The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 04-28-2009, 07:55 AM

In 1949, a group of fellas got together in San Diego with their hot rods and called themselves the "Cam Busters." It just so happened that most of these fellas were from south of border and due to the ignorance of the times, it wasn't uncommon for...

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

**zman** · 04-28-2009, 08:00 AM

Hell yes, they kicked ass in the face of adversity. Nice read over my morning coffee.

Chaz · 04-28-2009, 08:02 AM

Those guys are and always have been about racing in its purest form....Innovation, experimentation and energy. Hats off to em.

lakeroadster · 04-28-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan

In 1949, a group of fellas got together in San Diego with their hot rods and called themselves the "Cam Busters." It just so happened that most of these fellas were from south of border and due to the ignorance of the times, it wasn't uncommon for...

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

Ignorance of the times???? I suppose someone made theses rodders put the pinstripe artwork on their car of the dude in the Sombrero too?

Geeze, I long for those "Traditional Times" when everybody wasn't so sensitive.

I hope the ACLU doesn't go back and try to sue our grandfathers for hate crimes based on race discrimination.

**Ryan** · 04-28-2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Ignorance of the times???? I suppose someone made theses rodders put the pinstripe artwork on their car of the dude in the Sombrero too?

Can you read? Or do you just skim?

Quote:

Centered around the prominent
enlistment of club members being Mexican, they were commonly
called the Beaners. Which was a derogatory slur of the time, but
these attitudes never stopped the Bean Bandits from doing what
they did.

**hotrd32** · 04-28-2009, 08:10 AM

Damn straight, Fabian, Tom, Diana et.all, do it like it used to be done......they are great people and they represent what Hot Rodding is all about............

bct · 04-28-2009, 08:18 AM

thanks for the link....my kind of people...

**hotrd32** · 04-28-2009, 08:18 AM

An older shot, not taken by me but still cool...

1929 casey · 04-28-2009, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

Ignorance of the times???? I suppose someone made theses rodders put the pinstripe artwork on their car of the dude in the Sombrero too?

Geeze, I long for those "Traditional Times" when everybody wasn't so sensitive.

I hope the ACLU doesn't go back and try to sue our grandfathers for hate crimes based on race discrimination.

Looks like this guy might not be able to read? That's sad. I thought Colorado schooling was better than that?

Nice read Ryan.

**JeffreyJames** · 04-28-2009, 08:20 AM

I love the Bean logo, I can try for days to replicate some of the simplistic logos that Hot Rodders used back in the day but I always come up short. Looks like they are carrying on a from an awesome history.

lakeroadster · 04-28-2009, 08:29 AM

I did read the story....ffice

ffice" />>>
>>
The Bean Bandits changed their name from the "Cam Busters" to the "Bean Bandits". If they had been totally pissed and weren't the kind of people that let the name calling roll off their back they wouldn't have done so, right?>>
>>
They could have fought, they could have sought legal reparations, but they did their thing they way the knew how to do it.>>
>>
That's my point. >>

Nads · 04-28-2009, 08:39 AM

The Bean Bandits are true.

Malcolm · 04-28-2009, 08:42 AM

They seem like a very genuine group and it's very cool to see the legacy still going with a younger generation.
I finally got a chance to meet Tom and Dianna recently at the LSRU in Austin - great people!

Here's a quick shot from Bonneville Speedweek 2008...

Malcolm

seesko · 04-28-2009, 08:43 AM

They had some great looking cars. Like's been stated, "innovative".

**denis4x4** · 04-28-2009, 08:43 AM

I have the 50th Bean Bandits poster done by Bob McCoy and signed by many of members. You could fill a couple of books on the exploits of the Bandits. My fondest memories are of the grudge races at Paradise Mesa Drag Strip with the Speed Sport Special out of Tucson in the 1950's.

Mike · 04-28-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malcolm

I have been a big admirer of the Bean Bandits for many years, long before I knew any of them. Using inginuity and elbow grease and over coming underdog obstacles, they still kicked everybody's ass (even the big dollar guys).

I am very lucky to call many of the Bean Bandits freinds and it has been a huge thrill for me to help them in the pits at Bonneville the last few years (the goofy fucker wearing the yellow ball cap in the picture is me).

The Bean Bandits are the genuine article, 60 years of building hot rods and race cars, winning races and setting records, all for the love of fast machinery and the thrill of speed. It gets no better.

**unkamort** · 04-28-2009, 09:37 AM

Maybe myth, or urban legend... I read somewhere that The Bean Bandits were the first crew to use Nitro. The story went that some member(s) were janitors at JPL where they caught the interest of an egg head who turned'em on to the stuff claiming 'Its no good for rocket fuel'. Can this be confirmed?

Truckedup · 04-28-2009, 09:58 AM

I'm thinking the Bean Bandits had the first drag car to run 100 mph or maybe 150 in the 1/4 mile?

**Terry** · 04-28-2009, 10:03 AM

Fascinating, Thanks Ryan.

**2002p51** · 04-28-2009, 10:17 AM

When I lived in San Diego, several times I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Joaquin Arnett.
He's a genuine good guy and a great story teller!

04-28-2009, 07:55 AM	#1
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,624	The Bean Bandits In 1949, a group of fellas got together in San Diego with their hot rods and called themselves the "Cam Busters." It just so happened that most of these fellas were from south of border and due to the ignorance of the times, it wasn't uncommon for... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

04-28-2009, 08:00 AM	#2
zman Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 16,484	Re: The Bean Bandits Hell yes, they kicked ass in the face of adversity. Nice read over my morning coffee. __________________ I have gotten grief for pointing out that the white, speckled stuff on chicken shit is still chicken shit. I will continue to do so... Chili Phil

04-28-2009, 08:02 AM	#3
Chaz Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Corner of Time and Space. MT Posts: 3,643	Re: The Bean Bandits Those guys are and always have been about racing in its purest form....Innovation, experimentation and energy. Hats off to em. __________________ Strange Days Garage.... Satisfaction considered

04-28-2009, 08:10 AM	#6
hotrd32 Alliance Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: WA Posts: 2,640	Re: The Bean Bandits Damn straight, Fabian, Tom, Diana et.all, do it like it used to be done......they are great people and they represent what Hot Rodding is all about............ __________________ "Life ain't no dress rehearsal" Last edited by hotrd32; 04-28-2009 at 10:52 AM.

04-28-2009, 08:18 AM	#7
bct Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: b.c. Posts: 1,263	Re: The Bean Bandits thanks for the link....my kind of people... __________________ a time to weld , a time to grind.

04-28-2009, 08:18 AM	#8
hotrd32 Alliance Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: WA Posts: 2,640	Re: The Bean Bandits An older shot, not taken by me but still cool... __________________ "Life ain't no dress rehearsal"

04-28-2009, 08:20 AM	#10
JeffreyJames Alliance Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SUGAR CITY Posts: 15,934	Re: The Bean Bandits I love the Bean logo, I can try for days to replicate some of the simplistic logos that Hot Rodders used back in the day but I always come up short. Looks like they are carrying on a from an awesome history. __________________ I PLAY WITH TIGERS WWW.SUGARCITYSPEEDSHOP.COM CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM IMAGES

04-28-2009, 08:29 AM	#11
lakeroadster Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: High Plains of Colorado Posts: 433	Re: The Bean Bandits I did read the story....fficeffice" />>> >> The Bean Bandits changed their name from the "Cam Busters" to the "Bean Bandits". If they had been totally pissed and weren't the kind of people that let the name calling roll off their back they wouldn't have done so, right?>> >> They could have fought, they could have sought legal reparations, but they did their thing they way the knew how to do it.>> >> That's my point. >> __________________ If you can't stand behind our troops, perhaps you should stand in front of them!

04-28-2009, 08:39 AM	#12
Nads Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Hypocrisy Posts: 11,163	Re: The Bean Bandits The Bean Bandits are true. __________________ Over enthusiasm and ownership of a MIG welder do not a fabricator make.

04-28-2009, 08:42 AM	#13
Malcolm Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 6,110	Re: The Bean Bandits They seem like a very genuine group and it's very cool to see the legacy still going with a younger generation. I finally got a chance to meet Tom and Dianna recently at the LSRU in Austin - great people! Here's a quick shot from Bonneville Speedweek 2008... Malcolm __________________ www.instagram.com/hoesing

04-28-2009, 08:43 AM	#14
seesko Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Western Twin Cities area. Minn Posts: 2,893	Re: The Bean Bandits They had some great looking cars. Like's been stated, "innovative". __________________ Ya gotta nip it! Nip it in the bud!!

04-28-2009, 08:43 AM	#15
denis4x4 Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,465	Re: The Bean Bandits I have the 50th Bean Bandits poster done by Bob McCoy and signed by many of members. You could fill a couple of books on the exploits of the Bandits. My fondest memories are of the grudge races at Paradise Mesa Drag Strip with the Speed Sport Special out of Tucson in the 1950's.

04-28-2009, 09:37 AM	#17
unkamort Alliance Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 752	Re: The Bean Bandits Maybe myth, or urban legend... I read somewhere that The Bean Bandits were the first crew to use Nitro. The story went that some member(s) were janitors at JPL where they caught the interest of an egg head who turned'em on to the stuff claiming 'Its no good for rocket fuel'. Can this be confirmed? __________________ Someday I'll be shining in the Boulevard windows...

04-28-2009, 09:58 AM	#18
Truckedup Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Western NY hillbilly Posts: 2,938	Re: The Bean Bandits I'm thinking the Bean Bandits had the first drag car to run 100 mph or maybe 150 in the 1/4 mile?

04-28-2009, 10:03 AM	#19
Terry Alliance Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Odessa, TX, USA Posts: 1,827	Re: The Bean Bandits Fascinating, Thanks Ryan. __________________ The best car saftety device is a rear view mirror with a cop in it.

04-28-2009, 10:17 AM	#20
2002p51 Alliance Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Kingsport, TN Posts: 1,263	Re: The Bean Bandits When I lived in San Diego, several times I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Joaquin Arnett. He's a genuine good guy and a great story teller! __________________ Still crazy after all these years.

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