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

The red corvette in #4539 is Bob VanHaughton. He was the dragstip manager at Brainard from about 1979 to when ever year the Colonel took over

 

The Crown Auto car was a C/Gas dragster that Don Ness built and M.A.S. sold as a kit.

 

Bob Tapia ready to go....



Don Prieto photo

 

This is the Chuck Price roadster. By this time it had been sold to Jim Helmuth of Arcadia and had a Bad Ass big inch flatty. It was definitely feared on the streets of the San Gabriel Valley. This is circa 1956, I think this was Santa Maria, running B/Street Roadster

 

Madjack thanks for IDing the vette. Do you know this rail? Looks
like it says Clutch Mount on it

 

Rick Ramsey brings it to a safe stop all the while giving the guys in the Mustang a lasting memory...Eric Rickman photo

 

I started going to the drags in the late 50's and, naturally, the top fuel cars were my favorites. But, then along came the match race, fuel burning SOHC Fords and Hemi Mopars. Nothing will erase the sound in my memory of standing next to these cars when their were fired-up in the staging area. Nothing.



Probably better than any defibulator...

Jim Kelly photo

 

The "Growler Two" at Pomona



Everybody loves Crosleys...
Bob Swaim photo

 

Here's one i"ve had for over 40 years...

Click and run!



Hers two of Mickey Thompson that I took in 1962 when I was 11. Mickey was not only a driver, a car owner, but also the manager of LIONS Drag Strip.
I know these are not in motion, but then again, Mickey was always in motion.
I took these with my trusty Graflex 120 camera that I still have today.

 

Man what I would give for a scoop like that.

 

Anybody got a shot of the "Shottgun Express" AA/GD ???only few exist... There where 2... first one salmon color flake, then the last one, a Twin motor car that crashed.

 

Alright, alright, I know you've all seen this one before, but it has to be one of the all-time most bitchin photos ever taken. Worth looking at again, I hope. Just found it in another box of glossys.
Dave Shipman photo at Pomona Drag Strip...



After the last run of the day, the Kohler Brothers is towed back to the pits at Irwindale. That van was owned by one of the crew members, Ron and Rich Mandella of Arcadia. I tagged along with them to engine builder Demar Ray's shop in Baldwin Park on the way home. They even threw my bicycle in the van for me. I was flying high for a 15 year old with a camera back then...

 

This was the only Stellings car I ever got to see. The machine ran an unheard 6.50 something at the 68 PDA meet. It wasnt able to back it up, but the other guy was running a 6.90 something and Tapia had a huge lead, thus corroborating the runs legitimacy. Tapia was a math genius, earning his his living in the early years of the computer industry.

 

This car was featured in the WE DID IT FOR LOVE site. It was a home built entry, running a nitro fed 283, out of Washington state. Like so many small injected cars of the era 63-65, the right conditions , read no traction, made them the equal of any blown car.

 

These pics keep getting better. AND M/T would race any kinda car with any make of engine>>>>.

 

This little Thames (Anglia panel truck) was a regular at Irwindale in 1965-66.
It was super clean, no lettering, off-white paint, big steelies, a flip-top body, and it just hauled ass. It was one of the nicest running and immaculate cars that I ever photographed, yet I don't know any details of it. Talk about a sleeper! Here's four color and black and white photos. My paper route didn't always leave enough for color film each weekend.

 

I have an industrial film released by Valvoline in 1969 wherein the 69 Indy Nationals was featured. This A/Comp dragster was featured more then once. It sounded like a super stocker, thanks to the collector headers, and left with a launch like this everytime. Very cool.

 

ve

I beleive Kenny Laughten owned it. He later ran a really cool, pearl yellow 55 T Bird that ran B/G. I too recall the car, albeit after it was sold to its 2nd owner. I dont know the 2nd owners name however.

 

I have to rely on what I wrote on the back of this photo as being accurate:

Irwindale, April 1966, Beebe Bros. 215 MPH



Lousy photo at Irwindale of the MGM Willys pickup. I wouldn't have scanned it had it not been one of the all-time most bitchin of all gassers....

 

Between this thread and the Sprint Car thread..I have spent most of the last two weeks..absolutley enthralled.
For those of us that grew up at tracks back then..busted knuckles in small garages..every buck going to make what we had go faster..never made much..just NEEDING to GO FASTER.

This thread is just incredible.


Racing was real..SCCA...DRAGS...SPRINTS..all of it...real people pushing the edge..not knowing if there was a limit..but looking to pass it..

It just seems..it went by so quick..

Thanks to all for sharing the real moments..can't wait to see more...

Wish I was still there..every moment..

Can't thank you ALL ENOUGH..

 

Mazooma1, I'd rather see an old slingshot top fuel car; or '60's/'70's funny car show than anything going on now.
Mickey Thompson was unbelievable for all his accomplishments. I wish we had enoough photos to do a thread on just him. I'm looking forward to that new book coming out on him.

 

My apologies for the fuzziness of this and the next shot. ... Ronnie Sox at Cecil Co., MD in 1969 at the Cars Magazine Funny Car Nationals. This is their match race, X/SS (pre-Pro Stock) Hemi-Cuda. The meet was called because of rain (that passed!) so to the delight of everyone Sox came down to the line to test out the new car, rosin and all.
Joel

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2625548&posted=1#post2625548

 

Another of Ronnie Sox at Cecil Co., MD in 1969.
Joel

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2625548&posted=1#post2625548

 

Crandall& Sandberg lauching against a rail

 

The coolest of the cool, King Cool. Oh so sweet.

 

did this possibly belong to rick kersch's dad...? its a sleeper for sure... brandon