Wes, and list......
For those that don't know them, "The Beaners" are some of the nicest people
on the planet as far as I'm concerned. I first met them in the KOA
campground in Wendover in 1988 when they were in the beginnings of their
"comeback" after laying off racing for a long time as I understand it.....
anyway, anyone who doesn't smile two minutes after being around them just
ain't ever gonna.
I believe their #1 operating principal is to have FUN. And boy they do.
They also "DO" run hard and set records...
I am honored to think that they consider me a friend. If you don't do
anything else at Bonnyville, make sure you attend their Burrito feed at the
KOA. It only happens once a year -every year. Same place. You can't
believe the record holders, (and heroes of mine....) that I've met at those
things. B.Y.O.B. and something edible to share, and I bet you too will be
welcome.
They just don't come much better than "The Bean Bandits" of San Diego.
-and yes they're still "culturally diversified" prolly more now than ever;
there's Mexican/Americans, African/Americans, Euro/Americans,
Arab/Americans, and prolly even American/Americans on the team.... (which is
really much more like a constantly moving party / family / pit crew / car
club, than it is a "team" (after all, what DOES "team" mean anyway ?) Be
sure to ask Joaquin about his Bicycles.....
-oh and don't forget to take the time to give a good long look at their huge
photographic history boards that they bring with them everwhere, tracing the
club history back to before 1950.....
Yah I know "The Bean Bandits" :<)
-Dirty Doug,
(who's sure glad to see some sun come through the clouds in the past
couple'a daze...)
From: Wester S Potter <wspotter@jps.net>
Reply-To: Wester S Potter <wspotter@jps.net>
To: <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Subject: Nitromethane & Bean Bandits
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2001 22:19:21 -0700
The Bean Bandits were about the first to use nitro as a fuel in drag racing.
They won something like 137 straight races as top eliminator if I remember
correctly. This would have been in the mid '50's. Joaquin Arnett just
sparkles when you ask about it. He told me that at some meets, other drag
racers would leave their "rail jobs" on the trailer when the Bean Bandits
would show up because they knew they would lose in a head to head race. The
Bean Bandits used a 50/50 blend because that was the easiest way to mix it.
Apparently other racers didn't catch on to exactly what they were doing for
some time. The Bandits were running flatheads and competing very
successfully with ohv V8 engines. Once the ohv guys caught on however the
Bandits quickly started to lose more consistently. Great stories about what
went on with the Bean Bandits during those days. One rumor that was rather
common was that they used either whiskey or tequila to flush out the engine
after a race. They had one black guy on their pit crew along with a bunch
of Latinos. This was at a time when blacks were usually only accepted in
similar situations in the army. Joaquin says that they didn't have the
money to buy fancy speed equipment so the nitro was their leveler.
Mary West says she remembers them as a bunch of good looking guys who were
always smiling and having a good time. One of her happiest moments was when
they made her an honorary member of the club five or six years ago. The
tee-shirt they gave her was suspiciously small.
Wes
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