Part Two
Minnesota
Dragways PR Director and
Drag News Contributor
1959-60
Text and photos by Ron
Johnson
Minnesota Dragways (MD) opened
in the spring of 1959 and started drawing pretty good attendance
right away. John Foster was the manager and he made an effort
to drum up spectator interest by bringing in “Pro”
cars. Karamesines and Maynard with the Chizler, Lou Cangelose
in the Missouri Missile, Glenn Leasher with Pandemonium and others
appeared at the track. As a part of track operation, stories
and photos were sent in to Drag News, the weekly California based
“Bible” of Drag Racing.
Late summer 1959 I was at John
Foster’s house visiting and he mentioned that he was having
trouble finding someone to do the Drag News stories. I again
volunteered to take over this task and started another chapter.
Over the winter, John and I talked and he offered me a part-time
job as PR director. I would prepare and distribute press releases
to all the media outlets, do the weekly Drag News articles with
pictures and create and distribute posters promoting future events.
We had a slow week at MD in late
May so I accompanied the Big Wheel crew to Union Grove for the
Great Lakes Dragways spring extravaganza. I took a color picture
that day that has been a source of much satisfaction for me ever
since. From the tower I got a shot of Garlits/Malone’s “Swamp
Rat” racing Maynard/Karamesines “Chizler” about
400 feet out, side by side, smoke billowing off both sets of
tires. Both drivers bought enlargements the next weekend.
A poster size copy of this shot was in the Garlits
Drag Racing Museum, on the floor in front of the Maynard/Karamesines
Chizler, which was part of the permanent collection of dragsters.
We had a number of big events
throughout the year at MD and a few of my photos even made Drag
News. I had something in there almost every week.
It was a wonderful summer for
Minnesota Drag Racing fans, as Foster brought in practically
every “touring pro” including a most of the non-California
hot cars and some of those too. I have put these cars, more of
less, in order of the chronological appearance.
In March 2006, I arranged with
Karamesines for removal of the Chizler from the Museum. I took
the car to California and with assistance from a host of racers,
got the Chizler running and took it to several venues for cacklefest
activities.
When you are finished on this
website use the link to go to my other website, cacklefest.com,
click on The Cars tab, scroll down to The Chizler picture and
click on it. The whole story is there.
The Big Wheel Auto Stores A/Gas Dragster, 454 Chrysler
powered Dragmaster Mark 1
Bruce “Stormin’” Norman had been a circle track
driver at local short tracks. When Arvy started looking for a
new driver got 1960, he was given Bruce’s name. Arvy put
Bruce in the car and on May 8th, when Setto was here first, Bruce
became a dragster driver. Setto took him under his wing and coached
him through wheelstands etc, which had been causing Bruce to
lift. After that Bruce was fearless and he was cat quick, often
resulting in re-runs because he left so fast.
The car was transformed through the year by the addition
of a second roll hoop and a switch to Enderle’s “Barn
Door” injector, which Arvy became a master of. The Big Wheel
was undefeated in class all year until Detroit, where a slippery
track allowed Leonard Harris to get past Bruce. Original engine
guy Hank Hebert in the dark glasses and shirt over the roll bar.
Setto
Postoian in Mark 1 (named for his son) with helper Walt holding.
The guy looking on is the saloonkeeper Arnie Ostlund, from the
Big Wheel’s neighbor, the “Lake Street Mug”, our
hangout!
I met
Setto in Detroit, Christmas, 1959 and he showed me this car,
brand new, in a bay at the service station he ran with his brother
on McNichol Road in Detroit. He and I hit it off pretty good
and the only disagreement we had was whether the Big Wheel would
be a stronger contender for Gas Dragster honors, or his pal Conrad
Kalitta who had a new car also. I spent an afternoon with Conrad
and we had quite a wide-ranging discussion, as he drove his Dad’s
propane tanker from one residence to another, filling propane
tanks. He was loaded with confidence, rightly so.
This
picture was taken the first time Setto came to town, which was
May 8th. It was the first time the car had been down the track
and Setto blew a couple of rods through the pan. You can see
the death smoke coming out of the breathers, End of the day,
many miles from home. They came back for the May 28-29th event
and Setto blew up his clutch and was unable to continue then
also. He must have been sliding the clutch, it shouldn't have
blown up if he dropped it.
Setto
and his wife Chris and helper Walt, stayed at our house, at least
once, when they came to MD that year and like many of the other
racers, we got along great. Unfortunately Setto crashed heavily
at Detroit Dragways early in July in a match race against Archie
Liederbrand. The car was completely destroyed and Setto was badly
injured with numerous broken bones.
I saw
him the for the last time at Detroit when I accompanied the Big
Wheel there for the 1960 NHRA Nationals. I picked Setto up at
his house and took him and his wheelchair to the racetrack and
we spent the afternoon watching and visiting with various racers
he knew. He recovered fully but never drove again. Setto died
about 10 years ago, survived by his wife Chris and son Mark.
Tommy Ivo made his second stop on his first tour
with the Twin Buick after his appearance at Denver. He came in
almost a week early for the May 28, 29th event and I drove Tommy
around town doing media interviews. He was in the hit Television
series My Little Margie near or at the time and had been a Mousketeer.
He had a helper along, a slim young guy named Don, who also gained
some notoriety driving dragsters and funny cars and is still
active today as a car owner. Call him Snake, Viper or just Prudhomme!
The picture above, Ivo on one of the many runs he made at MD
with the Twin-car!
Tommy is a gregarious,
fun-loving guy and he and Arvy and Bruce Norman hit it off and
became friends. The Big Wheel and Ivo match raced all around
the Midwest that summer, most of the races I had to stay home
and work at the track. More about this in the next section, which
will be about the Big Wheel.
Ivo and one of the members
of the Optimists Club, which built and oversaw the Drag strip.
Bobby Sullivan’s Pandemonium
At the first races at
MD, Glen Leasher or Rod Stuckey drove Sullivan’s car. But
mid year, 1960, Bobby started driving himself. Sullivan became
friends with Joe and Sally Weikleenget and when he came to town
he stayed at their house. He traveled alone, towing with a new
Olds Station Wagon (that’s probably why Joe liked him) and
got a volunteer to push him and help out, wherever he raced.
Bobby was a quiet guy and was very controlled, in that he didn't
“go for it”, but rather raced to save equipment and
make rounds. Nice guy, I liked him a lot too!
Bobby Langley in The Scorpion
Bobby Langley came to
MD once, or maybe twice that year. The first time, at the May
race, Bobby towed with and Olds station wagon and was accompanied
by his wife and children. His kids were his crew and it was truly
a family operation. The Scorpion had a bite, too, it was the
loudest car on the track. If you notice the headers, they are
not even at the bottom. They got so hot they sagged and I saw
him melt at least one right off and drive over it.
Lou Cangelose and the “Missouri Missle”
getting ready with “Pit Crew Pete” Starrett's assistance.
Lou was a regular at
MD and was something of an enigma. He and his mechanic Carl Bedami,
ran the car together. Lou was suave, and he wore expensive clothes,
even while driving. He wore wool slacks and cashmere sweaters
and highly polished loafers and the ladies thought he was the
“Cat’s Meow”. The car was an offshoot of a sprint
car or midget car with a quick change, mag wheels all around
and nicely finished body work etc. Lou ran a toy company in St.
Louis during the week and was not short of racing budget.
Lou is slightly behind Langley, leaving the line.
This was probably the May race and I have no results, so I can't
tell you who won.
Chris Karamesines and Don Maynard's “Chizler”,
Ron “Dingy” Leek lending a hand.
Chris had been to MD
in 1959 and tore up a pair of slicks on the seal coating that
Foster had laid down. I saw him at Route 30, Hammond Indiana,
in the fall of 1959 and he said he wouldn't come back again,
but the lure of money was too much for him. The track surface
was very good in 1960 and the clocks were unerringly accurate.
It was a tight track and Chris was there at least 4 times. We
all got along great and they were fun to be around.
I had started taking a fair amount of color, but
needed B & W for Drag News and newspaper articles, so most
of my action shots were B & W. Here's Chris with Ron Leek.
The Swamp Rat, Don Garlits and Art Malone
Garlits and Malone came
to town twice in 1960 and I believe they won the first race,
which was May 28, 29th event. I took the picture above, at Union
Grove the week before, hoping to use it to accompany a news release
for papers and TeeVee. Needless to say, Art’s expression
left a little to be desired, so it just went into the files and
I used another picture.
I have searched for results
from the May 28, 29th race event, but a story never appeared
in Drag News. As I remember it, Ivo was there and raced against
the Big Wheel. Top Fuel cars included Langley, Garlits/Malone,
Karamesines/Maynard, Sullivan/Stuckey, Lou Cangelose and Setto
Postoian. I think there was a full field of 8 cars, but I can't
for the life of me remember who the others may have been. From
then until July 17th, there was the occasional match race for
the Big Wheel, but we didn't have another “Big” event.
They came back for a second race on July 17th 1960,
We had a BIG race with
a lot of top fuel cars. Garlits and Malone were having trouble
running their usual numbers. Then it rained and put everything
on hold. Late in the afternoon, the track had dried enough so
the race could resume. Rod Stuckey was there in Pandemonium,
Lou Cangelose in Missouri Missle, and Williams/\Liederbrand with
Hypersonic and Garlits/Malone with Swamp Rat was the field.
When racing resumed,
it was puzzling because top speeds were off and then both Pandemonium
and Missouri Missile were sidelined with breakage. This left
Archie and Malone to face off for top eliminator and $1,000.00.
The Swamp Rat was flat and Archie won. They were jubilant. Garlits
was about to slit his wrists. Garlits and Malone stayed and kept
trying to solve their problems. They concluded they had a bad
mag and borrowed Pandemonium’s mag. Garlits was thinking
that maybe a lighter driver would help and he was about to get
back into the car after a years leave from driving. On the way
through the staging lane, I was helping them push the car, and
it was noticed that the throttle linkage was funny. It was not
opening the throttle plates fully.
They concluded that with
the bad mag, Malone was pushing on the throttle so hard, that
the linkage slipped. Anyway, Malone was strapped in and went
out and set a track record of 187.88 mph in 8:63 seconds. Garlits
felt that this was the fastest they had ever gone on clocks that
could be considered reliable. As I recall, this was also the
last pass that Malone made in Swamp Rat.
Garlits began driving shortly after this, the next
mention of him, he was pictured in Drag News in an August 14th
match race at Union Grove with the Chizler, and the picture was
of the original Swamp Rat, however, shortly thereafter, pictures
of him were of a “long” car, with a different look
to it.
On August 7th, Chris and Don came to town. I quote
my Drag News story “They wanted a 2% back-up run for some
193 runs down south in case the existing 1320 Record (held by
Chataginier) failed to hold up and they wanted Garlits-Malone’s
strip record of 187.88”. This was a highly prized PR tool
for them and ISKY, who may well have helped with their expenses.
He would do this because Garlits was running with sponsorship
with Giovannani then, you see.
In the picture above,
the driver is Carol (never knew her last name) who was a bartender/waitress
at the pub next to the Big Wheel. The owner, Arnie Ostlund was
a race fan and came to the races frequently. Carol met the Chizler
crew at the pub and came with Arnie to watch the races that day.
The day’s race program
did not include any other fuel dragsters so they just were there
on their own. They made a few runs mid afternoon but the best
they could run was in the 185 range. Again, I have the Drag News
story to refer to for times and details. There was a sidewind
and Chris and Don decided to wait for it to die down. They had
used most of their 100% nitro and had enough left for one more
run. Arvy sent one of the crew back to the Big Wheel Auto Store
on Lake Street, about 30 miles through town, to get some more
nitro which they sold.
The day’s race program
ended but Foster kept track timing personnel and the Ambulance
on hand and a few hard-core fans hung around. Chris and Don broke
out lawn chairs and sat alongside the car, behind the starting
line and we all waited. At about 7:00, the wind died down and
Chris put on his driving stuff and got in the car. They pushed
it down, turned around and came back, firing up at the very last
minute. Chris made the swing behind the line. Heavy drama!
Chris pulled up to the
starting line, with a HUGE load of Nitro, Don held him from creeping
through the starting beams and the flagman gave him a ritual
send-off. There was, according to Drag News, a long silence.
Finally the announcer said, a new track record, 191.08 with an
E.T. of 8:87. There was jubilation and Don Maynard even managed
a grin as he took off to go get Chris and tell him they had done
it.
They decided the weather
conditions were just right for potentially a better run, and
they weren’t in any hurry to leave. The extra Nitro sent
for had arrived but it was 70/30 blend, not 100%. The Chizler
crew mixed up the stoutest batch they could and prepared for
one last run, to try to make an even better run. The best they
were able to muster was a 187.10 and that ended the day, but
they left with the track record 191.08 and it was in Isky’s
ads as soon as he could get it there. The picture in Drag News
with this story was taken at Union Grove, not MD.
August 14th was the first time that Haines and Cross
came to MD. Here’s Bob Haines in the Cal Equipped car, mugging
for me. As I remember it, they stuck around and raced out of
here at other tracks and were at our next big race also, on Sept
11th.
In addition to Haines and Cross, Rod Stuckey was
in the old Cangelose car, the Missouri Missle now owned by Carls
Speed Shop. Bob Sullivan had taken over the driving chores of
his own Pandemonium car.
Sullivan on the left, Haines and Cross on the right,
Haines leaves but Sully runs him down.
Also, both Al Williams
with Hypersonic and Art Malone arrived a little late after a
thrash building the Golden Rod in just 11 days.
Archie Liederbrand in All Williams “Hypersonic”
on the left. I believe the car on the right is Art Malone and
the Golden Rod. My Drag News story says Malone beat Williams/Liederbrand
when their motor backfired through the blower and Archie shut
off.
Here is the Golden Rod on the first outing. Same
shot I sent to Drag News for the article below.
Malone was supposed to
race Sullivan for Top Fuel and then race the Big Wheel for Top
Eliminator, but the event was called because of darkness.
"I recognize my shadow in the picture, taking
the picture!"
Lou got this new car, probably built by Rod Stuckey,
and I think he got it in 1960. It is a very modern looking car,
with the tapered frame rails and torsion front end like Ivo’s
car, but a roll cage more like the three point style that would
evolve. This is by the way, the car Lou was killed in three or
four years later, as he was testing it for the buyers.
On August 29th, there
was a special Tuesday night race held, as the big two-day event
scheduled for the pervious weekend was rained out. The entire
Jim Nelson/Dode Martin Dragmaster team came through on the way
to Detroit for the NHRA Labor Day Nationals. The Dragmaster single
Pontiac engine car, Dragmaster Two-Thing and Mickey Thompson’s
“Assault” were there as was the Albertson Olds. All
the cars ran well in the evening weather the nearly new Dragmaster
Two-thing liked the Minnesota weather also, getting two runs
above 180.
There was a huge rivalry
going on at that time between the Big Wheel and Albertson Olds.
The Big Wheel was Dragmaster, Isky, Chrysler, Enderle equipped,
while the Olds was Chassis Research, Hillborn, Engle cammed.
Both cars were featured regularly in the cam grinders ads. Neither
car had lost a round to an in-class car and both had about a
dozen victories. The Big Wheel was probably heavier, but Arvy
definitely made more horsepower than the Olds as the best speeds
for the Big Wheel were above that of Albertson Olds. I can’t
prove it, but I bet you that Adams, Scrima et al were pretty
sure that on the same day and the same clocks, they could outrun
the Big Wheel, like they did every other single engine Gas Dragster.
The Big Wheel ran 176.12
and 174.45 with a 9:27, which with an earlier 176 at Union Grove
gave the Big Wheel the A/Gas Dragster Standard 1320 Top Speed
AND e.t. records. Albertson Olds had a best top speed of 173.41,
e.t. unknown. To get both ends of the Standard 1320 record, with
the whole Dragmaster team AND Albertson Olds running too, was
a real plus. Even though the West Coast contingent felt ANY times
turned in the Midwest were suspect, as far as I know, no one
ever voiced an opinion the times were bogus. When they came back
to MD the week after Detroit, the Chrysler had a 9:13. to the
Olds better 9:09 but they must never have been able to back up
the 9:09 because at the end of the year the Big Wheel still had
both ends of the record. As I remember, the Big Wheel team quieted
whatever skeptics remained at Fremont the next March when they
ran 176:12 with an 8:84 or come such, for a new e.t. Record
"Stump" Davis, “Lean” Gene, Don't
know, Ron Scrima and the quickest foot in racing, Leonard Harris!
In spite of me being a staunch Big Wheel fan, we got to know
each other and got along great! This car is in the NHRA Museum
of Drag Racing and attends most Hot Rod Reunions. We race against
Gene Adams at every Nostalgia Drag race as he is with John Rasmussen
in a Hemi car!
I went to Detroit for
the NHRA Nationals with Arvy and the Big Wheel crew. I took a
lot of pictures, both color and black and white, but since they
were just for myself, I won't include any of the here. I do intend
to set up a gallery of photos that I took at various tracks,
such as Detroit 1960, Cordova in 1957 and 63, Union Grove in
1956 and 1960 and again in 1963. I also have a selection from
Twin City Speedway from the early 60’s and a few of Rocket
Cars and Jets at various tracks.
The weekend after Detroit,
September 10th and 11th, Adams, Scrima, Harris “Albertson
Olds” came back for a Mr. Eliminator match-up with the Big
Wheel. Dean Moon’s Mooneyes was there also as were Ratican
Jackson Stearns, (below) probably Ronnie Ratican setting the
barrel valve prior to a run! This was in addition to a top fuel
show that included the Chizler crewed by Chris, Don and John
Loukas. Also Pandemonium driven by Sullivan, Rod Stuckey in the
Missouri Missile and Cal-Equipped Haines and Cross. Speedcraft/Pelligrini
were there with the now ex-Ivo Twin Buick to race Jack Chrisman
in the Howard Twin bear. Also, Gabby Bleeker returned to race
Ratican, Jackson Stearns and Al’s Speed Shop blown Chev
TE 440 was there as well.
Guessing here, Jim Nelson on left, don't know, in
the car don't know, Dode Martin and don’t know, with the
Dragmaster Two-thing! Dode, who lives about 15 miles from me,
is recreating this car and I have been up to see it. Dode also
located a replacement for the 1953 Chrysler wagon a few miles
from his home, so he’ll have a complete rig. Debut should
be at CHRR this year.
Mickey Thompson’s "Assault" with a
smiling Jim Nelson of Dragmaster fame unhooking the car. I see
Jim at Nostalgia events, he has made exhibition runs the Mooneyes
Dragmaster car at a few.
It was the last big event of the year and it ended
on a high note for, at least, some of the cars there. The Big
Wheel and Albertson Olds went at it for the Mr. Eliminator spot.
Harris strapped one on Bruce and for the second time in 1960,
(the first at Detroit, also to Albertson Olds/Harris) the Big
Wheel lost to a car in it’s class. I think Harris was still
unbeaten although I’ll leave that for historians of that
car to determine. Whatever, the streak ended the next run. Bruce
made a better start and maybe feathered the throttle a little,
like Harris was so good at. The Big Wheel, was the winner of
A-Gas class with a 9:13 e.t.
Mechanical problems sidelined
most of the Top Fuel cars and Pandemonium raced Howard Twin bear
for Top Eliminator. The final was the Big Wheel vs. Chrisman
whose 8:79 was just too much for the single engine Chrysler.
These two pictures show
a lengthened Chizler, without a nose piece. They had stretched
the car 14 inches to see if more wheelbase would make it e.t.
better. I remember when they came to town with the car in this
configuration, but do not remember the dates. It was for sure
this way at the September race.
I think these pictures were taken the evening of
August 7th, when the Chizler ran the 191. I know that they had
more than one car in this time frame, because one Drag News story
recounts Maynard driving at one race with Chris somewhere else.
The lengthened shadows and the absence of people around the starting
line are why I believe this is either the 191 run or the final
run on August 7th. If that is the case, this car existed with
the lengthened wheelbase for some months without a nosepiece,
and may have been run occasionally while the other car ran also.
We may never know.
There were quite a few
cars from neighboring states that were fairly regular in the
appearance.
Rod Stuckey driving the Buick powered B/Gas Dragster
of John Kingston from Kansas.
The irrepressible Gabby Bleeker in “Sally’s
Mink” with Olds power on a “two-bits” nitro blend.
At this point the car was powered with a blown 461 Olds. It may
well have been the 461 out of Chris ’36 Ford Phaeton that
he ran before partnering with Don Maynard on the Chassis Research
TE 440 powered by a blown Chrysler on Nitro. Later, Gabby ran
a Chrysler and like John Loukas with first the Leffler-Loukas
and then Loukas-Preising Bantam Fuel Coupe, was assisted by the
Chizler team.
Meyer, Dean and Elliott from Wichita with their unblown
fuel dragster. Tom Hanna was involved with this car, I don’t
know if he was ever with them here. They were frequent visitors
to MD and raced Pete Farnsworth on many occasions.
The Nobles car Club from Souix City, Iowa, with another
unblown fuel Dragster that ran here regularly.
This is Joe Degendorf from Iowa. Gas fueled Olds
powered, he ran here quite often.
The Guzler from Chicago was the Gas powered version
of the Windy City’s Chizler. It was driven by John Krannenberg
and owned by Bud Roche and Don Mattison. They were consistent
competitors for the Big Wheel and their race history began at
Union Grove in May of 1960 and ended at Cordova in May of 1964,
when both cars were Top Fuel. The Guzler finally after all those
years and races beat the Big Wheel for the first and only time.
John Krannenberg unfortunately passed away a few years ago, but
I speak to Don Mattison on occasion and he says he and Bud are
both doing okay. Great competitors and better friends.
Al's Speed Shop from Aurora, Illinois. Switched from
Gas to B/Fuel at the end of the year. I believe the Greek is
I the car in this picture. He made a few test passes for Al the
first time it was run on fuel.
The Pendleton’s with their Allison powered slingshot
dragster.
Mid year, Foster suggested
I try to do something a little different for pictures for Drag
News. We had a match race that weekend between the Big Wheel
and The Guzler. Here’s what I did.
I went out and stood behind the starter, about 50
feet, and took a picture of at least the first two rounds. I
have another with lanes reversed but I am unable to locate it
right now. I have other pictures from here as well, so it’s
proof I had no good sense!
And I did it again, Joe “Nautilus” Weikleenget
vs. Tom Bohler in the Bohler & Slaughter machine.
Here are some local racers
that were at the track regularly, if not every week.
Tom Bohler in the local Bohler/Slaughter B/Gas dragster.
That’s Tom’s Dad, Ted, behind the car with the fancy
foot placement. Tom and I went to Central High School together.
This car belonged to a good friend of mine, “Nautilus”
Joe Weikleenget. Joe had the Big Wheel build him a 461 incher
for his 1957 Olds 88 in 1957 and he was tough in Stock class.
When Minnesota Dragways was a reality in 1959, Joe pulled the
motor out of the Olds 88 and bought a Chassis Research K-88.
Two speed on gas with 6 carbs. I also had a chance to drive a
few times. I ran in the mid 10’s at about 145 mph. Pretty
exciting wearing loafers and slacks and a sport shirt.. Joe flat
towed it everywhere.
Bob Stacy hand built this TE 440 with Buick “Nailhead”
Power and it was painted the same Red as Ivo’s twin car
and finished off like a show car, not a race car. This picture
was taken the same weekend Ivo came to town first. Ivo was Stacy’s
idol and he wanted to run like Ivo had with the single engine
Buick Fuller car.
Paul Manke in the seat ran this car with Jerry Finn.
C Gas Dragster class, if I remember right. They went on to run
an unblown fuel Chevy in 1963 and 64 with Richard “Doc”
Halladay driving and ultimately ran a top fuel Tuttle chassied
car called the “Padded Cell” in 1965. Halladay eventually
had a Funny Car called Telstar. Finn raced with Denny Darragh
for a year or two in the late 60's. Finn and I became very good
friends and in fact we shared a dwelling a couple of times in
the late 60's. I hear from him every few months. Paul Manke passed
away last year.
Jim Cassidy in pith helmet and Tom Anthony in the
driver seat, ran this Nitro fueled Flattie, it was called the
“Minnesota Missile”. It was the only Nitro powered
local car at the time. Cassidy also evolved into Top Fuel. First
with a blown Buick motor in this car, then a different chassis,
driven by Jim “The Bear” Schiefer. In 1966 Jim Cassidy
and Jerry Boldenau got a new RCS chassis and ran a blown Chrysler
on Nitro and were one of the local Top Fuel cars.
Don Sandstrom was from Duluth, Minnesota and had
this Lynwood Chassied top gas car with a very nice 454 Chrysler.
In spite of having all the good stuff, Sandstrom never got the
car to run to it’s potential, but he kept trying, give him
that!
Ted Johnson from Saint Paul ran this K-88 A/GD Chrysler
with Bill Schifsky driving.. Ted continued to race for 5-6 years
with a variety of partners. Bill Schifsky had his own top fuel
car in the mid 60’s but didn’t like driving much so
he usually had someone drive. In the late 60’s he and Tom
Hoover teamed up on the White Bear Dodge fuel Funny car. After
a few years they split and Bill ran his own Funny Car called
the Bear Town Shaker.
Peanuts, an Olds powered Altered sponsored by Champion
Auto Stores. At this time they were running a smallish Olds,
maybe a 324 or thereabouts. The had Arvy Mack build them a 461
Olds and put a 6/71 blower on it. I am pretty sure they narrowed
the rear end too and got the slicks under the body. They took
the car to California a few times and it ran very well.
We had exhibition cars
too. Walt Arfons came to MD early on his first Jet Car tour,
with a school teacher/former fighter pilot named Nook Bakewell
driving. They had been at Union Grove as their first stop but
couldn't get the afterburner to fire. They covered the stands
and pit area with kerosene mist and scared the hell out of everyone,
lest the mist ignite!
They were somewhat shorthanded, so Walt asked if
I would drive the push truck for the day. Since I had no real
race day duties except making notes and taking photos, I agreed.
No one really knew what to expect when the afterburner lit, as
it had never been done on a Drag strip before. Here it is, the
first run of a Jet Car, ever, with the afterburner lit. Whoooossshhhh!
Burned up the snow fence across the end of the track.
They ran over 220 miles
per hour. Nook Bakewell, the driver, went off the track on the
right side right after he shut it off. When we got down there
he was standing by the car. In a voice, calm as giving his phone
number, he said something like, “Walter, when I shut it
off, it moved to the right hard and went off the track. We should
probably try to figure out why it did that!” Nook is in
the white coveralls and a local kid named Gene Blankenship picking
up the pop-chute. The youngster was either Walt or Nook’s
son, if I remember right.
Well, there began a fairly intense discussion about
what may have caused it. I had just driven Joe Nautilus dragster
a few weeks before and when I got off the throttle at the finish
line it darted hard left. The front end was lifted up and when
it relaxed, it bump steered to the left. I mentioned this to
Walter and Nook and that they were using the same front end as
Joe, but they were pushing the front end down with the Jet engine
angle and so when it relaxed it “bump steered” to the
right. They worked their way through this and the next run, Nook
was ready and corrected immediately and there was no more problems.
Cosmic!
End of year summary
As PR director I got
to meet and spend time with all of these people. Many would be
in town before and/or after the race because they were on the
road, and we spent time getting to know each other a little.
Many of them are still involved in racing or attend reunion events
and I see them. I have visited with Ivo, Prudhomme, Garlits,
Malone, Karamesines, Langley, Adams, Nelson and Martin and best
of all, “Broadway Bob” Metzler from Union Grove, all
within the past two years. Of course, many are gone, Maynard,
Cangelose, Sullivan, Postoian, Liederbrand, Harris, Stuckey,
Leasher are no longer with us, but it was fun to know them while
they were here.
Like the Frank Sinatra
song says “It was a very good year”. |