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

[Jeff Hail]

Originally Posted by lfot

Jeez guys... I was just goofin' around.

I still love my Porsche.

So was I. Gentleman I think you should shake hands and come out shifting.

[Guest User]

Originally Posted by TRE Cup

it was sitting at dean jeffries place on cahuega pass. It was made out of two trucks! it is finally gone . He still has his manta ray in there and a 4 cam GT40

Actually, Dean's GT-40 is fitted with the Gurney Weslake V8 . The heads on these motors were developed for use with the Ford 305 cid engine and enabled Dan to win at Riverside in 1967. More famously these engines were used to power the Ford GT40 to win at Le Mans Twice, first in 1968 and again in 1969. Gary Schroeder a long time friend (Schroeder Engineering) has the sister car - sans Gurney/Weslake motor.

[Guest User]

Originally Posted by Banning

That's an excellent idea. When I'm finished working on the second edition of the Mulholland Experience, I'll take the time to work on that. Thanks.

Hmmm...Being a "regular" on the "hill" for years back in those days, I just don't recall anyone named "Banning" -- hmmmmmm.... ...I recall a time when a guy in a certain red V-8 Datsun Z obliterated all comers with regularity...wonder who that guy was.

[Banning]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hail

So was I. Gentleman I think you should shake hands and come out shifting.

I appreciate everything that Derek has done, and just to prove it, when the Carrera runs again, he will be the first to get a "hell ride" on Mulholland. I know that he'll make a great passenger. What do you think Derek (you lucky guy)?

[lfot]

Originally Posted by Banning

I appreciate everything that Derek has done, and just to prove it, when the Carrera runs again, he will be the first to get a "hell ride" on Mulholland. I know that he'll make a great passenger. What do you think Derek (you lucky guy)?

Awesome!!! I'll warn you though, I'm not a good passenger. Just ask Chris (porcupine911).

[Banning]

Originally Posted by Joe Sumen

Hmmm...Being a "regular" on the "hill" for years back in those days, I just don't recall anyone named "Banning" -- hmmmmmm.... ...I recall a time when a guy in a certain red V-8 Datsun Z obliterated all comers with regularity...wonder who that guy was.

Thanks Joe, I made a real effort not to be known by anyone. Only a select few knew me and where I lived. This was necessary to protect myself from the cops who would at times harass regulars as to "who is the guy in the silver Porsche?" If no one knew me except for my trusted friends, no one could lead the cops in my direction. I needed to keep as low a profile as possible. That is why I ran the hill rarely in the Carrera and when I did it was on random evenings.

[porcupine911]

Originally Posted by lfot

Awesome!!! I'll warn you though, I'm not a good passenger. Just ask Chris (porcupine911).

he's not kidding. i'd add extra "oh S#1t" handles and make sure they're properly fastened.

[TRE Cup]

Yeah, that Z of Joe's completely spanked my targa during an impromptu lite to lite match- FAST car !

[Guest User]

Originally Posted by Banning

I made a real effort not to be known by anyone. Only a select few knew me and where I lived. This was necessary to protect myself from the cops who would at times harass regulars as to "who is the guy in the silver Porsche?"

Understood. Unfortunately, for some of us on the hill back then that wasn't possible. As you know we'd routinely return to the "overlook" (across from Bowmont) after engaging in any - ahem....sorties, only to be besieged by curious onlookers, many times with Hendrickson(?) fielding an impromptu Q & A session. I recall two such incidents specifically. For quite some time, Bobby Carradine in his '68 traco/guldstrand 'vert vette terrorized the hill, beating up on everyone with what seemed liked virtual impunity. Well, that changed after I showed up with my "Scarab" - (we became fast, no pun intended, friends after that) - Annonymity impossible. - The second time would be during the filming of "King of the Mountain". You see, my Z-car was used for the majority of the V8 soundtrack. (though most of the filming was shot at nearby Griffith Park, the sountrack was pieced together from soundbites at both locations with the Mulholland microphone hanging from a boom about 10-15 feet above the roadway directly in front of the overlook/turnout. In any case, one of the stunt driver's (Buddy-Joe Hooker) saw me rip through a couple of times prompting him to drive down in his yellow quattrovalvole 308 and challenge me to a "run up and down the hill" - for $$$$!!! Of course, I obliged him - only after letting him know the pummeling he was about to receive was more than adequate compensation. And so it came to be. Ahhh, but I must digress. Remaining incognito wasn't possible for the "A" guys. Actually, aside from Dave B. , "Doc" Rosner and a couple of others, there just weren't many Porschephiles up there that I can recall and the ones that were, weren't very competitive - especially against us guys with V8 power.

[vntgspd]

Wow, I sense some smack-talk brewing...

I know Banning has the Carrera to dust off but I'm wondering if Joe still has a hot-rod Z or something laying around???

[Guest User]

Originally Posted by vntgspd

Wow, I sense some smack-talk brewing...

I know Banning has the Carrera to dust off but I'm wondering if Joe still has a hot-rod Z or something laying around???

Nawwww....Back then there just wasn't anything around that posed a challenge to those of us with big power. The smart challengers would change the venue from the east side to the west. I'd always chuckle at the poor guy in whatever it was he was in when we'd run Coldwater to Skyline. By the time we'd get past the corkscrew it was all over. At least, from the west (horse-shoe) -- the underpowered and anemic had the identicals to help gain some distance initially - only to be reeled in and out-of-sight by the time the european straight came up.
P.S. I was just lucky. I can't drive for squat. I'm a perfect example that: even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then.

[Jeff Hail]

Originally Posted by Joe Sumen

Nawwww....Back then there just wasn't anything around that posed a challenge to those of us with big power. The smart challengers would change the venue from the east side to the west. I'd always chuckle at the poor guy in whatever it was he was in when we'd run Coldwater to Skyline. By the time we'd get past the corkscrew it was all over. At least, from the west (horse-shoe) -- the underpowered and anemic had the identicals to help gain some distance initially - only to be reeled in and out-of-sight by the time the european straight came up.
P.S. I was just lucky. I can't drive for squat. I'm a perfect example that: even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then.

Are you the same Joe Sumen who went to Berkely in the 70's?

[Guest User]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hail

Are you the same Joe Sumen who went to Berkely in the 70's?

Hi Jeff. Have we met?

[Jeff Hail]

Originally Posted by Joe Sumen

Hi Jeff. Have we met?

No. I just pull that one once in a while and funny thing 50% of the world HAS gone to Berkley. We like to kid around here on the thread.

[Guest User]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hail

No. I just pull that one once in a while and funny thing 50% of the world HAS gone to Berkley. We like to kid around here on the thread.

....universtadt oesterreich, wien - class of '77... By the way....it's Berkeley

[Banning]

Originally Posted by Joe Sumen

Understood. Unfortunately, for some of us on the hill back then that wasn't possible. As you know we'd routinely return to the "overlook" (across from Bowmont) after engaging in any - ahem....sorties, only to be besieged by curious onlookers, many times with Hendrickson(?) fielding an impromptu Q & A session. I recall two such incidents specifically. For quite some time, Bobby Carradine in his '68 traco/guldstrand 'vert vette terrorized the hill, beating up on everyone with what seemed liked virtual impunity. Well, that changed after I showed up with my "Scarab" - (we became fast, no pun intended, friends after that) - Annonymity impossible. - The second time would be during the filming of "King of the Mountain". You see, my Z-car was used for the majority of the V8 soundtrack. (though most of the filming was shot at nearby Griffith Park, the sountrack was pieced together from soundbites at both locations with the Mulholland microphone hanging from a boom about 10-15 feet above the roadway directly in front of the overlook/turnout. In any case, one of the stunt driver's (Buddy-Joe Hooker) saw me rip through a couple of times prompting him to drive down in his yellow quattrovalvole 308 and challenge me to a "run up and down the hill" - for $$$$!!! Of course, I obliged him - only after letting him know the pummeling he was about to receive was more than adequate compensation. And so it came to be. Ahhh, but I must digress. Remaining incognito wasn't possible for the "A" guys. Actually, aside from Dave B. , "Doc" Rosner and a couple of others, there just weren't many Porschephiles up there that I can recall and the ones that were, weren't very competitive - especially against us guys with V8 power.

Hi Joe, I know who you are. You made a name for yourself in the years around 1978, 1979, 1980. Am I correct? And you know John Hall who was the technical advisor for the filiming of King of the Mountain, also a very fast regular on the hill. John was my best-man at my wedding and a best friend for 30 years. He was there at Griffith Park at the location shoots with you and Buddy Joe Hooker.

You're right that there was'nt a lot of Porsche racers that were really fast, more fast V8 power was available. I love the feel of a V8 under load myself, there's nothing like it.

You mentioned Bobby Carradine, he contributed to the book, The Mulholland Experience. It was sure nice to see him and get his story one day in Beverly Hills, Governer Arnold was at a nearby table and there was lots of dudes in suits standing around. Bobby was an ACR member along with most of my best friends. I had fun spanking him one evening in my Carrera. He was one of the fastest on Mulholland with his built Corvette.

You also mentioned Johnny Rozner, if that's his real name by the way. He challenged me to a race at sunset after the Eye on LA Mulholland special. He had been going around saying that the king of hill is over the hill, etc. And that was in 1982, about 26 years ago. Poor fellow, after pulling him so bad that I had time to get out of my car and wait for him at Benedict, he never showed up on the hill again. Sorry about that Johnny.

I have to interview you for the second edition, please. I have looked for you in the past, but could not find you. Thanks much for posting, Banning

[CRE]

Originally Posted by LssBrksMorThrtl

Sweet, I'm looking forward to the 2nd edition.

Question: was there ever any semi-organized racing on the more demanding roads west of the Mulholland Dr. race course? Say, on the tight stuff like Mulholland Hwy near the Rock Store, Decker, Tuna Canyon, etc?

During the daytime that section of Mulholland was the domain of the bikes/cafe racers, harley cruisers.

It was a bit out of the way for easy access for everyone. We did participate in some organized road rally's (time/distance) out there on occassion. But, not very often.

There were other roads that the CRE group 'race' on. One night I hung the group at a light and managed to get a mile or so ahead before the official start point of our little uh, contest. The reason for hanging them up at a light
was: 1) No one wanted to lead as the leader had to forge ahead into unknown road conditions, and 2) I wanted to see if there were any cops following and 3) I wanted to know just how many were 'entered' into the contest. Because we never knew exactly how many cars would actually show up. That night we had 14 cars! They ranged from Veges, to VW's, to
Dave's LeMans, a bunch of 510's, a couple of 60 era mustangs, Datsun 2000 roadsters, Mazda Rx-3's and those evil V-6 Capri's. Remember this was the early 70's. Quite a lot of fun.

I started 14th and ended up 5th. Just could not catch the lead pack of 4 cars having given them a head start. Never even saw their tailights until the 'finish' line on PCH.

[CRE]

Originally Posted by slodave

And we're back.

I heard a story of a go-cart that ran Mulholland sometime back and the guy strapped a flashlight to his helmet....

Dave B. can elaborate. Some good stories were passed around his new shop this evening


Funny Videos

That would have been Drew Miller, RIP. Drew is not with us any longer, having lived life on the edge too close for too long before being consumed. Have fond memories of Drew, we had some great times most of them off Mulholland.
The ski trips with Drew were non-stop parties. Missed, but not forgotton.

[CRE]

Interestingly enough the 510 was in a FAB shop just across the alley from me.

Also, here's yet another Mulholland Connection. A former CRE member Lee Schwartz built an engine for Pete's Daytona. I don't know if it's still in the car or not. Lee worked in the past at such shops as Yates for the Panoz LMP cars, Rusty Wallace for Cup Racing and Richard Childress for Cup for Earnhardt Sr. effort grinding heads and building engines.

[Jeremy Cottrell]

Originally Posted by Banning

Hi Joe, I know who you are. You made a name for yourself in the years around 1978, 1979, 1980. Am I correct? And you know John Hall who was the technical advisor for the filiming of King of the Mountain, also a very fast regular on the hill. John was my best-man at my wedding and a best friend for 30 years. He was there at Griffith Park at the location shoots with you and Buddy Joe Hooker.

You're right that there was'nt a lot of Porsche racers that were really fast, more fast V8 power was available. I love the feel of a V8 under load myself, there's nothing like it.

You mentioned Bobby Carradine, he contributed to the book, The Mulholland Experience. It was sure nice to see him and get his story one day in Beverly Hills, Governer Arnold was at a nearby table and there was lots of dudes in suits standing around. Bobby was an ACR member along with most of my best friends. I had fun spanking him one evening in my Carrera. He was one of the fastest on Mulholland with his built Corvette.

You also mentioned Johnny Rozner, if that's his real name by the way. He challenged me to a race at sunset after the Eye on LA Mulholland special. He had been going around saying that the king of hill is over the hill, etc. And that was in 1982, about 26 years ago. Poor fellow, after pulling him so bad that I had time to get out of my car and wait for him at Benedict, he never showed up on the hill again. Sorry about that Johnny.

I have to interview you for the second edition, please. I have looked for you in the past, but could not find you. Thanks much for posting, Banning

Good story Chris. Rosner had a wicked black 930 with 934 cams. Didn't idle real well. Dave B can give us more info on that. I have a picture of it at Riverside someplace.

I saw that 510 at Neelys shop one day. It's a beautiful piece of work.