Jive-Bomber submitted a new blog post: The 1960 NHRA Nationals in Detroit Continue reading the Original Blog Post
That was a HOOT to watch. Remember those days well. There was an altered on from my hometown that said Ozzie's Speed Shop on the side. Gerald Osborne was the guy, and he later ran an Austin Healy that was Chevrolet powered and set a national record at Indy Raceway Park he held for several years.
That was fun. Here's a fun fact, that pit area stayed dirt to the end of its days. Only about ¼ or less got paved. Some of that wooden fence stayed well into the 80s. Seeing those clips from a driver's perspective brought fond memories. I'd been down that track over 500 times and know many who did nearly 10 times that much. I might still be racing if that place was still up n running. No pics though, mine was OT for here.
Once a year nearby Milan Dragway hosts a Detroit Dragway Reunion race, featuring many old HAMB era cars (and drivers). A good nostalgia event for sure. This year's (2023) event is on June 9 &10. I like to take my old Logghe car there to race Nostalgia Comp. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-last-logghe-altered-restore-it-or-race-it.352899/
I came across that video and few years ago and captured this screenshot from it. My brother has owned the Model T pickup ( started out as a sedan) since 1974. In 1960 it was owned by Larry Carlyon. Edit: to clarify, the sreenshot is fron the other 1969 Nationals video.
Hello, Thank you for the great movie from the 1960 Detroit Nationals. That was my brother’s goal to get our 1940 Willys C/Gas 671 SBC Coupe running and compe***ive at Lion’s Dragstrip prior to heading off to the Nationals. In early August 1960, we were getting close to the national record of 12:40 by running 12:60 with the 6 Strombergs and no Stick Hydro, narrow slicks and getting ready for some big time add on equipment we had ordered and were waiting for us in a Los Angeles warehouse. The biggest improvement item would have been the Two Port Hilborn Injectors. Then the addition of larger and wider M&H slicks with the requisite Halibrand Mags. But, we were still waiting for the OK to get a Stick Hydro installed prior to leaving for Detroit. Our final paint and upholstery was already in the appointment books and we had plans to take at least a week off to drive/tow back there to Detroit. So, this was the first week in August and the resulting races proved we were headed in the right direction. My brother’s driving was on fire and he was eliminating compe***or after compe***or making it to the 9 P.M. final race. History was a roadblock that changed our whole lives and made it go another way. Jnaki The 1960 Detroit Movie was inspiring, but our main compe***ion would have been another West Coast racer, the current record holder, Doug Cook. He actually won the C/Gas Cl*** and set another record, so that weekend for us, would have been exciting. We did see his 37 Chevy Coupe almost weekly at Lion's Dragstrip, winning race after race in the C/Gas and B/Gas cl***es. Detroit Nationals So Cal Doug Cook wins C/Gas at 12:39 119 mph. Howard Cam Special is Doug Cook. One month before the Nationals, we had run 12:60 and 108 mph. So, we were close and gaining each week. If we had continued with the new speed items we had ordered/stored in a warehouse in Los Angeles, it would have been a different outcome. NOTE: The interesting thing about the film is that despite the September day and date, September 3, 1960, the notice from the Standard 1320 Rules Committee about no more Moon Gas Tanks inside of any hot rod or race car was ignored. (Drag News post in August 13, 1960) It was one month from the announcement. But, I guess the news travels slowly going East and the Nationals rules committee did not think about the consequences of the Moon Tank inside of the driver’s area. NOTE 2: The Moon Aluminum Tank and Pump System was a hot ticket on most Gas Coupes and Sedans. They were also on a lot of roadsters, altereds, and even the low slung dragsters. The current rules from 1959-60 allowed the Moon Tank to be bolted to the floor of the p***enger’s foot well area. It made it a little cramped when cruising around in our street legal Willys Coupe. But, it was the feeling of driving around in a powerful hot rod that overcame any form of inconvenience. After a few months of running a Stromberg carburetor powered 283 SBC, everything worked well and we had no problems. The only problem we saw was the Willys was not as compe***ive against the big names like Jr. Thompson, Pittman/Edwards and Doug Cook. What a line up of compe***ion, no one could say my brother did not have big goals for the Willys in B/Gas. But, it just was a little disheartening. Our move to the compe***ive C/Gas cl*** was an eye opener and now, we were close to the national record. Needless to say, our last evening race at Lion’s Dragstrip started something that changed the drag racing circles and created somewhat of a monster in the hot rod world. Our mishap made it safer for all others that followed and it was a good/bad thing. Good in that there should be no more huge fires or explosions inside of the cab from skimpy aluminum fuel tanks, even as nice as they looked and functioned. But, as the years rolled by, a lot of people mostly moved to the front and outside of the cars. BAD STYLING During the build of his immaculate 40 Willys Coupe, Atts Ono decided that his Willys needed as much smooth flowing air going over and under the Willys Coupe body, so he mounted his Moon Tank in front, but inside of the split grille. Still keeping the original smooth front end of the Willys for racing. It was a fully functioning gas tank that was mounted on machined aluminum brackets and hid well inside of the grille. He remembered the outcome of the fiery explosion and aftermath in August 1960. 1964 Lion's Dragstrip staging area
Thanks for posting this video of Detroit Dragway. I was there in the 80s and 90s numerous times to watch Saturday night races. Some fond memories for sure. Every time I p*** the Sibley Road exit on I75 I wish it was still there so I could take my kids there to experience it.
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