SEMA Show provides 11-1/4 hours of material
Parma Heights, Ohio (November 18, 2010) – The Quarter Mile Foundation took full advantage of the 2010 SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center on November 2-5 to capture the oral histories of 14 of drag racing and performance aftermarket pioneers.
Using a studio room provided by the association and the show management, ConVexx, the space afforded Synthetic Human Production team an excellent location to record the recollections and impressions of some of the legendary figures of drag racing and the performance aftermarket.
Starting with racer/track operator/magazine publisher Harry “Hand Grenade” Hibler and concluding with racer/track operator/manufacturer 90-year old Louie Senter, the team captured a gold mine of memories, observations, funny and poignant stories of these legends and their lives and times; as well as their contemporaries.
Between Hibler and Senter came 5-Time NHRA Top Fuel World Champion/co-owner of Keystone Automotive Warehouse Joe Amato, Hurst Performance icon/spokesperson Linda Vaughn, Hurst Performance’s “Shifty Doctor” and father of the Hurst/Olds Jack “Doc” Watson, racer/track owner/warehouse owner Don Smith, pioneering cam grinder /“The Camfather” Ed (Isky) Iskenderian, pioneering speed shop owner/dry lakes racer/off-road racing promoter Alex Xydias, Midwestern speed shop owner/circle track and drag racing car owner/speed museum owner Bill (“Speedy Bill”) Smith, racer/manufacturer Joe (“Gentleman Joe”) Schubeck, road racer/automaker/manufacturer Carroll Shelby, racer/manufacturer/engine builder Joe Mondello and manufacturer/manufacturer’s rep Bob Airheart. Additionally, Robin Millar, daughter of famed drag racing cartoonist Pete Millar, related her recollections of growing up in and around the sport where her father raced and chronicled the sport with his witty and at times, irreverent, views of the leading characters of the sport.
“The initial plan called for the crew to capture 10 pioneers during the course of the show week,” stated Traci Hrudka, Chairman of Quarter Mile Foundation, producers of the PROJECT 1320 documentary series. “However, three opportunities presented themselves to gather the histories from Joe Amato, Joe Schubeck and Robin Millar, and we took advantage of them.
“We secured 11-1/4 hours of priceless footage and director/cinematographer Stephen Krystek has told the foundation that he can begin to see how these interviews are beginning to link together and to provide additional directions to explore with other legends to be interviewed.”
The Foundation’s booth flanked by the iconic 1941 “Old Black Studebaker” gasser race car, served as an information center regarding the documentary undertaking, as well as hosting several of the interviewed legends in separate guest appearances for autographs. The National Hot Rod Association hosted a guest appearance session on Thursday morning, much to the delight of several hundred attendees, who interfaced with Joe Hrudka (Mr. Gasket), Louie Senter (Ansen Wheels), Joe Mondello (Mondello Performance), Ed “Isky” Iskenderian (Iskenderian Cams) and surprise guest appearance by Don (“The Snake”) Prudhomme. “The NHRA’s offer to move our autograph session to their booth on the main show floor was an unexpected development,” said Ms. Hrudka. “Tom Compton (NHRA President) invited the Foundation to be a part of their show activities, and we were happy to avail ourselves of their generous offer.”
She added, “We would also like to extend a sincere ‘thank you’ to SEMA President Chris Kersting and Chuck Schwartz, CEO Of ConVexx and their staffs for providing us with the opportunity to reach so many of our legends in a single location. This could not have occurred without them.”
The Quarter Mile Foundation is a 501(c)(3)not-for-profit foundation, which is producing PROJECT 1320, a documentary film series about the history of drag racing and the parallel growth of the performance automotive aftermarket.
