History mid 1950's drag photos, Moline IL

Looking through Life magazine archives again, found these great photos:

Not dated but looks to be about 1957.
Moline Illinois is the location according to the titles.
Photographer was Grey Villet.


*edit* 11/30/10
Looks like Life Magazine changed the location of the photos since the original posting but here's an updated link:

http://images.google.com/images?q=D...&sa=&imgc=&imgsz=&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

I'll add some of the photos but there's about 100 of them on the archive. You can see then in high resolution on the 'Life' site.

 

Wow those are great.

 

*edit*

Here's one of the photos in high resolution, just in case you didn't follow the link, this is what you're missing.

 

awsome stuff

 

Cool pic's, thanks!

 

awesome.

 

Precious photo's! The photographer really knew what he was doing...

Joel

 

Very cool photos. Thanks for posting. Does anyone know if some of those car clubs still exist?

 

Magnificent. That Bowlesmobile wails, and the driver's helmet is off the charts. So is the hemi, with five carbs in a handy box. And killer club jackets. In fact there's nothing I see from that day at the races I don't like. I especially dig the bowler hat--it gives my bowler a little extra credibility.

THANKS FOR PUTTIG THEM UP!

 

Very cool pics. I like the track sweeper, who is sweeping the sand off the tires before the burnouts! Thanks for sharing them.

 

those are BADASS,,,
you have a link to the archives?
I'm too LAZY to google,,,

xoxox
miss hootch

 

Here's a link to the photos:
You can click on them for the high resolution version

http://images.google.com/images?hl=...+race+Moline+source:life&sa=N&start=0&ndsp=20



If you like these old photos there's another thread from Pomona Calif 1952, located here:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=302456&highlight=pomona+1952

 

I'll take this one..... Wonder where it is today?

 

those are awsome you should put all those on the cool pic thread.

 

MORE PLEASE!!!

I'm guessing fall of '56, -- no leaves on the trees, jackets, scarves and blankets, and only a few '57's in the pics.-- just a guess.

MORE PLEASE!!

 

Thanks.
Tell me that pic of the cars in action behind the box of trophies just isnt the coolest pic ever.........wow.

 

back to the top for those who missed it

 

its funny how many of the pics are reversed, lol. great pics tho, my hands sore from right click savin em all....

 

awesome pics!! thanks

 

Thanks for sharing such kool pictures....love this one of the crowds along the fence line and standing on top of car roofs in the background.

 

I know ehat you mean, my new hard drive is filling up fast... Thanks HAMB

 

Awesome stuff!!!!

Moline Illinois..... That would be the Quad Cities Dragway in Cordova Illinois. The track is still in operation as Cordova Dragway Park and is host to the longest running annual event in drag racing, "The World Series of Drag Racing", held the weekend before Labor Day each year. (The first three "Series' were held in Lawrenceville, IL)
Also now in it's second year of hosting an NHRA nostalgia event, "Nostalgia Fest"....

 

Fawkin sweet stuff right there...

 

I think nitro marty is right it's Cordova. I first went there in Spring of '58 to watch Arnie Beswick. It was a long time ago but the timing stand seemed closer to staring line. The strip was blacktop everything else was sand and when wet it was double miserable. Pix look authentic and if I wasn't there that day there were other times just like 'em. Thanks for posting.

 

Great stuff... man, I love old photos like these. Thanks for posting them!!


Malcolm

 

Very, very cool old pics man. Thanks for putting those on.