Volunteers Talk Archive Collections Au Nguyen: Sue Mitchell, Everett Duncan, Art Pollard Steve Diez: Steve Denbo, John Fuez Frank Bakanau: Andy Granatelli (co-volunteer Tom Styczynski) Glenn Wong: Pat Usher, Bobby Plotts (co-volunteer Susan Stone) Megan Glazier-Anderson: PR Scott
The Sue Mitchell Collection Volunteer: Au Nguyen
Sue Mitchell Collection
Sue Mitchell Collection • Sue was a local drag racer, from Milwaukie, OR. • She started street racing at 15 years old. • After 4 tickets, Sue decided to take it to Woodburn Dragstrip in 1974.
Sue Mitchell Collection
• Sue and husband Guy built her race car. • 1963 Chevy Nova was bought for $25 in 1975.
Sue Mitchell Collection
• Sue set the AHRA world record in F2/CC HRA class, 10.7 secs at 125.52 mph, in Aug. 1981. • Sue was the AHRA national champion in 1981.
Sue Mitchell Collection • Sue was racing as recently as 1991 at PIR. • Suzie II has continue to evolve over the years. • Sue’s personal best is 9.4 secs at 145 mph in the ¼ mile.
The Everett Duncan Collection Volunteer: Au Nguyen
Everett Duncan Collection
Everett Duncan Collection Everett was a master race car builder.
Everett Duncan Collection
• Originally from Washington state. • Went to work for Kurtis Kraft in Glendale, CA in 1946. • Joined Quin Epperly in 1954.
Everett Duncan Collection
• Epperly-Offenhauser cars placed 1st and 2nd at Indy in 1958.
Everett Duncan Collection • Demler Special, which placed 2nd, was restored in 1998. • Its 255 CID Offenhauser still made 450 hp on the dyno.
• It ran more than 80 demonstration laps at Fontana, averaging 125 mph over 170 miles.
Everett Duncan Collection
• • • •
Built a ¾ midget racer for Harry Munson, a commercial pilot. Used air-cooled V-twin engine from his own Indian Scout. Did the work in return for flying lessons. Car won an award for craftsmanship at Los Angeles “Motorama” Show in 1953.
The Art Pollard Collection Volunteer: Au Nguyen
Art Pollard Collection
Art Pollard Collection
• Pacific NW car racer from Medford, OR. • Started with midgets and modified stock cars. • Went to Indy in 1967.
Art Pollard Collection
• Best finish: 8th at Indy 1967. • Died in a practice crash, Indy 1973.
The Steve Denbo Collection Volunteer: Steve Diez
Steve Denbo Collection Volunteer Steve Diez
Steve Denbo was the dragstrip manager at PIR from 1985 to 1995. He was also manager of the National Hot Rod Association Northwest Division Certification Team. Steve was a 33-year member of the Slo Pokes Car Club of Vancouver, Washington. He directed drag racing at PIR after the noise ordinance of 1985 necessitated major changes. After receiving the NHRA Certificate of Achievement three time as PIR’s manager (1987, 1990, 1991), Denbo was awarded Drag Racing Manager of the Year in 1992. Under Denbo’s care, PIR’s Drag Team won the NHRA Team Spirit Award in 1992 and 1993. Denbo was inducted into the NHRA Hall of Fame in 2012.
Steve Denbo Collection Artifacts
Artifacts donated by the Denbo family include trophies and plaques awarded to Steve and his teams. There are also jackets and shirts worn by Steve, and other polos and T-shirts from a variety of PIR events.
Steve Denbo Collection Images
Almost 300 color and black+white photographs provide an excellent visual documentation of PIR races and race teams for the period 1982 to 1999.
Steve Denbo Collection Serial Publications
The Denbo family has also donated various serial magazine, newspaper, newsletter, and year book publications such as National Dragster Magazine, Northwest Raceway News, and Dragracing World that are available through the World of Speed magazine collection.
Steve Denbo Collection Artifacts
Additional artifacts include jackets, plaques, patches, stickers, tickets, programs and run cards.
Check out the PIR exhibit
Steve Denbo Collection Papers
The challenges of Steve’s work and the sometimes-complex tasks associated with his responsibilities are illustrated by the collection’s paper items. Race specs, articles, personal and institutional papers, brochures, programs, flyers pamphlets, and schedules give a glimpse of what was required to keep the PIR drags running smoothly over a ten-year period.
The John Fuez Collection Volunteer: Steve Diez
Fuez Scrapbook Album teer Steve Diez The scrapbook from the John Fuez collection primarily contains newspaper articles and photographs from a period covering 1964 to 1966. John was the mechanic and fabricator for Rolla Vollstedt. The images and clippings detail the efforts of Rolla Vollstedt, Len Sutton, and Billy Foster to develop and race cars at the Indianapolis 500.
John Fuez Scrapbook Album Big Names Connection
Rolla Vollstedt, a Portland lumber executive and car owner, designer, and builder, and Len Sutton, a veteran driver of numerous Indy 500 races, are the focus of most of the materials which cover a transitional and innovative time when rear engine cars were coming into vogue along with major changes in body styles and suspension packages.
John Fuez Scrapbook Album National Names
A. J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Jimmy Clark, Roger Ward, Bobby Unser, and Graham Hill were just a few of the famed drivers who were approaching average speeds of 170mph on the raceway. The articles discuss both the triumphs and tragedies of the Indianapolis 500 participants and provide a real look into three years that were pivotal for the race.
John Fuez Scrapbook Album Coworkers Len & Rolla
Len Sutton and Rolla Vollstedt with the No. 66 Bryant Heating and Cooling Special in 1964. Vollstedt introduced one of the first rear engine cars to race at the Indianapolis 500 which also used torsion bars instead of coil springs and an Offenhauser engine. The No. 66 would finish in 15th place.
John Fuez Scrapbook Album Billy Foster
Billy Foster drove Rolla Vollstedt’s No. 27 for the 1966 Indy 500, and qualified at 159.49 mph for a 12th place start and finished the race 24th.
John Fuez Scrapbook Album 1964 Racing Earnings Rolla Vollstedt earned a whopping $6,450 before taxes for his car’s 15th place finish in 1964. The winner, A. J. Foyt, earned a little over $153,000 for his victory, the amount was a record purse at that time. The winner’s take for 2017 was over 2.5 million dollars.
The Granatelli Collection Volunteer: Frank Bakanau (co-volunteer Tom Styczynski)
GRANATELLI COLLECTION ENGINEERING DATA
Granatelli Collection Arrives
What is Engineering Data? Why is it Important to the Archive? Engineering Documentation • • • •
Drawings Parts Lists Test Data Manufacturing Correspondence
Archival Importance • Historical Reference • Restoration
• Car Configuration • Parts Manufacturing/Traceability
Data Sources Granatelli • • • •
Paxton Novi Equipment Corporation Novi Racing Corporation STP Corporation
Vendors • • • •
Ferguson Meyer Drake Engineering Offenhauser Engineering Winfield Engineering
Engineering Drawing Database Spreadsheet APPLICATION
COMPANY
PART NUMBER
REVISION
SIZE
DATE
QUANTITY
DWG
STAMP
TYPE
CONDITION
NOTES
SORT NUMBER
NOVI RACING CORP
N-110.19
0
Shaft Oil Pump Scavenger
A
15-Jan-63
-
1
Blue Print Very Good
N-110.19
NOVI RACING CORP
N-110.20
0
Gear Oil Pump
A
15-Jan-63
-
1
Blue Print
Very Good
N-110.20
NOVI RACING CORP
N-112.33
0
Plate - Exhaust Header
A
11-Jan-63
-
1
Blue Print
Very Good
N-112.33
NOVI RACING CORP
N-102.1A
1
Cylinder Block Dual Ignition Model -63W
R
14-Jan-63
-
1
Blue Print
Very Good
N-102.01A
NOVI RACING CORP
N-102.1
5
Cylinder Block
R
13-Sep-57
-
1
Blue Print
Very Good
N-102.01
NOVI RACING CORP
N-101.1
4
Crankcase V8 Novi Engine
R
29-Nov-63
-
1
Blue Print
Very Good
Very long R size drawing
NOVI RACING CORP
0
Exhaust Valve Guide (Redlined/Obsolete)
B
24-Oct-56
-
1
Blue Print
Very Good
Paxton 104.4 redline note
NOVI RACING CORP
0
Exhaust Valve Guide (Production)
B
24-Oct-56
-
1
Blue Print
Very Good
Paxton 104.4 redline note
NOVI RACING CORP
0
Intake Valve Guide (Production)
B
24-Oct-56
-
2
Blue Print
Very Good
Paxton 104.2 redline note
NOVI RACING CORP
N-112.33
0
Plate Exhaust Header (Preliminary Print Jan 11 1963)
A
11-Jan-63
-
1
Blue Print
Very Good
NOVI RACING CORP
N-112.33
0
Plate Exhaust Header
A
11-Jan-63
-
1
Blue Print
Very Good
NOVI RACING CORP
N-110.19
0
Shaft Oil Pump Scavenger
A
15-Jan-63
26-Mar-63
1
Blue Print
Very Good
NOVI RACING CORP
N-110.19
1
Shaft Oil Pump Scavenger
A
15-Jan-63
23-Apr-63
1
Blue Print
Very Good
NOVI RACING CORP
V8-122
0
Shaft Torsion Blower (Red Lined0
B
1-Nov-57
-
1
Blue Print
Very Good
Red lined comments attached
N-101.01
Engineering Drawing Database Spreadsheet Content • • • • • • • • • • •
Application Company Part Number Revision Title Size Date • Drawn • Stamp Quantity Condition Notes Sort Number
Novi Engine with Holley Carb
Novi Basic Layout
Novi Impeller
Novi Supercharger Assembly
Lotus Turbine Car Layout
Lotus Turbine @ World of Speed
More Archival Gems
• Numerous engine dynometer data sheets • Drawings by Leo Goosen • Novi engine drawings • Documented race car configurations • Considered Ferrari power for Indy • Drawings for Parnelli Jones #40 turbine car
GRANATELLI COLLECTION
DOCUMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE FILES
Boxes Full of Documents • Novi Program • Turbine Program • Avanti Bonneville Record Attempts • USAC • STP • Paxton • Studebaker • Garage Door Opener
Boxes and Boxes Documents Written on • • • • • • •
Legal Pads Cardboard From the Desk of ___ Scraps of Anything Napkins Place mats Anything Available
Novi Dyno Testing • • • • • •
Carburetors Fuel Injection Blower Speeds Ignition Exhaust Manifolds Engine Components • Cams • Rods, Pistons, Crankshafts • Materials
Novi Dyno Testing • • • • •
1000's of hours Fuel Consumption Persistent Miss Over 800 HP NOISE!
4 Wheel Drive • Fergusen System • Torque Split • Gear Ratios
Lotus Turbine Car • Lotus Chassis (England) • P&W Turbine Engine (Canada) • Four Wheel Drive (England) • No Email, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat... • Telegrams • Mail • Phone
STP/Studebaker vs. USAC
• STP Sued USAC Over Rule Changes • USAC Deemed Turbines Too Powerful
• From 24 to 16 Sq Inch Intake • Reduced Power from 600+ to 450 hp
• USAC Denied STP Membership • Rolla Vollstedt Had Things to Say
On a Personal Note • 1969 I Joined Friend Dick DiBasse to Form AER, Madison NJ
• Helped Develop Single-Ring Piston • Patented and Licensed to TRW
• 2017 I Helped Organize Granatelli Collection • Found Drawings and Documents Promoting Design for the Novi
The Pat Usher Collection Volunteer: Glenn Wong
The Pat Usher Collection Volunteer: Glenn Wong
How it came to us: Literally in his original file cabinet Hanging folders of papers “Extras” in two other milk cartons From the donor who had gotten from Usher’s friend Very little to no information about Usher
The Pat Usher Collection File List
Also: Customer Orders His Racing Papers
The Pat Usher Collection Archive Volunteer Glenn
The Pat Usher Collection Organizing into a Finding Aid
The Pat Usher Collection Who is Pat?
He had an auto shop in Beaverton where he worked on and built racing engines and chassis. He kept up on advancements in machines and technology in the field. His interests in engines extended into marine and airplane engines. He kept handwritten instructional notes for classes he taught. He saved articles relevant to his interest but also for handing out to students. He had a deep interest in high performance engines, both in the theory and the practical applications. Pat was a race car driver, speed shop owner and teacher.
The Pat Usher Collection
High performance engine advancements, in many fields of racing, were of great interest to Pat. Articles like these filled his tall file cabinet of hundreds of articles that he kept over the years and now part of the collection. Articles on nitrous oxide, engine blue printing, computer software and electronic sensors fill his files.
The Pat Usher Collection
His sense of history included many of the motorsports innovators who preceded him. Seen here is an article about Ed Iskendarian whose cams were the go-to cam for many years. Other biographies he has on file include Colin Chapman and George Hurst.
The Pat Usher Collection
His knowledge came from various sources which he shared with others, including his many professional mechanic students over the years. Pat was prolific about collecting information where ever he found it. There are hundreds of magazine articles as well as industry publications.
The Pat Usher Collection
This yellow notebook contains his detailed classroom notes. Pat’s nine-month long class for professional mechanics was the only one of its kind in the country. His electronics teaching background in the US Navy and years as an electrical technician at Techtronics made him idea as an instructor at this level.
The Pat Usher Collection
Usher had an eye for finding articles that translated theory to practical application. Both particular to the time and timeless, his collection of articles can offer an eyeopening understanding even to readers decades later. He read articles on heat treating, material coatings and diagnostic on board computers.
The Pat Usher Collection
Here are pictures of his custom engine work, taken in his shop. These photos were intended to document his completed engine work and possibly to show to prospective customers. Several customer files contain engines specifications, tolerances and performance data.
The Plotts Collection Glenn Wong & Susan Stone
The Plotts Collection
In Progress, In Slide Piles Volunteers: Glenn Wong & Susan Stone What We Knew about Bobby & the Collection: He was the “official/unofficial” photographer and historian for the Oregon SCCA A friend of Bobby’s had begun to organize and scan some of the images prior to them being donated by his widow There was community interest in seeing some of the images digitized The mostly slide images would cover multiple decades and types of racing
The Plotts Collection
Making Piles‌
Monterey
Portland Vintage
CART
The Plotts Collection
‌While Trying to Decipher Handwriting
The Plotts Collection
Getting Help from Gallery Volunteers
The Plotts Collection
Breaking Down Miscellaneous
The Plotts Collection
Shifting Over to Excel American Le Mans Autocross Black Hawk Blackhawk/Montery Brooks Truck/Tractor Museum Car Museum s & Collections Car Shows & Auctions CART Chev Race Concourse Italia Pebble Beach Conference Dupes Endurance Race Forest Grove Concourse Formula Atlantic Great American Race Healy Meet Taho 2000 IMSA
Trans Cap Industry Events TransAm Kent Vintage Travel LeMay Car Museum Westwood Long Beach Wine Country Classes McCaws shop Misc. Racing Personal Planes/Trucks Portland Seattle British Field Meets Portland Vintage Rally River Cruise Rose Cup SCCA International Conference (ICSSCC) Seattle Vintage SIR Sovren Trains
The Plotts Collection
Shifting into Excel
Quantity per Format #B / #E-S #E-P / #C / #D Group
Description
Years Formats
The PR Scott Collection Volunteer: Megan Glazier-Anderson
The PR Scott Collection
Estate Donation
The PR Scott Collection
Articles, Images, Books, Artifacts, Film & More
The PR Scott Collection
Articles, Images, Books, Artifacts, Film & More
Programs Articles Special Publication Race Series Photographs
Pull out items to be integrated Serial Magazines Books
The PR Scott Collection
Grouping Like Items Together
The PR Scott Collection Organizing Inside the Box
The PR Scott Collection
Descriptions Become Search Keywords Descriptions and dates found on photo envelope covers will be included into the online searchable PR Scotts Collection finding aid found in our catalog.
The PR Scott Collection Organizing Inside the Box
The PR Scott Collection
Linking Items to Searchable Catalog
Once all done, all items in the PR Scott Collection will boxed for preservation and accessibility, cataloged online with a finding aid, and a collection highlight with images and descriptions will be available via the Archive Blog.
When All Done…