Back
Home
Up
Next

Drag Racing Story of the Day!

The Greek's Down Track Wheelies on Demand

By Ron "Big Yohns" Johnson

Walt Stevens mentioned a tactic to lift the front wheels to skip the first light [see the 12/11/00 Drag Racing Story of the Day]. I have nothing to add to that. I do recall, however, that at the World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova in 1963, the Greek had told crews behind his car at the push out road (1000 foot mark) that he would wave to them as he went by. I was there just watching, and people were buzzing about what he would do. 

When he approached the 1000-foot mark, the front end of the car came up about three feet and gradually settled back down as he completed the run. Needless to say, there was pandemonium among the observers. Like them, I had never seen a car with the front end off the ground at this point in the track, so it was pretty impressive to think Greek actually caused this. 

I have often wondered about this and just what he did. Knowing some of the dynamics, my only conclusion was that he stepped on the clutch a little to allow the engine to wing up and then dropped the clutch. I doubt that he would have tried Walt's maneuver since he was actually racing someone and wouldn't want to slow the car by applying the brakes. Does anyone have any other theory as to how this could be accomplished?

Big Yohns

 




Home  Drag Lists  Forum  Blog  Links  Stories  Pictures  Racing Junk  Movies  Store  Help  More 

Drag Photos  Drag Blog  Facebook  Twitter  60s Funny Cars  70s Funny Cars  80s Funny Cars  Gasser Madness  Drag Times

Google

 
Web draglist.com

Copyright 1996-2022 by Bilden Enterprises. All rights reserved.