The blown Chrysler dragster has sometimes been captioned as "Peggy Hart." But it was built and run by Warren Poole, from Muscatine, Iowa. This photo shows his wife at the wheel, taken by a Life Magazine photographer at Quad Cities Dragway, Moline Illinois, in April 1957. That was after Peggy drove her Cad powered dragster, but this was also pioneering.
Tom McMullen in the deuce takes on Jim Cassady's Chrysler roadster. Tom is out on Cassady's more powerful roadster because Cassady ran a LaSalle trans, while McMullen ran a 4-speed. I imagine that Cassady ultimately won the race (Dean Lowe knew the Cassady car as he beat him with his real street roadster).
Hello, When the Jim Cassady’s Street Roadster was on the early drag racing scene, we were able to see the lightweight body powered by the big Hemi at Lion’s Dragstrip. In the pits, up close, it was impressive as the big Hemi filled the motor compartment and was bulging out of both sides. (remember, these roadsters were classified as street legal and they had to conform to DMV standards) 1959-60 Some alterations and additions are a little sketchy, but, all street legal, however they were interpreted by the tech committees. Legal muffler pipe inside of a collector tube, motorcycle fenders to cover or try to cover the tires/slicks and headlights/brake lights were also required. This was, after all, a legal street roadster. Jnaki It would have been fun to drive it into our neighborhood teenage, drive-in restaurant parking lot for the teenage barrage of comments and awe-inspiring faces. HA! But, after watching and filming the street roadster coming off of the starting line with all of that power and torque, it was a wonder that junior Thompson handled it so well. Or so it seemed. Jim Cassady's Street Roadster with Junior Thompson driving. Starting at :04 watch the black street roadster and see what is “moving” as it does its thing. The next big question is: At :33 who owns the blue street roadster or who is driving it, and finally, it looks like Oldsmobile or Cadillac power. A short description of facts is necessary if you have verifiable proof of who or what. We need the name and a short description for a large, public library project in the works. You will be given contributor recognition. Will wonders ever cease, the blue street roadster gets out in front of the black Cassady/Thompson's A/Street Roadster.
The Jalopy Journal
