Great Oregon Racers

It's about time!

 

He was ranked as one of the top 50 drivers of the first 50 years of NASCAR. During that period, he took at least 13 years off, between 1955 and 1968, to run his business and raising his family. A class act, all the way!

 

Marty may I share your comments of Ralph on my Facebook Page Super Midgets WMRA History...
Thanks and Im so Sorry for your loss of your Friend.

 

Hold it, I was given false information, Ralph is alive and well.

 

I called Ralph, and he had heard what I had posted. We had a good laugh and a great visit. I wrote retraction in post 1638.

 

That's Good News!!
Sure wish I could get some more photos of Ralph's Benson Daimler Powered Midget, Maybe one photo of Him in the Car ? I know it gave it whirl a few times before handing it over to JP Standley..
Sincerely Steve

 

Marty, did you ever do the sand drags at Newport, OR? My Mom used to take this snot nose kid to them next to the Yaquina Bay Bridge. I think Newport local Larry Hoover was involved.

 

I never ran there, but helped my Brother Jerry run his Funny Car there. He was the heavy hitter on the entire west coast. He nearly ran it into the bay once.

 

Good To Hear about Ralph! Did you know recently The Owner of Ralph Young Daimler Powered Midget Stu Donaldson has passed away. Here's a few photos from my Facebook Page Super Midgets WMRA History
Wish I had a photo of Ralph driving his Car ....

 

Thanks for those pictures. I would like to see a photo with George Benson at the wheel, he drove it on dirt at Porterville or some close to that.

 

Here You Go ! Mr. George Benson

 

I have been just getting caught up on this thread.
I knew Clair and Dick quite well. I used to go skiing with Dick and Doris at Sun Valley.
I was the one grinding all of the Drag Action cams.
I first met Hershel in the mid 50's at the Scappoose drags. Super nice guy.

 

We bought a 10007B back in 1964, never got to run it, put in a 331 Cad.

 

Ralph told me he was at Norm Rapp's on a Sat morning, and Red (Bob Miller of Los Gatos Auto Body) dropped in.
Red asked Ralph if he was going to run at Porterville, (or some dirt track close to there) that evening. Ralph said, he didn't have any dirt tires, or a driver. Red replied, I have tires and I can get George to drive ! They showed up too late to practice, but George still qualified on the pole, or very close to the front. George did win the main event !

 

That was a good grind in a flathead Cad. Did several of them.

 

Which beach in Newport did they run on Marty? I never knew they held any sand drags over there. @Marty Strode

 

My recollection is the races took place between where the Rogue Brewery and the NOAA buildings are at South Beach, next to the marina. The NOAA site may have been the Or-Aqua fish hatchery at the time.

 

Found on an FB page called Northwest Vintage Sand Drags.

Jerry Strode at Sandlake


Jerry Strode at Newport.

 

It was next to the bridge, I think right where the aquarium was built. Thanks Coast, for finding those pictures. Jerry built that Funny car chassis in 9 days, and debuted it at Newport in April without the body. That Fall we took it to Bakersfield, to run in the dry riverbed. He won the Funny Car class, and match raced the Top Fuel winner and beat him as well. He was an amazing Cat, he built his own cars, including the engines, tuned and drove as well. I do miss him !

 

What a guy !!! Bedides being your was brother He a fantastic hero to many. ie. Roy Seidel. One of my best friends Bob

 

Bob, we sure had some good times with Roy and Ester !

 

Yeah. Roy told on you a few tales !! I loved. Roy !!! Roy taught me a lot. When I was a kid, Like. Wash a car top to bottom, wheels , tires, last !!! Change soap water often !!! Like : come by my house ,” we’ll fix it “. Good. Man

 

More Newport Sand drags approx. 1974 from the FB page Northwest Vintage Sand Drags.

 

Thanks @Marty Strode and @coast40! I had no clue they did that there. Those pictures are priceless! Ironically my son and wife are at the aquarium on a field trip as we speak.