Marketplace at Granada, Nicaragua. Courtesy Doris Gunn.
Jim McLennan (A Founder of the HMB Drag Strip) Passes
(Photo: Don Prudhomme with Half Moon Bay Drag Strip “Theme Girl” Tammy Thomas)
Mark Andemahr from the HMB Bakery on Main Street in Half Moon Bay emails “that Jim McLennan passed away last Friday.” Mr. McLennan helped to found the HMB Drag Strip where souped-up vehicles of all shapes and sizes competed for glory measured in seconds. It was more than that, though: McLennan gave young kids the opportunity to work on cars and learn how they work– which gave them confidence and a feeling of accomplishment. Plus there was the thrill of winning a race and learning to lose gracefully.
As the race track’s reputation spread, it became a showplace for world-class professionals like Don Garlits and Don Prudhomme–role models kids could admire and look up to.
If you’ve been to Mark’s HMB Bakery, you know he is the Coastside’s ultimate fan of the popular drag strip that used to draw fans from all over to its location at the present day HMB Airport. Besides delicious cookies, cakes and breads, the walls of the bakery are covered with historic photographs of the Half Moon Bay Drag Strip and its heroes.
Here are the links to my stories about the HMB Drag Strip:
http://www.halfmoonbaymemories.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=738
GoingInCircles, Climbing A Tree (Late 1960s)
25 Seconds of Faded Memory: Starring John Morrall
On Bill Middlejohn by Coastside Musician Fayden
Bill Middlejohn is one of the folks who played regularly at the Shelter/Spouter Inn [Miramar Beach Inn] and did live on the coast for a short time.
Bill had a really soothing voice, and a nice finger picking style, a sense of humor in some ways like Arlo Guthrie. I seem to remember he glued a plastic eyeball on the tuning head of his guitar, but maybe that was somebody else. A bunch of us jammed together, Bill being one of them.
There was a brilliant lead guitarist guy, Jimmy or Billy Dean from the Santa Cruz area (I think it was) that o.d.’d while we were all playing, and Middlejohn wrote him a memorial song. There was so much talent under this Shelter Inn roof around 1970 that I am absolutely amazed more people who played there never got acknowledged publicly.
On the other hand as a very wise somebody said once, “We were the only generation that started a revolution, won it, then lost interestand went off to drink beer and play frisbie”.
The Inez Burns Story, Part X
As they drove through the magical redwood forest on the narrow road, Joe Burns often blurted out, “Oh, heck, let’s take a chance,” before negotiating a hairpin turn without knowing for certain if another car was coming in their direction–an action Caroline Carlisle attributes to his gambling nature.
After stoppping at Apple Jack’s, a bar and local hot spot, “We drove and drove and finally across the road from the “Log Cabin School for Boys” was grandmother’s ranch, the farmhouse, stables and the barns,” remembers Caroline.
Residing at the working ranch was Joe Burns’ brother, his wife and children, including a future mayor of Half Moon Bay.
The ranch hands knew the boss lady had high expectations and they were prepared for her ritual inspection. But the surprise trips to the La Honda ranch and the Atherton house were soon to end.
…To Be Continued…
The Inez Burns Story, Part IX
(Photo: Posting with unidentified relatives, Inez Burns, third from left, her husband, ex-San Francisco Assemblyman Joe F. Burns at far right, wearing the hat).
…When the money was rolling in, Caroline Carlisle recalls, her middle-aged grandmother Inez Burns was “happy and jolly”–but Inez never eased upon on her inspection of the house in Atheron., “looking for dust,” often demanding that everything be done her way.
Despite the “inspection,” a visit from grandmother Inez turned into a festive event as she brought armloads of gifts: a black cocker spaniel, a white rabbit fur coat and matching hat, a chestnut horse.
Another great treat for Caroline ws a shopping spree to the Emporium in San Francisco, accompanied by one of Inez’s employees.
After one of these “surprise visits” to the La Honda ranch in the early 1940s, then 8-year-old Caroline Carlisle accompanied Inez and Joe Burns in the shiny, black limousine. As Joe Burns drove, inez sang songs form the 1920s, most often “Stella By Starlight” and “In her Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown.” Caroline hated the singing, especially when she was asked to join in–perhaps it reminded the little girl of the dreaded piano lessons grandmother paid for.
…To Be Continued…
“The Emerald of Half Moon Bay” By Bill Claudino
Restoring the “Irene”: Emerald of the Bay
by Bill Claudino
Have you seen “the restoration project” at the pier in Princeton? The old fishing boat, the “Irene” is being restored. When I was a boy, this was the “Emerald of the bay.” In those days there was no “Johnson Pier”. The breakwater jetty had not even been constructed.
The “Irene”–a double-ender–wasn’t the largest boat in the harbor but it was the most envied. In recent years the “Irene” had fallen into almost total disrepair. A gent named Leland, who was sailing around the world on his 60-foot sloop (poor devil,) took pity on the old “Emerald of the bay” and decided to restore the “Irene”. He’s formed a non- profit that accepts donations and is vigorously trying to restore this classic fishing vessel.
I was never a commercial fisherman but as a long time local, I did spend some time on the “Irene” with its owner George Bettencourt, now deceased. Some of my most treasured memories were spent with George on board the fishing boat named after his beloved wife.
My mom went to school with George and his brother Henry, who was best known as “Uncle Henry”. They were both such nice people; everybody loved George and Henry. Their sons, George, Jr. and Dave, still live on the Coastside.
On most days you can find Leland and his wife Cecily working on the “Irene” (in the parking lot near the sea wall in the harbor). I made a small donation and they told me that next time I visited I should wear my “grubbies” and have fun working on the project.
Reads: Pillar Point Educational Fund, Inc. Help Restore The Fishing Vessel IRENE…All parties interested in restoring and transforming IRENE (a fishing vessel for 3 generations) into a Harbor Touring Vessel, the proceeds from which would go into an educational scholarship fund for the children and grandchildren of commercial fishing families from Pillar Point Harbor,
Please contact: Leland & Cecily Parsons
619-507-5071
Seen Today At Pillar Point Harbor: Basset Hounds From
My Kind of Weather
Let’s Go!
