Hi all, this is my first post on the site. My name is Dylan Horton and I work for the Southeast Gassers on the side as the videographer. If you've heard of the Southeast Gassers, you'll probably know that we do not show the times or speeds on the scoreboards. Only a win light. Also, if you've been keeping up with us, we are now under new ownership which started at the beginning of this year and now the new leadership seems to be looking into the possibility of changing things up and showing the times. The Southeast Gassers rule books originate from the 1967 NHRA rule books and that is the time that we are trying to "replicate." Some people say that there were scoreboards in 1967 and some say there wasn't. So my question is, does anyone know of any articles (newspapers, hot rod magazine, etc.) that shows when the NHRA would've first used the scoreboards at the finish line for the fans to see? I am wanting to make a video on this and would love some good hard evidence to use in the video and not just a word of mouth that is second hand info. Thanks guys!
Hey, Dylan! Pretty sure you will get some answers here. In case you don’t know, the HAMB is where Quain shared Gene Cromer’s Moonlighter revival and where I found the Southeast Gassers. Just search for Quain or the Moonlighter, the thread should pop up.
The internet might have some solid documented info! www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqTJh1rhD2A www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbhNXwRqQpU www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWjdZ5nWwoA
I actually didn't know he shared that on here. I hung around them back then a good bit and took a lot of videos for them back in 2014 and 2015 then moved away with the military and got back into videography a couple years ago and got hooked back up with them at the start of last year. I miss seeing Gene at the races.
I will check them out. I actually watched one of these videos the other day, but couldn't make out if there were any scoreboards or not. I have also spent some hours on here and the internet looking for info and haven't been able to find anything. But I will try some of these videos again. From these videos the camera angles hardly showed the finish line close enough to tell if there were scoreboards for the fans to see and it would usually move to a camera angle that looked as if it were in the stands looking down at the track and in line with the finish line which doesn't show anything useful. But I'll keep trying. Was just hoping someone on here might would have something that I couldn't find.
Just for a point of reference, they didn't have any in Tucson at the AHRA track in the early 1980s...and they hosted a national meet... Times were announced over the PA. I'd be very surprised to see any light up scoreboard displaying ETs before the mid 70s, and even that would be a rarity
I agree with @squirrel the actual light up displays were later, but times were announced. Draglist has a lot of info but it's a big pile over 30 pages. NHRA doesn't have a handy page of history, they want to advertise the current stuff. I'd look at any place that lists ETs and speeds each year. It should give you a breakdown of how the time clocks also evolved during this time and which tracks had the info to call out. You could try reaching out to the manufacturers too. I'm pretty sure these were not back then. https://www.daktronics.com/en-us/support/products/drag-racing-scoreboards info https://www.draglist.com/hill/chrondek timers.htm old school but newer than your time frame https://www.facebook.com/BandimereS...-timing-system-used-on-thu/10155980205594389/
I know at the smaller tracks the times may have been announced, but a timing slip was all that I remember at most races ( and who won a particular round). Check out George Klass on the net, plenty of history, there might be a mention on there. Beware, be ready to spend some time perusing all his info! Going to Shadyside?
That’s what I had thought. I had seen videos from the 60’s before and never noticed light up scoreboards but also wasn’t necessarily looking for that at the time. But we have a lot of people say that we should show the times at SEGA because they had them back then. So when I decided to make a video on the subject, I wanted to actually try to research it some because of the people saying they had them then, instead of going off what others had said regarding them.
yea the NHRA has in my opinion a terrible website and a lack of any kind of detailed history available. Not sure why but I wish they would change that. Yes sir, I will be at Shadyside! You?
Maybe you should ask their TV announcer, Brian Lohnes, your question. He's pretty sharp, and very into the history of drag racing. I don't know how you would go about doing this...although I seem to encounter him in real life pretty often...
Daktronics is the company that was making the first stadium scoreboards in the 70's. They also took over Chrondek in the late 80's, which was one of the most used timing systems for drag racing. I'd imagine that Daktronics was probably the first ET/MPH display used in drag racing due to the connection with Chrondek, and this would likely be in the mid 80's. The first display I've seen was 1984, everything before that was just a win light.
You made me watch old racing videos...and so far, win lights only in 1976 and earlier, but they had numbers in a few places in 1977.
Being from Long Island, N.Y. I raced at Islip Speedway (1/8 mile) New York National Speedway and Westhampton. This was back between 1965 and 1974. I don't remember any of these tracks having scoreboards. It was a long time ago, so I could be wrong. I think they just had a light that would show the winning lane and would announce the times.
Was S-E-G-A Started Under ADRA Then ? The S- E -G might want to consider and consult the members of their organization if they want time shown !! Especially if it's heads up Racing . I am just speaking off top of my head, I do not know / seen rules For S E G A, @ NHRA This read might shed fill in some gaps Super Nationals 70-73 It covers alot of details most are not aware of , Local track 1/8 had time /et in 80. I think even 75, Im not that old , I remember large Center block at the finish line in the center of the track to hold beam , on side win lights ,maybe till 86 ish or so.. I will check with a Family member that started working at the local & first drag strip on E-C Va, he started working there in 66 to present became starter in 72ish, I also know a few others , many have passed just in last few years , I also know another person His family punched a local track in Va around 1963 from a Hot Rod club ,owed to 2015 ish , & still works @ that track , He also Owed / Ran a few track in South Nc ,Sc,Ga This is a good read to get to under stand drag racing , Lights , Tree & cars over night band by new rule change ! https://www.nhra.com/news/2015/nhra-supernationals-1970-73
I talked with my relative , he said That the track had Et board when he started working @ track in 66 or 67, He does not know actually what year installed , There where other on the HAMB older ones that might be able to say more that raced @ Dominion in Va earlier then 66, 51 to 66
True! I think he follows me on instagram. If not I know he follows the SEGA instagram and I help run the SEGA social media.
Hey nothing wrong with going back and watching some drag racing in its glory days! But thank you sir for all your help! I watched some of the videos up to 1970. I figured I could use the argument the NHRA wasn’t using them even all the way up to 1970 and that would satisfy people enough but there’s always gonna be someone arguing.
Seems to be the consensus. No one remembers seeing any in the 60’s and video proof that the NHRA didn’t have them in the 60’s which is pretty much what I was looking for! Thank you!
Hello, As far as West coast drag racing was concerned, the little guys were already on their way out for the individual classes. But, as the new facility was planned it was supposed to be the best in the whole USA for drag racing. It started the run of fuel dragsters, funny cars, that has lasted to today’s version of drag racing. The place was modern and had all of the implements to make it so. Here is a little history from the NHRA files. Opening day Orange County raceway next to the I-5 freeway in So Cal. The Guedel & Holland Top Fueler, with Tom McEwen at the controls, set the first OCIR track record at 7.02 on opening day, Aug. 5, 1967. Opening day was less than a month later, Aug. 5, 1967, and future National Dragster Editor Bill Holland, who at the time fielded a Top Fueler with John Guedel, remembers it well. "As one of many local Top Fuel racers in SoCal, we had heard about the plans for OCIR and were anxiously awaiting to see if they were 'for real,' " he recalled. "When we arrived at the grand opening, we were duly impressed by the facility and its management. The rumor was that they'd taken some cues from that noted Orange County icon, Disneyland, and sure enough, they did. There were 'usherettes' there to help spectators to their seats, and the crowd control was excellent. There were rollers in the pits so cars could warm up prior to competition. Needless to say, the tower was an impressive sight to behold." The track had scoreboards and reaction timers -- which were new to the sport. Needless to say, the track itself was superb, and many racers (ourselves included) were clocking personal bests." Jnaki It was a nice place as we drove by on the freeway or on the side streets on our way to visit friends who lived in Irvine at the time period. The sound was loud, despite the freeway speeds and it only bothered an open field all around the property. Miles away, were several older communities, but it was like old Lion’s Dragstrip, one could hear the sounds weekly, but for folks that like hot rods and drag racing, it was fine. But, some folks it bothered them to no end and were part of the push to shut the whole place down. It closed in 1983.
I'd contact Bee On Video - Speciality Car Videos And Nostalgia Drag Racing Videos. His email contact is on the front page. He has been making Drag Racing history videos for years. SEGA Rules !
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