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

Glen Yearsly photos View attachment 4472567

 

Wow, a name for me out of the past. Glen Yearsly, a friend from years ago. I have slides that are virtually identical. Very cool Tommy D.

 

Pete Robinson history day. RIP

All from here: https://www.hotrod.com/articles/the-legend-of-sneaky-pete-robinson/

Harvey Crane Made His Dynamometer Available So Pete Could Validate The Theory That Cam Chain Stretch Was Retarding Timing And Exploding His Superchargers. For Proof, He Rigged Degree Wheels, A Strobe Light, And An 8mm Movie Camera To Record The Phenomenon.



Pete Blasts Off The Line At The 1961 Nationals Against Dean Moon’s Mooneyes, Driven By Jim Nelson. He Surprised A Field Of The Nation’s Fastest And Quickest Single And Twin Engine Dragsters, Taking The AA/D Class Trophy And Winning Top Eliminator. Best E.t. Was 8.42, An Amazing Number In 1961.

Robinson Had A 6/71 Blower Atop His 354 Chevy, While The Mooneyes 301 Incorporated A Potvin Front Mount Supercharger Kit.



Competitors And Friends Joe Schubeck (left) And Pete Robinson Taking A Break At The 1962 NHRA Nationals. Schubeck’s Lakewood Chassis Company Initially Built Dragster Chassis And Then Hydro Formed Steel, Explosion Proof Bellhousings. Pete’s Chevy Powered Dragmaster Dart Rests Behind Them.



NHRA Winternationals Was Pete’s First Out West Event With The SOHC 427 And The New Woody Chassis. He Qualified, But Bearing Issues Forced An Early Exit. Note The Sign In The Background Proclaiming The Event As “Big Go West.”.



Pete Is Wearing His Usual Smile. This photo Shows The 2 Inch Blower Drive (a 3 Inch Version Weighed A Few Pounds More, So He Rejected It) System That He Used For His Early ’Cammers.

He Had No Belt Problems. But A Year Later, Blower Overdrive Dictated The 3 Inch Setup. The Cams In This Engine Were Still Chained Together.



Unknown Outside The South, Robinson Took The 1961 NHRA Nationals Top Eliminator In The Best Dark Horse Tradition.
Trophy Presentation Included Pete’s Atlanta Pal Julius Hughes (left), Pete, Co Owner Bill Word, And NHRA President Wally Parks. Pete Beat Them All With A Simple, Lightweight Design, Sharp Tuning, And Heads Up Driving.



AA/Dragster Class Trophy Run At The 1961 Nationals: Tom McEwen In Gene Adams’ 475 Oldsmobile AA/D Versus Pete’s 354 Chevy. McEwen Had Pulled To The Right Edge Of The Track For Better Bite.
Pete Was Tardy At The Flag, But The Amazing Little Chevy Won With An 8.86 At 170.77 Mph With Spiffy Whitewall M&Hs On American Magnesium Wheels.




In Early 1962, Pete Took His New Dragmaster Dart Chassis For Check Out Runs At The Old Newton County Dragway. This Track Was Later Called Atlanta Speed Shop Dragway And Owned By Fellow Racer Julius Hughes.

Pete Is Standing Just To The Right Of The Injector Scoop. The New Dart Was Much Lighter Than His First Dragmaster.



Robinson’s Dragsters Always Drew A Crowd Of Fans Anxious To See What He Was Up To. He’s Preparing To Fire His Car For Testing At Warner Robins In August 1968.
After A Baseline Half Pass, Sans Vacuum Cleaner, He Checked Over The SOHC 427 Ford, Then He Ran It Full Bore With The Pioneering Device. Pete Spins Wrenches As His Dad Looks On.

 

I wonder where this^^^^^ trailer is today????....

 

Tough crowd with what appears to be a 56/57 Vette stalking behind.........

 

From George Klass

Sometimes it's hard to remember that before we had 18-wheeler "transporters" with tool cabinets that cost more than a house, we had single axle open trailers and a tool box that we could carry with one hand. Our "transporter" was usually a trailer hitch on the back of the family station wagon or pick-up truck. It was a different time, but it was our roots and it is our heritage.
In honor of these dragster pioneers, many of whom paid the ultimate price, I'm going to devote this section to these racers.
The Coachmen Car Club dragster along side their very striking trailer. This club was founded by a few guys in High School in 1956. The trailer is one of many built by "Mr. Ed", a one piece fiberglass trailer body built in a mold like a fiberglass boat. Very popular, too...


http://georgeklass.net/dragsters.html

 

That's were we stood back in the mid 60's! I swear we could see the front U-joint spinning when Gene Cromer (and others) stood'em up coming out of the hole! Back when going-to-the-drags was real fun..
6sally6

 

Pure Hell...

 

R.I.P. Dale

 

Bamber v. Mazmanian...

 

Top picture Cordova - this picture Rockford DragWay staging lanes.

 

Braden Crowley photos.

 

Some "Oldie's" from my files. Maybe some will be reposts but didn't go through the 1955 pages.

 

The late hemi powered version of the Frantic Four digger that was later stretched and partially rebodied.

Roo

 

Shirley.

 

Mickey Brown in the Brown, Frank, and Weddell blown Olds gas burner

 

Dawson Hadley's fuel roadster, Norm Grudem photo


Joe Jackson, home built top fueler. Joe died in another top fuel car at Lions.


Cortopassi and Butler "Glass Slipper," Eric Rickman photo


Doug Deverich gasser at Lions.


Dale Lambrose at Pomona, Norm Grudem photo. Team car Frank "Ike" Iacano is behind, both GMC powered, both fiercely competitive.