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Cal-look/High Performance => Cal-look => Topic started by: jick on November 30, 2014, 11:48:33 am



Title: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: jick on November 30, 2014, 11:48:33 am
so.....one of my BRM's supposedly came from an old 70's drag car....the name of which has been forgotten.

The owner/driver of the car was Jim Gaye, the wheels were sold off and apparently the car is now in a collection in Japan, so immediately I thought of Akira's Bee-haus....I've had a check through of the various magazine and internet threads about that collection but cant find any mention of Jim Gaye.

does anyone remember this guy and his car??.....I'd obviously love to find out a little more!

many thanks....Jick


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: JS on November 30, 2014, 13:32:14 pm
http://articles.latimes.com/1997-03-09/business/fi-36324_1_junkyard-dog

http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php?topic=1349.4785;wap2

http://www.yelp.no/biz/wrecks-west-auto-dismantlers-santa-ana

Could this be anything?


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: jick on November 30, 2014, 14:44:38 pm
Damn JS..... That's fantastic, that's my Wheel alright, Restojohnny sold it to Corey Bloom, who sold it to me.

Welded by  Ron Fleming eh?  Well I suppose that'll do..... Haha!

Any of you California guys remember anything about his car??

Jim Gaye from Wrecks-West Auto Dismantlers Santa-Ana?


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: MC Dyno Don on November 30, 2014, 18:50:04 pm
Jim was a member of DRF of Anaheim and had some nice machines. The last of them was a cool chop top ghia that I sold to Akira from Bee Haus. The engine was a screamer but was badly fatigued from too much compression and was cracked from the 3 cylinder and leaked rather badly. He owns a junk yard in santa Ana after working there for many years and was fortunate enough to eventually own it from hitting it rich a long time ago by winning the lotto.


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: jick on December 01, 2014, 09:12:59 am
Great stuff there Don!  Many thanks...

If any old DRF guys ( or Fabs?) has any photos of Jims cars that would be super-cool!


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: speedwell on December 01, 2014, 10:49:12 am
Great stuff there Don!  Many thanks...

If any old DRF guys ( or Fabs?) has any photos of Jims cars that would be super-cool!
hi jick , never heard or remember  something with  a Jim Gaye ,  and not a lot of drf race car where in report and there's no club profile with drf , there's the volkscahncellors , der california kafer , dkp etc
if i found something i will post   ;)


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: MC Dyno Don on December 02, 2014, 20:51:38 pm
For the Loungers not in the know on this one...>>  Early Ghia convert, gutted and chopped...appliance white ext and rather rough but a cool ride. Not much of an interior as I last remember it and it was a poor fit&finish but a cool rider all the well. A worn 48ida powered time bomb with gears and just a "run it" kind of car. I can still remember when after I finished detailing the gem and noticing the pool of oil that had taken residence under the car onto my pristine garage floor/LOL.  It was in fact a 20 minute or 20 block ride until the severe detonation became very apparent from lots of compression. It did have some" worn BRM wheels" that were replaced with something else before the sale. Just your basic no frills ride that looked sweet from 50 feet or so. I doubt if ANYONE has, or had taken any pics of this jewel. You EURO guys really blow my mind with your knowledge of some  early cal look history...thanks for another memory through time for me..!!  Chow..Dyno Don


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: jick on December 02, 2014, 23:34:50 pm
Haha! ..... De nada Dyno Don!

Thanks for the info... I think it's almost more important to hear about the mundane/minutiae rather than the big hitters On the scene....
The everyday little interactions and stories reflect the reality of it all so much better...


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: bilboa2 on December 03, 2014, 08:10:37 am
fyi, I remember jim gay from early dkp2 days at mike dumphys house. Real personable, yet outspoken guy. He had a nice brown car.. 8 spokes , 68 ?? . I also remember seeing a red vert ghia in east anaheim with brms that he was involved with with bob chapman. Car was a little ruff but had the stance  I also remember clyde berg mentioning an excellent set of heads he did for the ghia and seeing it race once at orange county with a couple of quick et's. 1900cc ?? Then heard it was sold to japan. don seems to know the story more. Just can't remember if his dkp2 brown car was a 68 or ??   don ??


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: speedwell on December 03, 2014, 18:10:30 pm
hi Dyno , it's always  nice to have some story from you , remember last time i was at your place , and listening your stoties with interest , time flies  ,

did this ghia was the one , it was from drf

(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff105/richiesbugs/CalCars005.jpg)


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: speedwell on December 03, 2014, 18:36:45 pm
Bill  i also remember a picture with a late model at the entrance of OCIR and the car was a late model and maybe from DKP II , the car was darker blue or something like that ; but cannot put my hands on the photos
and here's another one with  goldish 8 spokes and stickers look like DKP
(http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=97.0;attach=24730;image)


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: speedwell on December 03, 2014, 18:55:36 pm
herere's the other ca im talking ,pict came from the 2nd bible


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: Sarge on December 03, 2014, 19:38:07 pm

hi Dyno , it's always  nice to have some story from you , remember last time i was at your place , and listening your stoties with interest , time flies  ,

did this ghia was the one , it was from drf


That looks like Bob Chapman's Ghia, Fabs and was a bad-ass car.  As I recall, the windshield was chopped!


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: speedwell on December 03, 2014, 19:56:50 pm

hi Dyno , it's always  nice to have some story from you , remember last time i was at your place , and listening your stoties with interest , time flies  ,

did this ghia was the one , it was from drf


That looks like Bob Chapman's Ghia, Fabs and was a bad-ass car.  As I recall, the windshield was chopped!
hi bro how're you??
you're may be right , i was remembering a ghia race car from the drf here' on the lounge and that's the one i found , hopefully i've a good memory to know where find the pict


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: RhoadsVW on December 03, 2014, 20:08:30 pm
That is Bob Chapman ghia at OCIR when it was still Bob's.  Sarge is correct that it was very fast.  Was a very light car also.  I think I remember it was a 1700.  69X88.  Not much else I remember about the motor. Bob was a friend of Dave Vanderbeck that helped him.  After seeing the picture again, it's also the picture I took of Bob''s ghia.


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: RhoadsVW on December 03, 2014, 20:23:54 pm
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Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: bilboa2 on December 03, 2014, 21:33:41 pm
the pic of the brown car at the ocir entrance is jim gay. The time i saw the vert in east anaheim was a few years before i was in dkp2. I had my flared fendered 63 circa 1974 ??They didnt want anything to do with my beckers flare job car. lol They where pushing the ghia around trying to get it started. I thought the car was red then ? Thinking it was white the last time i saw it race at ocir. thanks


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: Sarge on December 03, 2014, 22:55:47 pm


hi bro how're you??
you're may be right , i was remembering a ghia race car from the drf ....

[/quote]

Doin' good, bro... thanks for posting up that Ghia pic!  Haven't seen Bob C since the first DKP reunion.  Hope he's still out there!


That is Bob Chapman ghia at OCIR when it was still Bob's.  Sarge is correct that it was very fast.  Was a very light car also.  I think I remember it was a 1700.  69X88.  Not much else I remember about the motor. Bob was a friend of Dave Vanderbeck that helped him.  After seeing the picture again, it's also the picture I took of Bob''s ghia.


Amazing how fast 1700's were back then, eh Dave? ;)  I was a Parts Dept. rookie at Renfree back then fresh out of Auto Haus.  Dave Vanderbeck was the shop's dispatcher.
Good times! 8)



Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: RhoadsVW on December 04, 2014, 00:11:26 am
I hear he's still around. I believe doing something with comic art and drawings.  He was really talented with drawings and imagination. Bob Chapman and John Rayburn both very talented for sure!!!!  Bob did a lot of the ralley flyers for DRF.  Every club needs someone like John and Bob.


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: bilboa2 on December 04, 2014, 02:03:53 am
 stumped  ? .... Anyone have an idea of owner of speedwells pic of blue late model with gold 8 spokes ? I talked to goss, billings, griener, etc... (dkp2 guys.) no idea ? maybe even black ??  My memory has been subject...To late of car for dkp 1 ?.... Ok russell, many are posting again....lol


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: WCB Hitler's Hot Rod on December 04, 2014, 07:16:57 am
I can remember a car similar but it was a dark mustard color with THE HEAD SHOP stickers on the rear quarter windows. Also had gold 8 spokes...my mind isn't as clear anymore. Blah!


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: jick on December 04, 2014, 08:30:45 am
This is all fantastic stuff guys!  Many thanks!



Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: Sarge on December 04, 2014, 14:18:59 pm

Bill  i also remember a picture with a late model at the entrance of OCIR and the car was a late model and maybe from DKP II , the car was darker blue or something like that ; but cannot put my hands on the photos and here's another one with  goldish 8 spokes and stickers look like DKP

(http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=97.0;attach=24730;image)


http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,97.msg116456.html#msg116456


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: speedwell on December 04, 2014, 18:06:28 pm

Bill  i also remember a picture with a late model at the entrance of OCIR and the car was a late model and maybe from DKP II , the car was darker blue or something like that ; but cannot put my hands on the photos and here's another one with  goldish 8 spokes and stickers look like DKP

(http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=97.0;attach=24730;image)


http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,97.msg116456.html#msg116456
yes bro it was a pict from you ;-)


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: speedwell on December 04, 2014, 18:14:24 pm
stumped  ? .... Anyone have an idea of owner of speedwells pic of blue late model with gold 8 spokes ? I talked to goss, billings, griener, etc... (dkp2 guys.) no idea ? maybe even black ??  My memory has been subject...To late of car for dkp 1 ?.... Ok russell, many are posting again....lol

bill as Sarge said when he posted that picture that car belong to  Bob Hanke  from DKP II


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: MC Dyno Don on December 04, 2014, 18:57:05 pm
After posting re: the Ghia, I wondered (?) if it use to be Bob Chapman's and after viewing the pic (courtesy/Speedwell), I am almost certain it could be one in the same as the pic with the roll bar was the deciding shot. And Bill,..Jim G's sedan was a 68.   : )


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: RhoadsVW on December 05, 2014, 00:45:37 am
Yes Don it was Bob Chapman's ghia at the time at OCIR.  I took the picture and it was in DRF at the time.


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: Lee.C on December 05, 2014, 01:48:07 am
Great to see Mr Rhoads droppin in  ;D

Fantastic stories guys!!!

I am sure I remember reading stories of Bob's Ghia on the street..... Anyone?  :)


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: RhoadsVW on December 05, 2014, 07:27:07 am
This has kinda went off course from being about Jim Gaye.  I haven't visited Jim for a while now. Maybe go by and see him next week.  He is still at Wrecks West I believe.  Let go see.   I'll tell him everybody says HI  :)


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: jick on December 05, 2014, 08:22:58 am
Do it Dave.... That's a great idea! 

If some query about about a nearly 50 year old wheel gets a couple of old friends together then that's pretty cool!

Cheers.... Jick.


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: jick on December 05, 2014, 08:55:51 am
Do it Dave.... That's a great idea! 

If some query about about a nearly 50 year old wheel gets a couple of old friends together then that's pretty cool!

And if he has any photos of the old days we'd love to see them!
Cheers.... Jick.


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: Neil Davies on December 12, 2014, 19:56:48 pm
Anyone spotted our newest member? JGAYE? Is this Jim Gaye from this thread? Welcome anyway! :)


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: JGAYE on December 12, 2014, 20:46:34 pm
Bill Rogers called me yesterday Thanks Bill brings back good times


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: JGAYE on December 12, 2014, 21:06:52 pm
 DRF, DKP club decals
[attachment=1][attachment=2]


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: Lee.C on December 13, 2014, 00:08:06 am
Hey Jim, Nice of you to drop in :)


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: JGAYE on December 13, 2014, 00:15:19 am
Thanks Bill gave me a call told me about the thread it was great to read it and see the old names and pictures cant believe some had a picture of my 68 when checking in for a Bug-in at OCIR. I have old pictures from back them will get some time and get them out and post them. Thought people would like to see some original DRF patches, decal & DKP decals that I have 


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: Rick Meredith on December 13, 2014, 04:23:12 am
Welcome to The Lounge Jim


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: speedwell on December 13, 2014, 12:57:51 pm
welcome aboard Jim

here's a tread for you  with a lot of 70's memories  ;)

http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,2322.0.html (http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,2322.0.html)

fabs ;)


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: JGAYE on December 13, 2014, 18:47:50 pm
Thank you


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: JGAYE on December 13, 2014, 19:08:08 pm
Thanks for the welcome, you all have a great site, these pics are great I knew all these cars and guys, was a great time


Title: Re: Jim Gaye?? 1970's/1980's VW drag car owner/driver in California
Post by: jick on December 14, 2014, 11:39:29 am
Hi there Jim,

Welcome to the lounge!  We'd love to see some of your photos of the old days..
I'm away from home right now , but when I'm back tomorrow I'll throw up a couple of photos of your old BRM that I now own that got this thread started!
Id love to learn something of its history!

Best regards..... Jick