Before bed tonight if found this clip of Bakersfield from the mid 60's. See Big Daddy, Tommy Ivo Big John, SWC, as well as others, and the Melrose Missile crash as well as others. Also a few shots of Lions and a few other tracks. Enjoy!
Brings back memories! It was probably '62 when I was 12 and just started reading rod mags at the supermarket. Saw pictures of these strange little cars and was fascinated. I found out there was race at a drag strip only 40 miles away and I talked my sister to take me there. I was living in the country outside Porterville Calif and the track was Famoso. She took me there Sunday afternoon and of course we didn't have enuf $$ to get in and they wouldn't give us admission at tht late date anyway. We stood outside the fence and caught glimpses of the cars at the starting line as they roard off. I WAS HOOKED!!!!! Then two of those marvelous, strange little cars I had been seeing in the books came to the line. I have no idea who they were now but both Willys did wheel stands, slammed down and screamed out of view. I vowed then and there I had to have one of those. About a year later I saw the '35 Willys spare tire pannel sticking out from a garage of a classmate while riding the school bus. I worked a deal with him to buy it for $75 and worked all summer saving every penny to buy the car. I bougth my 331 hemi for $25 from another classmate and the rest is history. PS; there was a pristine stock faded ligth blue '42 Willys coupe sitting in an open field road I had to pass every day to and from town for 15 or so years. The old codger who lived there wouldn't talk about selling it. Really painful experience. next to a little home on Plano road I had to pass every day to and from town for 15 or so years. The old codger who lived there wouldn't talk about selling it. Really painful experience.
The Jalopy Journal
