The San Diego Prowlers Hot Rod Club, Making Hot Rod History in the 1990's

Throughout the 1990's whenever hot rods gathered in the Southern California area, you were likely to see a herd of Prowlers. 

20 members gathered for the annual club photo. Back row L-R, seated, Fred Castro Swede Sommer, Hank Williams, Bob Wolin, Paul Olsen, Mike Gooch, John Noble, Roger Prafke, Marty Simonides, Dick Fitzek, Pete Morrow, Bob Blanton, Ed Iagman.  Seated in car, Jim Jenks with Milt Mitsingas with his roadster.  Front row L-R, Dave Hayward, Marty Moore, Andy Bekech, Ken Polesky and Bob Smith.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great shot of Milt Mitsingas and Dave Hayward in Milt's highboy on the way home from the Temecula run in 1994.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice shot of Milt's rod again the 1995 Temecula Rod Run. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At least once a year the Prowlers were invited to Cajon Speedway to show off their hot rods during the racing season.  Heres Milt in 1995 on the 4th of July at the speedway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Vintage Races at North Island

In September of 1995, the Prowlers came out for the Vintage Race Weekend at North Island (Naval Air Station) in San Diego.

Prowler Les Hilgers (#153) owns the cool green 1932 roadster.  To his left is member #150, Larry Duda and his hot orange 1933 Vicky.

 

 

Other Prowlers in attendance were Bob Wolin's (#84) great 1929 red roadster on the left, Ken Polesky (#119) with his 1928 Ford phaeton, and then Hank Williams (#141) and his 1937 coupe.  Yes, red was and still is a very popular hot rod color.

 

 

 

Finally, there was Pete Morrow (#52) and his 1926 flamed "T" roadster, Fred Castro (#70) with the maroon T-bucket roadster, and Bob Blanton (#86) with the coolest 1940 Ford coupe you will ever see.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great shot of John Nobles '29 Ford roadster.  This is just one of his great collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This beautiful '34 2 dr. sedan belongs to Chris Callahan, member #144.  This professional photo was taken for a major magazine.  As far as we know it was never published.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This '33 Ford roadster belonged to charter member Jim "Ace" Carahan member #19.  Just one of his many rods he has had. This picture was taken in 1997.  Ace is still with us today driv'n a '40 Ford coupe and working on another rod.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This smooth '39 Ford standard belonged to Roger Prafke member #143.  After Roger sold the '39 he built another nice '27 "T" roadster. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Roger Prafke's '27 "T" roadster that we were talking about above.  A home built rod only like Roger can build.  Note the red "T" track style roadster behind Roger.  It has quite a history.  It belongs to Artist, Cartoonist, Car Builder,  Race Car Driver and former Prowler Bob McCoy. The car ran at the Lakes and Bonneville as a modified roadster.  The license plate says it all "217 MPH"!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heres Hank Williams member #141 '37 Ford coupe, done in the old style.  Hanks has owned many other street rods and have always been of top quality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heres another one of Hanks rides.  This is a shot of the first of 2 roadsters that Hank has owned. This was his '32 Ford hi-boy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of the clubs fliers for the 48th annual picnic.  The 2 cars which were on this flier are the two that were also on the t-shirts for that year.  Each year the members names are put in a hat and and two are drawn to see whose rods are going to be on the t-shirts for that year.  These 2 rods are Bob Blanton's '40 Ford and Bob Smiths '27 T.  Cajon speedway use to be the place for hold'n the picnics.  Lot'a room and just fun driv'n on the track!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bob Smith #102 with his LOW '27 Ford Roadster.  He still owns this ride today.  Bob's made a few changes to this rod also. Go the members listing and you can see what she looks like today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pete Morrow #52 before he flamed his '27 Ford Roadster.  Tis shot was taken at the rear of the S.D. Auto Museum early '90's. Pete still owns this ride today and is go'n strong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of two rides that Ken Polesky #119 owns.  Picture taken at the rear of the S.D. Auto Museum in Balboa Park early '90's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lee Brights "Tub" at the annual brunch at Humphrys Resturant out on Shelter Island in San Diego mid '90's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lt. to Rt.,  Andy Bekech's Vicky and Dick Fitzek 3 window.  This picture was taken in the early '90's at the S.D. Auto Museum. The vicky is one of two of Andy's rides,  the other is a beautiful '40 Ford Convertiable.  Andy being a retired Fireman can you guess what color the '40 is?  Yep you got it "RED" !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Prowlers 50th Anniversary the club had a '32 Ford Model made by Ertl. Only 500 were produced. Quite a collectors item.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is another shot of Freddy Castros '23 T at the Outriders picnic at Newport Dunes. Freddy is still an active member today. This photo was literally stumbled across by fellow club member Andy Bekech at a swap meet - what a lucky find!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great shot of the club at one of our yearly picnics at Simpsons in 1997.