Old National Trail Raceway Photos - never before published

Spectator side fence hangers and bleacher creatures

 

nowadays , he's even got a "dodge material" pontiac

 

I think if you look close it actually says "Wanna Be Dodge Material" on the door of the Pontiac.

 

Norm Reis with the glasses and the chinstrap beard....Glenn Hall on our bunny girls' left....Can barely make out the STEREOPAK logo on the trailer in the background...Flat black painted hilborn scoop on the two port...killer...






TH

 

Probably spending time in prison.

 

People & cars - some neat stuff if you zoom in.

 

Anyone else think that it looks like he stole Gary Beck's hat???

 

He might have - I'll have to ask him next time we cross paths!

 

Looks like EVERYONE showed up!

 

This is it for today.
In the early days, NTR was the only track that had Ford corporate sponsorship. (Check the old-timey Ford crest on the left side of this shot of the original tower). This continued until 1972 when Chevrolet became the official car & truck. And, starting this year, it is back to Ford. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

I still think all this stuff would make a awsome coffe table book.
how 'bout it guys?

 

Godzilla, altered wheelbase 55 is still around.

 

Not me - if I live long enough to complete all the projects I already have lined up I'll be a lucky man!

 

West side of the track, that is the raceway at the very top of the picture.

 

This is a great pic if you zoom in - some way neat rides on the west entrance road and in the parking lot.

 

Overhead view of the track - don't have the date but it shows the original tower. Other than the footprint of the track itself (and the concession stands) most everything else has changed in some way.

 

No date, most likely an early Springnationals. These areas are all blacktop now.

 

One more of the pits.

 

I'd say this was the last year for Ford support vehicles at the track. The signage on the tower was already changed to Chevrolet at this point. Love the 5-spokes and pinstripe whites on the Ranchero

 

Attention in the Pits! We need Outboard Eliminator to Lane 3, V-Drives to Lane 4 and Unlimited Hydros to Lane 5!

 

Awesome thread



Any more of this'un?

 

no, but it sure is cool, huh? Back in the day a lot of used-up road race cars became drag machines. I actually have on my office wall a framed photo of what appears to be either a Lister Corvette or a Lister Jag at the starting line!

 

Clark! Let go of the check!

 

Guys, I am getting down to the end of what I have scanned. Well, I could keep on going, but mid-'70's Pro Stocks just seem too off topic for this site.
Here's Mary Ann Jackson, driver of the "Go Hummer" Mopar and a young Wally.
I always wondered about the name of the car...

 

It says 'A/FC' on the 'C' pillar. Also, to my eyes it looks like an A/A. A nice, nasty one!

 

awesome thread.... subscribed!

thanks for posting

 

Waiting to get into National Trails

 

On post #8, the smile on the guy standing on the left is priceless!

 

Thank you so much for sharing these pictures. I haven't seen that many slingshots in one collection in a long time, it just brings a tear to my eye. And I love the "atmosphere" pictures of the stands and pits/parking. It's just as cool as the action in the lanes. You are a god for sharing these!

 

Thanks for bringing back some sweet memories. We would get about 14 seats at the Spring Nats. A few of those seats were for the coolers. Got burnt to a crisp every year. Thanks again. Wheelz here.