Quote:
Originally Posted by Rockyrat
I just found this thread last night and I'm only on page 70 but I started to remember some of the times I spent up there so I thought I'd share a couple of stories about experiences I had with Gary. The following two stories happened in the very late 70’s or early 80’s. It was a long time ago, and my memory for dates isn’t worth a damn.
I'm probably one of the few people in the world that has ever raced him. Yes, he did race up there. However, at this point I'm sure anyone who really knows him thinks I'm lying. I remember one late night in the middle of the week where there was probably only 5 or 6 cars at Grandstands. Out of nowhere, Gary challenged us all to a race. Since we all knew him for several years, we were dumbfounded at his suggestion. He then said for us to meet him heading East, in the sweeper, just past Bowmont. We did as he asked, and as we sat there he came up to us and explained how this race was to be run. Turn your car off and coast. The first one to Laurel Pass wins. Only three of us even made it all the way to the end. So, if you know Gary, you know that’s how he would want to race, and I'll be damned if he didn't win too.
Another time it was a chilly evening and there wasn't too many people in Grandstands. A single LAPD car pulls in the lot and says on his loudspeaker for everyone to leave. Well, since I was sitting in his car, and mine was locked up on the other side of the lot, we just sat there as everyone left and they shined the spotlight on my car. They then got back on the loudspeaker and said for us to leave too, so we did. We headed East out of the lot and were followed by the patrol car all the way to Skyline. We made the right and on came the red lights. Gary pulled right over, and rolled down the window. A rather young looking officer approached the car, and asked him for his drivers license and registration. Gary handed him both items, and then the officer asked me for my drivers license. So, I handed it to him and he then asked us where we were going. Gary replied that he was taking me back to my house. The officer took a look at my license and asked where the hell Skyline Drive is. Gary very matter of factly replied “your standing on it”. At this point the officer told us to wait there. A couple of minutes later Officer Jackson appeared at Gary’s door, handed us back our ID’s, and told us to be on our way. It was at this point that Gary asked officer Jackson if it would be OK if we went back and got my car. Officer Jackson looked confused and asked Gary where it was. He told the officer that it was parked at Grandstands but he told us to leave before I could get out of his car and go back to mine. Well, officer Jackson knew Gary well enough to know that he was once again yanking his chain. He didn’t say a word and left. We headed back to Grandstands and waited for everyone to return. All in all, another victory for Gary.
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Killer story Rockyrat, Gary never told this story that I know of. You have the only personal account of Gary racing. That guy can really be private when he wants to be, and that's a good idea for most of us Mul racers. You should consider yourself quite unique, you may be the only person to have raced Gary. Unreal!
Gary is part of the Legend of Mulholland.
He first came up to Mul when still attending Hollywood High School. He loved to read and enjoy the seclusion of the hills.
Over the generations of Mulholland Racers, he witnessed many young men coming and going the racing scene.
Gary never left. He still comes up to Mul after all these years and parks to read a good book.
I hear he likes to hang out now further east of Truckstop, his last known late night hangout.
Jackson was infamous and this is another tale of lore that is great.
Most of my friends have had interesting stories concerning Officer Jackson. lol
Thanks for filling in one of the blanks in the history of Mulholland Racing.
There's still much more to learn about concerning the history of Mulholland Racing. Unbelievable.