The guys from Memphis had to start somewhere in the early days of hot rodding. So they did, and they got after it, calling themselves the Memphis Rodders. They started running at a remote air field (good solid government concrete) in Halls Tennessee, about 60 miles north of Memphis. Out n the sticks as some people like to say. They brought what they had and lined em up. These are some photos from those hot summer days. No rare beach air here(i.e. Lions), more like mosquitos and humidity. A couple of the Rodders that I would like to highlight here a little are Marshall Robilio and Raymond Godman. Dad and my uncles knew them since back in the 50's. I came to finally meet Marshall while searching out the background on my ol roadster. He aquired it in 48 and owned it through the late 50's, showing and racing it. Ive met and talked with Raymond a few times, he was always nice, answered any questions I had, and always enjoyed chatting. Marshall has been nothing but great with his hospitality and helping me get some history on my ol car. These guys put out the effort, going from bare bones to sure enough race cars, building and progressing, not just settling. I was raised just north of Memphis and lived there 30 years. I would just like to give a tip of the hat their way, credit where credit is due, to some good ol Memphis boys. Marshall gave some background on the pictures, as he could recall. Man, we've had some great visits. Here we have the boys with their early iron at Halls, TN. This is Bruce Hale, who had Memphis Speed Shop. You can see the shop name on back of some of the shirts in the first photo. He called this one Sneaky Pete. Marshall and Raymond had rail jobs. We're talkin' bare. Marshall's with the 2x2 on the first out. They didn't have the 4x2 set-up going yet, so they borrowed the 2x2 set-up from their buddy's daily driver. Once the 4x2 was on, it ran with a nitro mix and V12 ignition. Marshall and the boys. Raymonds car. (Marshall believes that is Ray's driver Red Dyer in the photos) Here is a great shot of both together, gettin' ready. I think Marshall recalled it being Red Dyer and George Root working with Raymond's car on the far side. Can you imagine running that flat out on nitro? I would have loved to have been there. You can see the V12 ignition on the front of the motor. Then Raymond went with a body, '25 T running the '48 flathead. Called it the Bo Weevil, a name that came to be synonymous with Raymond Godman. I'm sure most of you drag folks know of it. Marshall also moved into a bodied car, first a coupe, then the roadster. He had a '32 roadster that was his driving hot rod and a flat topped coupe he called Harass. He quit running the coupe after another fella in a coupe had an accident, fire, and could hardly get out. Marshall said 'the heck with that' and started running the roadster. He changed wheels, started racing it on the the strip. Did fine enough to eventually get the 1955 NHRA Regional Champ. Early photo from Marshall's back yard. At Halls, TN below. Below is a shot of the coupe that Marshall ran at Halls, against Ray Godman's '25 Modified T (the first Bo Weevil). Probably one of my favorite photos. Just the flagman (Chuck Massey, I believe) and the two cars at Halls. No duallys with enclosed trailers, or semi trucks, or thousands of spectators. Just two cars goin' for it on a hot day, out by a field in the middle of nowhere. That's doin' it for yourself right there. Not for the sponsors or the fanfare or the limelight. Braggin' rights, dang it! Another picture of Marshall's coupe in May of 1957, at a show in Memphis. He called it 'Harass'. His roadster, which is light blue by this time, is believed to be seen just behind the drag car. This is continued below. I know there will probably be comments or replys before I get the next section posted, but give me some minutes. I'm not fast at this posting.
Back again. I'm going to post a few more pictures of the Rodders at Halls before pickin' back up on Marshall and Raymond. Marshall thought that this car may be Raymond's, but he wasn't sure. (a tad fuzzy, but still neat to see) More Rodders at Halls action. The Rodders also put on shows in Memphis. The guys could do show or go. I believe Marshall said this one was Billy Freeman's car. If anyone has information contrary to what I know, feel free to throw it up here. Don't know who had the truck, but it was at one of the Rodders shows. Point being, Memphis wasn't 'hot rod dead' in the '50s. Marshall's roadster (which is the one I have now, dad traded his '55 T-bird for it in 1960). Marshall sure had it looking good! I'll post this batch and be back with more on the racing in a few minutes. Please continue below.
Great shots!! thanks for posting...this is great drag racing history...wasn't Raymond Godman paralyzed by a sniper during his military service in Korea? That makes him twice a hero, one for his bravery and once for his great contribution to drag racing
Marshall Robilio and Raymond Godman were picking up the pace by the late '50s. Raymond was an NHRA National Record Holder three times (believe that's correct) through his days with his cars. He was also the NHRA regional advisor there in the midsouth. Marshall, Gilbert Bugg, and Billy Williams were in together on some fine drag cars. The Memphis Rodders were organized and professional when they hit their stride. If you look at the trophy sponsors list at the NHRA finals in the late 50's, early 60's, you'll find their name right in there. They truly 'participated' and contributed. Here's some proof that the boys were serious and kept stepping up the game. Here, Marshall and the boys have converted the roadster to full time drag duty. Not finished yet, but tryin' 'er out. A bit more finished out at this point This is Marshall and Raymond's Bo Weevil at Halls. The Rodders made it out to Oklahoma City in '58 for the Nationals. Here's Marshall's time card. They had gone to a SBC, but still ran the '39 trans and the banjo rear. Nothing like little family shot in the back yard. Daughter and twin boys. Raymond was moving along as well. Here is some of his progress with the Bo Weevil. From Hot Rod Magazine, second picture down on the right. Ol' Red Dyer layin' into it. Here's the Bo Weevil at a Memphis show, now with a hemi. Movin' on up! Second picture down on this one has Johnny Albright, president of the Memphis Rodders, goin' against Jim Palmer from Birmingham at the Nationals. The Palmer/Jackson roadster was formerly the Dave Marquez roadster from Santa Paulo, CA (famous roadster, one of my favorites!) Not too long after this, Marshall would end up with the Marquez, then Palmer/Jackson roadster. Here, Raymond has really stepped it up. I really like the looks of this machine. Nice job! This was from Hot Rod Mag. in '61. Hot Rod Magazine also caught up with Marshall and the boys in '63. There could be post dedicated to this car. It has a ton of history. It was the 'America's Most Beautiful Competition Roadster' back in the mid-50s. It was the Dave Marquez roadster from Santa Paulo California, with the Motor Monarchs of Ventura. The car had been redone before Marshall, Gilbert, and Billy redid it. It went from Calif. to Birmingham, and then Memphis. I am really thankful to have the info on the Memphis Rodders, especially Marshal Robilio and Raymond Godman. They did Memphis good, no doubt about it. The Rodders are working on a website, don't know how far along it is. It will be nice when it is filled up. Raymond went on to have many more Bo Weevils and you can see him at the Hot Rod Reunion at Bowling Green. I don't know if they make the trek west for the west one. If you see him, throw up a hand and say 'hi', he's one of the good ones. I've got some more pictures, but I'm sure the Rodders will have better ones when their site is going good. I can't leave without giving more credit where credit is due. I'd like to thank Phil Woodford for sending me the Halls pictures. A good friend of his, Lanny Christman, had gotten an old photo album with some old car magazines he had purchased a while back. Phil was checking them out, doing some searches on the Memphis Rodders on the net, when he came across a post of mine here on the HAMB with some old pictures of my roadster. Ol' eagle eye Phil thought the roadster in the pictures he had was same roadster in the post, so he sent me note and photo. Well, I'll be danged, there were some more old pictures of my roadster! Phil, being a great guy I've never met, sent me a drive with all the Rodders pictures on it, to add to my collection for my car. I owe him big time. I took the pictures to Memphis with me to show Marshall Robilio, who owned the roadster at the time and was in the pictures. He got a kick outta seeing him and the boys at the strip, in some photos he had never seen before. Marshall had given me a lot of good shots from back then, but these were new ones. He gave me the background on a lot of them. I can't fit it all in here, but it sure is worth the time to visit with the guys that were there making it happen. Thanks for readin' and lookin'.
....296ardun, i do believe you're right, Raymond is a hero no doubt. ...Muttley, cool on the decal, hadn't seen one of those. Thanks.
Here is another article done by Hot Rod Magazine in their March 1959 issue. They spoke kindly of the Memphis Rodders and I believe rightfully so. The guys were doin' it right. Marshall makin' his run. A good shot of Pres. Johnny Albright. A nice group shot with Raymond on the left.
great pics, glad to see history of this area, i use ray godman's business all the time for parts ,godmans high performance on elmore st in mphs. he also has the boll weevel restored and sitting in his showroom less the nose on it as well as a mid to late 60's fed. that he ran also. great guy and some really nice and knowledgeable employees also. joe's the man there for parts and tech. didnt intend to make this a plug for them but oh well.
Thanks 'hot rust'. Plug on brother, folks should do some business with good ol' American folks (novel idea)! I was going to swing in there last time I was home and it snowed and iced. Pisser.
Customcory, I believe this is the car you're talkin' about. Marshall didn't recall anything on this one. It had potential, but a long way to go. I wonder it it was ever finished?
Anyway I could get a High Res of this one? We're planning on naming our Boy Memphis when is introduced to the world this July! On another note, this is the most perfect roadster! I am going to build my '29 one day similar to this. Baby blue, white frame, moon disks, etc. It's going to be awesome!!!
Thx for the great post and pics, and yes, as soon as I saw the name Raymond Godman it rand a bell and I had a mental pic of that needke nosed M/Roadster in my head, but couldn't remember the car's name was the Boll Weevil til you posted it. That '32 3w looks so much like the one I follishly sold in' 60 when I was in a tight for money that it makes me sick about it all over again. Dave
Dirty Ol' Man, don't be sick man! Just remember the good times....always the good times! Thanks guys.
I know this is an ancient post, but I have to respond. Today I answered a Craigslist ad for one of my other hobbies (ham radio) and wound up driving to Memphis to buy some equipment. Upon being greeted by the seller and escorted into his shop, I saw Memphis Rodder's plaques, pictures of the most beautiful '32 roadster I've ever saw, and other assorted car trophies and parts from my favorite era. My new friend was Marshall Robilio, 87 years old and still going strong...What a gentleman, and what a storied life. It was truly a pleasure talking with him, and I felt honored that he took the time to talk as well as show me some of his treasures. It would have been worth the 3 hour+ ride just to meet him, even if I had not bought the radios. Awesome!
Here's a color shot of the April 1957 Auto Craftsman magazine that Marshall's coupe was on (Ray Godman in his chair, right over the hood). The first Harass (I don't remember he and Billy Ferguson naming the rail job). You can see from the cover photo that it had a different engine and front axle by the time of the car show photo(and different flames). Caption on the photo is not quite correct, I believe they're listing Raymond's '26 T as the car, which this is obviously not it. The photo is stating that it was taken at the 3rd Annual World Series of Drag Racing in Lawrenceville, Ill.
The Jalopy Journal
