California’s Big Wheels (Who’s Who for 1952)…

In the early 1950s, the Hot Rod movement was growing rapidly, if not exploding. The SCTA had established racing at Muroc, El Mirage, and Bonneville for years, and the aftermarket parts for Flatheads and the new OHV motors kept expanding. 1927 – 1934 Ford coupes and roadsters were still fairly plentiful, and Post-War American boys had jobs, and some disposable income. The hot bed of it it all, the hub if you will, was Southern California.

When I look at this list of the “Who’s Who” this article picked, I’m reminded of what a golden era this truly was. These guys clearly weren’t shameless self-promoters on Youtube or a message board, posting “Check my stuff out! I’m RAD!!” No Sir-ee. They were in machine shops, or on the salt, or the streets & tracks of the Golden State – Actually building it, driving it, and making it happen. They let the ‘fruits of their labor’ do the talking for them…

So this leads me to my question: Who, in your opinion, are the ‘Big Wheels’ of California (or really anywhere else) today? Who are the guys that actually *do* amazing stuff in the hot rod world that will be remembered 10, 20 or even 57 years from now? I know who’s on my list…

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