The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 02-10-2009, 09:46 AM

Otto Crocker was a watchmaker from San Diego with a keen interest in all things fast. By marrying his two passions (time and speed), Otto did a lot of firsts... He was the first drag strip timer with mechanical consistency, the first timer of the Bon...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

koth · 02-10-2009, 10:22 AM

Wow, that was a great article, thanks for sharing it. I would have loved to have been right there watching and hearing those land and water speed record runs.

Lucky Burton · 02-10-2009, 10:35 AM

Thanks Ryan I always wondered about how this came about. Thanks Otto.... Lucky

**HEMI32** · 02-10-2009, 10:40 AM

cool article ... a good read ... thanks for finding it and posting it here.

Flea · 02-10-2009, 11:08 AM

That was very interesting. I would love to have seen the things that he has seen.

seret · 02-10-2009, 07:38 PM

that is really cool, there is a book KIRK lent me called "Muroc a day at the dry lakes 1937" it desribed how they would time the cars. it was crazy. I'll double check and make sure I got the tittle right but if you havent seen it you should check it out.

Spooky · 02-10-2009, 08:09 PM

Yowza!

Ryan, your passion for the past and posting an articles which feature the Kenz and Leslie car in it draw me like a horse to water.

Man, I LOVE that car.

**40Tudor** · 02-10-2009, 08:22 PM

Nice. Otto has some great stories. I had no idea that Google was doing magazines too.

KIRK! · 02-10-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seret

that is really cool, there is a book KIRK lent me called "Muroc a day at the dry lakes 1937" it desribed how they would time the cars. it was crazy. I'll double check and make sure I got the tittle right but if you havent seen it you should check it out.

It's Muroc: When The Hot Rods Ran - May 15, 1938 by William Carroll

**Mr48chev** · 02-10-2009, 09:09 PM

That is quite an article. The clocks are something we take pretty much for granted today either at the drags, Bonneville or other racing venues.

seret · 02-11-2009, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIRK!

It's Muroc: When The Hot Rods Ran - May 15, 1938 by William Carroll

well I was only a little bit way off.

funnycar · 02-11-2009, 05:40 AM

Thanks for sharing: I remeber he was named "the times wizard"! is it true?

eddie_zapien · 03-27-2010, 06:08 PM

Anyway we could get the rest of the '51 chevy article????

**denis4x4** · 03-28-2010, 07:37 AM

I believe that Crocker set up the timing at the Paradise Mesa strip south and east of San Diego that became the standard for strips across the nation.

02-10-2009, 09:46 AM	#1
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,623	Time & Speed Otto Crocker was a watchmaker from San Diego with a keen interest in all things fast. By marrying his two passions (time and speed), Otto did a lot of firsts... He was the first drag strip timer with mechanical consistency, the first timer of the Bon... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

02-10-2009, 10:22 AM	#2
koth Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 161	Re: Time & Speed Wow, that was a great article, thanks for sharing it. I would have loved to have been right there watching and hearing those land and water speed record runs. __________________ "Look here son, I ain't never had too much fun!"

02-10-2009, 10:35 AM	#3
Lucky Burton Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 1,546	Re: Time & Speed Thanks Ryan I always wondered about how this came about. Thanks Otto.... Lucky __________________ Lucky's Hot Rod Shop 207 N. Lake st. Burbank, Ca. www.LuckysHotRods.com Sidewinders, Modifiers

02-10-2009, 10:40 AM	#4
HEMI32 Alliance Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 3,789	Re: Time & Speed cool article ... a good read ... thanks for finding it and posting it here. __________________

02-10-2009, 11:08 AM	#5
Flea Grenade Inspector Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Willmar, MN Posts: 127	Re: Time & Speed That was very interesting. I would love to have seen the things that he has seen.

02-10-2009, 07:38 PM	#6
seret Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: VALLEJO CA. Posts: 541	Re: Time & Speed that is really cool, there is a book KIRK lent me called "Muroc a day at the dry lakes 1937" it desribed how they would time the cars. it was crazy. I'll double check and make sure I got the tittle right but if you havent seen it you should check it out. __________________ http://seretspeed.blogspot.com http://seretcustoms.com

02-10-2009, 08:09 PM	#7
Spooky Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: St HELLens, Oregon Posts: 1,496	Re: Time & Speed Yowza! Ryan, your passion for the past and posting an articles which feature the Kenz and Leslie car in it draw me like a horse to water. Man, I LOVE that car. __________________ President Pan Draggers Customs Car Club

02-10-2009, 08:22 PM	#8
40Tudor Alliance Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Shoreweed, MN Posts: 627	Re: Time & Speed Nice. Otto has some great stories. I had no idea that Google was doing magazines too.

02-10-2009, 09:09 PM	#10
Mr48chev Alliance Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Yakima Valley, WA Posts: 15,429	Re: Time & Speed That is quite an article. The clocks are something we take pretty much for granted today either at the drags, Bonneville or other racing venues. __________________ Definition of a "work car". One you have to work on all weekend so you can drive it to work the next week.

02-11-2009, 05:40 AM	#12
funnycar FNG Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Remo Italy Posts: 49	Re: Time & Speed Thanks for sharing: I remeber he was named "the times wizard"! is it true? __________________ http://www.funnycar.it info@funnycar.it

03-27-2010, 06:08 PM	#13
eddie_zapien Grenade Inspector Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 269	Re: Time & Speed Anyway we could get the rest of the '51 chevy article???? __________________ Eddie

03-28-2010, 07:37 AM	#14
denis4x4 Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,465	Re: Time & Speed I believe that Crocker set up the timing at the Paradise Mesa strip south and east of San Diego that became the standard for strips across the nation. __________________ "Traditional hot rodding is thinking outside the box, not a paint by numbers project". Four Corners Chapter Goldchainer CC

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