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.