History Greater Des Moines (Iowa) Drag Strip 1960's

Don Steadmon was another name associated with that action. I know he had alot of 40 Frord parts and helped with hard to find parts for my deluxe coupe.

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I knew a lot of the guys that raced there but I didn't know Don. That might be his car. There were a few '38 Chevy coupes but not too many '37's

Tic

 

I knew Don. Nice guy. I bought some '40 parts off of him too, for my coupe.

Tic

 

Hello,

Those are some nice old photos. Our early drag racing history has a Midwest involvement in it and we sure wish we knew where the final place was for our 671 292 ci blower spec, SBC motor we built as teenagers in 1960.
Similar SBC motor as our second total build…

In 1959 through 1960 August, our 1940 Willys Coupe build took up all of our extra time after school and jobs. But, in May, we finally got the 671 supercharged 292 c.i. blower spec SBC motor together and started to open some eyes at Lion’s Dragstrip.

Some time in February 1961, a avid drag racer/hot rod fanatic called our Long Beach phone number and said he would buy our complete 671 SBC motor. We were skeptical as the call was not from So Cal. It was somewhere in the Midwest and we did not know where.
The ad should have said 292 cubic inches, not 283. The ad taker took out, "block" bored to 292 c.i.

We told the midwest caller that if he was interested, we would give him the hold option for one week to get to So Cal, to pay us with a certified U.S. postal money order. Then he could get a shipping company to come to our house to box up and ship it back to his house…where ever it was. The memory fades from that point on to this day. We both remember that it was not in So Cal and the shipping company was near our Westside house.

So, it was February 1961, when our 671 SBC motor with about 14 runs, left our house in a boxed up crate in the back of the moving van. We cashed the postal money order, were sad to see the motor go elsewhere, but life moves onward.

Jnaki

Now, the Midwest is a huge place, but in the mid-60s, there were a few very popular drag strips. By 1971, our friend Atts Ono, passed away and his immaculate complete Willys Coupe was sold to a guy from the “Midwest.” Atts Ono’s brother only remembers putting their 1940 red Willys on a moving van trailer hauler and waving goodbye.

When asked if he remembers where… he mentioned it was a sad time and it was not as clear as it should have been. So, for these years, the family just put it on the back burner and as far as today being concerned, they have no idea where in the Midwest the immaculate red 1940 Willys Coupe is or was shipped. (that was over 50 years ago)

So, does anyone in the Midwest remember if your grandfather or relative purchased either our 671 SBC motor for their build? Or for that matter, did anyone remember 10 years later, in 1971, if a new red 1940 Willys Coupe rolled out of a moving van into their driveway? Where are they, 60 and 50 years later?

If there are photos of the final destination, IN EITHER CASE, you will be sent a stash of HD digital files for your family’s files. A trade of sorts and a big thank you from two Westcoast families that were involved from the late 50s to the 70s in So Cal drag racing history.
THANK YOU...

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/early-drag-racing-photos.1222399/page-10#post-14003232

 

didnt look like it to me

 

That starting line story, well done, how very well done!

 

Was this the only track in the area around 1959? I was a little kid at the time and our family lived in Urbandale. I remember my dad and 2 older brothers going to the drags "nearby". One car they used to mention in their discussions was a very lightweight "rail" with a BMW motorcycle engine campaigned by 2 german brothers. Home-spun innovation and creativity were such a big part of racing at that time.

 

Its great you've take the time to share! I am constantly on the hunt for candid pictures of a car I bought that was retired in the late 60-s that I have been able to get back into driving capabilities again. If you by chance read this (or anyone else) and come across the car ever being photod Id love to see it. Cordova, Rockford, Kahoka, Eddyville, Waterloo. Picturs attached - one on a race day, one when I found it, and one road ready again as is now condition. View attachment 5823795

 

By the way... powered with Corvette 327, 4 SPEED & 5:60 AXLE

 

Neat 32! My 32 coupe came from your neck of the woods but even though it is nose up, I doubt it was raced. You should bring your sedan to Goodguys in Des Moines next year and park next to me at the Deuce Doins'.

 

Nice sedan, but you gotta ditch the license plate on the front. Sticks out like a sore thumb.

 

16th or so photo of the hemi powered roadster with the 79 county plate was Paul Green' who lived along highway 6 between Newton and Grinnell. He's also in the photo labelled Paul Jim and Leon.

 

Dad picked up this Henry J a few years back. It had Des Moines decal on the window. Sadly the brittleness of it didn't survive the trip home.

So if anyone has a photo of a Henry J racing there is be interested in comparing the photos to this car.

Thanks, Adam