History L.A. Hot Rods at the beginning

More gold nuggets from back to thunder alley !! Thanks again. The front license plate on Isky's roadster looks like 1941, and the (Reese) car (the Narin roadster) looks like it has the yellow tag across the top of the plate for 1942. I fully understand most of these cars sat parked during the war and did not get registered, I'm just soaking in every little detail of these photos, Thank GOD by 46' or early 47' they were back at it with more skills and knowledge than ever. Again....it's threads like this that I spend way too much time on each image. Keep em coming.

 

Today's posting is a gem with a story. The photo is of Isky standing next to his roadster in a small town while on a road trip perhaps either going to or coming from the dry lakes (?). It's a great photo but to me the "gem" is what Ed wrote on the back of the photo and then mailed it to my Dad, Don Nairn. The "Jimmie" Ed referenced was my Uncle Jim Nairn. Note the term Ed uses at the very end as it must have been what the "boys" said when they wanted something done in a hurry (i.e. "put the pedal to the metal" or "floor it").

Enjoy this as I sure do;










Click on the text to see and read it better.

 

Wow!! Incredible photos and stories!! Thanks for sharing this history!

 

What a great thread, great storys and pictures.....

 

I agree!
Get it done

To the OP, thanks!

 

Keeps getting better. Winde out!

 

I'm kinda thinkin the same thing. Even though the hamb reaches quite a few folks these really should be published somewhere. You're dealing with famous cars and their owners from an early period. How much more do you have? Bout the time I think you've run dry you post more gems! Thanks for sharing, JohnnyA

 

To Floorboardinit; My Brother and I are in the process now of putting together a full book which we hope will bring a Nairn family perspective to the life and times of many of So Cal's legendary racers. Since we just closed the Speedway Pattern building which was right in the heart of "Thunder Alley" on Jefferson Blvd, Culver City, he has found yet another treasure trove of my Uncle Jim Nairn's collection that were stored at the shop. He tells me that the collection of photos and negatives and vintage Hot Rod magazines is extensive so when added to my Dad's collection and given their lifelong associations with the likes of Isky and Hilborn and Remmington and John Athan and Dick Teague and Edelbrock and Jack Engle and Travers and Coon and their years of building roadsters and the dry lakes and then the great years on the Vukovich crew at Indy, we think we have the makings of a very interesting book which we hope to publish within the next 6 months or so, time permitting. In the meantime, I'll continue to post on this thread.

thanks for your interest and all the others who have responded.

Stay tuned.

 

Great pics proving once again Hot Rods were finished with paint that shines pride in your ride I love it.

 

Sounds killer. Put me down for a copy!

 

Put me down for one. August 1st right?

 

I would also like a copy of your book. Thank you for doing this.
Rich.....

 

How many books do you plan on having printed? Cause it looks like you've already got a few orders. Put me on the list too. JohnnyA

 

Subscribed!!! This is so fitting as Im reading "The Merchants of speed" right now. I love the history of these guys at this time!!!

 

Ditto, I'd like a book too

 

Yeah, thats a book I would definitely buy. Keep us posted on the progress.

 

Wow! Thanks for the interest folks. We'll be spending as much time as we can putting our book together. I can't say yet exactly when but hopefully by the end of summer. We want to make it as interesting as possible so don't want to rush through the process.

Thanks.

 

Thank you for taking the time to share this wonderful history with us! Best of luck on the book, I'll be looking forward to it!!

 

I'm in for a book.

 

Me too.

 

You can put me down for one too. Waiting impatiently.

 

I am sooo gonna buy this book!!

Thank you so much Back to TA.
And Steelworks, another thanks to you! with the tire tale and for filling in the who's who

 

Put me down for a signed copy

 

A few for a Sunday evening;

1) My Dad and his roadster at the dry lakes;




2) A meeting of the minds in Thunder Alley, the Trayco boys




3) It wasn't all racing!!

 

BTT & 5 stars ...

 

My brother Scott Nairn just brought me 7 large cartons filled with the racing treasures that were stored at Speedway Pattern on Jefferson Blvd (Thunder Alley). I'll be getting into them soon and I have a feeling that despite what I have already posted on this thread, the BEST may be yet to come. I'll have to get busy and "winde out" as Isky told my Dad (see post 154).

Here are a few mixed photos for today;

 

wow...great pictures and story thanks for posting!!!

 

Keep 'em coming!

 

Just a few random photos for a Saturday night;

 

do you have any photos from the Hot Rod Explosion ??