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

Eddie Hill
Bakersfield Smokers March Meet 1960: "a blast from the past..."

Hello,

In 1960, Eddie Hill had been known as a drag racer/builder from Texas. Most of his cars had the smallest front wheels of any of the full size race cars. The odd size wheels and tires made his FED look like it was on a “rake.” Usually Pontiac powered with white wall slicks, and he was fast. Later, he went on to set national records in drag racing with a wide variety of race cars.

Jnaki

But, on this day in March of 1960 at the Bakersfield Smokers Meet, he went up against the Bayer/Frietas twin Chevy FED. Smoking is never good, anywhere...especially in motion.

 

These aren't really in motion but ....

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A couple more from a different little pages Magazine Speed*And*Custom 1961 and 1963

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Hey RS,
Nice addition of the old magazine article on an early version of the Top Banana. Here is the Hank Vincent's "Top Banana" IN MOTION in 1960 at the Bakersfield Smokers March Meet. Even though it was from Northern California, (being partial to our local, So Cal racers...) it was one of our favorites. The styling was sleek and very well done. The performance had changed since the article came out in 1958.

At this big drag race event, (being my first time at this far away track,) I was all over the racetrack filming what I thought was the best of the best. I had fun taking movies of the Hank Vincent's red, Top Banana FED. Back in those days, a pit pass got you everywhere without any questions asked... even at the starting line.

Jnaki

Hank Vincent, Top Banana at Bakersfield, 1960


Bakersfield Smokers Meet, 1960 pit action and start line

 

Love it. 600 dollars plus ingenuity equals 135 mph!!!


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1958-59
March 1960
Hello,
It was a sad day when Hank Vincent was killed at the Fremont Dragstrip. It took place a few months later in 1960.

"Drag Strip: Fremont Dragstrip, California
Event Date: May 29, 1960
Car: "Top Banana" B/FD
Biographical: "He was nearing the finish line on the final elimination run when his dragster went off the pavement. Traveling at a speed estimated at 170 MPH, he tried to ease the dragster back onto the track, but the car leaped into the air. It rolled end over end for about 300 feet before coming to a halt. He was pulled from the wreckage and rushed to Washington Township Hospital, but died en route. The push bar on the car penetrated his body and killed him. An electrician, he lived in Hayward, California, and was survived by his wife and two foster children. He had held national records in B/FD and C/FD with his "Top Banana" car which he had run for five years."
Sources
"Dragster killed in Fremont," Hayward Daily Review, May 30, 1960
"Dragster Vincent killed," Hayward Daily Review, May 30, 1960"

Jnaki
Here is a different write up on this happening. May 1960 not 61
http://www.politicalforum.com/index.php?threads/hank-vincent-died-drag-racing-top-banana.519074/

 

Tom Barres is my dad. He passed away in 2000. He told stories about his days drag racing, but they typically involve other racers. We have a cover photo of him from NHRA Today (I think). He was active somewhere between 1964 and 1971 (don’t know the specific years). He talked about all the tracks mentioned on this page. Based on family lore, he drove junior fuel for Ron Pink out of Van Nuys and Rain for Rent of San Bernardino and The Hawaiian top fuel rail. This is the first time I’ve heard mention of the “Rose-Lawson-Barres” junior fueler.

I’d like to do some research to create a history of my dad’s racing career by compiling when, where, for whom, and results. As most of the tracks no longer exist, and I assume the teams no longer exist, and the various drag racing associations have likely consolidated into the NHRA and/or IHRA, I’m not sure where to start.

I would truly appreciate any direction you may point me in to start gathering info. I’d even appreciate verbal history from anyone who may know him or remember watching race.

Thanks so much.

 

Thanks, Craig for your memories...I think it was Ed Pink, and the Rain for Rent might have been from Bakersfield, that was the sponsor for James Warren and Roger Coburn...(could have been another, though, California had lots of irrigation companies). As for the Rose, Lawson, and Barres Jr Fueler, I am guessing that the "Rose" was Sam Rose, from the San Bernardino area. Sam ran what was then a C/Fuel Dragster, the class that later became "Jr. Fuel." Sam ran a junk yard in the San Bernardino area, and was (is?) a great guy...I raced him several times in C/FD, and his Chevy always handled my Ardun. Hope this helps...

 

Mike Steinberg clears the lights at Fremont...

One of Art Chrisman's first drag cars...for several years Miller's Crankshaft was his sponsor...wonder if he just reversed "52" to come up with the number for his famous dragster?

Jeb Allen lights up in the lights, Bakersfield...notice the radius rod...I guess that they are supposed to do that??


Calvin Rice starts his run down the airstrip at March AFB...the tail of this car was an upside-down midget tail...and the roll bar was sort of an afterthought...the original version lacked a roll bar...surprising that C.J. Hart let them run Santa Ana.


The former "Shadoff Special" streamliner that was famous for its Bonneville records wound up on the drag strip...Dave Zeuschel bending over the engine...I think that this is Pomona (?).


The Sparks & Bonney team...'34 at right was Everett Israelson's...met its end at a Saugus night meet when the throttle stuck and the car went off the track and crashed in a ball of fire...fortunately Israelson came out ok, but the car was gone.

 

Hey, I knew Sam. I camped in his yard when we went down to Yakima to race stock cars. He was running Knob Hill Auto Wrecking at the time, maybe he still is. Yes, great guy.

 

Me too. I met Dick Gazan in 1984, and spoke with him in the hospital just hours before he passed away, a couple years ago. He was a good friend and mentor. I got to meet Owen several times. I never met Tom, but heard lots of good stories from Dick.

 

Carlsbad Raceway, near San Diego...

 

Put thousands of laps down that track in the '70's

 

Sadly, now it's a business park.

 

Return road at San Fernando, Foothill bridge behind...Looks like Wenderski is folding up the chute while the nose is off Tony Nancy's MoPar wedge dragster. A chute failure meant that you were headed towards the bridge, which sadly took more than one life....


No i.d., maybe Masters & Richter? Headers don't look right, though.


K.S....photo by Rich Carlson


This is as big as I can get it...I want to say Fontana but the background doesn't look right...I am guessing around '63?


Sadd Brothers -- injected Chevy here, before Al Teague came on board and the car shifted to a lakes/Bonneville car. It was badly damaged in a return road accident, so to repair it, the Burkhart, Burns, and Brammer roadster gave up its body...the restored car is now in a museum in Oregon.

 

Rear end looks bent on Sadd Bros. car. Looks like the slick is leaning in at the top................

 

Must be the photo because the push car's back wheel is leaning too.

 

Dave, that is a teenage Al Teague in nick Sadd's roadster. He drove the shit out of it, and scared the shit out of all who watched him make a run! I was pulling to the line one Sunday, at Fontana, where that photo was taken, and Al had started a run. By the time he got to the lights, I saw both sides of that roadster! I don't know what size the SBC in it was, but from the fumes, I'd say there was mostly nitro in the tank. Love Gene Scott's logo on the grill panel.

 

Thanks, Dean, I had completely forgotten that Al drove it, before the blown Chrysler...I remember it running as the Sadd Brothers and Bentley ... and you're right, it rarely went straight...the crowd really loved the hearse push car.

 

Dean -- I don't think it's Fontana. The tower was on the right side there, and they'd be pushing the wrong direction. And the stands in the background would be out on Foothill.

We had the first 8-(9-?)second gas roadster at Fontana. Sure cuts the E.T. when you start from the back fence. Also ran outta gas after you use a hand-pumped tank and screw around getting backed into the fence and add 100 feet or so to the run.

 

Here's a shot of the Fontana tower with the staging lanes behind it . . .

 

You are correct, it isn't Fontana. Foothill Blvd. was not far behind the tower.