early 60's dragmaster

[12packo94s]

anybody have any good shots of any early 60's dragmaster chassis cars.
My boss at work here just picked one up and it is pretty spot on but just looking to compare some details

for example there are no dzus fastners on any of the tins which seems odd but very possible the chassis tabs definately appear to be original but it doesn't look like there was ever any provisions for a spring

also the moon tank is mounted longways on the front with some aluminum bracketry clamped to the front of the chassis at 4 points just curious as to if this is correct

also there is a fitting coming out of the rear most zoomie tube on the drivers side that appears to have been a scavenge of some sort,,, did anybody ever run this for any kind of crankcase scavenge or possibley for bleed off of the water system?

also is there any way to tell palamides wheels from the later americans?????

this thing is pretty bas ass just looking for some details if anybody has any

[12packo94s]

could it be i stumped the crowd???????? surprising!!!

[daign]

http://www.draglist.com/photoimages/POD-0101/Mickey%20Thompson's%20Dragmaster%20car%20in%201961 .%20Photo%20by%20Pete%20Garramone.jpg
http://www.wediditforlove.com/CHRR2002/Cacklefest_E_Dragmaster.jpg

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Here's one I owned.....

It was common to run the overflow into a header instead of a bottle.

Which side is the "driver's" side ? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Lowlife]

Here's what I had handy.These old mags don't seem to scan worth a shit!

[Lowlife]

another

[Lowlife]

last one for now.

[DrJ]

Now if by a long shot you happen to be talking about the STREET ROD chassis they built, it's featured in and on the cover of the July 1965 CAR CRAFT.
(It just so happens I was reading it this morning in "the reading room"....)

[12packo94s]

good stuff thanx guys


this car however has 2 overhead hoops though which i really don't seem to see in any of the pics.

also like i said befor the tin is a little puzzling,, instead o dzus fastners it has what look similar to a speed nut with screws holding it all on.

it all look very perios but the tabs have holes in them big enough for dzus's. Just makes me wonder if the sheetmetal is correct or not.
this thing is a beautiful restoration of a car that looks like it really never saw much action
from what i've been told it came out of the pamona area and was purchased for restoration 10-12 years ago

[Roothawg]

Man I would really love to build a modern NHRA spec replica of one. It would take some research but I think it could be done. Didn't someone start building repop chassis?

[Roothawg]

The second hoop is a new requirement.

[12packo94s]

i was thinkin that would be more modern too,,, but this thing definately wasn't modified anytime recently,, we are wondering if this thing was ever raced at all period but all the pieces including a coulver city quickchange are correct and in place leading to believe it's way early

[Lowlife]

12pack,I found two good articles on the Nelson/Martin digger.PM me your email addy if you want em.

[Roothawg]

When did they get away from the giant tubing? It was like 3 or 4 inch diameter.

[Roothawg]

Lowlife,what mag is that in your scan?

[12packo94s]

if we can figure out how to get some damn pics on here, i'll snap some tomarrow at work if charlie has his digital camera

[Lowlife]

Hey Roothawg,1960 Hot Rod Annual.If you're interested,I'll send those articles your way?

[Radshit]

Hey Root, here are some pics of a car with bigger tubing. This car originated in Kansas/Oklahoma area......it belongs to a friend.....it's not a dragmaster though....

[Radshit]

2

[gettingreasy]

I remeber reading somewere that the 2 over head tubes were an option when you bought the chassis, the Mooneyes dragster is a Dragmaster frame with 2 over head tubes. I also heard somewere that racers didn't like the 2 tube ones becuase of the extra weight http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif! What ever it takes to get rid of that extra ounce I guess. I've seen several tanks mounted longitudily aswell.
-Jesse

[Lowlife]

12pack,I PMed ya.

[Lowlife]

Sorry Root,senior moment,pics are from '61 HRA.

[SamIyam]

About a year ago I checked into building one from scratch... I located the guy who re-popped them in the 80's but never did follow through with calling him and picking his brain (although Katie called him) I also found a couple on e-bay that would make for a good start... I would probably just use it for a pattern though... the one pictured looked like it had a bunch of rust... anyway, they are cool cars, indeedy... Also Root, they did not make a Dragmaster with the large round tube that I know of... that was the Chassis Engineering, K-88 car that had the big lower round tube... a k-88 would be more difficult to make pass tech and still retain most of its old time charm... to keep it leagal eagle... the Dragmaster is your best bet.
Sam.

[Smokin Joe]

Here's the Dragmaster dart. They look like blank buttons of some kind. No slots.
http://photo.starblvd.net/~SmokinJoe/1-4-2.jpg

http://photo.starblvd.net/~SmokinJoe/1-4-5.jpg

Earl Floyd and the Slo Pokes just use screws and nuts welded to the chassis I think. Body is indented for the screw heads. Not a Dragmaster, but close.
http://photo.starblvd.net/~SmokinJoe/1-4-3.jpg

And here's the Moon Dragster. I've seen tanks mounted both ways.
http://photo.starblvd.net/~SmokinJoe/1-4-4.jpg

[**DONOTDELETE**]

The Dzus buttons on my old Dragmaster Dart chassis had large diameter (1 1/4"?) and quite thin heads and a small (3/8"?) dia. stud. They had slots for removing/installing them. There are some on my Pontiac digger that came from the Dart.

The Dart body panels were magnesium sheet. A word of warning....anybody messing with one of these frames should be aware that drilling or welding on them should not be attempted. They were heat-treated after the welding was completed. My advice would be to contact Jim Nelson at Dragmaster (Carlsbad, CA) about this.

[12packo94s]

these body panels are definately not magnesium, so i would have to say that the bodywork is not original to the car!!!!!!!!!!!

[Roothawg]

Sam, what was the name of the Scotty chassis? It was Scotty somebody? I know they have the big tubing. I really don't paticularly like it...it just sticks in the back of my mind.

[Roothawg]

Sam, why did you decide not to build it?

Found this on the web.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (May 19 & 20) 1962's Southeastern Divisional Championship got off to a sizzling start on Saturday afternoon when Jim Nelson fired his big supercharged single-engine Dodge Dart powered Dragmaster 'AA' to new, certified National Records of 176.12 mph and 8.63 seconds elapsed time.

This outstanding speed performance bettered the record held by Jim's partner, Dode Martin, who set drag racing's top speed mark of 175.78 mph during last year's Nationals at Indianapolis.

Jim's new 8.63 e.t., the quickest elapsed time ever officially recorded and verified, broke the Howard Cams Special twin Chevy's record of 8.74 seconds which was new only this year, having been set during the Winternationals Championships at Pomona.

The Dart, a new low-profile Dragmaster 'Dart' chassis, uses a Dodge engine of 425.5 cubic inches. A GMC 6-71 blower rests on a new Hilborn 4-port injection system with high-rev twist furnished by an Iskenderian roller tappet assembly. Mallory Mini-Mag is used to fire the bear, which was built by Dragmaster Co.

Californians flooded the pits of the Memphis Divisional, where more than a dozen states were represented in competition. Jack Chrisman, 1961 World Points Champion, made a good showing with his twin Pontiacs AA-dragster, the Mickey Thompson Enterprises Special, but encountered head gasket failure on the twin's rear engine and wasn't able to get "everything" out of the sporty rig.

Chrisman did, however, meet Nelson at the line Sunday on the final run for Top Eliminator. Tension mounted as the two 'AA' rails were rolled into staging, for riding on the win was 40 points in the current World Points Championship contest.

As the two rigs rumbled at the line, the flag went up, but Chrisman wasn't ready and Nelson made a quick trip over the 1320. Chrisman, showing true sportsmanship, declined Nelson's offer to re-run and the cup was presented to smilin' Jim, who had done a terrific job with the Dart during the entire event.

Seven National Records fell during the Divisional Championship, including two new stocker marks.

Bob Reed of Marion, Ohio, shared the "hot" class records spotlight with Nelson. Running a Chevy in a '39 Chevy coupe for G-gas competition, Reed honked a 90.81 mph in 14.95 seconds for official class National Records. His records will not be entered, however, for only one week earlier, new G/G marks were set at the Arlington, Wash., Regional.

In the stock ranks, Elwin Westbrook provided the show during record runs. All the way from Ontario, Calif., Elwin's '60 Chevy, sponsored by Airline Auto Sales, swept through the beams to a 99.88 mph record, coupled with a low 14.06 e.t. mark. His car, equipped with a 348 plant, is a fiery red tudor Biscayne.

Also grabbing off a stock mark was Roy Dye of Memphis. Roy, who handles a '62 Chevy Impala 4-door, waltzed off with a certified mark of 89.82 mph after the day's record runs for the E-stock automatic class record.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Roothawg....Scott Fenn.

[Roothawg]

Yeah...that's it. Thanks

[SamIyam]

Scotty Fenn was the chassis research guy. Anyway, thinking back... I kinda just fell into the idea of building the altered... mainly because we had the rear end... we had the front axle, the body... the bed... and it just seemed like the thing to do at the time... thinking back... we could have gone either way... with either project, and it would have set us back about the same amount of $$$... I still wouldn't mind building an old styled dragster... I drew one up the other day... kinda borrowing Don Garlits idea of using a '30 Chevy frame... it looked BITCHEN'!!! Lay the frame on the axle... build an aluminum body to hide the frame that was punched with holes in front of the firewall... Army surplus fuel tank, Ford A axle... the only problem that I run into is when it comes down to the roll cage... it always seems to look new... but then again, if you kept it true to the old style... you could always just run it at the small tracks... but just not here in CA...
Anyway, we... the HAMB... need to do something for next year... I really do wish we could come up with a true TEAM effort and build something that we all pitched in to help build... not in my garage http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif... but maybe in someone elses... maybe we could all help out in the design of it and the donation of parts... then raffle it off?? OR let it tour the country??? Or have a drawing for who gets to drive it??? Maybe this is too big of a group to pull it off... we have a hard enough time trying to figure out what a REAL hot rod is... let alone build one. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Sam.

[Roothawg]

Man, now that mine is done I would be glad to help someone in the OK area. if needed. I have a medevial tubing bender and a mig welder, chop saw etc. Maybe this should be a new post?

[SamIyam]

Maybe sit tight and shop e-bay... there's ALWAYS goofy stuff that appears... maybe do a little fishing for someone who might want to build it with a new post??? Here's an example that sold on e-bay CHEAP... kinda scabby... but heck-a fun man!

[Roothawg]

I just hate trying to make something that has been butchered,mauled,modified, try and pass tech. YA know?

[Roothawg]

Just thought I would drudge this old post up to see if anyone new to the board may have some input.....

[The37Kid]

Roothawg, Thanks for digging up this thread, I'm one of the new guys and have a lot of early '60's rail info. I'll dig out my Dragmaster stuff and post some photos over the weekend. That car that Radshit posted photos of back on 9/15/03 looks like a Lyndwood. All early 1960's rails were one of a kinds, everyone had something different, this is a big help identifing cars today if you are lucky enough to find one that hasn't been badly upgraded.

[Roothawg]

Thanks, that would be cool.
I am planning to build a "dragmaster styled" front engine car in the future. I figure I can see what a good tech guy would disqualify an old chassis for and then when I build the new chassis I could modify it to meet current regs. Wow, what a run-on sentance that was. English teachers cringe. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Roothawg]

An example:

[Roothawg]

or:

[The37Kid]

Nice photos! The first car with the Hemi and odd front end is a Chassis Research car, the second with the blown Chevy looks like the "Sneaky Pete" Robinson car, which had a Dragmaster chassis. This was the last car to win at the U.S. Nationals with whitewall slicks.

[Roothawg]

We have our very own NHRA tech rep on here but I haven't seen him round lately.........maybe he's too busy building that Rocket Fastback?????

[Justin B]

i have a friend that works out of Dode martins garage. his name is tommy, he helped dode rebuild the origional for the nhra museum and is currently working on one he hopes to run this year at the HRR. i know he's got all kinds of blueprints for early rails also. anyways if you want his contact info pm me

[Roothawg]

Man that would be really cool........I'm on it.

[Little Wing]

neat thread

[lippy]

2That car looks familiar.:)

[hugh m]

Even though the mags made everything seem bigger than life, most of these outfits were pretty small, making it easy to make changes as the designs were upgraded, it's not like Detroit where everything is cast in stone. Unless your car has known history, lots of configurations could be ok. How about some shots?

[1961A/D]

here is a picture of my double hoop dragmaster, the original HELLZAPOPPIN dragster from Albany NY area, it was a well know dragster at my home track Dover Drag Strip in Wingdale, NY and upstate Ny & CT.. After many calls with Mr. Dode Martin, he confirmas that it is one on the few double hoop chassis they made in 60-61. I plan to be at Bowling Green for HRR this june. Stop by say Hi.
Bobby

[1961A/D]

Latest picture taken at a show on 5-12, I finished the front end rechroming and had new wheels made, stop by and sayu Hi at Bowling Green HHR next month, thanks for looking.
Bobby