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

Tim Woods, near side, later to form Stone, Woods, and Cook, racing Jr. Thompson's blown Chevy powered Stude.

 

Tim Woods "Swindler," before the SWC gasser, here driven by Jr Thompson...helmet not required, apparently.

 

I saw a Simca in a shop in La Grande Oregon last year on my way home from Speedweek.

 

Woody McCormack's altered, Chevy powered...here at Riverside. I remember it at San Gabriel, unblown (6-97's), but LOUD for an unblown car. Ran 120s, if I remember right. I think he was from the San Bernardino area.

 

We don't see many X/Dragster pictures, this one ran here in Oregon in the early 60's, the builder / driver was Ken Beebe. Ken used a Menasco Aircraft engine from the 20's, mounted upside down and backwards, connected to a '39 trans. His best E.T. was a 12.26, making it the fastest banger in the NW ! Ken also ran ARDUN's in two of his other Roadsers, that really performed.

 

The Greeks 8 Wheeler.

 

Ooops! Sorry people.

 

This car is for sale on facebook by a guy named Tony Stewart. Not THAT Tony Stewart! No price.

 

Probably the first big block Chevy top fuel car, now restored and the subject of a thread here a few years back:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/wilton-and-doss-top-fuel-dragster.837131/

The first fire up of the restored car:


And here is some video of it at Bakersfield:


Bob Brooks ( later of Brooks Rods and AFT clutches fame) was the primary shoe but Gary Read also steered at times.

Roo

 

I assume this is Rich Rogers? One of the NW greats and a damn good driver in ANY part of the country! Rich defeated many touring California "Pro's" in his time!

 

Lets go!

 

One time when Rich did not win

One nite at the Beach at one of Micky's cash meets I was helping Tom Larkin in Top Gas as Rich was the pilot in Walt Austins car

Toms engine was hurt and pushing him up to the line the oil was on zero for the last round that they had made a 80-20 split for get home money

Tom cut a great light and it stayed together, so we were home and the N.W. guys rolled up got their cash and motored off into the nite

Good nite for Tom and I

DND

 

Don, Love these stories...

 

This is the earliest picture I have found of the Sidewinder (yes there were lots of sidewinders, but only one Sidewinder...this is before Jack Chrisman drove...the first model had an enclosed cockpit.

 

The track is the old Riverside venue which was pretty much in downtown Melbourne, Victoria. It was a former airstrip adjacent to the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation facility. The caravan (travel trailer) in the background that was used as the base for race control/timing/announcing etc became redundant when the strip closed and was acquired by the group that ran Brooksfield Dragway in South Australia and can be seen in the background of this shot from that track. This was the first track that I raced at (in 1966).

 

I think that Paul Nicolini has never received as much credit as he deserved for his involvement in the Sidewinder. I worked with Paul on Craig Breedlove's Sonic 1 LSR car, and he was a very talented race car fabricator...

 

I doubt that this A/SR was driven on the streets given the blanked grille, but it is at least close




Bruce McDowell's original "Bad News Coupe" at Pomona. Bruce built this car after selling his chopped '34 coupe to Les Hawkins and Lyle Webster (which became the 15oz coupe)...Bruce crashed this car, and the engine then went into the "Bad News Ghost" top fuel car driven by Bob Sidebotham.


Wenderski at San Fernando, where he won his first top fuel title.


Porter, Ries, and Chambers, maybe Fontana. Steve Porter and Herb Reis started out with a blown fuel Olds, but weak bottom end finally led to its replacement with a Chrysler.