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Drag Racing Picture of the Day!

Jason, Dad, and Friends in Bowling Green

By Bill Pratt

Jason Pratt in his beloved golf cart. Photo by Walt Huff
Jason Pratt in his beloved golf cart. Photo by Walt Huff

My son Jason and I had a great time in Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the National Hot Rod Reunion. Here are some photos from our weekend. I let the pros handle the on track stuff. These photos are of some behind the scenes fun in the pits (and of course a virtual library of stuff on Jason). Believe it or not, I cut the REALLY bad stuff out! <g> 

Jerry "G-Man" Gross kept Jason in Yoo Hoos all weekend. Jason single-handedly polished off about a 12 pack of 'em during the event!

Jerry "G-Man" Gross kept Jason in Yoo Hoos all weekend. Jason single-handedly polished off about a 12 pack of 'em during the event!

The nicely appointed (and shady) Standard 1320 area. Betty Ott and Jason enjoy the cool Sunday morning air.

The nicely appointed (and shady) Standard 1320 area. Betty Ott and Jason enjoy the cool Sunday morning air.

My 12 year old with a drag racing star I've been a fan of since *I* was 12 years old -- Bruce Larson.

My 12 year old with a drag racing star I've been a fan of since *I* was 12 years old -- Bruce Larson. 

Jason and Bruce with the USA-1. Bruce made me promise to bring Jason to his Nostalgia Drag Fest this fall.

Jason and Bruce with the USA-1. Bruce made me promise to bring Jason to his Nostalgia Drag Fest this fall. 

One more with Bruce. Is there a classier gentleman in the sport of drag racing?

One more with Bruce. Is there a classier gentleman in the sport of drag racing? 

Olin Davis had his Standard 1320 badge "bolted" to himself.

Olin Davis had his Standard 1320 badge "bolted" to himself. 

George Crittenden, Vic Cooke, and Olin catching up on Sunday morning before all the action begins.

George Crittenden, Vic Cooke, and Olin catching up on Sunday morning before all the action begins.

The man behind some amazing pix from Bowling Green -- Vic Cooke.

The man behind some amazing pix from Bowling Green -- Vic Cooke. 

George Crittenden and Olin Davis discuss the day's nitro strategy while Jason just tries to get in the picture...

George Crittenden and Olin Davis discuss the day's nitro strategy while Jason just tries to get in the picture...

The photographer and the team mascot... Vic Cooke and Jason Pratt.

The photographer and the team mascot... Vic Cooke and Jason Pratt.

The Gapp & Roush Pinto looked better than it ran, but it was neat to see.

The Gapp & Roush Pinto looked better than it ran, but it was neat to see. 

Of course, I was scouting new cars for our Classic Thunder series. The driver of this neat altered from the Buffalo area said he had ten more friends who would love to come race with us. If they are anything like this machine, bring 'em on!

Of course, I was scouting new cars for our Classic Thunder series. The driver of this neat altered from the Buffalo area said he had ten more friends who would love to come race with us. If they are anything like this machine, bring 'em on!

Dave Cox polishes up his immaculate "Hellzapoppin'" Coupe. Dave's car really turned a lot of heads at Bowling Green.

Dave Cox polishes up his immaculate "Hellzapoppin'" Coupe. Dave's car really turned a lot of heads at Bowling Green.

Mike from Indiana had the old Larry Gould Mustang II fuel car converted to a blown Chevy on alky. Another ideal Classic Thunder racer.

Mike from Indiana had the old Larry Gould Mustang II fuel car converted to a blown Chevy on alky. Another ideal Classic Thunder racer. 

Here's the machine with the body down. Looks good, although the big back wing says more 1997 than 1977...

Here's the machine with the body down. Looks good, although the big back wing says more 1997 than 1977...

Mike and Jason (looks kinda like that famous picture of the farmer and his wife, doesn't it?)

Mike and Jason (looks kinda like that famous picture of the farmer and his wife, doesn't it?) 

Wile E Coyote didn't catch the Roadrunner yet, but he copped this bitchin' Willys...

Wile E Coyote didn't catch the Roadrunner yet, but he copped this bitchin' Willys...

The immaculate and hard-running Hemi-Fied and Hellacious gassers shared a pit area.

The immaculate and hard-running Hemi-Fied and Hellacious gassers shared a pit area.

Jason tries out the seat of the Hemi Hunter fueler (another of my all time favorites). He's not sad to be there, just another pre-teen case of hiding his braces in every photo!

Jason tries out the seat of the Hemi Hunter fueler (another of my all time favorites). He's not sad to be there, just another pre-teen case of hiding his braces in every photo!

Another shot of the J-Man in the HH with the big rat motor in full display.

Another shot of the J-Man in the HH with the big rat motor in full display. 

Jason with Don Trasin's Pat Foster-restored Jade Grenade.

Jason with Don Trasin's Pat Foster-restored Jade Grenade.

This dad didn't have *quite* as much cooperation from his son for a photo as I did <g>.

This dad didn't have *quite* as much cooperation from his son for a photo as I did <g>.

As a Pat Foster fan for 30+ years, this is a priceless photo to me. Jason and I had the honor of fetching Pat from the pits so he could do color commentary for the first round of Top Fuel.

As a Pat Foster fan for 30+ years, this is a priceless photo to me. Jason and I had the honor of fetching Pat from the pits so he could do color commentary for the first round of Top Fuel.

Thanks to Nitronic Research and its generous readers, Mousie Marcellus and the Winged Express made it to Bowling Green. Here Mousie signs a certificate of authenticity for a fan who just purchased a die cast Winged Express.

Thanks to Nitronic Research and its generous readers, Mousie Marcellus and the Winged Express made it to Bowling Green. Here Mousie signs a certificate of authenticity for a fan who just purchased a die cast Winged Express. 

Another priceless photo for me. Jason and Mousie. I am the luckiest drag fan in the world.

Another priceless photo for me. Jason and Mousie. I am the luckiest drag fan in the world.

Even World Champion Funny Car racers have heroes! Bruce Larson gets an autograph from Mousie Marcellus.

Even World Champion Funny Car racers have heroes! Bruce Larson gets an autograph from Mousie Marcellus.

Mousie signs it, "To Bruce -- A special friend."

Mousie signs it, "To Bruce -- A special friend."

Showing me for the wanna be photographer that I am, I missed by only seconds Bruce Larson bending down to kiss Wild Willie Borsch a fond farewell. At least I got the aftermath... <g>

Showing me for the wanna be photographer that I am, I missed by only seconds Bruce Larson bending down to kiss Wild Willie Borsch a fond farewell. At least I got the aftermath... <g> 

Jason tries out the seat of the Winged Express. What a man Willie must have been and what a man Mike Boyd is now. I swear you're more snug in a Jeep with the top down than you are in this thing!

Jason tries out the seat of the Winged Express. What a man Willie must have been and what a man Mike Boyd is now. I swear you're more snug in a Jeep with the top down than you are in this thing!

Jim and Terri Wittenberg and their Midwest Nostalgia Super Stock group put on a fantastic show as always. Terri went at least two rounds in their Precious Metal Ford (and maybe more... we had to go!)

Jim and Terri Wittenberg and their Midwest Nostalgia Super Stock group put on a fantastic show as always. Terri went at least two rounds in their Precious Metal Ford (and maybe more... we had to go!)

Standard 1320 group photo time right after first round of Top Fuel on Sunday. Here's Jim Hill, Ron Miller, and Dennis Friend, plus some little gnat that kept flying in front of the camera.

Standard 1320 group photo time right after first round of Top Fuel on Sunday. Here's Jim Hill, Ron Miller, and Dennis Friend, plus some little gnat that kept flying in front of the camera.

And the discussion continues...

And the discussion continues... 

Here's Jack Brady and his son Pat, Jim Hill and his son, Bob Gibson in the navy blue shirt, and Ken Kull in the background.

Here's Jack Brady and his son Pat, Jim Hill and his son Patrick, Bob Gibson in the navy blue shirt, and Ken Kull in the background.

Here's John Spradlin, Ron Miller, Vic Cooke, Dennis Friend, Jerry 'G-Man' Gross, Don Ewald, and Walter Huff.

Here's Jim Burke, Ron Miller, Vic Cooke, Dennis Friend, Jerry 'G-Man' Gross, Don Ewald, and Walter Huff.

Dennis Friend's wife Meri Lynn, Jim Burke's companion Lucy, and G-Man's wife Debbie Gross.

Dennis Friend's wife Meri Lynn, Jim Burke's companion Lucy, and G-Man's wife Debbie Gross.

Here's Dennis Friend, John Ewald, Walt Huff (with camera), Paul Hutchins, and Don Ewald.

Here's Dennis Friend, John Ewald, Walt Huff (with camera), Paul Hutchins, and Don Ewald.

More chatting IN PERSON for a change...(instead of on the Internet).

More chatting IN PERSON for a change...

The Bradys, Ken Kull, and Bob Gibson again...

The Bradys, Ken Kull, and Bob Gibson again...

Ace photogs John Ewald and Paul Hutchins getting ready...

Ace photogs John Ewald and Paul Hutchins getting ready...

And then springing into action... John Ewald with a camera and Walt Huff's son Gary with the video camera.

And then springing into action... John Ewald with a camera and Walt Huff's son Gary with the video camera.

Jason was pretty sad that they ran out of golf carts on Saturday, so he had me out of bed at 6am on Sunday so we could get to the track to get one. Get one we did, and man, did it make it nice to get around! A good part of our day had us out in the expansive Bowling Green pits (well out of the way of the expensive and precious cars) with Jason driving around in circles. Ah, to be a kid again...

Jason was pretty sad that they ran out of golf carts on Saturday, so he had me out of bed at 6am on Sunday so we could get to the track to get one. Get one we did, and man, did it make it nice to get around! A good part of our day had us out in the expansive Bowling Green pits (well out of the way of the expensive and precious cars) with Jason driving around in circles. Ah, to be a kid again...

We pulled down to the top end to catch the 2nd round of eliminations and to enjoy a few corn dogs. Obviously, they met with the gourmand's approval...

We pulled down to the top end to catch the 2nd round of eliminations and to enjoy a few corn dogs. Obviously, they met with the gourmand's approval...

A view of Beech Bend from the speedy end...

A view of Beech Bend from the speedy end...

Bob Rosetty did a great job with the Rollin' Stoned Cuda flopper. And Jason and I did our best to emulate a shot from James Morgan's eponymous "Damn Kid" series...

Bob Rosetty did a great job with the Rollin' Stoned Cuda flopper. And Jason and I did our best to emulate a shot from James Morgan's eponymous "Damn Kid" series...

Your author hanging out with his Standard 1320 pals at Bowling Green. Photo by Walt Huff
Your author hanging out with his Standard 1320 pals at Bowling Green. Photo by Walt Huff

That's all folks! I took only a tenth of what I wanted to shoot, but ten times more than I was qualified to shoot! <g>

Click for 500 Brian Wood Photos from Bowling Green!

Click for 100 Paul Hutchins Photos from Bowling Green!

Click for 100 David Dilbeck Photos from Bowling Green!

Bill Pratt

 




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