Postby Jack Redd » Fri May 09, 2008 12:25 am
New members of the (JA) Jack Approved Decal Flyers Club. Willie Zapata, Willie's Willys, Lew Becker, Larry Holland, Sy Sybotham, Jack & Mindy Bowman, the "Almost Famous Mopar", Dave Koffel's "Flinstone Flyer" Pachard, "Hemi Fred" Ristagno & Son, Mashie Mihalho, Eddie Stegman, Bob & Dottie Plumer, Ray Gramlich's AA/F boat, Jeff Unfried, Annie & Stacey Montgomery, Dave Cohen, Fred Bear's Gasser, Julio & Rosa Marra, DMLMarra's website, Bee-On Videos, Joe McNally, Troop 1320,Jim Swagler's "Git-Go", Jerry & Pat Baltes AA/FD, Bob Pine, Brad Adams, GeorgiaDrag Racing.com, Dave Dilbeck, Julian Magway, with more to come later!!!
After telling the story of how the (JA) deal got started, I forgot that many of the readers were now around when Fred Forkner & Tom Raley were drag racing. They were also great party goers. Fred and his side kick Ruth raced the AA/FD "Quarterhorse" out of Wilmington, Delaware.
Ruth's husband was the "main" chauffeur for the DuPont family. Now if you think the "Great Wall" of China is something, if you ever in Wilmington, checkout the Dupont Estate at the hospital. Any way, Ruth was one of the first womam crew chiefs, along with Allison Lee.
Tom Raley was the Md. NASCAR Modified Champion in 1964. He then teamed with with Ronnie Vito of Champion Automotive in a A/FD and was the NASCAR Drag Racing Champion in 1965 and runner-up in 1966. He also ran the NASCAR Grand National Circuit (later the Winston Cup) at the same time. He than drove the Jim & Allison Lee "Great Expectations" AA/FD. I loved fishing on the Lee's Estate in The Plains, Va. He also drove George Reese's "George of the Jungle" Chevy funnny car. Up until '04 he race in NASCAR's Late Model Sportman class, where I was the "Video Camera Man". After retiring from his towing company, one of the largest on the East Coast, he now resides in Daytona Beach. Both Fred & Tom raced in my Top Fuel Circuits -- "Dragsters Unlimited" and the circuit that Tom Chastang and I started "Pro Fuel Dragsters Associates.
After each meet we had a party. Cantore's in Englishtown, Thomasville Inn at York, Benedict Pier at Aquasco, White Gables at Capitol, The White Barn at Vargo, the Eagles in Catawissa (Numidia), New England, right at the track!, National Trails at Holiday Inn et.
If I don't forget, I will tell about Fred Forkner and Ray Marsh racing on Md. Rt. 301 after a race at Capitol Raceway.
Hope you have enjoyed this "lil bit'. C U later! JAck
Jack Approved!