How Many Of You Guys Were Around For The "Gasser Wars"?

I had a 283/185 hp 4 speed K/S 59 Biscayne also but it cost slightly less at $600 total in 1966 starting with a $40 car and would run on the 15.24 record. After that an H/G 51 Anglia first with a slant 6 then a 310 inch Ford 6. Went to the nationals every year to watch the stockers & g***ers, everyone else could have stayed home and Id have been happy. How in the world did you guys spend $35000 back in those days on a K/S'r ???????????????? You do know that the equivalent of $210,000 in todays money dont you. Did you mean $3500

 

My very first official drag race (time trial) I was pitted against a '50 chevy coupe running B/gas and in my '55 Pontiac with a '57 engine and three speed. I got outa the hole so fast that I was about 75 foot ahead of him. The crowd was in awe 'till I finished about 6 seconds behind him. It was all reflexes, not my poncho. That was in '61 or 2.

 

I lived in North Tonawanda, NY as a kid in the 50's and 60's. The local dragstrip was in Niagara Falls where there were alot of great g***ers. Oddy and Zakia were the best know but there were alot more. I went to the Indy Natioals in '64,'65,'66 and '68 (was in Nam in '67) and took alot of slide pictures with my camera and most all of them are of g***ers. Some are 35 MM but others are from an Instamatic type camera and are a different size than the 35MM. Anyone know how to scan these odd size slides?? Even Bestbuy can't give me an answer.

 

YESSSS!!!!!!! lol

 

Dad, RIP, was the last member and wrench on the team which won the B/GS g***er cl*** at the 62 Nationals at Indy with a time of 11.24 and Bill Reeves behind the wheel. They would've won the elimination rounds, the motor was that good, had car owner Mike Marinoff paid the $65 for a new clutch. He didn't want to and the clutch seized in the elimination rounds and Bill Reeves never forgave him or drove as well since he had no need to as he was a very successful suit within the auto companies.

 

Damn, condolences for your father.
Welcome to the HAMB, have some stories and pics to share of your pops and back in the day?

 

I still think g***ers are the best. Back before I was old enough to drive, I would hitchhike to Minnesota Dragways to see the local hot shoes. Locals, Lutz n' Lundberg and Al Tschida('41 Willys) won A/G and C/G at 1964 Indy Nats. The Land L Anglia ran a 377 inch small block chevy, wheels up in every gear, ran in the nines. A blast to watch, must have been a hoot to drive.

 

Al Tschida's Indy winning C/G Willys, had a new owner at time of photo.

 

On Wednesday nights at New England Drag Strip, Epping, NH, they had for 2 bucks (I think that is what it cost) you could run your car, with helmet, seatbelt and a p*** from Tech Inspection. Often times some big shot would show up just to test the track of their car. So there I was sitting in my 283 power, 3 speed on the floor, with headers I might add 1955 Chevy and in the other lane "Stone, Woods, and Cook". Well the light drop down to green and I take off and halfway down the track only to see the Willys still sitting on the starting line. Just as soon as I thought, I got these guys beat, that Willys blows by me like I was going backwards.

 

Can't believe no one mentioned "Ohio George Montgomery"....Watched him go from a Cadillac powered 34 Ford to this Willys.... It went from Cadillac to Chevy and SOHC Ford power... Probably the most feared g***er of the day...

 

First time to Lions was in 1960. The G***ers and Altereds put on great shows and there many of them. They lost out to the Funny Cars in the late 60’s on too bad.

 

Lot's of great G***er history picture's here--- http://georgekl***.net/g***ers.html

 

Too bad for sure !
San Gabrial, Lions, Irwindale, Pomona, Bakersfield, Orange County; with Stone/ Woods/ Cook, John Mazmanian, Pittman, Reath.... all will live on as they were in someone's memories.
Now unfortunately all we have is the Maidenform, Kotex, Powerade, Kleenex Toyotas.