Milestones . . .

“The Blue Bullet, or Jim Khougaz’s Lakes Racing ’32 Roadster”, is a feature article in the January ’04 issue of Street Rodder, written by our very own international auto journalist Ken Gross.

This historic, significant, channeled, dry lakes roadster was restored by Dave Simard’s shop in Leominster, 

Mass, the same shop that built Ken’s period perfect ’32 highboy roadster.

The article details a long list of awards the roadster has received since completion, including competing at Pebble Beach in 2003, judged by Ken and another club member Don Prieto, a walking encyclopedia of automotive history. California Roadsters is proud to have Ken and Don’s contributions to the hot rod scene. Take a few minutes to read the article, you’ll be glad you did.

La Carrea Panamericana . . .

Unfortunately, both of our race teams were taken out in the first day of the La Carrea Panamericana, more commonly known as the Mexican Road Race.

Frank & Evelyn Currie came out of a corner at 80MPH and hit an oiled section of the course, from a recently blown engine from the car ahead of them. Frank tried to control his GT 350 Mustang, but spun & crashed into an ambulance severely injuring a Mexican doctor and nurse. 

Both Frank and Evelyn survived the crash without a scratch due to the construction of the race car with full roll bar and shoulder harnesses. Frank and Evelyn are back home, and will worry about their wrecked race car later.

Jon and Midge, in the Hot Rod Lincoln, didn’t see much of the race either before their brakes and power steering gave out. After trying for a day to find parts and repair the car, Jon gave up and put the race car on the trailer. They missed the race, but not the party. Now, Jon and Midge have about as much experience racing as they do 

partying. After all the race was sponsored by Corona, who put on a great party after each day’s race.  As they say, there's always next year.

WARNING, it's dangerous out there! Use your belts when driving those bad boys.  If you don't have them, then get em installed (Big T) and use them.  

Dick Roseberry is happy he had his strapped on Sunday morning on the way to the April 27th Orange Square Show.  His throttle stuck and he got to go on Mr. Toad's wild ride ending up over the center median, after a couple of 360's, and an ultimate car fight with an Exploder.  Dick said without his belt he would have been pitched out of the rod and been road pizza.  Yeah, his 29 roadster has some major damage, but it can be fixed, and Dick is OK except for his pride and his shorts. The good news is that this lucky guy has a spare black 32 roadster.  Moral of the story is that shit happens when you least expect it, so be careful out there, and be prepared!

Three New Roadsters are currently being built by CR Members . . .

This item just in from River City . . .  Our Past President, Mark "Morty" Morton, Publisher of Hop Up Magazine, is building a new roadster.  She'll be a traditional 32 hiboy on 32 rails with a 36 X-member, QC rear end, dropped axle up front with bent-spoke Kelseys.  The flatmotor is being built by Steve Beck with gennie Harrel Los Angeles heads, Merc crank and two pot intake. The interior will feature full Auburn dash, column shift and SureFit seat covers by Swell Tom. The body will be finished in traditional black, with completion date tentatively scheduled for the next RRU. Rumor has it that Morty will follow this addition to his SJC stable with a 36 roadster. You know, a dude just can't have too many topless rides.

Phill Whetstone, our current President, is under construction on a Hiboy, and hopefully will be done by SLO 2004. The rolling chassis with traditional dropped axle front and Halibrand rear end is done.  The chassis/body  is now at Terry Hegman's shop for final body assembly, and then will go back to Phill's shop for final assembly, paint and upholstery.  A rendering of Phill's new roadster is posted on the Members Rides page.

Founder Duane McKinney's, re-creation of his long-time 32 restro roadster is making good progress, and will be done when he runs out of shop space.  He is working on a new rolling chassis with Kugel IFS & IRS and new TPI Chevy small block.  The plan is to swap the body from his existing roadster when the chassis is complete.