Dan Verstuyft
Engineer, Race Car Driver, Member
Wednesday Mar 1st, 2023
No Host Bar: 5:30 p.m., Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.

I realized when reading Dan's bio that I have watched movies about the very projects he was involved in. This is a side of Dan that most probably don't know and a dinner that you won't want to miss!

Dan was born in Los Angeles and grew up in San Gabriel Valley. He was graduated from Alhambra High School and earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Cal State LA in 1964. During college Dan worked at North American Aviation and was the project engineer on the head struts for the astronaut crew couch to absorb energy during landing of the Apollo. Dan was the responsible head engineer for the up-righting systems on Apollo space craft when landing in water. Other areas that Dan will be addressing are stress analysis on a very early computer, mechanical packaging design for the power Conditioning and coltrol systems for several Jet Propulsion Lab space craft, along with lab equipment carried by the Space Shuttle. He was responsible for design of a Integrated Laser Engagement System of the type which were used by some of the planes and vehicles on display in our museum.

Upon retiring Dan and Carol moved to rural Paso Robles. They have been married 12 years and between them have four sons, one daughter, eight grand children and two great grand children with another due in June. They now have an olive farm with 320 trees producing Hot Rod Alley Olive Oil. (Good Stuff!)

As a hobby Dan spent 55 years vintage car road racing. Starting his racing career at age eleven in a soap box derby car he progressed through a 550 hp Lola T300 Formula 5000 open wheel car.  He has won notable races and had a goal of winning a race at age 80 before retiring from racing. He did just that in 2021 at age 81, much to the regret of Carol, his #1 fan and supporter. Don't forget to ask him about his own car collection and workshop/museum.

There is too much to list in this short newsletter. his dinner guest speaker is guaranteed to open your eyes as to what this active museum member has accomplished in his life. Make your reservations today! You can read More about Dan here.

Dinner is catered and open to the public ($25/person), reservations are required prior to 6 p.m., Monday prior to dinner, either On-line HERE or call 805 296-1935.