San Diego Prowlers

The San Diego Prowlers club plaque, first cast in 1948 and still used in 2025. Originally referred to as “bumper plates,” the design proudly features the initials R.T.A. for the Russetta Timing Association, with which the club was affiliated. Photo from The San Diego Prowlers Collection, provided by Andy Bekech.

Original charter members of the San Diego Prowlers gathered in the late 1940s. The club was founded in January 1947 by young hot rodders who wanted to compete at the dry lakes but needed membership in the Russetta Timing Association, which allowed coupes and sedans. The name “Prowlers,” suggested by Frank Wilkinson, reflected the group’s reputation for always being on the go. Photo from The San Diego Prowlers Collection, providec by Andy Bekech.

San Diego Prowlers at Mt. Palomar, late 1940s. From left to right: Gene Nichols, Chuck "Hoot" Gibson, Ed Stewart, Bob Stuart, Harold Speltz, and Norm Urban. Photo from The San Diego Prowlers Collection, provided by Andy Bekech.

San Diego Prowlers charter member #7, Frank Wilkinson, at El Mirage Dry Lake on September 12, 1948. Wilkinson’s car, numbered 415B, recorded a top speed of 105.26 mph. Frank is also credited with suggesting the club’s name, “Prowlers,” reflecting their spirit of always being on the go. Photo from The San Diego Prowlers Collection, provided by Andy Bekech.

San Diego Prowlers member Frank Marsh (#34) with his 1932 Ford Victoria at El Mirage Dry Lake, September 16, 1950. Marsh’s Russetta Timing Association tag recorded a speed of 109.7 mph. Photo from The San Diego Prowlers Collection, provided by Andy Bekech.

San Diego Prowlers members Jim Smith (#8/2) and Flo Miller (#5/2) with their trophy-winning 1934 Ford. The photo captures a proud moment for the pair after taking home honors for the day. Photo from The San Diego Prowlers Collection, provided by Andy Bekech.

Charter member Ed "Axle" Stewart at El Mirage Dry Lake with his famous 1932 Ford Roadster, circa 1948. Stewart is credited with creating the "Dago" dropped front axle. Photo from The San Diego Prowlers Collection, provided by Andy Bekech.

San Diego Prowlers member Don Donnelly (#23/2) with his chopped 1932 Ford five-window coupe at El Mirage Dry Lake in 1950. Like many early Prowlers, Don raced his car at the lakes, carrying on the club’s strong tradition of competition and craftsmanship. Photo from The San Diego Prowlers Collection, provided by Andy Bekech.

San Diego Prowlers member Jack Sercranic (#20/2) towing his chopped 1934 Ford coupe to El Mirage Dry Lake with his 1940 Ford sedan in 1952. The trip covered approximately 400 miles each way, a true testament to the dedication of early hot rodders. Photo from The San Diego Prowlers Collection, provided by Andy Bekech.

The Prowlers of 1953 gathered in front of Miller & Son in San Diego. Pictured are 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. Photo from The San Diego Prowlers Collection, provided by Andy Bekech.

A lineup of Prowlers cars outside Miller & Son in 1953. The San Diego club was known for its early dedication to Ford hot rods, with members required to own a 1948 or older car featuring at least three major modifications. Photo from The San Diego Prowlers Collection, providec by Andy Bekech.

Chuck Gibson's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster Pickup of San Diego, California. A member of the San Diego Prowlers, Hoot owned the car in the 1940s and early 1950s, racing it at the Southern California dry lakes.

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.

The San Diego Prowlers is a historic hot rod club founded in January 1947 in San Diego, California. According to club historian Andy Bekech, the Prowlers emerged in the post-World War II revival of hot rodding and remain one of the longest continuously operating hot rod clubs in the United States.

History

At the end of World War II, many young soldiers returned home and helped spark a rebirth of hot rodding in Southern California. By October 1945, the dry lakes of California’s High Desert were once again active under the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA). Existing clubs were reformed, and new clubs joined, with SCTA membership reaching 28 clubs and exceeding 700 members by 1946.

In San Diego, a group of about 25 young men met in January 1947 to discuss forming their own club so they could compete in dry lakes time trials. At their second meeting, another 10 members joined, and the club became known as the Prowlers. According to Bekech, the original purpose of the club was to race as an organized group.

Before officially affiliating, Ed Stewart, a member of SCTA, invited the group to race at the El Mirage dry lakes as his guests. However, SCTA’s rules limited participation to open cars and roadsters, excluding the coupes and sedans that many in the San Diego group owned. Because of this, they decided to form their own club to gain membership in the Russetta Timing Association (RTA), which allowed all car types. The name Prowlers was suggested by member Frank Wilkinson, reflecting the group’s reputation for “always being on the go.”

The Prowlers remained active in dry lakes competition into the early 1950s. As drag racing grew in popularity, local tracks such as the Paradise Mesa drag strip attracted members. The weekly schedule and proximity of Paradise Mesa gradually shifted the club’s focus from dry lakes racing to drag racing.

Club Rules

From the beginning, the club was made up strictly of Ford vehicles. To this day, membership rules require that a member own a 1948 or older car. Each Prowlers car must also have at least three major modifications from stock condition, be painted and upholstered, and be maintained in safe running condition.

Evolution

Over time, the rising value and rarity of early hot rods transformed many race cars into what are now known as street rods. Bekech noted that “yesterday’s race cars have now become the head-turning street rods we all see and love.” Many small hot rod projects that began in garages eventually grew into large-scale businesses within the automotive aftermarket industry.

Legacy

The San Diego Prowlers have maintained continuous activity since their founding in 1947. As of 2025, the Prowlers are in their 78th year, making it one of the oldest continuously operating hot rod clubs in the United States. "To date, approx. 225 have been club members," Bekech told Kustomrama. The club preserves all of its meeting minutes dating back to its founding, which are on display at the NHRA Museum in Pomona, California.

Past and Present Members:

Ace Carnahan
Andy Bekech
Bernie McNaulty
Bill Carpenter
Bob McCoy
Bob Smith
Bob Stewart
Bud Fleetwood
Bud Henry
Carl Burnett (Member #21 / 2)
Chuck Gibson
Danny Mryrick
Don Donnelly
Ed Stewart
Flo Miller
Frank Marsh
Frank Wilkinson
Gene Nichols
George Venice
George Sotier
Harold Speltz
Jack Sercranic
Jean Schffer
Jim Bradberry
Jim Smith
Joe Pirronello
Jim Reid
John LaBarre
Les Hilgers
Marty Moore
Norm Urban
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
Don Donnelly's 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe
Ed "Axle" Stewart's 1932 Ford Roadster
Frank Marsh's 1933 Ford Victoria
Jack Sercranic's 1934 Ford
Jack Sercranic's 1940 Ford