Designer Times by Bob Gurr
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The days attending Art Center School and styling cars at the Ford Motor company left little time for favorite hobbies, but this was a time of a new interest in Sports Car Racing. I participated in sports car rallies, became an official at the races holding such titles as Gas Marshal, Pit Marshal, and Turn Marshal. This put me smack dab into every aspect of the latest race cars. I could poke my nose under every hood, ogle the latest Ferrari, and lust after them all...penniless.

I did have a 1951 MG -TD which I modified by doing an engine swap, removing the tiny 1500cc four cylinder and installing a 2500cc six cylinder Willys F-head engine. I had to design a lot of mechanical parts for the swap, then get them built at local shops. I learned more about welding do's and dont's, actually did the swap in my mothers apartment carport...no shop.

In later Disney years I built a small collection of exotic and interesting cars, all of which needed some amount of restoration work. These included over time a 1963 Ferrari Lusso, on which I did a lot of improvements. Just loved the sound of that sexy V12! Then a 1955 Rolls-Royce that I did a complete engine overhaul on. I showed it at many Concours de Elegance (high falutin name for car show) winning 16 trophies. I also had several Porches, and still have my jewel...a 1971 Citroen-Maserati SM Coupe. It has only 22,000 miles, is totally an unrestored original, and is kept in a local museum.

For many years I was a judge at these Concours, generally acting as Chief Judge, helping to devise scoring systems and training new judges. This was a great opportunity to get real close to all the most fantastic historic car designs. As a former car stylist and Disneyland Ride Vehicle Designer, I really appreciated the fabulous design work of the top creators.

I got the bug to design and build my own small motorhome in the early 1970s.

Starting with a 1972 Dodge MB300 chassis, I designed and built the GPC Mk I on my front lawn with help from a friend and lots of volunteer work by many Disney shop guys who wanted a piece of the action. I'd add pieces to the chassis on weekends, then drive the partially built thing to work to check for functions and rattles. Got lots of stares on these drives. After 18 months, I completed the GPC ( Gentleman's Parlor Coach, named for the elegant antique railroad car interior) and have used it ever since.

In addition to a love of photography, the study of geology, the fascination with meteorology, my big passion has always been soaring. From that early glider aerobatic airshow until I joined the Orange County Soaring Association in 1960, I could only dream. I've been soaring now for over 45 years, first as a student in the club gliders, later partnered in the first two place Blanik flown in America, then my solo aerobatic German Salto Sailplane. I combined my love of powered flight with soaring flight in 1987 with the purchase of German Taifun 17E Motorglider. This is sort of like having a cool sailboat with a powerboat engine in it. Two fabulous world's in one!

In 1963 I made what's called a diamond goal flight of 178 miles. This is where one declares that they will fly from one spot to another without power, then actually do it. Gliders need a helpful ground crew and a trailer to bring the thing home again. But with my Motorglider I have the flexibility to fly either as an airplane or as a sailplane. The years of enjoyment flying all over Southern California chasing my interests in geology and meteorology have been wonderful. All of these interests have surely seemed related. And so too is work and play totally related.

Designing a Monorail and soaring with the birds...all the same life to me.

oOo