The story of Old Yellar has been around "for ever" but this is the first documentary I've seen that actually covered the history behind Max & Ina and their accomplishments. It's a fascinating story and I'm thankful that Ernie Nagamatsu is keeping and caring for that old yellar car so meticulously. It certainly deserves the attention!! What a great piece of our American racing history!!
Two thoughts came to mind as I watched this: 1) I wish I’d had a chance to meet Ina; my life might have been different but I didn’t have the courage to pursue such a non-traditional career even though I had the knowledge. 2) now I understand why my twin brother wanted a V8 in his Tiger! Great story!
An absolute delight. The story about Riverside's sophisticated Turn Six fans standing and cheering every time Ol' Yeller II came through expresses the spirit and impact of Max and Ina and their creation. Bravo! And Brava! Thank you for the opportunity, Jerry and timbuctwo1.
I just learned about Max from Jay Leno’s Garage which had Max’s Old Yeller 2 race car. Thank you for posting this so we can get more perspective on a legendary American racer!
A truly wonderful video, I have had the pleasure of meeting mr Nagamatsu and this wonderful car a few times now and seeing the fantastic history and testimony of so many great names makes the story of Max Balchowsky one of the best.
An absolutely awesome documentary. A long gone era where the everyman COULD take on the big European guns on the track and win. That guy in his $500 BMW at the WRC is the closest thing today to that. This whole era of US V8 sports car racing fascinates me - and also awesome that his wife Ina was a skilled mechanic in an era where most women were supposed to be June Cleaver types in the kitchen all day, raising the kids. Ol' Yeller is probably what inspired cars like the AC Cobra, Sunbeam Tiger, as well as Italian cars with American V8s such as Bizzarrinis, Apollos (Balchowsky prepped the 'Thorndyke Special' Apollo in the Love Bug which also features an Old Yeller and also had an OY as a camera car!), Iso Grifos, Monteverdis etc.
i guess im asking randomly but does someone know of a trick to log back into an instagram account?? I was stupid lost my login password. I appreciate any help you can offer me
Wonderful little documentary about a real american hero along with his wife. I grew up in LA in the 50's and early 60's and remember his shop Hollywood Motors.I had no clue what was going on there. A Ball turret gunner is a brave man and this man did it all. - Reminds me of my father who i'm sure knew him.
Actually, and not to take away from what Max or anyone else for that matter did in the air war over Europe, but statistically the ball turret gunners had the highest survivability rate of anyone on those bombers. I was shocked to find that out myself after hearing all my life that it was supposed to be the deadliest position on the crew but the reality is they had the highest survivability rate, maybe because they were all balled up in those turrets and made the smallest targets is why but whatever the reason they had the highest survivability rate of all the crewmen.
Great video Jerry! Thanks for e-mailing me the link. Amazing coincidence - I was sitting at my desk wearing my 'Old Yeller II' T-shirt when I received your e-mail. Now I better get back to work - shouldn't have spent 45 minutes watching a video in the middle of the day, but I couldn't stop myself!
Tommy Ivo credits Max for his success drag racing the T Bucket he built early on, Ivo used to go to his shop where he learned how to port those Buick Nail head engines... Thanks Tim, this was a great story about the most exciting period in automotive history....
Pete Brock, Carroll Shelby's employee that designed the Cobra Daytona body got his start in the business as a teenager working for Max at Hollywood Motors.
What an awesome story. I am an avid fan of Rover(=ex. Buick) V8 powered Cars since a couple of years now. And the more you dig into that theme the more interesting things you find. Thank you guys for posting it here. B R from Munich Germany Harry :-)
Worth seeing Jay Leno garage driving old yeller 2. Jay has millions in cars and probably drove about every car you could imagine. In that episode, Jay says Jesus more than I have ever heard him say.
This is a great historical film about some amazing Americans. It is also proof that everyone with great skills does not have to have a great education to achieve Great things.
Without question, this has to be the next Ferrari vs Ford movie. ARE YOU LISTENING HOLLYWOOD!!!!! One thing I know about Ball Turret Gunners from WWII is these guys have balls bigger than their turrets. My best friend in L.A. when I was a kid, his father was a Ball Turrent gunner on a B-17 (Box K), in 1943 when things were not looking good for the 8th. Wayne Schofield was his name and he was a genius at repairing cars and owned a Texico station in Glendale California. I dam sure he knew Max as B-17 crews always got along with B-24 crews and they all lived in the same area by Burbank & Hollywood. My children and my grandchildren can already smell the Butter Popcorn, and seeing a great Movie on Old Yeller and all its magic..............................!
31:16 - Did you notice how careful Shelby was to avoid saying Ford when he said the Buick was actually better than the Chevy, Cadillac engines and “rest of the stuff.” lol, he knows who butters his bread. Love Ernie. He and Old Yeller II were recently featured on Jay Leno’s Garage.
I grew up in that time period. In LA. That was a time when the "Average" guy, went to the junk yards. And scrounged up Parts. Then spent their evenings putting cars together in their garages. A "sponsorship" was the local company giving you a case of oil. Or a set of tires. And your wife had to mend her dress, because all the extra money went into your cars. And a great win at the track might get you fifty dollars.
So why the Idaho license plates? Kinda cool to see them on such a famous little car. I live in a small town in Idaho and there's a pretty decent crowd of shade tree mechanics/hot rodders and I'm happy to be one of them.
Look close the next time you watch VIVA LAS VEGAS. Ol yeller2 is in the last race.. Also Max Balchowsky is the guy hanging out the side of the VW Herbie the Love Bug in the original movie when the bug has 3 wheels.. stunt double for Buddy Hacket
I love how the "Automotive Historians" (great guys I'm sure!) come off a lil pompous in this video and Max is the total car guy, the everyday guy, hanging out in his garage, laughing about his great memories.
Car guys. Real car guys who just love their ownership rolls in some magnificent history. Boy, I love this stuff. You've got an encyclopedia under the hood, Jay. Stop taking the Lord's name in vain, Mr. Leno.
I owned a 66 jaguar built by Max for Haskel and sold it Rick Pekkonen Hollywood movie audio mixer I traded a 66 Corvette 327/350 hp. I kick myself for selling the Max built Jag
You can see the original Ol' Yeller at 5.25 in this video. It was a winner also! You can see more at: www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/MaxBalchowsky1.html#Thumbnails
37:20 hell yes its good in 1978 had a 63 XKE roadster with a 327 chevy & a Saginaw 4 speed got it reasonable sold for 199 percent profit worst mistake I want it back
dan conlan ....why would anyone ruin a Jaguar by putting a Garbage Motors produced boat anchor under its hood? Whoever would do such a thing is a complete and utter asshole....
@@branon6565 Those 6 cyl inline XKE engines are JUNK, and if you don't think they are then you've never owned one or worked on them, the tappets in those things are a joke, constantly broke, JUNK.
@@branon6565 Uh, little fella, are you calling Max Balchowsky "A complete and utter asshole" for putting an American engine into an XK-E, since he did that in Ol' Yeller Mark VIII? Just asking you, since you're obviously a self-annointed expert?
Funny Shelby talking about leading until the last lap. He qualified 2nd, and lead the first 31 laps of 50 before the gearbox broke. He also had the fastest lap in the race. I guess racing stories are like fishing stories! www.racingsportscars.com/race/Road_America-1960-07-31.html
Miss those days, my Dad and uncle Max provided lots of inspiration and I cherish those memories...
When Speed was actually about....speed.
The story of Old Yellar has been around "for ever" but this is the first documentary I've seen that actually covered the history behind Max & Ina and their accomplishments. It's a fascinating story and I'm thankful that Ernie Nagamatsu is keeping and caring for that old yellar car so meticulously. It certainly deserves the attention!! What a great piece of our American racing history!!
Two thoughts came to mind as I watched this: 1) I wish I’d had a chance to meet Ina; my life might have been different but I didn’t have the courage to pursue such a non-traditional career even though I had the knowledge. 2) now I understand why my twin brother wanted a V8 in his Tiger!
Great story!
Old Yeller II, 100% American Bad Ass.
Old Yeller 2 was at Goodwood this year.
An absolute delight. The story about Riverside's sophisticated Turn Six fans standing and cheering every time Ol' Yeller II came through expresses the spirit and impact of Max and Ina and their creation. Bravo! And Brava!
Thank you for the opportunity, Jerry and timbuctwo1.
Excellent presentation, thank you !
Those were the days, no 300 page rule book, no homologation papers. Was there a tech inspection? The air was dirty but our conscience was clean...
A ball turent gunner, a wife fabricator and retriever dog. The beginning of a great story and a hot rodding legend.
I agree, they need a movie on this. I just found out about it a few days ago on a jay leno's garage video that came out a few days ago.
I just learned about Max from Jay Leno’s Garage which had Max’s Old Yeller 2 race car. Thank you for posting this so we can get more perspective on a legendary American racer!
A truly wonderful video, I have had the pleasure of meeting mr Nagamatsu and this wonderful car a few times now and seeing the fantastic history and testimony of so many great names makes the story of Max Balchowsky one of the best.
Nicholas Lette van Oostvoorne I think he is the doctor that bought it from my dad.
An absolutely awesome documentary. A long gone era where the everyman COULD take on the big European guns on the track and win. That guy in his $500 BMW at the WRC is the closest thing today to that.
This whole era of US V8 sports car racing fascinates me - and also awesome that his wife Ina was a skilled mechanic in an era where most women were supposed to be June Cleaver types in the kitchen all day, raising the kids.
Ol' Yeller is probably what inspired cars like the AC Cobra, Sunbeam Tiger, as well as Italian cars with American V8s such as Bizzarrinis, Apollos (Balchowsky prepped the 'Thorndyke Special' Apollo in the Love Bug which also features an Old Yeller and also had an OY as a camera car!), Iso Grifos, Monteverdis etc.
i guess im asking randomly but does someone know of a trick to log back into an instagram account??
I was stupid lost my login password. I appreciate any help you can offer me
@Trey Brayden instablaster ;)
Wonderful little documentary about a real american hero along with his wife. I grew up in LA in the 50's and early 60's and remember his shop Hollywood Motors.I had no clue what was going on there. A Ball turret gunner is a brave man and this man did it all. - Reminds me of my father who i'm sure knew him.
Actually, and not to take away from what Max or anyone else for that matter did in the air war over Europe, but statistically the ball turret gunners had the highest survivability rate of anyone on those bombers.
I was shocked to find that out myself after hearing all my life that it was supposed to be the deadliest position on the crew but the reality is they had the highest survivability rate, maybe because they were all balled up in those turrets and made the smallest targets is why but whatever the reason they had the highest survivability rate of all the crewmen.
Great video Jerry! Thanks for e-mailing me the link. Amazing coincidence - I was sitting at my desk wearing my 'Old Yeller II' T-shirt when I received your e-mail. Now I better get back to work - shouldn't have spent 45 minutes watching a video in the middle of the day, but I couldn't stop myself!
Tommy Ivo credits Max for his success drag racing the T Bucket he built early on,
Ivo used to go to his shop where he learned how to port those Buick Nail head engines...
Thanks Tim, this was a great story about the most exciting period in automotive history....
Pete Brock, Carroll Shelby's employee that designed the Cobra Daytona body got his start in the business as a teenager working for Max at Hollywood Motors.
A very nice story. One that probably won’t be repeated in the future.
Max built several iconic cars.
What an awesome story. I am an avid fan of Rover(=ex. Buick) V8 powered Cars since a couple of years now. And the more you dig into that theme the more interesting things you find. Thank you guys for posting it here. B R from Munich Germany Harry :-)
This car was a 401 nailhead. Not a 3.5litre.
Brilliant, can't wait for the movie.
Great show, sadly, it reminded me of how much I miss the SPEED Channel.
Worth seeing Jay Leno garage driving old yeller 2. Jay has millions in cars and probably drove about every car you could imagine. In that episode, Jay says Jesus more than I have ever heard him say.
my first time to watch about Max, what an incredible story ! I hope someday it will be in the Petersen Automotive Museum as tribute to Max
Nooo! cars die in museums keep it rolling like it is.
Loved watching this. I had the chance to ride in #1 at a track day, didn't know the history, but was impressed with the car.
Un conte romantique. Apporte une larme à l'œil. Il est vraiment grande!
This is a great historical film about some amazing Americans. It is also proof that everyone with great skills does not have to have a great education to achieve Great things.
That is what real hot rodding was about. Going to the wrecking yard and finding the best pieces to put together and not spending a lot of money.
It's been years since I heard anyone talk of Max & Old Yeller. I remember reading about them back when I was in high school.
Absolutely enjoyed this video!
Without question, this has to be the next Ferrari vs Ford movie. ARE YOU LISTENING HOLLYWOOD!!!!! One thing I know about Ball Turret Gunners from WWII is these guys have balls bigger than their turrets. My best friend in L.A. when I was a kid, his father was a Ball Turrent gunner on a B-17 (Box K), in 1943 when things were not looking good for the 8th. Wayne Schofield was his name and he was a genius at repairing cars and owned a Texico station in Glendale California. I dam sure he knew Max as B-17 crews always got along with B-24 crews and they all lived in the same area by Burbank & Hollywood.
My children and my grandchildren can already smell the Butter Popcorn, and seeing a great Movie on Old Yeller and all its magic..............................!
That would be cool, except holllywood would mess it up like they did Ferrari v Ford. Still irks me they made a 'villain' out of Ken Miles.
Cool new video from Jay Leno driving this car and talking to its owner 😊
Who else is watching this after seeing the old yeller on the jay Leno car show? Lol.
actually it popped up on You Tube. Jays segment just made me more interested to spend 45 min
31:16 - Did you notice how careful Shelby was to avoid saying Ford when he said the Buick was actually better than the Chevy, Cadillac engines and “rest of the stuff.” lol, he knows who butters his bread. Love Ernie. He and Old Yeller II were recently featured on Jay Leno’s Garage.
Fantastic stories
I have one of those crates with a buick engine block and a few other mic engine parts in it.
I grew up in that time period. In LA. That was a time when the "Average" guy, went to the junk yards. And scrounged up Parts. Then spent their evenings putting cars together in their garages. A "sponsorship" was the local company giving you a case of oil. Or a set of tires. And your wife had to mend her dress, because all the extra money went into your cars. And a great win at the track might get you fifty dollars.
So why the Idaho license plates? Kinda cool to see them on such a famous little car. I live in a small town in Idaho and there's a pretty decent crowd of shade tree mechanics/hot rodders and I'm happy to be one of them.
Look close the next time you watch VIVA LAS VEGAS. Ol yeller2 is in the last race.. Also Max Balchowsky is the guy hanging out the side of the VW Herbie the Love Bug in the original movie when the bug has 3 wheels.. stunt double for Buddy Hacket
I love how the "Automotive Historians" (great guys I'm sure!) come off a lil pompous in this video and Max is the total car guy, the everyday guy, hanging out in his garage, laughing about his great memories.
Jay Leno does a moving piece on this mans life.
Simple elegance .
Car guys. Real car guys who just love their ownership rolls in some magnificent history. Boy, I love this stuff. You've got an encyclopedia under the hood, Jay.
Stop taking the Lord's name in vain, Mr. Leno.
Great stuff ... Oh my God .. Man was a genius
Watched old yeller at Santa Barbara when I was a kid.
No way .. That's awesome . had no idea there was a race track there
No way .. That's awesome . had no idea there used to be a racetrack in SB
Rooted for Old Yeller #1 at the Pomona Fairgrounds around 1958 or so. Loved that beautiful, ugly car.
Chalk lines on the garage floor , the first CAD CAM .
My Golden watches TV. He's always tail-waggin when he sees Ted.
My dad sold his Old Yeller to a Japanese doctor in Cali. Now it is in the museum!
wait a sec. Old Yeller 3 is in Petersen Museum. Old Yeller 2 is owned by a Japanese Dentist in CA.
@@gizzyguzzi Who races it regularly and widely!
Max reportedly had some friends at General motors.. That car was not a junk yard dog where it counted.
Tv used to be watchable!!
This car and Dr. Ernie were just featured on Jay Leno’s channel.
Random utube recommend. Great story
I’m here after Jay Leno vid
He was David in a Goliath World.........
I owned a 66 jaguar built by Max for Haskel and sold it Rick Pekkonen Hollywood movie audio mixer I traded a 66 Corvette 327/350 hp. I kick myself for selling the Max built Jag
start: 8:00
Here ya go Jerry!
You can see the original Ol' Yeller at 5.25 in this video. It was a winner also! You can see more at: www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/MaxBalchowsky1.html#Thumbnails
37:20 hell yes its good in 1978 had a 63 XKE roadster with a 327 chevy & a Saginaw 4 speed got it reasonable sold for 199 percent profit worst mistake I want it back
dan conlan ....why would anyone ruin a Jaguar by putting a Garbage Motors produced boat anchor under its hood? Whoever would do such a thing is a complete and utter asshole....
@@branon6565
Those 6 cyl inline XKE engines are JUNK, and if you don't think they are then you've never owned one or worked on them, the tappets in those things are a joke, constantly broke, JUNK.
@@branon6565 For dependability and economic reasons.
@@branon6565 Uh, little fella, are you calling Max Balchowsky "A complete and utter asshole" for putting an American engine into an XK-E, since he did that in Ol' Yeller Mark VIII? Just asking you, since you're obviously a self-annointed expert?
@@branon6565 Because they want to go fast reliably and not pee oil everywhere.
I learned something today , did you ?
"changed history" but only in america! haha.
More MAX: th-cam.com/video/GqLQLPt0yp4/w-d-xo.html
Funny Shelby talking about leading until the last lap. He qualified 2nd, and lead the first 31 laps of 50 before the gearbox broke. He also had the fastest lap in the race. I guess racing stories are like fishing stories! www.racingsportscars.com/race/Road_America-1960-07-31.html