Features 1937 to 1942 Willys Picture Thread

Is this the late Al Maynard's Willys station wagon ?

 

The photo was taken at Lion’s Dragstrip with the federal housing buildings in the background. (across the farmer's plowed fields)



Hello,

Nice Willys Coupe running at Lion’s Dragstrip. By the way, what year was this taken? There were a lot of Willys Coupes during the 1959-65 time period, in all stages of builds, motor power and classifications.


Jnaki

We have a short film clip of the same owner D.P. Braskett with a different teammate in 1964.
1964 Braskett-Corwin Willys coupe.
In 1964, Dave Braskett had a different version of the Willys Coupe.



Note:

“Gary Burgin began his racing career in 1963, helping Dave Braskett campaign an A/GS Willys. After Braskett crashed the car at Irwindale Raceway in 1966, Burgin took over the driver’s seat and later got his own A/GS Roadster, also supercharged.”

“I wanted to go fast right away, so I never messed around with carburetors or fuel injection.”

“By the end of the 1960s, it was clear that funny cars were the next big thing, and he reunited with Braskett on first a Camaro and then a Vega that not only became a fixture on the Southern California scene, but also set the national record at 6.72 at Lion’s Dragstrip’s 1972 Grand Premiere”

Note 2:

While walking around to see the competition, we stumbled across another C&O Stick Hydro sponsored Willys Coupe sitting in the far reaches of the pits at Lion’s Dragstrip. The Braskett and Corwin Root Beer colored Willys Coupe. With the C&O Stick Hydro and some work done by Jocko’s, it was all So Cal prepared for the tough B/Gas competition.

Extra:
I did not get an action shot of the Braskett-Corwin Willys Coupe, sorry. (They are listed as #9 671 supercharged Chevy) but, here is the massive list of the “Best Of The Best” that attended this once in a lifetime meet at Lion’s Dragstrip. By 1964, Lion’s Dragstrip was known as being in Long Beach. But in reality, the border is right on the edge of the property and is officially in Wilmington.

So, most of the reports from this time period in the Drag News is labeled Wilmington, not Long Beach. (for us older guys that grew up in Long Beach, next door, it will always be Lion’s Dragstrip in Long Beach.) And for those that insist that it be called “The Beach”…there is no beach in Wilmington, only a harbor.

I am amazed that my old films match some of the written class races and developments back in 1964. It felt the same, being in the middle of the action, but changes had already been made to the dragstrip and the cars. We could see the writing on the wall and in the Drag News papers. This write up was one of the last good reports on what we all enjoyed reading everywhere about Gas Coupes and Sedans.

The popularity was still there and the class was developing, but within a few years, they were overshadowed by funny cars and AA/FD FED race cars for popularity and write ups of the results. Then the competitive class was relegated to match races if any and different eliminator groupings. No more Gas Coupes and Sedan Class racing from A to F.

 

@jnaki,

I don’t know what year the picture was taken. I didn’t know any of the history about Dave Braskett or Gary Burgin and that was an interesting read. I wonder if this was Gary Burgin’s later on?

 

Here are a few more that may bring back some memories.

 

Mura Brothers

 

Hey EG,
The time period of this photo of Gary Burgin's Willys is at least 1965 at the Fremont Dragstrip in Northern California. By the way, it may have been on one of the two days I went up there when I was going to college. Being away from home was a factor and I needed something to soothe the college pressure away. Being a spectator was not the same as being a participant in our early adventures...

The Red 65 El Camino in the background is a starting point.

Jnaki


Note: The El Caminos in the photo were made just up the street from the Fremont Drags at the California Division of GM. Most California El Caminos made in 64-65 were from the GM's Fremont plant. In later years, it became the NUMMI plant.

 

Going by some Mike Ditty photos, that photo is 1968-69. This is 1968.

 

Jnaki, In the picture of the red El Camino you can see the Fremont GM plant in the background. The plant currently makes Tesla's. I lived about a mile behind that plant until we moved to Missouri 21 years ago. My wife had the house built back in the 70's.

 

I wonder if the photographer took the picture of the Willys so his wife wouldn't be mad that he was really taking a picture of the young lady?

 

funny comment--vis-a-vis your avatar!

 

I don't understand the last part of your post.

 

your 'name' is fat-ass,and we are getting quite a view in the pic

 

He said fat-ass.

 

Gotcha