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

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

No phone in my pocket. Haven't needed or wanted that level of connection to the world yet.

Chris, thanks for providing the images. I hope you found the R&T coverage favorable enough.

If there's an interesting story about how you obtained those original IROC Fuchs, please tell it if you think it would be of interest here.

Yes, I want to know as well.

[Banning]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

No phone in my pocket. Haven't needed or wanted that level of connection to the world yet.

Chris, thanks for providing the images. I hope you found the R&T coverage favorable enough.

If there's an interesting story about how you obtained those original IROC Fuchs, please tell it if you think it would be of interest here.

Yes, several contributors made the article quite interesting. Many very nice Porsches are featured with some interesting facts included. I am honored to be in such good company. I provided some good photos and the Editor decided to use the Photo from the LA Times Article which was in Black and White.

Here are a couple of other Photos from 1978 showing the IROC Wheels after they had been cleaned up and polished. I bought the Wheels from Arnie who had been using them while Racing SCCA. They were pretty scarfed up with wheelrim hashing. DBS Metal Polishing restored them to beautiful condition. I believe Arnie got them from John Thomas who was operating the Racing Department at Bozzani Porsche Audi. He had access to the IROC Cars due to his position. I had previously bought 3-piece BBS Racing Wheels from John that had come off one of the Bozzani RSR Racecars but I thought that the Factory Fuchs would look better and be stronger to handle the bumps of Mulholland. They are 9x15 in front and 9x11 in back. You can see Mulholland Drive in the backround just above the Roofline.

[Banning]

Here is a photo from 1976 showing the Car before paint and Wheel polishing.
I knew Frank from Bob's Automotive Paint in Santa Monica since I had started painting cars in 1972 in Auto Shop at University High School. I painted my first Car which was a 1970 Fiat 850 Spyder in Lime Green and then painted my Physics Teacher's Austin Healey in Mettalic Blue which may have improved my grade in his class, lol.

Anyway I paid Frank to paint the Carrera which he did in a lonely old Warehouse in Santa Monica. He used the Original Porsche 2-Stage Silver Glas Paint.

When I went to get the Car is was sitting under a Skylight in the middle of the Building with no one around. The key was on the left front tire. I drove it home on the 405 to Mulholland with no glass installed. That was a real thrill driving on the Freeway with the wind blowing strong in my face as I brought the car home to Mulholland.
Those were exciting days with many more to follow.

[DJtheDJ]

I'm another one who has just completed reading the entire thread. I started around Thanksgiving 2020 and have been chipping away steadily until now 2-9-21.
I have so many thoughts about this wonderful thread.
1) I found this thread years ago while trying to locate the speedster from KOTM, but for some reason, moved on after not finding the info I was after.
2) The thread has been an emotional roller coaster. I truthfully busted out laughing at the stories of the guys spending hours looking for the missing hubcaps to their parent's cars. I'm laughing now thinking about it, because I'm sure it was so much fun to do "whatever" it was that sent those hubcaps flying. And, as for the concept of the road being a character, the sight of the newly added speed bumps makes me feel like the character just lost its life. We have some roads in Baltimore where we would fool around (Notchcliff Rd, Ridge rd) but not seriously, and when they added speed bumps to Ridge rd, it was and is a pain to even drive there now.
3) I've got to give huge props to everyone who has been part of this thread, and say thank you for fueling my addiction and bringing reality to something I have been fascinated with since 1982. I have probably seen KOTM easily 100 times, and until a few years ago never knew it was more than an idea, but actually based on two real people. The fact that I can even communicate with one of them (Banning), blows my mind.
4) I love how "human," generous, and even tempered Banning is with his responses, and that the grandfather clock is still in pieces!!!!!!!!!
5) I think it's interesting that after a million plus views, nobody ever said, "Hey Banning. How cool does it feel to know that there is a movie about YOU?" Admittedly, the character in the movie is what he is, but there is no hiding Steve is Banning, and Cal is Charley. That has to be a wild feeling, to watch the movie and say yup, I am the inspiration for that guy. Lot's of guys ran the hill, but the film chose two for very specific reasons.
Anyway, Thanks!

[Banning]

Originally Posted by DJtheDJ

I'm another one who has just completed reading the entire thread. I started around Thanksgiving 2020 and have been chipping away steadily until now 2-9-21.
I have so many thoughts about this wonderful thread.
1) I found this thread years ago while trying to locate the speedster from KOTM, but for some reason, moved on after not finding the info I was after.
2) The thread has been an emotional roller coaster. I truthfully busted out laughing at the stories of the guys spending hours looking for the missing hubcaps to their parent's cars. I'm laughing now thinking about it, because I'm sure it was so much fun to do "whatever" it was that sent those hubcaps flying. And, as for the concept of the road being a character, the sight of the newly added speed bumps makes me feel like the character just lost its life. We have some roads in Baltimore where we would fool around (Notchcliff Rd, Ridge rd) but not seriously, and when they added speed bumps to Ridge rd, it was and is a pain to even drive there now.
3) I've got to give huge props to everyone who has been part of this thread, and say thank you for fueling my addiction and bringing reality to something I have been fascinated with since 1982. I have probably seen KOTM easily 100 times, and until a few years ago never knew it was more than an idea, but actually based on two real people. The fact that I can even communicate with one of them (Banning), blows my mind.
4) I love how "human," generous, and even tempered Banning is with his responses, and that the grandfather clock is still in pieces!!!!!!!!!
5) I think it's interesting that after a million plus views, nobody ever said, "Hey Banning. How cool does it feel to know that there is a movie about YOU?" Admittedly, the character in the movie is what he is, but there is no hiding Steve is Banning, and Cal is Charley. That has to be a wild feeling, to watch the movie and say yup, I am the inspiration for that guy. Lot's of guys ran the hill, but the film chose two for very specific reasons.
Anyway, Thanks!

Thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful words. I'm sure that everyone who has participated in this Thread and those that love Mulholland Drive appreciate your sentiments. This has been a great story of many who made this Street a part of their lives in the years past and present. It was and still is a special place for all of us to enjoy and find pleasure in driving. I hope that you someday will be able to experience it for yourself and see what a unique and fun Drive it really is. Best to you.

[DJtheDJ]

Thanks Banning - I'd love to get there one day. i was wondering - is the white 911 with the saggy chain tensioners the same one you were in when you raced Charlie in his truck? If so, that car is also legendary. the overly used term provenance would definitely apply in this case.
Denis

[Heel n Toe]

This is probably only distantly related to Mulholland, but perhaps Chris or some of the other LA guys know this guy Doug Ward. His stories, like the one about Malibu Canyon, may also be known. He made the last comment below the following article (posted by RWebb in another thread):

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2017/07/14/strother-macminns-vision-for-winning-le-mans-to-come-to-life-nearly-60-years-later

___________________________________
Doug Ward

WOW! This article raised the hair on the back of my neck. I have had several conversations with Geoff about the Alton Johnson built car. (And also other cars that he had built). I was a personal friend of Altons' during the time he was building his car. Not only at Victress, but also while he was employed at Bruno's Corvette in North Hollywood, Ca. While there, he designed and built a mid engined Corvette powered sports car. It was a finished street driven, licensed orange beauty. My favorite car that he was building in the late 1960's was a beautiful fastback coupe based on 1963 Corvair components. He designed it, made the molds,& produced a running but unfinished car. I still have some pictures of that car.

I remember several times that Alton & I took the LeMans coupe out for "test runs" and to cruise Bob's Big Boy drive in in Van Nuys, Ca. We even had a run up & down Hollywood blvd a couple if times & it absolutley stopped traffic. Tragically, one night after Alton & another friend were returning from Malibu thru the Malibu canyon, the right front disc brake siezed & the car went off a 300 foot cliff. Alton was thrown out at the top but his friend stayed in the car all the way to the bottom. He survived. I have since visited the spot where it happened & that must have been a very scary ride. The car was destroyed.

I remember the LeMans coupe well. If I can be of any assistance in the construction of the Hacker car's reconstruction, It would be an honor. (BTW, in the picture of the coupe running speed tests at Riverside with the wool tufts taped on MacMinn’s LeMans Coupe - Dean’s Garage, that's me on the passenger side showing through the right side window.)

Doug Ward, Orange, Ca.

[Banning]

Originally Posted by DJtheDJ

Thanks Banning - I'd love to get there one day. i was wondering - is the white 911 with the saggy chain tensioners the same one you were in when you raced Charlie in his truck? If so, that car is also legendary. the overly used term provenance would definitely apply in this case.
Denis

The White 1973 911T was my mom's Porsche. We ordered it together at Cutright Porsche Audi in Santa Monica in October of 1972. I drove it for the first 6 months because the Transmission was so tight my mom had a difficult time using the Shift Lever. After she began to drive her Porsche I got a used 1973 911S from Rick Soloman who lived nearby. Rick owned the Madman Shirt Company. I had some of his shirts in my closet coincidently and still have a couple of them.

This was for me the time of experiencing real speed on Mulholland and would go out most evenings to sharpen my driving skills. It had been set up with some small upgrades that really made it perform like no other car I had ever driven. That Car flew on Mulholland and is the Car that I beat Charlie in, but that's only because he was driving his old GMC Pickup Truck and not his infamous Corvette. He would have left me in the dust if he were driving his Vette that night. No one drove like Charlie and no Stunt man could duplicate his extreme driving style, believe me. I knew that my little 911 had no chance against his Grand Sport styled Corvette, so I sold the 911S to finance the Mulholland Carrera RSR which is the subject of this Thread.

Here is a Photo of the 911S from late 1974 taken near Mulholland and the 405 Freeway. It was a truly beautiful Car.

[mickster8888]

Was reading the thread and don’t see any of his posts and no new ones. I think he went by Ronin.

[Noah930]

Frank?

I think he got a bit butt hurt from some comments re: a crash (or two), and took his ball to go somewhere else to play.

[mickster8888]

Makes sense. His posts were entertaining from what I remember. Thanks for the intel. Cheers

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by Banning

I knew Frank from Bob's Automotive Paint in Santa Monica since I had started painting cars in 1972 in Auto Shop at University High School.

I used to live on Westgate, directly across the street. Had no idea there was an auto shop there. I think auto shops were phased out in the mid 90s for LAUSD?

[DJtheDJ]

Right now on "ME TV" Adam12 season 4, Episode 13 "Pick Up" original air date 12/29/71. Lots of action, filming and mention of Mulholland. Someone in a red sports car just pushed a hitch hiker out, then out ran the cops (saving their self from an inevitable wood shampoo). I was eating dinner, and heard it in the background before I could see what kind of car it was, but some good footage of the road.

[Banning]

These past 12 months have been a difficult time for us all due to Business's closing, Restaurants, services, and much else not being open. It is finally getting better thank goodness. Of the many projects on my plate, I was able to complete several of them and discard others since I realized again, that too many projects just slows us down and nothing gets accomplished or things happens incredibly slowly.

At last the Steel supplier was open and I was able to get the tubing needed to complete the Roll Cage in the Targa.

[Banning]

Then I found out that the Tubing Bender had closed his business and I had difficulty in finding a new Mandrel Bender.
Luckily a good friend knew of a Machine Shop that could do the job for me.

Here is one piece of the two Tubes that needed to be Mandrel bent.
These bends are needed to replace the forward connections of the Cage that I cut out due to the previous Bender not doing a good job of matching my templates.

If I were making Rollcages on a regular basis I would get a Mandrel Bender so I could make these bends myself and then this kind of mistake would not happen.
Fortunately this can be remedied by sectioning in new bends.

[Banning]

Only 2 bends are needed but 3 were put in the Tubing so that the best could be utilized per the best fit.
These bends are located near the base of the A-Pillar where downtubes running along the sides of the inner Windshield connect to the vertical tubes that are mounted to the forward Rocker Panels.

This job was holding me up since it had to be complete in order to dress up the Targa A-Pillar to the Coupe upper Windshield Cowl Panel. Any welding in this area would have damaged the bodywork. Afterwards, the Glass can be installed, dashboard re-painted, gauges installed, Carpets, Seats, Shifter put in and inside Roof can be painted.



Then I'll install the rear Deck Lid, replace the short Hood with the long Hood, put front and rear early RSR Bumpers on and prepare for paint.

The Engine is apart and ready for Machine Work. The Wiring Harness is prepared and ready to install. All Marker Lights and Headlights are ready to put in.
A 915 Gearbox is all that is required to complete this Car.
Arnie was going to sell me one of his 915's but unfortunately he has passed away as you have read recently.

Perhaps Dave B. from TRE will be able to assist in getting a good Transmission.
Dave has always been very helpful and his Shop, TRE is a great place to get your Porsche Serviced, modified for Performance, or any needed Mantainance.
In a World where good places are hard to find, this Porsche Shop is highly recommended by me.

[Banning]

The Type 34 Spyder is now in the interior Garage where it can be worked on.
It needs a similar treatment as does the Targa with interior installation, some minor bodywork, and the Motor rebuilt.

I have all the rebuild parts including a new Empi Crankshaft and Rods, Gasket Set and new Pistons and Cylinders.

All other parts like Bumpers, lights, and new Carrera "Four" like Seats are ready to install. Polished Fuchs-like alloys with new Tires are waiting in the Shed for this baby.
I'm looking forward to driving this unique Automobile.

[Banning]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

I used to live on Westgate, directly across the street. Had no idea there was an auto shop there. I think auto shops were phased out in the mid 90s for LAUSD?

At the corner of Westgate and Santa Monica Blvd there used to be the most incredible Automotive Parts Shop called Boggs and McBurney. Built in the 30's, it had a fantastic Machine Shop too. Very old School with old Dudes behind the counter and many parts for antique Cars still in inventory.

I used to visit it frequently in the early 70's. Unfortunately it was gone by the early 80's. My first visit there was in 1971 to get the Flywheel re-surfaced for my Fiat 850, my first car. I had traded my Motorcycle, a 1969 Kawasaki Mach III for the Fiat and barely made it to University High due to the Clutch slipping badly. My Auto Shop Teacher showed me how to take the Engine out and fix the Clutch and Flywheel assembly. It was my first Car Repair.

Not long afterwards, I got a job at Jerry's Porsche Service doing mundane things like cleaning the floor and cleaning parts in the Solvent Tank. Six months later I was rebuilding 356 and 912 Motors. Six months after that I was rebuilding 911 Engines.
I was paid $500 for every 911 that I rebuilt which took me about a week to complete.
I went on to work for The Porsche Clinic and later in 1975 I worked for AE German Car Service doing Service, Repair and Bodywork. In 1978 I went back to School to get an Art degree at LAVC and then CSUN for a degree in Geology.
They were great times.

[masraum]

I just got done watching KoTM for the first time in almost 40 years. I remember seeing it when I was a young teen, probably when it first hit broadcast TV. It made an impression then. I was really surprised just now, that it's held up OK for what it is. It's certainly much, much better than No Man's Land.

I was so excited when this thread popped up because I immediately realized that it was the real life version of the movie.

[TCracingCA]

This is a test.



I was trying to figure out how to upload pictures again. But my Father's longtime friend here used to drive Mulholland alot.

Cool, I am back in operation!