Sioux City Iowa dragstrip pics vintage 1970

Nick were did you get that sticker? prime secret is rod reisdorph from sioux city...

 

A guy from Sioux City had the stickers made and I bought one from him at the Lincoln swap meet in March 2007. I have no idea what his name is, but if I see him at the Lincoln swap this year, I'll pick a couple of them up for ya.....

 

While we're all asking, do any of you remember a guy by the name of Mick Hilger from Waterloo/Cedar Falls? I think he mainly raced at the strip in Cedar Falls but was curious if any of you remember him. It was a rail car but I can't tell you much more than that. It's been years since I have seen pics. Anyway, he is my uncle and was just curious.

Mootz

 

MORE PHOTOS FROM THUNDER VALLEY DRAGWAY IN MARION, SD

PLESE GIVE ME AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN AND I WILL LOOK FOR PHOTOS OF THE CARS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR...

 

MCINK (Tim?), I believe you took this photo in 1985. It's my dad, mom, myself, and track employees.
He later painted it, had "THE HAZE" lettered on it, and "Mike's Pro Heads" was lettered on the display boards on the wheelie bars.
His name is Gary Hoesing.

You wouldn't happen to have any photos of it, would you?

Thanks again for posting the other great photos... very cool!

Malcolm

 

YES, IM SURE I TOOK THAT PICTURE
I STILL HAVE MY THUNDER VALLEY SHIRT LIKE THAT

THATS BOB DUGGAN ON THE LEFT (HE HAS SINCE PASSED AWAY)
AND DUANE SODERBERG ON THE RIGHT (I WORK WITH HIM AT
A CAR DEALERSHIP IN SOO FALLS)

I HaVE EVERY NEGATIVE from back then
WILL NEED TO LOOK DEEPER

PM ME YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS
I WILL LOOK FOR YOU

TIM

 

From what I remember, the Prime Secret '39 is no longer with us. I heard that it caught fire on a car trailer enroute to a show and burned to the ground before they could get stopped.

Here's some additional thoughts regarding racing in this area. A group worked extremely hard to get an NHRA track back in this area (despite what people who weren't on the 'inside' might say) it was a done deal at one point and this information might explain some of what happened and how close this area actually came to having a major NHRA facility.

Drag Racers and Enthusiasts. . .Lend us your thoughts

Being from Onawa, I along with others here, are often asked "What about the NHRA Project near Onawa. . .Well here's what I know about it!! Thought it might stir some interest in the forums, maybe not. Either way, It would be nice to have a quality NHRA facility somewhere close by (Lincoln, Onawa, Anywhere) and I (olskool31coupe) wish those pushing for a track in this area all the best for success.

That said. . .

There's been a real push on lately to get a new NHRA facility in the Lincoln area. A project to do the very same thing was underway in Onawa, Iowa a decade ago. . .and had owners/ promoters of existing facilities at that time extremely nervous. Forced one former promoter back to NHRA on his knees after going to IHRA in an attempt to save his track, which he would sell a short time later.
The sad thing is, this project was given the greenlight by NHRA and was going to be built by the Omaha Indian Tribe near Onawa, until a lawsuit over management of their gambling Casino spelled the end of funds for the project. . .to the tune of $11 million.
The total project cost at the Onawa Casino in '96 was $14 million for a quality, 4,300 ft. track grandstand seating for 3,500 to start, and all the other related facilities needed (i.e. timing tower, track maintenance vehicles, concession stands, restrooms, etc. It also had big rig parking (hard surface) for 84 semis).
The project also included a Travel Plaza/Convenience Mart that was to include a fast food restaurant in one end, a modern RV Campground, 18-hole Golf Course, 600 seat Convention Center/Concert/Bingo Hall, and a 120-Unit Hotel. . .in short, an entire entertainment complex.
For those of you who don't remember, a Ground Breaking Ceremony was actually held in October of that year with over 600 racers and enthusiasts bringing vehicles to the Car Show in the Casino Parking Lot. There was television and radio coverage from Sioux City to Omaha. . .it was a huge affair and very successful, attracting racers and enthusiasts from Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Colorado and elsewhere. You had to be there!!
Shortly after this event, the skirmish with the management company began, and although construction had already begun on the Travel Plaza, it was not awarded to a General Contractor, but rather bid at 'time and materials'. . .as a result, the $1.5 million Travel Plaza that was part of the $14 million overall project ended up costing the Tribe $3 million.
Add to this the $11 million it cost them to get out of contract with their management company three years early, and you can see where the money for this project went at that time. Sad, because by now it would have been paid for in spades!!
The current project (near Lincoln, NE) is receiving unfavorable scruitiny by the Lancaster Board of Commissioners for a 187 acre (I was told) stretch of ground just north and east of Lincoln.
NHRA always told the local project that it would take a minimum of 300 acres for a quality facility. There are engineering drawings in possession here, up-to-date construction bids, and a signed contract from NHRA complex here (near Onawa, IA). . .and available ground in the area for a quality, state-of-the-art NHRA facility with a 4,300 ft. long track to be able to host the 330+ mph cars currently running the NHRA National Circuit. What's better yet, the project here is still viable, just needing investors to get it done.
It appears that a lot of time and effort is being exerted to fight the Lancaster County (and now, Cass County) Commissioners when time could perhaps be better spent going in on this project near Onawa? A lot less fight and a better facility. From what we've heard, the location by Davey isn't going to provide much better access than at Scribner, so for all the trouble, you'll probably have the same hassles and complaints you had at Scribner over the years. . .with a school and cemetery in close proximity, probably more.
Check out the Onawa project information at:

http://www.an....raceinonawa/

and get on this project in Onawa. The website is somewhat dated, but all the specs and general information is there.

After seeing your enthusiasm at the Lincoln Swap Meet last year, it's clear that if you had fought like that for the track here in Onawa, it would have been built years ago.
Despite what some people will tell you, the Onawa track proposal was and is NOT a pipedream and is NOT dead. It almost happened once, except for the aforementioned management dispute, which depleted funding at that time. $2 million dollars had actually been pledged by a couple investors just a few short years ago, then one passed away suddenly, causing the other investor to back out. Bad luck, not a bad project!! It's a long and complicated story.
I for one would invite racers and enthusiasts to work toward this end if you are unsuccessful near Lincoln. . .or not!! Better yet, let's challenge them, as this project will work here, and everything is already in place, including County and City Support for the project.
You want a drag strip in this area? Then you want a quality facility, not more of what all of us have been complaining about for so many years. We're only gonna get one chance at this, so it needs to be done right, the first time to be successful.
Money aside, YOU and I as racers and enthusiasts do have the power to make this project happen. . .remember, it's usually not how much, but who you know that can make things happen.
Your support would be greatly appreciated either way, but you have to weigh the benefits and disadvantages of both.

THANKS

 

The Tension '57 was sitting on a hillside near Soldier, Iowa about 10 years ago, but I think it's gone now. . .and I don't know where it went!!

In case anyone wanted to know.

THANKS

 

Sorry if I posted this twice, but I didn't see it come up on the board. Regarding your old Thunder Valley pics. . .my son and I ran across the old In-Bomber '57 Chevrolet stuffed in some bushes along a back alley in a small Nebraska community about 20 years ago. The car still had all the decals and graphics (although faded) and appeared to be complete, sans the engine. Lettering on the front fenders boasted the car was a 1969 IHRA Class Champion!! Doubt if it's still there today!!

THANKS

 

Isnt Cy Chesterman involved in the Onawa deal?

 

cool pics.

 

I friend of mine from Twin Cities, Denny Kannenberg (owner of Sport Wheels in Jordan) owned Earl Britt's old (E/MP?) Pizza Man Corvette through the 80's and 90's. I remember being at his place in the winter and it was sitting out behind his house (with snow 6" deep on it) in Minnetonka then because all of his garages were full of rare old bikes. He sold it to a Corvette collector, his friend Steve Hendrickson (???) from the cities. He restored it, and then he and Denny took it to a NHRA event at Pomona for some ceremony and display that I don't remember the details to now. It was sold not long after that for big $$$ and I don't know where its at now. It was an incredible car that held the record a long time. When you went to Sam's Pizza Place downtown there were a lot of trophies and pictures of it on the walls there. I remember seeing it race at Thunder Valley and they worked on it at Marv Luvro's 66 station at 41st ST and Western Ave when I was still in high school. In later years they even tried the Pontiac OHC six in it but it never worked well enough to keep the record. Those were the days.

 

What was left of one of my old sprint cars was at Sport Wheels years ago. I contacted them about buying it for restoration but never got a viable answer from them. I had a friend who visited Sport Wheels ask about it in person but he was treated very rudely so I didn't pursue it further.

 

From what I understand, Cy had been asked if he was interested, but he didn't feel it would be right to be an investor and race at the track also. . .possible conflict of interest from the perspective of other racers?

 

The In-Bomber was in Woodbine Iowa for sale in the fall of 2006. I saw the car and talked to the guy selling it. It was in sad shape to say the least.I talked to the owner in the fall of 2007 and he had sold it to someone on e-bay that was going to restore it to its glory days. The guy that bought it said he had seen it run in Indy in 1969 and was really cranked to find a car with some history to restore.

 

http://www.fergenboysinc.com/tvd2album/

Adding these links, these are from Thunder Valley for any who may of missed them


http://www.fergenboysinc.com/tvdalbum/

 

I'll PM you his home phone number and you can talk to Denny directly, and tell him it used to be your car. Chances are the hired help wasn't interested in following up on it.

 

Stan, that is a great story. Oh to be young again.
I always heard that Don Stevensen was an old racer, cool to see pics of his old race car. His son went on to be 125 supercross champion in 90 or 91 with his dad as his wrench his whole career, Cool. Don has been cruising a white 57 chevy for a quite a few years now. Pretty coool car, cant seem to find any pics, sorry.

Jeff

 

Folks do not realize the history motorsports has in the center of the nation! Speedways growth wasnt a fluke from good business practices alone! We had LOTS of tracks and racers as far back as the 20s! The history of circle track and drags just blows me away. One of the reasons I get chills when I roll into MOKAN...............

 

My uncle used to rip up the Sioux City strip with this 56 Fury
he still has it been parked since 61 ...

 

Dad thanks for the photos they are awesome.

 

My thoughts exactly. I'm sure when alot of people think of the history of drag racing they immediately think of places like Santa Ana or Bakersfield. And rightly so. They played big role in the development of the sport. But I think of Great Bend (et al) Kansas. I can't imagine what the hobby would be like now if the shindigs that went on there 50 years ago never happened.

 

I grew up in Sioux City. Anyone have a pic or remember a black Gasser style later '30s coupe (Chevy ?)with the name "Walking Tall" on tha doors? I was just a kid but it ran around about the same time as Gary's "Prime Secret"did. It was a cool car.
There was also a car club in Sioux City ('50's) called "The Strollers". My uncle still has his club card showing he was an officer of the club. My old man worked at a place called Carlson Machine Shop, I think it was a part of Sioux Tools, cause they worked on them there. Many good memories in that town.

 

A good friend of mine was part of the "Strollers" car club and still has his plaque proudly displayed in his garage. He has built a number of noteworthy cars. I need to get back up there soon to visit him and get some photos and words to go with his history.

I believe the Carlson Machine Shop is still up and running... well, as of a couple years ago.

Malcolm

 

Yeah, that was a '37 Chevrolet Coupe owned by Jim Millard. . .Jim use to run the I.S.C.A. Car Show in Sioux City. His coupe had lots of gold leaf work done on the lettering and I remember those white fenderwell headers on that up-in-the-air front wheelwells.

 

YEAH, thats the car, that thing was bad-ass !

 

theres a few airstrips in the area, does anybody know were this drag stip one would be in the current layout of the city? just curious how many times ive driven by/over it and didnt even realize it.

on the note of looking for the old cars in the sioux city/lemars/canton area. you would be AMAZED at how many are just chillin out back of the garage or in some random stall of a garage only to see the sunlight on rare occasions. i went to a random little cruise in a couple years back at bobs drivein in lemars and a good half dozen hotrods straight out the early 70s rolled in. looked like they hadnt been touched in decades

 

i am looking for vintage sprint car photos from souht dakota area in the early 70's and 80's... also super modified pictures.....roger larson, harry torkelson, ect

 

Did you forget about Wolfie ?
I most likely could find some pictures for you if no one has any

My friend back home (so-dak) was close friends with Roger

His name is Tom Vigna