Long Beach Dolphins

James Stewart's Dolphins plaque. Photo courtesy of Shane Murphy.

James Stewart's 1931 Ford Model A Roadster of Long Beach, California. In 1946 James joined the Long Beach Dolphins car club with a few of his friends. He raced the roadster at El Mirage.

Nelson Morris' 1932 Ford Roadster

The meeting minutes from the third Dolphins meeting, held May 15, 1946. Click here for the full version. Scan courtesy of Shane Murphy, from The James Stewart Collection.

James Stewart's 1947 Dolphin of Long Beach Club Rules. Scan courtesy of Shane Murphy, from The James Stewart Collection. Click here to read the rules.

The Official Kustomrama Long Beach Division Supporter Shirt. Click here to order yours today.

The Dolphins was a car club from Long Beach, California. The club was sanctioned under SCTA, and according to the club rules from 1947, "the Dolphin Club of Long Beach is composed of members who build (so-called "hot rods") automobiles with the intention of engaging in amateur time trials at the Dry Lake Beds of the Mojave Desert through the medium of the Southern California Timing Association."

In order to become a member of the club, you had to have a car under construction that was verified by an active member as being suitable for club acceptance. If your car was accepted by the club, you had to be voted in. All new potential members had to come to three meetings in a row and be voted on to see if he was wanted in and qualified to be in the Dolphins at the third meeting. In 1946, every member or potential member running a plaque on their car had to meet all qualifications of the California Vehicle Code as amended to 1945, and said member had to present the vehicle before an officer of the Long Beach Police Department and the nameplate of the Dolphins had to be presented on the completion of the passed test.

In the third Dolphins meeting, held May 15, 1946, it was voted and passed that the use of hoods on the cars was optional in town and when the club went on road trips together.

In 1947 a membership in the club cost 50 cents per week. 25 cents for the Dolphin Club and 25 cents for SCTA. Members that wanted to go inactive had to pay one-half weekly club dues and their SCTA dues or 1.50 USD a month. The club plate had to be returned to the club to be held until the member became active again.

Members

Bob Anderson
Chuck Daigh
Dan Busby
Don Conway
Harold Daigh
Henry Johnson
James Stewart
Nelson Morris
Robert Dowell

Club Cars

James Stewart's 1931 Ford Model A Roadster