9 replies to this topic

[Flygirl]

We are so fortunate to have captured some very awesome stories from these three SoCal Legends at the Checkpoint Cup 2010.


Check out the video:

Zimmerman, Schmid, and Cukras

Thanks so much to Pete, Terry, and John for sharing with us!!!

FlyGirl

[Roger U]

Kathy,

Thank you very much for all of your video work. It's very entertaining for us old ... er... ahh... veteran racers. Good stuff.

[munter]

Don't know any of those guys but watching and listening to them tell their stories was enjoyable and funny!

Thanks!

Regards,

[Zippity]

Amazing

Thanks for sharing.

[Steve Deiters]

It was interesting that Terry Schmidt and Pete Z. made reference to the the changing of the engine in the Nash Rambler. It did indeed happen. I know because they changed it on the street in front of my house in Cincinnati It was August of 1970 after the NCC race at Parma. They were going to stay at my house overnight, visit REH distributing, and then head west. It was John Cukrus, Pete Z., and Tom Hansen. Tom's the guy who left his slot car box on the road on the way out when they were changing a flat or some other repair, but that's another slot racing legend.

They pull up in front of the house late in the day with the engine in the death throws rattling, shaking, and making all kinds of unholy noises-blown engine. To make a long story short they were able to find an engine in a boneyard - a flathead Nash/Rambler, rented an portable engine hoist, changed it out, and were on there way something like five days latter. Cukras flew back ahead of them as had Schmidt from Cleveland I believe and Pete Z. and Tom H. drove back to the left coast which was pretty much a non-event.

My parents never mentioned it again afterwards other than my mother saying that was a "nice group of boys". It really topped off the summer of my high school graduation and made it one to remember, but I haven't been able to figure out if it was good or not yet!!! It must have been good because we can all laugh about it now, but it wasn't so funny at the time.

[The Bugman]

r u sure it was 1970,CUKRAS and Zimmerman were long done racing by then,
maybe 1967 or 1968,,,,,

[Prof. Fate]

Hi

Thank you very much.

I do know these guys, and I haven't seen them since I was down last year. Been worried about John.

If you squint a little, while they are talking, you can almost see the teen agers that were.

The story about the siezed boxes, most don't know that Pete is tall and in person can seem a little scary which explains why no one said anything when he grabbed his stuff.

Thanks again if nothing else, I am feeling a little better about John's health.

Fate

[Noose]

Cukras' story about Pete Von Ahrens is dead on about drilling the formica countertops with jig holes. I remember seeing him do that in the hotel as well as drill holes for a vise!

[munter]

Thought only Rockstars trashed hotel/motel rooms? Oh well, its a good one...

[68Caddy]

All I can say is I'm really looking forward for John to come back and race again and it was really good to see that he was having a good time with Pete and Terry.
John must have thousands of story's to tell. Yes they kinda where like Rock stars back then.
Thanks you John, Pete and Terry.

Nesta