K.S. Pittman was running his own Gas coupe and he and John Edwards (chief mechanic) left the Stone & Woods team to concentrate on that car. Doug Cook started driving right around the ‘61 Indy Nationals.
Hello, Correct me if I am wrong, but K.S. Pittman and John Edwards ran the red 41 Willys Coupe from 1958 until they moved to the 33 Willys in 63-64. K.S. Pittman did drive other gas coupes for other racers at times. But, their main concentration and class records speak for the team's 41 Willys in C/Gas and B/Gas. 1959 Tim Woods was still running the Oldsmobile sedan in the Gas Coupe/Sedan Classes at the time. The Stone Woods and Cook versions did not come along until 1961. Leonard Woods: “When my dad and Fred first formed the team and we won the ‘61 Winternationals with K.S. Pittman driving, Doug Cook was driving a Willys for Howards Cams in C/Gas. We were running B/Gas, but Pittman also had his own car in C/Gas, and it got to be a bit of a conflict, so we teamed with Cook at the end of the Winternationals.” Pitman/ Edwards Jnaki History is confusing sometimes and with all of the history in the early Gas Coupe and Sedan Classes, who would have known drivers switch cars like women switch purses. It was hard enough to film our favorites without slighting other fast cars. Look at the wonderful driving history of Bones Balogh. It would be fun to list and show the photos of all the drag racing cars he drove in those early days, starting with his own Chevrolet sedan 4 door sedan at Lion’s Dragstrip. IOHO
Thanks Dean....good to know ...has always been my favorite . Being born in 61 I wasn't aware of the truck until I started looking at my uncle's old Hot Rod magazines when I was 9 or 10 Then I saw the cover of Hot Rod , all that red and chrome with the wide whites and top...I was hooked...maybe the first bump in my pants even....I have collected Hot Rod magazines plus others for years and just recently got a very large stash of them manly 51to 70's so I have been digging out everything I can find on it to help me in a model that I have been collecting parts for of the truck...you changed it up often ,that's actually what I liked about it, you built it ..you used it ...changed it..used it more and the whole time sharing it with others to see ...even though I was late to the party...I thank you. Terry (aka Rudestude)
Gary Cagle Riverside Raceway December 1959 Hey FR, Your dad was definitely at the big drag race at Riverside Raceway in 1959. But he was a pretty good build sort of guy and that guy in the Ivo photo was not as well built, physically, as your dad. We knew of your dad from Lion’s Dragstrip and were rooting for him to do well at Riverside. Gary Cagle Lion's Dragstrip total Jnaki I was able to get a short film of the race he was in against an Edsel powered FED of Glen Ward at Riverside Raceway, as well as a single timing run. Gary Cagle at 1959 Riverside Raceway Total The best film of your dad was when I was able to put some "real sound" of the yellow Herbert Cam Special FED to the film I had already taken at Lions. It fit perfectly. It was like being there in person. Gary Cagle Torco Special Lion’s Dragstrip with real sound. Thanks for the sound… and your dad’s build/driving skills.
Ted Cyr Cyr and Hopper Riverside Raceway 1959 Hello, Of all of my films and photos, besides the sound versions of the Sidewinder and the Jr. Thompson B/Gas sedan races, this is the most “action” in any of the films. Although, I have not found the original sound. It was an elimination race between the world record holder, Cyr and Hopper versus the Competition Coupe of Coburn Glaze. (early hot rod Carnuba Wax sales/developer, Bill Coburn) Coburn Glaze Company (W.E. Coburn) was one of the first to use Carnuba paste wax as a car wax. It was very loud at the starting line. Then when it was “go” time, a huge cloud of dust, smoke and noise filled the air with the most action on this day. Sure, the other big names had exciting runs, Art Chrisman, Tommy Ivo, But, this one just oozed power and determination. Jnaki 1959 Riverside Raceway Drag Meet Cyr and Hopper vs Coburn Glaze
Yes, it's an old midget/sprint car practice. Keeps the front axle from moving side to side without a Panhard rod. So, we know the axle under the Orange Crate came from a sprint car, just as the axle under my old RPU did.
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