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

[Banning]

Here is the preliminary map of the artifacts that lie over the cliff in the racecourse.
It took 6 hikes in dense brush to complete this map. It was a lot of fun however, and thank you to all who joined me.
The map will be nicely re-done and published in the second edition of The Mulholland Experience. More to follow on that subject with an update.



Note: Two more complete old cars that are very difficult to get to still lie undisturbed. One of those old cars is located on the Map so at some time we can go back to investigate (look about 1 inch above my thumb). Who knows what might be in those cars?

[Jeff Hail]

Keep your eyes open. Another treasure may exist in those hills. It could be closer to Cahuenga and maybe not. You may have stepped on it and not have known what it was.



Early in 1864, a group of agents from Mexico carried a warchest of nearly a quarter of a million dollars in gold, diamonds and other precious items to San Francisco to exchange for guns to aid the democratic struggle taking place in Mexico. They were sent by Benito Juarez, who was leading the resistance to the French-installed theocracy there. But before the agents could reach San Francisco, one of them died a sudden, unexplained death... some would say, the first of many yet to come. The remaining three of the four agents arrived in San Francisco, only to find it full of French spies, so they headed for the hills to divide the funds into six smaller parts for security - and then proceeded to bury the six buckskin-wrapped fortunes in various locations in the area, as deep under the earth as they could manage.

Unbeknownst to the three Mexican agents, Diego Moreno happened to observe their activities -- and after they left the scene, the fugitive shepherd unearthed the treasures and wasted no time in heading back toward Mexico, his treasures hidden away from sight. Soon, the three Mexican agents returned to discover the treasure stolen and each suspected the others had something to do with its disappearance. Two killed each other and the third, held prisoner, suspected of their killings. The third agent eventually was exonerated but soon died himself, in a bar he owned near Tombstone, Arizona.

Following the traditional trail of suppliers which wound through the current-day Cahuenga Pass, Moreno stopped at a small tavern in the area called La Nopalera, or Cactus Patch, and he stayed the night. It was during his stay that he reported to have dreamed that he would surely die if he dared to enter Los Angeles with the stolen goods in hand. Unnerved by this premonition, he chose to bury the treasure-filled pouches under a large ash tree. He continued on into Los Angeles, and as it turns out, fell gravely ill. His friend Jesus Martinez aided Moreno as best he could, and to repay his kindness, he told Martinez of the buried treasure. He was said to have told him: "On the side of the pass about halfway from the tavern to the summit on the hillside opposite the main road." Moreno, ever sicker, fell into violent convulsions and died.

Martinez and his son, Jose Gumisindo Correa, after burying Moreno, headed towards the pass to find out if the story of the buried fortune was indeed true. Just as Martinez discovered the ash tree and before he could begin to dig, he suffered a seizure and died... on the spot. Correa, seeing this before his eyes, thought the treasure cursed, he fled, abandoning the amassed fortune lying just within reach.

Some years later, in 1885, a Basque shepherd who grazed his flock in the hills of the pass, discovered his dog excited by something near a tree. he unearthed a tattered parcel of jewels and coins and thought himself fortunate indeed. He was unaware of the five other such packages hidden in the area. Despite this, he proudly displayed his found treasures in a local tavern and decided to return home to Spain with his newfound wealth. Approaching his homeland, he stood on the rail to catch a glimpse of his arrival -- but something terrible happened. As the ship approached the dock, he fell over the rail and into the water, and began helplessly sinking under the weight of the treasure. And why didn't he release the treasure -- if only to save his life? As it turns out, he was so nervous about losing the treasure to thieves, he had sewn the valuables into pockets hidden in his clothing and was therefore unable to free himself from their heavy weight. He perished, dragged down to the bottom of the sea by the treasure itself.

Nearly ten years later, Martinez' son, who fled the treasure upon his father's death, had grown older and less fearful of the treasure. He was now a grown man and had held a position as a Los Angeles lawman. It was time to seek out the treasure again. But prior to his attempt to find it, he was killed on the outskirts of town at Boyle Avenue by his own brother-in-law.

Through the many years since the legend began, many local treasure hunters had considered making attempts to locate the leather-wrapped parcels, but all were convinced it was not worth flirting with the curse which had taken so many lives. However, in 1939, Henry Jones, a mining expert from San Francisco teamed up with Walter Combes, a mechanic from Bakersfield, and his uncle, Ennis Combes, an inventor, to see if they could locate the lost treasure -- and challenge the curse that followed its legend.

Using Ennis Combes' newly designed metal detector, the men became convinced they had found the lost treasure about 14 feet below the surface in the parking lot behind the shell of the Hollywood Bowl. The three men asked for and were granted permission by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to dig in the area, provided they granted a share of the find to the local government.

After getting this close, the Combeses had a change a heart, attributed to their fear of becoming the next victims. They departed, taking their metal detector apparatus with them. But the story had captured the imagination of the public -- and 'curse or no curse', newspapers proclaimed that the search would get underway. Henry Jones assembled a new team that included Ray Johnson, former Hollywood vaudevillian, and Highland Park inventor Frank Hoekstra.

In the heat of the fall sun, on November 27, 1939, three film crews, CBS radio and a slew of reporters and others, joined hundreds of curious onlookers and the would-be treasure hunters as they began to drill through the heavy asphalt outside the Hollywood Bowl.

The carnival-like atmosphere continued as an upstart vendor sold popcorn, a security fence was erected outside the site and hired guards worked overtime, tossing out would-be claim jumpers to the treasure. Each time the animated needle on Hoekstra's 'electrochemical recorder' went wild, they were further enthused to continue the dig. After 24 days of shoveling more than 100 tons of earth and mud to create a huge nine-foot-wide, forty-two-foot-deep hole, they hit a boulder and called their hunt finished.

Not more than a month later, Henry Jones committed suicide, depressed over his treasure-hunting failure and divorce from his wife -- his name falling alongside the others who had attempted to locate the lost treasure. Later treasure-seekers were denied permits - the story of the treasure put to rest. Even the one-day hunt by William W. boyle of Norwalk using his home-made 'mineral rod' which he said would locate gold up to 10 miles away, produced no signs of the long-lost treasure.


And so it goes, the mystery of the Lost Treasure of Cahuenga Pass has yet to be solved. Are the bundles of treasure, carried up from Mexico so long ago, still hidden away? Do the leather-wrapped parcels sit quietly under what no-doubt a much different landscape than was found in the 1800's? Does the treasure lie just underfoot, perhaps even somewhere in Whitley Heights? The description would seem to indicate that it is likely: "On the side of the pass about halfway from the tavern to the summit on the hillside opposite the main road." Perhaps we shall never know. The mystery of the Cahuenga Pass Treasure may perhaps remain just that -- a mystery.

But if ever find yourself digging up on the hill, and you perchance discover a small flap of worn leather or some old fabric and cord, don't be so quick to ignore it. Who knows. You may have just discovered the long lost Treasure of the Cahuenga Pass!

[Jeff Hail]

Just as the thread has been moved to the OT section we get noticed elswhere.

Bad part is someone thinks we are a bunch of 60 year old's who have likely only recently mastered the internet....

http://forums.fourtitude.com/zerothread?id=3693842

[slodave]

Other than that comment, everyone has good things to say about the thread, although none have made it through till page 155...

BTW, I have a metal detector...

[Jeff Hail]

Chris posted one of these way back.
Personally never liked the ML bug. Cal-bugs yes.....ML no!

In some strange nostalgic way I guess it belongs here on the thread though.

[KevinP73]

Originally Posted by slodave

BTW, I have a metal detector...

I have a kayak and a pair of binoculars....but being 60yo and having just learned how to use the internet I'd rather just stay home and download porn.

[slodave]

Originally Posted by KevinP73

I have a kayak and a pair of binoculars....but being 60yo and having just learned how to use the internet I'd rather just stay home and download porn.

I thought you did that at your shop?

[lfot]

Originally Posted by KevinP73

I have a kayak and a pair of binoculars....but being 60yo and having just learned how to use the internet I'd rather just stay home and download porn.

I'm only 33 and that's how I spend my time. Imagine the power of porn on the internet when I'm 60!

[Banning]

Since this thread started with a book about Mulholland and a car inside a living room, I thought it was timely for an update about those items.

The second edition of The Mulholland Experience will be great. I am doing it alone without any co-writer, this eliminates any conflict.

The spelling, grammer, and syntax issues have been resolved which makes it much easier and more fun to read (I had legitimate complaints concerning this matter). Richard and Jackie Adams are the editors of the second edition. They edit the monthly edition of The Pilota, a Ferrari Publication.

Twenty more photographs will be added to the book at appropriate times to illustrate what is being written about. This makes the book much more interesting and gives accent to the reader enabling a better and and more pleasant understanding of the stories.

Some more relevant information that has surfaced either thru the thread or thur personal communication will be added.

We will include the map of "what's over the edge in the Racecourse" for interest.

The critical issue for me was to attempt to have as complete a story as possible and especially not to miss any significant groups.
The first edition was a good try, but failed due to not being able to hunt down all those involved.I had a time problem due to my co-writer costing me $2000.00 per month (for a year) and I was running out of money for this project. Because of this thread (thanks Derek), I have been able to locate the people that I needed to complete the story. There are two groups that were completely left out of the first book, but will be represented well now.

Thanks to Victor V.T. the CRE story is nearly done. I still need to contact a few members to see if there is anything else that they want added in particular.

The TVL story still needs the lore of Kurt O. and Tony C. who I will contact in the next week.

The very important MRA is not well represented as yet, I will find Chuck M.(at Ron's) to get his story hopefully and perhaps find a few more MRA members to add their stories.

Now that I have a contact with the SCCRA, Jeff D., their important group and their stories will be added to the book. Their cars were used in the filming of King of the Mountain.

Finally, the group that spawned from this thread, Derek's graphics, and the fellows that met on Mulholland last year called the MIRRC will be represented. They are a legitimate group as well, and represent current times (Derek, Radu, Jeff, Dave, Kevin, and a couple more).

I am considering re-taking the cover photo with the Carrera in Carls Jr and eliminate the Ferrari on the cover. Any thoughts on that one?







The second edition will be ready at about the same time as the Carrera is re-fit.
We will debut the Carrera with the second edition of The Mulholland Experience for timings sake. They kinda go together. We will have an event!

I've heard rumors that someone will write another book on Mulholland Racing, perhaps with the help of Dave B.
I think that the more books on Mulholland Drive we have, the better chance of making it a part of Americana permanently. We all want that, I know I do.
For sure, we need another movie done that's more accurate in it's telling of what happened in days past. This may happen with enough exposure.

I'm doing my best to make The Mulholland Experience the bible of the history of Mulholland Racing. Using my own money, time and resources, I've done this for everyone who raced on Mulholland so none of us will be forgotten in the years to come.

If anyone has any constructive suggestions, I would welcome them with appreciation. The second edition and the car should premier in about 90 days.
Best regards,
Banning

[Banning]

There are about 20 variations of the cover, here is one of them.
I can change the cover style if it would be an improvement.
This one has a map of Mulholland over the title (Deadmans and Skyline on the right side, Identicals on the left).

[lfot]

Originally Posted by Banning

I am considering re-taking the cover photo with the Carrera in Carls Jr and eliminate the Ferrari on the cover. Any thoughts on that one?

Definitely! Need help on the cover?

[SSB]

Great stuff Jeff. Just when one thinks the thread is certanly dead, the bushes get beaten even more. Where do you find these nuggets?

[SSB]

60 year old's !?............why I auda.........now if they had said 50 year olds................

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by lfot

I'm only 33 and that's how I spend my time. Imagine the power of porn on the internet when I'm 60!

You'd better hope it's even more "interactive" in 27 years. You'll be blind by then.

[gostraight]

I'll vote for the carrera on the cover!!!!

hey Jeff, wana go digging in my backyard?

[Jeff Hail]

Originally Posted by gostraight

I'll vote for the carrera on the cover!!!!

hey Jeff, wana go digging in my backyard?

Nope! I don't believe Bentley's collection of "Lincoln Logs" would be of any historical value. Besides I have a mine field of my own to deal with.

[nameisbauer]

Funny you should post this Jeff. I have seen a "ML Bug" twice the in the last week. It has the Square lights and the Whale Tail. All Yellow. I tried to take a pic, but they never came out while driving. I didn't know it was a "style", I thought it was his homemade lack of style..

[bell]

i was flipping through tv today and came across a show (which was mis-titled as junkyard wars on my cable guide so i don't know what it was called) but it had some serious p-car/mulholland stuff (i believe one guy they interviewed had the engine or parts of the "king of the hill" porsche...... along with a company which recreated unrestorable vintage cars, very neat stuff.
i'll watch it again later to try to get more details etc as to what the show was......

[lfot]

Originally Posted by bell

i was flipping through tv today and came across a show (which was mis-titled as junkyard wars on my cable guide so i don't know what it was called) but it had some serious p-car/mulholland stuff (i believe one guy they interviewed had the engine or parts of the "king of the hill" porsche...... along with a company which recreated unrestorable vintage cars, very neat stuff.
i'll watch it again later to try to get more details etc as to what the show was......

What channel was it on?

I doubt that there were any parts of the "King of the Hill" Porsche seeing as how it's been in one piece inside Banning's garage for years.

[lfot]

Originally Posted by nameisbauer

Funny you should post this Jeff. I have seen a "ML Bug" twice the in the last week. It has the Square lights and the Whale Tail. All Yellow. I tried to take a pic, but they never came out while driving. I didn't know it was a "style", I thought it was his homemade lack of style..

You should try and buy it if you see it again.
You know... piece of history.