History Must see footage from the Great Lakes Dragway

Looks like the Lazy 8 to me!

 

Pretty Cool,Thanks for posting.Sadly we lost Broadway Bob recently. http://bangshift.com/blog/broadway-...f-famer-and-american-original-dead-at-83.html

 

Damn, does that bring memories of when I was a kid in the 60's. Once lost my license and couldn't get a ride out there (we lived in country in Racine) so my mom offered to spend the day with me out there. She actually got into it. Wasn't cool but that was the price of addition.

Thank you for posting this, brought back a freakin ton of fond memories.

 

The Chizler was never lost. For years it was on display in the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, and then went to Gartits Museum in florida where I think it still resides today. Chizler has done the show circuit the last couple years including cackle fest at the California and National Hot Rod reunions.

 

Wow, I need to get out more. Totally misinformed on that....thanks Slayer. I was always told that the car was a faithful copy and the original was long gone. Makes me wanna go see it run ASAP.

And thanks for posting the vid Beaner...can't stop watching the damn thing

 

Awesome video.

I wonder if anyone here knows or remembers this car and/or the driver. He also campaigned a 62 Impala back in the day. Known as "Jack the Ripper"

I still have my Summit hat that Broadway Bob signed the first time I ever raced a car. It was at GLD. Bob was very considerate and nice to the FNG...me!

 

I think I saw Curt R and Stan Johnson!

 

now that I would believe

 

See if this works....

<embed id=VideoPlayback src=http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-2345013345311188491&hl=en&fs=true style=width:400px;height:326px allowFullScreen=true allowScriptAccess=always type=application/x-shockwave-flash> </embed>

 

Cool and you don't have to wait for it to load.

 

It's sad that most of the guy's who run at the Grove now don't know what the roots of that track are.
Beaner... old Rockford dragway (Byron dragway now) was a four laner too. It was opened July 4th of 64 not as old as the Grove , but it's cool being able to run at both of these historic tracks.

 

I would speculate that there is a good percentage of us that DO know the roots of the Grove.

We are fortunate to have historians like Curt R. to educate us. We were fortunate to have Broadway around to tell stories. We are especially fortunate to have a reunion of old racers to see great photos/video, interact, hear great stories and bond.

There is great history from the Grove that gets told at Cruise Nights, World of Wheels and other car events.

Don't be so sure that there are a bunch of us that could tell you quite a bit about the history of the Grove.

 

Bob, I don't mean the guys here on this forum or other nostalgia nuts. I'm talking about the ricers and the late model guys. I would bet that they don't have a clue.

 

When did Drag Racing become not fun anymore ???

 

Good stuff, worth watching twice and good enought for a btt

 

When it was no longer heads up and you had to have a mega sponsor just to pay entry fees.

 

have you seen the 8.50 index racing. Pretty darn entertaining

 

Joe Krupinski did all our machine work in the later 60s early 70s. Learned a lot from Joe.He did run a rear engine fueler in the 70s, just before he closed the shop and moved everything to the family farm in Wi. Walking in his out building there is like a time warp. All the machine tools, skids of 392 hemis. Its cool. As you said, still running a front engine car. Hes a character. Got some great stories, probably the cheapest[thrifty] guy I ever met.

 

I've done class racing and bracket racing. I understand the difference. I go with some buddy's to bracket and still have fun. Day out with friends at the track. We have NO major sponsors and just pay a fair entry fee. Life is what you make it........

 

I suppose.

This is not an affront to you so don't take it that way. I have spent my entire life making cars or bikes go faster. Just the idea of loosing a race because you went too fast is alien to me.

Last time I went to the local track before it closed down the entry fee was more than I wanted to pay and I had a pretty good job at the time. I wasn't set on racing so the wife and I shelled out the 70 bucks for pit passes and went and tunned for a buddy.

 

Awesome!


Marcy

 

I have had two very productive meetings with Randy and Claire Henning regarding the roots and history of Great Lakes Dragaway. Claire has accumulated numerous vintage photos of the drag strip and the racers. They are committed to preserving and displaying the history and significance of GLD. Some of the info will be posted on the GLD website.
Broadway Bob's souvenir building will be converted to display vintage photos and other items relative to the history of GLD. If, anybody has GLD pics or items that, you would like to share, contact Claire at GLD.
I will be sharing pics and info about the construction of GLD, 1956 opening day of GLD and other stuff from the 1950's to mid 1960's with Randy and Claire.
This is really a cool effort on their part, whatever support they receive will be much appreciated.

Curt R

 

that is great news

 

They had to battle a nearby sub-division 2 years ago about noise again. I wrote a couple of letters, I think Da'grove prevailed, but I lost track of results. This letter describes why these places are important.

-- On Mon, 1/25/10, Norbert Volakakis <norby48@sbcglobal.net> wrote:


From: Norbert Volakakis <norby48@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Great Lakes Dragaway
To: townofparis@wi.net
Cc: mike@greatlakesdragaway.com
Date: Monday, January 25, 2010, 5:34 PM

I understand that there is some concern there about the noise and lights from the racetrack.
I don't live up there, but have an interest in the track staying open.
I am 62 years old, live in Chicago, and have seen nearly every venue for auto racing, and several other sports arenas within a days' drive close because of development and progress.. Often due to nearby investors who never followed through with their plans.
Besides the fact that I am a hobby racer and hot rodder, there is another reason I am interested.
My son,Tim, passed away several years ago. He had several physical and mental handicaps. One of his favorite places to go was Union Grove. Not just the track, but into town for snacks and meals. The small town atmosphere and friendliness made him very comfortable and he enjoyed his time there immensely. He enjoyed seeing the farms and hills around there, too. The people at the track were always nice and we always had great fun there.
When I go to 'Da Grove now, I always come into town and am reminded of the nice times with my son.
Tracks like US66 and US 41 are not as family friendly and affordable as Union Grove.
Please think about how much a place like this means to many, many people like me and my son.
Thank you,
Norbert G. Volakakis

 

Norby:

the battle with the township is a truce, at best.

I know there are many concerns.

They are trying to end Sunday night shows early.

I hope the fans can fill the stands and provide the income to maintain the site and the fight.

 

Glad you like the 8.50 class. It's a little more pure than the NHRA super class's due to no throttle stops and other silly shit. The guys running my old Chevelle have gone to the finals, won one RU the other, last two events.

 

Lots of great memories from the "Grove". Went there a lot in the 60's and early 70's. Always had a blast. Sadly I haven't been back since then. It's a pretty far drive from Dallas Texas. Hope they are able to stay open.

 

Our local track had the same battle. Some wealthy folks bought property up the hill overlooking the track, then complained about the noise. Common sense says that the track was already there and they should have had some concept of the noise. The track held them off but finally succumbed to the county and the local NASCAR track last year.

I think that the NASCAR track wanting to put a new track at their facility was what finally knocked them out.

Sorry to hear about the Dragaway having problems. it seems that a lot of the older tracks wer built out in the country and then the city grew up around them, funny that an airport doesn't seem to have the same problem.

UH pay atrtention here fellas, you may find something to save your track.