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Folks Of Interest RIP ... Dick Magoo

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by HEMI32, Jan 13, 2016.


  1. Dick Magoo 30-31 Roadster.jpg
    Richard Lawrence Megugorac
    February 5, 1928 - January 13, 2016
     
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2016
  2. Although Magoo was probably best known for his (traditionally styled) '29 Model A Hiboy Roadsters of the '70s, Dick actually got his start as a Hot Rodder / Dry Lakes racer back in the '40s.

    @Brian Brennan penned a very nice tribute to Dick on the HOT ROD Magazine website ... See Richard “Magoo” Megugorac Hot Rodding Pioneer Passes.

    For those that don't like to click on links, here's some vintage pics of the modified that Magoo purchased from Karl Orr:

    dick magoo roadster bought from karl orr.jpg
    This roadster once belonged to dry lakes legend and speed shop owner Karl Orr.
    Dick was proud of the Edelbrock “sling shot” intake topped with Stromberg 97 carbs.

    dick magoo in karl orr\'s old roadster.jpg
    In his newly acquired roadster form Orr it was time to go to the dry lakes (note Dick wearing
    goggles!) These were both the early days of Dick’s rodding career and the formative ones.

    dick magoo timing tag July 17 1948 (117.18mph).jpg
    Dick’s timing tag from July 17, 1948 from the SCTA at the El Mirage course shows a
    time in his roadster of 7.68 seconds at 117.18 mph in the ¼-mile in his roadster.

    dick magoo & lois - cut down windshield.jpg
    Dick’s then current girlfriend and soon to be wife, Lois in scarf, show that it’s cold in November on
    the dry lakes. That’s Dick above the cut down windshield. He was 6'4"… a really cut down windshield!

    dick magoo modified - \'39 taillights.jpg
    Dick’s modified ran the always popular ’39 Ford taillight. Don’t look too closely
    at the license plate as it was off his dad’s pickup, he never did get the modified registered.

     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2016
  3. Another Icon in hotrodding gone.
    RIP
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  4. Last edited: Jan 13, 2016
    chryslerfan55 and lothiandon1940 like this.
  5. I first met the Megugorac's in the '70s ... Always loved listening to Dick's stories! ... My condolences to Lois, the Magoo family, and their close friends.

    Here's a few of the "tame" snapshots I took @ Dick's "Hot Rod Heroes Roast" in January of '91:

    Dick @ the podium.jpg

    Dick telling it like it is.jpg

    Dick chatting with Boyd.jpg

    Dick & Billy B.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2016
  6. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,619

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Magoo was an avid Control Line Model Airplane builder/flyer.
    Tommy Shall was a mutual friend, lined me up with Magoo to do some hot flying.
    Unfortunately, my busy shop and Magoo's Highboy lineups prevented the meeting, but when I finally got back to old former home town Canoga Park, I later heard he went flying with "Willie Black", (of the paint on the R&C Highboy for Bud Bryan.
    Willie: "This car should NEVER have been black."
    Everybody who ever saw the Highboy: "That thing's so black it looks like you could dive in!"
    Wish we could have flown my Gee Bee, Magoo. You would have loved its speed...
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  7. R.I.P. another icon gone :(
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  8. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 32,432

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    Wow, had a real impact on our car world . sincere sympathy to his Family and friends
     
  9. AnimalAin
    Joined: Jul 20, 2002
    Posts: 3,416

    AnimalAin
    Member

    He was a good guy, and a real craftsman. Another giant lost.
     
  10. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,112

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    May he rest in peace. I really enjoyed reading about his exploits and how his shop turned out those roadsters when I was younger.
     
  11. Sad news indeed. We're all a little poorer.
     
    Hamtown Al likes this.
  12. krylon32
    Joined: Jan 29, 2006
    Posts: 10,067

    krylon32
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Nebraska
    1. Central Nebraska H.A.M.B.

    Never met him but always admired his work. Had the 28/29 highboy deal figured out. RIP
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  13. Nomadness
    Joined: Oct 26, 2007
    Posts: 462

    Nomadness
    Member

  14. Deuce Daddy Don
    Joined: Apr 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,580

    Deuce Daddy Don
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Great responses!-----I could relate many experiences concerning Dick & Lois while they were still in the LAR club.
    Not enough space to print here tho'----Don
     
    tofords, kidcampbell71 and HEMI32 like this.
  15. As I mentioned earlier ...
    Here's some examples ...

    ... his personal car (originally built in 1974):

    Magoo \'29 Hiboy built in \'74 (1).jpg
    Magoo \'29 Hiboy built in \'74 (2).jpg
    Magoo \'29 Hiboy built in \'74 (3).jpg
    Magoo \'29 Hiboy built in \'74 (4).jpg
    Magoo \'29 Hiboy built in \'74 (5).jpg
    Magoo \'29 Hiboy built in \'74 (6).jpg
    Magoo \'29 Hiboy built in \'74 (7).jpg
    Magoo \'29 Hiboy built in \'74 (8).jpg
    Magoo \'29 Hiboy built in \'74 (9).jpg
    Magoo \'29 Hiboy built in \'74 (10).jpg
    Magoo \'29 Hiboy built in \'74 (11).jpg
    Magoo \'29 Hiboy built in \'74 (12).jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2016
  16. ... a '29 hiboy he built for Mickey Knight in 1975:

    Billy's Butterscotch '29 (1975 Andy's Picnic).jpg
    ANDY'S 9th Annual Picnic - August 1975
    right to left: Billy Burnham's Butterscotch Yellow '29, Mickey Knight's Magoo built '29 (with fresh Jack Hagemann
    unpainted aluminum hood), Tommy Walsh's Orange '29, & Rich "Pure Hell" Guasco's Purple '61 AMBR winning '29
     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2022
  17. ... and Dick's personal ride in 1978-1979:

    Magoo\'s personal ride in 78-79.jpg
    Dick & Lois - 1979 Roadster Roundup.jpg
    ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1452940311.553741.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2016
  18. He was a keeper of the flame.

    While others were running around buying up luggage racks and cowl lights for their resto-rod sedans, Dick was building hot rods like this!
     
    HEMI32 likes this.
  19. Magoo also built the 1979 AMBR ... Brian Burnett's "DEUCARI":

    Deucari.jpg
    Deucari - GNRS \'07.jpg
    Deucari - GNRS \'09 (by hotrodladycrusr).jpg

    Deucari - Cutaway Drawing by Rex Burnett.jpg
    Deucari - STREET RODDER June 1979 Cover.jpg Deucari - STREET RODDER June 1979 pg 16.jpg Deucari - STREET RODDER June 1979 pg 17.jpg
    Deucari - STREET RODDER June 1979 pg 18.jpg Deucari - STREET RODDER June 1979 pg 19.jpg Deucari - STREET RODDER Sept 1978 pg 25.jpg
     
  20. R.I.P. Dick Magoo .
     
  21. Great photo

     
  22. Kiwi Tinbender
    Joined: Feb 23, 2006
    Posts: 1,155

    Kiwi Tinbender
    Member

    How about pics of the `87 GNRS Contender? Almost trad, but not quite. Wish I had the show sign with my name in the credits.......He gave me a chance, and I`ll always be grateful....
     
    chryslerfan55 and HEMI32 like this.
  23. NOTE: There will be a "Celebration of Life" service held in the Phoenix area ... If you would like to attend, please contact Dean Livermore at Hot Rods by Dean: (602-358-5892) or email: [email protected].
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2016
  24. nailhead terry
    Joined: Mar 23, 2008
    Posts: 1,460

    nailhead terry
    Member

    I read every line in the 70s of Rod Action an Street Rodder I always loved to see the cars he built we lost a great one His cars will live on and his example to this hobby
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  25. Just a bump of this 2+ year old thread . . . 'cuz I've been thinking about Magoo (& Lois) lately . . . and ran across this Ad for 1001 CUSTOM & ROD IDEAS magazine:

    Magoo - 1001 Custom & Rod Ideas Ad.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2023
  26. Our friends at the American Hot Rod Foundation recently posted this circa 1946 photo of Magoo at El Mirage:

    Magoo at El Mirage - June 2nd, 1946.jpg
    Dick "Magoo" Megugorac's T roadster is seen with his passenger Bob Wenz at El Mirage early in the
    morning on June 2nd, 1946 at the first S.C.T.A. meet of the year. They were there to spectate, not to run.


    ©AHRF/Robert Wenz Collection

     
  27. verde742
    Joined: Aug 11, 2010
    Posts: 6,475

    verde742
    Member

    he is missed, often showed up at Second Saturday, So-Cal Arizona,

    a REAL NICE MAN..
     
  28. Deuce Daddy Don
    Joined: Apr 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,580

    Deuce Daddy Don
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Oh yes,----I could write a book on some adventures while Magoo & Lois were in the LAR club!
     
  29. Our friends at the American Hot Rod Foundation also posted this circa 1946 photo of Magoo's Roadster in Santa Monica:

    Dick Magoo Megugorac's T roadster is spied in mid-1946 in Santa Monica.jpg
    Dick "Magoo" Megugorac's T roadster is spied in mid 1946 in the Santa Monica area of Los Angeles.
    This is the pre-cursor to the T-bucket fad that took off ten years later with the Norm Grabowski ride.


    ©AHRF/Robert Wenz Collection
     
    Jimmy B, GuyW, Hamtown Al and 2 others like this.

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