Art & Inspiration Traditional images that need no explanation.

Don't know who owned this roadster, but I sure do know Gene's Brake Shop in San Bernardino. In the early days of the Colton drag strip, the usual top eliminator was John Bradley in the Gene's Brake Shop fuel flathead dragster. In fact, I believe he did it 37 times one year -- hard to do, especially when you count in the days not raced because of holidays and rain-outs. And yes, those victories included fuel Chryslers, too.

They advertised that you could have the winning flathead for $1100 -- take one from the shop or just the one in the car. A guy I knew had a big ol' 40 Ford Fordor with one in it. Dropped axle, no hood -- looking like it was going downhill all the time. I remember him beating a known 57 Chevy on the streets one night -- I was in the back seat.

Years later I ran into Bradley while a shop in Rialto was building him a new chassis. It had kinda small tires on the back and I asked him why. He said he needed a set of 4.44s for his magnesium banjo to run fuel. I went home and pulled a set I had and dropped it by the shop. A few weeks later I asked the shop how he liked them. "He sold them at a swap meet last weekend." So much for your heroes.

Another memory of him was as he was coming down strip after being pushed down from the top end. He finished his beer and tossed out the can into the weeds on the north side of the strip.

 

Arnie turned 94 last November, he still lives in Morrison, IL.

 

If that isn't, this is!

 

The Costilow and Larson Cobra. Bruce Larson driving.