J.Ukrop submitted a new blog post: The Allure of the Wheelstand Continue reading the Original Blog Post
Wheel standing aside from a racer pulling one was an art and a class all its own. The wheel standers that got built for that purpose sucked more little kids into racing and hot rodding in general than any other venue. I remember once going to a wheel stander day at a track when I was a kid, what a blast to watch em hoist em and carry 'em all the way down the track.
the art of the wheelie go's back to when I was a kid with a bike mastering it on a bike was a great achievement - from then till now the thought of having a car that can carry the front wheels is always on my mind
When I built my altered wheelbase Chevy II, I did so with the intention of doing wheelstands. It's always a rush to see the horizon drop away when the car launches.
Give a bunch of credit to the drivers willing to chance: parts damage on the way down or a possible wall hit. But for me, it is the photographers that were at the right place at the right time, and this was a time before motor-driven Nikons. Square images usually meant 2 1/4 Rollies or if rich Hasselblad's. Follow in the view finder and wait for the peak moment and hit the shutter,, did you remember to advance the film?
DW at the HAMB Drags 2009... ran a 10.96. Not sure if it's a really-wheelie or not, but it's fun to watch... especially as his head snaps back... brutal.
Don't Forget the Original Hemi Under Glass. I saw that Beast at Yellow River Drag Strip in the 60's and the show was awesome !!! Jeff
Big wheely's, kool as it gets, drag car chassis better be perfect ( go straight) or big problems on landing, years ago, we could get my winged sprint car to carry the front and my only comment is, Does not steer well, alot of the time was spent keeping the front down, fans love them. Like watching wheel standing contest in the fall @ drag track northern Il. ( cannot think of name) amazing how much damage guys will do there trying to win that deal.
VERY true. My OT car pulls 'em a foot or so, sets down and goes straight as an arrow. My deuce on the other hand was doing as seen in my avatar. Left front higher due to the torque twist on the hit. I had to peddle, yank her straight, and hit it again to keep it clean and off the wall. It happens quick and my butt about ate my seat. Solid boxed chassis, long ladders, cage... everything squared up and true. So I had to add a rear, drag racing anti roll bar and set some preload to keep her straight off the line.
Bent outa shape wheelstands with the front wheels cranked left or right are impressive sights, spectator-wise! Not the way to go for low ETs. And then, there's the mid-to-late 60s with all those exhibition altered wheelbase funnies and the various forward control pickup trucks. It was an entertaining era for sure.
Always fun to see this one stood on end. I remember seeing him have a surprise wheely when he hit second gear once.
[QUOTE="wicarnut, post: 11301495, member: 96264". Like watching wheel standing contest in the fall @ drag track northern Il. ( cannot think of name)[/QUOTE] Cordova?
Went to Mecum Kissimmee a couple of years ago and they had several of those cars there. Got to walk right up and look at the engineering that went into these things. The men that drove them had large appendages.
Joey, thanks for the rewind. Have that PHR and was also mightily impressed. Have a Merry Christmas, Carp ,
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