History Drag cars in motion.......picture thread.

Buster is saying......"Missed me by this much!"

 

Bakersfield...

 

At least one photographer was paying attention.

 

Local guys.

 

"At least one photographer was paying attention."

Make it at least two -- the one behind the guardrail and the one that took the picture.

 

In his best Don Adams voice too, I'm sure. LOL!!!

 

And I thought they were arguing over who would claim responsibility for not tightening the lugs on that wheel. Lol

 

I'm lovin' this launch....

 

You know, of course, people are going to pick your car apart. Me personally, I love it.

 

Probably sheared the lug bolts completely off. I've seen that happen on fuel (nitro) burning cars if large enough lug bolts not used, especially when running a spool in differential and one wheel losses traction putting full power to one wheel, like from liquid on track, wheel hop, etc. Don't ask me how I know that!

 

1959


Hello,

For as long as we can remember, drag racing drew us in like bees on flowers. The more flowers grow, the more bees get in line for their tasty treats.

Drag racing was like that for us. We lived about 2 miles from the physical, Lion’s Dragstrip in our last Westside of Long Beach house. When the daily afternoon prevailing west winds blew, it was a fine fiberglass smell coming from boat construction nearby in the harbor area, the oil smells from the area oil refineries and other forms of putrid smells emanating from the industrial shops and buildings. ever smell a vitamin processing factory in full swing?

The daily smells were bringing the aromas, but on the weekends, the winds brought the sweet sounds of drag racing right into our living room. How could we not want to be there in all of its glory and happenings? Cool hot rods, fast, loud competition hot rods and specialty built race cars, etc. were the norm every weekend and it was just down the street.

As much as we liked the fast altered coupes, the cool supercharged roadsters and sleek dragsters, we especially liked the Gas Coupe and Sedan class. It was to us and many others, something attainable with out own cars and trucks. the cost of a full modified altered coupe, hot roadster or the different slingshot race cars were greater than most teenagers could afford. But, the Gas Coupe and Sedan classes were for everyone and their 40 Ford coupes with whitewall tires and slightly different motors. Plus, the spectators in the stands could associate with the street legal coupes and sedans with their own hot rods or daily drivers.

Jnaki

We were drawn in to drag racing with our friend’s 34 Ford 5 window coupe that had a big Oldsmobile motor. A daily driver to high school and afternoon job, plus all day on Saturday’s at the drags was the schedule for a lot of our friends back then.

As the year rolled on and thoughts of building a gas coupe or sedan, we had our favorites in every class. One was Doug Cook and his builds. His 1937 Tahitian Red Chevy Coupe was the top dog in C/Gas and made most of the competition, cannon fodder during the eliminations.

But since having my old 16mm color movie films digitized, the names to go along with the competition cars has gone away, due to old age memories or just a blank wall. We are still looking all over at different publications, web searches and eye witness accounts of the old days of drag racing to see if any identification of cars and racers can he found.

Despite the result of the film that I took and of several others in the C/Gas class, the level of racing got closer as people started to figure out what it took to win or at least be competitive.

The red/orange 1937 Chevy is still unamed and is a mystery. Several name have been brought up, but nothing definitely identifies the exact car in the films. Then this old newspaper photo appeared and the hunt was back on in earnest.


1957 Feb 17 PERHAPS THE BEGINNING?

Adding to the mystery, several racers that made a name for themselves in other classes of drag racing was brought up as possible builders/racers in their own 37 Chevy coupe. The competition was heating up during the 1957 to 60 time period of drag racing history.

Drag Cars in Motion

at: 12

at :16
April 1960
So, can anyone certify the findings of the unnamed 1937 Chevy Coupes running in the C/Gas class races on my digitized films? I would be willing to send you your own digital copies of the drag racers in the films for a verified identification… AND…NOT “… according to my sister’s boyfriend’s, cousin’s father who raced in the 60s…” sort of thing. I need verified discovery, so I can place it on the public research facts project, I am trying to finish this year. Thank you in advance...

 

The 1961 NHRA Winternationals was not just Ford vs Chevy in the Stock classes. Shown here is a '59 Buick vs a '59 Plymouth launching on their run down the 1/4 mile.

 

^^^^ Earl Canavan lived on the eastern edge of our housing tract near the Westchester/Inglewood border, very near where Florence Ave crosses the 405 freeway in LA. today. Just a block or so away from the famous Big Donut (Randy’s). Since his driveway and garage faced 83rd St and the train tracks, he would occasionally fire up his dragster at home much to the delight of us bicycle riding neighborhood kids. It was a gas burner, not nitro, but we loved it just the same. Having built several of the Double T kits, I was especially excited to see a real hot rod Lincoln engine.

 

Magwinder...

 

Kelly Brown Outcast Lions 1964...

 

Karamesines’ twin, this is the original, it’s been recreated.

 

Lions 1966...