Writing Again. Anyone Here Race in the 1950's??

[Jagshund]

Looking for more information on SCCA type (regional) racing from 1955-1972; the story takes place in CA but all experiences will help with authenticity. This is for a script, not a book. The main character will be racing a type 547 powered 1955 1500GS/GT (356). If anyone has any good ideas regarding books to read on the subject I'm always open to ideas.

Need to know more about the competition, modifications, rules and products available at that time. Same car will also be taking a few laps in the 1970s, so info on the sport in that era would help, too.

Thanks in advance.

[Racerbvd]

My Mother did, here she is with one of their cars..

[Zeke]

Can you contact Denise McCluggage? I know a guy that raced in Palm Springs and at Paramount Ranch driving an Austin Healey. I haven't spoken to him in a few years. If you PM me with some particulars, I'll make an attempt.

Also many of the very early CanAm drivers raced that period. Some are dead, some are still around. I think you missed Scooter Patrick by a couple of years. George Folmer is around AFAIK. Tony Adamowicz and Wayne are friends. There are many more. Even my mortgage broker had a used CanAm car but I don't think he did what you need. You never know.

You do know that the first CanAm type cars were SCCA sports racers? The Birdcage was built basically for amateur racing. The whole thing evolved. All of those guys either raced in Europe or SCCA prior.

What's my cut as assistant researcher?

[davidbir]

I would suggest posting a request on The Nostalgia Forum--http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?showforum=10
populated by professional and amateur historians of a very high caliber from all over the world but many from within the US. I can personally suggest talking to John DeBoer-I am not sure if his father Jarl is alive anymore but Jarl raced at the small California tracks in the fifties. I will PM you John's email address. John is a real historian. You could also try putting a request on the Classic Sports Racing Group (CSRG) site. They have/had a number of members with experience that you would benefit from.
I will also send you John Coelho's address-he is on the East Coast but used to have a wonderful site that recorded early SCCA events back there: www.coldplugs.com--it can be accessed on a limited fashion through the archives apparently.

Edit: I just noticed the request for books. There are lots of course. I would suggest "American Road Race Specials 1934-1970" by Alan Girdler for an over view. As Zeke mentioned Denise McCluggage would be a good source and her book "By Brooks To Broad for Leaping" is a good read. There are also books on the history of the SCCA. Jerry Entin is another name that comes to mind as a resource-I will try to send his contact details.

[Jagshund]

Seriously, if someone wants to write detailed race portions for this effort I'd be willing to start talking %%%. Contrary to the mounds of useless paper I've conjured prior to this . . . I have a really, really good feeling about the uniqueness of the story. That and a dollar'll buy a cup, right?

Research assistants work for class credit! Or money. Your choice.

[nota]

don't know about cal races
but here in fla they were all old WW2 airbases
concrete runways and asphalt service roads

I remember sitting at pit out on a hay-bale at age 7
about 10 feet from the cars
little to no barriers fences were about it
hay was the only safety thing
and bales out lined the tracks
drivers were in shirts or maybe a cotton jump suit
helmets and goggles
no special pit clothing or restricted access
remember I am 7 and wandering the pits mostly
as my much older brother raced 356's for the dealer he sold cars for
in 1957 tampa bay area

[Dottore]

Denis Jenkinson wrote a couple of great books about his 356 driving impressions etc.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I race with SOVREN in the PNW. My buddies that live in Spokane are friends with George Follmer. George is in Idaho and still goes to stuff, does public speaking engagements, etc. We had dinner with him at Rennsport. He might be interested in a project like this and is very approachable.

[Zeke]

John Morton lives in Redondo Beach near Schumi. Also I bet Grady Clay could share some stories. Although when I met him I go the impression he was active a little later in the period of SCCA sports cars.

[rcooled]

You might consider contacting Burt Levy. He's writen several novels that all revolve around the very early days of sports car racing here in the US during the early '50s . The tales are fictional but the background in which they're set is spot on.

You can probably reach him thru his website:
Last Open Road

[Jagshund]

This Levy character is an actual writer. Not sure I want to be seen associating with those types. I'm getting a lot of conflicting information about parts availability in 1955; one site says aluminum panels were available from Porsche whereas many people say they weren't.

Dang me for not being alive in '55 to contribute something useful to the argument. From 356Carerra.net:

"The GT was now available as stripped Coupe or Speedster with bucket seats, slide-up plastic windows, lighter bumpers, Spyder front ventilated brake drums, aluminum lids and doors to deal with the extra 10hps like the RS. Factory friends could even get engines with polished parts, higher compression ratios, and special cams."

Edit: Just purchased Last Open Road. Looks like a good read regardless of whether or not it will help. Grady Clay might be a good resource as well, thanks for the reminder.

[Arizona 911]

I read a really good book titled, "Fast Women" by Todd McCarthy about female racers in the 40's & 50's racing Porsches, Ferraris, and numerous other sports cars.

[genrex]

If this is to be a screenplay -

The actor James Garner was an active racer during that time. He would be a good person to talk with, and because of his many movies, including the recent movie The Notebook, he could suggest production companies/ people on the inside to talk with, people like yourself who want to do a movie about that time period. Maybe you can look at the credits of his movies, to glean some names.

_

[racing97]

Go to Atlas F1 @
The AUTOSPORT Bulletin Board -> The Nostalgia Forum
pick the nostalgic forum and search SCCA,Riverside Reuniom Reventlow etc. .