What happened to the Mulholland "King of the Hill" RSR?

[Jeremy Cottrell]

I must have heard that story from Gary in the Ranchero. Talk about a regular, he was up there every night until the early 90s!!

[Jeff Hail]

The Mulholland Drive many of us knew is now a time and an era gone by. I and so many others are proud that we were fortunate to be there. To be part of a history and a culture of what we did best with a passion for being on the edge. Not once but constantly and then going back for more night after night, year after year, rain, fog or dry. Then one day the encroaching sprawl took over our playground and the sandbox wasn’t what it was any longer.

Chris Banning's book sums up a group of people's memories and experiences for a brief moment of that time. I didn’t really know Chris back then except for a glance through a drivers door glass from time to time. I recently met Chris face to face at his book signing at the Petersen and we spoke for a few moments. A fast lap down memory lane it was. In an email Chris put it his book is for posterity because one day we are not going to be here. We are aging and that is reality. Chris has put down on paper and shared a few moments of that history with us. Some folks liked the book and others didn’t. I think we are all lucky to be a part of the history. Chris's book is a time capsule. I think most of the regulars appreciated the book for what it represents.

Mulholland Drive was important to us because it was there waiting to be conquered. It was the challenge to find the limit
And then exceed it, pull it in at the last moment and do it again at the next turn. The sounds of tortured metal at redline. Chasing a needle on a gauge or a ghost of Mulholland past. No matter what group anyone hung out in whether it is CRE, ACR, TVL or a lone wolf prowling the night. It didn’t matter if someone was an actor or a professional driver. Some had faster purpose built cars than others. We all had one thing in common though- bring what youve got and the passion for driving fast. If we came across someone who would challenge that all the better.

The mountain was alive more than any other time in history. I think of her as a comet that came once in a lifetime except for me it lasted 17 years. I had the time of my life. Some of us wouldn’t be where we are today in our current professions if it wasn’t for the old girl we call Mulholland Drive.

Enjoy the pics. Before the gate at Bowmont, before the berm at Grandstand, the original Armco at Carls. We were there and lived it.

Jeff

[dd74]

Man, I would hit this bump at about 70 to 80 mph, and my car would go airborne...

[lfot]

FANTASTIC PICS!!!

Thanks for your input, Jeff.

Got any more pics of the mountain back in the days?

[hpv]

Ground Effect:
Yes Bob is interesting guy.back in 1974 he was so pro japanese he couldn't see the forest for the trees. But my opinion of the Elans
incredible handling,beautifull timeless design,was so obvious. Look at the Elan 26 R it beats 289 Fia Cobra's Vettes etc on a regular basis.
SCCA,Vintage Imagine if I had listened to Bob's Opinion and bought and ugly Mitsubishi Gallant with those Geeky mirrors on front fenders,History
would have been changed no Miata My God Imagine that? Look at success of Miata. Dave B /TRE drove his lady Annia's Black Miata BBS model 1992 on our Solvang Run Stock,shorter springs and sway bars mostly Porsche's Some real fast Ruf turbo 911's well when I got to Solvang I heard these Ruf boys agreeing that the Miata with the 5.0
Mustang motor that blew them away is forcing them to go to twin turbo's
I laughed and said that is a stock Miata with one fast cat behind the wheel. Boys spend your money on driving school !

HPV
Thousand Oaks,Ca
1972 911S /RS3.0 Andial twin plug
1973 T/RS 3.0 46 m Webers
1979 911SC targa

[Jeff Hail]

I knew someone was going to ask if I had more. I have some old and new. I have been scanning the old ones since the film is degrading over the years.

The group shot with the (510, Lotus, Fiat X19) is a screen shot from "King of the Mountain".

Once I get the remainder scanned I will post them.

Jeff

[hpv]

Jeff Hail,
Thanks for the pictures. Haven't been in that neck of the woods for some time. I definatley recognize Beaumont coming down on Muholland
that was the Police launching spot on us,have had a few chases but not a ticket it was those handbrake turns that saved the moment. Only unfortunate moment one night I had a deer run into my 510 rt fender
broke the head light crunched the fender. Weird it was just after Beaumont going to Laurel Canyon. I witness both of Pat Pearsons Head on collisions poor Pat both were not his fault. Like Chuck Miller about that
time I moved from Muholland /Holllywood to Muholland/Ventura County
and went from 510,Lotus Elan to Porsche 911S3.0 Andial twin plug
all have been thouroughly enjoying sports cars Those pictures bring back many memory's HPV

[hpv]

Chuck,
As many years I've known you I read your story about sneeking onto Willow predates our visit by like seven years. Funny as rural
as it was out there a simple chain across road was just too tempting. I had worked an scca event the previous weekend.
Henry
ENRIQUE'S
Thousand Oaks,Ca

[hpv]

Chuck,
Hector didn't he work for Francisco Muir in Santa Monica ?
And later have his own Independent Alpha shop in Studio City?
I loved his Alpha GTA. Whats he doing these days?

Henry
ENRIQUE'S
Thousand Oaks

[hpv]

Pat in LA,
Hello and happy new year.
Youre so right there are so many stories out there.
Jack Kimoto painted my GP White 911S did a few cars for Steve Mc Queen a beige grey 911S. Jack and Jim Torres were partners
behind Hollywood sportcars a exrtremly special Bodyshop.
I remember Peter Porsche in San Diego at Parade asking Jim Torres
about a 934 Kremer Jim had done complete restoration on
this incredible car. Now thats a story.
Both Jim and Jack did incredible work.

Henry Valdez
ENRIQUE'S
Sonora Cuisine
La Carrera Cantina
est 1959
Thousand Oaks,Ca

[hpv]

Jef Hail,
Can you tell what color that 510 is ? I think that was my car.
You were up on the graded lots above the pits yes ? HPV

[Pete000]

Originally posted by Slider79SC
Is this the Porschev you guys were talking about earlier?

I have this magazine !

This car blew my mind when I was a kid. Love the CALLIOPE injection stacks !

Where is this car today???

[hpv]

Tom/Thousand Oaks

I've been inn Thousand Oaks for 29 years. Been friends with Dave B at TRE since 1969 we met on Muholland been friends ever since. My Restaurant is at 159 east thousand oaks blvd near corner of Moorpark Rd next to Outback Steakhouse.
Stop by some time like to meet you.

ENRIQUE'S
Henry Valdez
Sonora Cuisine
La Carrera Cantina
est 1959

1972 911S 3.0 Andial twin plug Grand Prix White
1973 911/1/2 911T/RS 3.0 46 mm webers Black
1979 911SC targa Carrera GT Silver

[Chuck Miller]

Henry,

Good hear'n from'ya

Yeah, Hector did indeed work for crazy Frank Muir, and toured with Frank's F/5000 team in '75

It was indeed his Alfa shop in Studio City… his last of three.

He is now an LAPD mechanic by day, and restorer of a couple of Itialian car colllections by night…and father of 3 lovely girls.

He still drives a fast Alfa GTV in club events… and drive some of the stuff he works on in vintage events… including Monterey last year.

If you remember the little low wall going West on Mulholland before Roscomare that had VIVA ALFA graffitied on it from the late 60's to about the early 80's…. Yep, that was us…

That road was a way of life for some of us… and, I'm sorry to say, some of the only social connection…

As I wrote before one of the guys who went on to bigger things was Bill Fox… going to the run-offs 3 times… Well, this last Sunday at the POC's Streets of Willow event Bill was out in his street 993 working the track like the old days…

We never go away… we just show up look'n a little different..

[hpv]

Chuck,
Thats a good saying coming back looking different. Never heard that one.I remember many tales of Mr.Muir guy was very interesting businessman.I rember Hectors alphas were very nice. Funny about that graffitti,I had an Escrow company across street have a grand opening party at restaurant one of his associates asked who is the car guy ? He explained he was retired LAPD and now restores Stingrays. Iasked him what years was he in LAPD ? 1966-75. I asked did you ever go up on Muholland and witness those cafe racers? He asked were you one of those guys? Oh no I said I read about them in Road and Track. Hey is your Malibu coupe Blue ? I have a 427 Vette motor I need to find a vette to put it in,With prices today It may be awhile.

[Jeff Hail]

Originally posted by hpv
Jeff Hail,
Thanks for the pictures. Haven't been in that neck of the woods for some time. I definatley recognize Beaumont coming down on Muholland
that was the Police launching spot on us,have had a few chases but not a ticket it was those handbrake turns that saved the moment. Only unfortunate moment one night I had a deer run into my 510 rt fender
broke the head light crunched the fender. Weird it was just after Beaumont going to Laurel Canyon. I witness both of Pat Pearsons Head on collisions poor Pat both were not his fault. Like Chuck Miller about that
time I moved from Muholland /Holllywood to Muholland/Ventura County
and went from 510,Lotus Elan to Porsche 911S3.0 Andial twin plug
all have been thouroughly enjoying sports cars Those pictures bring back many memory's HPV

Here are a few more. Recent pics of what the most infamous locations look like today.The entire road seems smaller now. I think because the shrubs and trees have grown so much. A little harder to see headlights coming. My eyes are also older.

Jeff

[hpv]

Dave,
It just occured to me what is a DKW 3=6 German I surmize
3=6 ? Motor 3 or 6 pistons ? HPV

[Jeff Hail]

Originally posted by lfot
FANTASTIC PICS!!!

Thanks for your input, Jeff.

Got any more pics of the mountain back in the days?

The 67' Barracuda in 1982 went to a full tube frame with a quad shock front end. After everything was stripped it weighed in at 2100 pounds. I never liked straight lines so I set it up as close to Stock Car specs as possible.

The topless 124 Fiat had a 273 Commando Chrysler V8 and nicknamed "the beast".

[Jeff Hail]

Originally posted by dd74

Man, I would hit this bump at about 70 to 80 mph, and my car would go airborne...

I got hit on radar by Harrison one night doing 90 on the European straight. I ran these Gazillion candle power Cibie's that made the night become day. The lamps ticked him off more than anything. I still have the ticket somewhere. First and only time I got nailed in 17 years of running. All my buddies cruised by doing 30 mph heckling me while I got a lecture for about 45 minutes.

Jeff

[Jeff Hail]

Originally posted by hpv
Jef Hail,
Can you tell what color that 510 is ? I think that was my car.
You were up on the graded lots above the pits yes ? HPV

Henry? Is that you? I think that was your 510. The screen shot was taken on the Griffith Park side during filming. Very few shots were taken west of Laurel for that movie.

Man I drive by Enriques all the time. I have to stop in for a bite and say hello.

Jeff