San Diego Prowlers

The San Diego Prowlers in 1953 outside Flo Millers Garage. Members included, George Venice, Jean Schffer, Marty Moore, Bud Fleetwood, Bernie McNaulty, Bud Henry, George Sotier, Flo Miller, Carl Burnett, Jim Bradberry, Jim Smith, Danny Mryrick, Bob Stewart and Jack Sercranic.

Chuck Gibson's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster Pickup of San Diego, California. Known as "Hoot," Chuck was a member of the San Diego Prowlers car club. Hoot owned the car in the 1940s and the early 1950s, and he used to race at the dry lakes with it.

Joe Pirronello's 1923 Dodge Roadster Pickup

Carl Burnett's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster of San Diego, California. Carl was a member of the San Diego Prowlers car club. He bought the Model T from fellow Prowlers member Chuck Gibson in the 1950s. It was a roadster pick up when he got it, but he built it into a roadster.

Bob Smith's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster of San Diego, California. Smith was a member of the San Diego Prowlers car club, and he bought the roadster from fellow Prowlers member Bob Smith. Smith tore the roadster down and rebuilt it, landing on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine March 1958 with his version.

The 66th annual San Diego Prowlers Picnic and Ole Timer's Reunion will be held September 28, 2013 at Ventura Cove Park on Mission Bay.

Vito Marino was a member of the Prowlers in the 1960s. His 1931 Ford Model A Roadster Pick Up was featured in Hot Rod Magazine January 1966. Around 2013-2014, his old hot od was sold to Sweden. Photo courtesy of Pelle Hammarberg.

San Diego Prowlers Car Club

The Prowlers Car Club of San Diego, California was established in 1947. The club is still active in 2010 and is one of the oldest continously active hot rod clubs in the United States. The club was established out of a desire to race, and the need for a car club in order to become members of the Rusetta Timing Association. Before they decided to join R.T.A., Ed Stewart a member of the Southern California Timing Association offered the fellows a chance to race as his guest at the El Mirage dry lakes. The rules of S.C.T.A said that you had to have a roadster to race, coupes and sedans were not allowed. Based on this the guys, they were around seven, decided to form a club to gain membership in the Rusetta Timing Association which allowed all car models and styles. Forming a club, they needed a name, so after pitching back and forth they decided to call themselves the Prowlers, as they were always on the go. Frank Wilkinson came up with that name.

Made up of strictly Ford vehicles the club rules requires that in order to become a Prowlers member you have to own a 1948 or older car. In addition, 3 major modifications from stock condition is required to qualify for consideration as a Prowler club car. The vehicle must also be painted, upholstered, and running in a safe manner.

Members:

Ace Carnahan
Bernie McNaulty
Bill Carpenter
Bob McCoy
Bob Smith
Bob Stewart
Bud Fleetwood
Bud Henry
Carl Burnett (Member #21 / 2)
Chuck Gibson
Danny Mryrick
Ed Stewart
Flo Miller
Frank Wilkinson
George Venice
George Sotier
Jack Sercranic
Jean Schffer
Jim Bradberry
Jim Smith
Joe Pirronello
Jim Reid
John LaBarre
Les Hilgers
Marty Moore
Rich Sawyer
Vito Marino

Club Cars

Joe Pirronello's 1923 Dodge Roadster Pickup
Bob Smith's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster
Carl Burnett's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster
Chuck Gibson's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster Pickup
Vito Marino's 1931 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup