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

ABC Wide World of Sports capture...US Nationals.

 

Comp dragsters...

 

Now, that's gittin' it sideways......

 

Check that distributor set up !

 

Wico magnetos were adapted from tractors by some ingenious early hot rodders.

 

Gene Winfield.

 

. . . just like it said above the picture.

 

Yeah …….. But your adrenaline gets much higher when it gets that way at finish line!

 

A varied history of the drag racing roadster/teams in So Cal.


Hello,

History comes from all sorts of situations or a combination of racers/teams. It was nice to be able to be there and record some films for posterity. Drag racing just drew us in and kept at it for a several years…

The bright Candy Apple Paint color and whitewall tires identified this roadster back then. Over the years of inactivity, in watching my drag racing films, some of the names slipped away. But, this fast modified roadster looked like it was driven directly off of the street and racing in the street roadster class. But, it was a show car and fast record setting, modified, hot roadster.

June 1959

Brissette-Eichenhofer modified "Hot Roadster"


Jnaki

Quincy Automotive was one of the top speed shops in Southern California, with a long list of drag racers and dry lakes racing involvement. In our opinion, Quincy was to Los Angeles racers as Reath Automotive was to Long Beach area racers. The lists are long from both early speed shops.

The name Brissette is synonymous with hot rods, drag racing and other fast roadsters leading into the FED world. Thanks for the great presentation from the early days.

 

Al VanDerwoude.

 

In the white shirt under the car, and Rich Howell on his knees by the rear end. I once made a comment to him about the preponderance of photos with the rear end in pieces and he said that that car spit out rear ends with unfortunate regularity. Still, they ran the car two seasons and was replaced by the iconic '68 Charger.

 

Also...here's Rich and Al:

 

Arteagua and Kindred dragster, with Alex Xydias' Ardun, Charles Fawcett photo, Pomona. Behind is Ike Iacano's fuel coupe.


Fred Salisbury ran this Deven bodied car powered by a big FoMoCo engine. It held the 1320 record for A/MSC. Geri Tarvin photo, at Fremont.


Winfield & Fisher coupe, at Pomona. Mrs. Dan O'Regan photo, 1952. The coupe ran a GMC six.


A/GD run at the 1958 NHRA Nationals. Ultimate top eliminator Cyr and Hopper, at left, going against Jay Cheatham from Sunnyvale CA. Glenn Ward photo.


Art Arfons "Green Monster" at the '58 NHRA Nationals. It often set top speed of the meet, but was too heavy to compete.


Art Malone at Kingdon, Geri Tarvin photo.

Dave Hough offering a sacrifice to the aluminum gods. Tom West photo, taken at Irwindale.


Scappoose Oregon, around 1951. Marty Strode photo.


Prieto, Cagle, and Yates, homemade induction. Don Prieto, Clarke Cagle, and Don Yates ran this innovative car, seen here at Lions. I don't know whose photo this is. Don Prieto is one of the best drag racing historians around, and has recreated/restored both the Hustler II and Tom Ivo's single engine Buick dragster.


Welsh and Butler on a run at Kingdon. This short wheelbase rear engine Chevy could run with the best of them. Geri Tarvin photo.

 

I think this is the reason the Safety Safari was formed.

 

It would seem to me, at least, the Sports Car rules would make it mandatory that the driver be in the car.

 

Don Prieto is an all-around great guy...photo taken at my house earlier this year:

 

Almost slingshot style!

 

Yes he is, we swap stories and argue endlessly about politics. His stories are incredible.

 

Chuck Gireth Vs. Archie Ary

 

Jack Chrisman

 

Don has forgotten more about drag racing than most of us will ever know...

 

Mudersback (sp?) and Chrisman? Riverside?

 

Riverside, Doug Peterson photo

 

yes, top gas final, Lefty Mudersbach vs Jack Chrisman, in the former Ed Losinski car that had been converted to a slingshot design, Doug Peterson photo. Riverside, May '59

 

Absolutely, he was there and did it all, raced in Louisiana and California, got awards for drag racing journalism, holds his taco party every year, where some real legends show up ----