Gasser Reunion Pics

Nice pics Lonnie. Don't know how we missed each other. Your wagon is bad ass. I know the Space Kadet car had a hell of a time keeping the belt on. Tried to lend a hand. Dont think I helped much. I understand both sides of the argument but seeing as how the track is a 1\2 mile down my road I will always support it.

 

I agree Thompson has that old track feel, (here comes the but) BUT it just isn't big enough for this event. So what is the answer, I don't know maybe Milan( its an older track with room), Quaker City (never been to this track so I don't know how big it is.) Maybe someone can come up with a solution that will allow the size this event has become and the "Feel" that everyone wants. If everyone wants Thompson because thats where it started then I guess maybe the answer is to limit the entry but then your back to a small show.

 

Great pics.Looks like everyone had a good time.There are some really cool cars out there.FALFA

 

The icecream was the shit! Nice cars and a good time. I like Thompson's Gasser meet better though...

 

The Doran 69 Camaro. I'm guessing you were there? Next time your at one of our shows, please stop by and introduce yourself.

Steve

 

I was there,Tracks about 25-30 mins from the house.
Nice looking car and will do next time.

Tony

 

thanks for sharing the pics.

 

Great photos...thank you for taking the time to share all of them with us.
That white Corvette is a real beauty...

 

I just got back myself. Great time, great people, good racing

 

thanks again for helping.i think i have to replace the waterpump because the bearings are wobeling pretty good,but after awhile i said screw it and just did mt burnout{slung belt}and made my pass.i kept a spare one in the car and would put it on at the timeing ticket booth then drive back,and it was worth it.as for norwalk vs thompson both have there +and-s.i like the feel and vibe better at thompson but the track at norwalk is AWSOME!!

 

The Semi Hemi Funny car and Pure gold are friggin AWESOME!

 

Great pics. It looks like everyone that went had a good time.
Hope to be there next year.

 

thanks for the pics. i wish we had some interest around here to have something like that!

 

the reunion started and should still be at thompson.

 

Wow, what a roller coaster weekend! First off I would like to thank Ernest, Gene, and the rest of the Gasser Magazine crew for their efforts this past weekend. Also I would like to thank Mr. Bader and The Summit Motorsports Park crew, they were all top notch! The facility was spectacular. On Friday mourning, I had never run on a track that was more stickey...It was awsome. It did go away some, but it was pretty damn hot out there this weekend.....and the track was still very good. I too was impressed with the car count. As far as gassers go, it was great. I didn't see too many braket cars or pony cars, which was a good thing. Just about every pass I took was against another gasser! (the excepting was that picture) I can't tell you the last time that happend. As far as the stands go, when you put 200 people in the stands at a small facility, it looks busy, when you put the same 200 people in the stands at a huge facility, it looks empty. I met people from the east coast to the west coast. True gasser fans were there. I do agree that some hired in showmen (nitro) would get more people in the seats. I just don't want to see gasser organizations hired in....For me personally, the event started on a high! Car was on the bumper every pass! Then it went too high and a back tire came off the ground, that was not a good thing as I though for sure it was going into the wall...I got lucky. My luck did not last long though. On the 13th pass on Friday my transmission gave it up. No more forward gears. I had planned on going through it last winter, but just never did....my fault. I did not want to let down Gasser Magazine, Summit, or the fans. Gene Catoe offered to drive me home with his truck to pick up an old trans I had at home. While we made the 2 hour trip, Martin (Space Kadet) started pulling out the transmission at the track. Thanks to the Nostalgic Notions for the use of a transmission jack! I would also like to thank Ruth Ann Wilkens for watching over my 3 girls and helping them with dinner while I was gone. When Gene and I returned Martin had the transmission out and there was a small party going on! It made me feel good. The replacement transmission slid right in to place and we had it all put together and ready to run around midnight. I was a good neighbor and did not start it until mourning. This replacement transmission does not have a trans brake and has a Cheata valve body, so it was like driving a different car. On Saturday it started ad drove fine. I made a couple passes and it felt fine. Then I went up to match race with Jim Wilkens. I ran over a orange cone and drug it up to the staging lanes, I heard some weird noises and turned around only to discover the cone under the car! Visibility not so good in nose high gassers, heheh....I went up again, but still heard something funny...car ran slow, 11.60, and was popping on the way back to the pits....Pulled #5 plug and the electrode was pushed closed. I figured that was the end of my fun. I took out all the others and did a compression check. It was all good. Checked the valves, good too. Stuck the plugs back in , and I had an old plug in the trailer to replace the smashed one and drove it through the pits. Removed the plug and it looked fine. So I made and easy pass, er, that was the idea, but I couldn't help myself when I saw the people in the stands and did a great wheel stand and made a low 11 pass....So I guess I must of kicked a rock through the motor? and got really lucky, again. Made some more passes and was right on my 11.0 mark. I was even cutting better lights with foot brake! We took off the gamblers race, I am not a bracket racer and had dinner. On a side note, my wife surprised me and was at the track for he first time to watch me, it was a nice suprise! Then there was the wheel stand contest......I was talking trash all weekend, mostly for the fun of it after my trans blew, but even then, on saturday, I was still pulling and caryying the wheels pretty good. I got last draw, so I got to see everyone...They all put on a great show. Martin pulled them real high, Tom's was just simply over powering, and Jim pulled his so high that the back of his car pushed him back down.....So I had to really impress them.....I got in the water and did my best John Force impression, got to the line, and managed a 1 inch at best wheel stand....low point of my driving life! I will be eating crow for a long time for this one...only thing I can think of is I overheated the tires? So that ruined my night. For eliminations, I lined up against Jim Wilkens again. His car was too much for mine this weekend and he took the win. I was proud that I did beat him at the tree though! My kids didn't want to leave so we stayed until the end. It was great seeing everyone again, and making new friends. This event by far exceeded my expectations also. To have an event at Thompson in June and another at Summit in July is really a great thing, and you shouldn't miss it!

I would also like to mention the Borne Identity crew for stopping and checking on me on the way home as I had a trailer tire blow out! Like I said, a roller coaster....

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FER SHARIN!! The Haulin Ass 56' iz one of my FAVORITES!! But,DAMN!!!! "How could ya have a "favorite" in a group of KICK ASS cars like what you shared"!!!???

 

went Saturday had a great time........cant wait till next year

 

Five of my friends and myself went on Sunday. We all enjoyed it. Very nice group of people. Thanks Ernest and Gene for being such good guys and all your hard work. I hope to be running my Henry J at next years show. Had fun driving it around the show Sunday. My friends had a great time using my Willys as a golf cart. Thank you everyone that came to the show. We enjoyed all the cars that were there. To cool!!!!!

 

Here's a link to pics from Sunday. Don't have a car but have attended all since the beginning.

http://public.fotki.com/JohnH55/gasser-madness-norw/

Don was looking for some air on this run and I didn't get any. Saw your trans. on the trailer Sunday and wondered if something had happened earlier. (now I know)

 

Great, thanks.

 

Nice looking pictures, there might have been alot of cars that were not there but it looks like there were alot of cars that I have not seen before that were. I think you will see a better turn out next year after everyone heres they did not change the format for running during the weekend and with the 4th of July being Monday I think next year if they use the same weekend.

Jon

 

hey don thanks for putting on a good show as usual, i wanted to get a signature from you but you were always working on the car and i wanted to respect what you were trying to get done. i got lots of good pictures from both thompson and norwalk so i am looking to get lots of signatures next year. also does anyone know how to get ahold of the guys with the pure gold car. i recently purchased a 96 in wheels base chassis based on a 59 style and would really like to get some tips. i will post some of my pics on here too.

 

If any one wants full size pictures let me know which ones.

 

Ha! never to busy to BS a little....that pure gold car was really cool!

 

That Opel is wicked!

Great pics!

 

thanks alot!!!we had a great time and cant wait to go back next year.here are acouple of pics.that i got from the norwalk web site.does anyone have any video?i did buy the primetime video but it want be here for acouple of months.

 

next time i think don needs to keep atleast two wheels on the ground!!!LOL!!!!!

 

Gasser's rule! Thanks for the pictures.

 

sweet pics!!

 

Yeah I like that car a ton!
I don't know what it is about the Opel styling it kinda reminds me of the Chevys of that era but much smaller. I bet that thing is a kick in the pants to drive.