Hello everyone! My name is Mark and Im not sure how I ended up on this site but here I am. This is a great site! I was reading posts on a thread about old dragstrips in Texas and got me started on all the old memories from when I was a kid growing up at the local track here. My dad raced a 56 chevy panel wagon in D/Modified in the 60's through the early 70's at the Abilene Dragway Park (now closed for about 30 years). I have some very fond memories of that track! We had an old station wagon with a push bar for when the AA/D's (front engine nitro dragsters for you youngsters) ran here and my dad would help push start em (nitro on the windshield!). As a kid I rode in the push car and helped as well with whatever I could do. I occasionaly got to help push em back to the start line after those long smokie burnouts, until the reversers came. Rags tied over our face from the nitro fumes! Man what great memories! The big boys ran here in those days. Well thats my story,hope Im not boring anyone but I cherish those memories and thought I would pass them on. Mark Washburn
Mark: You said your dad ran in D/Modified in the 60's that is the same class Dick Moroso used to run with his corvette. Those were the day's for sure. Do you remember a Ford Maverick by the name of Preparation H and driven by Bruce Sizemore? It was a 6 cylinder that used to run in the low 11's like clockwork and put many small block Chevrolets on the trailer back in those day's at many national events like Indy. Bruces car ruled the Modified Eliminator finals for many years and some of the guy's would often say a prayer that they did not have to run him in the final run. Mind you this was late 60's and early 70's and his car was just a killer running the 6 cylinder engine with a head that Bruce made himself!!! Jimbo
Welcome. I grew up in Abilene, my dad still lives there. He often drives a tan and white 55 chevy hardtop, a 56 Nomad, a black 57 2-door wagon or white 36 chevy pick up. Or a silver/gray elcam.
Dad origanally ran in D/Mod with a Chevy II then switched to the 56 panel for more weight. The Chevy was too light he said. The Preperation H car does sound familiar.
Mark, thanks for the great Intro., not boring at all........brings back many memories and mental images. Welcome to the H.A.M.B. from Arkansas City, KS. firstnomad
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