History SUNDAY SUNDAY at Aquasco Speedway

How many cars will be there?

 

There were probably 30-40 cars there as it was a "car show" as well as a tribute to Aquasco event. Not every car there was related to Aquasco. Marco DeCesaris had a car there on display and probably will again. It would be nice to see this event grow to the point where many of the other former competitors might attend. It's just not quite there yet.

 

Last year's show was a Friday night cruise in with a nice tribute to Aquasco Speedway that had some old trophies, photos, and memorabilia, as well as some really cool video footage taken there over the years and some folks talking about their experiences at the track. It was small which can be expected for a first year event, but I really enjoyed it and it was neat to hear some of the stories from the guys who raced there. As Don said, I really hope it grows in the coming years where you see more of the old racers come out, as well as some of the cars that raced there.

 

I love the old stories. Went to the York reunion this year. My 39 Hudson will be a gasser when I get to it.

 

more pics
https://www.flickr.com/photos/57343654@N03/sets/72157626131588938/

http://www.seriousviewers.com/drags/photos1.htm

 

Great stuff! Thanks for posting it.

 

Found a couple pics from Aquasco 1961. Evidently, I was impressed by the Corvettes. 4-spd transmissions were still rare and these cars would "squat" with every shift. Fast too. I was in the spectator area and couldn't get very close. Pics were taken with a "brownie" camera with a fixed lens. Notice the Southern Maryland dust that the cars would bring onto the track. Cars would go up a little hill to get to the starting line. They would spin the tires a little to clean off the red clay, but they couldn't get it all. "Burn Outs" hadn't been invented yet. Still looking for more pics.

 

a few passes on video start at 1:37 into this

 

Very cool. Thanks for posting.

 

I didn't get a chance to take many pics of Sunday's show, but here's two that might be familiar to you guys- The first was an old Truimph drag bike, and the 2nd was the Gene Mori's ChevWagen that is currently being restored.

I wish I had the chance to get some info on the Truimph, as it was a really cool bike. By the time I saw what I assume to be the owner there with it my 2 year old was getting cranky so we had to leave. The turnout was decent- cars seemed to be coming and going throughout the afternoon, and memorabilia and old race footage was set up inside the firehouse. It's hard to say what will happen in the coming years with the new firehouse being built, but hopefully if they continue to have the show they'll promote it a little bit more and get some more of the historic race cars to show.

 

Thanks for posting the pics. I didn't make it down there.

 

Here's a shot of Gene Mori's V-8 Volkswagon circa 1966 still in primer before being painted blue.

 

Second photo is one of Malcolm Durham's early "Strip Blazer" Chevelles.

 

If you spent any time at Aquasco in the late 60's you couldn't miss Rufus Boswell's '39 Chevy running B-Modified Production. Featured here in the Nov. '65 R&C the car used a '64 Chevy engine with 14.5:1 compression ratio and a 5:57 rear and was always a contender and always immaculate.

 

This blue Chevy Sedan was always superbly detailed. And let's not forget, Rufus Boswell won B/MP at the 1965 NHRA NATIONALS in Indianapolis. It ran as good as it looked!

 

........................So true.

 

Two weeks ago at the Rodders Journal Revival in Baltimore a gentleman came by and dropped off some old photos. That person is probably on the HAMB, and if he is, Thank You Very Much. This one is from Aquasco Speedway in early 1964.
Gene Altizer won A/Gas at the NHRA NATIONALS in the fall of 1963. Several weeks after that event, he took his A/Gas National Champion Anglia and stripped it down to the bare bones, saving many parts, running gear etc. and then scrapped the rest! He then built an all new car, and this is it shown on the return road at Aquasco.

 

Great picture Dave. You are such a wealth of information.

 

Thanks a bunch for posting this Dave. Love the old photos.

 

Very Cool!

 

..................................and stories.

 

Another photo from the same donor as the one in post #260.

This is Fred Bear's Willys early in 1964, very possibly the same day as the previous Altizer photo. Shown here on the return road at Aquasco Speedway during shakedown runs the "first time out". The brand new car has not yet received the S&S Racing Team logo or any other lettering. This car would become Eastern Drag News B/Gas Record Holder later in the season at Atco Dragway in New Jersey.

 

So cool.

 

Fellas,
Can someone post pics from the gathering at the firehouse ?

 

Great Photos! Gassers were the best. Thanks for posting.

 

One more from the same batch.
Fred Bear's B/Gas Willys. Shakedown runs included trying to keep the front wheels on the ground, or at least close to the ground. Notice the weight bar attached to the tow bar brackets. The following week a few suspension mods including lowering the front ride height took care of that issue. The guy in the back of the truck is crew member Mike Dwyer.

 

Ooops, Second photo shrunk? Here is what is looked like a few weeks later.

 

I have no idea where this one came from. It may be on here already, but a slightly different angle of Aquasco Speedway in 1964. Home of the AHRA Summer Nationals one year.

 

Dave I love these old photos. Especially the early S&S pictures. How about some early Fred Gene Pork charlie or your self pictures. Last year had the privilege to sit with Gene at Henderson and loved his drag stories.