Dyno Dons 1962 Bel Air... please help his daughter Cindy, retrieve it

Brent

Member
I saw this post from Jackee Allen on Nitromater.com and she's trying to get the word to as many people as possible. Here's Jackee's post:

I received the email below, from Cindy Nicholson today and I am passing part of it on to all of you in the NHRA community with the hope that someone may be able to help her and her family retrieve her Dad's 1962 Bel Air Race Car & Trailer. The letter below Cindy's note to me is from the investigator retained by the Nicholson family to help Mr. Davis see the error of his ways in keeping property which rightfully belongs to Cindy and her family. Please pass this along.

Jackee
--------------------------------
Hi Jackee.

.........you are my best internet resource! As a last resort this letter is being released to the Drag Racing community in hopes that someone will help us recover my Dad's last race car and trailer. This has been ongoing for some time and I haven't alerted the Drag Racing community due to the scandal but at this point I have no other choice. If anyone address's you with information about the car please have them call 949-743-3645 which will have an answering machine that I will update information on as it comes available. I will address any messages left for me on that number within 48 hours. I am also going to list an eBay auction for pictures with this information and the call number will have a telephone contact for Greg Davis(the person with the race car and trailer) if anyone would care to call him and voice their opinion on our behalf. Please spread this letter throughout the racing community.

Your help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Cindy

---------------------------------
Letter from Cindy's attorney.

SJE Investigations
Mailing:
P O Box 777397 (702) 407-0136 Office
Henderson, NV 89077 (702) 407-0596 Fax
CANV-subrosa@cox.net


November 18, 2006

RE: Dyno Don Nicholson
1962 Bel Air Race Car and Trailer

Dear NHRA Members,

My services have been requested by Cindy Nicholson Christie, daughter of "Dyno" Don Nicholson, to assist her in locating Don’s last race car, a 1962 Bel Air bubbletop and trailer (Black with "Russell" painted in red and orange on the side with "Dyno Don" painted in the corner).

Cindy has given her consent to this information being disseminated to the NHRA community, in hopes of possibly acquiring some valuable leads.
Shortly before Don’s illness, Don made a verbal agreement with Greg Davis, (a former crew member of Don’s) to store Don’s Bel Air race car and trailer. Mr. Davis agreed to store the car in lieu of payments that weren't being made on a promissory note owed to Don by Mr. Davis.

Cindy was advised in 2004 by a friend that Mr. Davis was moving to NV, at which time she called Mr. Davis and tried to make arrangements to pick up race car and trailer. Mr. Davis advised her that there was no rush and he would contact her when the race car and trailer needed to be moved. After months of no contact family members drove to the property and realized Mr. Davis and the trailer were gone. Upon Don’s death early this year, Cindy contacted Mr. Davis at which time he became unresponsive and could not be located. There were rumors that Mr. Davis was planning to sell the car.

In February of 2006, I was retained by the Nicholson family in hopes of locating Mr. Davis and Don’s car. Information revealed that Mr. Davis was residing in the Las Vegas, NV area. I subsequently located Mr. Davis at his place of work but was unable to locate the vehicle. Further investigation proved the vehicle to be in the Riverside, CA area.

At the end of February, Cindy Nicholson and some family members, made a trip to Las Vegas and confronted Mr. Davis at his place of business. At this time Mr. Davis did in fact admit the vehicle belonged to the Nicholson family.
He stated there was now money owed to him for storage of the vehicle in the amount of $5,300 (Five Thousand Three Hundred Dollars). The $7,000 (Seven Thousand Dollars) promissory note owed to Don was still outstanding and not a payment had been made. Mr. Davis agreed to stay in contact and work out an agreement with the Nicholson family. Cindy and the Nicholson family returned home to California. Shortly following this meeting Mr. Davis again became unresponsive and would not return Cindy’s telephone calls.

On November 12, 2006, Don's Granddaughter Candace found the car for sale on eBay with a minimum reserve price of $100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Dollars). At this time Cindy arranges with a close friend to set up a meeting with Mr. Davis to inspect the car.

On November 13, 2006, the Nicholson family contacted their local Police Department and filed an embezzlement report, at which time she finds a detective that will take the case with the understanding the outcome could still be a civil matter.

On November 15, Mr. Davis agrees and meets with this individual at a single family residence in Mira Loma, CA (Riverside County). At which time, Cindy’s friend finds the car and trailer in a dirt lot behind a rural home. The car appears to be in good condition and is housed in the trailer.

On November 16, 2006, the Nicholson family return to the residence in Mira Loma advised by local police in hopes of speaking with Mr.Davis. Mr. Davis is located at the residence but is unwilling to release the car and trailer to the Nicholson family. At that time Cindy offered Mr. Davis the $5,300 he had requested to pick up the race car and trailer and have her property returned to her. The police are subsequently dispatched to this location. The police inform the parties this is a civil matter and they need a court order to remove the race car and trailer from the property. Cindy and her family (Daughter and Son-In-Law) continued to maintain surveillance in fear of the car disappearing again until they could obtain a court order. They are approached by some local residents in the area, and possibly one that resides at the Mira Loma residence where the car is being housed. At this point they are advised at gunpoint to leave the area. They departed the area and called the police. Upon arrival, the police indicate nothing can be done as it would be a civil matter.

On November 17, 2006, Cindy receives a Temporary Restraining Order and Notice of Hearing issued out of Orange County signed by Commissioner Walter D. Posey issuing property control of the car and trailer to Cindy until the hearing is scheduled for December 12, 2006. Cindy returns back to the Mira Loma residence, neither Mr. Davis, the car, or the trailer are at this site. The police are once again called and the occupants at this residence are uncooperative with the police.

Cindy and the Nicholson family are limited in funds for attorney and investigation fees; therefore, my services at this time are being provided to the family at no cost. The family would like to explore all possible avenues of locating Don’s race car and trailer. I am willing to share my information with individuals that can provide further leads to bring resolution to this matter.
The Nicholson family appreciates any assistance the NHRA community can provide.

Regards,

Steve Eggert
Owner

http://www.nitromater.com/nhra/3643...-please-help-his-daughter-cindy-retrieve.html
 

Astro409

Well Known Member
This reminds me of when the guy (that was suppost to be a friend) redoing my 64 Impala's interior stole my car. When I sent to pick up my car I was told the car had been sold.:mad: I asked why they did that?:dunno Well, I took too long to pay and pick it up.:bang I reminded him that I had gone many times during the first three months after it was suppost to be finished but was only greeted with extra expenses.:cuss I reminded him I had given him a few months to finished the car and that's why he hadn't heard from me in six months. Well, supposly he couldn't get a hold of me so he filed for a lien title.:rolleyes: He knew I wouldn't get any letters because he knew the title transfer hadn't been done. He also knew both of my body shops, my mom's address, and his friends happen to be the same people that were my friends:scratch but he can't get a hold of me?:eek: He kept my car for almost 7 years.:mad: But when I found out where my car was and after a little investigation I went to confront him with about 10 of my friends.:brow I also let him know that I wasn't moving from there without my car if it ment to do illegal things I would regret.:evil Oh, I got my car back but you can't began to imagine how I hate the experience.
 

tripowerguy

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 3
There are crooks out there who have no scruples and would steal an orphans last meal and not lose any sleep. In wish someone would keep up on what happens with Don's car. Don was a personal friend of mine in 58 thru 61 and you will not find a more caring and all around nice guy than Don Nicholson was. His car should be given to the daughter no questions asked. If this Davis guy would have used a gun to steal the car the Cops would be johnny on the spot. I don't see any diffence in what he did than that, the guy is a crook and deserves to go to jail. I did a concrete job for a contractor and he gave me a check and I signed a lien waiver. I went to the bank to cash the check and the account was closed. I called the cops and they said it was a civil matter I needed to get a lawyer. The guy stole from me $900 just like Davis stole Don's car. :cuss Roy
 

rstreet

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 17
Roy:
We had a Z11 issue on the forum awhile back possibly involving the dealership that sold Don's z-11. Did they get two Z-11's down in Atlanta dealership
 

DaveFoster

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 4
I live right near where all this crap took place, Mira Loma California, and it doesn't surprise me at all. Just about all the lots are half acre or better with some really run down houses next to well kept houses. Every week someone gets shot and killed, drug deals, gang wars, and car strippers flourish here, last summer a guy riding a bicycle down the street stops and pulls out a gun and shots some guy dead chasing his victum into a store to finish him off with three more bullets, then hops on his bike and rides off into the sunset. There are gulleys and ravines where cars are stripped and left, which are only accessible through private property, an obvious hinderence for law enforcement who can only come on this property if they get called or chase someone there. My gut feeling is that Dyno nDon's car was moved a short distance to another Mira Loma location, lots of barns, sheds, metal buildings, and blockwalled yards to hide a trailer.
 

petepedlar

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 3
I just thought I'd respond to this post to keep it current. This Davis guy needs a visit from Vito...... you all know him, he's the big guy that doesn't say much & carries a big stick.

Dave
 

Tom Kochtanek

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 13
Had my hands on it today!

Rusty asks: "Has anybody heard any updates on this ???"

I saw this vehicle with my own eyes this past weekend in KC. The new owner is Leland Ellerman, from Salem, Missouri. You can reach him at (573) 729-6599. Good guy. Went through a lot of trouble (mostly legal) to validate the car and it's ownership.

I won't go into a lot of detail, but apparently the scam was initiated by the daughter, who is seeking to cash in on Dyno Don's legacy. He reportedly did not want her to benefit from any of his estate. Let's just say it's a "dependency problem" and leave it at that.

The good news is that Leland is a great guy, he wants to keep Dyno Don's name and legacy as a part of racing history, and he bought the car by mortgaging his house to do just that. I asked him if he just wrote a check out, and he replied "there are days when I don't even make minimum wage". Salem, MO is a small town and Leland is a collision repair specialist there. The other good news is that Leland has offered to share his new acquisition with us if we were to have an event. He noted that we were pretty close in geography, and that if I ever wanted him to bring the car up for some event, he'd be glad to comply. He did not ask for a fee, but I would expect that covering his expenses would be the right way to go about it. Leland is genuinely interested in this piece of history and does not seem to be out to capitalize on the situation.

Here is a pic from earlier today (Sunday October 7th) of me and the actual car. Call Leland if you want to know the details and what he went through to validate the vehicle. Tell him you talked to Tom from Columbia and he might remember :).

TomO was there with me and he might have a word or two to add. BTW, the car is really neat, but it's not a 409 car. This car was probably built in the 80s by Don, and I recall he and Arnie Beswick, Malcolm Durham and others were planning some sort of nostalgia reunion that never came off. I got this from Arnie himself, and he showed me pics from around the late 80s that showed various cars they had remade to replicate their originals. Most of you know that Arnie has had a number of 1965 GTO "Tigers" made over the years. I'm guessing Don's '62 was made along those lines.

Enjoy the pics!


Cheers!

TomK
 

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Rusty Everitt

 
Supporting Member 1
TomK,
Very enlightening update. Was there any discussion about the original 62 Bel Air ? I'm trying to sift through some BS that someone told me about the original car. Don's mechanic, Earl Wade , was suppose to have called me a while back with some info on the car but I never heard from him.
Rusty
 

Tom Kochtanek

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 13
Other vehicle

I don't know anything about the original car, other than I wish it were in my garage :).

Let us know if you find something interesting out!

Best,
TomK
 

Speed

 
Supporting Member 1
Rusty asks: "Has anybody heard any updates on this ???"

I saw this vehicle with my own eyes this past weekend in KC. The new owner is Leland Ellerman, from Salem, Missouri. You can reach him at (573) 729-6599. Good guy. Went through a lot of trouble (mostly legal) to validate the car and it's ownership.

I won't go into a lot of detail, but apparently the scam was initiated by the daughter, who is seeking to cash in on Dyno Don's legacy. He reportedly did not want her to benefit from any of his estate. Let's just say it's a "dependency problem" and leave it at that.

The good news is that Leland is a great guy, he wants to keep Dyno Don's name and legacy as a part of racing history, and he bought the car by mortgaging his house to do just that. I asked him if he just wrote a check out, and he replied "there are days when I don't even make minimum wage". Salem, MO is a small town and Leland is a collision repair specialist there. The other good news is that Leland has offered to share his new acquisition with us if we were to have an event. He noted that we were pretty close in geography, and that if I ever wanted him to bring the car up for some event, he'd be glad to comply. He did not ask for a fee, but I would expect that covering his expenses would be the right way to go about it. Leland is genuinely interested in this piece of history and does not seem to be out to capitalize on the situation.

Here is a pic from earlier today (Sunday October 7th) of me and the actual car. Call Leland if you want to know the details and what he went through to validate the vehicle. Tell him you talked to Tom from Columbia and he might remember :).

TomO was there with me and he might have a word or two to add. BTW, the car is really neat, but it's not a 409 car. This car was probably built in the 80s by Don, and I recall he and Arnie Beswick, Malcolm Durham and others were planning some sort of nostalgia reunion that never came off. I got this from Arnie himself, and he showed me pics from around the late 80s that showed various cars they had remade to replicate their originals. Most of you know that Arnie has had a number of 1965 GTO "Tigers" made over the years. I'm guessing Don's '62 was made along those lines.

Enjoy the pics!


Cheers!

TomK

Dyno with the legendary Earl Wade at his side,raced Arnie a bunch with this car..Super Chevys, & many other venues...6 or 7 years worth.
I'm glad this man has the car.......(a promod style 62)
We saw Don often from '89 to about '97-'98.
(Pretty cool seeing the old Russell Chapparal trailer too!)..your pictures
 

Jerod Jardine

Well Known Member
Rusty asks: "Has anybody heard any updates on this ???"

I saw this vehicle with my own eyes this past weekend in KC. The new owner is Leland Ellerman, from Salem, Missouri. You can reach him at (573) 729-6599. Good guy. Went through a lot of trouble (mostly legal) to validate the car and it's ownership.

I won't go into a lot of detail, but apparently the scam was initiated by the daughter, who is seeking to cash in on Dyno Don's legacy. He reportedly did not want her to benefit from any of his estate. Let's just say it's a "dependency problem" and leave it at that.

The good news is that Leland is a great guy, he wants to keep Dyno Don's name and legacy as a part of racing history, and he bought the car by mortgaging his house to do just that. I asked him if he just wrote a check out, and he replied "there are days when I don't even make minimum wage". Salem, MO is a small town and Leland is a collision repair specialist there. The other good news is that Leland has offered to share his new acquisition with us if we were to have an event. He noted that we were pretty close in geography, and that if I ever wanted him to bring the car up for some event, he'd be glad to comply. He did not ask for a fee, but I would expect that covering his expenses would be the right way to go about it. Leland is genuinely interested in this piece of history and does not seem to be out to capitalize on the situation.

Here is a pic from earlier today (Sunday October 7th) of me and the actual car. Call Leland if you want to know the details and what he went through to validate the vehicle. Tell him you talked to Tom from Columbia and he might remember :).

TomO was there with me and he might have a word or two to add. BTW, the car is really neat, but it's not a 409 car. This car was probably built in the 80s by Don, and I recall he and Arnie Beswick, Malcolm Durham and others were planning some sort of nostalgia reunion that never came off. I got this from Arnie himself, and he showed me pics from around the late 80s that showed various cars they had remade to replicate their originals. Most of you know that Arnie has had a number of 1965 GTO "Tigers" made over the years. I'm guessing Don's '62 was made along those lines.

Enjoy the pics!


Cheers!

TomK
Just cause you buy a car dosen't mean you legally own it. The car does have a title and this guy in mo doesn't have it. Cindie has the title to the car, the problem is that Mo won;t recognize a ca title. Greg is a slime ball that took advantage of Don and the Nicholson family when Don was failing . Greg is nothing more than a car theif. He moved the car around alot and kept it hid out. It would show up here and there around so cal and was allways guarded and the gun play was prety common. The car and it's wereabouts kinda slipped away because Cindi was more concerned about her Father and Mothers health. Don really helped this guy out money wise And made the "payment plan" whith Don when he wasn't mentally 100%. I think it's awfully rude to say that Cindie is trying to "cash" in on dons history. And A scam? It's Greg and this Leland character that are the guys pulling the scam. It's obvious you don't know Cindie or any of the other family. Her intention now and allways has been to put the car in the NHRA museum, not sell it off for a hundred grand. Cindie has asked me and my father to go get the car. From what I've heard this Leland character is not real popular in the small town of Salem. We were offered help from a few entitties that have delt with him personally. The local sheriff has offered to help as much as he could leagally. As far as I'm concerned this Leland guy is a not much farther below in the spectram as Greg Davis.
Truly,
Jerod Jardine.
 

rstreet

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 17
This thread is becoming interesting. Sounds like some stories I hear in my office:scratch
robert
 

petepedlar

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 3
My take on the whole thing is I think Cindi owns the car....... the only one who has said anything against her happens to be the guy that has the car.......

Dave
 

skipxt4

Well Seasoned Member
Supporting Member 18
It appears to be pretty cut and dried. A blood relative that possesses the title.:dunno Of course, I'm sure there are other factors involved. Skip:)
 

Jerod Jardine

Well Known Member
The car used to have a vin # on it. It doesn't now and Leland has a MO title. Most of the car is an originall '62(not Dons). It's been back halfed with a 4 link so most of the originall car is there. I'm no lawyer but would suspect that the car is now titled as homebuilt. If Leland is such a good guy and really concerned about Dons legacy you'd think he would of looked in to the real story. The car has history and and this history is easy to find. I don't know what he paid for the car, it was listed on e-bay for 100 grand. 100 grand would be a steal for a turn key pro built car. Put Don's name on it and the short history of being Don's last car 100 grand looks better and better, maybe good enough to overlook the fact that the guy selling the car to you dosen't own it. If it were my car to sell I wouldn't throw it on ebay a few months before the Barret-Jackson. Unless I was trying to dump it and keep it on the down low. Greg Davis didn't have any money in the car other than "storage fees" and he admitted that Cindi owns the car, it's all gravy to him.
I don't mean to ramble on but Don was a dear friend of my dads and his family are close friends of ours. Leland and Mr Davis are crooks and are slandering the Nicholson family to justify the theft of the car.
Thanks,
Jerod Jardine
 

Speed

 
Supporting Member 1
My take on the whole thing is I think Cindi owns the car....... the only one who has said anything against her happens to be the guy that has the car.......

Dave


there are others...

2 sides to every story......(as we all know)
 
Dyno Don ...

Had the great pleasure of meeting this very knowledgeable man and talked for a long time about 409s, bubbletops and his career ... i told him about a magazine i saw about his 61 409 super stocker that he rolled in west virginia/ohio line while flat-towing it ... he was able to repair it to win the nationals that summer i believe ... great honest likeable man makes you wonder how someone could do that to him after he passed on ... a real first class racer he was ...
 
I saw the car in the late 80s or early 90s ...

went to the us nationals and saw don run it down at indy he ran in the 9s if i do recall ... he was still putting the car together as he inquired on some trim parts etc. nicest most honest chevy man there was too bad for this soap opera and the car ...
 

chevy man

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 9
I was just reading this thread... (very interesting). Salem Mo. is very close to my area. Does anyone have a update on this?.................................................Ken:scratch
 
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