People Interviewed As Part of Research

People  Interviewed  As  Part  of  Research

This shows (in process) a list of the people we interviewed to learn the details and history of these cars and their companies.  This list also includes first-person histories or research written by individuals and conveyed to us by their families, friends, or automotive historians.  Where interviews/research was conducted earlier than when our research began, it is noted.

This research has been an intensive one-by-one interview process that was conducted on the phone, in person, and/or written communication – any and all methodologies were used to obtain the recorded history for documenting these cars, their story, and their place in American automotive history.

Allied / Atlas:

  • Bill Burke
  • Steve Burke – Bill Burke’s son
  • Dick Lewis – original owner/builder
  • Kay Kimes – original owner/builder
  • Darrin Crispin – son of original builder
  • Tony Spalvieri – original owner/builder
  • Hal Brown – personal story from John Bond archive – circa 1955

Almquist:

  • Ed Almquist
  • Clark Mitchell
  • Clayton Noyes – original owner/builder

Bangert:

Noel Bangert Marshall
Ed Bangert
Al

Bearcage – Prototype used to design Bill Thomas Cheetah:

  • Don Edmunds

Bill Burke Belly Tank (1946):

  • Bill Burke
  • Ken Crawford – builder and one of first drivers of this tank in 1946
  • Phil Remington – co-owner of tank with Howard Wilson after Burke sold it late in 1946

Bosley:

  • Richard Bosley – designer and builder of Bosley

Byers:

  • Frank Tift – Byers 1st and longest-term employee *
  • Rollie Langston – original builder of Byers SR100
  • William Bentzen – original builder of Byers SR100
  • Snedecker – original builder of Byers SR100
  • Denny Larsen – friend of Jim Byers who worked on first Victress S1

Cheetah Transporter:

  • Holtkamp’s Wife
  • Holtkamp’s son
  • Dick Hughes
  • David Deal
  • Shirge – Owner of Mooneyes
  • Chico – President of Mooneye

Chiagoan / Ketcham / Triplex:

  • Steve Hinger
  • Sharyn Hinger

Covington Tiburon:

  • Olga Covington
  • John Covington
  • James Covington
  • Cory Covington
  • Robin Covington
  • Alvin “Thomas” Covington
  • Jon Wilson
  • Fred Wernicke
  • Glenn Gums
  • Glenn Gums Jr
  • Bill Wedin
  • Richard Long

Edwards R-26 and R-62:

  • Bob Whitmere
  • Chuck Tatum
  • Phil Remington
  • Scott Dunbar

Edwards America:

  • Bob Whitmere
  • Chuck Tatum
  • Phil Remington

Frazen (Ray Greene):

  • Lance Greene
  • Kathy Greene
  • Dean Frazen

Gazelle:

  • John Buzby – employee Gazelle company
  • Bob Craig – grandson of Jim Craig who designed/built Gazelle
  • Laura Cassell – niece of Jim Craig

1937 Gougeon Streamliner:

  • Jack and Wife Cote
  • Jan Gougeon – nephew of Ronald Gougeon
  • Meade Gougeon – nephew of Ronald Gougeon

Glasspar:

  • Bill Tritt – founder of Glasspar
  • Matt Tritt – son of Bill Tritt
  • Greg Tritt – son of Bill Tritt
  • Frank Hecox – auto body/fabrication employee of Glasspar
  • Dennis Gerdes – son of Warren Gerdes – foreman of Glasspar auto body development/production
  • Ed Martindale – co-owner of Mameco – built frames for Glasspar and first race car
  • Bruce Meyers – father of Dune Buggy and friend of Bill Tritt and Ed Martindale
    John Knebel – original builder of Glasspar G2
  • Bert McNomee – Public Relations of US Rubber – responsible for Life Magazine article on Glasspar in February, 1952
  • Bill Pollack – driver of Glasspar race car

Grantham Stardust:

  • Wife of Bill Grantham
  • Fred Grantham – son of Bill Grantham
  • Jeri Clark – employee of xxxx who built the bodies for Grantham Stardust

Hanson Roadster:

  • Hanson Brothers – designers and builders of 2-3 Hanson Roadsters

Huth Custom Cadillac:

  • Jerry Huth – owner and builder

Johnny Dark – 1954 Movie:

  • Tony Curtis
  • Chuck Tatum
  • Don Taylor – letter

Kaiser Darrin:

  • Pat Darrin
  • Bob Darrin
  • Bill Tritt – Glasspar

Kurtis 500M:

  • Arlen Kurtis – son of Frank Kurtis

Kurtis-Omohundro Comet:

  • Arlen Kurtis
  • Tom Omohundro
  • Bonnie Omohundro Bender
  • Heloise Omohundro Lunde – sister of Paul Omohundro

LaDawri Coachcraft:

  • Joan Dawes – wife of Les Dawes
  • Don Wright

Lancer:

  • Bill Tritt – owner of Glasspar and friend of Eric Irwin
  • Letter by Eric Irwin dated x/xx/xx outlining the history of his company and cars
  • Brian Jennings: Nephew of Eric Irwin

LaSaetta:

  • Maria Testaguzza – daughter of Gino Testaguzza

LeMans Coupe:

  • Ed Monegan
  • Doug Ward
  • Wife of Alton Johnson
  • Bill Quirk – friend of Alton Johnson

MAMECO – Frame Builders For Specials:

  • Ed Martindale

Maverick Sportster:

  • Bruce Gladwin – son of Sterling Gladwin, founder of Maverick Motors
  • Robert “Tom” Garross – nephew of Sterling Gladwin

McCormack:

  • Rich McCormack – brother of Hank McCormack
  • Debbie Kabel – daughter of Hank McCormack
  • Pat McCormack – nep
  • Don Cox
  • Steve Ribeau
  • Don Smith

Meteor:

  • Dick Jones – founder of Meteor
  • Ken Jones – Dick Jones son
  • Kathryn Isenberger – Dick Jones daughter
  • Scott Gibbons – Dick Jones stepson
  • Denny Larsen – friend of Jim Byers who worked on first Victress S1
  • Larry Jones – Dick’s brother and co-producer of Meteors in 1955
  • M.A. Adams – original owner/builder

Meyers Manx:

  • Bruce Meyers – founder of Myers Manx

Rockefeller:

  • Jim Rockefeller
  • Pat Amendolia
  • Elaine Shiber – wife of Warren Shiber who designed and built Rockefeller sports cars (after Jim’s first car)

Savage:

  • Letter outlining history of company written by Jim Webb on x/xx/xx written to Rick Lenz on x/xx/xx

Skorpion / Wasp:

John Wills
John Wills jr – son of John Wills
Susan Dunlap – daughter of John Wills

Sorrell:

Jim and Mike Larkin – builders and friends of Bob Sorrell

Venus:

  • Patrick McLoad – son of designer and builder of first car – Ken McLoad

Victress:

  • Merrill Powell – VP of Victress from 1954 to 1961
  • Patricia Boyce-Smith *
  • Bill Quirk
  • Bill Powell
  • Richard Russell *
  • Mel Keyes
  • Chuck Glover
  • Dick Foster – original owner/builder
  • Denny Larsen – friend of Jim Byers who worked on first Victress S1
  • Rodney and Bill Packwood – original owners/builders

Warrior II by Vanguard:

  • Fred Rickets – Founder of Vanguard
  • xx xxxx -wife of xxxxx who had press release photos

Winson:

  • Bob Hess – builder and co-worker of design/build team

Woodill Wildfire:

  • Bill Tritt
  • Phil Cox
  • Frank Hecox – Glasspar employee who helped build series 2 molds and series 1 cars
  • Phil Turgeson – Shorty Post employee 
  • Dennis Gerde
  • Michael Woodill – son of B.R. “Woody” Woodill
  • Ted Griffin – original owner/builder
  • Dick Foster – original owner/builder

Sport Custom / Fiberglass Specials Research:

  • Personal letter written by John Bond to Ray Scroggins on June 3rd, 1977
  • Walt Woron: Founding Editor of Motor Trend Magazine
  • Robert Cumberford