Lightning Strikes Twice for TV Tommy

by Bill Pratt and Tom Ivo

Tommy Ivo runs the sport's first seven on gas on October 27, 1962. Scan by Tom Ivo

Hey, gang. I'm sitting here looking at my awesome nostalgia drag racing calendar (the one I got at the CHRR in 2000 with Robert Genat's shot of the Magicar on front).

I see that Tom Ivo celebrated two important anniversaries this past week...

On October 27, 1962, Tom ran the first seven -- 7.99 at San Gabe.

On October 22, 1972 (ten years later to the WEEK), Tom ran the first five -- 5.97 seconds at New Alexandria, PA.

Congrats, Tom!

Tommy Ivo runs the sport's first five on October 22, 1972. Scan by Tom Ivo

Tom replies: You get an "A" for that one! I didn't know that! That's really something isn't it? One decade apart -- TO THE WEEK! And who says lightning doesn't strike twice? 

The only other thing I was as proud of was winning Gas Eliminator at the first Bakersfield "Fuel and Gas Championships." What spurred the race on was the fact that Howard's Twin Bear was going to race Garlits' unblown fuel dragster. The event got so big that the race was lost in the shuffle and never happened. 

Howard and Garlits both lost, leaving Chrisman and me the winners of the Fuel and Gas eliminators, respectively. The "Smokers" were fuel guys, however, and I kind of got lost in the reports of the race. It was the Fuel and "GAS" championships, but only Chrisman got credit for winning it!

This decade apart thing might be a "Ripley's (draglist), Believe it Or Not!"

Your pal,

TV Tom
TVTom2@earthlink.net