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There's retires, his future will be assured."
Clearly, J C. has a way with a buck,
a talent he inherited from his immigrant
a Ford father The Agajanians are not unlike
characters out of a William Saroyan
in Aggie's novel. James T Agajanian fled Armenia
with his wife Hamas to escape the Army
draft and arrived in Los Angeles just in
Future time for Joshua James to be born June
16, 1913. They had two other sons, Ben,
who became a prominent professional
football place-kicker, and Eli, and two
will want a new roadster for next year, nings for you? That way you'll not only daughters, Zerma and Jackie.
but I really do feel we've got to go with hang on to some money, but show a
the rear engines eventually, and the profit.' OMETIME IN childhood, Joshua James
fellows that put it off may be the ones "Ruttman blew up: 'What are you S picked up and began to use the
who lose out." trying to do, get out of giving me my nickname "Jacie." On his first day in
Although twice national sprint car money? I earned it and I need it. I'm in high school, his new teacher, segregating
champion and considered the best driver hock for some of it already,' he said." her class by sex from the roll book, sent
at the Indianapolis track in particu]ar, Aggie shrugged. ''What could I do? I "Jacie" to line up with the girls. As his
Jones has never shown his best form on wrote him a check for his share and he buddies howled, an embarrassed "Jacie"
the big-car championship trail and has went off with it. Before long, he'd spent switched to the initials "J C." on the
not been able to keep up with the domi- it. For a long time, he spent everything." spot.
nant Foyt and Ward. Troy left Aggie, his marriage broke The senior Agajanian, who never had
He has won only three races, includ- up, he got fat and he lost his desire. In a day's schooling and could not speak
ing the 500, in the four years he has recent years, a remarried, reformed, a word of English when he arrived in
driven through this Memorial Day, and slimmed-down Ruttman has been driv- this country, picked up the language by
he placed in the top 10 in only half of last ing regularly again, but without particu- comparing Armenian and English bibles
season's dozen events. Throughout the lar success. He finished 18th at Indi- and went to work as a dishwasher in the
campaign, he was plagued with magneto anapolis this year Years later, Troy Alexandria Hotel in downtown Los An-
trouble. Things got so discouraging, asked Aggie how much his bankroll geles. One day he curious]y asked the
Aggie asked Jones if he wanted Pouelson would now be if Aggie had invested it garbage man what he did with his col-
replaced. Jones refused. "What's hap- for him. Around a quarter-mi1lion dollars, lections and was told they went to feed
pened hasn't been Pouelson's fault. We'll Aggie told him. pigs. So was born a fortune.
lick this thing together " he said. Aggie admits that prior to going with For five years, he saved his money and
1
Aggie was delighted. 'Pouelson is one rookie Jones, he tried very hard to sign in 1919 he went into the garbage-collec-
of the greatest," he says. "He has pre- up young Foyt. What does he look for tion and hog-raising business in Saugus,
pared cars for us that have been much in a driver? "Basic things," J. C. says. Calif. He started small, but the econom-
faster than any other car most of the "Natural physical ability, desire, a ics of the operation were sound and the
time and not much slower the rest of strong heart and a good head. Jones had business prospered and expanded to
the time." At Jones' urging, J. C. has all of these things. He's a very serious San Pedro, Gardena and other locations.
given him a new car to run the dirt track boy In contrast to Troy, Parnelli has As J. C. got older, he began to he]p his
events and it is hoped that once he re- made the most of what he has. More father and gradually assumed control.
covers from his minor burns, ParneUi than I once did, I now look for the Brother Eli has participated, too. A few
will be able to finish the season strong]y. solid citizen type," the super-scout years back, the Agajanians sold their
points out. hog farms, but retained the land under
ITH RESERVATIONS, J C. rates Jones "If it's true there is one driver who's them and the garbage-collection business.
Wthe best driver he has ever had. best for every track, Parnelli has picked Naturally, the hog and garbage busi-
"Faulkner was a terrific man, the first to a dandy in Indianapolis, he just hasn't ness lacks a basic beauty, as has been
really do a job for me. He was small but been very lucky there. He wouldn't pointed out to J C. over the years. He
he had a heart like a lion. He died be- drive there until he'd studied the race a laughs off insults. "It was very profit-
fore he had a full chance to show what couple of years and was sure he was able in the long run, it's an honest busi-
he might have done. Bettenhausen was ready and had good equipment. And ness and I'm not ashamed of it."
one of the greatest drivers I've ever he'll take advice. Not many people J. C. has invested his money success-
known, he never cheated a soul when he know that as a rookie Jones so im- fully, mainly in real estate, partly in the
drove and he was always ready to do a pressed Mauri Rose that Rose offered stock market. The Agajanians live in a
favor for a friend. But, he did not drive to coach Parnelli. The three of us sat 2-story, 20-room circular Colonial house
a great deal for me. Bill Vukovich drove down in my garage for three hours while they built 15 years ago, and drive new
for me, though not in the 500. He was Mauri passed on to Parnelli everything cars each year.
tremendous, but died young. he had learned in racing, particularly in J.C. married Faye Stepanian in 1932.
"Ruttman had the greatest natural the 500. His mother and her mother were raised
ability I've ever seen in a race driver, "Parnelli is just a real solid person, a together, their families came to this
possibly still has it, many think so, but gentleman, a credit to racing. His word country at about the same time, and
he's wasted it," Aggie says sadly. The is his bond. He likes to enjoy life, but J. C. and Faye were born one house
fun-loving Ruttman partied himself to he doesn't tear around. He has a good apart, a few months apart. They have
poverty marriage and I think when he retires, had four chi]dren Joan, 26; Cary, 22,
''I remember the day after Troy won he and his wife wi11 adopt a child. He's J.C. Jr., 16, and Chris, 14.
the 500," J C. recalls. "I said to him, saved a lot of money and has made Joan, a schoolteacher, is married to
'Troy, you're going to be driving all some sound investments. He's asked my John Quinn, an attorney Cary is a USC
season, you'll be getting appearance advice a number of times and I have law student, J C. Jr is in high school
money and picking up some purses, why tried to help him. We are partners in a and Chris in military school. Now that
don't you let me invest your 500 win- real-estate proposition now When he her children are growing up, the remark-
38 CAR LIFE