I own a vhs videotape with the 58' OK. nationals and always wanted a closer look at that merc. it is only in the video for a few seconds. Thanks for the pic's and the program scans. Amazing thread! i wish i had a time machine...
I was just looking at my program and see that the Number 369 on the 32 Ford coupe you posted was the entry number at OKC in 58. It lists Bruce Olson as the owner and Mike Thompson as the driver and the city as Glendive, MT. They listed the engine simply as 54 Chrysler. The program did list some ET's and on the page titled "The Challengers" there is a photo of Cyr & Hopper's Chrysler powered dragster that had a record 9.61 ET on gasoline. Although it was one of the cars favored to win, their old car ended up being the winner. The Drifters cars that we went with were Entry Numbers 231 (35 Ford - 54 Dodge) and 232 (34 Ford - 55 Chrysler) and here are some photos I took of them in the pits.
@Bullet Nose ... Thanks for posting the pics of the two Drifters entries ... very cool. UPDATE: The #231 '35 Ford was driven by Hozie Gomez ... and the #232 '34 Ford was driver by @chattyts's father, Bill Vornholt.
Found some magazine coverage of the '58 Nats ... Note: All images from November 1958 issue of HOT ROD Magazine
Amazing!!! I dont know how the hell I missed this post the first time around, but I'm glad you bumped it up so I could have a look-see. ND to OK is over 1000 miles, and that's on modern expressways. I cant even begin to imagine what it took [time, effort, and dedication] to make that trip back in '58 while 4 wheel flat towing a race car! Once again, thanks for posting, absolutely awesome!!!!!!
I've said it before, but your car and it's history with your family is kooler than the North Pole in December! Thanks for the great post.
Discovered an envelope with an NHRA shipping label and an AUG '58 postage cancellation mark: ... when I opened it up, I found a bunch of '58 NHRA Nationals "Participant" documents and various memorabilia inside ... here's some of them: Entry Confirmation letter August 18th letter (page 1) August 18th letter (page 2) Schedule Map My father's Pit Pass A Moon Equipment water-slide decal (Moon was a major sponsor of the 1958 National Championship Drag Races)
Cool stuff. Nice to see how simple items as a confirmation letter can become a thing of interest 50 years later.
After reading this post over ever so slowly this morning,thought I'd add a few interesting bits of info.Some of you might have noticed the "Rollin Stone" 32 Roadster shown in the Official program on the Street roadster class description.That very roadster was restored back to its original glory bt Jim Smith(Hot Rod Garage,Sand Spgs,Okla)and was sold at Barret-Jackson last year for an amazing $330,00.00. Car was campaigned during its racing career by the late Carl Stone.It was also on the cover of CHHR Reunion in Bakersfield Official program a few years ago.I could go on and on about this event and the people involved,but will stop now.Thanks again for this post!!!!I was ther with Bobby Langley and the Scorpion Dragster.
Way Cool ! Thanks for posting !! Some friends of mine ran at the 58' meet with a 32 & a Hemi it was called "Satans Deuce" It was candy blue with yellow flames. Goldy
Ran across this thread...I have some stuff from the '59 Nats @ the Dirty-D (Detroit) if anyone is interested in seeing it.
Hello, I came across this message board yesterday. My father Bill Vornholt was one of the Redondo Drifters that went to 1958 Nationals and drove car 232. I would love to see any other photo's you have. I went by my moms house today and she gave me a photo of all the Drifters in front of one of their other cars. Thanks Tina (Vornholt) Smith Huntington Beach CA PS My dad - Bill Vornholt is in the front row with the dark sunglasses
Tina (@chattyts), Welcome to the H.A.M.B. ... what a great first post! ... that's a very cool photo of the Drifters ... thanks for sharing it with us. Unfortunately, I do not have any more pics from the '58 Nats ... nor of the Redondo Drifters Car Club. Perhaps @Bullet Nose has some? ... he attended the '58 Nats with a buddy ... and they tagged along with the Drifters on the trip to/from OKC. You might have better luck getting more info/pics on the Drifters if you just started your own thread ... I'd suggest giving it a prefix of "History" and entitling it something like "Redondo Drifters CC of the '50s". Just attach that same photograph, provide any & all info you know about your father's involvement with the club, and request more pics / info about the club ... I think you will be surprised with the response ... the wealth of knowledge on this board is unbelievable ... the H.A.M.B. is an amazing place!
The neatest thing is that every car is different, and innovative, and creative, in it's own way. Thanks.
tinker and j.l. payne was with carl stone that weekend. i have three 8mm flim col. one from the wilsons brother that ran flat head fords, the next came from bonnie oxley when she was married to eddie hill, her stuff came with pict. flim, pit pass, decals letters.her col. goes from 57tru70s. the oyher is paul davis one of the north texas timming pres. charles
Wow, Thanks for posting. Have you ever thought of restoring the car back to it's 1958 configuration ? With all of the documentation you have, the car would be priceless.
Awesome, just Awesome. Thanks for sharing! i love the old photos and finding out the history of cars. -Steve
Wonderful when history is documented so well, thankyou! That i sure cool reading from the simpler days of racing. Again thanks to all who contributed the pics, stories and all. Lippy
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