Jive-Bomber submitted a new blog post: Draggin' at Lions Circa 1965... Continue reading the Original Blog Post
Hello, Thanks for thinking of me and my early drag racing films I created with SOUND. Sorry, I could not list or load any sound for the shown race cars. Prior to 1965, my brother and I had to turn down our dad’s latest purchase. A larger 16mm Beaulieu camera. It had big “Mickey Mouse ears” on top for the longer film reels. The lens was a super telephoto lens and the camera was equipped for sound. That gave me a problem I tried to solve… go to college or go to Lion’s Dragstrip and other local So Cal dragstrips to start a possible career of being a movie taker and film producer. My brother was already in college and wanted me to follow suit with him. I still remained tied to the surf culture and hot rods… but knew I needed to get a college degree for something in the future. So, our drag racing, surfing and motorcycles involvement waned until after we both graduated. Then family arrangements appeared and a new direction took off for both of us… YRMV As exciting as 1965 smoking tire burning top fuel race cars were, our involvement was waning and by the time this other film was taken, I was already in full time college at a Northern California college. But, some of my friends were still working the refreshment stands and the latest 1965 thing was a stucco permanent refreshment stand for the zillions of hungry drag racing fans. A far cry from the dinky wooden structures we all came to love and know. But, it was the teens working and the food that was outstanding at the time, it made that part of drag racing on Saturday nights fun. The sad thing is, if one did not have a fuel burning FED, the show was permanently over, except for match racing and Little Eliminator racing between the left over race cars. Yes, the individual classes were now gone and top fuel ruled the class racing. In researching, even the articles from DRAG NEWS took off on a new direction… top fuel and match racing. The only thing was a wish to have owned M&H Tire Company as each run used up a lot of rubber to try and get the most traction possible. The push trucks were always loaded with new tires and rims, ready to add to the next low E.T. The only race car identifiable was the old George Cerny’s modified rear engine roadster. The front end was the clue as to the ID of the bright Cerny paint and new look. Jnaki Back in 1959-60 era, George Cerny appeared at Lion’s Dragstrip with his modified roadster. We thought it looked fast, had a custom car look and were disappointed as the roadster had some difficulties. During this time or shortly after, George Cerny had his fingers in a candy orange, rear engine, Modified Roadster, plus an Altered 32 Sedan. But, being a snoopy teenager, I probably knew the sedan belonged to the Cerny Group. It was the Modified Roadster that peaked my interests, this time. Note: The next level of modifications to the rear engine roadster was a few years later up to and including 1965. Better tires, more power and a cool paint job for a race car. Check out the change in the rear slicks. This post was also found online. It makes reference to the HAMB photos and film I posted earlier. Note 2: The best sound for me was during the time we were at Lion’s Dragstrip every weekend from 1957 fall to 1960 summer. Here is what I had put together from those drag racing years… only it was 6 years earlier. 1959 at age 15 for me…we had to start somewhere… But 66 years later, the sound is what we heard and identified as The Sidewinder. Joe Mailliard/Jack Chrisman/Chuck Jones TURN IT UP!!!
Hello, I went back a few years to find the artwork I did on the Cerny Modified Roadsters. From the 1959-60 version to the later 60s versions. The change in design was evident and it became a popular race car during those times. but, as noted in all drag racing articles from this later time period of 65-66 onward, the individual classes began to get eliminated from most drag strips and the top fuel race cars took over the whole scene. It was fun while it lasted in the individual classes and the change the Cerny roadster can be seen in the artwork. 1959 chrome rims 1960-61 wire front wheels and mag rear wheels 1965 new paint and supercharged motor Jnaki For me, the first one surprised me, but I filmed it anyway. I never got the chance to film the later versions as we were moving away from active drag racing, for one reason or another. But, I did like the awesome look of the later versions with the wire wheels, 671 blower and scallops. YRMV Obviously, the tech committee does not measure safety factors with the driver in place… Yeow!
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