The Power of a Freight Train

A wise man once spilled some words about never underestimating the strength of oceans or the danger of freight trains. They have power. They have size. And most importantly, they move a hell of a lot faster than you’d expect. Keep your distance and you’ll be fine.

But as my eyes burned in the damp Kentucky air, all notions of fear had been filed to the back of my mind. My heart was still racing and a seemingly immovable knot formed in my throat.

As I looked around the bleachers, everyone seemed to be caught in the same fog with their pupils glazed and their thoughts wandering across the county.

With the sun now tucked beneath the horizon, the lights lining the Beech Bend asphalt sparked to life, casting an eerily inviting glow down the strip.

Like thousands of other spectators lining the fences in a post-cacklefest euphoria, I knew I wanted to get closer. Within a few moments, mobs of people weaved onto the hallowed 1320 to soak up the sights, sounds and smells of drag racing’s Golden Age.

Dodging race fans both young and old, I stumbled onto the sticky surface. Although I had nearly lost a sneaker in the process, it soon hit me that I was at ground zero of the vintage drag racing world.

In a fifty foot radius there were cars campaigned by Finders, S & S, Garlits, Ivo, Bergler, Jungle Jim and the Speed Sports teams.

For the better part of an hour, I stood, listened and took in as much information as possible at each legendary machine. But as I approached John Peters’ Freight Train, my low profile had been compromised.

Words were exchanged and I soon found myself nestled inside the Train’s cockpit. As I peered out over the cowling and into the night, I was overrun with bliss.

A whole lot of hot rodding history took place in that very seat. And I’m lucky that I had the opportunity to sit there.

***

Jay’s post about “Spreading the Gospel�? brought back dozens of scenes of hot rodders and customizers taking the extra step to open the door for the younger guys. It’s been more than five years since I sat behind the wheel of the Freight Train at the Hot Rod Reunion, but the memory still means the world to me.

Here’s the article on the car’s 1966 guise from the April 1966 issue of Car Craft.

(Lead Image from TheFreightTrain.com)

-Joey Ukrop