Prowlers Car Club - Prowlers in the 1970's

Dan Biggs — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The San Diego Prowlers Hot Rod Club, Making Hot Rod History in the 1970's

It was the 1970's, there was love in the air...there was Vietnam on TV every evening. We needed the cars to keep our sanity. We had a blast whenever we got together. It was a time when having good friends and a car to cruise in was very valuable.

We could always count on our annual picnic to keep our spirits up. This one in 1974 was typical of them all. We had good friends, good food and created a bucket load of memories.

Here Frank Marsh is sporting one of our 'Satin' jackets, which was the rage in the 1950's. This jacket was also the original style jacket from 1947 -'52. Yes our picnics were family affairs. We always brought the wife and kids. They all enjoyed them and looked forward to the next one. Santee Lakes in east San Diego county is a popular place for our picnics. In June of 2006 we loaned the "Wally Parks-NHRA Museum" in Pomona, Calif. Franks original #31 Prowler club jacket as pictured. It is to be displayed in the club's glass display case at the museum. Also included with Franks items will be his photo with his 1932 Ford Victoria, his membership card and the Russetta timing tag.

Fred Castro's '23 T-bucket was typical of the day. Extreme style was the rule then. The TV show 77 Sunset Strip had just made the T-bucket roadster the essential hot rod. Fred's looked great and ran well. He drove it everywhere and still drives it today.

Great article out of Street Rodder Magazine in '73 on the club's beloved sergeant at arms Freddy Castro and his "T" roadster. She and Freddy are still on the road today.

In fact heres a great shot of Freddy head'n for the 2003 Fathers Day Roadster show at Pomona.

Pete Morrow always liked roadsters. Here we see him with a cover-car for sure, his 1929 Ford roadster. Pete drove the car a lot which makes its super-clean appearance even more impressive. As you can see it was usually a top award winner. What else would you expect - he's a Prowler!

Heres T.C.'s, Terry Cole's (#111) Flamed '36 Ford coupe. Wonder where she is today? Hopefully in the right hands.

Marty Simonides member #118, 1927 "T" roadster pickup. Built in 1971, he still owns and drives her today. This picture was taken at the LA Roadsters Fathers Day Show 2005. We're happy to report Marty recently retired is back as an active member. Welcome back, Marty!

This is Bruce Hamiltons Model "A" with a BBChevy for power. This was one of the clubs faster ones. Bruce and his ex wife Patty drove this one all the way back to New York.

Great rac'n stripes. Bruce was also one of the clubs past presidents.

Heres another one of Bruces rides that he had in '74 a '40 Ford pickup.

Heres another one of Bob and Bonnie Smiths wild rides a 1915 Ford Center Door.

These pictures were taken at the clubs picnic in '76. Bob won best closed car.

This was a great article in the '73 May issue of Street Rodder on the Phil Gerharts collection of manifolds,heads and air cleaners for flatheads.

This was a great article of how street rodders take care of each other. After an accident happened that totaled Lee Brights sedan delivery known as "Mother Trucker" in which John Mogarts leg was seriously injured and Lee was lucky to come out with minor injuries the club held a charity picnic and raffled off all sorts of equipment and supplies to help John with medical bills and possibly get bail the delivery out of the "emergency ward". All the items that were raffled off were donated from half a dozen clubs throughout Southern Calif.

'31 Ford Roadster built by (TC) Terry Coe #111 and sold to Harry Craycroft. This article is from the January issue of Street Rodder 1977.

This is another one of Danny Brents creations that was in the 1976 May issue of Custom and Rod Ideas.

This is a shot of the '28 Ford Roadster Ken Polesky member #119 joined the Prowlers with in April of 1971. There is another great shot of his car in the '60's history section.