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

i want one!!!!!!!!!:d

 

Yes, the less said about it the better...still makes me cringe...having said this, I agree that he was one hell of a racer.

 

I'll respectfully disagree on 'the less said' portion. Younger people need to know what people before them went through. Not only to understand why certain rules exist but, also for things to not be repeated.
We could say..Jack was driving a front motor digger, not sure if it was top gas or top fuel. If you have ever sat in one or looked inside the cockpit of one for the first time, you would immediately just have to wonder..." what if the rear end came loose in the chassis and spun around?"
Well, it did happen, at least once, to who we are talking about. He would not be making love anymore because of it.
Because of things like that, rear ends started being secured better and things like the 'anti rotation device' were invented. It can still happen though. I remember seeing the Champion speed shop car at bakersfield a few years back. It had a rear tire come apart at speed and the shake ripped the read end mounting apart! i saw it myself in the pits. VERY SCARY to look at. Adam Sorokin was driving and we all know what happened to his father Dec 31, 1967.
That is one of the differences between drag racing and circle track fans. Drag racing fans have no interest in seeing anyone on the race track crash or get hurt.

Yes, he not only loved drag racing but was successful doing it. When he was able to race again, he picked a different type of quick car where you do not sit with your legs over the rear end.

I have a top fuel slingshot and everytime I sit in it, I cannot help but think about.
Never cover up bad things that have happened, people need to learn from others mistakes and misfortunes. At least he lived to tell about it and was able to continue racing. others did not.
back to the great photos.

 

Possibly the first Jr. Dragster?

 

Thats Jack Jones in Bill Schultz's car

 

Nice shots,Plum.Keep 'em coming.I have enjoyed all your posts.

 

"Big John" Wenderski.....

 

Zueschel, Fuller & Prudhomme....

 

Norm Weekly in the O.C.M.P. Special....(Orange County Metal Processing).

 

More big ones.

plum

 

I get your point, ... spent many a ride looking down at both Ford banjo and Olds rear ends, knowing what they might do if the mounts broke, actually had Doug Robinson weld a tube below the snout with a brace on it to hopefully keep it from rotating, but given the forces that get unleashed when the shaft breaks, or the clutch can gets blown off the back of the motor, starting a very quick chain reaction, you never knew...

I agree that we need to discuss the safety issues, my comment was directed more at how most of us do not want to think too much about what happened to Jack (and I do know the details, guys talked about in the pits after it happened...

 

the dixie flyer was the ewald's bank america t/f car restoration by bruce dyda-this was buttera's last fed

 

Steve Chrisman (Jack's son) in Tom Madigan's excellent book called "The Chrisman Legacy" talks about, what the Chrisman family refers to as the "Big Crash."

Steve Chrisman:
In 1963, Vince Rossi owned a T/F car and Art Chrisman had a hemi fuel motor he wanted to sell. The two got together, and Art put his engine in Vince's car. (Art couldn't drive due to a stipulation in his Autolite contract, who he worked for at the time.)
Art ask Jack to drive, because he knew that Jack would get the most out of the engine. The chassis was a lightweight design, and was probably better suited for a Chevy, rather than the heavier Chrysler hemi.
They ran Long Beach on Saturday night, and Pomona on Sunday. On the second run that day, the brackets holding the rear end in place broke, and the whole differential spun and the 3rd member snout hit my dad in the ass. It DID NOT castrate him, like the story I've heard over the years, but it did tear him up and broke his pelvis in several places. He was in the hospital for 42 days and that accident ended his dragster driving days.
Known only to my mom & dad, despite the fact my dad had driven for another team, Mickey Thompson visited Jack, and said technically you are still working for me, don't worry, you're covered by my insurance. M/T could have written my dad off, but he didn't.....

Jack in "that" car....

 

Tony Nancy........(short wheelbase anyone?).

 

Kenny Safford.....

 

Danny Ongais vs. Tony Nancy T/Gas @ Pomona, 1964.....

 

That's better......................now I can see.

 

"Pulsator I"......twin injected SBC on fuel, driven by Bob Muravez.

 

Pulsator II........more conventional, the body proved to be too heavy on the first car.



.....that is 48# of lead on the front end!

 

Yep, and the original BancAmericar was built as a top fuel version of Lockermans junior fueler.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=246219

 

Is that an early version of the Orange County Metal Processing Special in the other lane?

 

Keep posting Plum i like your photos.

 

Yes, Don Yates was driving that day.......Norm Weekly was hired to drive and Rivero,
Fox & Holding to maintain the car shortly there after.

Here's another shot with Weekly driving.....

 

Lions, 1967.....Dick Harrell vs. Lew Arrington. Arrington's Torque-Flite transmission exploded (a not uncommon occurrence) and engulfed him in flames....

 

Good ones,Plum

RIP,Pee Wee

 

Rich Siroonian in his uncles F/C @ O.C.I.R......

I believe this is a Bob Plumer shot...

 

Tommy Grove, 1968......

 

Pat Foster....

Bob Plumer shot again?

 

Don Gay, 1965....

 

Looking for pictures of Don Grotheers 66 Plymouth. Any pictures would be a great help.

Thanks Ray