Here here for Chris Karamesines..... Qualified 12th and gave Lucas a Game run.. Wouldn't it be great to see him go all the way one more time.. I know its NHRA and not HAMB friendly but he sure deserves a yee haa
YEE HAW!!! Love the Greek! I feel honored to have a part off one of the greeks old hemis on my digger - I hope it brings me luck!!! Hey Luke, FWIW we tried to run the digger today - towed out to Norwalk for a test & tune - we get 10 minutes from the track and you guessed it - RAIN!!!!! Ratza Fratza!!!! It was REAL and it was FUN but it wasn't REAL FUN!!! Maybe next time......to be continued!!
Hey Jacin: Thats cool . Norwalk does a T and T on Mondays ay?! Our track does em on Friday. Neat you have a Greek pc. what is it anyway? I was making some progress on the car but lately My son whos 19 going on 60 knows everything and we were trying to get him to check on his college tuition forms as we got a notice that they are missing a line of info.. OMG ......do we have kids to see how completely ignant we ourselves were at that age. I love him to death and I think he will do well as a US citizen and contributor to the common good but there are moments when I think I should have pressed my Wedding Tackle against the Microwave for awhile.. when I got married Anyway sorry for the sidetrack but it felt good to vent. My chassis checked out OK at the Local Inspector just need a few things to get her to pass. Now I can get going on the Motor plates and such. Lots of little details to fit into place. We should have Matts FED out Wednesday for club night but I have not talked to him in a few days. What a lousy friend I am. Let us know how it goes on your trip out see ya pal Luke
The concept that an eighty year old who still drives a top fuel car is not HAMB friendly causes conflict in my brain. Talk about proving he still has it...... He set records before I could drive, and continues to set records with every pass.
the Greek has always been and always will be one of the good guys [ the best] in our little segment of the universe, a true car guy with a ton of soul and more'n enough left to drive the shit out of a top fueler ; don't give a damn what his age is , and I'm sure he doesn't give a damn either ! Waldo
Rumors going around "The ChiZler" is going to be reborn and making the nostalgia circuit.I would love to see some matches against Garlits again! I'll be rooting for "The Greek"!
Ya I watched the race this weekend and that was cool as heck to see the Golden Greek in the saddle again...I think they said he's like 80 years old?? Is that correct?, bless him man...Too cool..
Mate its all GREEK to me haha.....and i can speak the lingo well. I didnt realise The Greek was 80yo.....WOW !! And still racing....BRAVO HRISTO !! Rat
Luke, No this was a special event day - Federated Auto rented the track - my buddy got me tickets - was all excited - one minute they say they're drying off the track so we unload the car, fuel it & fire it to get some heat in there and the next minute they say it's canceled!!!! ;-( Yes - man how i look back at all the stupid stuff I once thought - I suspect I may repeat this step several times during my life - I just hope they get smaller and not bigger!!!!! ;-) Luke, Step AWAY from the Microwave!!!!!!! ha ha ha Good news about your chassis - awesome!!! Yeah - Everyone should be so lucky to have a "lousy" friend like you!!!!!!!! ;-) BTW the supposed "Greek" piece on my car is a heavily massaged Milodon oil filter adaptor. Minor part - and I can't confirm - but I still like to think it brings me luck! More power to the greek!!!
Saw the Greek at the 1970 Grand American at Epping, N.H. One fearless SOB! A real bad ass. Always gives the fans their money's worth.
I used to see the Greek at Cordova WAAAYYYY back in the mid to late 50s! He used to show up at the strip with the "Schlitzers" from Chicago! Good to see him still running and doing the E.T. and speed he's doing! You go Chris! Wolfie
Amazing after all these years,he hasn't developed detached retinas like many others. Man I wish I could go that fast now, let alone at 81.
I saw The Greek run at Brainerd last Friday. It looked like he had about three people for his crew. To be that cool at 79? Simply amazing.
My experience with the Greek is he usually accomplished what he starts out to do and I doubt seriously if his age will stop his quest what ever it may be.
THE GREEK IS KING ........ at round 2 qualifying in Top Fuel at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals Chris Karamesines Runs 3.897/308.57, Now #10; No Prior Run The Golden Greek gives himself a great 81st Birthday present with a career best ET and MPH. He's in his eighties and the car runs in the eighties.
A living legend. 81 and in the Worlds Finals! That is a historic accomplishment! The Greek is God! -90% Jimmy
It's great to Chris doing so good, even better that he takes the finals. here is two shots that came from Joe Farley's and Bonnie Oxley's Collection. joes 1961, bonnies march 1960 Al's Speed shop special. Charles
I think he is 83,I think the racing keeps him moving, I thought it was great for his personal best run, but as I watched them stage, I couldn't get over THE GREEK right lane CHRISMAN left lane, both Art and Jack have raced him, I know it was Steve, but the two last names just made me rember when.
That would be excellent, put Garlits on the trailer..... Hold on, Garlits would be out collecting $5.00 for his signiture...Ooooops did I say some thing about Garlits? The Greek, great man.... I'm proud to have a tin sign from the Chicago Brushmaster with "The Chizler" embosed on the sign, also signed by Chris for zero dollars.....
The last time that I saw the Greek was in San Antonio two years ago. His volunteer crew consisted of Larry Reep & his wife from Austin, both of whom drive fuel altereds and a couple of ex Top Fuel drivers from San Antonio whose names I've forgotten. They were just hangin' out, working on and running the car, eating barbecue and having fun. None of them was under the age of 60 and most were considerably older than that. If that isn't cool and inspirational, what is? They looked like they were having as much fun as I was and I'm only 58!
Last month I went down to take my physical and my DR said arn't you getting to old to do this anymore so I promply replyed if the Greek can do it then so can I , so my DR said well just how old is this guy you are talking about I promply Replyed 80 !!! oh he said and then sign my paperwork to renew my lic. im 69 next month.
I was flippin' through the channels this afternoon and came across the Pomona nationals from last year. I saw the name Chris Karamesines and my jaw dropped. I thought it had to be his son or nephew or grandson, but it was the actual "Golden Greek" himself. Running in the 3's and 380 at 81 (or 83 or whatever). In 1959, I was 17 years old and running a '48 Merc powered "D-Altered" at Minnesota Dragways in Coon Rapids, MN. We had put the old Offenhauser aluminum heads on the night before, and after the first run, they started to seep anti-freeze. The "Greek" was generous enough to let us use his torque wrench to retorque the heads before our second run. Here I am collecting social security and on Medicare, and HE'S STILL RACING! I had to look three times before I believed it. This gut has got to be everyone's number one hero; I know he's mine. I was squeezin' zits and he was turning 200's.
The Greek is more qualified to be on this site than anyone I know. I flagged him in 1959 in Florida at the old Golden Triangle Dragstrip.
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