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It was 1971 and I was just back from the Military. we had lived in San Francisco prior to 1971 and while I was away in training the folks moved from SF to the LA. Once out of active service I tracked them down the the San Fernando Valley. I had a little 850 Mini while I live in SF. It was a love-hate relationship and while away a buddy was to install a big block 1100 cc engine.
All did not go well and once in LA I needed a reliable set of wheels. I bought a 510 Datsun and sold the Mini. The guys that bought the Mini told me of racing on Mulholland on Sat. nights. So, a couple of weeks later with nothing to do my only friend whom I met in the Military and lived in the LA area and I decided to take his new Fiat 124 Sport Coupe to go take a look. It was about 9pm and we jumped off the 405 at Mulholland (that being the only sign on the Freeway that told us of Mulholland) and drove all the way to the Hollywood Freeway. We turned around and drove back looking for the 'racers'. Not one was to be seen nor even any cool looking cars. In fact as I recall there wasn't many cars up there at all. We drove back to Granada Hills and talked a bit. I talked him into riding up there again in My new 510. So off the 450 at Mulholland and down the road we went all the way to the Hollywood Frwy and back again. Still nothing until just past Beverly Glenn around a corner came a grey primer Porsche Speedster (yes, real there weren't too many fakes around int 1971) with a Mini glued to his tail piple. No bumpers on the Porsche. We managed a u-turn not knowing how to do a handbrake turn at the time and set off after them. Driving insanely over my head we caught the flying duo and took up position just off the Mini's bumper. We were flying. I made my first non-clutch down shift on that run as the danged stock suspension on the 510 was leaned waaaaay over and it was all I could do to hold me upright in the seat! After a bit the Mini left me room to pass (later I figured out he just wanted to see what it was and who it was that was riding his bumper) and we sailed into 2nd place! Yahoo, now were having fun. It never occured to me what the heck I would do if I had passed the Porsche, having no clue whatsoever as to where the road went or the rules of the race. Then the Mini made a beautiful pass over a blind left hand rise leading into a down-hill right to regain his 2nd position. Back in 3rd place we came up to Coldwater Canyon (Valley side) and as we approached the stop sign I began to lift off to hit the brake. It occured to me that stopping for the stop sign after all the laws we had already broken would not matter much so I put the foot backonto the floor as the 3 of use flashed past the stop sign. Same thing happened again as we cleared the Bevery Hills side of Coldwater and headed up to what we later learned was called the 'grand stands'. As we entered the grand stand area all I could see in the headlights were millions of knees and levi's! It was as if we were parting a sea of levi's. Awesome, this must be like the Monte Carlo Ralley! Still at speed the Porsche and Mini dropped anchor at Bowmon signaling the end of the race. Not knowing they were to stop and turn around I had to lock up all 4 and barely missed making a fool of myself and enemies of the Porsche and Mini by ramming them. Rookie.... We finally found a spot waaay down the hill to park and walked back up the Grand Stand area. Rumor was it that there were 300 people up there on Saturday's in the early 70's. Sure looked like a lot of people to me. We listed to all of the people talking about cars and racing and looked at some pretty cool cars. Then hush came over the crow and a chant of "the Mini's are coming, the Mini's are coming" grew from the crowd. Bobbing headlights and screaming exhaust notes announced the arrival of 7 Minis as they swept around the sweeper from the Laurel Canyon side, they spead out a bit jocking for position and then jumped back into single file to run through the esses at grand stand. They disappeared down toward Coldwater and very soon after here they came back up the hill but now in a different running order. I asked someone close by how they had passed and he mentioned that the guys in the rear hit the E-brake first during their turn-around at Coldwater. They stopped in the place of honor at the Grand Stand and there I witnessed a most unusual site. A Mini Sprint... Gleeming pearl white with blackedout windows, chopped, sectioned, rectangular or square headlights, shaved rain drip rails! Oh my gosh. Out steps this guy that everyone seemed to know. Heck I thought he was a rock star. But it was only Julian 'Jay' Weinstein whom I would later become friends with before we drive against on anther in our 1st SCCA Driving school at Riverside Raceway. Yes, he was in yet another Mini and I was in yet another 510. But, that's another story.... |
My friend Jay's other Mini that he went to CalClub school with ... then raced and won, then sold to buddy Dale, who raced it... and won ... and kept ........... and both Dale and Jay 30 years later converted to strict vintage specs... and was excepted to Monterey... and raced... and absolutely devastated and embarrassed all the Minis the factory sent over... with all there factory 'ringer' drivers ... for the Year of the Cooper at the Historics last August...
This is the same damn Mulholland Mini with the same Mulholland driver ... killing every other Mini on the track just 6 months ago :D ... and so it goeshttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1171945568.jpg |
I remember at Willow turn six,eight Minis' all furiouslly going in to turn six, tight left front wheel off ground,next left rear wheel off ground next right wheel off ground all before exiting turn 6...like a Symphony...
Jay Weinstein was one of racers.. What a sight ! HPV |
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I got out and said "JEEZ-US":eek: I think he had a Ford Anglia also. But, that's another story.... |
the Anglia
Hey, I remember that Anglia. Beautiful car, off white, red side stripe, red top, 4 spoke red libra mags, some killer pumped up and ticked off motor breathing through side draft webers.
Jay wanted to take me for a ride one day. I'm not one to ride with anyone being the nervous type. But, after much discussion Jay promised to drive normal. Yeah, right.... We went down Laurel Canyon toward Beveryly Hills away from Mulholland. Down the road Jay did in fact drive very sedate. On the way back up he was doing well until we entered a set of "s" turns. Then he jumped on the throttle to kick it around a couple of corners. Wouldn't you know... just then a black and white appeared going the opposite direction. Crap!! Jay really hammers it now. Off we go on Mr. Toad's wild ride. Jay executed evasion tactic #1, which is to go where they don't think you will go. So, as we came up to a side street Jay downshifts and throws the Anglia into a right hand drift. His idea was to change direction of travel 180 degrees and catch the road just to the right of Laurel. A parallel road that would take us opposite our original line of travel and back toward Hollywood. Half way through this beautiful drift we see the road he wanted directly in front of us. We're all lined up perfectly...expect we're running about 30mph sideways faster than we need to be and completely miss the road landing on another parallel road that leads up to some houses. As we cleared the first road all I heard from Jay was a calm 'Uh Oh' then as we lined up for the second "Oh well". We fly up this long driveway that was used by a few different houses. At the end we turn around, shut the lights off and wait engine still running to see of the Cop had seen our evasive manuver and would follow us up the long drive way. We waited about 10 minutes then drove quietly back to Mulholland. We never knew if the Cop gave chase and we lost him or simply didn't bother and continued on down Laurel to Hollywood. If you lost a cop rarely did you actually see him after the initial beginning of the chase. You know when Jay's Mini became a real race car with numbers, slicks open exhaust he used to trailer it to the West End of Mulholland near Malibu. There he's unload it and run it up and down a few canyons to sort things out. Normally, the car guys didn't run on that end of Mulholland. It was the domain of the Bikes / Cafe Racers. However, there were many a shocked Cafe Racer who found he couldn't loose this funny little square car on any canyon. They might pull him on the long straights but he would be on their rear tire within a couple of corners. To say some were shocked would be an understatement. |
This thread sure has great legs
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Jay, Dale & Company represented MRA (Mulholland Racing Association) and their stories were legend to us in CRE (Clandestine Racing Enterprises - actually Crotch). However, our group formed after MRA got busted, big time. I don't know much about that event but we were pretty careful not to attract attention and everyone had escape plans (down Beaumont) just in case.
The "Mulholland Experience" book describes CRE as "a bunch of old guys that weren't very friendly. I'll be the first to admit that it was a tough crowd to break into, however we didn't get busted and we were all pretty young. Some people did get busted while we were up there but not the regulars. As I recall you didn't go up there until 10pm at the earliest and we stayed between Coldwater & the residential area. Which is why we spent so much time at Denny's, just waiting to go up. The common thread in all of us was the desire to race on racetracks. I remember driving in caravan up to Monterey for the 2.5 Trans Am to watch Bobby Allison drive one of the BRE cars. For me the drive up & back was torture as the "B" didn't have overdrive and chasing 510's at 80 & 90 mph was redline for 3.5 hours. Most everything attached to the engine vibrated off on the way up. We spent the night in a Chevron station where we talked the guy into letting us use the lift to screw the car back together. We had a pretty good routine as the lead car would open a hole in traffic by getting in front of someone and letting everyone else through. We called it "Leap Frog". Remember, no cell phones or even CB's but we hauled ass up there and back. Much to the "B's" distress. Now days everybody is driving 80 mph, but it sure seemed fast back then. I've had that "B" for 36 years now. You think I should get overdriver for it? Naaa. |
Jays Anglia GT
Dave,
I loved that Anglia it had a Cortina twin Cam with 40 mm webers 28 years later I saw it in Westlake Village,Ca near my restaurant ENRIQUE'S I left a note if new owner wanted to sell. Count me in. Never heard from owner. That car weighed 1300 lbs what a rocket! |
What ever happened to Jay Weinstein ?
Henry ENRIQUE'S Thousand Oaks |
The anglia had a piper equipped 1600 cross flow head Cortina engine with side draft webers- not a twin cam! Jay is alive and well managing a beautiful race shop in the SFV, where vintage machinery is being restored
I remember teasing the cops one nite , while chewing the fat, on Bowmont; we told them the "minis are coming, the minis are coming" They got all excited and backed up in the dark out of sight. A lone blue / white top Cooper S went sailing by and the chase was on ! The mini left the Belvedere in a heartbeat. So the cops come back all flustered and with some anger in the driver's voice, informs us that "Tha blue mini driver better look out for his a**, as he was going to really get it next time they saw him !" Well.. about an hour goes by and here comes Pete W. with HIS blue mini/ white top (different car - different driver) just cruising up to meet us. The cops come by and you know the rest: As Pete, and ourselves, were protesting that this was the WRONG guy, they proceeded to tear his interior apart, slam him against the side of the car, general roust- and eventually the doubt started to creep in. No ticket, no arrest, but somewhat traumatic. So much so, that Pete never brought that mini up to the hill again till he repainted it black ! And eventually that black mini received the James Garner motor, after my brother and I bought the now black S from Pete |
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Employee say's that's what he say's his name is. I continue that it must be a joke. Then ask, "Does he talk real fast?" Employee: Yea, really fast. Well then it has to be Jay. Jay was up at Pacific Raceways near Seattle helping his son run some laps at the track. They were looking for tires for their car. Haven't a clue as to how he came up with my number. We talked and he said he still lives in the same old place. That it was paid for so what the heck. Great hearing from him after so many years. He hasn't lost a bit of his enthusiasm for cars and or motorsports. |
The last time I saw Jay he was helping Dale at Monterey last August for the Historics...
I rushed to their pits after they annihilated all the 'factory' Mini competition...(actually, they killed ALL the 4 cylinder cars in the run group, except Maruf's Alfa TZ2) Jay was first to respond to all the Brits who came over as Dale pulled in with the WTF look on their faces....:eek: It was priceless.........:D Cheers, |
Alright guys, here's my contribution to this thread. I just came home from the House of blues, where Big Head Todd & the Monsters just finished playing a fantastic show! Jeremy, thanks for the invite and ticket. Craig and Wendy, thanks for the company and beer!
Anyway, on the way home, I decided to Laural Canyon from Sunset to Mulholland and go west to Encino, where I live. Here are a few pics from 1:30 a.m. Even though I was using a flash, hopefully you can get an idea of just how dark it is up there! The old Grand Stands. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1172224624.jpg Looking towards the water tower. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1172224652.jpg Water tower is to my back. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1172224683.jpg Another shot of the Grand Stands. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1172224713.jpg Yeah it's dark! http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1172224751.jpg End of the line! http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1172224776.jpg I think I may have woke a few people up on Mulholland. Sorry! http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1172224802.jpg Too much fun! :D :cool: |
[QUOTE]Originally posted by slodave
[B]Alright guys, here's my contribution to this thread. I just came home from the House of blues, where Big Head Todd & the Monsters just finished playing a fantastic show! Jeremy, thanks for the invite and ticket. Craig and Wendy, thanks for the company and beer! Anyway, on the way home, I decided to Laural Canyon from Sunset to Mulholland and go west to Encino, where I live. Here are a few pics from 1:30 a.m. Even though I was using a flash, hopefully you can get an idea of just how dark it is up there! ________________________________________ Did you get that feeling you were being watched? Cops at Bowmont with tuning fork in hand laying in wait. Just like the good old days. Nothing like a fresh rain on a quiet road late at night to stir the soul. Throttle on.......... |
...but wait, there's more!
And now, weighing in from Miami, Florida, is Lance.
"My best story other then the one you or Cortez remembers about a time I came through and some Idiot was walking across by Beaumont and dove into the bushes to not get hit. Then there was the time I was up there with 2 friends from Manhattan Beach, I was in my Mom's RX-2, Barry was driving his mom's RX-4 and my buddy Jim was in His RX-4....at Carls or Carls Jr...Jim went over the edge understeering off the turn behind Barry and I as we were heading towards deadmans, we thought he was dead.....We turned around came back and there was Jim crawling up the side.....he had the brakes on and the car slowed down enough that it just went over the edge and the brush stopped it just out if sight...so Barry parks his Moms car right above it on the shoulder...Jim sat on the hood to wait for us as we went down to Ventura Blvd to get a tow truck....as we came back up we saw all sorts of emergency lights flashing off the hillside as we got near......we figured the cops came upon Jim and were busting him for something.....we get in sight of the scene and there are Cops, ambulances, Fire rescue etc.....it seems as Jim was sitting there on the Hood of Barry's moms car waiting....some kid with his girlfriend came into the turn just as Jim had, started to understeer right at Jim sitting on the hood, Jim sensing imminent danger leapt off the hood over the side where his car sat and the kid plowed head on into Barry's mom's car and totaled both cars and hurt he and his girlfriend....not too terribly bad as I remember...so they tow away the wrecks, pull Jim's car back.....not a scratch on it.......and poor Barry had to go home to his Mom and try to explain how her car got totaled on Mulholland swearing he was not driving it much less racing.... I think I found about Mullholland from the Mag articles first, I started going up there very tentatively, it took a couple of trips from Manhattan beach to figure out where everybody hung out and what was going on. I was always treated well, even when no one knew me, you guys were a tight group but people were friendly and cool. I came in pretty late....the last 2 or so years of your Era....but all the guys I met up there I can still call friends today, and a few my best friends like you and Ron.... Then I got my Job at Vilem B Haan ......and during the several years I worked there i got to know the "Beverly Hills" kids that started going up after the "CRE" Era...and that is when I met Mark Mitchell, another good friend to this day....." :cool: |
Lance who?
OH, THAT Lance! Funny how things work when factories get involved. All of a sudden club racing becomes sudden death. Remember that last lap at Sears Point in the 6 hour ESCORT race? I didn't even know it was you trying to pass me on the outside of the carousel. I was just told on the radio that it was the last lap and not to let ANYONE by! Middle of the night. My team. Instructions given by a higher source that paid my bills. What do you do? Make the car VERY wide. I didn't even know that it was Lance, and everyone had incorrectly started a thing that we had a feud going on! Oh well, we're all over it now. |
Re: ...but wait, there's more!
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THE REALLY COOL THING IS THE PEOPLE FROM CRE ARE STILL FRIENDS TO THIS DAY, SOME 30+ YEARS LATER.
WE STILL GATHER ONCE A YEAR AROUND CHRISTMAS JUST TO ENJOY THE DEEPLY ENGRAINED BONDS OF OUR FRIENDSHIP. WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED THAT A MOUNTAIN ROAD IN THE SPRAWLING LOS ANGELES METROPOLIS WOULD PROVE TO BE THE CATALYST OF SUCH STRONG AND ENDURING FRIENDSHIPS. CERTAINLY NOT OUR PARENTS! ONE HELLOFA GROUP! |
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NICE PHOTOS.
YES IT WAS VERY DARK UP THERE. BUT, ON FULL MOON NIGHTS CHARLIE WOULD RUN THE ROAD WITHOUT HIS HEADLIGHTS! I REMEMBER ONE NIGHT DAVE B WAS RUNNING WITHOUT HIS LIGHTS GOING DOWN HILL AND DIDN'T SEE CHARLIE COMING UP THE HILL WITH HIS LIGHTS OFF. WELL, THEY MET AT CARLS TURN IF I RECALL CORRECTLY. DAVE SAID HE SAW A BIT OF MOON LIGHT REFLECT OFF CHARLIES WINDSHIELD AND HE HAD TIME ONLY CLOSE HIS EYES AND TIGHTEN HIS GRIP ON THE WHEEL AWAITING THE IMPACT. BUT, SOME HOW CHARLIE MISSED DAVE. DAVE SAID THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD HAVE MISSED ONE ANOTHER (BOTH RUNNING THE RACING LINE AND NOT ON THEIR RESPECTED SIDES OF THE ROAD!) BUT MISS HIM CHARLIE DID. DAVE MENTIONED THAT THE 'VETTE MUST HAVE SIMPLY JUMPED STRAIGHT UP AND LET HIM DRIVE UNDER. ALL HE COULD RATIONALIZE AT THE MOMENT. DAVE? DID I GET THAT STORY ABOUT RIGHT? |
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