A legend in cracker box racing needs our help

[SOCALCRICKETT]

Well over the weekend I was able to spend some time with a legend on cracker box racing. The mans name is Carl Thornhill, he ran the team Crackerjack cracker box from the 60's through the 80's and set numerous records. It was truly a treat getting to spend time with the legend. His garage is filled with amazing machines, he has a hand built T-bucket (which he built himself), a '65 c-10 that is full street rod quality, a '74 c-10 step side with a 900hp mountain motor, and even a '63 Stevens wood deck flat bottom with a 468 with an old 871 super charger! He shared stories and knowledge with me that were absolutely priceless.

To cut the story short and get to point of the thread, Carl is looking for our help. Carl is now in his 80's and widowed, he isn't in the best of health and lives a rather lonely life. I can't even begin to explain how excited he was to see a young guy like me take interest in the sport. He did make one request that I really want to help him with. He told me that his dream would be to build one more boat before he runs out of time. What I want to help him with is to locate his old mold.

In the 70's he lent his mold to another racer by the name of Dave Bank. The way the story goes is that Carl lent Dave the mold and Dave ended up passing from a battle with drugs. After Dave's passing the mold went missing. What he was able to tell me is that the mold is for a glass 15' cracker that is a splash of the old "ski cracker." the last known location of the mold was in the city of Maywood, Ca at Dave Banks family business "Bank Stantionary" which was located on the corners of Slawson X Atlantic. Carl described the mold as having mismatched bracing and rebar for support.

I really want to help Carl out, it would make me feel warm and fuzzy inside to help him have his wish. If anybody can add to the story or help me locate this mold please let me know.


-Chet

 

[Universal Elements]

Wasn't Grier Rush's boat shop in Maywood CA? I just remember reading about it. If someone knows where he is at, perhaps he has some info on those molds.

 

[RiverDave]

Grier passed away from cancer awhile back.

 

[420HOA]

Grier passed away from cancer awhile back.

Griers shop was next door to Mel's custom boats in Maywood, Mel would know where that mold is 562-921-7207 :thumbsup

 

[rivergames]

I'll make some calls today to a few who will probably know :thumbup:

 

[rampgirlll]

Oh this thread gave me chills....fingers crossed for ya'll. This is most awesome!:thumbup:

 

[kthornhill]

Wow was I surprised to see the interest in my Uncle Carl after all these years. Growing up in Southern California watching my uncle build and race boats was quite a treat for a young kid to say the least, I can still smell the resin! After reading this conversation I had to give Carl a call,I never heard him voice any interest in building another Cracker Box. Well I talked to him a few hours ago and mentioned what I had read, He replied he had no intention of building another Cracker Box. That was until I told him there were a few guys trying to find his original mold, when he heard that he perked up and said "They find that mold he might just have to build one more" For those of you that might not know my Uncle, he's in better shape than most guys half his age and if he wanted to build another boat he would more than able to handle it. He still believes that mold is still in the same area that he had loaned it to Dave and someone would have hung on to it. To shorten this story, you guys find that mold I would be more than happy to help him with this dream project.

Thanks for all the interest
Kirk Thornhill
707 249 1477

 

[CampbellCarl]

Andrew, reach out to Dave Kahn, maybe Jim Smith, Rick Wymer, Dave Sammons...any old timers that you know..

Mike Leach...

 

[Dkahnjob]

My second Cracker Box was a Thornhill it had race number P77 and name Animal Cracker, (I used the same name and number on the next cracker which was a WRAP, now Jerry Ross' boat with number P-96 on it).
The Thornhill was a fun boat to race, I got a lot of second and third place finishes, but it took the Wrap to win.
Here is a picture of my daughter Jackie and I in a Race at Havasu or Lake Ming.

 

[Tristan Bank]

By the way my grandpa wasn't in a battle with drugs, he actually was battling cancer when he passed! The boat mold was last in Rowland Heights before he moved up north. If anyone knows anything about a cracker box that has Misty or Misty III on the side or even the mold please let me know. My dad, brother and i would greatly appreciate it.