I really miss the day's of Stock Eliminator and Modified Production and remembering the size of the classes and how many cars used to be in the staging lanes. Just the sounds of the Modified Production engines revving over 6000 rpm's and dropping the clutch was enough to get anyone's heart pumping! Jimbo
Loudbang, those are great pictures. I would point out a bit of Stocker Trivia, however. Each racer who reached his/her class final received a "T" decal, so both the winner and runner-up were anointed by the staging lane officials while waiting in the lanes for the last pass. From an ego standpoint, the "T" had an advantage in that it was something that could be carried on the window from that day until the next national event. It served as a visual reminder that a certain plateau had been reached and it was more practical than trying to carry the trophy around or having "Class Winner" painted on the fender. Trophies sit on the shelf where only the family can see them, the "T" went to the track with you for the next race and the "cool guys" knew exactly what it meant. I recall an occasion when the "T" stickers had been misplaced and were not available before the class finals. The racer outcry was immediate and unprecedented. By the next day, the honorees had been identified, located, and presented with their "trophy sticker." Also, on Sunday afternoon, when the Eliminator category was contested, the final two cars that survived a tough afternoon of racing were awarded an "E" (for Eliminator) decal to ride alongside the "T". Those stickers really set the recipients apart from the rest of the crowd.
Good history Chuck. I never knew that both finalists got one. I remember at our local track we got the small oval NHRA class winner kill stickers when we ran in trophy class not with the big boys that actually won money and national points. Same thing one time a new employee couldn't find them one week and I thought there was going to be a riot at the "Trophy Booth". They finally settled everybody down by handing out hand written "One Kill Sticker" IOUs from the head starter to be collected the next time you were at the track.
I always loved the class kill stickers that you received for winning both on the drag strip and on the street at some races. Jimbo
The trophy sticker on the inner fender of Kyle Marshall's delivery was a selling point for me, but don't tell Butch. Figured it was just destiny for it to come to Texas.
Selling point? You mean the aluminum, trans braked glide, and the Cragar S/S rims/tires I threw in did't count, and I could have kept them? Seems to me there was a shifter that went to your friend too? The car went to the right guy just the same. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
went to the right guy is correct butch! had the honour of seeing the car and meeting tim at BSD last year.
I keep hoping someone will post a photo of the pits or staging lanes at Englishtown between '69 & '71 that accidentily captured my '62. I never once brought a camera or took a pic of my own car. It'll have to stay a dream, I guess.
How about those 'pre-tree' 'Flagman' days, when the (in this case) the various eliminators were 'spotted a (rather arbitrary) number of car lengths for the top eliminator. Here (in 1962), at 75-80, I was given about a 6-car head start on a D/G 31 Chev coupe. Alas, he blew by me in the traps! *(blurred) image copied from 8MM movie film
Great shot. Cragars all the way around , tires shined up [probally used brake fluid on em'] and you can see the shadow of the Christmas tree on the door!
The Jalopy Journal
