any bay area 60's drag racers out there?

i'm looking for photo's, stories, etc. about the drag racing scene in northern california. 50's + 60's era drag racing at fremont, half moon bay, where ever! i'm also wondering if anyone remembers a guy named "dave fizzee"? LET'S SEE SOME PICS, AND HEAR SOME STORIES!!!!!!!!!!!

 

First time I ran a car at a drag strip was at San Jose 1958. My buddy's 40 ford coupe = 69 mph. I was at Fremont on it's opening day. The first car clocked was a Dodge Highway Patrol car that turned about 85 MPh. I was also at Vacaville when
Cook and Bedwell broke 150 mph when everyone was claiming it was impossble. Ran at fremont, Lodi, cotati, Half moon bay,vacaville nad San Jose. Also ran at the Boat drags at the Oakland Estuary, but not at Fremont. However I was putting the rubber balls back into a Chrysler in a altered coupe onday at fremont, when a Drag boat made apass and broke its rudder and came out of the water and slid up to abou 15 ft from me. Also did a lot of street racing, the approach to the San Mateo Bridge,
alviso, and Napa Valley.
I could go on and on, but that was a long time ago.

 

man tom, i wish i could have seen those things! being born in '74, it was all 60's muscle cars and stuff when i can remember. do you remember a guy named dave fizzee from those days? can you post any pics?!

 

Little Bonneville at san Jose. i remember that. Never had a boat. ran my coup at freemont in the early sixtys and the Lark in the late sixtys. The '32 and the roadster, left, ran at the Street Rodder Drags later on. Don't know the guy your looking for what kind of car did he have?

 

Little Bonneville you are the only person other than my Pop that I have heard say that name. I have a 1959 trophy from there. Anyhow I felt compelled to post because I thrive on the bay area drag history. My old man Jerry Washburn was the first one down the track at Vaca Valley on opening day. He ran a 37 Chevy coupe c/g then later b/gs from 55-65 at all the bay area tracks. I was lucky enough to have attended the CNTA reunion that was in Richmond last year ive been meaning to post pictures looks like today is as good as any. I hope somebody digs these I took them with my phone so some aren’t that great. But what the hell. Oh that is Rich Guasco (of "PURE HELL" fame)with my old man catching up they took automotive classes together in college..

 

More...

 

if anybody's wondering who I learned so much about Hydros from,there he is.

 

more. And that is in the above post the Jacket of the owner of that insane Blown Austin Healey that has circled around. here on the hamb.

 

So how many of you did Winters 1/2 mile with me??

 

I see a Cal-Neva jacket in there. how many here ever heard about those dry lakes trials? Not many i bet. If you have anything else from there i would like to see it posted.

 

This was the Cal Neva Timing Assn CNTA Reuinon It was the first one in 10 years they have lost so many old timers lately that they are talking about doing it every other year. i wish i would have taken even more pictures. it was wonderfull and amazing. i hope they do it again.

 

OK Here are a few pictures, The 36 had a 354 Chrysler, Lasale trans and pontiac rearend 1960-61. the Willys was my buddy Petes it had the chrysler out of my moms wrecked 55. the comp coupe was featured in Rodders journal about 6 months ago. the picture is in the Oakland Roadster show in 1965.
all of the cars that were associated with me had "PROGRESS unltd" on them. there were several more and a Chrysler powered
Sanger Flatbottom also.

 

hey, thanks for all the pics and history! i found this car....


sorry for the bad pic! i have a deal in the works to hopefully get it. the storry is that it was raced around the bay by a fella named dave fizzee.

 

any of you remember a guy around vacaville in the 60's name of paul klontz?

 

I saw the coupe at the Oakland Roadster Show, but think it was '66. It was well done, and the first 4-point roll bar I had seen (2 supporting tubes in the back, like Jim Davis did, which made me wonder if he built the frame). I never saw it run, though. I always wondered who owned it, and what it ran.

We towed to Half Moon Bay and Fremont with our C/FD, and I spectated at both tracks while in the Navy in the 60's. The competition was always tough, and the fans great. Too bad both tracks are gone, along with Cotati, Vacaville, etc...it's the same around the country.

 

Very Cool stuff

 

Anybody remember a 63 split window corvette named Blood Sweat & Beers at Fremont in the early 70's? Gun metal gray with black lace inlay.

 

If i am correct Jim Davis is who organized the CNTA reuinon last year Great Guy..

 

i think this is a match... Anyone?

 

here's another pic of the car. bantom body, injected sbc, halibrand spindle mounts, etc.

 

My Dad, Woody Parker, ran a yellow '41 Willys Coupe called the "Little Lemon" in the late 50's and early 60's. He was co-owner of K&P automotive out of Richmond, Ca. He said he attended the reunion last year and had a great time seeing old friends.

 

I have heard that name many times and i had the pleasure of meeting him. He knew my father Jerry Washburn well from what i recall. next time you talk to him ask him about "Washburn Bros. and Mcullough".Im sure you will hear some great stories.

 

Anybody remember Fred Sorenson from Dixon, CA who ran the Altered, "Warlock" at Vacaville, Half Moon Bay or Fremont? I met him in 1960 and would like to reconnect. Appreciate any leads.

 

If ypu don't already have it the Fall issue of Church magazine is only old pictures from Fremont Drags. I bought mine here on the home page store. Don't know what is in other issues but this one is great.

 

No, Jim Davis died some years ago in a motorcycle accident. He was a prolific chassis builder from Walnut Creek. His son was paralyzed in a nostalgia accident, so the Davis family has had its share of tragedy.

 

Originally Posted by 296ardun
I saw the coupe at the Oakland Roadster Show, but think it was '66. It was well done, and the first 4-point roll bar I had seen (2 supporting tubes in the back, like Jim Davis did, which made me wonder if he built the frame). I never saw it run, though. I always wondered who

We built the Chassis with a jig owned by Dennis and Jerry Forsberg, The Unblown chevy dragster they ran was built off that jig. We never ran the car, at that time it would have cost about 100$ a run and we just didn't have the money. The motor belonged to me, and I Raised the compression, took off the blower, and put 6 Rochesters on it and put in a Sanger Flatbottom.

 

Here are a few pictures of Gerry Steiner and Arigoni-Grigg & Gewartz

 

He currently owns California Street Machines out of Suisun California .

 

Not from the 60s but here's my contribution.



Knotts Berry Wagon

 

my grand father's club the "Toppers" of Alameda (also had a chapter in Oakland) frequented the fremont strip. My grand father has a trophy for best time in his class. He had a 55 Chrysler New Yorker 331 w/ two 4's. I will try to find the trophy. Its in the garage.. but look what I have to sort through lol.. Its a mess in there..