Elgin T. Gates: Seaboard Marine Boat Racer Owner of "John Wayne's House"

**Ron Hill** · 12-03-2013

This is why Needles is called Needles, Elgin Gates loved Needles.

**Ron Hill** · 12-03-2013

Elgin loved Needles. He and his wife, Dolly owned the Needles Trading Post. They sold boats and motors, Elgin did gas welding on aluminum. My dad would send Elgin Evinrude and Johnson gas tanks to Elgin to have him weld them, as my dad said, "Elgin was the best welder there is." That was before heliarc was invented.

**Master Oil Racing Team** · 12-03-2013

I loved the short time we spent in Needles Ron. The whole trip out there was spectacular from the Texas Hill Country all the way to Topock and Needles. Once I get through 1968 on the Baldy's thread, Needles is the first up in 1969.

I knew a couple of welders that could do aluminum, and they had patience and a steady hand. From what I remember is that everything had to be CLEAN, and they had to know how to dial down the spark. I never knew what kind of rod either of them knew because I was just starting racing, and they were doing stuff for my Dad. They took the time to explain things, but I can remember lots of times at my Dad's shop and others where we put up a hand to shield our eyes when they were welding steel, looked part way in the opposite direction and waited until the undulating blue glow and sparking finished before you could look. I never saw that much aluminum welding, but it did not seem to be so bright and as loud. The dryness of the country probably also helped make it easier to weld aluminum. The guys that can do it without heliarc are true artists.

**John Schubert T*A*R*T** · 12-04-2013

Originally Posted by Master Oil Racing Team

I loved the short time we spent in Needles Ron. The whole trip out there was spectacular from the Texas Hill Country all the way to Topock and Needles. Once I get through 1968 on the Baldy's thread, Needles is the first up in 1969.

I knew a couple of welders that could do aluminum, and they had patience and a steady hand. From what I remember is that everything had to be CLEAN, and they had to know how to dial down the spark. I never knew what kind of rod either of them knew because I was just starting racing, and they were doing stuff for my Dad. They took the time to explain things, but I can remember lots of times at my Dad's shop and others where we put up a hand to shield our eyes when they were welding steel, looked part way in the opposite direction and waited until the undulating blue glow and sparking finished before you could look. I never saw that much aluminum welding, but it did not seem to be so bright and as loud. The dryness of the country probably also helped make it easier to weld aluminum. The guys that can do it without heliarc are true artists.

One of the best today is Mike Schmidt, a true artist as well. I know of several Loopers that were in many pieces that were returned to running engines that he did. I know I had one of them.