History Early drag racing photos

Jack Ditmars ?

 

The Davis and Ingram "Jewel T ". Later sold to Ron Zavarella and his father. It was later stolen, and never recovered.

 

No, AFAIK Jack never ran a hemi. His Lil’ Screamer was SBC powered and he later ran the Mini-Brute Opel with a BBC on fuel.

 

Hello,
A fast search provided some information on that first flip top race car in the photo. The NHRA files provided this article and information.


"Jody Austin chimed in to the “first Funny Car” discussion – somewhat tongue-in-cheek, I’m assuming – that his dad, Raymond, had what he calls “the Original Flopper” in the late 1950s: A homebuilt, tube “pipe” chassis with a flip-top Fiat body and a supercharged engine. The car was towed from Texas to the 1960 Smokers Meet in Bakersfield, where it won its class over the likes of Ratican, Jackson & Stearns and a slew of other cars."

Jnaki

The results from the weekly Drag News did not show the class results for this class. Does anyone have a different set of results for the March 1960 Bakersfield Smokers Meet?

Note: Despite the first flip top racer notes, we did see one in 1959, several months earlier at Riverside Raceway.

The one roadster that stood out from all the way across the pits was the Higgenbotham Farms Modified Roadster. We knew of this roadster from the local weekly Drag News publications. But, we had never seen it in person.
MAY 1959
Upon walking up to the Candy Apple/Tahitian Red Color roadster in the pits, it was amazing that the whole body was hinged on the rear. It could be lifted up in front to be able to work on the motor/transmission.
DEC 1959

 

Would this be 'Pork' Zartman of the 'Filthy Forty' gasser?

 

YES It Would Be 'PORK"!!

 

Thanks Dave, good to hear from you, all the best to you and yours.