So here are the last of the photos from the Bob Doty collection... I continued to be amazed by these. I think my favorite from this grouping is the diminutive little Eddie Hill dragster. At least, I assume it's Eddie's ride. I can imagine roaring dow... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
Ryan,you assume correct...Eddie was still living Longview,Tx when he brought out that little car...I saw him run it sometime in 1955 or 6 at the Fly N Fish drags in the big city of Karnac,Tx.. The Fly N Fish was a fly in fishing lodge on Caddo Lake,they used the landing strip for the drags..
Man I gotta ask....Caddo Lake. Is that near the town of Caddo in Breckenridge County? My family hails from those parts. Ryan, hope you know how much all these photos mean. Thanks a ton for sharing. Traction was king and not much was available. Love the set-back and high frame (weight transfer). Geez I love this stuff!
What's this? It looks to be some sort of turbocharged beast with a smaller motor in front of a larger one. Are they using the smaller one to start the larger one? The picture of the car crashing, is that the '57 Chevy? Upon a closer look I see that picture 36 is a dragster toward the end of the strip, ( Damned eyes, it stinks getting old ). Also I like the wheel covers on the dragster in the first picture. Cool stuff and thanks for sharing.
Truck Jim,,,,Caddo Lake is in NE Texas and extends into Louisana.. very big and swampy..better have a guide to navigate it or your lost
Man, do these bring back fond memories when I was a kid at great lakes dragway in WI. Thanks boss, I feel warm and fuzzy.
I wondered the same thing. With only 3 exhaust pipes visible, could that be a flathead buried under there with a potvin supercharger hanging out front?
Lotsa good stuff there! Eddie loved those Pontiacs, this must have been a precursor to the dual engine/4 slick version. Thanks,Cat
Kinda' looks like a Lycoming or Swearingen aircraft engine getting turbo boost from a smaller, maybe higher revving engine in the front???? Okay, H.A.M.B. Detectives, get to work!
I saw Eddie push start this car and make a "run" on a rural road near my house one evening. First dragster I ever saw in person. I was 10 or 11 years old. His first cars had those distinctive bells on the headers.
Bob,a friend of mine owned a Lockheed 10, and we flew into the "Fly N Fish" once for lunch. Not the longest strip around......but great catfish!
"Kinda' looks like a Lycoming or Swearingen aircraft engine getting turbo boost from a smaller, maybe higher revving engine in the front????" My guess is a Lycoming with a manifold up front with multiple carbs. Probably 97's.
This is some incredible stuff from the great state of Texas. RC remind me to show the disc of photos I have that I got from one of my former employees that is all about the Great Lakes Dragway in Union Grove, WI. I guess he lived right by it as a kid and the family hung out there all the time and the pic from backin the day of that track are just as cool. Much of it from the pits if I remember correctly. Its been years since I looked at them, but I will find them for our inspection. The time period is a little bit later than these, probably late 60's to mid 70's but just incredible stuff also. Lotsa of Garlits, McEwen, Gene Snow action etc.
How bout that 5 window with 2 of em filled! That's a badass looking car. Inspiration for a future drag car nicknamed "blind spot"