The Ramchargers thread has me reeling in the nostalgia I have studied all these years in books and mags, so I was wondering, is Gas Ronda still living? I know he retired after being burned in a Funny Car fire in 1970, but did the story end there?
Ask Lionheart, I believe he sold a hood to someone who was re-creating his car, we talked about it briefly when I went to pick up some parts from him...he might know.
The last I heard, and this was some time ago I'll admit, he was running a restaurant in San Dimas, CA, which is literally within walking distance of the Pomona dragstrip. I don't think he ever drove very much, if at all, after he was severely burned in a dragstrip accident way back during the early funny car wars. I sure would be interested in hearing that he is healthy and raring to go. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Correctamondo, he quit driving after getting severely burned, he was a professional dance instructor for many years. I didn't think he died, but I could have missed that. I remember seeing a pic of him a couple of years ago at some gathering of greats.
used to spend a lot of time with Gas. he never drove again. His burn surgery consisted of skin grafts of unborn pig skin over 80% of his body. looked and worked pretty good but no pores. he couldn't wear a fire suit if he wanted to. and he didn't been 20+ years since I've seen him. he had a couple bars the last one I saw was off the San Bernidino freeway. Gas house or gaslight house.
I stand corrected......too many of my dads comtemporaries p***ing on, I cant keep that great generation straight.
we have some good photos of Gas Rhonda racing on our site, we also have some of John Mazmanian, Kohler Brothers "King Kong", Stone, Woods & Cook up and we have many more photos to get scanned. We are also looking for vintage car show and drag race photos that people are willing to share. We just got some good ones from Kansas City International Raceway from 1959 the other day they are in the viewer photos section. If you have photos you would be willing to share or just want to see what we have check us out at www.thanks2frank.com
still alive and well - he left a comment on the Hemmings Blog recently: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2008/04/04/gas-ronda-thunderbolt-comes-out-to-play/ dan
Here's my thread from March including photos from that day... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=248306&highlight=gas+ronda
Thanks for the link. I missed that post back in March. You took some wonderful shots in the museum. Can't believe he's 81. Looks AWESOME for that age.
At least one of his cars is in the Hajek Motorsports Museum in Ames OK., about 20 minutes from here. www.hajekmotorsports.com
I was at the NHRA Museum for the Media party celebrating HOT ROD magazines 60th anniversary a few weeks back. When I came upon the Gas Ronda Mustang a flood of memories came rushing back. I had seen the car at Irwindale when it was new and was totally blown away. Although now that I think about it, I probably saw the 66 car at Irwindale and I think the Museum car is the 67 or 68, anyway - When I was a youngster we lived in Duarte and we heard that Gas' Mustang was going to be on display at Russ Davis Ford, about 10 miles away. I hoped on my Sting Ray and rode that 10 miles just to see that car and meet the man . Let me tell you, that's a hell of a pedal for a 10 year old kid especially on a frickin old Stingray, but it left an lasting impression that still makes my heart beat faster 42 years later. If that car doesn't make your blood boil, you must be dead.
Gas Ronda is very much alive. I personally saw the man at the California Hot Rod Reunion on October 10th-12th 2008. He was there signing autographs and was more than willing to talk to us "folks" about the history and his interests in racing. The man is very much alive, in fact he drove his car during the "cacklefest"
The fountain of youth is found through hot rodding...it will keep ya young at heart...glad to hear he's still with us
Yep .. the "Cammer" didn't cackle very much ... but it sure sounded stout! OK ... I'll admit it ... I too got Gas to sign an 8x10 (for my son):
I sat and talked with Gas at the Hot Rod Reunion at Famoso back in October. He is retired and living in the desert, plays golf, and is enjoying the Golden Years. Still the dapper gentelman he always was and more than willing to sit and chat with old friends and fans. So to answer the question he's still with us.
I can remember my brother and his friends on a sunday back from the drags at HALF MOON BAY saying that GAS RONDA ran 107 MPH IN HIS S/S FORD. I would say this was around 1960 he ran a buick in the earlier years in nor-cal . Also in the late 60s in covina ca he had a bar called GAS RONDAS FUNNY CAR CLUB. We would go down to run the winter nats. Run IRWINDALE fri night. That was the place to go after the races.
The early INJ car is my favorite a lot of detail i watched GAS and crew at FREMONT DRAGS LATE 60S A CL*** ACT.
We were waiting for Gas to arrive at the NHRA Museum last March for a two hour interview for a LIONS Drag Strip DVD. While waiting in the parking lot we were speculating as to what Gas was driving these days. Anyway, at 83, he storms into the lot in this "Stang...and, no, it isn't stock. In fact, it's tuned my the late Les Richey's son... Hows that for 83?
Gene Winfield and I had a short interview with Gas at the Hot Rod Reunion. http://www.youtube.com/user/cushenberyproject
Gas is doing well, i see him all the time...first of all i work for Les Ritchey's son and have done most of the work on Gas's "stang".
I think he owns a "new" Cobra-Jet Mustang also. I saw something about that on the speed channel not long ago... I could be wrong.
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