and join us for an exciting year.

Just a few scheduled events at this time:

Jun 2 – Bob’s Big Boy celebrating our 60th year
Jun 10 – Johnny Carson Show
Jul 21 or 28 (not scheduled yet) – Downtown Burbank Car Show
(formerly Be-Boppin’ In The Park)
Aug 25 – NHRA Museum Dinner for 60th Year

HAVE FUN! Frank Nay

BURBANK ON PARADE

Thanks to all the Road Kings that participated in Burbank On Parade, and a big thank you to all the 30+ open cars that carried dignitaries down the parade route making the Road King’s entree one of the best to date. We also have in our possession, the banner with our 60th logo that preceded our cars going down the route. It was given to us by the parade board.

After the parade is shown on Channel 6 (Burbank Channel), I will try to pick up several DVD’s of the parade. So if the members that brought their cars want a DVD, please let me know…..
Don Baldaseroni

THERE GOES THE DON!

THE BOYS SWAPPIN’ STORIES

HEY LOOK, LOOK A BIRD…. NAH IT’S JUST HOFFMAN WITH HIS CAMERA

SMILE, THEY’RE TAKING OUR PICTURE

THE ROADIES LINING UP

GREAT TIME AT END OF THE PARADE!

June 2
Cruise night at Bob’s, celebrating our 60th. Bob’s has provided only 28 parking spots located on the Bob’s side of the alley. At this month’s meeting we are going to draw names out of a hat for those spaces. If you want to be included in the drawing, YOU MUST BE AT THE MEETING. Other parking will be available as usual.

This should be a great event with trophies awarded. We also have been provided with a private area for dining, but will have to rotate throughout the evening for the room only holds 25 at a time. Those of you that do not want to rotate can eat by your car. Carhop service will be provided.

Bring chairs so we can sit by our cars and enjoy the evening, reminiscing about the good old days with the Road Kings and Queens.  Remember June 2nd from 4:30 – 8:00 P.M.

June 10
Johnny Carson Park Car Show. There will be several dragsters for an old fashion Cacklefest in addition to our regular festivities.

August 25
The NHRA Museum has planned a fantastic dinner at the NHRA Museum for us. Sign up sheets for this event will be at the next few meeting. We are trying to contact as many of our old members in hopes that they will participate in as many of these events as possible.

Thanks to Sue we have a new 60th Banner that will be used at all of these events and any others that we attend. Also, if you want your car pics in the video we are putting together, we need your pictures, new or old. Pictures may be sent via email to Sue B. or brought to the next meeting.  Keep those wheels turning…………… Karl Grossman

HI GANG;  IT’S A NEW SEASON, AND I’VE HAD A FEW PROBLEMS THIS YEAR, BUT I WILL IRON THEM OUT.
BY THE TIME THIS COMES OUT I WILL HAVE 2 MORE RACES UNDER MY BELT AND MY LITTLE G.T.O. WILL BE BACK IN THE GROOVE, I HOPE!

AS FOR JACK BECKMAN, HE DID ABOUT THE SAME AS ME, GOOD QUALIFIER, BUT OUT IN ROUND 2. WE WILL BOTH GET BETTER VERY SOON! THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND GOOD WISHES.  AL WHITE

BAYTOWN, Texas (April 28, 2012) – Jack Beckman was mystified and so were his crew chiefs after he failed to qualify for Sunday’s championship eliminations of the NHRA Spring Nationals in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Beckman’s Valvoline NextGen Dodge Charger R/T will not be racing on a championship Sunday for the first time in 87 races dating to the middle of 2008. It was the longest active Funny Car qualifying streak.

“We really don’t know why our car wouldn’t go down the track without smoking the tires,” said Beckman, who was third in points before the weekend.

“We’ve got some smart guys working on this and a great bunch working on the car. It’s been baffling.”

It is the third consecutive Full Throttle event when a Don Schumacher Racing Funny Car did not advance to race on a Sunday.

“We have a week before we go to Atlanta and that will be another hot, humid track. Our Valvoline NextGen team will go over every little detail on our computers and get this figured out.”

Jack Beckman, Valvoline NextGen Dodge Charger R/T

No. 17: Did not qualify

FRIDAY

Session 1: 4.760 sec., 171.47 mph

Session 2: 4.332, 227.34
SATURDAY

Session 3: 5.073, 161.92

Session 4: 4.756, 229.63
SCHEDULE
Saturday: Pro qualifying, 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m.

Sunday: Pro eliminations, 11 a.m.

VOLUME 159, ISSUE 4 APRIL 2012

Hi to all Road Kings.
Well here we are, four months into the new year, so here is a heads up!

Our 60th anniversary car show is just around the corner. Everyone on board is doing a great job and as I’m writing this article for the newsletter, it just dawned on me that I have to get over to the park tonight and figure out where we are going to setup for the Cacklefest. We’re going to have a blast!

Bob Moore and Frank Nay are heading up some great cruises, and Don Baldaseroni has been working on the parade, so come on out and support BURBANK ON PARADE, it really makes the Road Kings look good supporting the City of BURBANK, especially for all they do for us.

I wanted to mention that club support and meeting attendance is way up, so thank you all for your support, and attendance. Also don’t forget to support the 60th anniversary events that have been planned by the 60th committee. Jim Miles has said he will rework some of our memorabilia stands, so if anyone out there has any Plexiglass (3’x5′) he could use some.

I spoke to Dave Kershal and he told me that Peter Frith-Smith is @ home and doing fine. Also the Slaggs where under the weather but are now feeling great.

Our own John Montgomery will give us a date and time for the next beach party @ his yacht club. Man, we sure had a great time last year, so he will let us know when the date is set

That’s all for now Keep Cruisin  

Rick

I want to make sure that our members show up for Burbank on Parade. Event to follow at museum with Director of Bob Hope Airport and Robert Gilliland to show up in audience.

Just a few scheduled events at this time:

Apr 14 – Burbank on Parade
May 12-13 – Relay for Life
Jun 10 – Johnny Carson Show
Jul 21 or 28 (not scheduled yet) – Downtown Burbank Car Show
(formerly Be-Boppin’ In The Park)
Aug 25 – NHRA Museum Dinner for 60th Year

HAVE FUN! Frank Nay

JOHNNY CARSON CAR SHOW
I wanted to keep the members updated on the progress of our car show coming June 10th. So far running smoothly, but our committee chairmen are going to need a lot of help from everyone. Don’t think that just the same 20 or so members are going to work the show, oh no, check your By-Laws, everyone that can walk, breathe, and is in town has to work. So come on and join us. The sign-up sheets will be available at the next club meeting.

We still have 2.5 boxes of flyers, so come on over to the Road King office and pick up a handful to take to your next car show, or drop them off at your favorite Parts House, Get them out!

It’s time to start bringing in raffle prizes or product for the silent auction. You can bring it to the meeting, or when you stop by to pick up the flyers, drop off the raffle prize. If that is not possible we can arrange to pick-up for you. FYI… baskets will be part of the silent auction this year. They bring in more funds in this category so if interested in making a basket please contact Chuck or Ginny Hanson.

This is turning out to be a monster of a show, so please, if you have any questions or suggestions give me or Frank Nay a call.
Don Baldaseroni

COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
The following are the Johnny Carson Car Show Committee Chairmen. Talk to the guys and they will sign you up for day of show.

Security: Chuck Stein & “Fast” Eddie Salvatore
Silent Auction: Danny Nelson & Larry Tadlock
Vendors: Roger Nevrel
Sales: Chuck Hanson
Registration: Bob Trainer, Jim Gasgoigne,
Ray Astimendi, Greg
Parking: Gene Kendrick & Rick Kalisz
Raffle: Nick Sfetku
Memorabilia: Jimmy Miles, Ed Drogmund, Clay Sheffrey
Judging: Frank Nay
Photographer: Don Hoffman, Don Baldaseroni & Chuck Null
Cacklefest: Jimmy Miles & Karl Grossman

BURBANK ON PARADE
That’s right, Burbank on Parade is this April 14th. Open cars to carry dignitaries will be called first to line up. All others, open and closed arrive at 10:30 entering Lincoln St. from Alameda. The parade board has made a banner with our 60th anniversary logo, so there will be no doubt who we are.

With this being our 60th, we want to put on a big showing for this event, so please show up and support our event.

Following the parade, Victor Gill, media director of the Bob Hope Airport will be guest speaker at the museum (Burbank Historical Society) Mr. Gill will speak on the “Past, Present, and Future” of the airport. The parade’s Grand Marshall, Robert Gilliland and Lucy Burghdorf of the airport will also appear. Program starts at 2:00 p.m.

HI KINGS AND QUEENS,
Al White was off for the month. Follow his exploits in the May newsletter.

The following vehicles are being sold by Roger Nevrel

1986 El Camino, 2nd owner $7500
2002 Corvette, original owner 13,000 miles $25,000
1950 Ford Conv. Body off restoration $38,500
1955 Chev 210 Post – EXC condition $36,000
1957 Chev Con – 283 auto original $75,000
1949 Ford Woodie 350, 700R, A.C. $80,000

May consider partial trade with cash
Roger Nevrel – 661 424-0898

HAPPY 60TH ROAD KINGS

VOLUME 158, ISSUE 3 MARCH 2012

Hi to all Road Kings.
Wow, here we are into March. Boy can you believe how fast this year is speeding by.

I hope everyone that attended our annual Valentine’s Bash had a great time, and again to all the ladies, “thanks for supporting all of us guys throughout the year. I’m sure it takes a lot of patience, cause us guys can be a real pain in the ass.” I also want to thank the wives and significant others for all of your help during the year at our many events. Without your willingness to help, events would be lacking. Thank you all again!

So here we are, going full speed ahead working on the 60th anniversary events. I don’t want to steel the show so I’ll let our chairman and Karl Grossman keep you informed.

Hey guess who is going to head up some local events??? At our last e-board meeting I asked for a volunteer to possibly do some garage tours, or local cruises. Bob Moore went to scratch his head, and WALA, I took it to mean that he was volunteering. Boy, are we lucky or what to have Bob heading up this event. So all you guys with suggestions, please let him know what you have in mind. I am sure he will accommodate you all.

Also, if anyone has a suggestion, idea or complaint about our meetings, please let us know. We are not perfect, so if we possibly forget something, please again, let us know asap so we can inform everyone.

Also, wanted to let everyone know that Harold Slagg is doing well. He has been home from the hospital for a while now and is chasing Cecelia around the house.

Thanks for now, GET THEM OUT OF THE GARAGE!

See you all @ our meeting.

Keep Cruisin’
Rick

LADIES! We have the full zipper jacket in a woman’s cut for any and all of you that want the 60th anniversary jacket. Give me a call or come by the house and try on your size.

Just a few scheduled events at this time:

Mar 25 – Glendora Castle Tour
We are leaving the donut shop at 9 a.m. sharp!
Jun 10 – Johnny Carson Show
Aug 25 – NHRA Museum Dinner for 60th Year

HAVE FUN! Frank Nay

FYI… For those of you that have not paid your dues, they must be paid by or at the March 13th meeting in order to remain on the Roster. Don Baldaseroni is going to update, and you don’t want your name removed, do you?

See me at the meeting
Chuck

VALENTINE BASH WITH YOUR SWEETHEART
What a wonderful Sunday brunch at the Castaways. Our favorite room all to ourselves, and sitting with friends nd family, what more could you ask for? About 80 members and family showed up for our annual Sweetheart Brunch to enjoy a faire of International cuisine and spirits. Well maybe not so much International, but mucho seafood, pasta, breakfast faire and desserts so tiny you had to take 300 pieces to make a piece of cake. It was great!

Boys at the Bar Again!

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! I see you too

The Racers relaxing

Don’t look, they’re taking our picture

PLAYING IN THE SNOW WITH “FAST” EDDIE
Not sure if playing in the snow with “Fast” Eddie was exactly what Rita had in mind.

It seems they ventured out from their cabin in Crestline when driving conditions were somewhat reasonable. While out running errands it started to snow again, and they were caught with their pervertible pants down. They had to stop the car and go back on foot to pickup tire chains, and of course trek all the way back to the car.

Ladies, give Rita a round of applause the next time you see her. It seems Eddie did not know how to put chains onto the tires (neither did Rita),so Rita got down on hands and knees while Mr. “I’m so cold out here,” got into the car and went too and fro with the car until Rita was able to connect tire chains to all four tires. WAY TO GO MR.FREEZE!

RACE REPORT

ARIZONA NATIONALS RESULTS: Jack Beckman, Valvoline NextGen Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 6
Round 1: BECKMAN (4.090 sec., 308.57 mph) def. Tony Pedregon (4.179, 304.83)
Round 2: BECKMAN (4.172, 282.24) def. Jeff Arend (4.322, 294.43)
Semifinals: Mike Neff (
4.099 306.74) def. BECKMAN (4.129 301.60)
cited:http://www.shoeracing.com/news/beckman

The following is an exert from “Fast” Jack’s blog:
My old pal Eddie Salvatore calls. “Fast Eddie” (no relation) and I used to compete against each other back in the ‘80’s at LACR. Eddie now presides over one of the most prestigious clubs ever formed: The Road Kings. Tommy Ivo, Bob Muravez, Don Prudhomme, and Kenny Safford are amongst the alumni of this group. When Eddie asked if I’d be interested in becoming an honorary member, I was flabbergasted (that means I nearly peed myself). Now, I am proud to consider myself part of them.
cited: http://www.nhra.com/blog/beckman/

HI KINGS AND QUEENS,
HOPE ALL IS WELL. I’VE TESTED THE G.T.O. THIS MONTH FOR THE UP COMING SEASON. THE NEXT RACE IS THE MARCH MEET, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SEVERAL KINGS AND MAYBE SOME QUEENS WILL BE THERE ON FRIDAY THE 2ND OF MARCH. I BELIEVE WE SAID THAT WE WOULD MEET BEHIND THE TOWER AROUND THE NOON HOUR. IF YOU CAN’T FIND ME IN SPACE # 217 ABOUT HALF WAY BACK, CALL MY CELL 805-390-3162
     O.K. BACK TO RACING, MY TEST WENT WELL, I MADE SEVERAL CHANGES AND NONE WORKED, SO I WENT BACK TO MY OLD SET UP AND RAN 7.20 @ 190 SLIPPING AND SLIDING ON AN ILL PREPARED TRACK. SO I WILL HAVE TO RELY ON MY DATA FROM LAST YEAR AND HOPE FOR THE SAME SUCCESS. IT IS REALLY HARD TO SLOW A CAR DOWN A 1/2 SECOND AND BE CONSISTANT. AS YOU KNOW THE INDEX IS 7.60, AND FASTER IS A LOSS.
  
JACK BECKMAN DID GREAT IN QUALIFYING AT POMONA #2, BUT WENT OUT IN THE SECOND ROUND, AS HE CROSSED THE CENTER LINE, A BIG NO NO AND INSTANT DISQUALIFICATION. AT THE THE TIME I AM WRITING THIS JACK IS # 5 QUALIFIER IN PHOENIX. SPECIAL THANKS TO SHARRON & STAN DALTON FOR THEIR SUPPORT, AND TO JOE HEINEMANN FOR HELPING ON THE CAR THIS YEAR.   SEE YOU AT THE MARCH MEET!    AL

MARCH MEET 2012
Just from the stories and all the photos sent in by Don Hoffman and Lou Bartoletti, the guys had one fantastic time at this year’s March Meet at the Formosa Drag Strip. “Fast” Eddie picked up a passenger van and drove everyone in comfort. There must have been 20 or so members that showed up for the meet. Al White was shocked to see everyone there, and all had a great time talking bull_ _ _ _ with the crew and friends that arrived. Our new member “Fast” Jack Beckman even joined the guys at the track. See for yourself.

YEAH! WE’RE HERE TO EAT

AL GOING TO THE LINE

AL GETTING READY TO LAUNCH

REACTION: FAST

COME ON GUYS, LINE UP

HOFFMAN, “FAST” JACK, “FAST” EDDIE

HEY! IT’S LARRY DIXON SR. & JR.

END OF THE DAY