Got any Deano Dyno-Soars/ DDS old photos, stories or rare items?

[Zach Gomulka]

I never had the chance to meet the guy (he passed right before I got really heavy into VW's), but I bet he thinks we're all nuts!!

It's great hearing your stories again, Doug!

[cal-look 56]

I am anticipating this article very much.  How long away are we deano?

[deano]

Dean Lowry's penknife he used to gap plugs at the races. My most treasured memento...

(Check the trace of purple paint... How cool!)

Show off.... drool, drool.

[Donny B.]

I bet he thinks we're all nuts!!

He would for sure!

[Russell]

Deano

If it helps i have his Torque Wrench that has his signature etched into it, iand some other bits......

[DOUG BERG]

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[speedwell]

 

[rick m]

Deano,

When Dean first talked of building the chopped Super Beetle for the Pro Sedan class, he approached me about helping with the rear suspension. We collaborated on the design and I fabricated the first set of rear control arms on the car that was on it.  On it's maiden voyage at Sears Point it ran a string of 9 second passes with the rotary injection and alcohol. At the time, Pro Sedan was hung up on the fuel issues and basically the whole injection idea.  Still, dean was the first naturally aspirated Pro Sedan running consistent 9's, even if it was on alcohol.

Mike Fischer and I were there to watch the car run as I wanted to see how well my rear IRS control arms worked.  I still have shots of the original arms I constructed for Dean in my archives.  Later, Don Cossey collaborated with someone and they made aluminum boxed arms for the car.  It was my personal opinion that the design of the boxed arms were subject to fatigue from improper bracing for torque twist when the car lauched.  The aluminum arms were on the car when it rolled at our BUG-O-RAMA event.  When inspected, they had cracks in the welds of the boxing.

If you want me to send you shots of the arms let me know. It was my little piece of history with a Dean project car and we were very pleased with how they worked on the first outings of the car.  They should have left them on the car.  Later, Mark Reilly  (Dean's late son-in-law) kept approaching me to make new arms for the car. I actually did make a second set of chromoly arms for the car that Dan Lawson purchased at one time.  I don't know what happened to them but I had designed them for Dean to run a 10" wide tire within the stock body spacing (exterior) with his Porsche IRS gear box.

Rick Mortensen

[deano]

Thanks for the offer Rick, but my story only relates to the Deano Dyno-Soars/DDS years, and not beyond. Once Dean left DDS and moved to Arizona, the story changes, and is not my direction. My story relates to when Dean and Ken were working together to form one company.. And yes, even Gene Berg, Mark and Paul Schley (and others...), will be a part of that story as well.

Also, I am not going to dwell on all the normal DDS parts that are flowing around and their value. I know what they look like as have all the original catalog photos on hand.

[rick m]

Thanks for the clarification. I understand your focus. Sounds like it will be a great article.

Rick M

[speedwell]

just made this now 

[Fritter]

Cool speedwell! That 2nd one is not the flat 4 car is it?

Can't wait for the article Deano, DDS is my favorite.

[deano]

In that 3-fer' photos above, that is the "real McCoy" DDS #2 car, as it displays the NHRA class win "T" trophy sticker on the windshield (windscreen for those of you east of New Jersey).

Also, in searching through my "cave" I came across some really neat photos that were buried in my junk. I found a 2-1/4 transparency photo of Don Crane's red '67 with high-nose stance and BRMs sitting first in the staging lanes at OCIR in Bug-In 3. Don's car is parked right next to Bill Roll's Towd' Doug was talking about... And it is in color. Both cars look brand new. I also found an unused color action shot of the DDS #1 car at OCIR, and a bunch of photos of the DDS building, inside and out. Yes, it was purple and orange! Also, a picture of the first DDS shifter prototype with a wooden T-handle. I may have also traced down the true origin of the "Dyno-Soar" logo, as it was a stuffed animal that a family/employee member had. And it may still exist... This is an awesome treasure hunt!

[Frenchy Dehoux]

   Deano if you need anything that I have in my collection let me know i.e the original tach that was mounted in his oval windows can be seen in the picture of his car staging at the lights and other items let me know.

    Thanks
    Frenchy

[vwcab]

Hi,Deano,the story that you are going to do about DDS,is that for features in"Hot VW's",or is this for a book?(like the callook-book from KS)

[Dominick Luppino]

I still remember going over to Dean's shop in Santa Ana in the very early 70s, no matter how busy he was he always took the time to stop what he was doing to help me out, he was very instrumental helping me out when I first started out racing, I sure miss him!

[speedwell]

request sent dean

rgd

the archivist 

[DOUG BERG]

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[speedwell]

vic wilson  you want to say,  the organizer of the bug in

[DOUG BERG]

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[speedwell]

 

doug have any others  info about that car , the only picture i know was this one from vw greats , taken at bug in 10 running against anderson bros , it look like yours was took at the same moment
 i remember another tread with that car , but no one had any info

[Lids]

its the same race!!!!

[speedwell]

its the same race!!!!

yes lids , watch behind the minisoar  , there's ron anderson watching the dual 

[DOUG BERG]

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[DOUG BERG]

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[Lids]

Found this old footage 

http://en.tackfilm.se/?id=1263582773438RA62

about 3.5 mins in

[deano]

Love it....

[deanosvws]

brilliant!

[ugly duckling]

very  thanks for that.    UD .