As per a suggestion by another HAMB'er, here's a new history thread for one of the greatest classes ever, the long extinct Top Gas Eliminator. Top Gas is just what it sounds like, all out dragsters on pump gas only, no alky, no nitro, just pump gas! Let's go! REMEMBER GAS CARS ONLY!! Gordon "Collecting " Collett, so named 'cause he "collected" wins! Eliminations at the '66 Winternationals: Halstead-Dunlap vs. Gordon 'Collecting' Collett; win to the man from Ohio despite Bill's superb 8.07-187.88 pass. Top Gas to the lanes! Top Gas!
Come on ya deadbeats! Rev up the memory machine. Here's a short list of Top Gas greats! MANY more! Rico Paris Gordon Collett Jack Jones Billy " the Kid"Scott (so good then abruptly quit) Pete Robinson Gerry Glenn George Bolthoff Freight Train-Lippencott or Shultz Gas House Gang Motes & Willaims The Odd Couple Tony Waters Hummel Bros. Bob Noice Jim Bucher Jimmy Scott Don Rassmussen Ernie Hall Earl Paige Dave Grassi Walt Austin Phil Hobbs Jim Minnick Rich Rogers AND A BUNCH MORE!
My first wife's uncle drove the Freight Train...Goober Tuller...he's still alive and kicking here in Tulsa.
Great thread...I still have the last AA/GD my dad built that was campaigned out of Brooklyn,NY but ran Indy and Pomona,I hope to restore her when I'm done with Ingenue. Dad always ran 8-71 blowers since the early 60's. They ran in a Top Gas circuit which included east coast heavy hitter Billy Lynch, and the Shott Brothers. The Malise & Lipori "Gold Car": Fastest car on the premises that day: From Drag Racing Pictorial '68: Indy '69: The circuit they ran:
Wally awarded a new Barracuda to Kenny Hirita and Phil Hobbs for their Top Gas win at the 65 Winternationals. Remember there were only two National events the, the Winternationals and the Nationals! Winning either was a huge deal! Top Gas was IMPORTANT then. (I wish I still had my Cuda!) Kenny Hirita today (driver)
Bet Billy Scott remembered this! A kiss from Linda after winning Riverside ( and a bunch of winter meets in 65 with partners Gene Adams and John Rasmussen. Billy was 16 years old!
Here ya go Boyd! The late Domenic "D.A." Santucci, a respected Top Gas racer fromPittsburghwho had yet to win a national event, choked on his gum when the chute hit on a qualifying run, and it became lodged in his throat. After surviving that funny but potentially dangerous episode, the future fuel Funny Car independent plowed through a huge field Monday and won the final on former Indy Top Fuel winner Phil Hobbs' foul start.
after the bs on the "gasser" thread the other day (shoulda known better) I promised myself for the second time " no more race car crap on the HAMB" but this will probably be a good one. And I did kinda initiate it so... Baddest of the bad, in a class that was chock full of some bad-ass machinery, Bill Mullins tank. Think this car is/has been restored?
Frakes & Funk! Known for, er, partying, Dale Funk surprised a track official by getting out of the car after a run...drinking a beer! The guy asked "Where'd you get that?", Funk replied "This? I took it with me"!
speaking of Div 6 cars, Didn't Walt Austin run a black short bodied T/G car around '68/'69? think |I have a pic somewhere, I'll try to round it up.
The Jalopy Journal
