Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

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

Postby Iowa Al » Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:34 pm

Doc and all others in the Midwest. Jim Baker's new column is a delight. Hope everyone interested gets to read it.
Some historic old photos also.
I didn't take that one I am credited with, I just had it on my computer and sent it to Jim. I did see the car race with both sets of owners though.
IA AL

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chuckb41
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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby chuckb41 » Tue Dec 07, 2010 11:13 pm

Boy, what a hoot finding this thread. My name is Chuck Burt and I have many fond memories of Tri State Dragway. Iwas a part owner, crew chief and sometimes driver of Harley Doubet's Wild Wedge A/A roadster. There are so many people mentioned in this thread that I recall. We fought some serious battles with Curtis Wasson and his Corvette in '65 and early '66. Our handicap # was a 1 or a 0 (if it was 1, we never raced anyone with a 0), and we always raced from the starting line and Curtis was 40 feet out. It looked like he was halfway there before the light went green.
It was really good to see Jim Baker on here. What a great guy! He always treated us (and I think most others) like Kings when we were there. After Harley died in a freak welding accident in early '66 while we were building a new trailer, Jim contacted me and wanted to have a memorial race for Harley. We did it and there were all kinds of big names from the mid-west that showed up for it. It was probably one of the saddest nights I ever had in racing as I trashed the clutch before eliminations (our 1st ever clutch failure) and it was new with 5 or 6 nights on it. I had to push down and sit on the starting line and watch our 1st round competitor win the race. Many of the guys donated some or all of their winnings to Harley's widow and kids. I continued to race the car while advertising the car for sale and finally sold it to a couple of guys right in Peoria. If any of you have pictures of the Wedge, I would love to see them.

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

Postby draglist » Tue Dec 07, 2010 11:28 pm

It's great to have you here, Chuck! Welcome! Looking forward to your posts. bp
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jim sanders
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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby jim sanders » Wed Dec 08, 2010 7:23 am

8) welcome Chuck! yes please share some more stories
GOOD TO GO !!
Uncle Curt Wasson album
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jim sanders
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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby jim sanders » Wed Dec 08, 2010 8:14 am

hi Chuck.. i just saw the thread on the H.A.M.B with a couple photos... i have some Alton dragway footage that was sent to me a few years ago, i'll dig it out and check it
GOOD TO GO !!
Uncle Curt Wasson album
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chuckb41
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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby chuckb41 » Thu Dec 09, 2010 12:39 am

Hi Jim,
The first time that either Harley or I met Curtis was at Kahoka in the spring of '65. He rolled in to the pits in a new Riveria towing that awesome gold Vette and parked next to us. We went over to check out the car and we all introduced ourselves and bantered back and forth for a few minutes before we wll went back to working on our cars. Later in the day just before eliminations, Curtis came over and said that it looked like we might be in trouble. I asked why and he replied that since both of us were turning in the low 6's and we had to spot him 40 feet, there was no way we could catch him. Harley grinned and said that he had no idea what the traction was like 40 feet out, but that he didn't have to worry about it because we would be running off the starting line where we had been running all afternoon. Curtis' eyes kind of got big and he didn't say anything for about 30 seconds, then shook his head and said may the best man win. We all agreed and shook hands. We each went thru the eliminations with near identical e.t.'s and met in the final. I swear that Harley passed him before he turned a wheel. That was the start of a fierce rivalry, but we were friends and always had a good time together. We ran Kahoka a lot, but weren't there every weekend. I don't know if Curtis was or not, but I think he was there just about every time we were and I think that we each won our share. Maybe Jim Baker can tell us who won the most. Curtis was always gracious in defeat as I hope that we were.

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

Postby jim sanders » Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:48 am

8) thanks again for posting here.. yes i remember the new riveria. rode in it a bunch as a kid. I watched the footage i have but did not see your car on it sorry.. most likely you are correct the Curt ran tri-state often in that time frame as i have a news letter dated july9 1966 mentioning Top Ten Club Standings (what that includes i don't know? ) maybe an overall points deal.. and Curt was #1 with allmost twice the points as the #2 car on that date.. there was a bunch of stuff like this newsletter that was in boxes that were ruined in a basement flood years ago. wish i had more to share with you......
GOOD TO GO !!
Uncle Curt Wasson album
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Iowa Al
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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby Iowa Al » Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:54 pm

I sent a link to this page to Jim Baker.
IA AL

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chuckb41
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Re: Tri-State Dragway....Kahoka, MO

Postby chuckb41 » Sun Dec 12, 2010 2:59 pm

Image

Just checking to see how glowphoto works. This is the Wedge in '65 at Peoria with the old Powers and Riley trailer in the background.


Image

This is Harley and myself at the Drag News meet at US 30, Gary, Indiana in 1965

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

Postby draglist » Sun Dec 12, 2010 5:07 pm

Looks like it works great! Awesome. bp
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