Charles Francis Woit, better known as ‘Mulholland Charley’ (not Charlie) or ‘Crazy Charley’, was a legendary racer of Mulholland Drive (Los Angeles, California) in the 1960’s-70’s. He was known for driving with one hand on the wheel – a ’51 GMC truck or a 427 Corvette – and the other on a can of beer. He dominated the racing circles up there, and then one day, he disappeared, letting his reputation drift into legend, allowing a younger generation to come into play.
Charley was the inspiration for the character Cal played by Dennis Hopper in the move King of The Mountain.
According to Chris Banning, “When it [the movie] came out 41 years ago, all of us (Mulholland racers) went to see it at the theater. We liked it but felt that it could have been a more accurate tale and less dramatized by Hollywood. For example, Cal (Dennis Hopper) played Charley as a crazed-out old drunk which was not the case. Charley was only a maniac while racing Mulholland. I knew him as a mild mannered, nice Gentleman that was very knowledgeable about Chevrolet and especially Corvettes. I wish that I had gotten to know him better. He worked on my SCCA Camaro a couple of times at the Station he worked at located at 3rd and Crescent Heights.” According to Banning, Charley was his inspiration to build his Porsche 911 RSR Mulholland racer.
Charley was more like a priest of street racing and a guru of developing well engineered street race cars on a shoestring budget. As a mechanic at a Chevron station, he did not make a lot of money, so he was inventive on doing as much as he could himself. In the movie, the character Cal drives a Corvette that’s very similar to Charley’s except that Charley’s Corvette was blue, not red.
Above is the only known photo of Charley’s Corvette. Below is the Corvette used in the movie with Dennis Hopper behind the wheel.
People that had seen Charley’s Corvette state that they never saw him race it without the hood.
Today, his Corvette is as much of a legend as he is. What do we know about it?
- Blue 1966 Corvette Sting Ray
- 427 CID big block V8 likely making 500+ horsepower
- Two sets of side pipes – one with mufflers and one without
- Cut down station wagon coils in the front
- Dick Guldstrand bushing kit
- Goodyear Blue Streak racing tires – 10″ front / 13″ rear
- The super wide mag wheels were real magnesium that he bought at the Saugus Swap meet
- Fender flares that were flat panels of aluminum after he made arc cuts on the fenders and were painted flat black
- Pictures Charley saw of a Corvette Gran Sports inspired the extra vents and holes in the tail
- Bumpers were kept for legal purposes, but the lower valence was removed
After leaving the mechanic trade he was more active in specialty gun purchases and sales. He still did some fabrication work out of his house out in the Saugus area. He was living his life with his wife and children, so the hill did not have the attraction that it once did.
Charley died December 8, 1982 (37 years old). There’s been different stories as to how he died and all are car related, but none involve Mulholland Drive.
What other racers have to say
From Chris Banning:
I observed Charley only a few times. He did not frequent the hill like so many did. You were indeed lucky to ever get a chance to see him make a run or even luckier to run with him. He was undefeated in his Corvette and was amazing to watch. Speed, noise, beer cans, and all over the place on the road no matter what he was driving. By 1982 he had moved to Canyon Country and ran a Sporting Goods Store there. He was 37 years old at that time. So, if you saw him in 1980 or 1981 it might have been one of his last, or his very last run before his early demise. I have heard conflicting stories about how he passed.
Charley was important. A legend. We all felt this for different reasons. I have a very personal reason. Since the mid-50’s, the racers of Mulholland Drive drove close to my house as they made their pass thru “West”. I heard them almost every night that they were out there. One night, something was different. A mighty roar could be heard in the distance. It came closer and closer and got louder and louder. It was very loud and thunderous. And then it would diminish and be gone. After a few minutes, this would repeat itself again. This was the legendary Corvette going west and then returning back east. Who knows? I may have heard the very first time Charley drove his Vette on Mul. Over the years I would experience this again and again and learned to look forward to it.
If you were one of the lucky ones who saw him in his Corvette, then I know that you remember well what you witnessed. I have never seen anything like it before or after on any track. He would drive with wild abandon, with his foot into it either full throttle or full brake, there was no in-between. The car had side pipes (no muffler) that were extremely loud with the engine opened up. With racing tires, the car stuck like glue to the Mulholland roadway. It made an impression on anybody that saw it!
Later, in 1971 when I got my license, I started to drive Mulholland alone and go back and forth to enjoy the road’s curves. Within a few years racing Mulholland just seemed the thing to do.
One night, late in the summer of 1974, Charley taught me a private lesson on Mulholland, so to speak. I learned valuable things that evening that I’ve used all my life. By appearing out of nowhere and passing with his headlights out, he taught me to do the same and be elusive. By illustrating his driving technique to me, it showed just how far you could “hang it out” without crashing. And by nearly losing to an old Pickup while I’m driving a very fast 911S, it showed that a very fast 911S isn’t enough by a long shot to be fastest on Mul. In a race against a setup 427 Vette with racing tires, a 911S would look like it’s in reverse at 60mph. He was almost the sole inspiration for me building my Porsche Racecar for Mulholland.
Later we spent some time together at the garage where he worked on Crescent Heights Blvd.
I brought my SCCA racecar to him when I had a problem that I could not solve. He was a real nice guy. Also, kind of quiet and reserved. We became acquainted, I wish we had become friends. He was kind of a loner like myself. During the time we spent together, the subject of Mulholland never came up.
It was very sad to hear (in the 80’s) that he had passed away. Strangely, I felt as if I had lost a friend. He was a part of my past and lived in the present at that time. He was someone I admired and respected and an incredible driver. I wish he were still here. To me he will always be “the Legend”, Crazy Charley also known as Charley Woit.
Rest in peace my comrade.
From ‘Groundeffect’:
I raced Charley one night in my hi-po Mustang and kept up! That is about as best as anyone could expect since Charley had more tire, more horsepower and more nerve. My ’65 Mustang was pretty trick with over 300 hp, all the suspension mods, lowered and with Goodyear slicks on 7″ rims…but it was no match for Charley’s 427 Vette. Still, I knew the road well and of course, so did Charley.
I was cruising past the pits one evening with a friend (I think it was Henry) heading towards Laurel Canyon when I pulled up behind Charley in his Vette in the residential section between Coldwater and Laurel. I could see Charley scoping me out in his rear-view mirror, as we approached the first right hander leaving the residential area, Charley hit it hard. I followed suit and we both were flying through the very tight esses that led to Laurel. Charley’s Vette looked as if it was on rails…no body sway, no nose diving, just pure acceleration and deceleration. It was all I could do to hold on and follow those taillights.
Charley was sliding the Vet in every turn and using every bit of pavement. It was only his “clearing” of the road that gave me the courage to also dive deep into the oncoming lane. After four or five turns I was surprised that I was still hanging with him, but in retrospect, that section of Mulholland is so tight that Charley couldn’t take advantage of his horsepower. We continued on…left-right-left-right until something was wrong…my car was not handling right. It was wallowing and hard to steer…Charley was slipping away, and I couldn’t figure out why. Then suddenly the flop-flop-flop started…I had a flat rear tire!
I limped my car through the final few turns before Laurel and pulled over on a side street. Charley was stopped at the light and took off across Laurel as the light turned. He later apologized for leaving since he didn’t know I had a flat. I have to admit that following him was the fastest I had ever been through that section of road. As far as I am concerned there is no doubt that Charley was the king of the hill!
From ‘CRE’:
I had a run a Charley one night also.
It was raining and my 510 had really good rain tires (for street tires that is) Dave B and I caught up Charley just past Coldwater-valley side. We ran up behind him as he was going pretty slow. He picked up the pace and shortly thereafter Dave spun. I checked the mirror and realized Dave wasn’t in any trouble as the spin was slow and looked harmless, so I kept after Charley. Figuring the rain, my good tires and his slicks would equalize things.
By the time we hit Grandstands we were flying! Down the LH sweeper and I had it wooded in the rain, now was my chance! Downhill and rain. I was about 5-6 car lengths back and driving waaaay over my head…just as fast as if we were in the dry, we entered Carl’s turn then made the left then as I swept through the right and I looked down the road Charley wasn’t there! Remember now I was only about 5 car lengths back. Just enough for him to get around the corner and out of sight but not enough to KEEP out of sight for more than one turn.
I hammered it until Deadmans, pulled off to the left, jumped out of the car and ran to the top of the berm. I expected to see him entering the residential sweeper. NO! NOT A SIGN OF him.
Instantly I thought OMG he’s gone over. So I slowly drove back up the hill looking for tell-tail signs that a car had gone ‘over’. No signs.
I told a few friends of my ‘race’ and fear that Charley had gone over trying to stay on the wet road with slicks, stiff suspension and all that HP.
Days later we were hanging out and here comes Charley making a run up the hill! Truth was that right after Carls turn, he decided to stop messing around and flat a-s left me! And him on those stupid half-baked Goodyear slicks.
I remember when he was on a run and going uphill from Carls turn, he’d shift gears and that thing just disappeared only to reappear 4-5 car lengths further up the road. There was this distance that you didn’t even see the car!!! Kind like time travel I suppose. That thing was Voodoo man. Not from this world.
He will forever be the KING OF MULHOLLAND to me.
What makes for a legend?
By Jeff Hailpern
Charley Woit legend and lore was he drove hard and drank even harder. Maybe so and maybe not but when Charley passed, he became larger than life and the lore grew legs and then into internet spiders. All sorts of helium filled stories came out.
Most of the people that came up to Mulholland Drive came to drive, race, hang out, gain experience, hone skills and have fun. For many it was on the way home or to work, and others the rebellion of youth or scenic route distraction. It is a road that was purposely made for driving and that was the only reason anyone needed to show up.
I met Charley at the swap meet at Saugus Speedway shortly before December 1982 while looking into gold panning. I also ran into him west of Sepulveda east of Calneva across from Fire Station 109 at the dirt overlook where I had a talk with him. I had seen the Corvette a few times cruising Mulholland at civil speeds as well as the Olds on the 405 Freeway. The man was a gear head that was into cars, racing, the outdoors, mining, hunting etc. He just happened to drive a notorious Corvette. The Charley I met was a normal guy. At the time I did not know the guy from the swap meet was one and the same. Surprise when a rumbling exhaust Corvette built for business pulls up!
No different than actor Steve McQueen or even Bud Ekins whom Charley knew. They all had talents and skills but when you remove the fame, they are just people with interests, hobbies and professions that occupy time. Some made more money than others, some arrived at fame by a craft. At the end of the day, they were guys who lived life and wanted to enjoy the ride. They liked to hang out with pals, have a beer, get dirty working on a car. Go shooting or taking off across a desert on a dirt bike because they can. A lot of it has to do with freedom. Is it appropriate to lump Charley in with some of these folks? Of course, a young Charley was a legendary wrench for quite a few of these celebrities and friends. The man had skills.
Racing the Corvette on Mulholland, his GMC pickup, desert excursions in his Oldsmobile Holiday 98 are very small slivers of the legend and sometimes lore. He was fortunate to be located on Stanley Hills Drive between work at the Willie Peniche Chevron Service and Mulholland Drive which were the perfect gateway to his playground.
Charley had a family, interests were cars, digging his claim at the Gentle Buzzard mine. Manning the fort at the North American Liberation Front Headquarter in the Town of ill Repute in the Panamint Mountains off Wood Road. His reptile collection when he lived at 5229 Cartwright in North Hollywood known as the reptile zoo. A collector of all things cool. The list goes on and on as well as the adventure. Later Charley moved to Gazeley Street in Canyon Country known as the compound. Sadly, Charley passed at thirty-seven years of age on December 8, 1982.
I believe one thing alone does not make for a legend, it’s when all are combined into an amalgam, salted and stirred, simmered over time and the dross drained off that the truths themselves assemble into something admirable.
Charley has been a shadow for four decades. With the Mulholland regulars, a guy named Tiger, forty plus years of patience, numerous new friendships, a crack developed in the facade allowing the light to come through and put a face to Charles Francis Woit once more. The human Charley.
Charley was named after his father Charles Sr. His family name was actually Woiteszek (Poland via Austria). Juniors Grandfather had the name changed to Woit.
Charles Woit Sr. had worked in the banking, aircraft, radio and eventually as a business manager to Leslie Townes (aka Bob Hope the comedian).
Charles Woit Sr. was the business manager of Bob Hope Enterprises. At the time Charley Jr. was born they lived around the corner from the Hope estate in Toluca Lake at 10105 Toluca Lake Ave on the corner of Mariota.
Mr. Woit Sr. first marriage was to silent film starlet Elsie Wareham (screen name Elsie Ware) a Mack Sennet model and actress who had about 10-13 years of fame.
Charles Woit Sr. then remarried to Estelle Davis and baby boy Charles Jr. was born on April 4, 1945. The Woit family moved to Stanley Hills Drive when Charley was about 5 years old.
I have met a lot of legends and salt here. Charley was one of the humans.
Charley Woit is buried at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills (Vale of Peace section, Map A48, Lot 3782, Interment Space 2) in an unmarked grave. You can find it at Find a Grave.
Final thoughts
I liked Dennis Hopper’s character in King of The Mountain. Even though he wasn’t the main character, his character made the movie thrilling, and the movie would have been a dud without him. But as Chris Banning said, the movie was “dramatized by Hollywood”. When you read peoples stories about Charley Woit you learn that he wasn’t a crazy alcoholic like the character Cal in the movie. He was a maniac when racing, but that’s racing. If you’ve never ridden with a professional racer on a racecourse, it’s like being on the verge of crashing the entire time. Knowing how far you can push a car before it will lose control is what makes them fast and makes them winners. That’s not being crazy, that’s just being good. But I have to wonder if Charley had seen the movie, and what he thought about the character that was inspired by him. Charley was a gentleman that was admired and respected by his fellow racers and those that knew him. Here’s to keeping Charley’s legend alive.
Resources
The majority of this information came from the forum at PelicanPats.com.
See Discussion: ‘What happened to the Mulholland “King of the Hill” RSR?‘
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