Fresno Pan Draggers 1952...a look back

Was there a connection with the Hayward Pan Draggers? A fellow that I do some business with brought me a plaque with that name on it, said he was in that club in his youth. Joe

 

Not from 1952 ... but here's some pics of Fresno Pan Draggers & their cars from the late 50s:

1957: Bill Meeker, Jim Snow, & Gary MacArthur



1958: Pepper Snow



1958: Ron White



1958: Ron White



1959: Keith Bush & his '32 Tudor ... he still owns this car today ... just showed it at the 60th GNRS (Jan '09)!



1959: Pepper Snow's '57 Ford, Joe Vuglia's '41 Chevy & Keith's '32 Ford​

 

the owners name was joe vuglio not shure of the spelling

 

sounds similar to this one

 

wow..... i was just at my friends house looking at some of his old car club photos and he has the same newspaper clipping that was posted of the pan draggers car club from the east bay area, his name is steve donovan and lived in pittsburg,ca at the time, he still has the 59 desoto in the newspaper clipping, he just drove it this week to the local cruise night at sonics in vacaville,ca, i did take a couple of photos, he still has his old club jacket, if any one is interested i will take a photo of his jacket.

 

I would like to see the jacket photo.

 

Actually it`s Joe Vuglia. His son Guy works at Snow White still I believe. Known him for a looong time but haven`t seen him in awhile.

 

This one .....?

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I just talked today with Cal Rogers an active Pan Draggers member and he mentioned that he wanted to get Skip Lewis to their reunion. He is in your area somewhere.

 

My dad was a pan dragger and got into the club in 1954 and was too busy in the early 60's to stay active. I have his original plaque and another pan draggers plaque when there was supposedly a branch off in walnut creek. their plaque had a 32 ford 2 door sedan on it. Spanky Cooper will soon be cruising a 32 plymouth 3 window coupe, next will be a recreation of his candy apple red 57 corvette.

 

I just talked to Skip a few nights ago. Man that guy was awesome to talk to. I also spoke with Lee Bentoncourt and Buddy Katlik that same night. All Fresno Pan Draggers. They had awesome stories to tell me. I just sat there on the phone and listened. If anyone knew how it was back then...these guys do.

I am actually looking for Buddy's 53 Plymouth he customized in 1961. In you are in Fresno and know of this car contact me please.

 

It's probably stuffed in a garage.

 

conley.. ive got an original pan draggers walnut creek plaque if your interested p.m. me..brian knows about it..lemme know.

 

I met a man by the name of Raymand Lattie yesterday that was an original member of the Pan Draggers of Fresno from 1952 until he left the club and he told me some cool stories, one of which Winfield installing a Rambler? one piece windshield in his Merc.

 

Looking for an original Pan Draggers plaque.

 

Yes, Here's to all those Pioneers of our Sport!!

 

Looks like the plaque photos I posted earlier now have the dredded red X, so here they are again .....

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While visiting a friend in Ahwahnee last year, he took me to Snow White and I saw some of the cool stuff they were building. I also saw a Pan Draggers jackets hanging from the ceiling in a framed display. It said "In loving memory of".

 

I know these thread is about the Fresno group but the far northern Cal group do have a Facebook page and some photos from the old Concrd Calif pandraggers from the early 70's. Well worth checking out if you grew up during those times. I wasn't old enough to drive yet when I seen these guys driving thru the local July 4th parade and able to raise and lower their cars with hydraulics.

 

Interesting! Seems there were more than one Pan Draggers club in that area .....

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Great History, Thanks for Sharing