BY Richard Parks
1) Mark Greene at Cars Yeah sent in a list of those being interviewed this week on his podcast; Patrick Kelley (Author), Bob Barber (Painter), Ronald Ahrens (Journalist), and Mitch Scher (DriveDownCars). If you want to be interviewed by Mark or if you simply want to listen to over 3000 interviews (including your editor of this newsletter), contact Mark at info or at the Cars Yeah mailing address: Cars Yeah, LLC 4618 131st St Ct NW, Gig Harbor, Washington 98332. It’s free to listen and free to be interviewed. Do it for your friends and family. Mark is an excellent interviewer and made it easy and simple even for me.
2) 2023 NHRA YES events:
September 1-Indianapolis, Indiana.
September 15-Reading, Pennsylvania.
September 22-Charlotte North Carolina.
September 29-St Louis Missouri.
October 13-Dallas, Texas.
October 26-Las Vegas, Nevada.
November 9-Pomona, California.
Also: Hidden Garages ready to start up again, FORD v FERRARI | Official Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX – YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyYgDtY2AMY. Bill Montgomery (Hidden Pioneers)
3) The last time I saw Ron Phelps was a year or two or maybe more at his shop off of Imperial Highway. He was interested in some cams I had for Generation 1 Hemi’s. I don’t think he used any. He was putting together a car for El Mirage, a 1950’s Studebaker coupe, don’t know if he finished it before he left us. He definitely was doing it right. Jim Snyder
4) Don Smith sent in info from Dragzine Newsletter, newsletter. Jet car racer Al ‘Zee’ Zukauskas died Saturday in a fiery crash while performing at the Quaker City Motorsports Park’s “Night of Fire” event. Torrence, Wilkerson, Herrera pick up wins at NHRA Northwest Nationals. Wins by Millican, Hagan headline 43rd and Final NHRA Mile-High Nationals. Congratulations also to SEMA Hall of Famer Don Smith who is the proud great grandfather once again (2 girls and 6 boys).
5) John Hunt of the British Drag Racing Historians Association wrote in about their group. John is at johnhunt.drn, Here are some of the articles that they have on file for UK drag racers.
Surrey Street Rodders, part 1 (published 13th March 2023)
Quote from club founder Harold Martin: I think the write-up in Eurodragster was neat, and one old member said it brought back memories.
Surrey Street Rodders, part 2 (published 20th March 2023)
Surrey Street Rodders, part 3 (published 27th March 2023)
6) Royce Rumsey just published “Liking Ike.” Feeling heady after Allied victories over global totalitarianism, the American people elected the principal military architect to guide the nation in the postwar years and he presided over one of the most expansive and dynamic periods of the Republic. America set about building families, homes, cars and a highway system to both support and fuel the growth. Dwight David (“Ike”) Eisenhower was a master administrator with an affable demeanor and the America public supported him with successful election campaigns based around the slogan, “I Like Ike.” Royce can be found at roycer924_2.
7) “I published 3 Novels this month. These are preliminary, publisher will add text and other graphics to the back covers.” Paul D. Escudero
a) Brooklyn Galaxy Traveling Talking Dog, b) Journey to Distant Consciousness; Remote Viewer Battles, c) Drones, Robots, Trains & Aliens, and d) Sanctuary City.
EDITOR: Paul is a follower of the newsletter, and his interests go far beyond piston-powered engines and trains. He is off somewhere in the nearby solar systems far from Earth, sightseeing and bringing you the latest in science fiction. When you need a break from cars, boats and planes then pick up one of Paul’s books and see how he “powers” off on his journeys.
8) Hi Richard. This issue tells more about the club and the new clubrooms rather than events. There is also a brief run-down of how historic racing is set up here. You can read it at robertcampbell4.
EDITOR: Australia has beautiful beaches, and the best Australian beaches are in the State of West Australia. Check out the sports car racing in the August issue of Vintage Metal Magazine. They have some serious “OLD TIN.”
9) From Don Smith. Sports Illustrated article by Bob Ottum. “First off, this will be the last auto racing season in which we see Linda Vaughn. That is, Linda as Linda. I mean the lady all racing has come to know and love—Miss Hurst Golden Shifter and Miss Let’s Go Race and Miss Trophy Queen. The queen, in fact, of Everything on Wheels. The Linda we’ve seen a thousand times standing there atop a parade float in one of her shimmering and really clingy little costumes, blowing kisses to the whole world. The Linda of silky soft Southern accent and awesome cantilevered figure and bright blonde mop of hair, of the absolutely brilliant teeth and the air of ingenuousness that may never again be seen in the sport. Well, all of that will be gone from motor sports next year, and this is something of an old-fashioned scoop.” For the rest of the article go to https://vault.si.com/vault/1983/05/23/from-a-vamp-to-a-veep.
Also from Don: SEMA Battle of the Builders Celebrates 10 Years in 2023. SEMA Show builders can register now for the industry’s leading vehicle competition, which showcases top craftsmanship and skills to a worldwide audience.
10) CAYUGA, ON (July 26, 2023) – The second of this year’s Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge’s at Empire Dragway, in Leicester, NY is set to take place August 18-19. While Melanie Salemi and John Camp were declared co-winners in the Pro Modified final at the previous Challenge, the finals in the companion Quick 32 Sportsman Series were postponed due to the weather. Bruce Mehlenbacher isat Bruce.
EDITOR: The full release is in the attachments.
11) Royce Rumsey just published “The Sultan of Speed.” “Babe” Stapp was the other famous “Babe” in sports during the 1920’s and 1930’s. While the “ball and stick” throngs were enraptured by the round-trip prowess of George Herman Ruth, there were huge crowds cheering the abilities of another ‘Babe’–as he rounded the corners of the speedways in Southern California, Indiana, North Carolina and even Italy! The youngest of 4 children in the Texan family that moved to Southern California in 1905, Elbert “Babe” Stapp could be found behind the wheel of a racing car by 1923. Within a year his talents paired with the genius of Harry Miller and his DOHC-engined #99 Frontenac ‘T’ at the new Ascot Speedway in Los Angeles. And a couple years later Babe became part of the famed “13 Black Cats’” thrill shows–which helped lead him to the hallowed halls of the Brickyard. Babe competed in 13 Indy 500’s from 1927-1940, repeatedly finishing among the leaders (6th in 1929 in a Miller and 6th in 1939 in an Alfa Romeo). While his first love was Indy, he spent the other 11 months of the year competing on dirt, board and asphalt and even the Muroc dry lake on a record assault with Al Gordon and Wilbur Shaw. Furthermore, Babe competed in the 1930 Grand Premio de Italia at Monza and won events behind the wheel of a Duesenberg. In 1933 he purchased the McClurg Cragar, installed a Miller 255CID mill and attracted the sponsorship of the famed Earl Gilmore. The Gilmore Speedway Special with him at the helm in his signature black and white driving suit became an icon in 1930’s motor racing. A handful of years ago, renowned automotive and architectural preservationist, Bobby Green acquired the ’33 Gilmore Ford of Babe Stapp and immediately set about its proper restoration–to accompany his restoration livery of Millers and Belly Tankers in his Old Crow Speed Shop sanctuary. Owing to his preservationist penchant, Bobby was central to the now-famous Belly Tankers at the Lyon Air Museum exhibit and its inaugural “Hot Rods on the Tarmac” event in July 2022. Encouraged by the huge public response, the Museum looked to repeat the “Hot Rods on the Tarmac” event in 2023–to accompany its “Santa Ana Drags and Beyond” exhibit of the history of America first commercial drag strip–located on the very grounds of the Museum at the Orange County (“John Wayne”) Airport. To be added to Royce’s excellent photographs and stories contact him at roycer924_2.
12) Following schedule is courtesy of SHERM PORTER fuely32.
SEPTEMBER 1-2, 2023, C10 Intervention Truck Show, downtown Woodland, Brothers Trucks open to 1908 to 1998, GM trucks, lifted, lowered, stock, custom, everything is welcome. For info: 530-848-7412.
SEPTEMBER 1-3, 2023, 19th Annual Ventura Nationals, Ventura County Fairgrounds, 100’s of customs, hot rods & more, bands, vendors. For info: www.venturanationals.com
SEPTEMBER 1-3, 2023, Nor-Cal Novas 9th Annual Family Reunion, Pleasanton, CA. For info: J.margarita2119
SEPTEMBER 2, 2023, Run to the Pines Car Show, Pine Mountain Club. For info: Pete 805-540-0265 or info or www.runtothepinedautoshow.com
SEPT 3, 2023, 15th Annual Cambria Pinedorado Car Show, Pinedorado Grounds, 10am–3pm, Open show-all years & makes, cars & bikes, space limited, register early, unique awards, T-Shirt, food, raffles, pub, music, games. Info: Nate 805-927-3531, fearonce2800 or Mark 805-203-3035, or www.pinedorado.com.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2023, 24th Annual Cruisin’ for a Cure, OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa. For info: 949-353-7353 or www.cruisinforacure.com
SEPTEMBER 9, 2023, 17th Annual Summer Sendoff Car Show, Visalia, CA. Small Town Cruizers, open to all years, 9am-3pm, trophies, merchant awards, raffles, cash drawings. For info: Bob 559-563-0997 or www.smalltowncruizers.org.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2023, 12th Annual South Shore Car & Bike Show, Miller’s Landing, South Shore Bass Lake. For info: Miller’s 559-642-3633.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2023, 21st Annual All Ford Car Show & Swap Meet, The Santa Maria A’s, Old Town Orcutt, CA. 9am–3pm, Raffles, Trophies, 50/50 drawing. For info: Curt @ 805-478-1231 or Jay @ 805-598-8133 or www.santamariamodelaclub.com.
13) Gone Racin’ … “Bakersfield Fuel & Gas Championship.” Video review by Richard Parks, 25 July 2023. Video was shot in 1990. Series 1, Episode 5 from Main Event Entertainment.
Dean Papadeas (Director and Cameraman), Bobby Doerrer and the Main Event Entertainment team are back to bring the action, sound, chills and spills of the exciting Bakersfield Fuel & Gas Championship racing at venerable Famoso Raceway just north of Bakersfield, California. It is a drag strip saturated in history and glamour, the type of track buried deep in groves of trees, almonds to be precise, the way leather-jacketed men and mini-skirted, tank-topped women like it, away from the prying eyes of non-believers (city folk). The nostalgia is thick at Famoso, evoking scenes from American Graffiti, Heart like a Wheel, and Deuce of Spades, all movies that are rated high in the hot rodding genre. Papadeas makes movies, not videos, even though they sell as videos.
EDITOR: For the full review send me an email and I will send it back to you.
14) From Bill Montgomery of Hidden Pioneers, “Ok guys it’s time to pick this Show series up again and move full speed ahead.” Thomas Smith is on board as one of the Co-Creators in place of Randy Haapala, but we will always list Randy our Good Friend who passed away! Co-Directors- Lenny & Mad Mike will get us the content we need on film/tape, etc, the way it’s needed. Co-Host & Talent-Emeline King, Tanya Inglis, Rodney Allen Rippy to introduce students, teachers & Garage owners. Garages & Locations TBA-We have plenty to start with and I can’t even tell you all the secret places I have confirmed already. Production Team-City Classic cars @ https://www.cityclassiccars.tv/team Social Media Team: Coach Brown, Kriss FM, Jerry, Lorraine, Tanya. My goal is also to be on this NASA Public TV channel: https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#public.”
Also: THE URBAN AFTERMARKET COUNCIL OF AMERICA. Take a look at this new page and see CSI Bill Montgomery’s Profile at https://www.urbanaftermarket.org/team.
15) A story on Oscar Koveleski, by author Pete Lyons, will show up in about 3 weeks. The Oscar Koveleski story written by a dozen or so people is available, just write to me and I will send it to you. Besides Oscar’s sports car racing there is a great deal of information on other sports car racers, where they raced and how they did. There is no charge for any of the 200 stories in my files. Just write and I’ll send it to you.
16) FUTURE TECH AWARDS • The Future Tech Awards Future Tech Awards are the ultimate future tech awards in excellence for the highest performing e-tech companies in e-aerospace, e-automotive, e-aviation, e-marine, e-motorcycle tech industry, featuring the best, products, people, and services from across e-aerospace, e-automotive, e-aviation, e-marine, e-motorcycle e-technology industry! Future Tech Awards (spagnani
17) “This track (Top Gun Drag Strip in Fallon, Nevada) has become a second home to me and my family, we’ve met some of the most amazing, genuine people through it. It’s something my entire family, including my husband, daughter and my mother love being a part of. See isn’t the young racers some through the gates on our $5 events, knowing they choose to come race here, legally, safely instead of the streets has become incredibly important to me. The support, camaraderie and all around good times have created friendship, memories and relationships I’ll hold dear for the rest of my life. I honestly can’t imagine what my life would look like without race weekends. I’d miss it. With so many tracks closing around us, it breaks my heart to have ours so damaged, when we’re trying to stay open.” Deni Cook
18) Presenting duPont REGISTRY’s August Issue. The Hidden Pioneers have enjoyed our collaboration with the Dupont Registry Magazine for 5 years bringing these high-end quality issues to High School students and teachers. I’m very proud to share this awesome content to give Dreams, Education, Excitement, Hope, and Motivation to our future Transportation & Technology industry today and tomorrow. Join me to get T & T Lab classes back into our High Schools Nationwide. CSI Bill Montgomery
19) Peter Bryant enjoyed a half-century career in the automotive world, ranging from Formula 1 to motorhomes and everything in between. He is most remembered for his iconic Ti-22 CanAm car. Bryant captured many of his career stories in the book CanAm Challenger, published in 2007. Bryant passed away in 2009. His many industry friends, led by Doug Stokes, created the award to honor his career and to recognize many of the unsung heroes of the sport, the engineers and crafts people who designed and built the cars, motorcycles, and other race vehicles. When Stokes learned that Bryant was an active SAE SoCal board member, he knew he had an organization who shared both the love of Southern California Motorsports as well as technical innovation.
20) From the NHRA.CATCH ALL OF THE NHRA ACTION THIS WEEKEND ON FOX, FS1 & NHRA.TV. The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series heads to the final stop on the Western Swing at the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals this weekend. Tune in to FS1 for qualifying coverage at 12 pm ET on Saturday and 2:30 pm ET on Sunday. Coverage of the Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout will air on FS1 on Saturday at 10 pm ET. Final Eliminations are set to air on FOX at 4 pm ET on Sunday. Catch every minute of the action with full coverage on NHRA.tv.
21) Join the NEW REBELLION. Be a part of the finest in automotive humor. DRAG Cartoons Comic Paper, Robin Millar MPC-DRAGcartoons, 310-529-1831 (cell), millarkey.
EDITOR: The cover of your latest comic paper (book to me) is fantastic. I loved it and hope others will too.
22) Please welcome to the Team of Hidden Pioneers Jimmy Jet. After our second meeting we agreed to collaborate. Bill Montgomery, Founder of Hidden Pioneers together. https://globaljetracing.com/pages/about-jimmy-jet.
23) British Drag Racing Hall of Fame 2023: ROD & ANNE PALLANT
In the 1970s and 1980s, Rod Pallant’s name was a byword for engineering and competitive excellence in the world of motorcycle drag racing. Starting with a Harley Davidson machine and moving on to a supercharged Triumph, he made an indelible mark in the sport when heading down the twin-engined route, fielding a series of blown and unblown bikes under the name LA Hooker. A nitro-burning double Kawasaki became a particular crowd favourite in the early 1980s before a return to the single-engined concept which earned him World Finals victory in 1987. While Rod served as president of the BDRA from 1988, his wife Anne Pallant made her own organisational contribution to the sport as race secretary. The full induction ceremonies will take place at Oatland’s Park Hotel, Weybridge, Surrey on Saturday 18th November 2023.
Jeremy Cookson
Mobile: 07881 442579
Facebook: Memories of a Warwickshire Drag Strip
UK Drag & Sprint Strips That Time Forgot! – Administrator
British Drag Racing Hall of Fame – HoFTalk – Editor
National Sprint Association – The Sprinter – Editor
British Drag Racing Historians – Group Member
24) RETRACTIONS AND APOLOGIES DEPT: In the last Motorsports Newsletter there is a correction concerning my captioning. The original caption read, “Photographs by Randy Hernandez, son of Fran Hernandez who helped so many racers when Fran was at Autolite. Fran and Wally Parks were great friends and knew each other from the dry lakes and drag racing. Bettenhausen, Sachs and Ward, what a great trio they were.” Greg Sharp replied, “I enjoy keeping up with all things racing through your newsletter. Just a quick note to let you know that’s not Rodger Ward in the photo from Randy Hernandez. It’s his car all right, but in the seat is actor Jim Davis. He played in numerous TV westerns during the 1950’s but became best known as the Ewing family patriarch in the popular series Dallas in the 1970’s. Greg Sharp
According to Wikipedia, “Jim Davis (born Marlin Davis; August 26, 1909– April 26, 1981) was an American actor, best known for his roles in television Westerns. In his later career, he became famous as Jock Ewing in the CBS primetime soap opera, Dallas, a role he continued until he was too ill from a terminal illness to perform.” Davis may have been in Ward’s car during a photoshoot for publicity.
25) Sent in by Don Smith. The Starting Line @ Dragzine.com. “ALOHA! Here in this video, we have one of the fastest dragster in Hawaii making another pass during the night at the Kauai Raceway Park. We have Jon Ishibashi in his high horsepower dragster zooming down the drag strip. Get a chance to see this awesome race car do a burnout, hear the rumbling of its motor, & how is flashes down the racetrack.” See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFbD9lGpNjk&feature=youtu.be.
“Drag Racing Pioneers or Suicidal Nutjobs? A story on hydrazine racing fuel. This is basically a tribute to the crazy bastards who risked life and limb for that last bit of speed and were willing to play with untold amounts of self-igniting, super toxic, incredibly unstable and deadly rocket fuel to get it. Hydrazine was first used as a rocket fuel during WWII for the Messerschmitt ME163B. Hydrazine is also used as a low-power monopropellant for the maneuvering thrusters of spacecraft, and the space shuttle’s auxiliary power unit.”
EDITOR ADDS: Joaquin Arnett of the Bean Bandits admits to using Hydrazine and other oxygen carrying compounds in the 1940’s and ’50’s.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
July 29: Door Warz at Cordova Dragway
August 3-5: PDRA Northern Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park
August 4-5: Street Car Takeover at Bristol Dragway
August 1-12: Street Outlaws No Prep Kings at Tulsa Raceway Park
August 11-13: NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park
August 17-20: NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway
26) Watch “Jeremiah believes his collaboration with The Hidden Pioneers is God’s plan and he explains why,” on YouTube at hiddenpioneers.
27) EVVTOL TECH NATION & SCIENCE TECH NATION • EVVTOL Tech Nation & Science Tech Nation will be the leader in supporting the E-Aerospace, E-Aviation, E-VTOL, EV/Hybrid/Automotive, E-Semi/Hybrid Truck and E-Marine industries with high-visibility professional and strategic recruiting and staffing services. It will deliver a marketplace to match candidates with the requirements for all facets of the E manufacturing business including technology, repair, marketing, engineering, C-Suite and other roles with employers hiring talent globally. EVVTOL Tech Nation will provide internal HR tech recruiters and hiring managers access to a professional recruiting team focused on their needs that will efficiently search, match, and connect them with highly qualified and skilled candidates ready and eager to contribute to the industries. EVVTOL Tech Nation (spagnani
28) Editor: A belated farewell for Duffy Livingstone by Doug Stokes.
August 19, 2017: Frank “Duffy” Livingstone passed away earlier this week at the age of 92. He was, as he once confided in me, and as many of his closest friends always suspected, a Martian. There was always a wry look in his eye that told you he was in possession of far more information (about anything) than he was putting out at the time. That cockeyed smile, the quick wink (… or did I just imagine that he winked?), and then reaching into his pocket to draw out a quarter and hand it to me all without a word, always gave him away. That he was in fact: “…not from around here,” was pretty evident. Not that he ever had any trouble at all acting like an actual human; it was just something that was part of the general surrounding ambiance every time that we ever spent any time together … just background music, if you will, no little twitchy antennas (at least not visible ones).
He was also one of the true “fathers” of American Karting and, perhaps the best damn welder who ever shook his head to have a mask fall into place before making welds that looked like Da Vinci or Michelangelo had painted them. In fact, he was such a master of light metal welding that a couple of very big time, very high-zoot aerospace companies thought so much of his work that they regularly dropped off mysterious packages at the back door of his SuperWeld shop in Costa Mesa very late at night and came back the next night to pick up the finished pieces of some very exotic parts (er… “critical components”) which (I’m quite sure) Uncle Sugar thought sure the big-dollar aerospace guys were doing at their digs. Duffy (or “Due-Fay”, his preferred pronunciation) was a (seemingly) laconic fellow who was just “having fun” most of the time, (no… make that all of the time). But that mind, that remarkable, wonderfully diverse, brain of his was always on, always alert, always tracking. His lasting contribution to the sport was the International Kart Federation. He understood early-on that the sport needed solid rules and guidance if it was not only to grow, but to be taken seriously. He lived long enough see that and more.
When I served as the Executive Director of the IKF from 1979 to 1984, my first official act was to give our bookkeeper, Rosemary Judy, a dollar bill and ask her to cut a check to me for that same amount. Duffy was then the IKF treasurer and, at that time, both his and my signatures were needed on organization checks. One of my heroes and me, signing the same check! Wow! I wish that I still had that check (it’s probably around here somewhere) to show people. A few years later, after getting a couple of very threatening letters from some high-powered Hollywood attorneys representing the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, I indicated to the association President, the late John Strauser, that we needed to stop referring to our Pete Millar-designed Grand National Championship award in print as: “Karting’s Oscar” (or we were going to get sued big-time) John agreed, I then suggested naming it for Duffy and (of course) the IKF board of directors agreed. … Duffy once told me that he was at an IKF Grand National Championship event in the Pacific Northwest and found himself looking at the trophies that were lined up and on display before being handed out.
There was a little boy there marveling at the statuettes. Duffy asked the youngster what all the fuss was about with the solid bronze trophy that was a statuette of a man in a Karting suit and helmet holding a smaller version of himself, who was holding a yet smaller version of himself (and so on until all detail is lost). The kid’s eyes got very wide, and he related a wild tale of daring-do and heroism that talked of the man (whose nickname “Duffy” was given to the award) and listing stuff like fighting dragons, curing dread diseases, and most likely changing the course of mighty rivers all in his spare time. “He was from a long, long time ago,” the kid explained to Duffy. “He was a really great man.” You know what? He was. Doug Stokes
29) LYON AIR MUSEUM HOSTS SPECIAL EXHIBIT. Santa Ana Drags and Beyond: America’s First Official Drag Strip. July 1, 2023–Sept 4, 2023, from Mark Foster, Mark.Foster, Museum Director. Shortly before WWII, Southern California became an epicenter of auto racing culture, so much so it is known as the birthplace of the “Hot Rod.” Following the war, returning veterans eager to use the mechanical skills they had learned while in the service, began modifying their cars in an effort to make them go faster. On weekend nights, custom creations cruised the streets and popular hangouts, their owners looking to prove their car was the fastest. These thrill-seeking drivers pitted their often-hopped-up machines against each other in a duel of pure speed. Some of these spontaneous and illicit speed matches ended tragically and, as the sport continued to grow, so did calls to bring organization and regulation to what had become popularly known as “Drag Racing.” Lyon Air Museum is located at 19300 Ike Jones Road, Santa Ana, CA 92707Phone: 714-210-4585. Email: info, Website: www.lyonairmuseum.org. Daily Hours of Operation: 10AM-4PM Admission Rates: General Admission-$14. Seniors and Veterans-$11. Ages 5-17-$7. Children 5 years and under-Free Admission. Groups of 10 or more will receive $1 discount per ticket.
30) BOOK REVIEW: “Lost Drag Strips II: More ghosts of quarter-miles past,” written by Scotty Gosson, published by CarTech Books. Reviewed by Richard Parks for the Gone Racin’ by-line.
A fascinating book that dwells on forgotten drag strips is “Lost Drag Strips II: More ghosts of quarter-miles past,” by Scotty Gosson, published by CarTech Books. The paper-back book is 8½ x11 inches in size and contains 167 color photographs, 91 black and white photos, but no graphs, maps or charts. The high quality of the paper brings out the clarity in the photographs and I actually prefer the old black and white photographs better. There are 176 pages, plus the front and back covers. There is no index, but the Table of Contents lists a Dedication, Acknowledgment, Foreword by Tommy Ivo, Introduction, five chapters and an Epilog. If there is a “Lost Drag Strips II” then there must be a “Lost Drag Strips I” available. The writing is outstanding and easy to read. Gosson has a magnetic quality to his writing which draws the reader from one story to the next. He lists owners, builders, car clubs, drag sanctioning bodies, drivers, mechanics and more. You can’t have drag racing and its excitement with drag racing tracks and the stories of their birth and sadly, their deaths, make for an interesting read. The cover is catchy and would make a nice coffee table book or simply on your shelf.
EDITOR: For the full review write to me and I will send it to you.
31) John Towle sent in the following photographs:
The 1997 pic comes from the World Championship Water Ski Race in Australia.
I’m leaning forward, Wayne Murray from Edelbrock was the driver and Greg Anderson was our skier.
The pics with the dragster show Ed Pink (owner) my dad on the left of the picture and Bobby Meeks on the right of the picture.
I’m the kid back by the truck is yours truly when I was 12 or 13.
Ed took me under his wing and took me to several drag races.
I helped change the oil, clean the tires, and pack the parachute. GREAT TIMES.
The SK45 pics show my dad in the boat and Vic Edelbrock Jr holding the boat.
