Its driver, 23-year-old Navy Veteran and Cal Poly student Donald Turnupseed, suddenly turned in front of the Porsche to take the left fork onto Route 41. At approximately 5:15 p.m., Deans party hit the road, driving west on Route 466 toward Paso Robles, approximately 60 miles away. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. It even made an appearance at Indianapolis Raceway Park during the NHRA Drag Racing Championship tracks grand opening in 1960. It can easily be missed unless you know its there. In 1981 he too died in a car crash. Drag images here or select from your computer for Donald Gene Turnupseed memorial. Donald Gene Turnupseed was the driver of the 1950 Ford Tudor that collided with a 1956 Porsche Spyder driven by the famed actor James Dean on September 30, 1955. . Dean was traveling at a moderate speed estimated to be around 55-60 mph on this isolated road, with the sun in his eyes. I can't tell you the number of times I've been able to easily see alights-on oncoming car against sun glare. His mechanic Rolf Wutherich, who was in the passenger seat, was flung from the car and sustained serious injured. from Paso Robles to Fresno to see a girl friend. If you pull off to the side of the road, its still possible to walk on part of the crumbling pavement, with weeds sprouting in the middle, and imagine that little silver Porsche speeding past. Bill, the simulation (with narration) is at the URL I posted. One shot is of Turnupseed's wrecked Ford Tudor sedan, which collided with Dean's car almost head-on; the other two show the shattered remains of Dean's 1955 Porsche . Hickman, following the Spyder in Deans Ford woodie station wagon pulling the trailer, was also ticketed for driving 20 mph over the limit, as the speed limit for all vehicles towing a trailer was 45 mph. English Dean unleashed his Porsche 550 and left Hickman and the Ford station wagon far behind. I love cars and I love writing about them Should dogs put their heads out car windows? How> could the sun be setting behind him? After Dr. Eschrich striped the car of its engine and any other salvageable racing components, he evidently sold the Spyders mangled chassis to Barris. Deans Porsche itself carried on. In Dean's passenger . based on information from your browser. The car was sold for parts and eventually melted down. He was headed to his Central . I drove that intersection many times as I made the trip> from Paso Robles to Fresno to see a girl friend.> > I saw the TV special and it appeared to use the present highway alignment> which has been redone several times in the last 50 years. After commissioning an artist for some body work, James had the artist paint "Little Bastard" on the vehicle. DebThe national Geographic Channel is doing a special on the James Dean accident coming up at 5:00PM EST..Just thought you might be interested.Shirley. It is a small chunk of aluminum, a few square inches in size, that was allegedly pried off and stolen from an area near the broken windscreen while the Spyder was being stored in the Cholame Garage after the crash. 'Our father was the attorney for Donald Turnupseed. The best way you could envision the scene while sitting here in Indiana in the dead of winter would be for you to make a peace sign with the index and middle fingers of your right hand. Imagine that, killing James Dean and never wanting to talk about it. Bobby Livingston, executive vice president at RR Auction, said: 'The early death of James Dean reverberates to this day. Sure, it'scircumstantial evidence, but it works pretty well to show how Dean wasinclined to be driving that night. Donald Turnupseed drifted into the oncoming lane and collided with James Deans car. Required fields are marked *. If they care so much about *me*, they should try to involve being involved in an accident for their own sake if not anybody else's. Details, VPRs Tom Sandoval, Ariana Madix Break Up Amid Raquel Cheating Rumors, RHONJs Jennifer Aydins Plastic Surgery Transformation: See Pictures. During our 10th wedding anniversary trip to California in 1999, Rhonda and I drove from San Francisco to Hollywood. > Just to amplyfy my post. He then beat on the aluminum panels with a 24 to try to mimic collision damage. He remains the symbol of teenage angst to millions of young people whose grandparents were more familiar with him than them. There was an interesting analysis on US television some years ago aboutthe Dean crash. You do not have permission to delete messages in this group, Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message, Imagine having to live with the knowledge you killed James Dean! Both Turnupseed and Dean's mechanic Rolf Wutherich were unscathed in the horrific accident. Search above to list available cemeteries. . You make some good points here. Your email address will not be published. As he began to turn left through an intersection, Dean, probably unable to stop, slammed into the passenger side of Turnupseed's truck. Wtherich suffered a broken jaw and serious hip and femur injuries, but survived. There are 12 overhead views of the junction of Route 46 and Route 41, where the crash took place, and 18 ground-level photos, half of which show the damaged Porsche, wearing Dean's #130, in close-up detail. James Dean received a speeding ticket on Highway 99 about a hour before this wreck. "You could never get close to Don." We need all the help we can get out there on the roads and being *seen* is the most important of all. It is ironic that Cholame sits within a mile of the San Andreas Fault-line because on September 30, 1955, the death of James Dean caused a seismic shift in pop culture history that resonates to this day. It just died. ). This is a carousel with slides. Donald turned left where the . If you need proof of that assessment, go and visit his grave in Fairmount, Indiana. I secretly(*) hope they will have a wreck, but just not involve me! 2023 MasterCard Fully Funded African Scholarships at University of California, Berkeley, 2023 The Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan Africa Scholarship at University College London UK, 2023 MasterCard African Scholarships at University of California, Berkeley, How To Remove The Maxi Cosi Car Seat From Base, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. I have no choice but to drive with headlights in the daytime. At, Regarding the James Dean crash: My father with the attending physician for, James Dean's last words: "That guy's got to stop! Turnupseed's death was overshadowed by Dean's. Later, the intersection was realigned to make the Highway 46 straight through and at present Highway 41 has a left turn lane directly facing the oncoming Hwy 46 traffic. Headlight use is mandatory along the 58-mile route, from Lost Hills off Interstate 5 to past Paso Robles to the west. There are other unconfirmed stories of Little Bastards post-accident life. Donald Turnupseed. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. When the mangled frame was found to be beyond recovery, Barris chose to capitalize on the cars notoriety. "It was never establishedwhose fault it was. There are interior shots of the wreckage of Dean's car, and one snap reveals the 'Little B*****d' sticker on the bonnet and his racing number, '130'. Turnupseed later testified at a hearing held in San Luis Obispo that he slowed as he approached the intersection, glanced up the hill to look for oncoming cars, and then crossed over the line to continue his left turn on to Highway 41. In 1955, motor enthusiast Dean was en route to a racing event in Salinas, California, when he slammed into US Navy veteran Donald Turnupseed's Ford Tudor, sending the movie star's much lighter sports car bouncing off and spinning on to the pavement. In that same race, a Dr. McHenry was killed when his race car went out of control and struck a tree. "More than likely," hesaid. What became of James Deans car after the accident? By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. All true. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Donald Gene Turnupseed I found on Findagrave.com. I saw the TV special and it appeared to use the present highway alignment. Sixteen-year-old Dooley was travelling behind then-23-year-old student Donald Turnupseed when the wreck happened. Required fields are marked *. From 1957 to 1959, the exhibit toured the country in various custom car shows, movie theatres, bowling alleys, and highway safety displays throughout California. ____ in a ____ zone? Dont be so mean! After Dean brushed off the warning, the group proceeded to have a charming dinner. Guinness recalled, then closed his story by saying, It was one of those odd things. Dean was heading west from Bakersfield to join the 101 at Paso Robles. I liked him very much, too. Oddly, I happen to have a copy of Dean's death certificate as I know some of the men who signed it (not my Dad, though). Vanderpump Rules' Tom Says Hes Hated Amid Ariana Split, Raquel Affair, Is Nicki Minaj Shading Megan Thee Stallion? Dean tried to swerve, but collided almost head on with Turnupseed's 1950 Ford Tudor. Guinness and Moss followed Dean to the restaurant, but before they reached the door, Dean stopped and said, Id like to show you something. Years later, Guinness recalled There in the courtyard of this little restaurant was this little silver thing, very smart, all done up in cellophane with a bunch of roses tied to its bonnet. The young method actor told his new British star, Its just been delivered, said Dean I havent even been in it at all. Guinness thought the car looked sinister. Dean was the unwilling recipient of a steering wheel and dash, while his luckier passenger was ejected from the car. The impact sent the much-heavier Ford sliding 39 feet down Route 466 in the opposite lane. Eschrich then raced the Porsche-powered Lotus, which he called a Potus, at seven California Sports Car Club events during 1956. Baldwin |am quite prepared not only to retract it, but also\ / bal@panix.com|to deny under oath that I ever made it. Macabre Images of James Dean clowning in the Fairmount Funeral Home. (jalopyjournal.com), (You must log in or sign up to reply here. Help us keep history alive. After being interviewed by the CHP, Turnupseed hitch-hiked in the dark to his home in Tulare. While it wasn't technically seen in any movies, actor James Dean's Porsche 550 Spyder (affectionately known as Little Bastard) could be the most iconic, and cursed car Hollywood has ever seen. In September 2015, The Hollywood Reporter noted that visitors to the crash site leave an assortment of tributes, including pictures, alcohol and womens underwear. "They had a chance to fix it beforedown time.". Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by graverobber63, Dec 23, 2011. Terms of Service. It was a, "Brad Ferguson" wrote in message, >You having your headlights on in the middle of a bright, sunshiny day, There is an interesting movie that features a fictionalized version of. Dean was killed instantly, but Little Bastard would go on to cause considerably more trouble. , updated Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Behind is the Ford station wagon and trailer that carried Bill Hickman and Sanford Roth The above photo is supposedly the last photo of James Dean before the crash. He handed control of hiscompany to Nelson last year as his lung cancer progressed. Most people just don't THINK and are either in denial or don't care about living. 0 cemeteries found in Tulare, Tulare County, California, USA. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. By Hickman and Roth arrived on scene some ten minutes after the crash. Dean was barreling down Route 466 at an estimated 85 mph when a young Cal Poly student named Donald Turnupseed, driving a Ford Tudor, decided to make a sudden turn on to Route 41. During the Civil War, Jack enlisted in the 56th New York Volunteer Infantry. James Deans death cemented his reputation as a rebel and an icon of the 1950s. He was the driver of the 1950 Ford Tudor that collided with a 1956 Porsche Spyder driven by the famed actor James Dean on September 30, 1955. In a 1977 interview on BBC television, Guinness recounted a prophetic premonition: Exhausted, hungry, feeling a little ill-tempered in spite of Deans kindness, I heard myself saying in a voice I could hardly recognize as my own, Please, never get in it. Guinness said. But they never shorted anybody on their work.". Hickman assisted in extricating Dean from the wreckage. Let the guy drive with his lights on if it makes him feel. The sun was behind Turnupseed, obscuring DEAN'S vision, if anyone's. Are Janelle, Christine and Meri Suing Kody Over Money From Coyote Pass? Got it? Turnupseed was a 23 year old college student at Cal Poly State University when driving eastbound on Route 466 (later renamed Route 46) when attempting to make a left turn onto Route 41, when he collided with Dean's Porsche . From this vantage point, its also easy to understand how Donald Turnupseed didnt see the tiny silver sports car as it approached from the foot of the Polonio Pass. He hit a tree and was killed in the same race, and so the curse of Little Bastard gained strength. But the Spyder wasextremely low and painted light grey or silver, and the sun wassetting behind Dean as he approached the crossroad, so theythink Turnuspeed never saw him when he made his left turn andended up in Dean's path. Interesting. The time was approximately 5:45pm. what happened to donald turnupseed car. Another good idea is to at least turn on headlights in the daytime if you turn on the wipers, no matter the vehicle color or shape.. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. In March of 1959, while in storage in Fresno, the car mysteriously caught fire. It may take a week or two to get . 23F, a 1954 Porsche Speedster. He was 63. Around 5:45 p.m., a black-and-white 1950 Ford Tudor Custom coupe traveling at high speed was headed east on Route 466 just west of the town of Shandon. The accident killed James Dean and changed the world forever. Dean was killed instantly, but Little Bastard would go on to cause considerably more trouble. We didnt like him because he had all of the girls in the room fawning all over him and we couldnt get a dance. they said. Dean only owned the Spyder, chassis number 550-0055, for a little more than a week before his September 30, 1955, crash. Another 38 were killed from 2000 to 2010. At the end of the 1955 interview, Dean said, "Take it easy on the highway, the life you save may be mine." Martin Luther King Some twenty years ago, my wife Rhonda and I took a trip up to Fairmount to visit James Dean country. A copy is posted here in Woodland at Chubby's Diner with other Deanmemorabilia. Turnupseed was only mildly hurt, but Dean and Wtherich suffered serious injuries in the low-slung roadster. When the case was dropped, he was still in possession of the photographs and being a history buff, made sure they were not destroyed.'. Speaking of trauma, all of America has a "whoa" moment, when Jayne Mansfield lost her life in a . A friend of mine bought the (good) driver's side> door off of Turnipseed's car as it matched his damaged door.> > I find it hard to agree with the statement Turnipseed was at fault.> > James Dean received a speeding ticket on Highway 99 about a hour before this> wreck. It didnt slow Dean down one bit. The sheer velocity of the impact flipped Dean's car . Customers includeKraft Foods, Haagen Dazs, US Cold Storage and California MilkProducers, among others. If I had to guess, that sure looks like a 70-80 mph impact. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. When people ask me why I do this, I>> say, if James Dean had had his headlights on, he would still be alive>> today.>. We can't know for sure. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. "Rob Petrie" wrote in message news:y8y%e.5861$oc.@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net> x-no-archive: yes>> "scottla" wrote in message > news:1128163290.@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com >>> I recall reading that the color of Dean's car was a factor. In the TV special I saw no mention of the highway redesign. | The H.A.M.B. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Try again later. Learn more about managing a memorial . My new vlog YouTube link is in the bio. He is survived by his wife, Mollie Turnupseed, Tulare; two sons, Davidand Donald Bruce Turnupseed, both of Tulare; one stepson, Rick Bradley,Coalinga; one daughter, Peggy Henson, Fresno; and five grandchildren. Part of his remaining allure involves his small town genesis, the curse of his death car and an unexpected connection to the Star Wars franchise. However, contrary to popular belief, this is not the actual intersection where the accident occurred. The impact sent the Ford almost 40 feet down the road and ejected Wtherich from the Porsche. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. . Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze' Lyrics, 'Teen Mom' Alum Ryan Edwards Has a Long Criminal History: Timeline, Is Kim Zolciak-Biermann's Mansion in Foreclosure? They reported that both cars were traveling at high speeds and that Deans car had passed Turnupseeds moments before the collision. The driver of the other car, 23-year-old California Polytechnic State University student Donald Turnupseed, was dazed but mostly uninjured; Dean's passenger, German Porsche mechanic 90 Day Fiance Stars Weve Lost Over the Years, Still Together? Miraculously, the driver of the Ford, US Navy veteran Donald Turnupseed emerged with just a few facial bruises and a bloody nose. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Tulare Cemetery.Remembrances may be sent to Hospice of Tulare County, 605 W. WillowAve, Visalia, CA 93201. Turnupseeds car crossed into Deans lane while making a left turn. At the Pomona Sports Car Races on October 21, 1956, Eschrich, driving this car, was involved in a minor scrape with another driver. The cars mirror finish was accented by the number 130 on the front hood, rear trunk and side doors and the name Little Bastard (designated as such by Dean himself) on the back. All Rights Reserved. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. There you will see the lipstick spotted grave marker covered by more kisses than the yard of bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As this year's 40th anniversary of the crash approached, requests forinterviews continued. Try again. As Reventlow and Kessler were leaving, they all agreed to meet for dinner that night in Paso Robles. 1128138816.@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com, 1128163290.@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com. On Sept. 30, 1955, iconic actor James Dean and a friend were speeding along Route 466 in Cholame, in his sleek, silver 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder when it slammed head-on into a 1950 Ford Tudor coupe driven by 23-year-old college student Donald Turnipseed. Resend Activation Email. Just after purchase, Dean was driving his new car around Hollywood on September 23, 1955 when he ran into British actor Alec Guinness outside the Villa Capri restaurant. Photo via Corbis. I wonder if I am the only one laughing at that parenthetical comment. Failed to delete memorial. Today, the spot where James Dean died is known as Blood Alley due to the number of fatal crashes, mainly head-on collisions, that still occur there among the high volume of commuters, truck drivers, and tourists today. No one was injured. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Donald Turnupseed (10990655)? There was an error deleting this problem. Deans posse that day consisted of Porsche mechanic Rolf Wtherich, Warner Bros. Studios stuntman and close friend Bill Hickman and photographer Sanford H. Roth who was shooting photos for an upcoming story of Dean at the races for Colliers magazine.

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what happened to donald turnupseed car