Great Oregon Racers

Didn't have much luck with your link Denny but I did stumble across this pic somewhere in my travels

 

Very clean altered wheel base car!

 

So nice I posted the pic twice? Ah well, some things are worth repeating. Guessing I tripped over some of the cast away parts for the car when I was goofing around in Bill's barn as a kid.

 

Like I said this is all new to me, I tried it and had no luck either.
Best thing I can suggest is to go to st.johnsreview.com
I think you will enjoy reading it, even though finding it may be a pita.
Go to archives March 14th. 2014
Sorry guys, but let me know if you have luck finding the story.
Larry....I gotta tell ya, you are fast. I have that one, It is one of the shots I had never seen, got it (and others) from the guy up in BC, he was posting a lot on the T-bolt thread, like you he responded in short order, sent them via multiple Pm's, since the car is a bit out of the range of HAMB friendly cars. IIRC his name is John.
Problem now, (all) of my photos are on my pc that crashed.

 

The main thing I remember about Potter's car, was the trimmed front bumper. Moderate customizing was allowed in the class, I guess it took a few pounds off of the front. Also, I remember a race at McMinnville, Oregon, in '62. There were 21 cars in S/S that day, 413 Plymouths and Dodges, 409 Chevys, 421 Pontiacs, 390 and 406 Fords. The final round was Potter's 61 Starliner and Jim Price's 62 Galaxy, Potter had Price through 1'st gear, missed 2'nd, in the 3 speed, and Price won, as a 13 year old kid, I never forgot that race. Great project you have there !

 

OK
THIS MAY BE EASIER
Google: HOT FLASH WHEN BILL IRELAND RULED THE FORDS
SHOULD BE THE FIRST ONE THAT COMES UP.

 

Alright Marty, who were the brother's out of the Salem? area with the 421 Pontiac. Apparently they were a little disenchanted with a simple '61 390 car knocking them out and tried to run my dad off the track in the shut down area. I've also got insider info on Adios 1 holding off a certain Larry "Butch" Leal in his '62 409 car for 1319' and 6" in the final at the NHRA Divisional at Madras in '62. Leal dumped Ireland's 62 Lightweight in an earlier round. Hot Rod Magazine was on scene and took a shot of Leal vs. Ireland. No clue what month the issue came out.

 

OK, apparently this is not an active link.^^^^^^^^^
This does work.
Google:
Hot Flash When Bill Ireland Ruled The Fords

 

Great story about Ireland!
Here's a couple of pics of Radkes!


Letha Radke shyly pumping gas

 

Thanks Gary, good to know that people can find it now.
When I was doing the makeover on the Maverick in the mid 70's; I spent nearly every penny I earned at Radke's.

 

Radke sponsored many drag cars in the early to mid 60's, most taped on a large "door size" watercolor paper banners on race day. The most prominent one was "Rapid Richard" Furakawa's, black '62, 409 Impala. Chet McFallo, (who lived just down the street on Fessenden) was a close friend of Merlin's, received sponsorship for quite some time. Chet's car was referred to as, "The Radke Cobra". A couple of my pals from grade school, Mike Grant (far right) and Bobby Mead ( far left) were on Chet's pit crew for a year or so in the mid-60's. I saw Mike at PIR Wed night, and Bobby was my race partner, for many years. I never revealed to them, how envious I was, that my two 17 year old buddies were traveling the Northwest, in the "Big League".

 

Great stuff Marty, as always! Glad to see this thread active again!
I KNOW there are still tons of stories and pics out there, POST 'EM GUYS!!!

 

If I dig deep enough, I could probably find an invoice from Radke's with Ireland Electric on it. Bill used to let me buy parts on his account in order to save a buck or 2. Hell of a guy.

 

Mission Raceway in BC, '68 or so, from Canadian Hot Rods Magazine, Oct/Nov 2015

 

I am glad to bring this thread back up with good news about Mel Bryson's successful bi-lateral lung transplant. He is recovering and being monitored in Seattle. I will throw in a couple of pics of this long-time Gearhead and gasser racer. Please add your prayers for his COMPLETE recovery.

 

I want to wish Mel a quick and complete recovery. Does he still live in the Springfield area?

 

Up the McKenzie River from there, but close enough to get to town. He was one of the Honorees at Woodburn last season. Says he found something more expensive than racing: (O/T) sailing.

 

I would practically kill for an Irelands' Auto Electric window decal. Remember those? Gold on black Ford T-bird with his info in it. Specially if it was the Killingsworth location.

 

Hey Zapato, you seen Greg Biffle lately?
Another(61) retired machinist here, and former owner of an Ireland car.
I too would like to find one of those, anything Ireland for that matter.

 

Mel is a great guy with a long racing history, thanks Rob for the update and and the good news !

 

Just a nudge.

 

Yup
Nudge!

 

Gary
Notice my last nights' post time, couldn't get to sleep.
Went back and reread a (bunch) of GOR'S, man the contributions from you guys is beyond priceless. Always knew that Oregon had some standouts in motorsports over the years, but it's places like the HAMB and it's contributors that really fill in the blanks.
We definately owe Marty a cold one (Pepsi) for all he does for this thread.

 

What's frustrating is all the posts from guys who have pics, said they'd scan them and never did! There must be hundreds of old photos of Woodburn. The crowd was usually several thousand people every weekend of racing. BUT, not pictures. Woodburn , Madras and PIR seem to show little interest in their past, too bad. Seems like EVERY other strip in the world is more documented. Wish more RACERS would post!
Won't be long ( not to be morbid) untill most of us who were around in the 50's-60's will be gone and their kids and grandkids will TOSS all this history out and it will be lost for ever.
A yuuuuuuuge THANKS to Marty Strode for amping this thread! He IS THE MAN!
Thanks to all that have posted here!

 

Goodell....Woodburn.

 

Tom Nelson, Steve Hutchenson, Dale Maslen, and Mike Miller (l to r). Mike's car, Maslen's engine and clutchflite from the Sundowner F/C. This was the maiden voyage.....10 spline axles with mere moments to live. Woodburn.

 

I used to have Goodell's Wynns Stormer a few years back.

 

COOL! THIS is what I'm talking about. Revive this thread, dig out your pics and scan 'em!