Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby draglist » Sun Feb 28, 2010 12:50 am

Welcome to the site, Stan. bp
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Iowa Al
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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby Iowa Al » Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:46 am

These recent post have gotten me to thinking about the one time I went to a race at Tri State, (Kahoka). It was a big gasser meet and was held at night. I remember the pits were so dark guy's were using flashlights to work under the hood. Some of the cars there were Andy Perry in his ex Arnie Beswick Pontiac. I just learned a couple weeks ago Andy and Arnie were cousins. Other cars were the Possum Chaser, Helmuth and Artega with a blown Olds powered Willys and I think the radical 55 Chevy of R.D. Wolf. The 55 had the engine way back, at least 25%. Selkirk and Bork were there too. I don't remember who won, but remeber Artega and Helmuth being ahead of the Possum Chaser at half track when a spark plug came out of the blown Olds and shot right through the fiberglass hood glowing like it was fireworks. The Possum Chaser got by then. It was a good time.
IA AL

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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby puller » Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:05 am

Yes R.D. Wolf's 55 had a serious engine setback. Remember the dash it looked stock but was about 2 foot wider than stock. He ran a gas station in Muscatine Ia. the car used to set out front that is where i first saw it. In the late 70's it was rumored the car was still in Muscatine and the guy that owned it was going to put it on the street but never heard any more about it. He also owned a crosley called the Evil Weevil it was built in to a pro streeter saw it a few times it's license plate said Handful. Does any one have a oicture of the 55? If you like gassers like me go to www.gassersinc.com they have lots of pictures of cars that ran around the midwest in the pictures link in tri fives there is a picture of the Mears & Hampy 57 that ran at kahoka. Also remember the 33 Ford coupe Lil' Screamer of Jack Ditmar's another of my favorites. Thanks for listening Stan

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Iowa Al
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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby Iowa Al » Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:54 pm

http://gassermadness.com/

Or try Byron's Stack's Gasser Madness another great site.
IA AL

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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby Jim Baker » Mon Mar 08, 2010 12:15 am

The answer about Tri State Dragway is there were two strips, 20 miles apart. One, the original, was in Missouri. The other, built as a competitor to the first, is across the Des Moines river in Keokuk, Iowa. It, the second Tri State, was originally Sportsman Park built by the guys that ran a 1/4 mile Jalopy circle track by the same name. Years later it was owned by Ronnie Saar and called Lee County Dragway.
The track announcer, Tony Sheffler ran it next and had asked me when he visited me in California, about using the Tri State Dragway name.
I said Yes! My name is Jim Baker, the promoter and GM of the original Tri State in Missouri in 1960. It ran for seven seasons until 1966 when a new highway was built through the shut down area, forcing us to close permanently. I am currently writing a column for DRO magazine, called "Then & Now, which will feature lots of vintage racers and events from the '60s as well as items about those two Tri States and several others.
Jim Baker

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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby jim sanders » Sun Apr 04, 2010 7:51 am

8) Hello Mr. Baker.. i'll be sure to check out your column on DRO and thanks for posting here. Wish i had more to share regarding Curt's vette photo wise. I think i have 1 of his mailings from the track showing points standings and recent event coverage i'll dig it out and get it scanned.
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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby jim sanders » Sun Apr 04, 2010 11:44 am

test
Image
GOOD TO GO !!
Uncle Curt Wasson album
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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby jim sanders » Sun Apr 04, 2010 11:57 am

front page :roll:
Image
GOOD TO GO !!
Uncle Curt Wasson album
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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby pro70z28 » Sun Apr 04, 2010 5:56 pm

That is pretty cool DOC. 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
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