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

[Jeff Hail]

More for the new guys.

The turnout on the right is Grandstands. The lot was made smaller when the berm went up. This was the first berm to go up at Grandstands which took away some of the best views of the east San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles history.



Now
Look at that growth and weeds! Somebody call a gardner! This is part of why Mulholland seems smaller and confined. I will speculate and say when it officially became part of the Santa Monica Cons. they let a lot of area's grow back in its natural state.

[lfot]

Originally posted by slodave
I am off to try and video Mulholland....

Dave

dang, i want to go.

[Jeremy Cottrell]

You should drop by and pick up Dave B for this. The 914-6 is here!

[Thomas Owen]

Well now you guys bring up all this 'sliding' and 'slipping' so I need to share something I did 10 years ago. Apologies in advance to all those that want to keep this Mulholland oriented...
I was always facinated with the open wheel cars, and winged sprints in particular, so I bought a chassis and engine, put everything together, and raced for 3 years in Florida with my brother as Crew Chief. Pulled him back from a rather dark path he was headed down, got his head back on straight, and today is a happy family man.
One of the best experiences I have ever had, and what a crew of people we met along the way.





We were parked in the Pits one evening getting set up and this rig pulls in next to us, guy jumps out and comes around and asks "You guys any of the ones that fight after every race?". We said "no' so he yells to the driver "It's ok Bob we'll park here!"

Long story short - I meet the woman to be my wife (not at the track), she is horrified at the Sprint Car in general, so we got married, I sold the entire racing outfit and we bought....a Sailboat.

P.S. Still have the wife!

[TRE Cup]

"We were parked in the Pits one evening getting set up and this rig pulls in next to us, guy jumps out and comes around and asks "You guys any of the ones that fight after every race?". We said "no' so he yells to the driver "It's ok Bob we'll park here!"" > Thomas wrote


How true! A buddy and I were promoting the sales of Baby Grand Stockcars: Yamaha FJ 1200 powered 1/2 scale race cars with "replica" stock car bodies on top. We were in Reno for the Trans Am and one of the guys that visited our booth suggested we go to Carson City Raceway- a 1/4 mile oval south of Reno.
So off we go towing our lil car. The pits were exactly that: Mostly dirt with the paved sections going to the big boys. Dark, no lighting , save what bled off from the oval. We were there no more than 20 minutes when a huge fight broke out amongst guys that had been racing each other on the track:
These guys were coming in off track during the race, stopping at pit entry , getting out , and swinging away. A little too much for us city boys- we skeedadled
I've been to other small event ovals and some of the people there have been the nicest you ever met. So I can see why "Bob" wanted to park next to you

[onlycafe]

muchos gracias slodave, you da man.

[DUK]

Jeff, Thanx for taking the time to add the names of the corners and descriptions. Really a big help in understanding everything.

Cortez and Lance- I haven't seen Vardi in a couple of years but I talk to some who see him here and there. I'll let them know we were talking about him. Thanx for the stories and experiences you have shared, really makes me wish I had grown up in that area and shared in the fun.

[slodave]

Alright, video is in hand. I did get the east to west run in, traffic and all. It opened up a bit on the way back, but I did not think to bring an extra tape with me and I ran out. I will be better prepared next time!

I will dump it to the computer this evening and see about getting something posted tonight.

Dave

[slodave]

Here are a couple of digi's from today.

My last minute in car video tripod.


Not sure who this is, but he followed me most of the way.


Jeff, saw two of these tour buses today and saw them a couple of them on Sunday too.


Dave

[SSB]

Oooooooooo !! RS Camaro ('cept that pick'em up truck is trying to pass on the left). That's quite an effort you've put in there, thanks
And you get to run across the hill, to boot !!

[CRE]

Originally posted by Duke Zink
Jeff, Thanx for taking the time to add the names of the corners and descriptions. Really a big help in understanding everything.

Cortez and Lance- I haven't seen Vardi in a couple of years but I talk to some who see him here and there. I'll let them know we were talking about him. Thanx for the stories and experiences you have shared, really makes me wish I had grown up in that area and shared in the fun.

YEAH, NOW VARDE HAS SOME STORIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE IMSA RACES. GLAD TO HEAR HE'S STILL AT THE SAME JOB.
GEEZ, EVEN JV HAS SLOWED DOWN FROM HIS YOUTH.

[CRE]

SLODAVE: Here are a couple of digi's from today.

TOUR BUSES ON MULHOLLAND. NOW YOU KNOW AN ERA IS OVER!

JEFF IS CORRECT THE OVERGROWN BRUSH CHANGES YOUR SIGHT LINES AND NARROWS UP THE ROAD SOMEWHAT.

HEY, YOU GUYS HAVE NEVER MENTIONED MAKING THE LONG RUN FROM THE 'GRANDSTANDS' TO THE HOLLYWOOD FREEWAY. WE HAD A FEW VERY MEMORABLE RUNS ON THE 'LONG COURSE'. PAST THE FLYING SAUCER HOUSE.

JEFF, MAYBE YOU CAN TAKE A PHOTO OF THE
FLYING SAUCER HOUSE FOR THOSE THAT DON'T LIVE IN THE AREA.
BEST SHOT COULD BE FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS WITH A LONG LENS.

[CRE]

Originally posted by SSB
Oooooooooo !! RS Camaro ('cept that pick'em up truck is trying to pass on the left). That's quite an effort you've put in there, thanks
And you get to run across the hill, to boot !!

TRUCK IS MAKING A MOVE TO THE DRIVER'S RIGHT VIC. IT'S A MIRROR IMAGE. UNLESS THIS WAS TAKEN IN UR-R-UP.

[slodave]

The truck was going down Coldwater. We were in the left turn lane.

[CRE]

Originally posted by Thomas Owen
Well now you guys bring up all this 'sliding' and 'slipping' so I need to share something I did 10 years ago. Apologies in advance to all those that want to keep this Mulholland oriented...
I was always facinated with the open wheel cars, and winged sprints in particular, so I bought a chassis and engine, put everything together, and raced for 3 years in Florida with my brother as Crew Chief. Pulled him back from a rather dark path he was headed down, got his head back on straight, and today is a happy family man.
One of the best experiences I have ever had, and what a crew of people we met along the way.





We were parked in the Pits one evening getting set up and this rig pulls in next to us, guy jumps out and comes around and asks "You guys any of the ones that fight after every race?". We said "no' so he yells to the driver "It's ok Bob we'll park here!"

Long story short - I meet the woman to be my wife (not at the track), she is horrified at the Sprint Car in general, so we got married, I sold the entire racing outfit and we bought....a Sailboat.

P.S. Still have the wife!

YEP, THEY WERE DRIFTING LONG BEFORE THE CURRENT 'DRIFTERS'.

I OFTEN WONDER IF ASCOT WERE STILL AROUND AND WE COULD GET THOSE DRIFT FANS FROM IRWINDALE OVER TO SEE A SPRINT CAR SHOW JUST MANY NEW FANS SPRINT CAR RACING WOULD HAVE OVERNIGHT.

SOME OF THE MULHOLLAND GANG PLAYED A BIT IN THE DIRT. MOSTLY AS CAR OWNERS OR CREW MEMBERS.
I STILL ASSIST A PAVED USAC AND USAC SILVER CROWN DRIVER, TIM BARBER FROM TIME TO TIME. OWNED A FORD FOCUS MIDGET THAT TIM DROVE FOR ME UNTIL HE WAS 'SIGHTED' AND INSTANTLY PICKED UP BY A WEST COAST SPRINT CAR TEAM. TALENTED KID WITH NO BUCKS. HE WORKS ON THE CARS, TOWS THE CARS, BORROWS THE CARS, TRUCKS TRAILERS, ETC. ANYTHING TO GET IN THE SHOW.

[Banning]

I thought it would be nice to show photos of Mulholland "West" from lower Coldwater to the San Diego Frwy.

There are some long straigtaways on this section and it's a fast part of Mulholland. Even though it's not part of the formal racecourse between Skyline Dr. and upper Coldwater Cyn it's always been prefered by some of the fastest racers like Charly, myself, George, John and many others.

Below is one of the maps created for the Times recently.
You can use it for reference for Jeff's photos as well.





This is a photo of upper Coldwater Cyn where cars would turn around and race back toward Skyline Dr. It is considered by many to be the beginning of the course.





Here is Mulholland West beginning at the lower Coldwater and Mulholland Drive intersection.





At the beginning of "West" is the famous European Straight which is a long gradual downhill and back up again followed by a treachorous left, right, and left blind off-camber turn.





Approaching the first left.





Marlon Brando and Jack Nickolson's house is behind these gates. This is about 150 yards past the last bad off-camber turn just mentioned.





More to follow.

[Banning]

My sister helped me create a 20 minute movie about Mulholland Dr. about 8 months ago. It includes a tour of the formal racecours, interviews with past racers, history and lore of Mulholland and a live drive through the course explaining each turn. Complete with music, effects, still photos, and a lot more. It's too large to post on Youtube at the moment. I need to section it into two halves to post. On Sunday, I will give away free copies to anyone who is interested(Daves Run). It's very informative and everyone that has seen it has really enjoyed it. I would also like to offer this to the special people that have posted to this thread like most importantly Ifot, Jeff Hail, TREcup, dd74, CRE, SSB, LateBrakeU2, alwaysflat6s, Jeremy Cottrell, Mr9146, Milt, gostraight, and more I can't remember right now.
Let me know if anyone would like a complimentary copy.

[slodave]

Cool Chris, thanks! That'll be great to watch.

Here's a small clip going up to Mulholland today. At about 19 seconds a black 997 flashes his lights at me (I waved back). Was he giving me the Porsche salute or was he warning me of some unseen fate.... Look closely at about 1:12



Even though Chris just trumped me, I'll still compile today's drive.

[lfot]

Originally posted by Banning
My sister helped me create a 20 minute movie about Mulholland Dr. about 8 months ago. It includes a tour of the formal racecours, interviews with past racers, history and lore of Mulholland and a live drive through the course explaining each turn. Complete with music, effects, still photos, and a lot more. It's too large to post on Youtube at the moment. I need to section it into two halves to post. On Sunday, I will give away free copies to anyone who is interested(Daves Run). It's very informative and everyone that has seen it has really enjoyed it. I would also like to offer this to the special people that have posted to this thread like most importantly Ifot, Jeff Hail, TREcup, dd74, CRE, SSB, LateBrakeU2, alwaysflat6s, Jeremy Cottrell, Mr9146, Milt, gostraight, and more I can't remember right now.
Let me know if anyone would like a complimentary copy.

I would love one!

[LateBrakeU2]

Not Mulholland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_AEVhpRrgU