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Born in America to Japanese immigrants, Danny Sakai's story is unique to the times. Like other nisei, or second-generation Japanese-Americans such as the Morimoto brothers, Yam Oka, Mino Kamimura, Ernie Murashige, and even the father of the Stingray, Larry Shinoda, he earned the respect of his peers on one of the more level playing fields of his generation: parched lakebeds. According to Lattin's research, Dustin "Dusty" Campbell built the modified-class racer in 1939. Powered by a succession of engines, first a Model B and later a Flathead V-8, the car consistently crested the century mark at various timing events before Danny bought it. Danny retained the entire body, including the '39 LaSalle grille and shell, but replaced the Kelsey-Hayes wheels with 17-inch-diameter snap-ring accessory Firestone wheels. Also new to the car was the front belly pan, dark blue paint, and headers that paired the leading and trailing cylinders from each bank into one 2-inch pipe and the center two cylinders into another. Each side of the car boasted the number eight, Danny's place standing in SCTA points for the year. Though the car was arguably more handsome and probably stronger than before, most notable from a racer's perspective was the Mal Ord-built Flathead. With it Danny transformed the car from a 100 mph also-ran into a bona fide runner. As reported in the June '41 issue of Throttle magazine, Danny ran 118.27 mph-6 mph faster than even the fastest streamliner-at the May 25, 1941 Western Timing Association meet at Harper dry lake. On June 15, less than a month later, he once again ran the fastest time: 125.52 mph at the SCTA meet at Muroc. On July 20 at the SCTA meet at Muroc he triggered a 121.89-mph pass. Though his 126.58-mph run at the September 28 SCTA meet at Muroc was the third fastest of the day, it was good for Danny's fastest time and yet another record. In fact everything seemed to be coming up roses for Danny until Oct. 17, 1941. Riding fellow Walkers Club member Bob West's motorcycle, he reportedly swerved, hit a telephone pole, and died on contact. As premature as his death was, Danny had set at least four records and earned numerous trophies and points for his club. The obituary Throttle published described Danny as one of the most well-liked members of the club. What exactly happened to Danny's car remains a bit of a mystery. He reportedly worked on the car at the Cadillac agency owned by Tommy Lee, a claim that seems plausible as Lee basically assumed ownership of Danny's race car after his death, according to Lattin. He noted that during the war Lee ran it at private lakes meets, and in 1943 Danny's old car ran an unofficial 125.52 mph with Bobby Strahlmann at the helm. Upon Lee's death in early 1950, Lattin noted that Willet Brown assumed ownership of a considerable chunk of fortune, including Danny's old car. An avid collector, Brown maintained Danny's car as part of his collection; however, according to Lattin, someone possibly stole it sometime in the '70s. From the December, 2010 issue of Rod & Custom |
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