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

Al Bergler...

 

Modified Roadster, right?
I still don't know how much roadster you hadda have -- anyone?

 

Howard Cams/Bob Downey...

 

You can see the cowl of the 23 "T", as well as the turtle deck. I don't know how modified the roadster can be, apparently it can be heavily modified.

 

Sorry for the crappy cell phone photo, but I don't have a scanner yet. Here's a shot of a "roadster" (Modified Fuel Roadster class) from the June, '64 issue of PHR. Modified, indeed.

 

AA/C

 

Apologies for slowing things down a bit...my ol' Cadillac powered '26 T. 9.50's at 139.

 

. . . I guess the Messerschmitt is actually a "Modified Coupster".

 

Tell us about your combination. Is that engine streetable?

 

9.50's for a phone booth, that's not bad at all.

Fun to be different...

Mike

 

Dave Pruden photo Tri City...

 

Staying with the Al Bergler theme...

 

Craig Breedlove/Spirit II...

 

Hello,

In the early drag racing days, the designation for Altered Coupes and Competition Coupes was similar, but different. There are a lot of people that make the mistake in identification of old photos, as they are/were similar. for most, the Fiat coupes, the Crossley coupes/sedans looked like and were mostly Altered Class racers. But, there were others that looked the same, but were classified as Competition Coupes. A simple mistake, as we all made those choices at one time or another.

A little research is necessary prior to designating an Altered Fiat Coupe as a Competition Coupe, or vice versa in these hectic copy and paste internet trips into the world of old drag racing photos.




Jnaki

So, this early Fiat Coupe is a Competition Coupe and not an Altered Coupe class racer. Driver’s position is the key. The body style is moot as it only required a body. How much of a body? A stock appearing C/S designation, meaning Coupe or Sedan.
1958-59 Bill Colburn version 3
Colburn Glaze Competition Coupe
1959-60 version 4 of Bill Colburn - Colburn Glaze Competition Coupe

DRAG CARS IN MOTION:
Colburn Glaze VS Cyr and Hopper

It was the same for Modified Roadsters, Hot Roadsters or Altered Roadsters. Full bodied roadsters were the most common. But as the years rolled on, the size and modifications to the stock appearing roadster bodies morphed into smaller, narrower and sometimes unrecognizable bodies. But, all staying within the parameters of the rules, a C/S Coupe/Sedan body on a frame.

As the racers in their modified coupes and roadsters found ways to compete, the individual classes as a whole took a trip into oblivion, so the associations could focus on fuel dragsters and funny cars as the main attraction of drag racing. Not good… YRMV

 

1964 Smokers Meet...

 

500 Cad bored .040, heavily ported heads,1050 Dominator,268 @.050" cam with .620 lift on 108 lca, 12.6 compression, TH400 , 5000 stall, 3.50 rear gear in 9", 2500 lbs with driver. The previous engine would have made a good street engine, ran 10.0's at 132 on pump gas. Ran this car approx 1200 passes and never broke an engine...big fun!

 

The good ol' days^^^^^

 

Eerily similar to today's canopy covered Top Fuelers. I would say some folks are way ahead of their time, except Al is still creating automotive masterpieces.

 

Yes he is...here's Al and Dale Pulde at Nitro Revival 5 in '22.

 

yup
throttles wide open entering the traps
reaching for the chute release
scorching header heat distorting the atmosphere
grown up slicks distorting

Who Be Dat???

 

Both Al Bergler and Dale Pulde are great people. I met Al several years ago at "Goodguys Indy". Al needed a Moon hydraulic gas pedal, I had one, and gave it to Al for free. I recognize those people that contribute to our sport, and treat them accordingly. IMO, Dale Pulde was a great driver, that just needed a good sponsor. I know that he had Miller Beer for a while, but I hoped that some other big buck sponsor would come along to take advantage of his talent. I heard that Dale also did well racing motorcycles.

 

Dale's supposed to be running another N/FC for Bucky Austin...

 

I am glad to hear that. I always thought that he was under-rated.

 

Boyd Pennington vs 554...