History Early drag racing photos

J.E. Riley Special, at the NHRA Nationals, Calvin Rice drove, won top eliminator in 1955

 

Bobby Langley, from Everman, Texas, ran a Cadillac engine before he switched to a Chrysler

 

Tom Prufer, "Powerking," 354" Chrysler

 

Ed Losinski, at Colton

 

Manuel Coelho, Mickey Thompson bought it and made it into his twin Chrysler that he both drag raced and ran at Bonneville, 294mph.

 

Warren and Coburn, Bob's Muffler Special

 

Dean Turk, blown Pontiac, from Mesa, Arizona

 

Harold Nicholson, Bantam roadster, blown GMC, brother Don Nicholson at left, at Santa Maria

 

Stellings and Hampshire, "Red Stamp Special"

 

QUOTE="40ragtopdown, post: 15042398, member: 259621"] View attachment 5889185 [/QUOTE]







Hello,

By late 59- early 1960, Don Prudhomme had his first Buick powered single engine car. But, with Stromberg carburetors and not injectors. We all had to start somewhere.
Lion's Dragstrip 1960 Pendleton Shirt
Throughout the West Coast drag racing history, the chassis received a blower on the single Buick, then a Hemi with a blower in its different appearances. (Photo to introduce the story) Finally, the power overcame the short chassis, so the next development was taking place…and history progresses.

Jnaki

Early crew activities:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBS380a9a6s
Don Prudhomme’s 1959-60 Stromberg powered Buick Buick FED

at :03

NOTE:
Prudhomme early days

WDIFL files
"Don Prudhomme" - Riverside Raceway, CA. - 1959
You want history? This is Don Prudhomme's very first run in a dragster. He bought Ivo's single engine Buick car. Don painted it white with a red nose.

Don Prudhomme - "Prudhomme & Zueshel" - Lions, 1961
"Okay, who the hell's yankin' on my car?"
Prudhomme's first car post-Buick. Dave Zeuschel Chrysler on gas.

Note 2:
So, what became of the hemi powered Kent Fuller chassis FED?
Pete Garramone photos and information:

Gordon Heth in the seat of the Heth/Thompson with George Becker assisting. Heth went onto build race car engines and was quite successful. This car was later taken apart and lengthened. The car was stolen, before it was put back together and never seen again.

all photos by Pete Garramone

Gordon and Dave bought this car from Don Prudhomme. It originally belonged to Tommy Ivo. It was
A Kent Fuller chassis (note the key shaped push bar) and was upholstered by Tony Nancy.

 

had to swipe that pic to zoom in and investigate it further ,, both the dragster and the car are wearing '54 cali. tags ,, motor is a six ,triple carb ,valve cover is kinda rounded with ribs so im thinkin its gmc so its a hitter , cant see trans well enough to identify but the shifter bell dosent look early ford , safety is a utmost , square rollbar, helmet laying on motor ,aircraft seat and i wish i could edit! the greatest thing ive seen yet there at least a 1/2 of a TIRE covering the BELLHOUSING!! as a blowsheild !! would sombody good at the editing thing please zoom in and repost !! its pretty fwd thinking actually !! thank you 40ragtopdown !!
fabricator john
miss you dad

 

This is about as much as I can do with my software. Unfortunately it looks like it's a photograph of a photograph instead of a scan. And somewhere along the line it appears to have been slightly over-sharpened. Any more sharpening I tried just made matters worse. And trying to blow it up or zooming in too much just magnifies the flaws that are already there.

 

The tire is a lot more capable than the one time I saw this at early Colton. The guys hadda 50 Chev. sedan delivery with an Olds and 3-speed LaSalle(?) or something. Ran in the Gas Coupe class. Were told they needed a scattershield. Next week they showed up with the required (180-degree?) item and passed tech. Cardboard painted flat black in the dark got them thru.

 

Is this any help?

 

Halfmoon bay

 

I don't doubt that this is Ed Losinski, but it's not at Colton. Don't remember the trees being there, and the return road is definitely on the wrong side of the track.