Great Oregon Racers

[Marty Strode]

I just got off the phone with Rolla Vollstedt, we had a good laugh about a Track Roadster he built. The yellow one in the picture with Len Sutton kneeling in front of. About 10 years ago Rolla decided to build this roadster, I had been building several at that time. I helped him out with some tube bending and some sheet metal work. When it came time to build a hood, he had his good friend Don Shervey, who owns Rolla's #16 Indy Car and another "Great Oregon Racer" in his own right, haul the roadster out to my shop. We no more than got the car unloaded and Rolla said "how long is this gonna take", my back hurts! I promptly went into my office and carried out a recliner, and said "take it easy". Don and I went to work on the hood, while Rolla went to sleep, and yes he snores! While working away, I made the remark to Don, "he is 85 you know", and to my surprise, Don said "I am 82"! I couldn't believe my ears, as Don had recently been clocked in his Indy Car at over 150 mph! It took us 2 to 3 hours on the hood, Rolla stills says he went to sleep, he dreamed about his hood, when he awakened he had one!

[Marty Strode]

This is one of my favorite Track Roadster pics, it was taken at Portland speedway in 1947. It captures the Hotrodder and his race car in the 40's to perfection. He is Don Turner with his '27', it is sponsored by "Specialty Ford", which I believe was called "Johnson's Specialty" in SE Portland. They sold Ford parts until the 80's. Another Bobby Mead photo.

[Marty Strode]

Back to the drags:
Medford 1961, Bob Duedall from Albany stripped the engine, wheels etc, off of his beautiful, purple 34 coupe and put together this Chassis Research K88 dragster. In the group shot Bob is working on the engine, next is another Albany racer Duane Becker, Ron Salisbury is in the drivers seat (warming it up for Bob) and last is Jim McCormick. The shot at the starting line has Duane running back after helping Bob get ready to go. I love these pictures! Note the "Rumblers Racing Team" 'T' shirts.

[Gary Reynolds]

Great pics, you could post stuff like that all day long and I'd never tire of it! Thank and I'm glad this thread is still going!

[Marty Strode]

In an earlier post I mentioned Bob Christy from southern Oregon, I mentioned he was a "big deal" in the 50's and 60's. Here are some shots of him at Indy.

[Rootie Kazoootie]

Christie had a long career in USAC and had the nickname 'Caveman.' Probably best described as a 'journeyman' driver. Here's some shots of his early days at Indy:

[1971BB427]

Can't believe all the great pictures you've got Marty! Thanks for sharing them!

[sloppyjoe]

Looking for any info on this Oregon car.

Thanks

[SquireDon]

Looking for any info on this Oregon car.

Thanks

Found this in a yard in Amity Oregon a couple of weeks ago:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=714736

The body looks the same.

[sloppyjoe]

Pic of Twig's new car after I painted it a few years ago. He showing how much lower the new car is compared to the old one....not the length of his
johnson....





Old car:


New car:

Dick Pruitt did the grille and headlights on the original car back in the 70's, and he did them on the new car. The stories were worth the price of admission.

[NORSONAUTO]

Marty
It was Johnson Ford Specialties. It was on Stark about where Elmer's is now. Bought a pedal assembly for a '39 when I was converting my '38 to juice brakes. Must have been '62. The building looked like an old dealership. Norm

[bushwacker 57]

Originally Posted by Marty Strode

Back to the drags:
Medford 1961, Bob Duedall from Albany stripped the engine, wheels etc, off of his beautiful, purple 34 coupe and put together this Chassis Research K88 dragster. In the group shot Bob is working on the engine, next is another Albany racer Duane Becker, Ron Salisbury is in the drivers seat (warming it up for Bob) and last is Jim McCormick. The shot at the starting line has Duane running back after helping Bob get ready to go. I love these pictures! Note the "Rumblers Racing Team" 'T' shirts.

Bob Duedall has ben selling lic plates in NOR CAL for more than 25 or 30 years i asked him years ago if he was the same guy in HOT ROD MAG with the 34 coupe from Oregon and all he said was yes and that was it.

[Marty Strode]

Last Wed night at the "Beaches" cruise at PIR I met Val (1971 BB 427), we had a good visit about drag racing back in the 70's, I mentioned my Jeep that I raced. It started out as a 2 wheel drive US Mail delivery rig, I replaced the body with a fiberglass one. It had a "Boss 302" Ford and a 4 speed. It ran in the 1974 season, with a best 1/8 mi at 7.30, 97mph, 1/4 mi, 11.41, 117. This shot is the "dry hop". It was a wild machine at the starting line, my old friend Jerry Hill told me the safest place to be when I dropped the clutch, was in front of it. Note the lack of safety equipment, and my $16.00 "Pip" helmet. It was a blast and launched my career as a race car and hot rod builder!

[Marty Strode]

Dragster technology changes in 8 years. The first is the Wardin Bros, Ferd and John in about 1958. The second is Ernie Hall in 1966, this was Ernie's second car, after he switched it from Desoto to Chrysler. Bob Jensen photos.

[Gary Reynolds]

Originally Posted by Marty Strode

Dragster technology changes in 8 years. The first is the Wardin Bros, Ferd and John in about 1958. The second is Ernie Hall in 1966, this was Ernie's second car, after he switched it from Desoto to Chrysler. Bob Jenson photos.

Is that McMinneville?

[Marty Strode]

How about some drag bikes! 1st shot is Robbie Hilton and Marlo Treit, the last one is Marlo and Bob "Whitey" Jensen, grinding on a Triumph head in 1957. Bob Jensen photos

[Marty Strode]

Originally Posted by Gary Reynolds

Is that McMinneville?

Gary the shot of Ernie is at Mac, the one of Ferd is either Mac or Aurora. BTW 1966 was the last season for McMinnville

[meatball]

Pruitt & Nelson did the paint for us when I worked with Nitro Nick....A lotta magic came outa that shop in the 70s,heres some old pics from those days

[gnichols]

Marty,
Some time ago in a Goodguys Gazette article (I think) there was mention of a shop in the NW that was starting to build "sports rods" in the 50's vein. I seem to recall a dimly lit photo of an inprogress 30's Ford roadster undergoing mods, too. Ever heard of it? Know them? Sorry, that's all I got. Gary

[Marty Strode]

Originally Posted by gnichols

Marty,
Some time ago in a Goodguys Gazette article (I think) there was mention of a shop in the NW that was starting to build "sports rods" in the 50's vein. I seem to recall a dimly lit photo of an inprogress 30's Ford roadster undergoing mods, too. Ever heard of it? Know them? Sorry, that's all I got. Gary

Gary, I don't have any knowledge of that shop.