A few of us old time drag racers decided to go a little retro and have taken up HAMB HA/DR Dragster style racing. We've put together our own set of rules which are based on HA/DR rules, with modifications much like the SDRA has done. Our core group is in Oregon and we are calling our group the Northwest Vintage Dragsters. We've put up a website: http://home.comcast.net/~northwest.vintage.dragsters/site/ where anyone can go for more information. There are four of us so far, with two of the cars are already running on the drag strip. The first is Jerry Stauffer's. It runs a 300" Ford engine and C4 trans. The second car is mine and Slant "6" powered. Jim Lindsay is still working on completing his car. It also runs a 300" Ford engine. The 4th car is Marty Strode's, and is still under construction. It runs a 250" Chevy engine. This is a very fun and affordable way to get into (or back into) drag racing. We're looking for more people to join us so we can run in our own class at local tracks. Right now we're racing in an Inline/Flathead class in the Nostalgia Hot Rod Series of races at Woodburn Dragstrip. The next two races are Aug. 13/14 and Sept. 4. If nothing else, come out, stop by, and check things out. Thanks - Walt (Track photos are by George Adams, www.nwdragracing.com)
Thats Great. But you guys are actually in what we know as the SDRA class, Because of the year of engines and the auto-trans. HA/GR motors have to be 62 or earlier and stick trans.. But we are starting to see the auto-trans cars starting to be built.. Good luck up there in Oregon..
Having come up with the idea for this class and the basic rules years ago... it warms my heart to see you guys doing this. All the cars are bitchen... and I really like Marty's car. I never thought it would go this far... you guys nailed it... low-stress, high fun... get a bunch of guys together, and get out on the track. Perfect. Sam
Walt Nice to see you here. I wish you all the best in gaining support for this new bracket. Guys, let me tell you something. Walt is a genuine hot rodder, who loves his hot rods, the "correct" way - with inline engines No really, you cannot find anyone out there with more energy for all things hot rodding. Now get behind these guys, and build something, and have a great time
We elected to run the Hurst recap tires, I think it was a good decision as they look correct and they still spin. The guys at Adams Hot Rod Rubber could not be better to work with.
Great to see this type of drag car springing up in different parts of the country. I really like your cars and the parts you are using. After running my HA/GR a couple times I elected to put an auto trans in it. For me, that makes it more fun, less stressful. Plus les costly. There's word of another one being built in my area so hopefully eventually there'll be a herd of them here, just like you have. Best of luck and have fun.
Casual 6, Walt this is great news that more of this type car are being build out on the coast. I lived in Coupeville, WA on whidby Island from 2000 - 2008 and ran my altered at Woodburn in that series. Wish we had these cars then. The only other difference in your cars from the SDRA car I am building is the slicks, they only allow the L-78 6" Bias or a 6" wide radial like Cooper makes. My build thread is in the HA/GR section. What do the 300 Ford & the Chevy 250 Run? I am going to put in a 250 Chevy with a PG in the one I am building. Best of luck with your group and maybe you guys can make one of the ANRA races at Bakersfield, or I may have to make a road trip back to the Pacific Northwest. Love the Woodburn track.
Walt it was a pleasure to meet you last weekend in Salem. "Big Thank You" to Marty Strode for chosing us for the tire program. Please keep me up to date on the cars , email me some photo's and info and I would be happy to get your crew on the website. I am sorry to hear about Hammond not making the cut , he would have been a heavy contender. Cody "HOTRODRUBBER" Adams Adams Hot Rod Rubber / HURST RACING TIRES
Neat cars. Did one person do all the bodywork? They are all very professional looking. And I mean that in a good way. 6re6
- HOTRODRUBBER Good to meet you at the Rust-O-Rama and as Marty said above, you make a perfect tire for us. I will put something together for you to put on your website. I already list you on ours. OLD28 - I thought I recognized the car in your avatar, but the Bakersfield location threw me. I remember you from the Woodburn Roadster/Dragster race series. I have the "6" cylinder altered and am the organizer of the class. You'll definitely have to come back up to Woodburn with your new SDRA hot rod. FRENCHTOWN - Thanks for the comments. We want to have solid safe cars to run and the end result reflects that I think. If you build it right, it will look good. We didn't want to be prevented from running at any track, so the chassis and roll cages are built to NHRA specs. We chose round tubing for these particular cars, but rectangular main tubes (or even original frames) are acceptable to NHRA. We want to encourage racers to build it the way they want to, but make it safe. Mary Strode did the chassis and bodywork for his own, Jerry's, and Jim's cars. I took over a project from Mike Hammond (who Cody mentioned) who formed the body on my car. What's nice about this style of dragster is everything is so simple and basic. The body consists of two flat panels on the sides and an easily hand formed top cowl. Also, for those of you who may not know it, there is a complete sub-forum here on the H.A.M.B. devoted to this style of dragsters. Check it out if you haven't already: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=38 - Walt
Frenchtown, I must make a small correction to walt's post #13. I built the bodys on Jim Lindsay's and my cars. Jerry Stauffer built the body on his, just wanted to make sure he got the credit for it. He did it with simple methods and it turned out great, especially for his first attempt at shaping aluminum. Marty
Is your Jim Lindsay the same gent who used to run an eight second Ford six altered from Ontario Canada?