Folks Of Interest Anybody have info on "Wheelers" SCTA car club?

I have a Wheelers [SCTA] club plaque I bought on ebay but the only info I could find on Google was the club listed as an SCTA club that raced on the dry lakes in 1961. I'd be interested in any more information about the club. PM me or post here if you know anything about this club or the club plaque...thanks.

 

This is a start and the Hamber that posted this is still active albeit the Club member is not but there is a bit of the history...

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ats-people-history.450207/page-4#post-5959805

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ats-people-history.450207/page-4#post-5959805

 

Thanks, Stogy. I appreciate the lead. Late 30s-early 40s....I didn't realize it was that old!

 

When you get stuff with connections to a time such as that it gives you goosebumps holding it...hope more surfaces on this club...

 

I've found Fuzzy Anderson was one of the club members...passed in '11. Found the Wheelers were at the dry lakes in '48, helping with track and crowd management but they didn't earn any points racing . Love to know more.

 

This is @Jimmy B's blog where an SCTA book is scanned with several mentions of the Wheelers Members in race related activity...it is of high quality...

http://hotrodsofthedrylakesera.blogspot.com/2012/10/scta-program-september-21-1947.html?m=1

 

@Rocky there is no doubt you may have an original plaque that may have graced one of these period Hotrods...but is there a chance it's a knockoff of an original? Technically it makes no difference as the club is bonafide legit.

Perhaps @Rockerhead and/or @woodiemike or some of the other veteran Hotrodders may have some history to add to the club behind the plaque.

 

The only "Wheeler" I knew was Dave Ratliff. He past a few years ago. I believe he had joined the Sidwinders and ran a yellow D Gas Roadster. A super nice guy and true gentleman.

 

Thanks! I was able to find 7 members of the Wheelers in 1947 at one of the the El Mirage meets. Looks like they mostly ran mildly built fords/mercs with a Hudson and a Cord in the mix.....wish there were photos.

 

One thing to do is type the members name in Google search with say Hotrod or El Mirage or SCTA after the name and you may get other links......now I'm giving away my secrets......perhaps the SCTA book Jimmy scanned in tells you the vehicles they were running...and your right photos are tough to come by...

 

This is Identified as Dave Ratliff

Quoted...

Dave Ratliff is doing what hundreds of record hopefuls did, breaking in the racecar engine while on the way to Bonneville.

http://www.landspeedproductions.biz/bonneville-preview

Credit to Photographer, Owner



​

 

Cool!

 

List the Names you have Rocky...

 

I may have beat you to it list any others you may have...

1947 El Mirage Wheelers Entrants

http://hotrodsofthedrylakesera.blogspot.com/2012/10/scta-program-september-21-1947.html?m=1

Credit to @Jimmy B

​

 

Those are the 7 names

 

I done some snooping around and am finding names mentioned here and there but no pics. It is amazing how rare information can be...hopefully someone can help connect the dots.

 

Here are a few more of the Wheelers club members. The above picture of Dave Ratliff is in Kay Kimes car on the way to the 1949 Bonneville Speed Weeks. The story Kay told me was they drove the car there and would push it through the towns and drive to the next town and do the same thing. According to Kay the car still exists

Along with Kay there was Jerry Eisert, Bill Fowler and Lynn Yakle. These guys all ran Kay Kimes ex Breene and Haller belly tank along with the So Cal coupe they owned for a time.

Bill Fowler went on to start All American Racers (AAR) with Dan Gurney and Carrol Shelby and won the best Engineered car at Indianapolis in 1967.

Jerry Eisert also went to Indy as a constructor and designed the first monocoque car to run at Indy and won the best engineered car award in 1966. I bought this car from him and still own it.

Lynn Yakle ran a Mercedes 300 on the slat flats and interestingly Jerry was given a 1957 Corvette by GM to go against the Mercedes (the picture I found on the net is of Lynn I think in the early 60's with the Mercedes).

As referred by the group the kid of the group was Jim Travis who bought the So Cal coupe from Jerry and ran it for years.

 

Thank you @$um Fun this confirms what I posted of Dave is legit and you have provided some additional great info...and pics...this gives more to search with it would be nice to see a plaque hanging off a Hotrod or Racer...but all is very much appreciated.

 

Here you go Stogy. Though its not a plaque, Kay painted the Wheelers logo on the nose of his ex Breene & Haller lakester. I think this is around 1954-55.

 

Wait till @Rocky sees this... @$um Fun what a cool pic and as the SCTA booklet from 47 @Jimmy B scanned highlighted The Wheelers were in the thick of the evolving Hotrod/Racing scene...this is very exciting history.

You knew and know these fellas were you a member?

These moments we share here I consider priceless I'd like to let you know as a Hamb member.

Thanks so much and again we look forward to whatever you care to share regarding your connections to these golden days of Hotrod/Race with the Wheeler's.

 

WOW! Great info here. Thanks a million. This history is priceless and each bit of information makes my plaque that much more valuable to me...Much respect for these guys and their club. Anybody know when the club began? 1947 is the earliest I can find so far.

 

Hello Rocky;
First off great score on the plaque. Not only looks good, but looks even better on you car! Too bad the seller could not provide more info for you. Going thru what I have maybe I can shed some more light on the club. Looks like they were active from 1947 thru the 50's? As stated before, pictures of this era are extremely hard to come by. Hope what I have will give you some more info and insight into the club. They include club duties, times, points standings, etc. Hope you enjoy, and always be safe!

 

Few more

 

Ditto

 

Wheelers....that's all folks!!

 

Sorry for resurrecting this old post, wanted to add a picture of the Wheelers plaque that was owned by my grandfather, George Bottema. I see that he appears in the SCTA entries in previous posts. This plaque now belongs to my uncle, but I recently borrowed it and had a couple shirts made with this design.
George and Fuzzy Anderson were best friends going back to kindergarten. Fuzzy ran George's 29 Model A in local street races.

Wheelers SW LA by Eddie Munster posted Feb 1, 2021 at 1:14 PM

El Mirage? by Eddie Munster posted Feb 1, 2021 at 1:02 PM

29 Model A by Eddie Munster posted Feb 1, 2021 at 1:02 PM

 

@Eddie Munster...first off the Archives of Threads are Hamb Gold...there is never a need to apologize for opening them up...I encourage it...case in point, look what your offering...what a stunning Hotrod Grandpa had and the History with Family connections to The Wheelers, even better...

Thanks for sharing and perhaps your Uncle has more images and things tucked away...is your Uncle a Hotrodder/former Hotrodder?...

By the way welcome to the Hamb...your getting off to a rock solid start here...I always enjoy the connections members have to Past Hotrod/Custom greatness...

 

@Stogy , thanks for the welcome! I am trying to get my hands on more of the picture albums that my grandparents put together. As for my uncle, he built a number of VW projects back in his early days, but not much of a hotrodder. He does have a late 30s Chevy truck that my grandfather purchase from the school district he worked for. It was disassembled in a, "lets see what we have here" kick many years ago and has been in that state since. Would love to see that truck running again someday.

 

Yes, I remember the "Wheelers" when in hi school 1946-1950, they had club jackets too. That was in Inglewood Hi.

 

Wow, this has turned into a great and informative thread.