John Crocker

[Pylon1_Mark]

Re: John Crocker

A really extrodinary pictorial essay Neal - thanks again sir

[wingman]

Re: John Crocker

You're welcome Mark -- I'm just glad others are enjoying it as much as I am. It's nice for me to be able to share some memories and have people find my meanderings interesting. It's also nice to see on screen that so much of my work from so long ago holds up so well, quality-wise...

Neal

[Big_Jim]

Re: John Crocker

So I wonder if anyone has pictures from Bakersfield 1985, after someone who shall remain nameless went around and 'zapped' every Unlimited on the field with Wiley Sanders Trucking Line stickers? Some were outside. A couple were 'inside'. I hear the one on Crocker's plane was a little tough to find....

[kiwiracefan]

Re: John Crocker

Neal, im loving this thread, thank you for starting it, i love all the pics of one of the sexiest P-51 racers around... and the stories going with them, im soaking up all this history down here in NZ fueling the desire to get to Reno even more!

[flyingjibus]

Re: John Crocker

Awesome Thread.

My humble contribution

[BuckyD]

Re: John Crocker

Shawn-

Crocker actually raced four different P-51s @ Reno (#9, #2, #6 & #27). Neal has some dandy shots of at least three of them in action (+ the A-26)

Hey Jibus- I LIKE that shot! ('Bout time we saw some more photo offerings from others on this thread!) THX f/posting it!

DBD

[Shawn Aro]

Re: John Crocker

This is a very cool picture that my dad took of the Cal warbirds club B-25 9G comming to Tracy John was checking out a pilot in it. The Pilot he was checking out was Jim Orton. Shawn

[Warbird5]

Re: John Crocker

Anybody got a picture of Rear Bear's tail with the Bear Crushing a Mustang they'd like to share? Hey it would be great if the shot is in color and has the blue stripe on it (smile), but I'd be satisfied with one without the stripe. That was my favorite part of the Bear's paint scheme.

Thanks,
Willie

[kiwiracefan]

Re: John Crocker

In 1979 John won the Gold Race. Shortly after the end of that race John's friend Steve Hinton crashed in the Red Baron, and John, along with everyone else, thought Steve had perished. It took John a while to land to accept his trophy...

But Steve survived, and though not in racing shape returned to Reno the next year. During qualifying John checked Steve out and sent him flying in #6 -- race engine and all. I think Steve was just the third person, after John and Dan Martin, ever to fly the airplane after John bought it in 1976.

i was looking at this pic and thinking wow how cool is that... a legend showing another around his office.. but i then looking at the name on the cowl, i was wondering what is in the brackets under sumthin else?

[Red]

Re: John Crocker

i was looking at this pic and thinking wow how cool is that... a legend showing another around his office.. but i then looking at the name on the cowl, i was wondering what is in the brackets under sumthin else?

The plane used to be Ken Burstien's (sp?) and was called Foxy Lady with some racy artwork. The story goes that Crocker wanted to distance himself from that moniker and when it came time to name it, he said "Sumpthin Else", meaning NOT Foxy Lady and it stuck.

I'm sure Big Jim will be along soon.....

[BuckyD]

Re: John Crocker

i was looking at this pic and thinking wow how cool is that... a legend showing another around his office.. but i then looking at the name on the cowl, i was wondering what is in the brackets under sumthin else?

Hi Kiwi -

The answer to your question: "Sumthin Else" (is Miss 'O') = Olivia Crocker, John's wife.

Here's another mini-gallery of photos to add to this thread, saluting some key personnel on John Crocker's crew who worked very hard to keep Race #6 flyin' & in the competition.

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: John Crocker

Anybody got a picture of Rear Bear's tail with the Bear Crushing a Mustang they'd like to share? Hey it would be great if the shot is in color and has the blue stripe on it (smile), but I'd be satisfied with one without the stripe. That was my favorite part of the Bear's paint scheme.

Thanks,
Willie

Hi Willie-

See Reply post #13 on this thread. Sure 'somebody' has a more detailed shot of this tail art, in color, I am sure.

DBD

[FENCELINER]

Re: John Crocker

Anybody got a picture of Rear Bear's tail with the Bear Crushing a Mustang they'd like to share? Hey it would be great if the shot is in color and has the blue stripe on it (smile), but I'd be satisfied with one without the stripe. That was my favorite part of the Bear's paint scheme.

Thanks,
Willie

This help?

[Ron Lewark]

Re: John Crocker

Many thanks to all of you for a wonderful trip down memory lane. Our first race was 1974 and we've missed 2 since, 75 and 84. Another thing I can't believe is how built up the valley of speed area has become. Remember when the helo dropped the car or was it a bus on the east/west runway. I also remember hearing Bob calling for the coroner when Steve went down in the Red Baron. So many good memories, thanks again for a great thread.
Ron

[Big_Jim]

Re: John Crocker

The plane used to be Ken Burstien's (sp?) and was called Foxy Lady with some racy artwork. The story goes that Crocker wanted to distance himself from that moniker and when it came time to name it, he said "Sumpthin Else", meaning NOT Foxy Lady and it stuck.

I'm sure Big Jim will be along soon.....

It says "(is Miss O)"...which, if I remember right, John's wife was named Olivia? Long time ago...and my memory is fading by the minute. So the full name is "Sumthin' Else (is Miss O)", I'm assuming a nod to his wife.