"Goob" was at lunch Wednesday................. a gathering of about 30 or so every "1st Wed" of the month in Tulsa. Just a little bench racin'
Gabby Bleeker mainly competed in the Midwest. He also ran the March Meet a few times in the early-to-mid 60's.
Thanks for the story on Floyd.Around here (Ct.)it was common in the late 50s early 60s for stock car guys to use fake names.They were hiding from the military,now I don't mean they were draft dodgers but that there was some ruling to the fact that you couldn't do anything dangerous while serving in the military!I guess getting shot at was all in a days work but driving any form or race car or even a motorcycle was a huge NO NO!
I was thinking that this car I photographed at the 1970 Nationals was the Freight Train, but it is Hemi powered. Possible the Motes & Williams car. Number 424 would indicate a NHRA Div. 4 car. Anybody know for sure.
This is Bob Muravez at the Pete Millar art exhibit in Pasadena last May. Thats Mendy Frey, nostalgia fueler and funny car pilot, on the right...and one of the Choppers in the background.
I second everything you said. Heroes, and genuine nice guys. I'm envious that you got to work in Gene's shop. That must have been cool.
Doug Robinson worked for years at Blair's and then left to start Horsepower Engineering, off of Lake St in north Pasadena. The main business was headers, but Doug also built dragsters, welding up one for me and Bob Keilty. He built his Horsepower Engineering/KRLA top fuel car, originally fitted with a wedge Dodge, blown on fuel. After Mike Bartlett took it off the end at Pomona, Doug built it with a hemi and drove it himself. A pioneer rodder who has not gotten enough credit. As noted above, still racing in SCTA.
I would imagine that this is not news to most of you, but more info and pix on Bobby Langley's Scorpion I at cacklefest webpage...http://www.cacklefest.com/Langley.shtml Info on his Scorpion V at http://www.cacklefest.com/Scorpion.shtml
Saw this thread yesterday with Herb Ries on the yearsbook looking page. Herb stopped by my shop today and I told him what I saw. He said "I'm no geekinhiamer". Herb has shown me pictures of his car, all 6 of them. He like most early racers didn't have time or thought to take pictures. We need some photos of him and his cars. Herb Ries and Dean Lowe are walking encyclopedias. Herb tells me stories of when Kallita and the Greek would park their cars at his shop during the Winternations. Herbs old shop was behinded my present day shop. Mikio Yoshioka owner of the Stone "T" fuel altered and The late Leroy Chattertons Shop is still in the "Alley". When those old timers get together the bull really flies.
My dragracing hero. Tom Masa. (second from left) He is the man that I got alot of my parts from for my digger. Most are in this photo here. And under the body skin. He put the garlits ******* dart with Emory Cook on the trailer at the 1966 US Nationals. He has a photo of the race at the starting line. And there is film of it on wediditforlove.com And a side note, all the way to the right is John Stevens. He won the roadster cl*** at the HAMB Drags last year with a primer/orange 32 roadster. KING
YEP Jack Wiliams was a Bakersfield guy and very close friends with my dad who was a founder and charter member of the SMOKERS.
Yes indeed, another nitro pioneer, Frank Oglesby! Frank is one of the true nitro pioneers also. Lippy
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