Folks Of Interest RIP Dave McClelland

One of the greatest.

 

Dave's "Tuna Tank" Fiat.

 

Dave "Big Mac" McClelland
October 30, 1936 - May 22, 2022
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Dave began announcing drag races in 1959 and worked his first event, the NHRA Nationals in 1961:

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Another legend in the world of drag racing history as passed on.
Rest in peace and know that you will be missed.

Jimbo

 

Rest In Peace. Condolences to his family.

 

The voice of drag racing.
Rest in peace Dave.

 

My condolences to his family and friends

 

We are at that age my friends.......
My dad says he has 3 classmates a month dying off.

I hate to hear that. I remember listening to him over the loud speakers.

 

Sincere sympathy goes out to his friends, racing Family, fans and especially to his immediate Family - he added so much to the world of racing

 

R.I.P. Mr. Dave. He was the voice I listened to along with Steve Evans.

 

Godspeed Dave. And thankyou. Lippy

 

R.I.P.

 

Say it ain't so.

Rest In Peace Dave. One of the great ones.

 

RIP Dave

 

Great announcer, a big part of NHRA drag racing when it was still relevant and interesting.

 

Dave and Steve Evans,2 of the best ever

 

I enjoyed Dave's knowledgeable and informative commentary for many years. Dave's fiat bodied altered was at onetime campaigned in Louisiana with some affiliation to Shreve Automotive Machine Shop
here in Metairie. I do remember the car, but dont remember who actually raced it at the time. That
was 50 years ago, damn.

 

The Shreve Automotive Fiat Topolino:

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Old Thunderlungs. RIP. A big part of what made drag racing cool, back when it Was cool.

 

Dave's drag car in the late '50s:

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The "TUNA TANK" Fiat Topolino:

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Man I spent many happy Sundays at Laplace dragway! It was just west
of New Orleans, about 25 miles or a little less. The actual pavement is
still there. Now it is a road in an industrial corridor with warehouses
lining both sides. They ran every other Sunday and often had great Funny car shows
with booked in racers from all across the country. Kind of like match racing
but with many more cars competing. The competition eliminator shows were very
very competitive and fiercely contested events. " Be there" rang out on the local
radio stations to remind folks to come. Come they did, it was immensely
popular. I still would be there if it was!

 

He will be missed, a true drag racing icon. I had the opportunity to have dinner with him at SEMA several years ago. Found out we graduated from the same high school, several years apart. Liberty High School, north of K.C., MO.

 

RIP

 

My exact name, Glad it wasn't me, I have his "Classic Instruments" gauges in my 33. R.I.P. Mr McClelland.

 

Yes the voices i grew up with dealing with cars. Just like the voice that called your favorite college football team.
Or wide world of sport. RIP

 

Boomers were born after WWII, mostly to returning military members.. Dave precedes that, being born before the war.