our history

In the summer of 1956, Don Birshell, Mike Clancey, Mike de Mars, and Jim Ward started the Gearlords Car Club of San Diego as seniors at Spring Valley's Mt. Miguel High School. It was hot rodding hey day and most car magazines were running stories of different club cars, cars and builders, as well as club name list and ads for plaque vendors. According to Mike De Mars, the guys all thought the Gearlords name sounded cool and so it was. The club grew as the members met like minded car guys who were interested in hanging with the group and making runs to races and shows. As with any automotive event, people meet people and lots of these people were members or associates of other clubs. Southern California was definitely the hot spot of activity for hot rodding and there were plenty of events to attend. Some of the local clubs are still active. The Prowlers, likely the longest running active club in the country, were well known and popular since they had been around from 1947. Notables like the Aristocrats, Poorboys, and the Over The Hill Gang would join countless other area clubs at Southwest events organized by RTA, SCTA, and IHRA. The Gearlords went to various Drag races legal and not. The club raced the '30 Coupe at Hour Glass, Paradise Mesa, and Highway 67 in Lakeside among other places. The club slowly became dissociated after the running of the article in Hot Rod Magazine mostly out of economic and time related demands of family and career responsibilities.