History The Coffin

Me likey.

 

One of many attempts to get an edge toward better traction, and cheat the wind.
Liked to look at and dream of those old freaks, instead doing my schoolwork

 

I’m surprised the stock cockpit isn’t covered up, that had to have been quite the site to see run! I would have named it Ghost Rider!

 

Maybe a better name would have been Ghost Driver!!

 

What a great film, I appreciate the opportunity to revisit this event. One of our Omaha premier hot rodders, Mr. George Roseland, may have been piloting a 40 Ford coupe shown in this flick. He had been racing at this event from its start. He later drove an Omaha project 40 Studebaker over the 200 mph mark at age 79. Seeing the coffin in more detail was fabulous; thanks again for this feature.

 

Don Mitchell & (not Michelin) Jack Karg (not Card) participated in The 1958 NHRA Nationals ... held in Oklahoma City (not Tulsa) Oklahoma.

Here's an excerpt from the Entry List found on page 13 of the program:

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Here's some more pics of the #320 M & K Special at the '58 Nats:

"The Coffin" on the trailer
image by Connell R. Miller



"The Coffin" at the Saturday night (5pm-12am) Car Show & Juke Box Dance
image by Bob Pendergast



"The Coffin" on the Oklahoma Fairgrounds Drag Strip
image by Bob Pendergast​

 

Pages 60, 61, & 62 of the October 1958 issue of HOT ROD Magazine:

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It is time to bring back ingenuity and simplicity back to drag racing. There are too many rules these days. You should be able to drive whatever you want as long as it isn't built sketchy. I love this era of racing. Flag starter, beautiful trophy girls, best appearing crew, best engineered car.

 

Joey, for the record, at the 58 Nationals the car may have won A/MR, but Top Eliminator was Ted Cyr.

 

Marty, I was gonna point that inaccuracy out as well (but had already corrected the Mitchell & Karg / Michelin Card "blunder" in Post #8) ... and for the record, they didn't win A/MR either:

all images from the November 1958 issue of HOT ROD Magazine​

... but don't "blame" Joey for the inaccuracies ... he was only quoting what Bob Rothenberg had told Thom Taylor during an interview for the Rodder’s Journal #16 article.

 

WOW, how the times have changed. E.Ts, mph, tires, horsepower & tracks all much better…. But still miss those good old days. 300s in 5s are crazy, more fun in the 10s & 11s