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History The Motorama

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Ryan, Dec 29, 2008.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

  2. Wow..........how cool is that. Thanks Ryan.
     
  3. theflame
    Joined: Jan 24, 2008
    Posts: 169

    theflame
    Member

    Praise the Lord, Ryan's back. And with a tonne of cool stuff to read! Thanks dude
     
  4. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,628

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

    Scanned in at a decent size? Fantastical!!!! Cool find Ryan.
     

  5. OLLIN
    Joined: Aug 25, 2006
    Posts: 3,147

    OLLIN
    Member

    Very cool artwork on the programs! Was this held at the Pan Pacific auditorium?
     
  6. Thanks Ryan. Those sure show,the amazing parallel development,of the various motorsports,since their conception.
     
  7. Interesting to see a turbocharged diesel was the 1952 Indy pole sitter...traditional
     
  8. My uncle took me to the '53 Motorama. I had the program for years. Even as an 8 year old, the race cars made an impression on me.
     
  9. NotStockPhoto
    Joined: Dec 10, 2006
    Posts: 2,322

    NotStockPhoto
    Member

    I heara rumor at the Autorama in Houston that it would be called the Motorama next year
     
  10. autobilly
    Joined: May 23, 2007
    Posts: 3,123

    autobilly
    Member

    Well, there goes the rest of my free time today. Great!
     
  11. ChevyGirlRox
    Joined: May 13, 2005
    Posts: 3,491

    ChevyGirlRox
    Member
    from Ohio

    Thanks for the heads up, way cool indeed!

    This reminds me of the picture in the last issue of Hot Rod magazine of the Motorama/Autorama (whatever you want to call it) in '48 (the show program that spawned Hot Rod magazine). Their mention of re-enacting sounds like a fabulous idea, one I'm sure the HAMB would be behind!

    The caption says to see their blog for more photos but I haven't found any yet :(
     
  12. NotStockPhoto
    Joined: Dec 10, 2006
    Posts: 2,322

    NotStockPhoto
    Member

    Oh yea almost forgot to thank Ryan for posting really cool stuff all the time
     
  13. Zeke
    Joined: Mar 4, 2001
    Posts: 1,716

    Zeke
    Member

    I see you got past your writers block. Nice read Ryan
     
  14. NotStockPhoto
    Joined: Dec 10, 2006
    Posts: 2,322

    NotStockPhoto
    Member

    I just want to follow ryan around with my camera to shoot half of the stuff he gets to see lol
     
  15. ehdubya
    Joined: Aug 27, 2008
    Posts: 2,315

    ehdubya
    Member

    Ryan I can imagine your delight at finding that Mal Hooper pic in the 52 centre spread, it's curious the Mabee Spl with Ray's engine was quicker than the tank that year.
     
  16. SuperFleye
    Joined: Jul 17, 2005
    Posts: 2,053

    SuperFleye
    Alliance Vendor

    Great find!! Allot of good reading in those programs! The artwork on the cover is also really bitching!!
     
  17. stude_trucks
    Joined: Sep 13, 2007
    Posts: 4,755

    stude_trucks
    Member

    nice stuff, very nice!

    [​IMG]
     
  18. safari-wagon
    Joined: Jan 12, 2008
    Posts: 1,457

    safari-wagon
    Member

    Quite by coincidence, I was cleaning my desk today & found the 1955 Motorama token that I got a long time ago. It was before my time, but I always thought those shows were pretty cool.
     
  19. Cyclone Kevin
    Joined: Apr 15, 2002
    Posts: 4,223

    Cyclone Kevin
    Alliance Vendor

    [​IMG]
    To all those who think fibreglass isn't traditional, Tell that to Bill Burke.
    This is his Ardun Powered (Back Yard made in San Gabriel) Cistalia copied from Robt E. Petersens original. Story goes that Bill borrowed Bob's car for a few hours and splashed mold. Thats how good he was. This car had Ford underpinnings and could run with best of em. I'd say that it's traditional. I'm sure that Bill woud too.
     
  20. Deuce Daddy Don
    Joined: Apr 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,544

    Deuce Daddy Don
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Thanks for the "motorama" post Ryan!!!----You mention Greg Sharp, I know him well, I guess he still is at NHRA Museum in Pomona. He is indeed, a walking encycopedia on hot rods, customs, & race cars.
    I started attending the Petersen "Motorama" in 1953, where GM had the first Corvette displayed on a 3/4 tilted angle with the hood open so all could see the 3 pot manifold & 6 cyl. engine. The color was white, with bright red upholstery!! This annual event was held at the Pan Pacfic Auditorium across from the old Gilmore Stadium of Midget car racing fame!!-------------Don
     
  21. glenn33
    Joined: Sep 11, 2006
    Posts: 1,838

    glenn33
    Member
    from Browns, IL

    Love the '55 cover...looks like a preview of the '57 tail fin...Thanks for posting.




     
  22. williebill
    Joined: Mar 1, 2004
    Posts: 3,274

    williebill
    Member

    Ahhhhhhhh.....the 52 program....4th row of pics....3rd pic from the left....the very strange shoebox Ford at the top of the pic.....lives in my garage now...bought it out of TX years ago,and it's just as strange today as it was then....Survived fairly well,but needs restoring....it's on the list...Know it's not everybody's cup of tea,but what the OG builder did was damn cool...lots of little stuff all over the car....whenever I learn how to post pics,I'll let you guys take a shot at it...
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  23. Rikster
    Joined: Dec 10, 2004
    Posts: 5,795

    Rikster
    Member

    [​IMG]

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    [​IMG]



    Photos from www.soupupmagazine.com

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    Last edited: Dec 30, 2008
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  24. williebill
    Joined: Mar 1, 2004
    Posts: 3,274

    williebill
    Member

    THANK YOU Rikster...I know a lot of the history of the car,where it was,etc,and got a chance to talk to the original builder back in the 90s,Warren Dorrill...He wasn't the sharpest guy for memories at the time,but I tracked its location through the years starting with him...Rodders Digest did a "what the hell was he thinking?" kind of thing on it back in the 90s,and they got a few details wrong...nothing on the car is newer than 52..Mr. Dorrill told a cool story about driving the car to California,going to Motor Trend,and telling them they were going to put the car on the cover..This was before they'd even seen it..They were amused at his determination to see it on the cover,but after they went to the parking lot and saw it,that's exactly what they did..He told me that Barris tried to hire him when the car was shown,but he went back home to Oklahoma..The car is,even by the standards of the early 50s,pretty weird,but Warren knew how to work metal...Car was sandblasted and put in black primer when I got it,but the original purple and yellow is still under where the windows were taped off to blast it...that purple must have been one of those "25 coats of lacquer" paint jobs,what's still there is the thickest paint I've ever seen..THANK YOU,again,Rikster,I've got the original Motor Trends,and later issues that showed other things about the car,but I'd never seen the yellow/rusty pics you posted...
     
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  25. williebill
    Joined: Mar 1, 2004
    Posts: 3,274

    williebill
    Member

    Just read the copy under Riksters pics...the Vertex and intake/carbs/heads are still with the car,but the original flathead isn't...don't think it survived sitting outside a few years with a louvered hood too well..Warren told me it was a badass car for its time...dunno about that,with so much lead in the car,it weighs a LOT...Dash switches allow you to turn off the taillights,and brakelights...According to Mr.Dorrill,that came in handy a few times..
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  26. jdorrill
    Joined: Jan 9, 2009
    Posts: 1

    jdorrill
    Member
    from Indiana

    I am John Dorrill, the nephew of Warren Dorrill who was the original builder of the Shark. It is thrilling to finally have knowledge of what happened to this wonderful icon from of the 50's.

    Dave McNurlen along with Rik Hoving had gotten me in touch with Williebill and man what conversations those turned out to be. Between Bill and Dave I learned a lot about the car I never knew. I must have talked to Bill for hours.

    This has been a very special treat to be able to get in touch with a very special part of my past through these guys.

    Here is a tidbit about Warren you may find interesting.

    Warren also rebuilt wrecked airplanes and he specialized in the old Beachcraft Bonanza models. The ones with the V tail. He traveled into Mexico to get wrecked planes and bring them back to rebuild them. He painted Ray Charles's Lear Jet, And one of Vic Morrow's Cadillacs. He also painted some of the planes in the movie Tora, Tora, Tora. To name
    just a few. Most of his plane work was done in Salinas California.

    A secret about Warren is that with the exceptions of the guns, on every vehicle he painted or built somewhere on it will be a strawberry. This strawberry will usually be in the rear of the vehicle There is a certain way he drew that strawberry as a signature for his work. The
    strawberry may be a full color strawberry, or it may almost match the color underneath it. But it will be discernible.
     
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  27. Nobey
    Joined: May 28, 2011
    Posts: 1,489

    Nobey
    Member

    Hi Guys,
    I can't believe I missed this thread... Picture of My roadster in the 1953
    Motorama program. Says Dick Mouron when it should have read Bert Mouron.
    Problem with the printer, I suppose. Anyway, did any of You Hambers attend
    this show or maybe have pics You can share ? I sure would appreciate any
    help... Thank You & thanks Ryan...

    Here is a link to the program;
    http://www.forgottenfiberglass.com/...oramas-1950-1955-1966/1953-petersen-motorama/
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2018
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  28. 50Fraud
    Joined: May 6, 2001
    Posts: 10,101

    50Fraud
    Member

    I attended every Petersen Motorama from '51 through '55, and kept all the programs. I sold my copies to Geoff Hacker, who is here on the HAMB.
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  29. Nobey
    Joined: May 28, 2011
    Posts: 1,489

    Nobey
    Member

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