J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections
David Fetherston papers
ACCN 3197
8.5 linear feet
19 boxes
1905-2019
The David Fetherston papers (1905-2019) contain personal and professional materials related to Fetherston's career as a journalist, photographer, writer, publisher, and automotive historian. The collection also contains materials related to the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), Bonneville speed racing and vehicles, and land speed racing in general.
English
.
David Fetherston (1952-2021) was a celebrated automotive historian, journalist and photographer, as well as a prolific author and publisher. Born on September 16, 1952, Fetherston was raised in Canberra, Australia and overcame dyslexia to receive a four year degree in 1975 from Canberra College (Photography/Film Making) and a two year degree in 1977 from the Canberra School of Art (Print Making and Design). In 1984 Fetherston moved to California and commenced his lifelong career as an automotive journalist and photographer. He contributed to numerous publications, including
Custom Rodder, Street Machine, and Popular Hot Rodding. In 1984, Fetherston also established Fetherston Publishing, LLC, and began to write and self-publish the first of over forty titles. Notable among these are Heroes of Hot Rodding (1992), the 1999 Automotive Book of the Year American Woodys, and Bonneville - A Century of Speed (2013), a collaboration with land speed racer Ron Main to fundraise for the Bonneville "Save the Salt" campaign. In addition, Fetherston received a two year degree in 2003 from Santa Rosa Junior College (Marketing and Advertising), and worked as the Director of Marketing for Flowmaster Mufflers from 2004-2007. Fetherston was a dedicated attendee, participant, and press representative at Bonneville "Speed Week" and other land speed events and time trials. He was also a long-time member of many organizations, including the Southern California Timing Association, the Utah Salt Racers Association, the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association, the Society of Automotive Historians, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. David Fetherston passed away on February 26, 2021 in Sebastopol, California.
The David Fetherston papers (1905-2019) contain personal and professional materials related to Fetherston's career as a journalist, photographer, writer, publisher, and automotive historian. The collection also contains materials related to the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), Bonneville speed racing and vehicles, and land speed racing in general.
Arranged by subject.
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Donated by Nanette Simmons in 2021.
Processed by William Challis in 2021.
Photographs and vinyl have been transferred to the Multimedia Archives of Special Collections. Books have been transferred to the Print and Journal Division of Special Collections.
Bonneville Salt Flats (Utah)
Automobile racing--Utah--Bonneville Salt Flats
Automobile racing--Utah
Racers (Persons)
Sports and Recreation
Writing and Publishing
I
Articles
1985-2001
1
1
- "Japanese Cars of Bonneville Speedweek," August 1985
- "Pass the Salt, Please," September 1985
- "The World's Fastest Diesel Truck," September 1985
- "Save the Salt," January 1990
- "B-Ville... Glorybound with Excess Speed: Bonneville Speed Week 1995," September 1995
- "Bonneville 2001: Fifty Three Years of Land Speed Racing," 2001
- "Automorow"
- "Bonneville: 100 Years of Land Speed Racing"
- "Bonneville Bird - The Colani-Lotec Testa D'oro Ferrari"
- "'Head of Gold': The Colani-Lotec Testa D'oro Ferrari Conversion"
- "Salt-Slot"
- "Thank You, Dean Moon"
Heroes of Hot Rodding by David Fetherston
1992
1
2
Bonneville: A Century of Speed by David Fetherston and Ron Main, Second Edition
2014
1
3
Handwritten Notes
undated
1
4
Typed Notes
undated
1
5
Bonneville Racing, Craig Breedlove, Art Arfons.
Business Cards for David Fetherston, Fetherston Publishing, LLC
undated
1
6
Bonneville: A Century of Speed - Applications for Permission to Publish Assorted Materials
2013
1
7
California State Board of Equalization - Tax Tips for the Publishing and Graphic Arts Industries
1995-1998
1
8
List of Assorted "Save the Salt"/Bonneville: A Century of Speed Donors and Sponsors
2013
1
9
Correspondence
Printed E-Mail Correspondence
2013-2016
1
10
Correspondence
2015
1
11
Southern California Timing Association (SCTA)
II
SCTA News
1945
2
1
California Timing News
1947
2
2
Veda Orr's "Lakes" Pictorial
1947
2
3
Veda Orr's Hot Rod Pictorial
1949
2
4
SCTA Racing News
1947
2
5
Harper Dry Lakes
SCTA Racing News
1986
2
6
Pre-Speed Week Special Edition, August 1986.
SCTA Racing News
1988-1989
2
7
El Mirage Dry Lakes.
SCTA Racing News
1991-1995
2
8-11
El Mirage Dry Lakes.
SCTA Racing News
1997
2
12
Muroc Dry Lake.
SCTA Racing News
2016-2019
2
13-14
SCTA Trophy Presentation Program
1951
2
15
SCTA "Raceitorial"
1967-1968
2
16
Envelopes from Bonneville Nationals, Inc. (BNI) to Arnold L. Young
1976-1978
2
17
SCTA/BNI Memoranda and Materials
1992-2013
2
18
Portions of the SCTA/BNI Straightaway News
1997-2015
2
19
BNI Certified Bike Records
2007
2
20
SCTA Bonneville 13-Month Calendar
2018
2
21
Point Results for an Unidentified SCTA Event
undated
2
22
Bonneville National Speed Trials - Rules
1971-1974
3
1-4
Bonneville Nationals/Dry Lakes Speed Trials - Rules
1975-1979
3
5-9
Bonneville Nationals/Dry Lakes Speed Trials - Rules
1980-1984
3
10-14
Bonneville "Speed Week"/Dry Lakes Speed Trials - Rules
1985-1990
3
15-20
All SCTA Speed Events - Rules and Records
1991-1993
3
21-23
All SCTA Speed Events - Rules and Records
1994-2000
4
1-7
All SCTA Speed Events - Rules and Records
2002-2004
4
8-10
All SCTA Speed Events - Rules and Records
2005-2012
5
1-8
All SCTA Speed Events - Rules and Records
2013-2017
6
1-5
Speed Events and Time Trials
III
Bonneville "Speed Week" National Speed Trials
Souvenir Program
1949
7
1
Souvenir Program
1951
7
2
Official Program
1975
7
3
Official Program
1979-1981
7
4-6
Official Program
1984
7
7
Official Program
1986-1989
7
8-11
Official Program
1991-1992
7
12-13
Official Program
1994
7
14
Official Program
1998-2002
7
15-19
Official Program
2007-2010
8
1-4
Official Program
2012-2017
8
5-10
Official Results
1963
9
1
Official Results
1965
9
2
Official Results
1967
9
3
Official Results
1969-1974
9
4-9
Official Results
1985-1989
9
10-14
Official Results
1991-1992
9
15-16
Official Results
1995-1996
9
17-18
Official Results
1998-2002
9
19-23
Official Results
2005-2007
9
24-26
Official Results
2010-2012
9
27-29
Lists of Bonneville National Speed Trials Records
1949-1966
9
30
Vinyl Decals
1953-2015
9
31
Event Poster
1971
9
32
Printout of Bonneville National Speed Trial Records
1971-1972
9
33
Lists of Bonneville "Speed Week" Entries and Records
1982-1989
9
34
SCTA/BNI "Speed Week" Highlights Newsletter
1987
9
35
Lists of Bonneville "Speed Week" Records
1991-2000
9
36
Lists of Bonneville "Speed Week" Records
2011-2018
9
37
"An Introduction to Bonneville National Speed Trials" SCTA Booklet
undated
9
38
Bonneville "Speed Week" Pins and Patches
1970-2017
18
Bonneville "World Finals"
Official Program
1990
10
1
Official Program
1992
10
2
Official Results
1997
10
3
Official Results
2007
10
4
Official Results
2009
10
5
SCTA/BNI Straightaway News - "World Finals" Records and Results
1990
10
6
Prinout of Unofficial Results and Records
2001
10
7
Vehicle Entry Application
2012
10
8
SCTA Dry Lakes Time Trials
Official Result Sheet - Harper Dry Lakes
1947
10
9
Official Result Sheet - El Mirage Dry Lakes
1948
10
10
Official Program - El Mirage Dry Lakes
1950
10
11
Official Results - El Mirage Dry Lakes
1987-1988
10
12
USFRA "World of Speed"
Official Program
1995-1996
10
13-14
Official Program
1998
10
15
Lists of "World of Speed" New Records
2007-2016
10
16
AMA Bub Motorcycle Speed Trials
AMA Rules for Bonneville Record Attempts and Current Records List
1968
10
17
AMA Bonneville Records and Rule Book
1973
10
18
Printouts of Unofficial Results
2011-2014
10
19
List of AMA Racing National Records by Class
undated
10
20
AAA National Championship Midget Auto Races
Official Souvenir Program
1950
10
21
National Welsh Speed Championships
Official Programme
1953
10
22
Southern California Championship at Muroc Dry Lake
Entry Form
1927
10
23
Miscellaneous Materials
IV
Bonneville Speed Racing
Postcards - Bonneville Salt Flats and Speed Racing
1946
11
1
"Salt and Speed" Booklet by Jesse Jennings for the Wendover Lions Club
1964
11
2
Don Blessing/250cc Motorcycle World Record Timing Slips and Materials
1966
11
3
Various Tony Lloyd Writings about Bonneville Speed Racing and Record Attempts
1967-1974
11
4
Utah Salt Flats Racing Association (USFRA) Materials
1987-1993
11
5
USFRA Board of Directors and Year End Reports
1989
11
6
USFRA Newsletter
2016 October
11
7
People for Saving the Bonneville Salt Flats - Form Letter for Writing Campaign
1989
11
8
Team Triumph Texas - Bonneville Update
1992
11
9
"Bonneville Record Bikes" from chalopy.blogspot.com
2010
11
10
Target550 Bonneville Calendars
2012-2016
11
11
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Memo about Bonneville "Speed Week"
2013
11
12
"Bonneville Salt Flats," BLM Informational Brochure
undated
11
13
Bonneville 200 MPH Club Members
2015-2016
11
14
Ticket to the 35th Annual Bonneville 200 MPH Club Banquet
undated
11
15
"An Historical Survey of Bonneville Record Cars" by Dean Batchelor
undated
11
16
Bob and Bill Summers' "Goldenrod" and Roy "Multy" Aldrich Materials
undated
11
17
Intrepid Potash, LLC Memo about the Salt Laydown Project
undated
11
18
Warner Riley Enterprises, Inc. "Records Set at Bonneville and Maxton"
undated
11
19
Land Speed Racing
Briggs Cunningham Automotive Museum Membership Newsletter
1985 May-1985 June
11
20
40th Anniversary Grand National Roadster Show Program
1989
11
21
Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame - Inductions
1994
11
22
Land Speed Record Lists and Materials
1997-2014
11
23
Classic Car Club of America Handbook and Members Roster
2013
11
24
Society of Automotive Historians Membership Directory
2015
11
25
"The World's Fastest Motorcycle Riders" from hayabusa.org
2015
11
26
"Aussie As-salt" Dry Lake Speed Trials Team Materials
undated
11
27
"Land Speed Records," United States Auto Club
circa 1960s
11
28
Land Speed Records - 'Weird and Wonderful' Group 10, No. 5 and 6
undated
11
29
Book Chapters about Muroc Dry Lake and Board Speedways
undated
11
30
'Who's Who' Articles of Various Land Speed Record Drivers
undated
11
31
Moon Equipment Company Materials
undated
11
32
Moon Equipment Company Vinyl Decals
undated
11
33
Press Releases and Fact Sheets
Craig Breedlove/The "Spirit of America" - Press Releases and Materials
1964-1967
12
1
American Hot Rod Association Press Release - "Gas Ronda Named AHRA Driver of the Year"
1967
12
2
The Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company - "The Flight of the Arrow: Pierce-Arrow Brings World's Records Back to America"
1968
12
3
Yamaha Press Release - "Yamaha, Fastest Motorcycle in the World"
1974 November 01
12
4
David MacDonald/Lionel Pitts 1982 Pontiac TransAm Technical Information and Materials
1986-1987
12
5
Gale Banks Engineering and Pontiac Firebird Press Releases and Materials
1987
12
6
Kreidler 1965 Bonneville Racer Fact Sheet
1994
12
7
Bertone Press Release - Bertone ZER Electric Car (with English translation)
1995 May
12
8
Fact Sheet for the "International Endeavor III" Racing Diesel Truck (in French)
1998
12
9
Toyota Press Release - "Prius Sets Land Speed Record for Hybrids"
2004 December 23
12
10
Assorted Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Press Releases - Art Arfons and the Land Speed Record
undated
12
11
Goggomobil Saloon Coupe General Instructions
undated
12
12
Hedrich Motorsports and "American Eagle" Materials
undated
12
13
Fact Sheet for the Kenz and Leslie "Streamliner 777"
undated
12
14
Brochure of Seth Hammond's Bonneville 77 Lakester
undated
12
15
Shell Oil/Goodyear Tire and Rubber Press Release - "Biography: Craig Breedlove, the Heavy Weight Champion of Speed"
undated
12
16
The "Spirit of '76" Streamliner Fact Sheet
undated
12
17
Advertisements
Myles' Indian Motorcycle Supplies Advertisement - "'Indians' Speed Again Startles Motorcycle World!"
1936
12
18
Thickstun Manufacturing Company Advertisement - Thickstun Dual Carburetor Manifold
1946
12
19
Hexagon Tool and Engineering Corporation Advertisement - Hexagon Dual Carb Manifold
1947
12
20
Advertisement Brochure for the 1954 Dodge V-8
1954
12
21
Vincent Engineers Advertisement - Series 'C' Motorcycles
1954
12
22
Harley-Davidson Advertisement - "Tenacious" Streamliner
1983
12
23
Target550 Advertisement to Sponsor the Treit and Davenport Streamliner
2018
12
24
Auburn Automobile Company Advertisement - "Auburn Breaks 70 Stock Car Speed Records"
circa 1935
12
25
Advertisement for 4th Annual "Autorama" in Buffalo, NY
circa 1950s
12
26
Advertisement for the "Devin Junior" Gas Powered Miniature Sports Car
undated
12
27
Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing Brochure
undated
12
28
General Motors Advertisements of Bonneville Racing Vehicles
undated
12
29
Nuffield Exports Ltd. - "New York Show: Special Catalogue of Nuffield Products"
circa 1950s
12
30
S and S Cycle, Inc. Booklet - "Tramp III" Racing Motorcycle
circa 1980s
12
31
For Sale Advertisement for the "Taylormade" Series C Modified Roadster
undated
12
32
Business Cards
undated
12
33
Collectibles and Other Materials
Postcards - Daytona Beach Speed Racing
1928-1937
13
1
Envelope from the Daytona Beach International Speed Trials
1933
13
2
"Utah: Land of Endless Scenic Discovery" - Utah State Road Commission
1939
13
3
"Utah: The Rainbow Land in the Center of Scenic America" - Utah Department of Publicity and Industrial Development
1942
13
4
"Utah: Land of Endless Scenic Discovery" - Utah Department of Publicity and Industrial Development
1948
13
5
American Hot Rod Association Certificate of Achievement - Dean Moon and "Moonbeam" Speed Record
1961
13
6
Certificate of World Record to Craig Breedlove in the "Spirit of America" - Federation Internationale Motocycliste (FIM)
1964
13
7
Autographed Photograph of Richard Noble
1984
13
8
Collectible Russian Photo Cards - "Pages of History - Automobiles," Issue 3
1984
13
9
Collectible Russian Photo Cards - "Pages of History - Automobiles," Issue 7
1986
13
10
Vinyl Decals
1985
13
11
Postage Stamp of the 1935 Bluebird V (LSR) - Nanumea, Tuvalu 'Leaders of the World - Auto 100' Series
1985
13
12
Two Autographs of Craig Breedlove
2014
13
13
Autograph of H.O.D. Segrave
undated
13
14
Autograph and Photographs of Malcolm Campbell
undated
13
15
German Cigarette Cards
undated
13
16
Wills's Cigarettes "Speed" Series - Complete Set of 50 Cards
undated
13
17
Trading Card of the Class C Lakester - 'Cars' Magazine "World on Wheels" Series, No. 23
undated
13
18
Cigarette Card of Ernst Henne - Churchman's Cigarettes "Kings of Speed" Series, No. 24
undated
13
19
Cigarette Card of Johnny Allen - Sweet Cigarettes "Famous Sports Records" Series, No. 14
undated
13
20
Set of "Scenic Utah" Miniature Souvenir Cards
undated
13
21
Postcards - Speed Racing and Vehicles
undated
13
22
Periodicals
V
The Aeroplane excerpt, November 1937
1937
14
1
American Motorcycling excerpt and photocopies
1956-1959
14
2
American Rodder
1996 November
14
3
Auckland Star photocopy
1945 March 17
14
4
Auto Topics
1965-1966
14
5
The Autocar excerpts and photocopies
1960-1961
14
6
The Autocar supplement - "The Story of John Cobb's Racing Railton"
undated
14
7
The Automobile excerpt
2006 March
14
8
Automotive History Review
2017
14
9
Autoweek excerpt
1990 November
14
10
Best Hot Rods
1957
14
11
Bonneville Racing News
1991-1997
14
12
Bonneville Racing News
2013-2018
14
13-16
The Burr McIntosh Monthly
1905 April
14
17
Canadian Automotive Trade excerpt
1939 October
15
1
Car Craft excerpts and photocopies
1960-1968
15
2
Car and Driver
1979 February
15
3
Car and Driver excerpts and photocopies
1965-1979
15
4
Car Life excerpt
1961
15
5
Chevy Truckin' photocopies
1996 August
15
6
Classic Car excerpt
undated
15
7
Custom Car
2018 September
15
8
Cycle
1950-1972
15
9
Cycle excerpts
1966-1976
15
10
Cycle Guide excerpt, December 1972
1972 December
15
11
Cycle News
1981 October 07-28
15
12
Cycle News photocopies
1966-1989
15
13
Cycle World excerpts and photocopies
1965-1969
15
14
Daily Record photocopy
1976 October 14
15
15
Diesel Digest
1936 May
15
16
Drag News
1962 August 11-18
15
17
Farm Journal and Farmer's Wife
1944-1945
15
18
Field and Stream excerpt
1955 April
15
19
Good-Guys: Goodtimes Gazette
2014 September
15
20
Good-Guys: Goodtimes Gazette excerpt
2017 January
15
21
Hemmings excerpts
2009-2015
16
1
Hop Up
1951-1952
16
2-4
Hot Boat
1966 November
16
5
Hot Rod Magazine
2018 October
16
6
Hot Rod Magazine excerpts and photocopies
1951-1959
16
7
Hot Rod Magazine excerpts and photocopies
1960-1969
16
8
Hot Rod Magazine excerpts
1970-1975
16
9
Hot Rod Magazine excerpts
1980-1989
16
10
Hot Rod Magazine excerpts
1990-1993
16
11
Hot Rod Magazine excerpts
2004-2014
16
12
Hot Rod Magazine excerpts and photocopies
undated
16
13
Life excerpt
1956 October 29
16
14
Mechanix Illustrated
1949-1972
16
15
Modern Rod
1965 January
16
16
The Motor Cycle excerpt
1955 January
16
17
Motor Cycling excerpt
1955 November
16
18
Motor: Het Nederlandse Motorweekblad (in Dutch)
1965 November
16
19
Motor Life excerpts and photocopies
1954-1961
16
20
Motor Sport excerpt
1975 July
16
21
Motor Sports World
1951 September 14
16
22
Motor Trend excerpts
1957-1980
16
23
Motorcycle Classics
2017 March/April
16
24
Motorcyclist
1948 October
16
25
Motorcyclist excerpts
1947-1953
16
26
National Dragster
1980 November 14
17
1
Picture Post excerpt
1938 November 26
17
2
Pop Rod photocopies
1971
17
3
Popular Mechanics
1964 December
17
4
Popular Mechanics excerpts and photocopies
1937-1974
17
5
Popular Science photocopies
1938-1955
17
6
Race Boat
1979 December
17
7
Road and Track
1965 January
17
8
Road and Track excerpt
1957 September
17
9
Rod and Custom
1959 July
17
10
Rod and Custom photocopies
1967 February
17
11
SAH Journal
2015-2016
17
12
San Francisco Chronicle excerpt
2018 November 9
17
13
Schrader News
circa 1950s
17
14
La Science et la Vie (in French)
1938 March
17
15
Scientific American excerpt
1930 March
17
16
Sky excerpt
1988 November
17
17
Speed Age
1956 April
17
18
Speed Mechanics photocopies
1955 December
17
19
Speedway News
1932 February
17
20
Sports Cars Illustrated excerpts
1956-1960
17
21
St. Louis Post-Dispatch photocopy
1960 December 4
17
22
Street Rodder excerpt and photocopies
1976-2000
17
23
Super Stock Magazine excerpt
1971
17
24
The Wendover Times - Bonneville Speed Week Edition
2016 August 11-17
17
25
The World To-Day excerpt
1911 June
17
26
Clippings - Craig Breedlove/"Aquamerica"
1968
17
27
Clippings - Sir Malcolm Campbell
1933
17
28
Clippings - John Cobb
undated
17
29
Excerpts and Photocopies of Periodicals
1932-1972
17
30
Excerpts and Photocopies of Periodicals
undated
17
31