Joaquin Arnett

Hi, I'm Jackie, I am Joaquin and Viola Arnetts' daughter. My blog will archive memories, facts and photos about Joaquin Arnett and the San Diego Bean Bandits, one of California's first "multicultural" drag racing clubs. Many folks have promised Dad a book or movie about the Bandits. I want to acknowledge those folks that have recognized him. I will list then in another section of this writing. He has encouraged me many times to write his story, sadly he is now unable to enjoy this project. He has shared with me many things that are important to him. My brother, Jeff, dad's sister, cousins and friends will help me accomplish this. This is a work in progress, I will be attempting to post something each day. I have added a short biography on this link. Joaquin Arnetts' Biography

I will begin with the mind-bogglingly present. I say mind-boggling owing to one unfortunate fact. He now suffers from the debilitating disease of alzheimer. It has stolen a huge support and has rocked my world. This has been a wicked adjustment for my family and me. I have always seen my father to be a bigger than life figure. He is brilliant and I believe a mechanical genius. Of course I am biased, but it still is the truth!!.

3-3-09
I want to clarify, I am not an expert on racing, cars or the "how to" of making the cars. I have been on the sidelines of the racing community for years. My dad and brothers, Sonny and Jeffrey, were the ones doing this drag racing stuff. My intent here is to tell the story of my hero, Joaquin Arnett, a drag racing pioneer.

I watched a man driven with unending zeal. He was driven to design and build cars. Always working on cars and trying to make them go faster. Dad and his childhood friends worked together to accomplish the”go fast” goal. They called themselves the Bean Bandits.

I also want to commemorate my brother, Joaquin Arnett III, “Sonny”. He died on May 7th 1995 at El Mirage. He was going over 200 mph in the streamliner.. It was his dream to set a new world record. He wanted to go an average speed of 409 in a two way run over a seven-mile course at Bonneville. He was on his way and was very happy the day his life was taken from us. He was doing what he loved. According to those with him that day. He was was full of smiles and glee and having a grand time. It was a tragic day for my family and his friends.I want to thank all the people that helped us get through this horrific time. I have not been able to write about it until now. This is where my heart was stuck for the longest time.

3-7-09
I have so many memories and creative adventures in my life. It is difficult to start putting them into an organized pattern. They are intermingled with today and long ago. There are many thoughts and feelings. Evoking a wide gamut of emotions. They range from positive, proud, happy, funny, and some trigger resentment, fear and sadness. I would like to include stories of the members of the early bean bandits. We have lost many of them and of course this web log is my point of view. Yet, I would like to hear more about the other bandits. And others' stories of dad. Please feel free to contribute to this blog.

3-14-09
Our family really appreciate Fabians' safeguarding and preserving the cars. I am happy to say that Fabian restored the big streamliner. He painted it and placed additional names on the car it looks great. Many thanks to all of Young Bean Bandits, (I affectionately call them). They are keeping the spirit and enthusiasm the Bean Bandits going. This is a group of talented and dedicated individuals. My father knows this group and they helped dad with the cars many times. They visit dad at the center he is living and keep in touch with him. You can see some of these photos on these links; Fabians’ and The Young Bean Bandits

3-26-09

Dad was in close contact with his friends. Despite not having email, cell phones, internet or Skype. They would gather, work on the car and play together. Our families would visit and share great homemade Mexican food. Of course all of our food back them was homemade. They gathered together with little money and lots of zeal and enthusiasm. Dad made new friends in the racing world and worked together with them to build the sport of racing. This was in the day when Wally Parks was working to make drag racing safe and established the NHRA. The Bean Bandits worked closely with the NHRA and other pioneer racers to take racing off the streets and create the sport of drag racing. The biggest story for me is what it was like for the family of these great guys and how my mother and their families and friends supported the club with their involvement in their quest for speed. My uncle, Emery Cook, another drag racing pioneer was married to dads' sister, Noralund. Affectionally called "Aunt Boogie" Uncle Cook was a fierce competitor in the race for speed. My dad and him would compete and would even share some of their secrets about the engines. Dad really admired and respected him…………….

3-28-09

For the first 15 years of my life we spent most weekends at the drag races. We were mostly at Paradise Valley Drag strip in the beginning. Mom would pack the truck up with big pots of beans and rice and her homemade tortillas. She would open up the tailgate and serve the guys when they got hungry. Some of the other women would help with this. So we were set up for the day. The women in the club would wear blue jeans and white blouses. They were cotton shirt type blouses and they would tie up the fronts into bows making a midriff blouse. The guys wore blue jeans and white shirts. They all stood out and looked great. We were the only ones at the races with food of our own and all uniformly dressed. I just thought it was so cool. This was in the early stages of racing. Before there were pit passes and the rules for safe racing were in the early stage of development. No sponsors or fancy equipment.

I remember I could run around just about anywhere on the raceway. We were told by mom to stay off the track. The excitement of the starting line was just too much to resist. Many times I would gleefully run up to the start, just before dad’s car would take off. All the guys would be pushing the car and I would be right behind them trying to help. I would jump for joy as the car took off. But then I would be discovered and redirected out of the area by one of the guys. My cousin and the other kids would run out to the canyons then and play. The drag strip was not crowded back then. You could see people and all the cars easily on both sides of the track. The “trophy queens” as I called them hung out at the starting line or near it. This was another attraction of being at the line up. Occasionally mom would give me some money to buy something at the very small concession stand. My brother Sonny was too small to run around at this time so he stayed near the car with mom. She made sure I checked in every 30 minutes or so. My favorite times were when dad would let me ride in the truck. We would go and retrieve the roadster after a run. Tow or push it back for the next run. Dad was always in good spirits on these days.

I loved to watch them from the sidelines. Dad loved doing his magic on the engines and was very protective of the car. He acted as both a driver and crew chief with the club. Some of the first men in my life were my dad’s closest friends. Among them were, Carlos Ramirez, Andrew Ortega, Louie Nahara and Pat Duran. They were a part of my family. Carlos and Rosie lived nearby and we would spend time at their home. Dad always was the lead of this unique cluster of men. And the guys would refer to him as chief. This was the nickname they gave to him. However, Carlos’ nickname for dad was “Bubba”. As a young child it was obvious to me. The fun they were all having as they worked to make the car go faster. They always got the needed work done. I watched them blow engines, and tires. They would change the tires, replace parts and change the fuel mixtures. They would yell, and the quickly take out the engine, put it back together again. And the car would be ready for the next run again. This cycle would continue depending on the outcome of the race. I watched their excitement, kidding around and energy. As they worked together they would often bump into one another, laugh and exchange joyful grumblings and yes, colorful language. These are the men I knew, and they came to be known as the Bean Bandits.

They won races and had the passion to win more races. They painted the roadster a bright yellow. At first the bean bandit was an outline drawing on the car. Billy Galvin another of Dads' buddies painted an outline of the first Bean Bandit on the car. Dad loved that color and Bob McCoy painted a colorful Bean on the yellow roadster. They got beautiful yellow jackets and would wear them proudly. Mom even had one and I was upset because I did not have one. So I would wear dads that covered my entire body. The Bandits started to travel away from home to Ramona, Miramar, Santa Ana, and other southern California raceway. But the heart of their racing in the beginning was at Paradise Mesa. This is where several pioneers got their starts. This is where dad met fellow racers and lifetime friends

............................ja..~:)

I have included a commemorative page for my brother Sonny Arnett.