We’re excited to announce that the legendary Bean Bandits will be a part of our “Craft of Speed” screening at Analog&Grit in San Diego on Sunday, 1/25/2026. Founded by esteemed builder/racer Joaquin Arnett in 1949 and based in Logan Heights, San Diego, they have won more than 300 races and set multiple land speed records. Both having long, rich, and shared histories, the Bean Bandits and MOONEYES are old friends.
According to the San Diego Automotive Museum, “Arnett won the first National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Championship in 1953, was named to the International Car Racing Hall of Fame in 1992, and was awarded an NHRA Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994.”
We love the diversity and inclusivity of this racing club. Daniel Strohl in “Joaquin Arnett/Bean Bandits” on hemings.com writes, “Though several other stories of the name’s inspiration have been told, they all come back to the club’s reappropriation of an ethnic slur against Mexican-Americans, who made up most of the club’s membership. Of course, club members were always quick to point out their all-inclusive nature, incorporating blacks (notably Harold Miller), whites, Japanese, and even Lebanese members during the club’s existence.”
The Bean Bandits will be exhibiting three of their renowned race cars that showcase their past and recent history at Analog&Grit, including Joaquin Arnett’s flathead-powered dragster, their #200 flathead-powered modified roadster, and possibly Fabian Valdez’s nitro fuel roadster.
After the screening, we’ll be in conversation with the Bean Bandits and respected builder Willie Masayoshi Dorsey, who knew Arnett and restored MOONEYES machinist Fred Larsen’s land speed record-setting 1927 Ford Model T Roadster A115.
We’re deeply honored to be able to celebrate the famed Bean Bandits in their hometown.
"CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AT ANALOG&GRIT
ANALOG&GRIT
San Diego, California
Sunday, 1/25/2026
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Sunday Grit Cars & Coffee
2:00 p.m. - 2:45 Discussion with the Bean Bandits, builder William Masayoshi Dorsey, and filmmaker Ming Lai
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Film Screening
*This schedule and details may change because we’re still planning this special event.
Analog&Grit Collector Car Storage Club
3094 Commercial Street
San Diego, CA 92102
To learn more about the Bean Bandits:
@the_bean_bandits
To learn more about “Craft of Speed”:
craftofspeed.com / @humanistfilms.com
To buy tickets to the Analog&Grit “Craft of Speed” screening:
https://app.plots.events/event/craftofspeedthestoryofmooneyes