The Cal-look Lounge
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
March 28, 2024, 18:39:37 pm

Login with username, password and session length
Thank you for your support!
Search:     Advanced search
350646 Posts in 28563 Topics by 6811 Members
Latest Member: Bren
* Home This Year's European Top 20 lists All Time European Top 20 lists Search Login Register
+  The Cal-look Lounge
|-+  Cal-look/High Performance
| |-+  Cal-look
| | |-+  Early Original California BUG-IN Pictures
« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 Print
Author Topic: Early Original California BUG-IN Pictures  (Read 39711 times)
rick m
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1296


Driving Hot VWs for 44 Years Strong!


« on: June 04, 2009, 10:58:39 am »

One of the highlights of my life has been being able to attend some of the earliest BUG-Ins at OCIR.  In 1966 we moved from RIVERSIDE to northern California. I was not as close to what was going on but still saw the evolution of EMPI/Econo Motors and later was able to drive down and attend the early BUG-Ins. I took a lot of shots and I am just now pulling some of them out to share.

Here are the first of a few well known early drag cars, some of which are now in England and Europe. Hope you enjoy them.

Rick Mortensen
Logged

Rick Mortensen
Driving Hot VWs since 1970
rick m
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1296


Driving Hot VWs for 44 Years Strong!


« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2009, 11:02:48 am »

Here are a couple more you will all recognize.  It is the dualing FIATS.  In the picture are three guys in yellow shirts.  The first one on the left is none other than a young Lloyd Moshier.  Rich Stanchfield, another early VW racer, is up in the far left corner. 

The second shot is one of the old LITTLE GIANT KILLER fiat and the TUFF-E-NUFF chop top sedan.

Rick Mortensen
Logged

Rick Mortensen
Driving Hot VWs since 1970
rick m
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1296


Driving Hot VWs for 44 Years Strong!


« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2009, 11:09:02 am »

Here is one of my rare shots of the early LIGHTNING BUG type 4 powered dragster taken at an early California BUG-In. I have another shot of it with the chopped STUTT BEE that I will dig out and post later.

Rick Mortensen
Logged

Rick Mortensen
Driving Hot VWs since 1970
rick m
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1296


Driving Hot VWs for 44 Years Strong!


« Reply #3 on: June 04, 2009, 11:10:53 am »

This is a shot of a car I saw at later BUG-INs.  Many of you old timers in So Cal will remember Mike Mabe's turbo ghia. It was one car that ran as nice as it looked. It always impressed me.  This car was street driven. Look at how hard it would launch.

Rick Mortensen
Logged

Rick Mortensen
Driving Hot VWs since 1970
rick m
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1296


Driving Hot VWs for 44 Years Strong!


« Reply #4 on: June 04, 2009, 11:24:29 am »

Here are two very well known early GHIAs facing off at one of the rounds at an early BUG-In.  The famous STEVE TIMS "Mean Machine" ghia and the "California Sting" Ghia.  Both frequented the early BUG-IN events.

Rick Mortensen
Logged

Rick Mortensen
Driving Hot VWs since 1970
rick m
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1296


Driving Hot VWs for 44 Years Strong!


« Reply #5 on: June 04, 2009, 11:30:48 am »

Here is a shot few people have seen.  It was from a special presentation I prepared for the Dean Lowry wake at COMPETITION ENGINEERING in TEMPE, Arizona, shortly after Dean Lowry passed away here in Arizona.  It is a memorable shot of Dean and Ken in 1969 when they were running DDS, pictured at an event with the famous Deano Dyno Soar.

Rick Mortensen
Logged

Rick Mortensen
Driving Hot VWs since 1970
wolfswest
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1233



« Reply #6 on: June 04, 2009, 11:33:26 am »

Rick,

good that you found the photobox and you are willing to share them with us.  thx.

Dem
Logged

JPS NACIONAL kameraderie - HDB Syndicate.
speedwell
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 14701


the archivist


WWW
« Reply #7 on: June 04, 2009, 11:45:35 am »

thx for those history pictures rick  Cool Cool.................... Wink
fabs
Logged

http://speedwell55.skynetblogs.be/
oldspeed 61 standard empi/speedwell
Lee.C
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6458


I might be an Idiot but I'm not an Arsehole!


« Reply #8 on: June 04, 2009, 13:23:31 pm »

Wow thanks for sharing Rick  Grin
Logged

You either "Get It" or you don't......
Gary Justus
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 403



« Reply #9 on: June 04, 2009, 15:18:01 pm »

Here are a couple more you will all recognize.  It is the dualing FIATS.  In the picture are three guys in yellow shirts.  The first one on the left is none other than a young Lloyd Moshier.  Rich Stanchfield, another early VW racer, is up in the far left corner. 

The second shot is one of the old LITTLE GIANT KILLER fiat and the TUFF-E-NUFF chop top sedan.

Rick Mortensen
Great shot, Rick! I took almost the exact same picture with my 110. The "Jumbo Shrimp" was one of my early h/p influences. Used to watch 'em run and really got a kick out of those "little" things. I worked as a supervisor for Thrifty in those days. A new guy was sent to my department and he was wearing a "Jumbo Shrimp" t-shirt. Close to the end of the day I couldn't help myself and asked "What do you know about the "Jumbo Shrimp"?....He turned out to be one the partners who worked on it (I don't know if he was a n owner or not). Jim Nolan. Ended up makin' friends with guy. He helped me on my car, a little. We went to many a Bug-In and Drag Day together. He was well known over at SCS at the time.
Logged
rick m
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1296


Driving Hot VWs for 44 Years Strong!


« Reply #10 on: June 04, 2009, 18:18:03 pm »

Thanks Gary.  I took the shots of the starting line launches from the first set of bleachers next to the old octagon shaped tower at OCIR. I had a great telephoto. All the pix I took back then were with my YASHICA camera on ECKTACHROME slide film.  I've been working on getting all the shots on CDs in recent years. It is a costly process to have them done at a photoshop.

Rick M
Logged

Rick Mortensen
Driving Hot VWs since 1970
Fastbrit
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 4730


Keep smiling...


« Reply #11 on: June 04, 2009, 19:34:54 pm »

Great photos, Rick! And thank heavens you used Ektachrome rather than regular Kodachrome film – at least Ektachome holds its colour whereas Kodachrome would probably have faded into nothing by now. Nothing worse than opening a box of 30-year-old transparencies only to discover the images have faded away!  Smiley Cool
Logged

Der Kleiner Panzers VW Club    
12.56sec street-driven Cal Looker in 1995
9.87sec No Mercy race car in 1994
Seems like a lifetime ago...
rick m
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1296


Driving Hot VWs for 44 Years Strong!


« Reply #12 on: June 04, 2009, 21:38:18 pm »

Yeah Keith.  I had an old photographer at one of the events recommend it.  Turned out to preserve my little memories really well. Will you be at the Classic?

Rick M
Logged

Rick Mortensen
Driving Hot VWs since 1970
Lemonade
DKK
Jr. Member
**
Posts: 96



« Reply #13 on: June 05, 2009, 04:21:30 am »

Nice photos Rick! Those bring back some great memories! Thanks for sharing.

Lems
Logged
rick m
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1296


Driving Hot VWs for 44 Years Strong!


« Reply #14 on: June 05, 2009, 05:42:00 am »

Founds some more great ones to share with you guys. These are more shots I took of the LEE LEIGHTON car, which I believe Russell is now redoing. Notice one has BRMs on the back and the other has the DEANO Wheels on all 4 corners.

Hope you guys enjoy these. I am digging out more.

Rick Mortensen
Logged

Rick Mortensen
Driving Hot VWs since 1970
Fastbrit
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 4730


Keep smiling...


« Reply #15 on: June 05, 2009, 07:11:26 am »

Yes Rick, I'll be at Classic! Chance to meet up again – been a while! Love the photos (but then I would, wouldn't I!).  Cheesy
Logged

Der Kleiner Panzers VW Club    
12.56sec street-driven Cal Looker in 1995
9.87sec No Mercy race car in 1994
Seems like a lifetime ago...
banditina
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 307



WWW
« Reply #16 on: June 05, 2009, 08:18:16 am »

Lee leighton is a great gasser... Shocked very nice photo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Logged

Shubee2 (DSK)
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2865


"There's No School Like OLD SCHOOL"


WWW
« Reply #17 on: June 05, 2009, 20:42:55 pm »

heres a few I have
« Last Edit: June 05, 2009, 20:47:05 pm by Shubee2 (DSK) » Logged

Der Selten Kafers VW Club.
Founding Member Est: 1976

58 Ragtop Old School Cal Look
66 Cal Look Drag Car
67 Resto Cal Look
67 Chevy II Nova L79
02 Camaro Vert!
04 Corvette Vert!
04 Colorado Pickup
Shubee2 (DSK)
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2865


"There's No School Like OLD SCHOOL"


WWW
« Reply #18 on: June 05, 2009, 20:48:26 pm »

A few More Grin
« Last Edit: June 05, 2009, 20:52:32 pm by Shubee2 (DSK) » Logged

Der Selten Kafers VW Club.
Founding Member Est: 1976

58 Ragtop Old School Cal Look
66 Cal Look Drag Car
67 Resto Cal Look
67 Chevy II Nova L79
02 Camaro Vert!
04 Corvette Vert!
04 Colorado Pickup
Shubee2 (DSK)
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2865


"There's No School Like OLD SCHOOL"


WWW
« Reply #19 on: June 05, 2009, 20:53:55 pm »

A few More Grin Grin
« Last Edit: June 05, 2009, 20:57:13 pm by Shubee2 (DSK) » Logged

Der Selten Kafers VW Club.
Founding Member Est: 1976

58 Ragtop Old School Cal Look
66 Cal Look Drag Car
67 Resto Cal Look
67 Chevy II Nova L79
02 Camaro Vert!
04 Corvette Vert!
04 Colorado Pickup
Fasterbrit
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1009


OFF#23 - The Fastest Outlaw in the West!


« Reply #20 on: June 05, 2009, 21:36:54 pm »

Fantastic pictures guys, amazing piece of history right here on these pages Cool
Logged

9.563 @ 146.25 mph Cal Look Drag Day, Santa Pod, April 2011
OFF#23 OUTLAW FLAT FOUR www.outlawflatfour.com
www.air-kraft.com
www.marcomansiperformance.com
Shubee2 (DSK)
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2865


"There's No School Like OLD SCHOOL"


WWW
« Reply #21 on: June 06, 2009, 05:39:27 am »

heres a few more I found
« Last Edit: June 06, 2009, 05:42:30 am by Shubee2 (DSK) » Logged

Der Selten Kafers VW Club.
Founding Member Est: 1976

58 Ragtop Old School Cal Look
66 Cal Look Drag Car
67 Resto Cal Look
67 Chevy II Nova L79
02 Camaro Vert!
04 Corvette Vert!
04 Colorado Pickup
rick m
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1296


Driving Hot VWs for 44 Years Strong!


« Reply #22 on: June 06, 2009, 07:57:20 am »

Here are a couple more.

Rick M
Logged

Rick Mortensen
Driving Hot VWs since 1970
rick m
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1296


Driving Hot VWs for 44 Years Strong!


« Reply #23 on: June 06, 2009, 07:59:18 am »

And yet here are a few more. Some of these were old color prints I had. I still have a lot of ecktachrome stuff too. I will share some car show shots I took of cars I liked.

Rick M
Logged

Rick Mortensen
Driving Hot VWs since 1970
rick m
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1296


Driving Hot VWs for 44 Years Strong!


« Reply #24 on: June 06, 2009, 08:16:55 am »

Here is another favorite. The porsche bodied drag car of Ray Vallero.

Rick M
Logged

Rick Mortensen
Driving Hot VWs since 1970
ESH
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2006


« Reply #25 on: June 06, 2009, 12:20:40 pm »

It's cool looking through some of these shots. Anyone get Lil Red on film?
Logged
Felix/DFL
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 386



WWW
« Reply #26 on: June 06, 2009, 13:48:11 pm »

WOW!!!  So Cool thank`s for sharing!
There are little pic`s about t lightning bug dragster...
In what ET regions did it it went down the 1/4?
Logged
speedwell
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 14701


the archivist


WWW
« Reply #27 on: June 06, 2009, 14:44:51 pm »

WOW!!!  So Cool thank`s for sharing!
There are little pic`s about t lightning bug dragster...
In what ET regions did it it went down the 1/4?

picture isn't at ocir
Logged

http://speedwell55.skynetblogs.be/
oldspeed 61 standard empi/speedwell
Rick Meredith
DKK
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5312


We can't force ya to have fun


« Reply #28 on: June 06, 2009, 16:33:48 pm »

WOW!!!  So Cool thank`s for sharing!
There are little pic`s about t lightning bug dragster...
In what ET regions did it it went down the 1/4?

picture isn't at ocir

How can you tell?
Logged

67 Beetle - The Deuce Roadster of Cal Look
Rennsurfer
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 7391


D.B.O. Not a club; a state of mind.


« Reply #29 on: June 06, 2009, 17:36:41 pm »

How can you tell?

He was there.

 Grin

Sorry, Fabian... I tried.
Logged

"You can only scramble an egg so many ways."
~Sarge
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 Print 
« previous next »
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!