Who wrote the Rusty Nutz column?

Rusty Nuts was Auto-X's no-holds-barred, tell-it-like-it-is column that ran from about '87-'88. It was unfortunately, anonymous.

Once upon a time I suspected Neal Bellamy of being the writer. He lived in the central Florida area at the time (as did Howard Duncan) and was an avid autocrosser and knew Tim. Neal also occasionally wrote for Auto-X putting together event coverage or reporting on test drives. But, he claims Rusty's identity was a mystery to everyone? Second guess was that it was Tim himself?

Does anyone have any input? It's been 20 years since Rusty wrote his last column.

One of the great secrets that was revealed to me when I began working here in '90 was the true identity of Rusty Nutz.

jg

Never got to read em. Wish I could dig up an article somewhere

Actually, the Rusty Nutz column was written by The Stig.

Woody wrote: Actually, the Rusty Nutz column was written by The Stig.

I think The Stig was still on his trailing wheels.

David S. Wallens wrote: I think The Stig was still on his trailing wheels.

I believe that The Stig is ageless.

JeepinMatt wrote: Never got to read em. Wish I could dig up an article somewhere

They might still have back issues... It was definitely back-in-the-day.

JG Pasterjak wrote: One of the great secrets that was revealed to me when I began working here in '90 was the true identity of Rusty Nutz. jg

If you don't spill the beans you will NEVER finish a 25hr race! (kidding g/l).

Now spill.

Aw, shucks. You guys got me blushin' here! Thanks for remembering!

What's the chances for an online Rusty Nutz archive?

The only one I have at hand is "I Never Drove for the Queen." I do have some others somewhere in a box...somewhere. Others I remember:

Don't Try This at Home The Pucker Factor Using the G-Force accelerometer (title forgotten) Slippery tires are more fun (title forgotten) Joy of the plain vanilla Accord vs. sports car (title forgotten)

I have a well worn copy of the May 1987 issue of Auto-X which contains the Rusty Nutz penned piece "Sex & The Single Autocrosser".

Neither Neal (Toyota Celica in 1984) nor Howard (an 84 Ford Escort GT that he forever regrets buying) ever drove a Maxima, so they're both out for the first issue. Rob DeBardeleben told me that he had written one of them, but not the first one either since he had an RX-7 at the time. I think there were at least three different authors, maybe even more.

Oh, and the Thunderbird that Rusty talks about racing against was driven by Mark Chiles, who has D Stock and H Stock championships under his belt.

In reply to iron_oxide: Pretty sure that was mine, too, though I don't remember it. Sounds like me, though.

I think there were at least 3 Rustys over the years. I know I was not the first.

David S. Wallens wrote:

Woody wrote: Actually, the Rusty Nutz column was written by The Stig.

I think The Stig was still on his trailing wheels.

I think The Stig has flippers, and his bionic knees bend backwards.....

rustynutz wrote: In reply to iron_oxide: Pretty sure that was mine, too, though I don't remember it. Sounds like me, though. I think there were at least 3 Rustys over the years. I know I was not the first.

"...some say, he was originally a writer for an obscure little car mag from the Southeastern US..."

Tifosi2k2 wrote:

friedgreencorrado wrote: "...some say, he was originally a writer for an obscure little car mag from the Southeastern US..."

"... and that his left nipple is shaped like the Ocala Gran Prix circuit....."

All we do know is that he's called Rusty Nutz.....

Visiting the old family home, I unearthed a cache of Auto-X issues from the mid to late eighties. I'll have no time to scan them on this trip (I don't think), but I hope to accomplish that on my next visit in summer. Hope it's worth the wait.

I for one am waiting with baited breath.

rustynutz wrote: Visiting the old family home, I unearthed a cache of Auto-X issues from the mid to late eighties. I'll have no time to scan them on this trip (I don't think), but I hope to accomplish that on my next visit in summer. Hope it's worth the wait.

I enjoyed them then, and I really haven't grown up very much since..

rustynutz wrote: I'll have no time to scan them on this trip (I don't think), but I hope to accomplish that on my next visit in summer.

Thanks. We'll appreciate it.

Hope it's worth the wait.

I'll tell you when we read them

Just spent the afternoon scanning the old articles that I have. Need to clean a few up and combine some PDFS, but I think there'll be a Rusty Nutz Archive up within a day or two. A few more than I expected, and some I had forgotten. A little more patience - I know autocrossers are quite used to waiting.

See? Fast.

Enjoy, and please be kind with your comments. It was a long time ago!

The Rusty Nutz Archive

That's some great reading there. I can't wait 'til I get time to read them all.

Also 'ya know that your identity is being unveiled by the links right? Don't worry I won't tell anybody.

Marty! wrote: That's some great reading there. I can't wait 'til I get time to read them all. Also 'ya know that your identity is being unveiled by the links right? Don't worry I won't tell anybody.

I won't either, but you might want to take them down or somethin and put them on another website!