Randy Wright, who has been living at the edge of the Gladstone’s Parking lot, at PCH and Sunset Drive, was featured in Shacked eight months ago. (PHOTO: The Los Angeles Surf MAG)
If you have lived in the Gladstone Parking Lot for the past decade or so, L.A. County is saying that it will no longer be allowed.
Today, numerous accumulated objects were cleared by the county by the vehicle of well-known surfer legend Randy Wright.
There had been numerous complaints by residents about what they perceived as a trash site, surrounding Wright’s vehicle, which has not moved for several years.
Wright said that objects had been left by residents after the fire and that he had organized them into an area where surfers could stop by and chat.
He watched out for surfers who would park in that area, holding their car keys (instead of putting them by tires), so criminals couldn’t break into cars and steal personal items such as wallets or so car thieves couldn’t drive away with the car, while someone was out in the ocean on a surfboard.
On Facebook, one-person credited Randy with saving Gladstones, Vons and the gas station during the Palisades Fire. Today, when officials tried to take away his hose, he was angry and said he might need it again.
Another wrote, “Randy’s a motherf**kin legend king of sunset point that guy will put a smile on your face any day of the week. God bless you, Randy!”
And yet another said, “Crazy! I worked at Horizon’s West when I was a kid after school (Samohi). Always wondered what happened to him. This MFer is a legend. Such a good surfer.”
Wright did own the Horizon West Surf Shop in Santa Monica. About a year ago this information was posted by KenDog on SWAYLOCKS: “Horizons West Surf Shop was at 2003 Main Street in Santa Monica at the corner of Main Street and Bay Street, two short blocks from the beach. It was a popular surf shop and hang out for many years prior to its closing about 10 years ago, in August 2010. It is now the site of Dogtown Coffee Shop.
“You could stand at that northwest corner and do a surf check of this very popular surf break, known appropriately as ‘Bay Street.’ It was owned by Nathan Pratt (a prominent surfer/skater Z-Boy/Zepher Team member) and the shop was managed by Randy Wright, PSA professional surfer. It was one of the last true ‘Mom & Pop’ surf shops left in L.A.”
The Santa Monica Daily Press wrote click here. “Wright took over the shop in the mid-’80s from Z-Boy Nathan Pratt.”
Wright’s vintage surfer photographs can be found on ebay click here.
For many years, he posted photos surf pictures of surfers from el Porto up to Topanga on his site LA Surf pics
Wright has been offered assistance by the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness.
Wright needs a new vehicle. A friend started a go-fund me page for Wright in March click here.
What can you say about Randy…he helped the cops, the surfers, the tourists. I donated many plants and supplies for his gardens (the ground squirrels ate it all) and spent hours talking story about the 70s-80s. A descent van is what he needs and I hope he gets it.