Page 148 - People & Places In Time

Dad and I went to Kearny Bowl in Fresno to see Billy Vukovich and George Snyder race midgets. Later in life I got to know “Blackie” Gejeian; he of course known as the man behind the Fresno Autorama. I watched Billy Vukovich jr. race super modifieds at Madera Speedway. I saw him drive the weekend before he was killed in a race in Bakersfield. Of course, his dad died during the 1955 Indy 500 trying to win three in a row. I’ve never lost my love of cars and racing.
One day stands out in memory, I think in the fall of 1956 or early 1957, I recall walking to the rear of the shop with my dad to see a new car that had recently been delivered. It was a white 1957 Thunderbird, ordered for Ken Badially. The thrill of seeing this beauty, sitting behind the wheel, then later watching as it passed on the streets of Exeter, may have been the start of a love affair; not for just this car, but for beautifully designed and built cars anywhere.
At the time I had not come to an appreciation of girls; that would take a while to connect the two. Though, not lost on me were the pinups on a wall at the corner of the body shop. As I look back, it’s entirely probable, that a young boy’s apprecia- tion for girls and cars together, is linked to puberty. But that’s just my observation and another story.
There would be other cars. My first car, a coral and white 1956 Fairlane two door hardtop, then came a pale yellow and white 1960 Starliner. Next was a 1965 Mustang, that was first purchased by our neighbors, Weldon and Hazel Johnson and later from them, by me. The mustang became the true “hotrod” of my first three cars, after I had put so much money and effort into building the motor. I loved racing it
on Mooney Boulevard in Visalia, but the car was so hard to keep tuned, it wasn’t practical. So many memories are attached to each of these cars and in turn to the girl friends who became a willing partner in my three-way relationships. Unfortunately, so far anyway, no ‘57’ Thunderbird has been parked in my garage.
The best laid plans can sometimes be fleeting. For these men their dream had become a successful reality, into and through the 1950’s. My dad, Jim and Earl each bought a new home; Dad and Jim had growing families. As a young boy, Jim’s daugh- ter with his wife Merla, was one of my closest playmates. All their success, however, was concealing a dark cloud. In the fall of 1958, Jim Wagner would take his own life in Yokohl Valley with a shotgun . . . . He had been embezzling from the still young and growing Sierra Motor Sales.
Following something this traumatic, it never ceases to catch me off guard as to how the ripple of effects travel. One instance, was how Jim’s wife Merla and daugh- ter Lynda could so abruptly disappear from what had been a close friendship, as if they had died as well; I do understand though, it’s not the only time I will know this experience.
I can only speculate as to how circumstances played out the dealership was sold to Dr. Feldmyer I don’t know the financial considerations. By this time Frank List was living and ranching in Nevada and not interested in continuing his financial exposure. For my Dad and Earl, it was over.
My uncle remained at the business as parts manager until he retired. Each Spring when in high school I would help him with inventory, counting every nut, bolt
Coral & white 1956 Farline two door hardtop
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Pale yellow & white 1960 Starliner two door hardtop
1965 Mustang fastback four speed with a 289 V8