OK, MR. BARBANO, NO MORE EXCUSES! You can now see the Genie MK-10B in the lobby of the (William F. Harrah) National Automobile Museum. I dropped it off this morning. They said it will be on display starting today and they will have it for five weeks. Also, Merle's Formula 5000 McLaren will be there later today. I also gave them three poster size boards with old pictures and some articles. I don't know what they used as I haven't seen the display yet. 

      They are there to help promote the upcoming April 22-23 event at Reno-Fernley Raceway. Tickets go on sale next Wednesday, March 1. Anyway, mosey on over and take a look. I think that you will get a kick out of the cars. Hope all is well with you. Take care.

      Alan Prentiss, Carson City, Nev., Friday, 24 Feb. 2006

Vintage race car carries family ties
Carson City man finds, restores car raced by his late uncle
by David Jacobs
Reno Gazette-Journal 3-9-2006

     Mike and Me — Mike Blackie (no. 11) and Alan Prentiss (no. 117) compete at Seattle in July, 2004. Both Genies were once owned by Merle Brennan. "When Merle had the second Genie, it had a red LeGrand body. Mike put the early MK-10 body on the car," according to Prentiss.

Long may you run, long may you run,
although these changes have come.
With your chrome heart shining in the sun,
long may you run.
— Neil Young

RESTORING MEMORIES OF A MASTER
From BARBWIRE BY BARBANO, 4-18-2004

DAILY SPARKS TRIBUNE — Merle Brennan's nephew contacted me a few weeks back. Alan Prentiss of Carson City found and restored his uncle's Genie MK-10B which Merle ran from 1967 through 1970.

He sent me photos of Merle driving it and the now-restored machine. He remembered the piece I wrote after Merle took his last checkered flag in 1995.

"When I found it in Camarillo, Calif., it was beyond a basket case," Prentiss says.

"It took me four and a half years to finish the restoration. I ran it for the first time at Sears Point in September of 2002," he added.

Andrew Barbano, Editor

Dear Mr. Barbano:

I was a high school kid in the 1960s when Merle Brennan was earning three National Championships and dominating the San Francisco Region of SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) racing.

On a whim, I Googled Merle Brennan today and came across your article. Nine years later, your article is as sterling as the man himself. You did a wonderful job of explaining the man to those who never saw him "at work."

Car racing has changed dramatically since his time. The only place we can see Merle Brennan-type competitors is at the Reno Air Races. Lyle Shelton, owner of Rare Bear is such a guy. Sad to say, Reno is evolving in the direction of big time motor racing.

Thank you once again for writing with such passion and clarity about a great American sportsman.

Respectfully yours,

Kerry Myers
Sparks, Nevada, Wednesday, 16 Feb. 2005

NEW 8-2-2006 — This memorial to Merle has been excerpted and linked to UK-based HistoricRacing.com

"If you can think of a driver currently competing in historic events or a driver from the past that you feel we should include or if you can add to any of our existing information, just send us an email, include a short bio and picture, if you can, and we will include them on the site." — RICHARD COPEMAN, HistoricRacing.com