If you want to see some of these historical pieces firsthand, take a trip out to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum for their new exhibit called "60 Years of SO-CAL Speed," running through April 9.
"SO-CAL Speed Shop has produced some of the most famous and memorable cars in hot rod history," says museum curator Greg Sharp. Several of the greatest, including the Flathead Mercury-powered SO-CAL Bellytank Lakester, the Haas Bonneville Roadster, SO-CAL's highboy roadster, Bonneville '34 coupe, and A Drag roadster will be on display, along with rare photos and artifacts. Some of Alex Xydias' racing footage from the '50s and early '60s will be shown during special Saturday afternoon matinees, with Xydias and guest speakers on hand to talk about the films.
The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is located at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, California. For more information, call (909) 622-2133, or visit www.museum.nhra.com.
We Miss Ak MillerIt's amazing to see how many of hot rodding's pioneers are still active, and sad when we have to say goodbye to one of them. On December 15, 2005, we lost Ak Miller.
Ak was born in Denmark 84 years ago and was a child when his family moved to the U.S. It didn't take him long to get involved in Southern California's early hot rod scene, and he developed his love for racing during trips to the dry lakes with his brothers in the '30s. He was involved with the formation of the Roadrunners car club and the Southern California Timing Association. After serving in the Army during WWII (he fought in the Battle of the Bulge), Ak returned to Southern California and became president of the SCTA. In 1951, he and fellow SCTA member Wally Parks, along with Marvin Lee, founded the National Hot Rod Association. He also became extremely active in Bonneville racing with the Miller/Lufkin/ Carr team. More recently, Miller served as a performance consultant for the Ford Motor Company, and developed innovative uses for turbochargers and propane. "Ak Miller was one of a kind," says Parks. "An automotive enthusiast through and through, he was known for wit and wisdom, which he combined into a career founded on skill and friendships made in many parts of the world." Those who knew him personally say he was known as a great storyteller who never told the same tale twice, "always spinning new twists to enhance the original's contents," according to Parks.
Ak's racing legacy includes the dry lakes, the Salt Flats, the dragstrip, Pike's Peak, and Mexican road racing. He was truly an all-around hot rodder. There weren't many like him in his heyday, and there are fewer today.
Real Hot Rod RecognitionCongratulations to Asphalt Ego-Rama '02 participant Sam Strube, along with Tim Sage and Terry Pehrson, for having their Altered Model T roadster pickup, aka The Bomb Factory Digger, selected as one of Hot Rod magazine's Top 10 Hot Rods of 2005. Sam's $3,500 '23 T roadster was the "rat rod" of the bunch when he competed in the Ego-Rama, and the '27 RPU, built for far under 10 grand, holds the same distinction on HR's list.
We think it's pretty cool that a garage-built, low-buck, rattle-can-primered, used and abused hot rod can share honors with Royce Glader's Pinkee's-built '29 RPU and Tim Allen's Ron Ebert-built '56 F-100. That's a mighty a good sign for all fans of old-time traditional iron.