San Bernardino Krankers

The Krankers were good to promote safety among the kids of San Bernardino. This is a newspaper clipping from The Daily Sun, March 18th 1954.

The Krankers, 1955. Photo by George Contaoi.

A lineup with the San Bernardino Krankers from 1955. George Contaoi's 1955 Ford F-100 is the second car from the back.

A photo from the same session as above.

George Contaoi's 1941 Ford Tudor, of San Bernardino, California was restyled in 1950.

George Contaoi's 1941 Mercury Coupe of San Bernardino, California. George was a member of the San Bernardino Krankers car club. He bought the Merc in 1952, began restyling it in 1953, and completed the build in 1956. The work was performed by George, Al Andrade, and Dick Richardson at Dick Richardson's Custom Shop. The car survived, and was still around in 2020. At the time it was located in Barstow, California.

Lloyd C. Hammond's 1949 Ford of San Bernardino, California. Lloyd was a member of the San Bernardino Krankers and his car was known as "The Majestic Lady." The first iteration of his Ford was completed circa 1958.

George Contaoi's 1949 Oldsmobile fastback of San Bernardino, California. George's Olds was restyled in 1955.

Larry Sheckler's 1950 Ford.

Pete Gallegos' 1953 Ford.

Wayne Wright's 1953 Studebaker Starlight Coupe - Karat Kart.

Dick Lindsley's 1954 Mercury.

Bill Franks' 1955 Chevrolet.

George Contaoi's 1955 Ford F-100 of San Bernardino, California, was restyled by Dick Richardson's Custom Shop and Barris Kustoms in 1956. Von Dutch striped it and made a mural on the tailgate along with Dean Jeffries.

Jim Davis' 1956 Ford.

Mike Bradley's 1957 Chevrolet.

Bob Webster's 1957 Chevrolet of San Bernardino, California. Bob was a member of the San Bernardino Krankers car club, and his car was known as "El Tigere". It was restyled circa 1957-1958.

George Contaoi's 1957 Ford Fairlane, of San Bernardino, California was restyled by Dick Richardson's Custom Shop in 1957.

Hilton Vail's 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 of San Bernardino, California. Hilton was an active member of the Krankers from 1958 to 1961. He bought the Ford brand new, and completed the build circa 1958.

Dick Merrell's 1958 Chevrolet Impala.

Louis Elizarrarez' 1958 Chevrolet Impala.

Pete Newton's 1958 Pontiac Chieftain.

A photo of Krankers President Richard V. Guzman with his 1954 Ford custom. Taken in 1958, this photo appeared in The San Bernardino County Sun Sunday, May 25, 1958.

The 2nd annual Krankers Motor Revue 1958 was held on June 7 and 8 1958 at the National Orange Show Grounds, San Bernardino, California.

Poster from the Krankers Motor Revue 1959.

From the San Bernardino County Sun, June 18th, 1959, showing Lee Rhodes' 1930 Ford.

The San Bernardino Krankers was a car club out of San Bernardino, California. According to the father of hydraulics, Ron Aguirre, the Krankers was the premier car club in San Bernardino County. They were based in the city of Rialto, California. Founded by members out of San Bernardino High School in the late 1940s, the club had about 50 - 75 members. Ron believes the club was disbanded in the late 1970s or early 1980s. They began hosting their annual Krankers Motor Revue shows in 1957.

Marbles

In 2014 George Contaoi told Olav Kvipt of Kustomrama that when the Krankers would embrace new members, each of the members were given a set of marbles, one black and one white. Next they secretly put the marbles in a box, if all the marbles where white, then the new candidate member could join the club as a worthy member. If one or more marbles in the box turned out to be black, then the candidate member would be rejected.

Car Shows Hosted by The Krankers

Krankers Motor Revue

Members

Alexander I. Castro
Bert Leithold - President in 1954
Bill Franks
Bob Baskett - President in 1957
Bob Webster
Dick Lindsley
Dick Merrell
Douglas Lindsey
George Contaoi
Hilton Vail
Jim Crosby
Jim Davis
Larry Sheckler
Lloyd C. Hammond
Louis Elizarrarez
Mike Bradley
Pete Gallegos
Pete Newton
Richard Audeoud
Richard V. Guzman - President in 1958
Ron Aguirre
Wayne Wright

Club Cars

George Contaoi's 1941 Ford Tudor
George Contaoi's 1941 Mercury Coupe
Lloyd C. Hammond's 1949 Ford - The Majestic Lady
George Contaoi's 1949 Oldsmobile Fastback
Larry Sheckler's 1950 Ford
Pete Gallegos' 1953 Ford
Wayne Wright's 1953 Studebaker Starlight Coupe - Karat Kart
Richard Guzman's 1954 Ford
Dick Lindsley's 1954 Mercury - Creme d' Mint
Bill Franks' 1955 Chevrolet
George Contaoi's 1955 Ford F-100
Ron Aguirre's 1956 Chevrolet Corvette - The X-Sonic
Jim Davis' 1956 Ford
Jim Crosby's 1957 Buick
Bob Webster's 1957 Chevrolet
Mike Bradley's 1957 Chevrolet George Contaoi's 1957 Ford Fairlane
Hilton Vail's 1957 Ford Fairlane 500
Dick Merrell's 1958 Chevrolet Impala
Louis Elizarrarez' 1958 Chevrolet Impala
Pete Newton's 1958 Pontiac Chieftain