A friend of mine has this picture blown up from Freeway Dragstrip in Houston 1958. Eddie Hill is on the lower right and in the middle is the Scorpion dragster. Drivers/ Owners who have been IDed left to right: Back Row Lewis Calvert, Thomas Mason, Jimmy Brown, Paul Downey?, Robbie Robinson?, Jimmy Carson, Darrell Culver, Skippy Mannino, Ed Mabry, Bobby Langley, Cliff "Ozzie" Osvourne, Karol Miller Bottom Row Kent Chatgnier, J.E. "Buggs" Threadgill, Ronnie Swan "Wild Child", Bob Hrtig, Eddie Hill, Rodney Singer. Don't have the pic hosted so hope you can tell something from the thumb. GV
It was the old Gulf freeway strip near ****inson..As of about 2 years ago the finish line was still there
That's the one I used to go to as a kid. I walked out there through the weeds several years ago and saw the remnants. I remember we'd sit on the roof of Grandpa's motorhome and watch from the parking lot. I actually enjoyed the pits more than the races, still do.
Man you [FONT="]definitely need to get a high quality scan of that image. Then you need to let me put that image up on my web site! [/FONT]
I'm pretty sure I have seen those for sale at some of the Houston area swap meets. There are a few different versions and some images of individual cars also. Seen them at Conroe and the racetrack swaps. BR
About every friday night you can find me at HRP in Baytown, and well I like to talk to the "old guys" (sorry don't know any other word) and I hear about this strip about every weekend. Killer Picture
I see that picture, with about a dozen others, at every Texas swap meet I go to. The guy with the license plates sells them. I think it's $10 for three of the pictures, I can't tell you how many times I've thought about buying them. Think I will next time I see em..
I grew up in League City about 5 miles from there and my grandpa and his friends used to race out there- I wish I could find the pictures The only thing down there now is Baytown right?
It was on the northbound side of I-45, just past Texas City and (I think) before you hit the 519 ****inson exit, not after. I used to be able to spot it by what was left of the entrance gate, I believe, or the fence around the parking lot or something. The strip itself was a couple hundred yards from the freeway(maybe it seemed that far because I was small when we used to go there?). It's been many years and brain cells since I can remember being able to see anything remaining. I think there is an un-attended consignment lot right about where it used to be. I'll look on the way home tonight and see if I spot anything, maybe get the phone number of the lot.
Larry Mahachek is the guy who sells the Texas Authorized Antique Inspection Stickers, YOM License Plates, and many many old B&W Photos blown up to about half poster size. Nice stuff and reasonably priced.
We have a BarBQue place here in my town called Hot Rod Bar-B-Que. The walls are coverd with drag car photos, nascar photos, personal photos from customers, etc. This same photo is blown up to about 16x20 and framed on the front wall. I was looking at it today while eating lunch. Definately a great piece of history to have on your wall.
Hate to bring such an old thread back to the forefront but would like to make a correction regarding the identification of Karol Miller in the picture. The person identified as Karol Miller is in reality Ray Canton who is standing behind Rodney Singer. Sadly, both are no longer with us.
As TIngler said---WOW---Those zoomies are bad ***. Yeah Danny get that pic. next swap meet. Ultra cool, with a ****-load of digger talent!! Thanx for sharing with us all-Sololobo
Tedd, thanks for posting. Attached is an image of the Gulf Freeway Dragstrip showing names of those identified. If anyone else recognizes the unnamed or names misprinted please let me know. I will update list.
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