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Being an "old" Canyon racer,and I will stick to old so no one gets a wrong perception
about any modern racing activity!
Unfortunately the thread seems to have downshifted into 1st gear! So we need to kick it! So realistically what would be the ideal car in the modern to run a canyon in? You build it and design it? No store bought rods! But I would also like a simple add, as to what ready manufactured car you would add to your arsenal of weapons to run the old Canyons from the modern inventory available, just to see how studied up the various dreamers are! PS remember, I am just kicking the thread! First, since we don't talk about the modern, I usually pull down my posts (such as in this thread previously). But I had the club since 1978 (former Rod Simpson V8 914, ole Camaro Z-28s, and current C2/C3 Road Racing Corvettes guy Owner), that """emulated""" the Mulholland crowd and some of us visited Mulholland also back in the day, and that started us off doing the similar thing over 35 miles to the east of Mulholland Drive in Whittier/Hacienda Heights at Turnbull Canyon... ("""The Raceway""" 2.1 mile Course) where I formed the Turnbull Canyon Road Racing Society. Raceway map on the back of one of the 1978 Club T-shirts (Turnbull Canyon Road Racing Society)! http://i39.tinypic.com/2yxfbkh.jpg Current google maps page, nothing on the course has changed except for the asphalt in over 50+ years http://i60.tinypic.com/33bkfax.png Some of our cars from the Turnbull Canyon Road Racing Society! Dad's car in street trim (ex slalom, drag and track car), that has taken many a trip through Mulholland Drive and Turnbull Canyon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://i59.tinypic.com/28k5v86.jpg Honest 500+hp out of 327 cubes back then, but we have bumped it up in the modern to about 570hp! Being a small block, it shocks most! I do not like my Father's engine detailing thou! http://i59.tinypic.com/9uc56g.jpg Second day of Ownership (ex Dana Chevrolet car modified by Dale Armstrong/Dick Guldstrand) late 1968! Car was bought new in the configuration as shown in the picture, my father being the first and only Owner! http://i44.tinypic.com/23jsck.jpg Our 1967 911 with 2.8 liter full race IMSA built motor (2014- one of my little brother's cars, him in the heavy jacket with special forces triangular patch) http://i62.tinypic.com/23sdx1l.png All crank triggering, no distributor! Individual coil pack for each spark plug on his twin plug engine with big PMO's. And all aircraft instrumented reading through all cylinders with individual probes for A/R and cylinder temps! http://i58.tinypic.com/2coj1gn.png Our slalom truck with--- NASCAR mods 5x5 suspension, 3 racing seats with harnesses, spoilers, side exhaust, and hot engine and it can honestly carry 6000lbs of crap in the bed still! http://i57.tinypic.com/faacr9.png Heading out for play, Dad's car and my second C2 (the former 1965-68 SCCSCC slalom) 63 Corvette http://i58.tinypic.com/2qlqr05.jpg Looking down at Deadmans! http://i58.tinypic.com/2wf962u.png |
More Turnbull Canyon Road Racing Society Club car shots!
My 2nd C2 corvette again, but freshly restored to street trim back in the 90's (currently accident damaged in storage 2015). In this picture is my Father's 1968 Corvette and my younger brother next to it.
http://i57.tinypic.com/2j5gy8p.jpg My Old Rod Simpson 914-V8. This car went to Mulholland in all three colors while I had it. It started out Tangerine and did a stint in primer/black with a big rear deck wing, with white being the last color! I actually jacked up the paint job going from Orange to Black and that is why it got the white. I didn't own it long while it was white! I kept losing transmissions, so it was in the garage a lot more than I wanted! http://i57.tinypic.com/2ni9vt5.png Even the girlfriend had a car we built to not mess with (7 inch wide rubber/2110cc 200+hp motor) http://i58.tinypic.com/2m0nx1.jpg My first C2 Corvette race car, my 63/64 and some of it's history competing in Regionals on the famous Socal tracks in yellow followed by it flared (the earliest shot that i have of me driving it). Car is currently being restored keeping the flares 2015!!!!!! http://i44.tinypic.com/2w3asf5.png My first Corvette Race car as raced at Riverside International Raceway in 1969. Here are "some" of the SCCA Regional competition plaques for my car, in it's unfortunately short racing career for 1969/70's and I have those programs associated with these events. I also have a few of the Cormany era trophies! An example of my research, is at the Ontario Motor Speedway event, they both raced it in different heats with different numbers (Cormany #5, and Sloma #55). The National level cars had a specific race called the Challenge Cup that weekend, and the Regionals were run in separate heats but the participants in general were issued the same plaque! http://i60.tinypic.com/2rhp8wx.jpg Here it is again (my 63/64 Corvette Road racer) on the track back in the 1980's as it was, when I first took it thru Turnbull Canyon and Mulholland Drive! How about my cool wink mirror! http://i40.tinypic.com/2hnoqy8.jpg My 63/64 Corvette Road Racers future all Aluminum Engine getting built 2014, honored place in the corner of my living room! http://i61.tinypic.com/v8jy54.jpg The other younger brothers garage with 1967 1275S Mini and a purpose built SCCA slalom Camaro! http://i57.tinypic.com/33w87zr.png Our Slalom Camaro in action http://i61.tinypic.com/2ildef4.png The M car Bimmer and my 3rd Corvette (1968) and our covered Porsche 356. http://i58.tinypic.com/1zps704.jpg and we have more cars! |
More shots!
My 1969 Z-28 (I bought it in grey primer) behind my second C2, the former SCCSCC Vette (Cloyde Angell 1965-1968), parked next to my Father's car.
http://i61.tinypic.com/xfouo7.jpg My 1963 Slalom corvette ""back in the day pictured 1965"" competing in SCCSCC (Sic Sic) SoCal Slalom Champioship Series! http://i57.tinypic.com/287hmb7.jpg My Z-28, the last day that I owned it! This car was primer for years when i first ran it through Mulholland and Turnbull. We kind of took the race out of it. restoring it to blue for my girlfriend's use as a daily driver and that is how it was sold. I have to dig up a picture when it was meaner looking! http://i61.tinypic.com/6gy7v5.jpg Our two 1968 Corvettes together! And the nose of the Ghia in the background! http://i60.tinypic.com/28p8uo.jpg My 1967 Camaro parked at the entrance to Turnbull Canyon (last house on the right before the Raceway start on Pit Road) with it's Whittier Boulevard type cruising/drag race rubber mounted! You can see the flared for when I was wearing the road course rubber! This car was a light grey primer initially and I thought it was just a normal Supersport Camaro, until I found some old paperwork that it was an actual Z-28 sold thru Harry Mann Chevrolet (Ermine White with black rally stripes orginally. I didn't know this until in recent years. Man was I stupid! I sold it to an old High School friend who wasn't in the Society back then! He brought it back for a nostalgic ride up the old course with me! My old car comes home for a visit in the modern! Memories!!!!!!!!! http://i62.tinypic.com/nozmhg.jpg Don't ask! (the third most famous street racing/cruising street in the U.S. (behind Van Nuys and Woodward)- Whittier Boulevard being home of many famous racers and Hot Rod outfits!) http://i61.tinypic.com/2hwlb9d.png Slalom truck with friends competing at SCCA event (with Katech Corvette, and two Gen forum Camaro friends- another brother in the red shirt caring for all four rides, who is a local NASCAR Race truck crew chief at the local speedway) http://i62.tinypic.com/313pweq.png http://i59.tinypic.com/14wbaq.png Our 1967 911 again and it's garage mate 3.3 Turbo (934 turbo with intercooler setup, 935 suspension sleeper stock look, with the only clue being 9 inchers out back)! http://i57.tinypic.com/2rzbgvt.jpg http://i57.tinypic.com/qs5jet.jpg That covers most of, but not all of the immediate Family members cars which get automatic membership after taking a run or more over the course of the last 30 plus years! I am still trying to hunt down original Club members thou from back in the day and I actually have very few shots of member cars, because we always went up there in the middle of the night for racing where no one thought to bring a camera. So I hope a post like this might help me reconnect. I also started a street racer Club while down in the military San Diego way called "The Crew" as in military shipboard Crew! I also have participated in events with PCA- San Diego chapter, Asebring Club- San Diego, Corvette Super Sports Club- La Habra, and the ole NCCA (Northern California Corvette Association Club). I completed the IMSA level Competition Licensing Course training at Bob Bondurants school at Sears Point Raceway 1980 (which was a birthday present), and attended is what I will call it, with my race car at a few VARA Racing events in the late 80's and in more recent times ran with a group called TCRA (Vintage racing group of ouitdated race cars and probably drivers- with no association with Turnbull Canyon!). But I would rather Canyon Run!!!!!!!!!!!! Naturally the original Club cars weren't as glorious, when we first started out! I first was driving a 1978 Buick Skyhawk Sports Coupe, then the 67 Camaro Doug Fiat 124 Spider Larry Datsun 510 Steve 65 Mustang Bill 69 Chevelle 396 SS Brett 70 Datsun 240Z Jamie 77 Camaro and I will add more later! and others! |
I was going to post up our race track so I will reserve six posts to follow for that
Just to fill space, but staying on the topic of Canyon running and to compliment the LA scene (Mulholland Drive, Turnbull Canyon, Glendora Road, Hwy. 2, etc.)
Oh ya, these posts are just for History because I don;t endorse or suggest anyone speeding or God forbid racing! The Police and Sheriff's are really good at getting people also and they will impound and have been known to confiscate cars also (I don't know how true the latter is!) Additionally during daytime hours, there tends to be a lot of bicyclists coming up and down The Raceway and they can be a real obstacle crossing the lines and out in the middle of the road! PS at night, the place is actually haunted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The pictures are both a mix of old and new! I tried to add more shots to give a better representation of many of the sections here in 2015. http://i62.tinypic.com/5ntdkx.jpg The Starting Line is at the 40 mph sign where you roll through at the posted 40mph is the rule! As you view up "Pit Road" http://i59.tinypic.com/ih88id.jpg http://i58.tinypic.com/2iivgvm.jpg "The Sweeper" the left jog coming down at the end Pit Road straight! http://i62.tinypic.com/s0wrba.jpg "Sandtrap" turn which is named so because of the sandy parking area at the head of the hiking trail. http://i60.tinypic.com/5nt6p4.jpg Entry approach into "Indianapolis" turn named so because it is about the only true 90 degree right corner. http://i58.tinypic.com/f9dz4h.jpg This first major turn has had the guardrail punched so many times, that they have in the modern made sure the turn is identified as such "a turn"!!!!! http://i61.tinypic.com/s0wkzr.jpg http://i61.tinypic.com/6zu5uh.jpg http://i58.tinypic.com/2q9l5ko.jpg Coming out onto "Mulsanne" from Indianapolis before The Kink http://i62.tinypic.com/o72k1z.jpg |
Post 2
"The Kink" on Mulsanne straight!
http://i61.tinypic.com/2ewjrev.jpg Looking from "The Kink" down "Mulsanne" http://i57.tinypic.com/o8f8yu.jpg On Mulsanne" heading toward "The Elbow" http://i62.tinypic.com/1rta39.jpg "The Elbow" turn exiting off of Mulsanne and onto Skid Row toward The Hairpin http://i58.tinypic.com/jfiuc3.jpg "Skid Row" http://i60.tinypic.com/29w26ok.jpg "The U-Turn" turn http://i59.tinypic.com/aaj9ld.jpg Guardrail mangled again from someone who failed to negotiate The Hairpin (tightest turn on the course). http://i58.tinypic.com/ab4e2e.jpg Exiting out of "The U-Turn" looking up toward "The Loop" http://i61.tinypic.com/9pt3b7.jpg "The Loop" turn wich is a double apex! http://i61.tinypic.com/snl1ev.jpg "The Loop" 2nd apex looking toward the entry to the "The Esses" http://i57.tinypic.com/10gfd50.jpg |
Post 3
Entry into "The Esses" which is a double Ess, looking at the first of two!
http://i57.tinypic.com/152f3tk.jpg Midpoint in "The Esses" at the beginning of the second Ess, barely seeing the guardrail for the entry to "Parabolica" in the distance of the picture. http://i58.tinypic.com/243nvhc.jpg Entry toward "Parabolica" http://i61.tinypic.com/33o0al4.jpg In "Parabolica" turn http://i60.tinypic.com/2lkcvib.jpg "Parabolica" turn ending viewing up toward "Carrousel" http://i57.tinypic.com/21n01f6.jpg "Carrousel" turn http://i58.tinypic.com/20s87dt.jpg The guardrail was currently hit again, from someone coming straight off of Parabolica (fastest sweeper turn on the entire course) too hot and not making the turn! http://i59.tinypic.com/334ue00.jpg Exiting out of "Carrousel" looking up toward "Corkscrew" turn http://i61.tinypic.com/25rfali.jpg Entry toward "Corkscrew" turn http://i58.tinypic.com/do3tc8.jpg "Corkscrew" turn http://i58.tinypic.com/35de2hz.jpg |
Post 4
"Corkscrew" turn exit
http://i62.tinypic.com/288mgd4.jpg Exiting out of "Corkscrew" looking to "Horseshoe" turn http://i60.tinypic.com/o89k5u.jpg "Horseshoe" turn http://i60.tinypic.com/2nbt72u.jpg Exiting out of "Horseshoe" turn looking up toward "Vertigo" turn http://i61.tinypic.com/2nlbfyp.jpg "Vertigo" turn http://i58.tinypic.com/n2mix2.jpg Looking through both apexes of "Vertigo" and "Velocity" turns http://i61.tinypic.com/rixok2.jpg Coming out of "Velocity" looking forward to the large tree which marks the start of "The Chicane" http://i59.tinypic.com/jj78l4.jpg Looking through the tree at "The Chicane" http://i61.tinypic.com/2an7r8.jpg Start of the second V bend in "The Chicane" http://i58.tinypic.com/2lxxs1c.jpg |
Post 5
Final section of "The Chicane" looking at "Scorpion" turn
http://i58.tinypic.com/35herrl.jpg Entry into "Scorpion" turn http://i58.tinypic.com/2mcu4j9.jpg Exit from "Scorpion" turn looking toward "Rattlesnake" turn http://i62.tinypic.com/n1bgpk.jpg Entry into "Rattlesnake" turn http://i57.tinypic.com/35k20ds.jpg Exiting out of "Rattlesnake" turn looking toward Big Bend and Deadmans http://i61.tinypic.com/33pebva.jpg Kind of Ironic, but I found this lying dead near Rattlesnake turn! http://i62.tinypic.com/5mba54.jpg Exiting from "Rattlesnake" turn and entry to "Big Bend" http://i58.tinypic.com/szj1fq.jpg Looking thru "Big Bend" at entry to "Deadmans" turn http://i59.tinypic.com/2lat0tw.jpg Entry "Deadmans" turn http://i57.tinypic.com/211qp76.jpg "Deadmans" Turn http://i62.tinypic.com/2yjsbvb.jpg |
Post 6
Exiting out of "Deadmans" unto "Stairway"
http://i61.tinypic.com/2lxz9zm.jpg Prior to the 1st bend on "Stairway" http://i57.tinypic.com/k17qg.jpg After the bend on "Stairway" looking toward "Boomerag" http://i59.tinypic.com/2lxb4wn.jpg Entry "Boomerag" turn (I also call this Deju Vu turn, because it is very similar to Carrousel earlier on the course- except you try to wind up the exiting RPMs for the hill straight-away). http://i61.tinypic.com/5mx2fq.jpg "Boomerag" turn (purposely misspelled so we would know our Course Maps (at least I am sticking to that story!) http://i59.tinypic.com/343iy9t.jpg Exiting "Boomerag" on up "Avalanche" http://i60.tinypic.com/15eehr4.jpg Looking up "Avalanche" Straight http://i61.tinypic.com/2pry04h.jpg Entry to "Gilbralter" turn (most distinct feature on the course!) http://i60.tinypic.com/zvbspe.jpg "Gilbralter" turn (whatever you do, don't hit the wall!) http://i60.tinypic.com/t4uwrk.jpg Exiting out of "Gilbralter"- sharpest bend on the course and onto "Mambo" (1st clue of caution-- even the street line painter was getting confused by this turn). http://i61.tinypic.com/sdl0k5.jpg |
Post 7
Exiting "Gilbralter" turn onto "Mambo" and the bicyclist gives some depth perception! Also you can see the road line from "Maneater and Switchback" still climbing!
http://i58.tinypic.com/2vv9js3.jpg Traveling up "Mambo" straight named so because of the Mambo move exiting "Gilbralter" turn http://i62.tinypic.com/2exact3.jpg Entry into "Maneater" turn http://i57.tinypic.com/50llyx.jpg "Maneater" looking toward "Switchback" http://i60.tinypic.com/2r23ixc.jpg "Switchback" turn looking toward "Ricochet" http://i60.tinypic.com/2j5jvau.jpg Entry into "Ricochet" turn http://i57.tinypic.com/i57s06.jpg "Ricochet" turn http://i57.tinypic.com/kb8753.jpg Looking up "Everest"! Notice the left jog at the top! http://i61.tinypic.com/2e4xok7.jpg On "Everest" approaching entry to "G Force" http://i62.tinypic.com/2a6a7ol.jpg "G Force" turn http://i58.tinypic.com/1twv42.jpg |
Post 8
"G Force" turn looking down "Accelerator" toward "Grandstand"
http://i57.tinypic.com/33to8e0.jpg "Accelerator" http://i60.tinypic.com/nno8l1.jpg "Grandstand" http://i57.tinypic.com/34g2he9.jpg Exiting "Grandstand" with the "Finish Line" sign in sight http://i60.tinypic.com/14y4zrq.jpg Approaching the "Finish Line" http://i60.tinypic.com/a9sj9c.jpg This sign is the "Finish Line" http://i62.tinypic.com/anxzpd.jpg Shut down area! http://i60.tinypic.com/10cu8eb.jpg The Shut down summit and the first sign of civilization again. http://i58.tinypic.com/znrek8.jpg Our taste of Canyon Road Racing heaven! http://i62.tinypic.com/35kikva.png Thank you to the original Mulholland crews for the lifetime inspiration!!!! |
post 9
More of our cars! And probably will dig up a couple more shots, but i am getting burned out on posting!
About to head out for a VW/Porsche meet in the event appropriate rides, naturally our Corvette isn't going! http://i61.tinypic.com/21c56yg.jpg Corvette Truck in action and it will take apart a modern stock Corvette in this type of venue! http://i58.tinypic.com/hrg0m9.png Same Brother (tall one)crew chiefing their race truck http://i60.tinypic.com/64gjo4.png Latest truck! http://i57.tinypic.com/303iyht.png Every now and then we end up in a magazine (I love my gas mask, because of the gas spiking!) http://i59.tinypic.com/33d88lw.jpg Yes they get worked on! http://i60.tinypic.com/bbjer.png Stripping a 911 causes things to get a little dusty! http://i61.tinypic.com/4kbf3l.jpg 2015- Current Project getting stripped bare- a future Full 1973 RSR build w/935 suspension, Brembos, Real german steel RSR flares (laying on the blue Corvette shelf), completely straight & rust free 1973 car! http://i58.tinypic.com/2gsif7p.jpg Some of us are professional level Drivers (I had planned to race IMSA, but it didn't happen!) http://i59.tinypic.com/9qd1kk.jpg Pro driving a Client (Video) https://youtu.be/Z0XmOnYFBhY |
So no takers on the design the ultimate Canyon Racer challenge?
Realistically something like a Lotus 7 with a flow thru headed Cosworth or a V-8 Noble or similar specialty types would be the type of chassis's that would probably dominate courses like these. The super exotics carbon/Kevlar fiber chassiss (Pagoni Zonda R or like, or 599 XXX) would probably crack in two pieces or I would hate to see the damage to the undertunnel upon completing a run due to some of the road undulations at places like the old Mulholland or Turnbull, and some of the other normal height racers with stiff suspensions would get all out of shape or tweek an inner wheel well. And the actual fastest would probably be some of the run of the mill performance cars like your GT3 RS, or GT2 4.0 or Z-06 Corvettes, or ACR Vipers, or Nissan GT-R's and such that have suspension travel for the typical roads that exist, but also have very decent suspensions that could handle an imperfect road with great finesse. I used to trade a ride in my old stuff with guys that had new stuff, but I haven't done much of that in recent years.
At Turnbull every month, I do the rental car challenge (private personal challenge thing for my own private enjoyment), in that for my job- I rent a subcompact or economy mostly sized cars purposely for visiting outlying property accounts that I have to visit. So prior to returning them, I have ran no less than 67 of them up thru the Canyon to see how they handle. I have my own private listing of what I think have been the best of the best. Basically realistically a lot of high performance tuner hot cars can't touch a 3:05 minute flat run is all I will say, but I know what a respectful bench mark time is, to prove out whether a stock piece of $hit, 4 cylinder econo box, no frills car is a good handling ride (but those runs would be ultra scary for most to watch, definitely not PG-13). OK- The real reason for my elaborate road course posting! This has been primarily my playground for the last 37 years (since 1978) and I have done my fair share of playing also on Mulholland Drive (back in the day!) Maybe it is too late for Mulholland for someone to truly replicate in the gaming world, the old school road course (in a Forza or Gran Turismo format). And then there are a lot of famous roads throughout the world, that would be cool for that industry to duplicate. I did hear that a group is working on Riverside International Raceway which would be of high interest, in that that actual racetrack was shut down in 1988 and using limited video and art graphics, they feel that they might almost be there in replicating it (to seriously adding it, one day in the future). Therefore I would love to have old Mulholland and my little Turnbull Canyon Raceway immortalized forever! Because Turnbull Canyon is still intact (for how long is a question?), I would love to get some fame diverted over to what I consider the last Los Angeles proper Canyon Road Course still in existence (knowing intimately other known roads like Latigo, Decker Canyon, Mulholland West, or others up in Angeles Forest! Best rally format styled road is old road backside Mt. Baldy! What is happening at Turnbull is that the powerful Catholic church and developers have had their eyes on that Canyon forever! The Catholics are trying to expand the big cemetery over the crest of the hills and down into that Canyon and that would wipe the Course out. Also the Housing Developers get closer and closer to my precious Canyon every year. I know one day it will be gone after 37+ years of utter enjoyment. Please Video race car game people, run your cameras thru and add it to Forza or Gran Turismo for me, because I am also getting older and see an honest expiration date on my driving skill level as I get older and the reflexes and eye sight diminish! PS I am also trying to share a true gem with the car enthusiast crowd here in Socal without anyone getting killed or killing someone, and it has been a hidden and not as well publicized place. Mulholland has all of the fame, but this road (Turnbull Canyon and Glendora are cool)! And in regards to some of the others like Hwy 2 (Highway Patrol- hot spot) and out Malibu way (a lot of police or the venue has been taken over by the Motorcyclist. And then there are other hot roads like 158 west of Hwy. 5, or north out of Ojai, etc.., but some of those aren't neighborhood accessible! You kind of have to travel to play and my hottest cars only get about 5-8 miles per gallon, if that! Double PS after I finish posting up the Raceway pictures, I am contemplating integrating in or describing the course's two distinct styles of lines from bottom to top (1. being the closed course method of apexing and 2. being the open to surprises by the public method, running thru without dying head-on) running of- The Raceway at Turnbull Canyon! |
I am pretty close to being finished!
I wouldn't mind seeing some enthusiast's selfie car shots as guests on "The Raceway", but just don't get the license plate in the photograph!
|
Bttt
will try to get a course run description "how we used to do a run", done for this post!
OK this will be a work in progress! First a little about the history of the format for runs. We had walkie talkies and even a few CB radios in cars back in the day! We usually timed organizing at or after we knew the cops were chasing and arresting drunks down in the city. Or actually in the last hours of dark in the early morning. In the general evening, we may have been up there, but were mostly talking about the planned time events, talking cars, and/or about females, or whatever while we were drinking beer hanging out and not doing any runs. PS anyone not sober, was not allowed to make a run, so you had a choice! We tech checked each others cars and insisted on tech checking any visitor cars!!! Looking at tires (tread conditions, pressures), rims and wheel well clearances, battery secured, gas/oil leaks, mechanical running condition, engine venting breathing, shake the suspension, bounce the shocks, belts or harnesses, ground clearance, bolted down within driver's reach fire extinguisher, etc. just because we wanted to look all professional, like we knew our $hit! 30 something years ago, we posted sentries, discussed escape routes and plans to meet back up if separated and bail if arrested! The faster and/or more senior cars were sent off first, because the noise or length of time up there playing could put the risk of arrest on the final runs, so they could prove their mettle to escape and evade, if the cops came up for a look (in other words, the rookie novices could earn their stripes running from Johnny Law). It helped if you had brake and taillight kill switches! If a female had the guts to make an honest run, we would up the launch order! Our format was different than the Mulholland crowd, because we were after PBT (personal best time) of solo runs, but sometimes we would do weird rules night! Ride-alongs were highly frowned on. Any guest, passenger, tourist standing around with their thumb up their butts (girlfriends excluded from the thumbs up their butt comment!)--- arrangements were made for them to jump for a ditch-the-cops drill into someone else's car! (we were like the Marines and tried not to leave anyone behind, but it would happen!). I will add more to this later! Like about indoc runs etc. etc. But we essentially to the best of our ability, tried to close the road! How we used to run The Raceway at Turnbull Canyon Ok run up to the 40 mph at 40 mph, it varied in what type of car, but a lot of participants I would guestimate lost time right at the beginning on Pit Road! They would try to accelerate up in RPMs and gradually build speed to the limits of their car's ability to accelerate. WRONG! I especially in the high RPM limit rides or HP cars would immediately throw a downshift to get things busy and to get things going right away or you come through the start in a lower gear with the rpm's in the healthiest portion of your power band! A lot of novices or wannabees would leisurely go down this straight clear thru to the beginning of Mulsanne and some thru the entire run. First better clarify that there was a big difference in lines and apexes when taking a tourist sightseeing spin thru, when the road was not closed. Example is coming down "Pit Road" you were looking and concentrating on "The Sandtrap" for any opposite traffic and coming thru that turn and others, you had to leave yourself with the ability to throw it back into your lane prior to scaring the other driver into making a mistake that could have caused them to steer to avoid, going where you didn't want them to go! On some of the blind corners (which is most of them) you couldn't see who was coming from the other direction. With experience, you learned where and when to glance forward to some sections for traffic (but for a risky judgement, those opportunities were split second). Also I personally believed that encountering any car on course personally aborts a run! It is just the smart thing to do, shut it down immediately! At night seeing headlight flashes coming down approaching you, was easier than daytime! Going up- some of us with the LeMans level Cibie/Marchal H4's with the mega wattage bulbs would illuminate the course and those were capable of rendering an opposite direction vehicle to be 100% blinded or flash the mirrors of any car in front. OK the road is theoretically closed and this would be the perfect run (I decided not to post about an open to the public road!). More later! |
Still working on detailing a run, but first
The Corvette legend Dick Guldstrand (my friend) who was named a number of times in this thread passed away on September 2nd at the age of 87 years. A lot of our cars that i pictured had serious handling components bought from his shops!
The first time that I took the 1967 Camaro up to Mulholland just for a look back in the 1970's (mostly went up to cruise Van Nuys Boulevard), I was practically laughed off of the hill because I had air jacker shocks on the rear! Back then i thought an expert had to do all of that black magic chassis and alignment work, so i took that car into Guldstrands and had first a set of double adjust race Koni's with complementing springs installed. And that started me down the path to having road race capable cars, that would not get laughed at! But after the bill being a young military guy, I quickly learned to do magic with the parts myself! Well Dick has passed and being a customer for as long as I have been and a Canyon/Track guy suggesting his goods, and sending him Corvette people for over 30 years, he gave me (about a month prior, his shop banner that hung in all three of his business locations and I picked up buying pretty much the last of the last pieces left of the Guldstrand product line. Also some of my Family ran with the GRA (Guldstrand Racing Association slalom/autocross Team for years! This last Saturday night, one of the brothers won the Enduro race at Irwindale Speedway in front of 8000 racing fans and during his winners speech he dedicated the victory and gave tribute to Dick Guldstrand which was cool. R.I.P. Dick! One of the Top Tier of the Mulholland Drive Alumni! http://i60.tinypic.com/29kqnpf.jpg http://i61.tinypic.com/2gxp7b9.jpg A box of some of the very last of the last of the Guldstrand Corvette special parts! It was like coming home with treasure! http://i61.tinypic.com/30bis2f.jpg Our car on the Guldstrand website! http://i61.tinypic.com/9jkvx1.png Close up of that website picture! http://i62.tinypic.com/2eyjm39.png http://i58.tinypic.com/2hobno1.png well i now have one of Dick's old lab coats, because someone thought I was worthy, so when I unveil my reconstruction build of my race car, i will throw it over the seat as Tribute! http://i60.tinypic.com/1zxbde0.jpg http://i59.tinypic.com/2luqrll.jpg this was his working attire as he was working and tuning the Race Cars and Canyon, Slalom racers! Brother running Dad's car on the GRA Team (2 videos) Video vette.MOV - YouTube Vette Video 3 Irvine Meadows 1993 - YouTube |
bttt
for potentially more pic and I am still working on a closed road course run description!
Our hot new $350 purchased and then built to class enduro spec and now proven three race winner! It would have won all 4 races this season, but a tire fell off on him during Race #1! http://i57.tinypic.com/259fli0.png My brother about to give the race win dedication to Dick Guldstrand! A Solo drive and an emotional tribute speech from him for Mr. Guldstrand! http://i62.tinypic.com/2z3uce1.png The field I think for season race #2. because he lost the tire, he got a good second row start! http://i60.tinypic.com/20z8cnl.png My brother (ex-Guldstrand Team competitor) and his most recent!!!!!!!!! finest moment!!!!!!!! and one of his crew from the country of Turkey. My brother loves to take cars that you would never expect, and kicks your A$$ (Slalom Truck, Slalom Camaro, Mini Giant Killer, and now Joe Dirt Dodge $350 Neon Owner! This was their 1st victory- race #2! we haven't done Turnbull yet in it (not quite street legal!) http://i59.tinypic.com/2ur2o28.png The Turnbull Canyon Road Racing Society temporary Visa holder from Turkey member got to do his 1st solo in Race #3 and his first American girl kiss! (we were wondering if he has washed the Nurburgring shirt!). Joe Dirt Neon was injured thou and had to get pounded on with the body hammers! And my brother to the right side explaining the carnage to the track safety crews! i wonder what Mr. Guldstrand would have thought to see my brother's training of a next generation of Driver, just as he had worked with my brother! http://i62.tinypic.com/352kvet.png The 930 3.3 out for a party! http://i62.tinypic.com/2iggo4h.jpg better shot of the Mini! It is currently getting a top secret radical build! http://i61.tinypic.com/2a4nwx3.png Over visiting with the Slalom Camaro and the Mini http://i57.tinypic.com/315hfg1.png The Vetruck and Dad's Corvette staged with a bunch of modern Corvettes for the slalom! But two of my brothers were sure eyeballing that party jumper! http://i57.tinypic.com/2r6h56c.png My future Canyon racer towing vehicle- My Elco personal 3rd project with a bed full of new and vintage hot rod parts that is keeping me from working on my other 2nd project, that is causing me to not get to my C2 Corvette Race Car reconstruction 1st project! And the nose of the 2110cc Ghia! http://i62.tinypic.com/2v0bj8y.jpg Yes we are a typical clan of SoCal Street/Canyon Racers who can take it to the tracks also! I hope all enjoyed the peek into our thing! And for me, it was totally inspired by those old 1970's articles about the Mulholland Racers/Cafe Car Racer Articles! Everyone can tell that I am not good at completing my homework assignments, writing up hot run description up Turnbull Canyon The Raceway and i think i will do the same for old Mulholland when i get over my writers block!! |
Dick Guldstrand famous Corvette racer and Mulholland Alumni
I just got the call this morning on his Memorial services.
It will be Saturday! Here is the info: First United Methodist Church 4832 Tujunga Avenue North Hollywood, CA 91602 September 26th at 1pm |
awesome historical pics.
you guys have had some great times! |
Great stories and photos, thanks for posting.
And thank you also for the info on Dick's Service, a great man who will be missed. |
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