Ron Lewis photo
Nitro
Night as reported by organizer, Bill Pitts. Escondido
is a town that is part of San Diego County. It is located in
what people call the "North County" area. It's not
along the coast. It's about 35 miles east of the pacific coast
line. So the temperature is usually about 10 to 15 degrees warmer
there than along the coast. On Friday, things were a bit hot
in Escondido, but no where near the oppressive heat and humidity
we had to deal with in Long Beach, one month earlier. They say
that day for the Long Beach "Bixby Knolls Hot Rod and Dragster
Expo" was the hottest day on record for that location. But
one month later, in Escondido, things felt much better.
One of the things you have to deal with, when it comes to
these once a year street events is mixups when it comes to what's
supposed to happen and when. The biggest mix up for Escondido
was the time that the street of Broadway was supposed to shut
down. We were under the impression that it would be 2:00 p.m.,
but when we arrived on that day, the street closure warning signs
said 4:00 p.m. So that made things a little tense as we had teams
arrive on time, only to be told that they had to stage on nearby
side street until we could truly have full access to two blocks
of Broadway. But once we were able to do so, we began allowing
cars to unload and set up one block south of where we were the
previous year. Last year we had only one block of Broadway for
our pit area and arena (the place where the cars were fired up).
But this year -- thankfully -- we were able to acquire a full
two blocks to utilize. One block for the pit area and one block
for the arena. That in itself was very important for the success
of the event. We were able to double the size of the arena which
gave the fans twice as much room to stand.
At about 5:30 the first car ready to fire was "Poison
Ivy". After they fired everybody else developed a method
for getting ready to fire. All had to cross the street when the
signal changed and it was quite a sight for the people coming
to a stop at the light on Second Avenue to see these fuel dragsters
moving back and forth across the street!
Attendance for this particular cruise night was by far the
biggest of the year for Escondido's weekly Cruisin' Grand Friday.
A lot of the local merchants had to hustle to keep the food coming
as thousands waded in to their stores for food, etc. I dunno
we'll see what the future holds but I for one, believe in this
kind of event and know that it will continue to evolve into something
that will eventually go "on the road" to cities and
towns all over our great nation. Where people of all ages can
see a part of what golden age drag racing was all about. More
needs to be done to provide a safer environment for this type
of activity, but I believe it will be done. And to have made
this one work so well makes me feel more confident than ever.
However, if it hadn't been for the hard work of many volunteers
as well as Steve Waldron, the organizer of Cruisin' Grand, that
event wouldn't have been possible at all.
It's all about "the show" that captivated so many
of us years ago.
There was a little girl, the daughter of one of our fire medics
that came to the event and wore a poodle skirt (her mommy wore
one too) and we had them carry Easter Baskets full of ear plugs
to pass out to the spectators for free. After the event she came
up and tugged on my arm and said, "That was great! Can I
do it again next year?". I said we'll see. I know that all
good things must come to an end. Let's hope it won't be for a
while though.
Thanks, Bill Pitts
Photos by: Ron Lewis, Jim Maxwell and Pete
Gemar - Header photo by Ron Lewis
The "Chizler"
(aka 204 car). What a miracle!! This car which sat "static"
in two museums for the last 40 years and could have stayed dormant
forever had it not been for the "Why Not" approach
of Ron Johnson. Well, let's just say that all who are connected
with the end result of a living and breathing piece of history
should be proud of themselves. At the event Bill Pitts used the
adage of -- "if you were a vintage airplane enthusiast,
imagine standing on Broadway and seeing the "Spirit of Saint
Louis" taxi before you and the crowd". That's how special
it is.
Event promoter, Bill
Pitts had his Astro dragster neatly parked between the lines. His
"Magicar". carried her original driver Jeep Hampshire
to another great cackle. Jeep and Ronnie (Hampshire) continue
to come down to these events from Northern California.
The "BankAmericar"
and "Mastercar" of John Ewald really provided a great
show for the fans and worked just as hard as ever to burn down
the house. Great job by John, "Big Bob" Danly, and
Mario Garcia.
"Poison Ivy",
Ken Blackmore's fueler, is ably handled by Jay Carpenter. The
car is always ready to perform when it arrives at any event.
Everyone is always happy to see this work of art perform before
the crowd. Many thanks to Jay and the rest of the "Poison
Ivy" team for working with us at this event.
The "Shubert &
Herbert" fueler (to the left of Poison Ivy) of "Big
Yohns" (Ron Johnson) who has become a real showman in the
cackle arena. His two car team brought variety and miracles to
Broadway. Aside from the Chizler, "Shoobie" is the
little small block "Giant Killer" "repop"
that does such a great job of providing a fine example of the
variety that existed in the top fuel ranks during the mid-60's.
Running a light load of nitro, everyone with any knowledge of
these cars had to once again marvel at the uniqueness of this
little small block.
"Kuhl & Olson",
Mike and Carl. Though they had nothing to prove by showing up
at this "little" event, they came down and put on their
usual outstanding show. Their first fire up was in honor of Steve
Davis' birthday. Steve is now minus the Greer, Black and Prudhomme
car to cackle with, so K&O provided him with a seat time
nitro fix. The finale fire up saw "The Driver" Carl
Olson back in the seat.
The Ewald Bros. BankAmericar
and John Ewald's Mastercar.
"Lil' Tommy Larkin"
is recuperation from surgery and definitely would have come out
to help with the family car had he not been on the mend. Tommy
loves this cackle stuff and loves to watch his son Trevor, pop
and snort in this nice little "repop" of one of Tom's
top gas cars, now running with a healthy dose of "POP".
Trevor brought the car down to Rick MacDonald's shop "Pro
Air", in Escondido, for a pre-event fire up. Trevor's crew
chief was busy with another car, but Rick made sure that everything
was fine with this small block that really pounds.
"The Frantic Four"
and the Stellings & Hampshire "Red Stamp Special"
is a two car team headed up by Norm Weekly and Dennis Prater.
Both of these guys work their tails off to be a part of these
types of shows and it isn't easy for them or those who help them
out. Fortunately Hal Sanguinetti volunteered to help Norm and
Dennis, additional helpers were Ronnie Rapp, Bob Bradley and
Dennis' brother, Mike. Both cars fired and ran well for the crowd.
Including the MIRACLE TEAM PUSH of the S & H car when it
was decided that none of the push cars could push it without
the possibility of damaging the tail section. Dennis will be
working on an extended push bar for future appearances. But the
sight of those boys working their guts out to move their driver
Ronnie Hampshire to the line against brother Jeep was the highlight
of the event for many.
Stellings & Hampshire,
Trevor Larkin, Poison Ivy and Shubert & Herbert ready for
action.
Kuhl & Olson, Mastercar
and the BankAmericar
The "Paradise Alley"
is owned by Bob Deburne and is a polished beauty just like "Poison
Ivy", the other car he restored. Bob, Dana, and their Son
Robbie really appreciated the invitation to bring the car out
to this event. Chuck Bayuk, ran the car for the fans and it was
a fine addition to the lineup of cars they had. My thanks to
the Deburne family for going to the trouble of getting the car
ready to perform on Broadway.
"L.A. Challenger" --
This perfectly restored late 60's fuel funny car was once owned
and operated by Marv Eldridge. It has been lovingly restored
by a gentleman by the name of John Robertson. John called Pitts
and asked if he could come down and be a part of the show. Talk
about timing! They had decided that the name of the event should
be more inclusive of other cars that ran in the nitro classes,
so they went from the "Big Rail Review" to "Nitro
Night. And John's "L.A. Challenger" just fit in so
well. This car is perfect for cackle events.
Also on hand was "Randy
Walls" who brought his nitro burning "Nova" funny
car that is a current runner on the nostalgia funny car circuit.
The car "looks so much" like a period correct funny
car that they invited Randy to join in to balance the Eldridge
car. He lives out in East San Diego County and is one of the
original 1960's funny car owners/drivers. Randy's a really nice
guy who puts on a great show for the fans and looked to be very
happy to show his piece to a very appreciative crowd.
"Media Specialties, Carlsbad, CA"
This local boy was one
of many kids (and adults) who had their picture taken in the
seat of one of the cars.
"Media Specialties,
Carlsbad, CA"
Mendy Fry, the only woman
licensed to drive a front engine Top Fuel dragster, poses by
The ChiZler. Fry was in the seat for both the cars fire-ups later
in the day.
"Media Specialties,
Carlsbad, CA"
Ron Lewis photo
Kol Johnson and Jack
White push Mendy from the staging area to Broadway for her first
fire-up.
Ron Lewis photo
Ron Lewis photo
Bob Danly and Mario Garcia push
the Mastercar through and intersection to Broadway.
Ron Lewis photo
"The Poachers"
Paul, Pam, Ryan, and the rest of the Schavrien family at Second
Ave and Broadway. Talk about an odd site to see on a cities main
street.
Ron Lewis photo
Bob Danly works the throttle
on the Mastercar and SRO fans watch in awe.
Ron Lewis photo
For a Birthday present,
Mike Kuhl and Carl Olson gave Steve Davis a seat in the Kuhl
& Olson car.
Ron Lewis photo
"Media Specialties,
Carlsbad, CA"
Ron Lewis photo
Bill Pitts' "MagiCar"
fired on Broadway.
Ron Lewis photo
John Ewald in the BankAmericar
for its first fire up. All the cars had their drive lines disconnected
for this event or they couldn't participate. They used the push
cars to simulate a push start but all cars were actually started
with blower starters. Then they nudged them along with the push
cars. Dragster shuffle board, if you will.
"Media Specialties,
Carlsbad, CA"
What really helped the
event was the showing of prepared music montages and historic
footage from the old days. Photographs like Bob Plumer, Tom West,
John Ewald, and Ron Lewis volunteered some of their photos to
create these montages that helped to show what happened AFTER
the green light came on. But if the crowd size for this year
is any indication, they will need about four big screens instead
of just one, for next year's event.
Ron Lewis photo
"The Poachers"
put on a great show with their classic old Southern California
front motor car. Paul and Mike Kuhl have this beast running like
a watch. They took a couple of days before the event to prepare
the car take her over to Kuhl's for a pre-event fire up. This
team also supplied one of the push cars for the event. They used
a total of five push vehicles in all.
Ron Lewis photo
Trevor Larkin and Paradise
Alley start for the night session.
"Media Specialties,
Carlsbad, CA"
Larkin wows the crowd
with his small block Chevy fueler.
Ron Lewis photo
"Media Specialties,
Carlsbad, CA"
John Ewald in his Mastercar
lights up the night sky of Escondido.
Ron Lewis photo
Ron Lewis photo
Ron Lewis photo
Ron Johnson and the ChiZler
pair up with the Frantic 4 car.
"Media Specialties,
Carlsbad, CA"
Mendy Fry is ready.
Ron Lewis photo
The ChiZler barks long
flames from its "weedburner" headers.
"Media Specialties,
Carlsbad, CA"
Kuhl & Olson and
the BankAmericar do their thing for the dragster fire-up of the
night.
Ron Lewis photo
Ron Lewis photo
By all accounts both
cars ran for five minutes plus - what a show!
Ron Lewis photo
"Media Specialties,
Carlsbad, CA"
Ron Lewis photo
Normally funny cars are
not a part of these kinds of functions but an exception was made
for John Robertson and Randy Walls who closed the show with the
first side-by-side city street cackle by the funnies ever.
Ron Lewis photo
Ron Lewis photo
Check back for more
event coverage as they happen.
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