History Iowa Dragstrips - New & Old

My recently deceased friend here in Spencer Ia some years back owned a genuine Thunderbolt. It was smashed all to heck when he bought it. He never restored it and sold it to Moyer who owned a speed shop in Des Moine Ia. Very possible the same car. Hope this helps you oldiron 440. Greg White ps contact me for a few more details,My HAMB name is speedshifter

 

If it was sold to Moyer, I'll bet it was the car that I have posted a few pictures of(at the time of the pics) run by John Cort. That car was driven by Carl Moyer when it was new. Then sold to John Cort. Then sold again and I believe that 3rd owner wrecked it in the very late '60s or possibly early '70s.

Side note: I believe Dick Walters Ford sponsored some more well known cars at this time also. Seems like I have seen at least one Hubert Platt car with "Dick Walters" on the side.

 

Wow .......just going thru some old posts and stumbled into this. Great to see Red Droste in the opening of the film with his ever-present Bardahl jacket......may he rest in peace. Also great to see old friend Jerry Stealy in the blue Pontiac at about 8:40. Good stuff

 

What's Carl Moyer doing with a Ford?

 

When he was a young man he was the sales manager at Dick Walters Ford. Karl Chevrolet didn't exist until the late '70s. https://www.karlchevrolet.com/blog/the-life-behind-your-dealer-for-life-123630

 

My dad raced at Sioux City

 

My Dad is from Sioux City. I remember as a little kid going to play with the kids of one of Dad's friends. This friend had a blue 34 five-window drag car. I only saw a picture, as it was long gone by the time I came around. Anyone remember such a car in Sioux City?

 

Looking for pictures of old Charlie Ancell drag cars. Specifically his 55 Chevy raced from 1969-73. It was a lite blue car last ran with big block. Prior to that he and Skip Arnold ran an altered.

 

More pix from my family archives

 

I've been trying to decide if this belongs here or in it's own thread since I am looking for both general information and info related to this post. If anyone feels that this belongs elsewhere, please advise.

I am curious about what exactly the scales looked like at these old drag strips? Now, what makes it relevant to this thread is that I have the opportunity to buy the scale(the cast iron parts anyway) that is supposedly from the Des Moines Dragway.

UPDATE
Here is a picture of the scale.

 

Hello,

The post is two fold. The “Midwest” moniker is considered the middle section of the USA. Two important thing happened 63 and 51 years ago in the Westside of Long Beach. In the first case, this 671 SBC motor as last built, was a 292 c.i. blower spec motor with the latest Isky Gilmer Belt Drive/Kit, Edlebrock manifold and 6 Strombergs, Joe Hunt Scintilla Vertex Mag and other items. It was out of our 1940 Willys Coupe that ran in the C/Gas Class at 12.60. (.40 off of the National Record at the time.)

The motor was sold to an enthusiastic drag racer from the “Midwest” who flew out to So Cal to buy the motor and after we packaged the crate, it got shipped home. So, where in the “Midwest” did it go? Dads and grandparents any stories from January 1961 and later about a 671 SBC motor arriving in your neck of the woods?
Did your old grandfather or relatives have one of the first Isky-Gilmer Belt Drives on an SBC motor back in 1961 for the street or the local dragstrips? Inquiring minds would like to know...

The second event is also related to a Willys Coupe. But, this time is was a full-on, complete show quality build sold to a drag racer from the “Midwest” as told to me by the late owner’s brother. The paper work is missing and so are 51 years of history, other than photos and films from that time period.

Atts Ono’s immaculate red 1940 Willys Coupe rolled into a moving van to be shipped to …”the Midwest.”

Sometime in 1971, after Atts Ono passed away, too young, the Willys Coupe got sold and shipped. Since then, it was a mess as to record keeping and memories. So, the information from the family was memories of the 40 Willys Coupe being put inside of a normal moving van and that chapter of So Cal family racing was closed.
Thanks, @elgringo71


Jnaki

So, historians and folks from “the Midwest” in this case Iowa, remember family archives? Any ideas or stories from the past family "get togethers" as to the location and activity of the two So Cal builds that ended up in the “Midwest?”
Thanks...

 

Oskaloosa's Jim Van Zee 426 Hemi Dodge Wagon at Eddyville

 

Better late than never , that car was owned by Dean and Sandy Barringer from
Ocheyedan, Iowa
They farmed , both have passed away .. their son Michael is still around, he has a 69 Chevelle he used to race called the Wild Pumpkin .. the 63 is long gone

 

The wagon sold at the auction at "Goldys auto" a few years ago after Goldy passed away. Car was in primer with a big block in it.

 

How about any pictures of Skip Arnold from ottamwa cars?

 

My Dad raced with his buddies around Iowa back in the 60s. The group had a dark blue '59 Chev 4 door with Conquistadors on the side. Gotta dig thru the photo collection as I recall getting his racing slides transfered to 3x5 many years ago.
I believe they raced mainly in Cedar Falls as we are from south of there in Traer.
The 59 met its demise after going off an overpass while being flat towed.
He also raced his daily 64 Comet.
I'll send this thread his way. Think he'll get a kick out of it.
Hopefully I can find the photos and got them loaded.

 

Sioux City ...