I recently came across this old newspaper clipping, with a photo of Woodrow Wilson, and when I turned it over I was shocked to see this. I was wondering if this might actually be the Bill Thrailkill of Swaylocks fame, or is this some kind of hoax???
photoshop…it’s a hoax
Hmmm, where’d you find that ? I’d be curious to know the origin.
it was a joke sprung from my runaway imagination after reading the life befor surf magazines thread, haha
Well when I was shaping for Hobie, Jacobs, Noll, Dent, Hansen, and so many other that I can’t remember. Back in 1953. I invented the foam blank and the fin. I did it all in the same weekend. Soon after surfing with Woody “the squeekster” Hoffman, I saw Bill T pull up in this fan dangled automobile, obviously he had made it, along with the first roll of fiberglass.
Thank you Bill T, surfing wouldn’t be what it is today without you
Rabble rouser.
I began in 1963 @ Malibu.
WindanSea was a legend.
Guys that you needed to respect.
If you acknowledged them at your home break.
Well at least your day went well…
I was always fond of the “Flexi- Flyer” stunt!
"Back in the early 1960s, everyone in California knew there was something different about the La Jolla’s WindanSea crowd and surfers like Curren, Mike Diffenderfer (RIP) Tiny Brain Thomas, Billy Graham, and Butch Van Artsdalen (RIP).” Pat Curren and Mike Diffenderfer were known to hang at the Birds Rock’s Sip and Surf and Red Mountain Inn and Tiny Brain Thomas was a bartender at Maynards. Rakestraw and Curren had similar trends, both were regulars at Maynards and many times shared temporary living quarters at jail, so much so – Rakestraw used to write Curren little messages on the jail walls.
Mac Meda started the phrase “Surf Nazis,” where they would dress up like Nazis and ride down the storm drain on their Flexy Flyers that started at the top of Bon Air Street. What a bitchen thrill that was!!!
Mac Meda was also known for their satire Mel Brooks style Nazi parties where they would burst into local restaurants, have Nazi parties in the bunkers up on Mt. Soledad and even become guests at the Jewish fraternities at U.S.C.
One time the La Jolla elite got scared, thinking there was some new Aryan group that was infiltrating their community. They called the FBI.
Jack was then working in the Post Office when his supervisor came up and said, “Uh, Mac…the FBI is here to talk to you.” So he sat in a car with two G-Men. They asked him if he and his friends were trying to overthrow the U.S. government. He then told them they were just having a good time on their flexy-fliers, screaming down a dark drain pipe and shooting out at WindanSea.
The FBI started laughing and said something like, “It does sound like a good time.” "
What great times!
Your thoughts Mr. T?
My first thought was, ‘‘Who the hell have you been talking to?’’ Only a ‘‘WindanSea Regular’’ from the 50’s and early 60’s would know of Tiny Brain, Rakestraw, or Billy Graham. Those are just a few of that eras more colorful WindanSea guys. I’m especially impressed by your reference to the Maynards connection. So few people know even a glimmer of the real story, and history of that time period. My hat’s off to you. If you’re ever down this way, the beer’s on me !
Ah, Bill I would enjoy a beer with you…
How ever that is a quote straight outta Windansea web site.
I still wish to God Iwas down there with you guys.
The Nazi stuff and the flyers marveled us at the surf movies…
One bitchen group of guys!
Aloha
Beer and BBQ. Meet at Bird’s, look at some historic boards, and talk some story.
EDIT: Bumping up, to be seen. Chinese spam is on the verge of destroying Swaylocks. Sad, if it ends this way. Use PM’s to communicate.
toxic Chinese drywall!
Ate many a plate of Spaghetti outta the backdoor at Maynard’s. Even had a black lab named for the joint. Too rowdy when motorcycles were lined up there tho. Did my beer drinking and ate taquitos over at Tugs. Lowel
Props to all those that preserve surfing history by word of mouth rather than distorted surf rag rubble. I don’t profess to know sh-t about that area as I was just a little gremmie starting out at ‘the sand bar’ off SB Harbor a stone’s throw from St. Francis Hospital where I was born. One mean right slide and I was hooked forever…