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

[Jeff Hail]

This is an exiting time for a lot of participants. It's history in the making. We have not gone quietly into the night. It may not be the greatest story ever told but it's important to US that it be told in its entirety. This is the stuff that legends are made of and its real.

Chris and Victor are working hard on this project and they deserve credit for taking it to the next level. (next time the egg's over easy and lox with hashbrowns are on me guys!)

Many here have identified with a time and place of our past? A few have indicated we are reliving our youth? Nonsense! How many have come back to that place and recalled the past so vividly like it was yesterday? Show up at Truckstop one night and the history just flows. It's about the experiences, the people and the fun we had! (even if we got chased by the cops).

This is just as much a part of history as cruising on Van Nuys Blvd or Drag Racing on San Fernando was. It is the untold chapter of Southern California Car Culture History and so much more! Some took it to a professional level and others moved on. Just think for a moment who was here over the years? Actors, professional drivers, manufacturers, regular Joe's all with one thing in common. Bring what you've got!!

If CRE has an annual reunion how about a Consortium Reunion of all the generations of whoever is left? That would be a sight to be behold? Would they show up? You betcha they would.

[Jeff Hail]

Originally posted by Banning
All of us experienced those beautiful summer nights with the warm winds of the Santa Ana flowing over the twisting turns and areas where we hung out. They were good times. [/B]

Tonight is one of those nights Chris. ...as I stood out on the patio looking up at the stars with that warm summer air barely moving my first thought was Mulholland Drive.

Some things never change.........................

[Jeremy Cottrell]

Speaking of test driving cars, Kurt. I remember a Pontiac 6000 and a trip to the Monterey Historics when I was at a very young and impressionable age. Something about a 914-6 as well.

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Originally posted by TooTall
Pat, how many SVO's does one man need? I have a friend who is a freelance automotive writer and I frequently do photography for him. When they first came out he had an SVO test car and we went out to Malibu early in the a.m. to shoot it. I got to flog it all morning. I thought it was a great car, really well balanced and good power. The V8 cars had lots of grunt but the big lump in the front end did in the handling. But c'mon, nine? Jeez, and people think I'm strange.

The cars just seem to find me somehow. They seem to need me.

That would be Peter Widing Frey, Jan-84 Sports Car Graphic. I met Pete in 1969 when I joined the Valley College Sports Car Club. He and his dad George had many interesting cars over the years. Pete is the first one who took me up on Mulholland to see the action. He and Vic (SSB) didn't live very far from one another. Pete drove my A/Sedan one time at a RIR Solo1.

Why would anyone want to shoot a perfectly good SVO??? OH, you mean that you took photos!!! (Still have the pics? We need to talk)

Actually I'm down to 10 SVO's now. Sort of like the old days with a Bug Eyed Sprite owner. Did you ever know a Sprite owner who only had one of them???

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Speaking of Sprites, does anyone remember Paul Marygold? He and his wife were corner marshals at the SCCA races. He stuck a Capri V6 in one of his Sprites and when my Mustang wasn't ready in time, we took that sucker on the Pan Am Rally that went from South Bay to Ensenada. That car ran like a raped ape. We lost it on a mountain road and did a 180. It stopped on the burm. Looking down the cliff, we shivered at the thought of our mortality, then laughed, turned around and continued.

[flatspot]

Chris and Victor,
First of all, let me thank you guys for taking on this extended version
of the story. If those of us who experienced this magical era don't tell
this history, no one else will. And in the end it really is/was a part of
automotive history.
Please let me know when the next meeting @ truckstop is happening.
I would like to come up and talk about the end of what we think of as
the "golden age" of Mul. That is the period that would be covered by your
group 8/9 or what some of the earlier racers called the drug group.
Frankly, I've always thought that this label was a bit unfair.
As it seems that this group is poorly represented in the history so far
I would like to come up and tell some stories of my own and maybe
help set the record straight.
As far as the checkered flag group, the BigMerc will soon have new brake
pads, he he he, watch your mirrors Radu! ;>)

Thank you for your hard work and dedication.
peace, Kiley.

PS. If I may be so bold, I would like to see one more extreemly and deeply
researched chapter. This chapter would be placed someplace between the
group 1-3 chapters and the MRA/CRE/TVL/ACR et al.
This chapter would simply be titled "Charlie"
Hoping to see my friends, old and new up on the hill one of these nights.

[Banning]

Originally posted by Jeff Hail
This is an exiting time for a lot of participants. It's history in the making. We have not gone quietly into the night. It may not be the greatest story ever told but it's important to US that it be told in its entirety. This is the stuff that legends are made of and its real.

Chris and Victor are working hard on this project and they deserve credit for taking it to the next level. (next time the egg's over easy and lox with hashbrowns are on me guys!)

Many here have identified with a time and place of our past? A few have indicated we are reliving our youth? Nonsense! How many have come back to that place and recalled the past so vividly like it was yesterday? Show up at Truckstop one night and the history just flows. It's about the experiences, the people and the fun we had! (even if we got chased by the cops).

This is just as much a part of history as cruising on Van Nuys Blvd or Drag Racing on San Fernando was. It is the untold chapter of Southern California Car Culture History and so much more! Some took it to a professional level and others moved on. Just think for a moment who was here over the years? Actors, professional drivers, manufacturers, regular Joe's all with one thing in common. Bring what you've got!!

If CRE has an annual reunion how about a Consortium Reunion of all the generations of whoever is left? That would be a sight to be behold? Would they show up? You betcha they would.

Thank you Jeff, good words as always.
Thanks also to Pat for his great stories he has posted lately.



And Now..................................



Gentlemen, START YOUR ENGINES,
the warm summer nights have arrived.

Come one, come all.. to the revival of hanging out on Mulholland.
Spend an hour with fellow car enthusiasts talking about cars and whatever else. Meet at Truckstop on Thursday evening. Truckstop is a few hundred yards east of Laurel Canyon in the big sweeping turn on Mulholland Drive. We meet at 8:00pm since the darn curfew keeps us from parking much later than 9:30pm. At 9:00 we can make a "LEISURE" drive to dirt Mulholland and back. Afterwards, if anyone wants to, we can go to Fox and Hounds, or Four 'n Twenty(the old hangout), or the Pineapple Grill or anywhere that sounds good.

Several of us have been hanging out at Truckstop every week for six weeks now and we have determined that this location is safe. We see Black and Whites travel back and forth once in a while but we are low key and they rarely even give us a glance. Now all Pelicans are welcome to join in the fray and have fun and experience Mulholland at night.

We have had guests from the old days, some have been professional racers. We have had race cars, parts from race cars, drives in race cars, and a lot of comraderie to boot. More great stuff is planned, like Donuts and refreshments, DVD's playing with Mulholland movies and newcasts from the past and much more is possible. We can gauge what to plan next when we see the interest that is expressed on Thurs. night.

We hope to see you there!

[SSB]

Originally posted by flatspot
If I may be so bold, I would like to see one more extreemly and deeply
researched chapter. This chapter would be placed someplace between the
group 1-3 chapters and the MRA/CRE/TVL/ACR et al.
This chapter would simply be titled "Charlie"
Hoping to see my friends, old and new up on the hill one of these nights.

Your probably right that Charlie stories could be a chapter in itself. However, he transcended a few different groups. So it could just be a reoccurring theme from one chapter to another. All suggestions are good.

By the way, I mentioned this to Chris that at that car show that occurs every last Sunday at the shopping mall near Valley Circle Road & Mulholland (hwy 101) there is a Corvette that shows up that is a big block 4/speed, the paint has been sanded away yet was originally Marina Blue (Like Charlies) with American Mags, Blue Streaks and side pipes. I don't know what ever happened to his car, and I know this one is not it because this one is a '63 ....................but it sure looks like it

[Banning]

Originally posted by flatspot
Chris and Victor,
First of all, let me thank you guys for taking on this extended version
of the story. If those of us who experienced this magical era don't tell
this history, no one else will. And in the end it really is/was a part of
automotive history.
Please let me know when the next meeting @ truckstop is happening.
I would like to come up and talk about the end of what we think of as
the "golden age" of Mul. That is the period that would be covered by your
group 8/9 or what some of the earlier racers called the drug group.
Frankly, I've always thought that this label was a bit unfair.
As it seems that this group is poorly represented in the history so far
I would like to come up and tell some stories of my own and maybe
help set the record straight.
As far as the checkered flag group, the BigMerc will soon have new brake
pads, he he he, watch your mirrors Radu! ;>)

Thank you for your hard work and dedication.
peace, Kiley.

PS. If I may be so bold, I would like to see one more extreemly and deeply
researched chapter. This chapter would be placed someplace between the
group 1-3 chapters and the MRA/CRE/TVL/ACR et al.
This chapter would simply be titled "Charlie"
Hoping to see my friends, old and new up on the hill one of these nights.

Flatspot, thank you for your comments. I hope to meet you Thursday evening and hear some of your stories and make an appointment to interview you for the details. I will be doing this with many to get their facinating tales. Maybe we can find a more appropriate name than the drug group, I agree that it is too general and not accurate.

Believe me, I revere Charley just as anyone who knows anything about Mulholland does. I wanted to give him more representation in his chapter called Charley's Ghost in The Mulholland Experience book. However, I found getting info on Charley to be very difficult. He had few friends and his relatives are gone to my knowledge. I cannot as yet find his girlfriend that he had when he moved to Canyon Country and worked in the Sporting Goods Store. I only have met only a few that had personal communication with him.

Charley and I talked a few times when he helped me with problems that I was having on my A Sedan SCCA Camaro. One time, I trailered my car to his shop, he fixed the problem I had, and I raced home to test fuel delivery. He was an excellent Mechanic and an incredible fabricator/modifier. On a personal level, he was my inspiration, someone that I could look up to and aspire to be, and I'm still very sad that he is gone. I feel a terrible loss, like losing a big brother in a way. We will do more to get additional information to add to his legacy. I appreciate any help or information that anyone cares to share.

Looking forward to seeing you Thursday evening.

[Banning]

Originally posted by SSB
Your probably right that Charlie stories could be a chapter in itself. However, he transcended a few different groups. So it could just be a reoccurring theme from one chapter to another. All suggestions are good.

By the way, I mentioned this to Chris that at that car show that occurs every last Sunday at the shopping mall near Valley Circle Road & Mulholland (hwy 101) there is a Corvette that shows up that is a big block 4/speed, the paint has been sanded away yet was originally Marina Blue (Like Charlies) with American Mags, Blue Streaks and side pipes. I don't know what ever happened to his car, and I know this one is not it because this one is a '63 ....................but it sure looks like it

Victor is correct that Charley's time on Mulholland overlapped several groups. He was seen by the MRA, CRE, TVL, and ACR groups. Only Gary with the "Ranch-Arrow" can also make this claim but he is know only as an observer, not as a racer, and he didn't know Charley personally.

Victor, please talk to and ask if we can photograph this guy's Corvette. Also get his phone number so we can call to make an appointment to photo his car on the Racecourse. Thanks for finding this close looking car to Charley's Corvette. If we can't locate a real photo, this may have to do.

[CRE]

The # 19 Monza still exists, has been restored and is now racing in Vintage events. The car is maintained by McGee Motorsports in Sonoma at Infineon Raceway. I don't know who actually owns the car.

Our shop fitted new tires to the Monza's rims not long ago.

[CRE]

One night some of us were sitting up at Grandstands and one of the evil Hall twins rolls up in a new Maserati Khamsin. I can't remember if it was Jim or Bob, whichever one spoke Japanese. At one point I was sitting in the passenger seat talking to him and he was fiddling with the radio. It was a nice Becker with SW band and he tunes in Radio Tokyo and starts translating for us. Except he was putting his own spin on it and we were all busting up.

Keep the memories going.

Ciao babies!
Kurt O. (aka "Obe") [/B][/QUOTE]

That would be Bob. Many don't realize that Bob worked for Mazda back in the late 80's-90's and is considered the co-father of the Miata. I remember the day he called, explained the idea for a 2 seat sports car to be sold at a low cost. He asked my
opinion and I said what ever you do make it RWD. This, because everything was going Front Wheel Drive in those days.
Looked to me like they would sell everyone they could make at his
suggested retail of $9,000.00. Naturally, when introduced they
went for quite a bit more than $9K. But, it still was a great buy.

We've a few stories of Bob and Mulholland. Quite a few. He was let's say very creative.

[CRE]

Originally posted by Pat_in_L.A.
Speaking of Sprites, does anyone remember Paul Marygold? He and his wife were corner marshals at the SCCA races. He stuck a Capri V6 in one of his Sprites and when my Mustang wasn't ready in time, we took that sucker on the Pan Am Rally that went from South Bay to Ensenada. That car ran like a raped ape. We lost it on a mountain road and did a 180. It stopped on the burm. Looking down the cliff, we shivered at the thought of our mortality, then laughed, turned around and continued.

Pat, I think Paul lives in Redlands now. Seems I heard from him a few years back.

[flatspot]

Chris,
Thanks, I'll see you guys thurs. nite.
Your personal comments about Charlie are an inspiration to all of us.
As someone who was lucky enough to catch the briefest glimpse of him
in action I can only say to all that didn't that all the legends were true.
So, I work in a studio in Hollywood that has an annex in Sherman Oaks.
Anyone want to guess what route I take home? :>) Well I usually make
a little stop @ grandstands. This morning I was wandering around the
Barbera A. Fine scenic overlook and I noticed that the benches have all
these little brass "in memorium" plaques set into the seatbacks.
Well, the gears started turning and I thought to myself "SELF"
I wonder how much the city charges to install one of these things in
memory of loved ones. I wonder if it's affordable enough that us hill
dwellers, former and present might be able to chip in $20 or $50 each,
pool the money and get Charlie a plaque. There is an empty bench directly opposite the the water fountain that overlooks almost the entire course
from bowmont all the way down to deadmans.
Of course it would have to be carefully worded to avoid giving away the
game to the unknowing and city officials/leo's opposed to our little hobby.
Something like "In memory of Charles Woit, we can hear you on the winds". Vague enough that only those who needed to get it, would.
Subversive enough to be in the spirit of Mul. It's an idea that appeals
strongly to my highly developed sense of the perverse.
If others are into this idea I will look into what it would take to get it done.
Imagine being able to take your grandkids up the hill to sit on "Charlies bench"!
The spirit of Mulholland will Never die!
peace, Kiley

[Banning]

Originally posted by flatspot
Chris,
Thanks, I'll see you guys thurs. nite.
Your personal comments about Charlie are an inspiration to all of us.
As someone who was lucky enough to catch the briefest glimpse of him
in action I can only say to all that didn't that all the legends were true.
So, I work in a studio in Hollywood that has an annex in Sherman Oaks.
Anyone want to guess what route I take home? :>) Well I usually make
a little stop @ grandstands. This morning I was wandering around the
Barbera A. Fine scenic overlook and I noticed that the benches have all
these little brass "in memorium" plaques set into the seatbacks.
Well, the gears started turning and I thought to myself "SELF"
I wonder how much the city charges to install one of these things in
memory of loved ones. I wonder if it's affordable enough that us hill
dwellers, former and present might be able to chip in $20 or $50 each,
pool the money and get Charlie a plaque. There is an empty bench directly opposite the the water fountain that overlooks almost the entire course
from bowmont all the way down to deadmans.
Of course it would have to be carefully worded to avoid giving away the
game to the unknowing and city officials/leo's opposed to our little hobby.
Something like "In memory of Charles Woit, we can hear you on the winds". Vague enough that only those who needed to get it, would.
Subversive enough to be in the spirit of Mul. It's an idea that appeals
strongly to my highly developed sense of the perverse.
If others are into this idea I will look into what it would take to get it done.
Imagine being able to take your grandkids up the hill to sit on "Charlies bench"!
The spirit of Mulholland will Never die!
peace, Kiley

Now that's a great idea!

Thank you very much for that.
We all appreciate it.
Please look into what it takes to commemorate a bench.
I will help, please don't hesitate to ask.
Charley NEEDS his own bench at Grandstands.
It is highly appropriate.

[flatspot]

Chris and all,
I checked the Santa Monica mountians conservancy site. They have a
page for donations but it is very general. It did say that donations can be made in many different ways. I will continue to look into this and keep
ya'll posted.
peace, Kiley

[CRE]

Originally posted by flatspot
Chris,
Thanks, I'll see you guys thurs. nite.
Your personal comments about Charlie are an inspiration to all of us.
As someone who was lucky enough to catch the briefest glimpse of him
in action I can only say to all that didn't that all the legends were true.
So, I work in a studio in Hollywood that has an annex in Sherman Oaks.
Anyone want to guess what route I take home? :>) Well I usually make
a little stop @ grandstands. This morning I was wandering around the
Barbera A. Fine scenic overlook and I noticed that the benches have all
these little brass "in memorium" plaques set into the seatbacks.
Well, the gears started turning and I thought to myself "SELF"
I wonder how much the city charges to install one of these things in
memory of loved ones. I wonder if it's affordable enough that us hill
dwellers, former and present might be able to chip in $20 or $50 each,
pool the money and get Charlie a plaque. There is an empty bench directly opposite the the water fountain that overlooks almost the entire course
from bowmont all the way down to deadmans.
Of course it would have to be carefully worded to avoid giving away the
game to the unknowing and city officials/leo's opposed to our little hobby.
Something like "In memory of Charles Woit, we can hear you on the winds". Vague enough that only those who needed to get it, would.
Subversive enough to be in the spirit of Mul. It's an idea that appeals
strongly to my highly developed sense of the perverse.
If others are into this idea I will look into what it would take to get it done.
Imagine being able to take your grandkids up the hill to sit on "Charlies bench"!
The spirit of Mulholland will Never die!
peace, Kiley

MAN COUNT ME IN. JUST TELL WHERE TO SEND MY CHECK.
THAT WOULD BE SO COOL. Wonder if we could have them etch
a Corvette on it. Nah, probably even the City Hall dead heads would figure that one out.

CRE

[SSB]

I posted this once before.............but I still like it. Ladies & Germs, I give you Bob Hall today

[CRE]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TooTall
[B]I've just read through about 15 more pages of this thread. Jeez, the memories. Just some random stuff...

I think I first became aware of Mulholland from a guy that lived down the street from me named Bill Henry. Bill had a really nice Healey 3000 MkII and later (or before) a Volvo 122S. Bill was my brothers age, 4 years older than me. A buddy of Bill's was Jim Carpenter, I remember having a ride on Mulholland in the daytime in Carpenter's Pontiac Bonneville cornering on the door handles and sliding all over the place. I remember catching a ride with Bill and Jim over to a place in Burbank called Autobooks and buying a biography on Jim Clark. That started my obsession with collecting car books.

Oh yeah Bill Henry!

The Volvo was ok, but Bill really knew how to ride a bike. One night he was on the hill racing Bullwinkle. Bill was out front and Bullwinkle was hot on his heals in his 65 or 66
Mustang. Bullwinkle in full chase mode began to marval at Bill's ability to drift/slide his bike through the corners. Bullwinkle realized he was beginning to fear of Bill's life as he had visions of Bill and bike going down only to be run over by a 3500 lb Mustang and backed off ending the race. It was pretty much even up until then.


CRE

[CRE]

Originally posted by SSB
I posted this once before.............but I still like it. Ladies & Germs, I give you Bob Hall today

Nah, I think that's an old photo. Heck he has as much hair in this photo as he did when he was in his 20's.

CRE