Henry Gregor Felsen....Hot Rod....Fiction?

[Kustm52]

I was always under the assumption that this book, and the others, were pure fiction.... but then I found this (http://www.icnet.net/users/donutman14/avondale.htm) thanks to a link posted earlier...so, the stories were real??

Brian

[Reverendcolin]

Thanks for the post. I read all those books in the late 50's early 60's. I think that's where I got the "need for speed"

[Rooster]

That's AWESOME!!! What's up w/the disassembled chopped 3-5 wdw? Did I miss (forget)something(again)? And what's the deal with the super wide5's on the racer's? Was that the shizzle back then?

[roadstar]

I'm speechless. thats is truly amazing. "HOT ROD" by Henry Gregor Felson was the first book I ever read as a kid. We had to check out a book in the school library and write a report. I think it was 5'th grade or something like that. It was the only real car/hotrod book(not magazine) I had ever seen, And it was in the school library no less.

His writing left a lasting impresion on me for sure. And now to find out it was real life adventure and the car he was driving and racing around town actually was a real hotrod he owned and STILL EXISTS!!!!

You just couldn't get any more traditional that this.

Someone needs to save the 3 window. That car and its story are part of american history in my opinion.

[Fat Hack]

Pretty cool story...with photos to match. Bud's coupe was a 33 though, as I recall.

I was just thinking about digging out any old Felsen books I might have left the other day. At one time I had several, but after loaning them out to friends years ago, I think most are gone!

"Hot Rod" the first one, referenced in the link

"Street Rod" The story of a the Madison kid and his show rod

"Boy Gets Car" Woody Ahern's journey into car ownership

"Crash Club" Blood & guts tale of reckless high school daredevils!

"Hot Rod" and "Boy Gets Car" were always my favorites! Although I dug Link from "Street Rod"!

[fuel pump]

That's really great stuff. Thanks for the post. Real hot rod history there.

[Paul]

Thanks for the link, 'wonder if it's true..

I'd like to think so.

Also can't forget,

Road Rocket

and Fever Heat, (written under pen name Angus Vicar)

I too was thinking of pulling them out and reading them again.

They should be required reading for a traditional board.

http://photo.starblvd.net/~60s_style/2-2-5.jpg

Paul

[40StudeDude]

As with any novel/story, and, speaking from experience (Re: The Friday Nite Read), parts of any story are lifted from true life experiences...there's an old saying that most published authors/writer's toss around to wannabe authors: "Write what you know."

I do not doubt that some of H.G. Felsen's experiences were true life...he just expanded on them and enhanced them to make them into a readable, believable stories...and we all took it to be gospel those many years ago!
R-

[Fraz]

All the printed versions I've seen of these books are paperback. I have hardback copies of his stuff; anyone know how uncommon/rare the hardbacks are?

[Paul]

you can get a pretty good idea of what they are worth by doing a book search on Abebooks or other collector book sources.

I think that the overall condition and print run are more important than whether they are hardbound or not.

A lot of the hardbound books I've seen have been ex-library books and have a lot of use but

sometimes you will find a first edition paperback in great shape- obviously worth more!

Paul

[50mercfan]

where would a guy get these? it's interesting the one on the end is titled "street rod" that term supposedly didn't come around until the early 70's to break away from the "bad" hot rod image.

[50mercfan]

any hambr's close enough to check on those coupes before they completely rot away?

[DanO]

Great post! I read all of those books in grade school. I could remember bits and pieces from them, but couldn't remember the author and titles. This post brought back a lot of fun memories! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Bigcheese327]

[ QUOTE ]
All the printed versions I've seen of these books are paperback. I have hardback copies of his stuff; anyone know how uncommon/rare the hardbacks are?

[/ QUOTE ]

Speaking from experience. I used the national booksearch feature for the University library system looking for HGF stuff last year and found one copy of Street Rod in a public library in Seattle, a hardcover. The rest were all copies of Hot Rod and Crash Club which I already own in paperback (my Dad's old books). I was severely tempted to keep the book and just pay for the cost of replacing it. I sent it back, however, hoping someone else will discover the magic of Felsen's work (I first read them back in junior high and got hooked) rather than it being sold for $0.50 at a library book sale to someone who'll leave it on a shelf until it gets thrown out. I love Felsen, I wish I could find more of his stuff. The only other one I've read is Boy Gets Car. Wasn't he from Grand Rapids, Michigan? I think that's where he died, anyway. I remember the letter in Custom Rodder back in the '90s.

[Deuce Rails]

That's amazing.

Hot Rod is definitely a work of fiction.

However, whoever put together that webpage is documenting the fiction as fact. It's like when people scrounge up evidence for an alien sighting. And I think that whoever this guy is, he did a really good job.

--Matt

[Fat Hack]

Yeah, I call 'em "Photo Fantasies" and whoever did that one put alot of thought into it. It's cool, though...like a modern-day sequel to a favorite movie or something. You won't find Avondale, Iowa on a map, but there IS a Trenton. Crayne, O'day and Clymer are common names in Iowa, with several listed, but none of them the 'right' ones.

I saved the site to my faves...it's cool to read and look at the pictures! A great tribute to one of the greatest hot rod works of fiction ever! Instant classic!

[Kustm52]

Well, I'll be damned. I've been had. But that's ok...someone did go to a lot of trouble with photshop or something. Not only is there no avondale, IA the zip code on the side of the truck (rollback) is 70054 (or 84), this zip code is in Louisiana....I still think the rusty coupe needs saved though, no matter whose it was!

Brian

[Reverendcolin]

They did a nice job with photoshop, No such place, No such zip. I thought it said 70694. Who knows, great bit of hoax. Still some good fiction.

[UNCLECHET]

I read the books as a kid also. I know they helped stoke the fire. As I was reading that I knew it was a hoax and still it sent a chill down my back. Good stuff!

[Roothawg]

Are these out of print now?
I also read Hot Rod in grade school. My son is at that age and a book worm to boot. Was gonna get him a copy to get him stoked!

[Harrison]

That three window coupe was posted here on the HAMB some months back. I can't remember who posted the pic though. No mention of it being Bud Crane's either.

Good job of creating a neat hoax. I have Hot rod and Street Rod in hardback. The high school librarian slipped them to me on my way out. I was the only person that had read them in like 15 years.

JH

[cool57]

I read some great books by Felsen in Jr. High. I really don't remember the titles though. Did he write under numerous pen names? Were there some other authors in the same genre that were as good as Felsen? Was Bud Crayne his real name? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[Paul]

William Campbell Gault wrote car related fiction with at least one hot rod book,

Drag Strip, a well written story about a group of young hot rodders that get a drag stip going.

pretty good descriptions of all their cars too,

http://photo.starblvd.net/60s_style/2-1-2.jpg

http://photo.starblvd.net/60s_style/2-1-1.jpg

Paul

[OldSub]

That web site was fun.

I have a copy of Crash Club and keep my eye open for other Felson and Gault books. I read them all in grade school and junior high.

I just read Crash Club again a few months ago.

I remember hard backs when I was checking them out of the school library. My copy of Crash Club is a paperback.

[Roothawg]

You ever see what those things are selling for? I would have stolen it from the school library if only I had known... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[BELLM]

Hoax or not it was cool! Someone put a lot of work into that. I miss the Friday Night reads?

[HEATHEN]

Hoax or not it was cool! Someone put a lot of work into that. I miss the Friday Night reads?

One thing that IS a documented fact--the yellow '49 Chevy convertible that Link Aller drives in Street Rod and Rag Top is based on Felsen's own ride at the time the books were written. In an interview with him that took place sometime in the mid to late '80s, he stated as much, and told how after he found out that its top speed in stock form was 76mph, he built up a GMC 270 to replace the 216.

[twochops]

Street Rod by Henry Gregor Felsen was the first book I bought, read every word, and didn't skim through the pages. I kept it for many years and at KKOA in Holland, MI, I met Henry Gregor Felsen and showed him my copy of Street Rod. I asked him to sign it. Before he signed it, he called his wife over to look at it because it was an edition that had a cover that he had never seen before. His signature also included words thanking me for saving the book over the decades enabling him to see this cover for the first time. He turned to me and said, "thank you for making my day. " I told him actually, he had made my day.

TWOCHOPS

[VonDad]

I was given three books by a Librarian as she told me no one had checked them out since 1983. Fraz is the keeper now.

And the link wasn't working Sat morning. Anybody keep the pictures for posting?

Thanks
VonDad

[Stevie G]

Since we are on the subject...
What was the title of the story about a young kid that drives his Flathead powered sedan to a summer resort where he played piano?
He had to fix a head gasket and ends up hooking up with a guy that had a Willys coupe that he drag raced.

I don't remember the author...just those few details.
Made mention of the stripes/airplane chasers on the strip.

[ProEnfo]

I love Felsen, I wish I could find more of his stuff. The only other one I've read is Boy Gets Car. Wasn't he from Grand Rapids, Michigan? I think that's where he died, anyway. I remember the letter in Custom Rodder back in the '90s.

I bought this box set of 'repops' from him in '92, he took the time to sign every book. He was from Brooklyn NY and was living in Kentwood Mi. at that time.

CC

[5window]

Here's some biographical information
http://desmoinesregister.com/art/spacer.gif http://desmoinesregister.com/art/bluedot.gif http://desmoinesregister.com/art/spacer.gif http://desmoinesregister.com/extras/iowans/art/banner-iowans.gif http://desmoinesregister.com/extras/iowans/art/felsen-mug.jpgFelsen


Henry Felsen

Writer
1916-1995
Henry Gregor Felsen wrote books young people loved to read. His novel "Hot Rod" remains a perennial favorite.
Felsen, known as "Hank," wrote about 60 books, most of them during the 40 years he lived in West Des Moines. "I was years ahead of my time," he once said of his moralistic books that tackled such issues as drug abuse, sexism and racism.
Felsen was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of Harry and Sabina Bedrick Felsen, and was educated in New York City. He attended the University of Iowa for two years, marrying Isabel "Penny" Marie Vincent of West Des Moines in 1937. They had a son and a daughter before divorcing.
Felsen, who had briefly joined the Communist Party in 1940, joined the Marines in 1943, serving 2 1/2 years. He was a drill instructor and then an editor of "Leatherneck" magazine.
Felsen was a prolific free-lance writer, and turned out a series of books -mostly paperbacks -especially popular with teen-age males. The titles included "Crash Club," "Street Rod" and "Rag Top." But it was "Hot Rod" in 1951 that established his career. The book about teen-ager Bud Crayne and his girlfriend LaVerne Shuler remained on the juvenile best-seller lists for 27 years. The book has sold millions of copies.
In the 1960s, Felsen wrote: "Letters to a Teen-Age Son" (1962), "To My Son the Teen-Age Driver" (1964) and "To My Son in Uniform" (1967). Felsen¹s stock-car-racing book "Fever Heat," written under the pen name Angus Vicker, was turned into a 1968 movie that was filmed in Dexter, Stuart and Oskaloosa. Nick Adams starred.
Felsen taught part-time at Drake University from 1964 to 1969.
Late in life, Felsen moved to Grandville, Mich., where he lived with his second wife, Karen. He died at Grand Rapids, Mich.
http://desmoinesregister.com/extras/iowans/art/felsen-horizontal.jpg
Register File PhotoThis 1966 photo shows Henry Felson during his five-year stint as a part-time instructor at Drake University.

[19Fordy]

I was always under the assumption that this book, and the others, were pure fiction.... but then I found this (http://www.icnet.net/users/donutman14/avondale.htm) thanks to a link posted earlier...so, the stories were real??

Brian

Kustm52, When I clicked on the "this" link in your post about HGF it didn't open. Did i do soemthing wrong? I have some of HGF hardbound books and love them all. thanx jim

[arkiehotrods]

I read those books as a gradeschool kid and was able to buy a set of his books in paperback from GP books about 15 years ago. I have Hot Rod, Street Rod, Rag Top, Crash Club, Road Rocket, and Fever Heat. The collection is called The Henry Gregor Felsen Collection.

I still have a "novel" I started writing in 6th grade, patterned after Mr. Felsen's work. It's pretty funny to read it, as I wrote it 39 years ago!

[ponchoman]

Wow, talk about a memory Jog! Read all the Felsen and Gault books that were available, when I was in Jr. High, early 60's. They had completely escaped the memory banks. Thanks for the reminder guys! Got a grandson, that I need to find some of them for. He's a 6 year old car nut!

[Kustm52]

Kustm52, When I clicked on the "this" link in your post about HGF it didn't open. Did i do soemthing wrong? I have some of HGF hardbound books and love them all. thanx jim

Well, that was from three years ago and apparently the site has moved.. I was unable to find it in the internet archives due to firewall issues ( I'm at work :rolleyes: ), anybody else want to try to find it?

Brian

[rustynewyorker]

Yep.. someone revived a post that we all thought was dead.

The copy of Crash Club that I have now was on top of a box of books, sitting in the cab of a Chevy pickup, in a junkyard. Can't think of a more appropriate place to find one - price was right, too - free. I dug through to see if there were any others, but that was the only one.


Which one is the one that ends with the car crashing off the bridge into the water and it seems like none of the guy's buddies notice he's gone, at least not soon enough to do anything? I seem to recall the car was pink with copper wheels at that point. Funny the details that stick with you. Seems to me I read them in middle school, out of the library there. I want to say at least one was a Bantam library edition - looked just like the paperback, but a hardbound cover.


I'd be surprised if there's no element of truth at all to the stories - but it might be as simple as reading about a traffic accident in the paper with a young driver, and using that as the basis for part of the story.

[HEATHEN]

[quote=rustynewyorker]


Which one is the one that ends with the car crashing off the bridge into the water and it seems like none of the guy's buddies notice he's gone, at least not soon enough to do anything? I seem to recall the car was pink with copper wheels at that point. Funny the details that stick with you. Seems to me I read them in middle school, out of the library there. I want to say at least one was a Bantam library edition - looked just like the paperback, but a hardbound cover.

That one is Street Rod. Felsen's next novel, Rag Top, continues the same storyline and is hard to find.

[50Fraud]

I found Hot Rod in the Emerson JHS library in about 1952, and read it enthusiastically. I've been amazed a dozen times to learn how many other guys read it and remember it fondly.

[Stevie G]

Speaking of Pink Cars...anyone remember the CM special?
Named for Clarissa May.
Cops were chasing the car down the same road everynight and kept losing it in the vicinity of a bridge.
Found the car upside down in the water....had been there for weeks.
Neat looking body. Kind of like Tarantula or Black widow dragster with cuved fins that wrapped up around the back.
That was almost thirty years ago.
I loved these books.

[Hackerbilt]

I think this works...

http://web.archive.org/web/20041020060627/http://www.icnet.net/users/donutman14/avondale.htm

[RJP]

albert drake did a piece on Felsen. Guess he got screwed pretty good by the publishers. Something about not getting royalties on the reprints and re-issuses. At one point he and his wife were living in a motel. That limited edition bound set was sold to help him out. I liked the books when I was a teenager, so I bought 4 sets to help him out.