Early 60's dragster photos

Hi, my name is Mike Grant from Austin TX and I just joined this forum. I grew up near Oxnard CA and in the early 60's my dad Kelly would do some part time work at Kenz Muffler Shop and occasionally would work on the pit crew for the Kenz Muffler dragster. I recall seeing the dragster at the shop once and this was the earlier one that was red, not the silver blue one with the nice body that is shown in some threads on this forum.

My dad passed away in 2008 and I was recently going through some slides I found when I was cleaning out the house and I found some shots that he took of various dragsters while he was wandering the pits at one or more of the events. The slides are in remarkably good condition so I digitized them and cleaned them up as best as possible. As best I can tell, these were taken in 1960 or 61 and at least some of the photos were taken at Riverside.

I thought that the folks on this forum might enjoy these photos, and maybe even recognize some of the dragsters. I'm working on resizing the photos so it make take some time to get them all loaded up. I hope that you guys enjoy these, I like being sharing things that my dad did.

 

The name McEwan is clear on this one. Don't know if this is Tom McEwan.

 

great stuff Mike and welcome. Might get more response to the pics if you post them in the Drag Cars in Motion thread.

 

I love the background cars. I guess this is pit action. There is no indication of which dragster this is.

 

I'll reload these shots and the others in the Drag Cars in Motion thread. None of these shots are racing photos, most pit action.

 

Mike, these are priceless photo's taken at what is considered the prime time for drag racing and they are greatly appreciated, thanks for sharing.

 

The one with the roll bar at about sholder higth is the first Stroker Dragster built in 1958.

The other one is the second one built in 59 and run until 61. Best et 8.34 best speed 164. on stright gas.

The The picture was taken last year when I restored a 55 Chrysler exactly like the one that we used in 58.

 

Thanks for sharing, more please

 

awesome

 

Woah, Those are really great. I would love to see more !!!. Thanks for taking the time to share them.

 

The rest of the photos are the last posts in the "Drag Cars in Motion" thread. I'm glad that you are enjoying these photos.

I've also got a lot of photos of US Navy carrier operations in the late 50s, but I guess there must be another forum for that.

 

Great photos, I think that the twin is the Bayer and Frietas car, maybe Hayden Proffitt once drove? the second that says "McEwan" may be the Richard Rea gas-burner that the Goose once drove...