I originally encoded these between 2004-2006 using somewhat current technology for the time. A Used projector from the 60’s with a disintegrated non-available belt. A large double looped rubber band crisscrossed appeared to be the right tension. A wall was used as the screen, and a digital hi8 camera captured the images. This was later imported in through a capture card because Sony digital is a special kind of digital for their antique hi8 camcorders. For the sections that have music, I agree, silence is better. Filmed by the dad and his two brothers.....with their press credential hats on.
I can’t believe their are no comments on this!!! Some incredible drag racing history here. Yes, the film quality is a little ‘wonky’ at times (OK, it’s down right horrible in some places!) and yes, it is better viewed with the sound muted. For you youngsters this is the way it was, never to be seen again. The last year at the Nationals for me. In tribute to the old days (and some shameless self-promotion) I’m going to find my old post with my still pictures from 1961. Somewhere on the interweb is my 8mm films from ‘62, might try to find my video disc and re-post it.
I appreciate your post because it is drag racing history and a very important part of it. Not sure if the HAMB is the right place to post it but maybe I am wrong. Drag racing in my opinion for the past 10 years or longer it has been slowly fading away for many different reasons. I love old racing decals but the other guys my age are also slowly fading away and these just happen to be the guys who also loved this era in drag racing also. Less old guys kind of equals less interest in drag racing! Just my opinion. Jimbo
THE DRAGMASTER "TWO THING" FROM SO CAL Hey Dave, Here is one of the photos from that event that you took. It is cleaned up a bit and looks pretty fabulous. Thanks, Jnaki Here it is in 2017 at the first Grand Opening of the Lion's Dragstrip Museum. It was on the main floor a**** the old race cars and racers themselves. Drag racers enjoying a nice night out with plenty of memories to share with others. How much more can that be a part of drag racing history and the HAMB?
Sacrilege !!!!! Hell yeah, this is the place to post this !! Front engine diggers, '58 Ranchero with camper shells, & better yet .. .. an appearance by @ME.G***ER Willys & then some. Wowsers, man !! Wowsers !
You know, if the HAMB were open to every type of automobilia from the stone age to one second ago, I’d say this is not the right place for it. But since the film fits within the acceptable HAMB age, and without a doubt has zero interlopers that are newer than the acceptable HAMB age, I would say, there is not many other places where it couldn’t be more right. There aren’t enough of them. That’s the really ****py part.....besides the quality of the camera work or the failing projector equipment—-that strangely fits within the acceptable HAMB age limit. It’s movement of the HAMB subsections that can’t be appreciated in a still picture....and best of all, a targeted audience. Youtube is not even right for these. Not a targeted audience. Not trying to start a ruckus about your comment.
"You Tube is not even right for these. Not a targeted audience." Hello B, Your conversion of the film is as good as an 8 mm film can be. The size of the 8 MM film is about 5/16th of an inch. Grainy is a problem and enlarging anything that small always has difficulties. We were lucky to have used 16mm color film. (About 5/8th of an inch…not very large on both accounts vs. 35mm or larger) Our dad was a stickler for clear images as much as possible. After we ended our drag racing involvement and filming, he tempted us back into the fold with a new 16mm all-inclusive Beaulieu movie camera with a telephoto lens and sound capabilities. He thought that would take the sting out of the burn recovery period for my brother and me. If we had kept the Beaulieu camera, the next series of films would have been quite something, including original sound directly from the day’s shooting. But, that was not to be. So, the outlets like You Tube are the right place for historic films. The clearer they are, the better the reception. It is not a closed in audience, as there are a million people watching a dog do flips or skateboarding, over some watching old drag racing. But, we are not in it for the counting points and viewing. My films are out there just because I think it is important to allow people to see how there was an early history to drag racing and it is not the so-called 1/8th mile street racing or just fuelers that go 1000 ft. Plus, there are so many people that see todays drag racing as the only way it is presented. Any old film on You Tube will definitely give those people some idea of how it was in those good old days. Jnaki Early innovations are/were pretty outstanding. Without them, there would not be what most people see as drag racing with the corporate sponsorships and cl***es for the bulging income sponsorships. The little guy is now out of the mainstream drag racing picture and that is too bad. It did start in the mid 60s and went downhill from that point. I try to get accuracy and information out to those that like history. Recently, I have added sound that comes directly from those drag racers in 1959 or 1960-63. They are edited into my films only if it is the “real thing.” No added drag racing sound as a running background, just the real sound of the exact racer going down the dragstrip in 1959-60. Two samples of the “real sound” from the exact racers from the same month or earlier race days. Junior Thompson sound Sept 1959, film Summer of 1959. And one of my favorites: the Sidewinder race car: Sidewinder sound, Sept 1959 film Spring/Summer 1959 P.S. Currently, I am working on some other original "sound" added to my films, when I can find them digitized. I will post them as they become finished. It is a project worth it, as people want something besides 10 seconds of silence. The new original sound project gives some authenticity to the silent films from back then. No one carried a tape recorder around while shooting films, except for big time production companies.
There is so much good stuff in this film, a good look back in time. The flaws in the film can be overlooked for a look at many legendary cars & drivers. Thanks for posting it.
The Jalopy Journal
