That's AWESOME HotRodGrille! I built mine a few days ago out of scrap from cabinets I tore out during my shop remodel. Would love to have an original! Is yours an original Chrondek? If so, do you know what track it came from? Absolutely too cool!
Thanks for the comments! I spent several years trying to locate the original one from the local track that closed in the mid-70's (Kanawha Valley Drag Strip located in Winfield, WV). We finally located two of the original bulbs in a dump on the property and got confirmation that the "tree" had been destroyed. A buddy and I then decided to each build a copy of that tree. We researched the Chrondek patent data files to get all of the measurements and details of what materials were used in the construction. We replicated the trees down to the smallest details (like the data plate, proper Chrondek font and the gate hinges that attach the upper and lower parts together). The only difference is that we use an internally-mounted PLC to make the tree flash in a realistic pattern. We displayed one of the trees at the Charleston Rod Run & Doo Wop car show in the Racer Row area and had a guy argue that it HAD to be the original tree from the Winfield track. "Big Daddy" was at the show and autographed the tree as seen in the pic below! Today the trees sit in The Hot Rod Grille Garage and my buddies garage except for occasional appearances at the WV Drag Racer Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
The 'tree is something not everybody understands, which of course is very kool. I wonder how many dogs were named "Chrondek" over the years? And "Buster Couch"? Yeah, he was certainly the boss up there. Love it, awesome topic. Merry Christmas, nice trees.
Lets talk about Buster! Word was he was hired by NHRA to change racers minds on the starting line. Another story was when he had to find electrical wire to wire up the first tree. He went to a hardware store to buy the wire. He found the hardware store okay, but he did not know how to get back since it wasn't in Atlanta. He called a taxi cab and followed it back to the drag strip! Any more stories?
HotRodGrille, wow, that is really cool! I would like to build a replica for my shop as well. I will likely contact you if that's OK? Buster Couch was a real CHARACTER (as in, larger than life). I heard he took shrapnel from Grenading Gassers as a flagger! Happy Holidays!
Thanks for the comments! It appears that the original font was something created by Chrondek and not a "regular" style. I had a local artist (S&S Signs & Shirts) recreate the logo from close-up pics of original "trees". He spent quite a bit of time and effort to make it authentic, but I feel it was one detail that had to be done correctly.
The Jalopy Journal
