Folks Of Interest RIP ... Fred Lobello

We've lost yet another Hot Rodding Pioneer ...

Long time member of the San Diego Roadster Club and Dry Lakes "Hall of Famer", Fred Lobello has passed.

Fred Lobello
December 31, 1921 - February 23, 2015​

 

Sincere sympathy goes out to his Family, and friends

 

San Diego native Fred Lobello bought a 1932 Model B (4-cylinder) Ford full-fendered Roadster in July of 1941 for $65.

In the summer of 1942, a car smacked into his roadster and ruined the left rear fender and door ... Instead of repairing the body, Fred bought a another Deuce (V-8) Roadster (for just $40) and swapped bodies ... and his 4-banger roadster has been a highboy ever since!

Fred's highboy with a bathing beauty​

Fred served in the US Army during WWII ... In 1944, he was part of the infamous "10th Mountain Division" that fought in the rough mountainous terrain of Italy (i.e. the Alps) ... and was awarded the Bronze Star!

Fred put his roadster into storage during the war​

In August of 1945 (after US dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki), Fred was granted leave from the Army ... and returned home to San Diego.

On September 16th 1945, he joined the San Diego Roadster Club ... and on October 7th 1945, he & two other SDRC members ran their cars at the first post-war meet (a Pacific Coast Timing Association sanctioned event held at El Mirage dry lake) ... Fred's roadster ran 85 MPH.

Fred continued to race his (4-banger powered) roadster at several Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) 1946, 1947, & 1948 Dry Lake meets.

Fred (left foreground) with his Deuce Roadster at the Dry Lakes​

In 1947, the 4 banger was equipped with a Winfield head, a Clay Smith cam, two Stromberg 97s, and Mallory ignition ... and the roadster ran a respectable 96.35 MPH.

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In 1948, he switched to a Cragar head and managed to break the 100 MPH barrier.

Fred Lobello's Model "B" turns a 101.01 MPH at El Mirage Dry Lake, 1948

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Fred attended the first meet at Bonneville in 1949 ... where he assisted Chief Timer J. Otto Crocker with timing & recording.

Fred Lobello (circa 1949)​

In 1950, he was back at El Mirage running a Lakester that he had built using the small (165 gallon) steel drop tank from a Navy F4U Corsair, painted white, and christened "The Lady Bug" ... It ran 116 MPH with the Winfield headed 4-banger from his roadster (i.e., the 96 MPH engine).

1950 Motorama​

In 1951, he teamed up with the legendary John Vesco and driver Jack Harvey ... and ran a best of 146 MPH using Vesco's 4-Port Riley engine.

Bonneville 1951​

By 1954, Fred had his own 4-Port Riley.

image from the Wayne Koeppe Collection



Bonneville 1954 - by J.R. Eyerman (for LIFE magazine)
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From 1958 thru 1967 Bob Myers & Bill Taylor shared seat time in the Lakester.

In 1963, on 50% Nitro, the "Lady Bug" Lakester ran 181 MPH ... becoming the World's Fastest (Iron Head) Riley!

#51 X/L - circa '60s​

 

In the late '60s, Fred "rebuilt" the Lakester using a Convair B-58 wing tip tank ... In 1978, it set the V4F Unblown Fuel Lakester record at 180 MPH!

#200 Lobello & Myers Lakester - circa '70s​

 

Fred was one of the good guys. His lakester with Model B power was always at the top of the class. RIP Fred

 

Tim (@notrod13) Sutton's pics of Fred Lobello's "Lady Bug" streamliner (#51 X/Lakester) on the salt in 2011:

all images by Tim Sutton​

 

... and Tim (@notrod13) Sutton's video interview with Mr. Lobello:

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R.I.P. Fred Lobello, another pioneer & 49er has left us to race the big dry lake in the sky. That video Tim Sutton filmed is now a priceless piece of history.

 

Well said!

As always... God speed Fred!

 

Condolences to his family and friends. Thanks Hemi 32 for posting the history and photos. A nice tribute.

 

Wow, great tribute, Hemi32.
RIP Fred.
I didn't know you, but it sure looks like you lived the dream.

 

I had the pleasure of knowing Fred for over 40 years. At one time he was the machinist for Paul Shieffer. When Shieffer moved to Monterrey Park, Fred set up a full machine shop in his garage! Did beautiful work. At one end of the garage sat Fred's roadster body up on end on the firewall. Didn't get to see Fred much except for B'ville in later years but ALWAYS had a great time with him. He leaves a void in our world. If you thought the video was good, it was nothing compared to listening in person when Fred would share stories. He complained that he only loaned his camera out twice and both times the borrower made national news. One time was when the shots of Rex Mays fatal crash at Del Mar and the other when the deuce raced the quarter horse. Both shot with Fred's camera and Fred no where around. RIP my my friend, Bonneville will never be the same without you!

 

Thanks for introducing us to him Hemi! Sounds like he made his own way into the record books.

 

Sad, sad news.

Godspeed, Freddy Lobello.

 

Our crew stood near Fred and his "Lady Bug" during the driver's meeting in 2011, and spoke with him about the car, which I've seen pictured in many of my old books and magazines. Very nice and interesting man. RIP Fred.

 

Nice tribute to yet another "Founding Father" of the pastime we all enjoy.

 

In January of 2012, Fred was invited to display his roadster at the Petersen Automotive Museum ... for the "Deuce Week" (80th Anniversary of the '32 Ford) Celebration:

image from the March 2012 issue of the San Diego Early Ford V8 Club newsletter


image by Howard Gribble​

 

Here's three (circa 1951) color pics of "The Lady Bug" Lakester:

NOTE: These images are stills from some vintage Bonneville movie footage​

 

Here's a couple cool B&W photos of Lobello's #431 C Lakester:

image by unknown photographer


1960 photo by Lynn Wineland​

 

In 2009, Fred's #51 X Lakester was on display at the San Diego Automotive Museum:

image by "MR38"


image by @denis4x4​

 

Here's Fred (holding his "49er" plaque) on the salt in 2013:

image(s) by Michael Foyle​

 

Another legend leaves us, RIP Freddy

 

Here's some (circa 1960s) vintage B&W photos of Fred's Riley 4-banger powered Lakester:

all images from Randy (@BIGDADDYUSMC) Chenowth's photo archive​

 

Fred's old Business Card:

image from Randy (@BIGDADDYUSMC) Chenowth's photo archive​

 

@Justin B (and our friends over at the "new" HOP UP magazine) wrote a nice tribute to Mr. Lobello:

Fred "the lady bug" Lobello​

 

That 478-B photo is great, likely taken at the Sept 21 1947 SCTA meet

 

18" x 12" Metal Sign​

 

Just an FYI ...

Fred's funeral service will be held this Thursday (March 12th) @ 1:00PM at:

Holy Spirit Catholic Church
2725 55th Street
San Diego, CA 92105​