The Lyle R. Johnson Collection

An Emperors of Seattle courtesy card from Lyle's collection. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

Lee, Fred, and Jerry with a few of the Emperors club cars. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

Members of the Emperors of Seattle. The club was formed in 1951, and in 1956 it counted 16 members and four applicants. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

The fellow in the middle in this photo is Emperors of Seattle member Jack Boudwin. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

A photo taken at the Shelton Drag Strip in the 1950s. The race was held on an abandoned WWII airstrip. According to Bob Mikkelsen, all the teens would go out and mark off 1/4 mile and use it as a dragstrip. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

Two Corvettes racing at the Shelton Drag Strip. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

King's Klunker Karavan - Engineered by Emperors Hot Rod Club. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

Another photo of the King's Klunker Karavan. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

A Roosevelt News article announcing the 1956 Roosevelt Hot Rod Show. Lyle R. Johnson's 1950 Ford custom is one of the three cars showcased in the article. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

A newspaper article about the Roosevelt Hot Rod Show and the Emperors and Coachmen of Seattle car clubs. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

A newspaper article that announced the entrants and the winners from the 1956 Roosevelt Hot Rod Show. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

A newspaper clipping from January of 1957 that shows Lyle with his baby blue 1950 Ford custom, one of the winners from the 1956 Roosevelt Hot Rod Show. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

A Piston Pushers of Seattle courtesy card. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

A Boltin Bishops courtesy card. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

You have been assisted by Jim Daly. A Coachmen of Seattle courtesy card. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

A Dusters courtesy card. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

A Prowlers courtesy card. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

One of Lyle's old NHRA charter club decals. Photo courtesy of Lyle R. Johnson.

The Official Kustomrama Washington Division Supporter T-Shirt. Click here to order yours today.

Kustomrama Photo Archive

Lyle R. Johnson was a member of the Emperors of Seattle car club, and he was involved in the hot rod shows in the area in 1956 and 1957. Lyle acted as secretary-treasurer of the Emperors in 1956, and thanks to his son, a few of Lyle's photos and memorabilia have found their way to Kustomrama.