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

That's a great story...I thought that Neil Leffler was initially involved in the Secret Weapon after the end of the Iron Maiden, but I'm not entirely sure...You're right, Roger Wolford later ran the jeep...but he and Neil Leffler did partner with a fuel dragster in '63, here is a shot of it at Lions:



Leffler & Wolford at Lions, '63....

I think that this engine was the first in the "Secret Weapon," which I saw at Lion's when it first ran, no paint, etc....later Ed Lenarth came on board...and Neil didn't stay...not entirely sure on this, though.

 

Great story, thanks Dean

 

I got right from the horse's mouth Dick. I saw the 8.92 run at LIONS. In 1996 I asked gene what he did to get the coupe in the 8's that night. That's when he told me the story. The car was fully capable of 8 second passes almost a year before it did. Like I said, Gene and Larry were making $500 an appearance for a title defense. He said making the money was a lot more important to him than proving how quick the car really was. There is also a short story about the car going from the 10's to the 9's.

 

A friend of mine (Bill Fronterhouse) from Fairbanks, Alaska sent me some great photos from "back in the day". These were all shot between '62 and '64 at the track in Hobbs, NM when Bill was just 16 years old.

 

I love these old pictures. Not only are the subject cars great but you always want to check out the back ground also.

 

Incredible pictures!...thanks, George for posting them, so many pictures still out there undiscovered...the drag strip at Hobbs was on the site of Walker Air Force Base, which suspended operations in 1963 and closed for good in 1967....it is still in operation today, here is a picture of it from Google Earth, with the drag strip the runway on the bottom:

 

I bought this car from Dan Crites in Maryland in 1976. I still have it. Been in my garage since then sitting. Anyone have photos when Gene owned it?

 

Coming from the SoCal area, it's refreshing to see what are most likely local or regional dragsters that most likely don't (or maybe rarely) do much out of state traveling. Other than Eddie Hill and Pete Robinson's car (I think), I have no idea who the other racers are. For a 16 year old kid, Bill took some first rate photos...

 

I bought this car from Dan Crites in Maryland 1976. Still have it been sitting in my garage. Anyone have photos when Gene Cooper owned it?

 

Dig all those Ponchos in young Mr. Fronterhouse's fabulous shots!

 

In the 4th photo, it looks like Jesse VanDeventer with his B/MR, made the tow from National City, Ca. If I was going to re-create a Modified/Roadster, that would be it ! Thanks George for collecting and sharing, all of those great shots.

 

Early Pure Hell before paint (this picture puzzles me, though...it is clearly Pure Hell, checked their website...but Fremont looks newer than it was when Pure Hell debuted...)



Hunter, Lewis, & Perry


Tony Waters modified roadster


Sadd Brothers, Teague, and Bentley...these guys usually ran this roadster at the lakes and Bonneville, but also drag raced it...bright yellow, with an injected Chevy...later it would set Bonneville records with a blown Chrysler, until damaged in a return road accident...the body of the old Brammer, Burkhart, and Burns roadster was the replacement body....



From George Klass...Bob Walther, from Lansing, MI...made the long haul to Fremont.


From the Norm Grudem collection...Reed Brothers, either ran a fuel flathead or a Chrisman-built Chrysler, ran over 138 on fuel with Chrisman at the wheel....the early PVTA dragster is in the background...I think they ran Dawson Hadley's Chrysler, maybe Chuck Griffith at the wheel?...this was early '50s


Vaca Valley, Northern California, long since closed...no ID on either car


Jim Travis takes a lakes car for a spin at the drags...looks like Irwindale...this was Alex Xydias lakes car that ran with a blown flathead or blown Ardun...but it also drag raced, until Alex's brother in law died from burns when the clutch blew at Pomona, early '50s. Alex sold the car, later Dawson Hadley and several others raced it until Travis got a hold of it and ran it with a sbc. It is now perfectly restored to the way it was when Xydias had it.


Don't know when or where...maybe Suffolk, VA?


Irwindale, wonder if these were old race cars from the early '50s recycled to run again?


Tocco & Harper before the blower


...and after...Bishop & Buell built the engine...Daryl Buell was an old top fuel racer who taught me some things about building fuel engines...


No ID, anyone?

 

Hi Willy, I can get more pictures of your 36 when Gene Cooper owned it. Are you local to Baltimore? Would love to see the car again. Got any pictures?

 

The cars down here in Miami. I'm an attorney down here. The car has been in storage since the 70's. I'm now going to restore it. Bill@souza-law.com

 

Just found this site today. Still trying to find out how it works. I want restore the car and put it my small museum down here in miami. I really need photos. Bill@souza-law.com

 

Just learned there are restrictions of what you can post. First day still trying to figure this site out. Id like to get some photos

 

www.georgeklass.net

Take your pick...

 

Thanks

 

You're safe posting pix of that '36.
Click on "The H.A.M.B" in the red banner at the top of the page. The next page will have four headings beginning with "General Discussion." Go to the bottom of the page and click on "Questions and Suggestions." On the next page, click on "Tutorials" and you'll get the info you need on how the site works.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

No problem. Glad to help, if I can.

 

Went on your site and you did have a photo of the car. Thanks it will help with the restoration.

 

I believe this pic, also from the George Klass collection, is Gene Cooper's car, as well. I can't say for certain, as I just don't remember the car well enough. It may not help you in the restoration as it appears to be an early version, but certainly is good for historical background. Aquasco was a drag strip in southern Maryland where Gene raced. It was open from approximately 1957-77. The photo appears to be circa 1964.

 

Assuming it's the same car, it's definitely an earlier version, still had the OEM height top..

 

Yeah, the top isn't chopped and the wheel base is different, but the front wheels, steering, suspension, engine setback, headers, and injector stacks are the same as on the pic with the open mouth on the grille. I think that grille shell and hood is a one-piece fiberglass unit and "Anderson Industries" is marked on the rear quarter of the early pic. Anderson Industries or "Ai" began in 1963 making fiberglass parts for race cars. They were located in Jessup, MD, which is a short drive south of Baltimore. I believe that open mouth pic was taken in 1969. I'm hopeful 41hemi can verify and provide additional pix as he knew the car better.