Folks Of Interest Washington State Hot Rodding Legends

Having this come back up is the first time I’ve seen it. But it brought to mind a page I saved some time back. I’m from Renton, cl*** of 68. I owned a car that Ron Rolsted (sp?) did the interior in, and of course I’d seen the Green Dragon, and knew about Ollie Bardahl from the hydros.

Skip down to the “Boise” part. But various remembrance’s of the 60’s 70’s in the PNW.

https://wediditforlove.com/Justforfun2.html

 

One name I forgot to mention is Junior Nelson, retired firefighter and pinstriper extraordinaire.

 

For those who remember Mac Templeton he is still alive and kinda kickin. He is turning 83 on Thursday and is still puttering around with old cars.

 

Bump

 

Cope Brothers had a shop in Spanaway years ago. They did a 289 for me back in the mid 70s. Drove by there several years ago, looks like there’s a shop still there.

 

Ten pages, and no mention of Dave Bliss. From the Tacoma/Spanaway area, Dave was Mr. Ford. FEs, Y-blocks, SB and BB fords, he could make them run. Raced Ford-powered cars and sold his expertise to others. Worked for one of the local machine shops before opening his own shop in Spanaway I believe in the late '70s. Dave never advertised, he got enough word-of-mouth traffic to keep him busy. Ran a '64 lightweight Falcon hardtop g***er powered by a 302/C4 that ran 8.9 ETs with a single carb and no power adders. The car of his I remember best is the '56 Ford post with a built 272 and a T10 four speed that his brother used to terrorize the SBC street racers on Sixth Ave until he blew it up (DON'T EVER mention his brother Mike to Dave, he was a complete screw up).

Cope Bros are officially gone, bought out by Parkland Machine a year or so ago.

 

Thanks for the update. FYI, have a buddy that lives in SW Yelm.

 

I see Pruitt’s name mentioned. Mr Ford. I belive he ran SS Fords back in the day. Not sure if he ran Thunderbolts. Last time I saw him in Yakima was at a Cackle Fest held at the Great American Car Company. He was driving a 63 Falcon.

 

Also should mention not only Steve Pruitt but Steve Hahn and Dennis Lester running Super Stock in Hemi cars. I have an old picture of Dennis’s Hemi Coronet at the old Ellensburg Airport drags

 

Here are a couple built by a modern day Washington legend (at least on here)


Can’t remember his name…..
Something like Folger, or Bean. you know, like something to do with coffee

 

Think Smokey and the Bandit!

 

The Bandito? No. That’s not it. It’s some kind of coffee I tell ya.

NOW I remember. It’s Maxwell, like in Maxwell House.

AKA @Bandit Billy

Sorry for the ribbing, just the truth. At least about the legend part.
Raise your gl***es, gentlemen! HUZZAH!

 

Gene Berg

 

Gene Berg fun fact (at least how I remember it).
Raced a VW powered dragster, drove to track in a bug with the dragster secured to the roof (minus engine), pulled engine out of bug and installed it in dragster then reversed that process to drive back home.