Below I would like to show an edited reprint commentary from myself that was in the Racing History files on July 23,2002. It is edited because part of the statement as viewed in 2024 is no longer valid. This is about the photo collection of Leonard "Pops" Van Berg and Karl Beckstrom. It's enough to make me cry.?
?
This is a ultra-sensitive subject but the time has
come to vent and get feedback.
From 1952 to the mid-1970's there was a 2-man team who
were track photographers at all the oval tracks around
Southern California, including Ascot Park, Gardena
Stadium, Culver City, Orange Show Stadium and more.
The track photographers were Leonard "Pops" Van Berg
and Karl Beckstrom. They have now both passed away but
Beckstrom had said in phone conversations a few years
ago the collection was intact and sitting in a storage
shed in his backyard. I begged and groveled for access
but was turned down.
The risk is this whole collection could now wind up in
a landfill. I'm talking probably 95% of every
photograph ever taken at Ascot Park and the other
tracks during the 1950s and 1960s could cease to
exist.
What would take to reason with a person who has the
ultimate photograph collection and will never allow
anyone else to see it?
--
Thomas Luce
Manhattan Beach CA USA
