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History mid 1950's drag photos, Moline IL

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by LowKat, Apr 27, 2009.

  1. James Maxwell
    Joined: May 6, 2006
    Posts: 549

    James Maxwell
    Member
    from So-Cal

    Awesome! Thank goodness people took pics BITD so to document what really happened.
     
  2. Del Clark
    Joined: Feb 21, 2007
    Posts: 631

    Del Clark
    Member
    from DeLand,FL

    Damn...cool pics! (right click save right click save)
     
  3. PoPo
    Joined: Jan 3, 2008
    Posts: 1,102

    PoPo
    Member

    QUAD CITIES..!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew we had history, now I'm going to save some of these and go to my old timers and have them identify the guys if possible! Thanks a ton man.
     
  4. Please post any info you find here. The photos have no titles on the Life website other that "Drag Races in Moline, Ill."
     
  5. Django
    Joined: Nov 15, 2002
    Posts: 10,198

    Django
    Member
    from Chicago

    Holy crap!!!! Fantastic pics!
     
  6. RatBone
    Joined: Sep 15, 2006
    Posts: 660

    RatBone
    Member

    great stuff!!!
     
  7. wlspdshop
    Joined: Jun 15, 2005
    Posts: 1,585

    wlspdshop
    Member
    from Missouri

  8. DirtyThirty
    Joined: Mar 8, 2007
    Posts: 2,396

    DirtyThirty
    Member
    from nowhere...

    That's GREAT stuff!
    Cool...REALLY cool pics...made my day examining the details...
    THANKS!
     
  9. yngrodder
    Joined: Dec 1, 2002
    Posts: 1,508

    yngrodder
    Member

    I've tried to find info out about the Gear Jammers with no luck yet, The guy who built my car belonged to that club at one time and I hoped someone that used to be in that club might have more pictures.
     
  10. this is a hell of a way to start a thursday. Thanks
     
  11. tractorguy
    Joined: Jan 5, 2008
    Posts: 894

    tractorguy
    Member

    Awesome doesn't even do justice to these pictures........As a kid growing up in E. Iowa, I went to Cordova Ill. dragstrip in the early-mid 1960's........The pictures say Moline Ill. which is a ways from Cordova......I wonder is there actually was a Moline Dragway ?????
    I see pictures for the Slo-Pokes Club from Dubuque Iowa.....I was born and raised close to Dubuque. I had totally forgotten about that club. Also, Sid's Speed Shop was in Dubuque and I think Sid Pacquette (sp?) was the owner. I need to do some digging with some of the old guys in Dubuque.
     
  12. billythedeadboy
    Joined: Jul 16, 2009
    Posts: 4

    billythedeadboy
    Member
    from Alaska

    I was born and raised in Moline. I used to run parts for about half a dozen small rod and custom shops around the area. i just forwarded a link to this thread to a bunch of my old timer friends that may be able to shed some light on this.

    there are little or no landmarks in the pictures, so its hard to identify where this is(was) located. the only place in my lifetime that it was legal to race in the area was(is) in Cordova. It would be interesting to find somebody that can shed some light on this one, it really hits close to home. i half expected to spot my grandad in his 57 bel air or the 55 second series napco truck(which i have squirreled away in a hidey hole).
     
  13. AWESOME PICTURES! its amazing how clear they came out. good thread
     
  14. PoPo
    Joined: Jan 3, 2008
    Posts: 1,102

    PoPo
    Member

    Im so excited I had to come back and look at these again!! My dad used to race at Cordova in the late 60s with a Dodge Dart from Mr Norms and I bet he's seen some of these guys or ride atleast. Great post!!!!
     
  15. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,092

    thunderbirdesq
    Member

    Awesome!!!! Made my day right there. Some of those pics are just unbelievable!
     
  16. HotRodChassis
    Joined: Jan 23, 2005
    Posts: 2,282

    HotRodChassis
    Alliance Vendor

    Man, those are awesome. Isn't that Cadillac Bob in the "Bowlsmobile"? :D And how did they get a picture of Django in the first one?
     
  17. I was born about this time in East Moline........wonder how many of these people were friends of the family,My grandfather was into cars and a barber in town for 45 years
     
  18. Rudebaker
    Joined: Sep 14, 2007
    Posts: 1,598

    Rudebaker
    Member
    from Illinois

    Check out this thread from Nitro Marty for more 50's Cordova pics....

    http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=356411

    Awhile back somebody said they didn't build "bobber" trucks BITD, I beg to
    differ...........


    [​IMG]


    Thanks Marty, hope to meet you someday, I'm a friend of Beintema's.
     
  19. Slickster51_50
    Joined: Jul 30, 2006
    Posts: 494

    Slickster51_50
    Member

    This post is freakin awesome I live like 45 miles from moline and actually go there quite a bit and now a few people there! I knew us midwest boys were doin this stuff back then i knew it couldn't be just out west and out east! Man that hits close to home I would have loved to have seen stuff like that when i was young!
     
  20. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,174

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    Too Kool!!! This is one thread that should come back up every week. Thanks
     
  21. speedtool
    Joined: Oct 15, 2005
    Posts: 2,540

    speedtool
    BANNED

  22. Lunatic
    Joined: Sep 28, 2004
    Posts: 1,198

    Lunatic
    Member
    from Carson,Ca.

  23. brady1929
    Joined: Sep 30, 2006
    Posts: 9,253

    brady1929
    Member

    anyone have a picture of or an actual slo-pokes club plaque?
     
  24. Best I can do.......... get out your magnifying glass.

    <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>1953 Slo-Pokes.
    Bob Willis behind wheel, brother Joe riding shotgun.

    </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
    [​IMG]

    Pretty good little story over at Rod & Custom
    There's a couple more pictures of 1957 Cordova.
    click on the pictures at the bottom

    http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/hotnews/0902rc_1934_ford_coupe_readers_rods/index.html
     
  25. [​IMG]

    Not sure if this is it. The club jackets do have a similar turtle.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2009
  26. skunx1964
    Joined: Aug 21, 2008
    Posts: 1,455

    skunx1964
    Member

    looks like a messy day for drag racing....
     
  27. MCINK
    Joined: May 26, 2007
    Posts: 885

    MCINK
    Member
    from EASTRIVER

    Very cool, thanx' for sharing...
     
  28. Dave Crane
    Joined: Mar 31, 2008
    Posts: 30

    Dave Crane
    Member

    Guys and Gals.....I found these pics very interesting. I was fortunate to be able to buy the TE 440 Chassis Research car built in 1958/59 by Jay Ohrberg and Dick Stevens, built in Dick's garage in Moline. The car was in good shape when I got it and required very little to put it in top shape. The Car was featured in Rod and Kulture, issue # 9. It is currently in the drag racing exhibit at the Gilmore Auto Museum in Hickory corners Mi. Gilmore is the 5th largest auto museum in America with over 250 beautiful cars. Jay Ohrberg went on to be "Mr. Roadster", producing parts for old Fords. Speedway motors bought the buisness from him, still sells Mr. Roadster parte, and Jay went on to build cars for the movies. He now has a 50 car museum in Ca. full of movie cars. I have spoken with him several times, but I do not know whatever became of Dick Stevens. If any of you guys out that way know of him, could you please send me an email. [email protected] Thanks, Dave
     
  29. Man, I wonder who these pioneers are? How many hot-rod superstars are in these photos?
     

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