Re: Helmets in Culver City Race Film/Aviation impact
I've seen images of both cars and motorcycle drivers at Brooklands pre-WWI wearing the equestrian derived shellacked canvas helmets, and believe they were required for cycles at the time. WWI French aviators are pictured in forms of hard helmets.
In the '30s, there are photos of T.E.Lawrence wearing a hard helmet, which he advocated, but unfortunately not wearing in his fatal accident in 1935. Some hard helmets of the '30s had hard, hinged ear flaps. In 1941, Dr. Cairns convinced the Royal Army to require hard helmets for their dispatch riders, and they appeared in big numbers post war on surplus markets, used by racers.
Even before WWII test pilots started wearing full (football inspired?) helmets and during wartime testing for all aircraft, it became de rigueur for English and American test pilots to wear full coverage hard helmets, with the term 'jet pilot helmet' becoming common vernacular.
?
By March, '48 the P-1A became required for all Air Force pilots, using web support, and these became common in sports car racing then.
Cheers, Bob Storck in KCMO
?
-----Original Message----- From: < [email protected]> Subject: [RH] Helmets in Culver City Race Film
?
Smitty (and All):
?
????? The first "hard shell" fiberglass full coverage helmet became available in 1952.? Hal Minyard and partner Johnny McMurray designed and started selling their McHal helmet that year.? This was the first racing helmet that covered both the sides and the back of a driver's head with a solid material instead of the pressed cardboard/cork helmets like the Cromwell that "protected" just the top of the head.? Roy Richter didn't come out with his Bell 500 helmet until 1954 by which time most drivers were using the McHal.? McHal helmets were used well into the 1960s at Indianapolis and other tracks along with other brands like Bell.? For quite a few years some drivers preferred the McHal on dirt tracks because of the quality of flip down visors that Hal Minyard had developed.
?
???? BTW, it might surprise some to know that open face helmets like the Bell 500 series are still technically legal to use in most professional racing today so long as they meet certain Snell rating requirements.? Even things like the various HANS type restraint devices are generally just "recommended" in rule books instead of being mandated.? Of course, everyone uses one at the professional level anyway.? There is likely some legal reason for the use of the wording in this manner.
?
Randall Cook
Indianapolis, IN
-- Bob Storck KC MO USA
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Bill,?
This is 10+ years old information, but a guy in Minot, SD who purchased a Dreyer?midget with a Smith Jiggler called me (someone told him I had once owned the car, which was wrong; I once knew one of its drivers, Lee Flowers).? He had some issues with the engine and wanted to know who might help.? I do not know whether he found the help he was looking for, but I have what was his contact information at the time.? You can email me off list at william.blaylock500@... and I will pass it on if you are interested.? ?
Bill Blaylock
On Fri, Oct 18, 2024 at 9:36?AM Bill Watson via <cracken32racer= [email protected]> wrote: Does anyone have any technical info on the Smith-Jiggler conversion ? Maybe old prints,
or know who might have something ?
There was a person in W. Virginia, a couple years ago, that had several head sets, but I don¡¯t have any contact info. Thank you for any help
--
Bill Watson
Havertown PA? USA
-- Bill Blaylock
Sanbornville NH USA
|
Helmets in Culver City Race Film
Smitty (and All):
?
????? The first "hard shell" fiberglass full coverage helmet became available in 1952.? Hal Minyard and partner Johnny McMurray designed and started selling their McHal helmet that year.? This was the first racing helmet that covered both the sides and the back of a driver's head with a solid material instead of the pressed cardboard/cork helmets like the Cromwell that "protected" just the top of the head.? Roy Richter didn't come out with his Bell 500 helmet until 1954 by which time most drivers were using the McHal.? McHal helmets were used well into the 1960s at Indianapolis and other tracks along with other brands like Bell.? For quite a few years some drivers preferred the McHal on dirt tracks because of the quality of flip down visors that Hal Minyard had developed.
?
???? BTW, it might surprise some to know that open face helmets like the Bell 500 series are still technically legal to use in most professional racing today so long as they meet certain Snell rating requirements.? Even things like the various HANS type restraint devices are generally just "recommended" in rule books instead of being mandated.? Of course, everyone uses one at the professional level anyway.? There is likely some legal reason for the use of the wording in this manner.
?
Randall Cook
Indianapolis, IN
--
|
Maybe the American Museum of Speed
could help. They have one.
Lee Stohr
Port Angeles, WA
On 10/18/2024 6:36 AM, Bill Watson via
groups.io wrote:
Does anyone have any technical info on the Smith-Jiggler
conversion ? Maybe old prints,
or know who might have something ?
There was a person in W. Virginia, a couple years ago, that
had several head sets, but I don¡¯t have any contact info. Thank
you for any help
--
Bill
Watson
Havertown PA? USA
_._,_._,
-- Lee Stohr Port Angeles WA USA
|
Re: CJA > Culver City Race Film
In response to Jim Taggart, the Culver City Speedway track was originally finished in macadam (like asphalt) in 1947. The midgets found the surface too slippery and when they raced at night it became slippery from dampness and oil being laid down during a race. In 1949 they changed the surface to clay and decomposed granite. I know Gardena Stadium was a clay surface. I remember as a child, walking on the Gardena track and trying to make an indentation with the nail on my finger. Hard to do.
Bob Mitchell Simi Valley CA USA
On Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 06:39:31 AM PDT, David Schmidt via groups.io <dschmdt@...> wrote:
Jim I have been wondering when the "hardshell" helmets came into play and furthermore just when the full coverage helmets (not just a cap with earflaps) became mandated by USAC and other sanctioning bodies. Anyone out there have a timeline for these innovations? TIA Smitty Houston
I really enjoyed the Jalopy Races from Hollywood! But, like Bob, I wondered about the date. 1952 just seem a little early.
?
I noticed that one of the drivers had a full coverage hardshell helmet. When did those make an appearance?
?
Even though Culver was a quarter-mile dirt track there wasn¡¯t much dust, the cars weren¡¯t sliding around that much and they were able to hold their lines pretty well. I wonder
if the track had been treated ¡ª oiled dirt maybe? Looked to me like a few of those cars had slicks on the right side.
?
I liked the starter, too. He had a fun little routine when the drivers were introduced and a nice little leap when started the races. Made a nice show.
?
I truly wish I could have seen the races live . . . and that you still could.
?
Brookings, SD
?
Date:
Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 11:45 AM
Subject: Re: [RH] CJA - California Jalopy Association help wanted (Tom Luce?)
Actually, the race at Culver City Speedway took place on Sunday, July 18, 1954, not in 1952. The results: Don? Noel, Fred Russell, Termite Snyder in the main event in the film
is the same results from the L.A. Times dated July 19, 1954. (Results from Sunday in Monday morning paper. Great film. Extremely clear.
-- Jim Taggart
Brookings SD USA
--
David Schmidt
Highlands TX USA
|
I did not mention it was for a Ford flathead.  --
Bill Watson
Havertown PA? USA
|
Does anyone have any technical info on the Smith-Jiggler conversion ? Maybe old prints,
or know who might have something ?
There was a person in W. Virginia, a couple years ago, that had several head sets, but I don¡¯t have any contact info. Thank you for any help
--
Bill Watson
Havertown PA? USA
|
Re: CJA - California Jalopy Association help wanted (Tom Luce?)
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
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Re: CJA - California Jalopy Association help wanted (Tom Luce?)
Bob,
Thanks for clearing up the Don Paul/Don Noel situation. I wondered because I've run across some interesting misspellings in newspaper race results.
?
Tom,
?
I can relate as nearly everything I've had in storage suffered water or bug damage, as well as some things I kept in the house suffering water damage from a nearly imperceptible leak.
--
Jim Thurman
Palmdale CA USA
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Re: CJA > Culver City Race Film
Jim I have been wondering when the "hardshell" helmets came into play and furthermore just when the full coverage helmets (not just a cap with earflaps) became mandated by USAC and other sanctioning bodies. Anyone out there have a timeline for these innovations? TIA Smitty Houston
I really enjoyed the Jalopy Races from Hollywood! But, like Bob, I wondered about the date. 1952 just seem a little early.
?
I noticed that one of the drivers had a full coverage hardshell helmet. When did those make an appearance?
?
Even though Culver was a quarter-mile dirt track there wasn¡¯t much dust, the cars weren¡¯t sliding around that much and they were able to hold their lines pretty well. I wonder
if the track had been treated ¡ª oiled dirt maybe? Looked to me like a few of those cars had slicks on the right side.
?
I liked the starter, too. He had a fun little routine when the drivers were introduced and a nice little leap when started the races. Made a nice show.
?
I truly wish I could have seen the races live . . . and that you still could.
?
Brookings, SD
?
Date:
Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 11:45 AM
Subject: Re: [RH] CJA - California Jalopy Association help wanted (Tom Luce?)
Actually, the race at Culver City Speedway took place on Sunday, July 18, 1954, not in 1952. The results: Don? Noel, Fred Russell, Termite Snyder in the main event in the film
is the same results from the L.A. Times dated July 19, 1954. (Results from Sunday in Monday morning paper. Great film. Extremely clear.
-- Jim Taggart
Brookings SD USA
-- David Schmidt Highlands TX USA
|
Re: CJA > Culver City Race Film
Jalopy Races from Hollywood were filmed in late 1953 and early 1954. 2 seasons. 26 episodes. Only about 1/3 of all the episodes survived to 2024, and the whereabouts of the collection that had been at the UCLA Television and Radio Museum is unknown.?
--
Thomas Luce
Manhattan Beach CA USA
|
CJA > Culver City Race Film
I really enjoyed the Jalopy Races from Hollywood! But, like Bob, I wondered about the date. 1952 just seem a little early.
?
I noticed that one of the drivers had a full coverage hardshell helmet. When did those make an appearance?
?
Even though Culver was a quarter-mile dirt track there wasn¡¯t much dust, the cars weren¡¯t sliding around that much and they were able to hold their lines pretty well. I wonder
if the track had been treated ¡ª oiled dirt maybe? Looked to me like a few of those cars had slicks on the right side.
?
I liked the starter, too. He had a fun little routine when the drivers were introduced and a nice little leap when started the races. Made a nice show.
?
I truly wish I could have seen the races live . . . and that you still could.
?
Brookings, SD
?
Date:
Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 11:45 AM
Subject: Re: [RH] CJA - California Jalopy Association help wanted (Tom Luce?)
Actually, the race at Culver City Speedway took place on Sunday, July 18, 1954, not in 1952. The results: Don? Noel, Fred Russell, Termite Snyder in the main event in the film
is the same results from the L.A. Times dated July 19, 1954. (Results from Sunday in Monday morning paper. Great film. Extremely clear.
-- Jim Taggart
Brookings SD USA
|
Re: Paul Goldsmith passes
I remember as a very young race fan in southern California, in the early 1960s, there was a weekly 30 minute filmed auto racing TV show called (IIRC) "Racing Wheels". and the host was (again IIRC) Stan Richards. This show was very cool because it presented a wide variety of motor sports. On the occasions? of showing NASCAR races. the names of Paul Goldsmith and Darel Dieringer were the names I remember as being very good stock car drivers. I don't believe I ever got to see them race in person, as I don't think they ever raced at Ontario Motor Speedway. But, they are both remembered by me thru the wonders of television.
--
Thomas Luce
Manhattan Beach CA USA
|
Thank you to all. I do appreciate?all your efforts. ?Gene Ingram ?New Castle, In.
All:
?
??? I agree with Mr. Salamon.? Chick Smith raced successfully for many years starting in the late 1920s.? He was killed in a Midwest Dirt Track Racing Association (MDTRA) event at Franklin, Indiana in late 1948.? From memory I believe he was driving the Doc Bowles Offy at the time.? Earlier that same day driver Les Adair was killed during a heat race.
?
Randall Cook
Indianapolis, IN
--
--
Gene Ingram
List Owner
New Castle IN USA
|
All:
?
??? I agree with Mr. Salamon.? Chick Smith raced successfully for many years starting in the late 1920s.? He was killed in a Midwest Dirt Track Racing Association (MDTRA) event at Franklin, Indiana in late 1948.? From memory I believe he was driving the Doc Bowles Offy at the time.? Earlier that same day driver Les Adair was killed during a heat race.
?
Randall Cook
Indianapolis, IN
--
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I think James "Chick" Smith
Rich¨¢rd Salamon?
On H¨¦t, okt. 14, 2024 at 1:16, Gene Ingram <geno1966@...> wrote: Fellow RHers, ?I would be thankful if someone can assist in helping with an ID on the driver. ?
Gene Ingram ?New Castle, In. -- Gene IngramList OwnerNew Castle IN USA
-- Richard A. Salamon
Esztergom Hungary EU
https://www.facebook.com/AAAdirtcars/
|
Fellow RHers, ?I would be thankful if someone can assist in helping with an ID on the driver. ?
Gene Ingram ?New Castle, In. -- Gene IngramList OwnerNew Castle IN USA
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Off Topic: Some USAC sprints and a film on Alfa Romeo Formula One years
?
Here are two items, each of which is OT.
?
For the first, I recommend that anyone who has a FLO Subscription watch the replays of both the Friday night and Saturday night USAC sprint car races at Lawrenceburg. ??Apart from the racing, the clever hype and sometimes poetic commentary that announcers can come up with never cease to amaze me.? ?As the cars come around for the feature, you will hear ¡°get ready to rack, stack and shuffle¡± and ¡°this is what you saved your lunch money for.¡±? You will also hear (and see) Briggs Danner do a ¡°bunny hop¡± in Turn 1.? If you do not have access to FLO, you can watch highlights of the Friday night feature at and the Saturday night feature at ?
?
For the second, many of you will have seen this.? It is a treasure:? a 51 minute clip from Racing Through Time on the history of Alfa Romeo¡¯s Grand Prix efforts up through 1951, then the ?Mille Miglia, at .? This has original footage of Alfa¡¯s great cars and drivers.
Enjoy.
?
--
Bill Blaylock
Sanbornville NH USA
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An interesting find.? I'm confident that is a 1950s vintage,not1940s.The De Dion rear axle and inboard brakes make me think it was purpose built for road racing.? The engine is centered in the chassis with the driver sitting to the left of the drive line that
also suggests a road race heritage.? I doubt the Kurtis/Winfield connection.? If Kurtis built it, I'm sure there would be some documentation to substantiate it.? A real mystery car.
-- Chuck Fawcett
Westminster CA USA
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Re: CJA - California Jalopy Association help wanted (Tom Luce?)
Actually, the race at Culver City Speedway took place on Sunday, July 18, 1954, not in 1952. The results: Don? Noel, Fred Russell, Termite Snyder in the main event in the film is the same results from the L.A. Times dated July 19, 1954. (Results from Sunday in Monday morning paper. Great film. Extremely clear.
Bob Mitchell Simi Valley CA USA
On Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 09:35:17 AM PDT, Tom Tlusty via groups.io <hlfuzzball@...> wrote:
?
Watch "Jalopy Races from Hollywood 1952. Dirt track racing action from Culver City Stadium, California." on YouTube
--
Tom Tlusty
Plymouth MI USA
|
Bob Storck
sramoa