History Drag cars in motion.......picture thread.

Yea, I have to agree. Seeing cars launch, stumble, launch, stumble through out the run seems moronic to me.

 

Thanks for the Pomona shots. Seeing those this morning is like going home. Lots of great memories on that piece of real estate for me. Great start to a Sunday morning!

 

Was this a Dragmaster?

 

Chuck Griffith drove also, apparently shared driving with Chuck Branham before Branham's death (from burns, lived for several weeks before expiring)...

This shot from Don Ewald's WDIFL site:
"The late Chuck Branham in Chuck Griffith's first Starlite AA/FD at Lions in 1962. Branham was fatally injured in this car shortly after the 1963 Winternationals:


[SIZE=-1]The late Chuck Branham in Chuck Griffith's first Starlite AA/FD at Lions in 1962. Branham was fatally injured in this car at Pomona shortly after the 1963 Winternationals.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]The late Chuck Branham in Chuck Griffith's first Starlite AA/FD at Lions in 1962. Branham was fatally injured in this car at Pomona shortly after the 1963 Winternationals.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]The late Chuck Branham in Chuck Griffith's first Starlite AA/FD at Lions in 1962. Branham was fatally injured in this car at Pomona shortly after the 1963 Winternationals.[/SIZE]

 

It is, stretched from the earlier version...the last time I talked to Chuck Branham was at Blair's, when he came in to buy some nitro....he lamented the fact that he had to lengthen the car, "really thought I could make a short car work."

 

GREAT pics Dave!

 

Hank Westmoreland in Don Johnson's "Beachcomber"...

 

Goose/Tirend...

 

Carl Olsen...

 

Truly one of the ugliest paint schemes ever! (great car though)

 

How much did he stretch it?

 

This may be a stupid question but what is the lever on the left side of Mickey's Dragmaster for? Right side would make sense for a brake handle.

 

THANK YOU, Rick!! great pictures -- Hank Westmoreland and I went to Pasadena High together, he drove a white '57 Chev, so especially appreciate the picts of him driving...

 

Kerry, not sure exactly, if I remember correctly, early Dragmaster cars were around 100-110", this looks like around 130" so maybe 20-30" (I remember that Mickey Thompson stretched his Pontiac Dragmaster out to almost 150", at the time it looked really radical)

 

man what a hot looking Daytona tow car....1962 Studie

 

I think that this might have been posted before, but just in case I'm wrong:

Sandoval Bros. Dodge-powered CC, from Santa Ana, first competition coupe I ever saw, Santa Ana, summer of '57, it only ran 109, but really looks evil (won class at '57 Nationals later that year)

 

Jarvis Earl's straight 8 dragster, mid-50s...Jarvis went on to run a V-8 Buick, Tommy Dyer, who later drove the Ansen & Pink fueler, was the shoe:

 

Lee Christian blown Olds, think he was from Lubbock TX:

 

Not sure where or when, but cool photo:

 

No clue here, dual engines/dual tires, and a really big ribbon chute:

 

Capitol City Speed Shop blown Olds modified roadster (was this an early ride for Dick LaHaie? whose name I probably misspelled!!) not sure of track, maybe Bakersfield?

 

Hey Ardun. This is the Starlite II, it was built by Chuck Griffith after the original Starlite blew an engine and burned Chuck Branham. The original was real short (96' or so wb)double rollbar and painted dark blue. I still think about Chuck also, was working front chutes that day. Miss him bad, good guy and funny as they come.

 

Dallas Martinsen, late 50's, at Lions:

(and, credit for these photos, which I hope have not been previously posted, goes to Classic Dragsters: http://www.classicdragsters.com/v/Others/aaa19.jpg.html

 

Thanks, Jay, was hoping you would respond, was not sure if Chuck was burned in this or the earlier one (this is the one on Ewald's site)...Chuck was a good guy, gave little guys just starting out some great tips on engines, etc...

 

This is incorrect info, sorry. This is Chuck G. at the wheel of the Starlite II, built after Chuck Branham died from burns from the Starlite I. The original Starlite was a short wheelbase, double rollbar Dragmaster painted blue, this car pictured was Dragmaster , single rollbar, painted red w/ black chassis. Branham was only driver I knew that drove the Starlite I, may be wrong there as they had it prior to me joining the club. Griffith tried out Nando Haase at the wheel of this car, just didn't work out. So he drove it himself

 

Thanks for the correction, Jay, will pass it also to Don Ewald...