For the last few weeks, my wife who works in a old folks home has mentioned a resident she cares for who used to be a race car driver back in the day. He has pictures of his old race cars in his room, and they are old and round sort of like your truck says she. The name did not ring a bell at the time, and I figured just a local Roundy-round guy. She asked if I would gather up some of my car mags and books to give him as he is a "real car guy" who has nothing to do stuck in the home. I sent some Hot Rod mags, car books and what-not to work with her and today when I get home there is this autographed pix on my dresser (wife and I work oposit shifts, so I haven't seen her yet today.) Did a little web search on him. Guys a bonafied quarter mile hero! I think I need to get over there and have a visit. Bet he has some stories, eh?
When I first saw the post headline "Old Gasser" I wondered what the heck my Dad was doing on the HAMB... Yeah, go talk to him if you can. It'd be a rare treat to be able to talk one on one with someone who's "walked the walk". Hell, maybe you could interview him and post the results. I know I'd read that.
I bet he has a million stories to tell . http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:tha0KeMF3mkJ:www.gassermadness.com/ks/+k+s+pittman&hl=en
I saw him race in like 1989 at the Nostalgia Nationals in Milan Michigan. It was the "Last Great Shootout" between K.S. Pitman and Stones Wood&Cook. I still have the T-shirt from the event with the SWC car on it. I think I have that same picture from the event and also the SWC picture. I even bought a hat!! I was a teenager then, it left an indellible mark on me. I believe that car and the SWC car are on display at the Don Garlits Museum in Ocala Florida. At least they were at one time. I think those cars originally had a big block olds but when I saw them race they supposedly had BB chevy motors in them for reliability to race again. He is a great piece of racing history.
I'd take along a recorder, and politely request to record his reminisces, I used to watch him run at Martin MI US 131 Dragway back in the early '60s, This guy is a real living legend from the "Gasser Wars", who knows more, and has experienced more than most of us ever will. I for one, would gladly lay out some green for a taped interview with the man.
Shit, this is a cool thread. Its weird thinking about a racecar driver in an old folks home. Its sad. Wow. Keep us updated. I want to know everything. I'm giving this thread 5 stars. Cool stuff right here!.....
Junior Thompson mentioned a couple years ago at the Indy Good Guys that K.S. Pittman has Alzheimer's and his memory isn't what it used to be...but what a career he had...time to bring a video recorder and cature some memories...God bless him...
That is great- you should visit him and talk with him.....it would be good for both of you. Tell him he has fans -who admire his work here on the HAMB.... The greats are getting some age on them -and we need to interact with as many as we can while they are alive......keep their memory and achivements from fading away........
He had one of the more succesful drag racing teams of the mid 60's - 70s. He either owned or was sponsered by an auto parts chain and raced out of Virginia. They had several cars and all did good. I raced a 409 powered 1957 Chevy 210 in c/g at Capitol Raceway near Bladensburg Va and lined up against a 33-34 Willys of theirs a couple times. Never could beat them though as they had top notch cars and drivers. The a/gs in the picture and the Stone cook & woods Gasser were really a draw on the match race circuit too.
I did a quick google on "KS Pittman" and the man is phenomenal. His fiberglass opel GT topped speeds of 180mph. Not to mention holding several A gas records. Seems a shame that the old gent is in a nursing home. I bet he has a supercharged wheel chair!!!!
you should print out this entire thread,so he can read about all the people that remember and respect him. WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN K.S.PITTMAN
if he can make it lets get him out to the hamb drags next year, my great grandparents where in one of those godforsaken places ,i would go get them and take them for rides around town just to get them out for awhile it always helped there sprits,
In the early '60s when I was 17 or 18 K. S. and Junior worked on their cars at the local Goodyear shop when they were in the area (southeast PA). I happened to see them late one night and hung around a couple of times watching and listening. They were getting ready for the NHRA Nationals in Indy and told me I should go. I did and that's what started me down the drag racing road. I talked to another one of the team members at Charlotte goodguys last year and he said K. S. was pretty bad with alzheimers so I don't know if he remembers any stories but it would be great if he does. Maybe some visits will cheer him up.
Not sure if it's allowed by your wife's place of employment but it wouldn't hurt to ask. My wife is in the military and when they go over seas we send care packages. We could all pitch in and send occasional packages of hot rod related stuff to help him pass the time. If you don't mind putting together the package since you are local I will pay pal some $ to get it started. Guys like this should not be put away and forgotten.
Or hell, just take for a spin in your hot rod now and again(if you have one thats running at the moment, I don't). I worked in a nursing home for over a year, and if it any thing liek the one I worked it, I garantee its not real pleasant. Drew
It's really cool he's still around but sad to see where he is right now. I've dealt with Jr. Thompson and Gene Adams in the last month will help on building my 55. Gave me goose bumps talking to these guys. Go visit K.S. !!!
Wow man,,, sad to see one of the greats sittin in a home. . . i worked in a nursing home for about 3 months, which was 2 and a half months longer than i could handle. get over there and BS with him. even if you dont take a camera, or a tape recorder. let the man know he IS NOT forgotten. God bless the guys sittin where he is,,, they are the reason we are sittin where we are, trying to capture the look and feel of where they once sat... get me? of course you do,,, your a HAMBer
What an eye opener. It doesn't seem that long ago that he was butting heads with SWC and the other greats. I used to watch them at the Notionals when we competed there. As has already been said, it's sad indeed to hear of the old timers ending up in such a low state after being on the cutting edge of the sport. Again, when you see him tell him he's not forgotten, and still respected by those who were there when he was on top. Frank
He can probably remember the 60's like they were yesterday. It's Yesterday that he can't remember. Any time you can spend just talking to an alzheimers patient is time well spent. My Great Aunt died with Alzheimers and my Great Uncle just didn't understand how it worked. A lot of people (Including some medical types) still don't get it. If you can get his family to take him or let you take him to a race....he will be in heaven and talk your ear off.
I last ran into K.S. Pittman in Tujunga, CA about 20 years ago. I wonder how he ended up in Missouri ?
I think it was Pittman that ran a '33 Willys as his last car when the nostalgia gassers were coming back. He decide it needed a TF type wing and didn't want to wreck the lines so sold it. I miss drag racing classes with character.
Donno if he is or not,,, gotta remember Rick (Krooser) has roots that go deeper into racing than most of us have into our own family tree.
Holy Shit!!...You need to take your wife out to dinner holmes....That guy is a legend....Get that pic framed man...Jesus, you just blew my mind....Get over and learn everything you can and give him a hug for all of us! how much you want for that pic??..lol
HOLD UP !! KS Pittman in a old folks home ?????????? , WE need to do something , I bet he would just gass if he some of our gasser guys cars pics and maybe a BIG card showing maybe the HAMB drags cars . This guy was/IS what gassers were all about, him ,Garlits (F/D),Thompson and SWC were the first real touring STARS of drag racing, and were some of the first to get SHOW up money if I remember right ,His races against Jr Thompson and SWC and others are as legendary as are were his cars were ground breaking,He is still considered a legend and the old timers ALL talk about him yet, He should know that he is not forgotten , JMO -D/G
I will definatly try to get over to see him soon. Going to have the wife ask him how he feels about visitors. We are going down to Branson today so I'll have some time while driving to find out a little more on how he is doing. I feel kind of bad about mentioning that he was in a home, as I respect the mans privacy and I don't know how he feels about having the world know about it. I forget that this "little gathering of gearheds" is not so little and is seen 'round the world. Seems more like just a bunch of guys hangin out in a shop BS'in to me. (The use of the word "guys" is generic, no offence meant for any female members ) I really did not put together in my mind who he was from just hearing his name until last night. Spent about an hour looking at stuff about him. He is even in the NHRA Hall of Fame. I think I did have a model kit of the Stone/Woods/Cook car when I was a kid, just have not thought about it for a long time. I'm not much of an interviewer or a writer, but I will report back to here after my visit. Excellent Idea about bringing more stuff over there. I saw a DVD about Old Gasser wars last night in my searching that is supposed to have him in it. I may get it and take it over to watch with him or something. I also like the idea of printing out the thread for him to read, but I think I'll start a new one if we talk, one without the references to his current situation. Then you folks can put in your thoughts and stuff.
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