LAND SPEED RECORD

www.samuelhawley.com

HOME BOOKS BIOGRAPHY FORTHCOMING CONTACT LINKS

Samuel Hawley is a writer of narrative nonfiction and fiction. His books are highly eclectic. He has written about 16th-century East Asian history, 19th-century Korean-American relations, Olympic sprinting and land speed racing and a circus elephant named Topsy who was electrocuted in 1903. He lives in Kingston, Ontario.

FLYING CADUCEUS: PHOTOS (PART 2)

Nathan Ostich loses a wheel when he returns to the salt with Caduceus in 1962 (courtesy Ron Christensen)

Caduceus after the 1962 spin-out; Ostich escaped unharmed (courtesy Ron Christensen)

Caduceus' front wheel was torn right off (courtesy Ron Christensen)

Caduceus crew members and onlookers eye the damage (courtesy Ron Christensen)

Another shot of the damaged racer, a fire extinguisher close at hand (courtesy Ron Christensen)

The Caduceus returns to Bonneville in 1963 with a tail (courtesy Alan Bradshaw)

Project principals Ray Brock (left) and Alan Bradshaw with the Caduceus, 1963 (courtesy Alan Bradshaw)

Nathan Ostich, "Doc," with the Flying Caduceus, 1963 (courtesy Alan Bradshaw)

Ostich in the cockpit, 1963, with brother John Ostich (left), Alan Bradshaw (center) and Ray Brock looking on (courtesy Alan Bradshaw)

An autograph collected by a young fan back in 1960: "Flying Caduceus, Nathan Ostich MD" (courtesy Ron Christensen)

Update (July 26, 2012): Here's a reminiscence about Nathan Ostich:

“I really enjoyed the part of your book where you talked about Dr. Nathan Ostich and his involvement in the Land Speed Record attempts, since he was our family physician. I remember going to his office for routine check ups and having him look in my ears with his exam light and saying ‘I see carrots and potatoes in there.’ It was a long time ago, but I remember him as a very pleasant man and it was always a good experience to go to his office. He took out my tonsils when I was five years old and he delivered my sister." (David Heath, Orangevale, CA)