History Drag cars in motion.......picture thread.

Another old Pontiac.

 

I have the plastic model kit of this one...

 

Here are some more from the Dennis Doubleday collection with most appearing to be from the US Nationals. Sorry that they are not actually in motion but the upside is that you can get a better look at the details.

Leland Kolb was 6' 5" tall and had problems fitting into a dragster at times but Frank Huszar (RCS) managed to make this one work. Kolb later sold this car to Australian Ash Marshall and it raced down under as the Scorcher, becoming the first Aussie driven car to crack 200 mph. Two races after it made its debut Marshall crashed it at Calder Park and following repairs it ran without the front bodywork for a while before Dennis Braid formed new sheet metal and the car was painted blue. It later went through a long series of owners before it was restored by Dennis Young and George Bukureshliev


The legendary Chris Karamsines who is still competing to this day--trying to qualify at the NHRA race at Norwalk as this is posted.


"Starvin" Marvin Schwartz prior to his stunning full bodied "Anaconda"



Oklahoma based Bennie "The Wizard" Osborn who won consecutive Top Fuel world championships in 1967/8 when the title was decided by a single event (at Osborn's home track in Tulsa during those years)


The late Tom McEwen's Tirend Activity Booster sponsored car which was one of the first non automotive product backed cars in the sport

 

I have never seen this paint scheme before.
Don't remember him winning Indy either but won World Finals 67-68.

 

Think you might be mixing up Osborn with Marvin Graham.

 

That helmet ! Pretty common.

 

Kool wild drags of the past

 

You are correct--total brain fart that is made even worse by the fact that I know both Marvin and Bennie personally.

Roo

 

Hate when that happens!

 

Currently at Cory Conyers' Crown Custom undergoing restoration for John Neas (who also owns the Jim Dunn "rainbow" car, Tony Nancy's "Sizzler" and the Jimmy Nix 1966 car as well as a couple of historic Corvettes).

Roo

 

The first Dragfest, England, 1964. K.S. vs Strickler at one of the four airstrips that they raced on during the tour.

Roo

 

Roo , Do you know who's car this is in Norway? Thanks.

 

The "Sundance Kid" was built by Fred Larsen and Jan-Odd Jakobsen. The body was fiberglass from the same mold as Toby Densham's Commuter and the car was the first top fuel car in Norway. There was some discussion about this car and the owners' history here back in 2017 (post # 55255) after you posted a black and white photo of the car.
https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Sundance_Kid
You will have to scroll down a bit but here is some more info:
https://www.britishdragracinghof.co...s-dinner-night-of-stars-shines-even-brighter/

Roo

 

Dang , I posted a black and white ? A friend is over their now and sent me that photo today. Seemed familiar but my brain is old now. Thanks.

 

Once in how many posts?
I won’t hold it against you.

 

Thanks mate, but it does not make me feel any less stupid.

Roo

 

Bob Dwyer in Ollie Olsen's Willys at the US Nationals. The hood and front fenders were formed from aluminum and arguments with NHRA tech inspectors over the legality of these components eventually led to Olson campaigning the car as an altered.As seen here it was powered by a 352" Chevy with Hilborn injectors but it later raced (with Nick Zapetis driving) with late hemi power. It is interesting to note that here it is running American Racing Silverstone front wheels rather than the chrome steel units that it had for most of its life.

Roo

 

Ford powered.

 

New Jersey's Wally Lynn ran this Lyndwood chassis car with backing from Don's Speed Shop in Metuchen N.J. The FE motor seen here was later replaced with a Cammer Ford.

Roo

 

Some history from down under--these photos are from the 1966 Dragfest event at Surfers Paradise International Raceway on the gold coast in Queensland. As with the UK dragfest, a group of US cars were shipped to Australia and ran at events at Surfers, Castlereagh (Sydney) and Calder (Melbourne). Bob Mayer and George Schrieber ran their fuel cars and Ron Colson, Earl Poage, Bob Keith and Tony Nancy made up the gas dragster contingent. Ash Marshall and Eddie Thomas were their Aussie opposition.
The photos come via my old mate John Winterburn who went on to become race director at the Surfers track and was later instrumental in the building of the Willowbank facility which now hosts the biggest drag race event outside of the US.
The Melbourne event was originally scheduled to be run at Riverside Raceway which was a former airstrip almost in downtown Melbourne but the advertisements touting 200 mph dragsters scared the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation that leased the facility to the hot rodders who ran the races and the US contingent did not run there. It was a huge disappointment for me as I had made the 500 mile trip from Adelaide to see the US cars.

Bob Mayer in his Nitromayer fueller

This appears to be Earl Poage

Australian drag race pioneer Eddie Thomas had recently installed a late hemi in his car in place of the wedge Mopar that he ran previously but still had the front mount blower.


A couple of the locals. The Fiat may be Ron Gardner's Liquideater with Y block Ford power


In the near lane it is Hans Klemme who towed his Y block Ford powered dragster up from Melbourne--over 1000 miles of two lane roads


Stock eliminator action with a pair of Holdens (GM)

Bob Mayer


Bob Keith in the Dos Palmas Machine big block Chevy car


John Anderson's flathead powered 32 roadster faces of against what may be Ralph Donahoo's bucket


Tony Nancy's Wedge in the right lane and Ash Marshall's Vandal in the left

Follow up photo to the one above


Roo

 

Roo[/QUOTEIn the first photo. I'm trying to figure out what is under the zoomie. Kind of looks like an oil filter adapter?

Tommy,
that is exactly what it is. The stock early hemi filter package is on the right side of the block just ahead of the bellhousing with the filter sticking straight out and it was common to relocate the filter with a remote mount.

Roo