I found these photos I have had since 2009, they were taken by a guy from Texas, named Steve Colwell.
Just adding to your thread, Marty. This picture is from '57. Lineup at the 1/4-mile OKC Fairgrounds Dragstrip with the 1/2-mile speedway and grandstands in the background. The 3,000-foot overall dragstrip started operation in 1956 and was built with the help of the OKC Junior Chamber of Commerce who raised $17,000 for its construction. It was extended to 3700 feet prior to the '67 Nationals. The dragstrip and speedway were demolished in 2010. In 1964, I was still in OKC working with a guy who had a '63 Valiant with a 273 and automatic. He was always wondering what kind of speed he could get in a 1/4 mile but admitted he didn't have the cojones to do it. I talked him into letting me run it, so we went to the OKC dragstrip. If I remember correctly, we got stuck in H/SA. I do remember eliminating two other cars and the owner getting all excited. On my next and final run, for whatever reason, I got paired up with some guy with a '59 Vette. After a humiliating defeat, I gave the Valiant back to the guy and told him he needed more motor. That's the only time I ran on that strip.
Thanks for posting those neat photos. Can't help but wonder whatever happened to all those cars and where they are today.
He was there. Not sure if he was campaigning the truck yet. I have the program somewhere. The track was at tv Fairgrounds and ran parallel to the train tracks. There’s a giant parking lot there now, but you can still find parts of it, if you know what you are looking for.
Those are to help push the Sled...think Olympics... I think they were Cord inspired do dads...It's a bit comforting that I don't think they caught on... Thanks for sharing the good stuff Marty...57 was without a doubt a good year...
@alanp561 that was a great addition to this story...and those pics highlight how priceless the go fast scene was back in those days...
This photo is of the B/ Street Roadster final at the 1957 NHRA Nationals in OKC. Carl Stone's Rollin' Stone Deuce Roadster from Dallas won against Miller Morriss' (Number 134) Deuce Roadster from Waco. Both cars had hot small block Chevys. Carl Stone won...although Miller told me he had the faster car that day, but couldn't get traction. The Rollin' Stone had slicks. I currently own Miller's roadster. It still looks a lot like it does in these photos...has the same black paint and white pinstriping. The roll bar and goofy rear bumper were gone when I got it.
Man oh man that Mercuraro really caught my eye! And a Lincoln Zephyr race car! I wonder what was under the hood. Cool pics, what a time.
The Jalopy Journal
