CORBETT'S in Sioux Falls S.D.

Come on Chad..............wimp! There a statute of limitations, spill the beans.

 

come on! help me thru this cabin fever, just one?

 

Corbitt true story. A friend of mine had a '33 Ford 3 window coupe with an Chevrolet OHV engine and he like to 'cruise' up and down the alley in front of Corbitts garage. The thing had a pair of headers that dumped right off the engine and was very LOUD. Bill told the guy to quit driving back and forth and get some mufflers on that SOB. The guy came back a couple of hours later and backed the coupe right up to the door of the garage. He then revved the thing to an unGodly roar and knocked a rod right out of the side of the block spewing oil like a gusher. Bill walked out and seen the oil and smoke and said 'you dumb *** wouldn't it have been cheaper to just buy two mufflers'

 

as i remember those 216's were good for rods outa the block! LOL

 

Im sorry... I just cant tell them in detail but...... There was the one about the Missing Motorcycle.....or.... Fridge vs VW...... or.... the one about concrete on Ricks tires in the morning....plus I have never seen a tennis or a golf ball go that far.....

 

I went with my uncle one time , I'd guess the year about 1967 .
Stopped and got a new set of headers for his 63 , the sign stayed on his backyard garage for many years after he sold out .

 

does anyone have pictures of the old Corbett's speed shop?

 

DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE DRAG STRIP IN SIOUX FALLS? I raced a front engine dragster back then.I worked at Reliable Auto in Sioux City. It was a speed parts house back then before it became wholesale only.Great time. I remember Corbetts too Life was good back then. All you had was your drag car and thats all you worried about!!!

 

The one by the fairgrounds?

 

I think it was called SIOUX EMPIRE DRAGWAY it ran on sat. nites a friend of mine will forever hold a record in H/S?? mid 13 sec. talk about a before and after of the drag stip!! its now a hole in the ground! no, i mean its a BIG hole in the ground. any sioux falls guys have a picture of the hole???

 

They tried to reopen it in the late 80s I think it was. BEFORE the hole/quarry got even bigger.

 

Thanks Guys. I was raised in the Black Hills and used to go to Sioux Falls to see some cousins. I used to have a helluva good time cruisin with my older cousin in the late sixties. I will have to give him hell for not taking me to Corbetts!

 

Here's a then and now shot of the Sioux Empire area, the quarry everyone is referring to is on the left side of both pictures.

Regarding the dirt track in the center, it's like Joni Mitchell sang in Big Yellow Taxi: "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"

 

The original drag strip is now a Sioux Falls city street. In both photos the long straight line between the quarry and the fairgrounds is the original drag strip.

 

Used to "drool" regularly with my friends in '62 and '63. Bought some stuff for my "51 Chevy. Bill was always nice to us.

 

video to enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhaFgZbftk4&feature=share

 

Big, is that your video? great shot of hair bender! thunder valley video,going to guess 1971? the music might be a time warp. slow ride, maybe 1973-74. slow ride at a drag strip thanks that made my day!!

 

I sent that link to my friends back in South Dakota and Bob Schmeichel of Sioux Falls sent this back; "I am curious to know how you got the video as I shot all of it and have it on 8mm."

 

Oh the magic of the internet

 

found it on facebook

 

Add this link to TVD pics

http://public.fotki.com/mastermodel...ntri/george-smith-aka-ea/drag-racing-from-ma/

 

first picture, Tiny Nagel's baby elefhant. the last i heard he still has it. great pictures, its like i'm there! plum nuts had a couple of babes in short skirts all purple and silver. one had "plum" on her ******* the other "nuts" I guess you had to stand in the right order when you bent over or it would read "nuts plum"

 

The locals might like this picture

 

Here are some pics from Empire raceway 1972



Pics from Jerry Nash

 

Thanks Big Dad, fits right into our Saturday night beer/benchrace session!

 

As I remember the story on Sioux Empire was that it was build in comination weth Husets Speedway and the Fairboard. Tried to get a NHRA sanction which Thunder Valley also had. Glen Rapp pointed out that the strip was not level so NHRA did not sanction. The owners closed it and sued the builder.

 

My Dad started taking me to Sioux City drags when I was 14 [ we called it Strollers since the Strollers Car CLUB ran it ] . In those dayes they still had a Flagman. THE car I really remember was **** ****'s Mopar which is a whole story by itself.

 

I just watdhed the U=Tube deal and noticed how the spectater side of the track was standing room only ! Those were the dayes !!!

 

I was only in Corbetts once, when you were from out of town it was a strange location to find. Since mt Dad's A and W was right next door To Tripp's in Spencer I did all my business there. Stan was a good friend to both me and my dad .

 

Chubbie. are you still out there or are you going to leave this thread hanging? How is your wive doing ?