The James Dean Saga

[Cal Metal]

This is something I posted earlier in 2001. Thought it might be of interest to some.

1999
Location: Menomonie, Wisconsin
Posts: 1847



2002 Contributing Member



Cobra Make & Engine: CSX 2189

View my photo gallery.
I am reproducing this article for CC from my good friend, Ernie Nagamatsu, who, in addition to owning the famous 'Ole Yeller II, has a CSX 2000 & 3000 Cobra. Ernie is a prolific writer about So. Cal. racing in the early days. This piece I thought would interest all of you.

"In the early l950's, the Santa Barbara Road Races would draw up to 25,000 racing fans. In the early days of Sports Car racing the cars had to be street legal, headlights taped, and numbers taped on the sides.

The very first road race was held in September, l953 and the event was sponsored by the Cal Sports Car Club with the Santa Barbara Junior Chamber of Commerce. Yes, "those were the thrilling days" as John Hart (Lone Ranger '52-'53), Singer Herb Jeffries, and international Diplomat/Playboy-Porfirio Rubirosa (Zsa Zsa Gabor) raced the circuit that was shaped like a lobster claw. Even one member of the great Kingston Trio raced, as singer, Nick Reynolds, raced a new Lotus 22 and crashed the first day. Dan Hogan remembers being on the grid with the legendary actor, James Dean, as Santa Barbara would be Dean's last Sports Car race.

The racing career of Dean was very short and started with the purchase of a used MG TA in May of l955. Dean bought a Porsche Speedster 1500 and raced the car at the Palm Springs Road Races in March, as he finished second in the finals. He raced again at Minter field in Bakersfield and finished first in his class and third overall behind Joe Playn's MG Special and John Kunstle's Panard Special. Veteran race driver, Joe Playn, remembers Dean well, as he raced several times with Dean. During the technical check session prior to Santa Barbara race in Pasadena, Dean wanted to buy the first MG Special from Playn. Memorial day was the Santa Barbara Road Races and Dean was racing up to 4th spot with the Speedster when a piston let go and he did not finish the race. He was listed in the race program for the Labor Day Road Races at Santa Barbara in September, but he had to withdraw because of an engine problem. A press release stated on September 16 that..."James Dean plans to go on a racing kick when "Giant" (movie) ends.

On September 21, l955 Dean traded in his Porsche Speedster for a more powerful and race designed Porsche 550 Spyder. It was on September 30th. that Dean and his mechanic were in the 550 spyder heading for the Salinas races when Dean died in an accident with another car from Cholame".



[This message has been edited by Cal Metal (edited 02-05-2001).]

[snakeeyes]

Cal, I think this trivia might have been kicked around at the time you posted this the first time, but: What was name of the driver of the car that collided with Dean? What soon-to-become-famous driver was following Dean's car that day? What was painted on the rear deck of Dean's 550?

As an aside, Dean's wrecked Spyder circulated the country on a flatbed after the wreck. Kind of a "cautionary tale in metal". I recall reading that it was stolen in Florida, and that the whereabouts are unknown to this day. Wonder what the value of the wreck would be if it were located?

Bob

[petek]

The driver's name was Turnupseed. Painted on the back of Dean's car was "Lil' Bastard". Following Dean was ... ack! I can't remember. Ummmm....Roger Penske?

[Specialk]

Dan Gurney was following

[snakeeyes]

Good job, guys. Donald Turnipseed was driving, I think, a 1950 Ford when he collided with Dean. A young Dan Gurney was following behind--what a loss for American racing if he had been a passenger!

[427SSSS]

Rather than post the copy here as it "a negative", all the black background whould take up too much space....see the link in photo gallery under cruzing/get together shows (don't ask me why please) and sorry about the upside down page, (hey I'm pleased I was able to scan and post.




http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...ticket-med.jpg

[computerworks]

Remember Stephen King's "Christine" ( the Plymouth)?
Well, look at this piece about Dean's wreck:

After the tragedy, master car customizer George Barris bought the wreck for $2,500. When the wreck arrived at Barris' garage, the Porsche slipped and fell on one of the mechanics unloading it. The accident broke both of the mechanic's legs.

While Barris had bad feelings about the car when he first saw it, his suspicions were confirmed during a race at the Pomona Fair Grounds on October 24, 1956. Two physicians, Troy McHenry and William Eschrid, were both racing cars that had parts from the "Little Bastard." McHenry died when his car, which had the Porsche's engine installed, went out of control and hit a tree. Eschrid's car flipped over. Eschrid, who survived despite serious injuries, later said that the car suddenly locked up when he went into a curve.

The car's malevolent influence continued after the race: one kid trying to steal the Porsche's steering wheel slipped and gashed his arm. Barris reluctantly sold two of the car's tires to a young man; within a week, the man was nearly involved in a wreck when the two tires blew out simultaneously.

Feeling that the Porsche could be put to good use, Barris loaned the wrecked car to the California Highway Patrol for a touring display to illustrate the importance of automobile safety. Within days, the garage housing the Spyder burnt to the ground. With the exception of the "Little Bastard," every vehicle parked inside the garage was destroyed. When the car was put on exhibit in Sacramento, it fell from its display and broke a teenager's hip. George Barkuis, who was hauling the Spyder on a flatbed truck, was killed instantly when the Porsche fell on him after he was thrown from his truck in an accident.

The mishaps surrounding the car continued until 1960, when the Porsche was loaned out for a safety exhibit in Miami, Florida. When the exhibit was over, the wreckage, en route to Los Angeles on a truck, mysteriously vanished. To this day, the "Little Bastard's" whereabouts are unknown.

Source:
AMC's Hollywood Ghost Stories television special

[Satanpez]

I remember seeing the whole story on Tv a few years ago.

They tracked down the transmission to some guy who was putting into his car.

He wasn't worried.

I don't remember much else

-steve in nj-

[Chifo Jr]

I have a very interesting copy of the deposition of an eyewitness to the accident taken by the atty of James Deans estate.

[CowtownCobra]

I used to go past that spot in Cholame a lot (or is it alot), school in Santa Barbara and home in Fresno. There is a nice monument that I think was put there by some Japanese fans (go figure...). The really odd thing to me is that the intersection where the wreck happened is smack dab on top of the san andreas fault. I have seen pictures of the road right at that intersection where the center white line suddenly shifts about a foot.

[Ryan Mentzer]

More on this

Ryan

[Rem Jr]

All of this is way interesting! Thanks for posting it.