HISTORY OF THE GRUZEN RACINGS's

"Merciless Mouse and Mighty Mouse"

AA/Fuel Altered and Modified Blown Roadster

Driver: Dave Gruzen

Owners: Joel & Dee Gruzen

 

Gruzen Racing unknowingly originated in 1955, with the marriage of Joel and Darl (Dee)...Then, High School sweethearts, Joel began racing as a teenager, as most did, on Southern California streets, and at the old Santa Ana Dragstrip.

Entering the Air Force in late 1955, Joel continued his attempts at racing on a very limited scale, while traveling extensively to meet his military commitments. In early 1959, while stationed at March AFB, Riverside California, he joined the "Statorods" car club, and eventually became involved with their Modified Roadster. During this time, he also started announcing at the old Colton Dragstrip and Riverside Speedway, and was involved with several assorted Dragsters and Roadsters, which never quite made the "also ran" categories.

After returning from an overseas tour in 1961, he started announcing at Vaca Valley Dragstrip in Vacaville California, and continued there until another overseas departure in late 1963. During this time, he was involved with Chuck Tanko's Sacramento based, Century Speed Shop Twin Hemi powered Fuel Dragster; Greg Maher (Maher/Gruzen) "C" Fuel Dragster; Bryce Mocabee's C/Gas Olds powered Willys and American Van Lines Olds B/Gas Coupe. All this time, Dee was the backbone and mainstay for their three children, Dave, Karen and Zeena, and for the familys very limited race operation.

Departing for overseas in late 1963, also signaled the end of their racing, as military
commitments, and traveling kept them from participating in the Drag Racing sport.

In the early 70's, Dave somehow developed a "need for speed" by doing nutsy things on bikes and skateboards, before becoming involved in Bare Foot Drag Skiing on the water, competing in such classics as the Endo's International Speed Ski and Barefoot competitions in Long Beach California. Dave traveled around California and Nevada or wherever he could muster a "fast pull" behind anyones speedboat, hydro or flatbottom. His name became synonamous with speed on the water, as he became recognized as one of the premier Barefoot Waterskiers, attaining speeds in excess of 120mph. During a competition in mid 1978, a fall at 115mph terminated his competition for future water skiing events..

Slow Down??? Not a chance...Obtaining an early VW, Dave started going to local strips where he thought a 15 second pass was "pretty cool"...Then he started the procedure to "lighten" the car and add a little horsepower...How quick could he get a 4-speed VW to go?? How about upper 9's He was in seventh heaven. This continued thru the 80's and into 1992.

October 1993....."Hey Pop, why don't we go to the Reunion in Bakersfield next week"........Well, first of all, you dont know anyone that mom and I went to high school with....Second, why would Long Beach Poly High School have a reunion in Bakersfield????....A brief explanation took place and I wasnt that enthusiastic....After a week of brow-beating by Dave, we loaded up my old '23T Touring street rod on the trailer, and took off for the "Patch"...Two days later, a partnership was formed and the start of a "repli-car" of the old New House Special was under way. This eventually
became the "Mighty Mouse" Modified Roadster..

Dee's response to this action was "Here we go again"....