Drag Racing Heros
 

National or local legends.

Someone that made a difference or let you tag along?

Honor their memory here.

Re: Drag Racing Heros
 

Ed Dyck, braket racer extrodinaire based out of Airdrie Alberta Canada. This amazing racer schooled me many times on top end driving, and the value of a good reaction time. I also had the opportunities to return the favour :) He had passed away unexpectedly after medical complications a few years ago and the track hasnt been the same since. Speak this gentlemans name in div 6 and many people have some very fond memories of this legend.

Re: Drag Racing Heros
 

In the 70s, Division 1 racer John Kunsak-who has been sidelined since the middle 90s due to his wife’s health issues, but will return this year in SS/A or B – as A young lad of 18 living away from home he let me tag along to the races and at his repair business, teaching me all manner of things that continue to help me now. We didn’t win much, as is the case for many racers, but we had a lot of fun and the lessons learned about mechanical issues and how to improvise, the correct way to repair “normal” cars for people, how to work and play hard and many other life’s lessons that still hold true.

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Jack Mullins & Bob Ayres

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Re: Drag Racing Heros
 

I think there will always be great racers and innovators but to me they are not heros, heros to me are the brave men and women of our armed forces and the men and women of the fire and police departments, or anyone who risks their lives for someone else ....

Re: Drag Racing Heros
 

I am a veteran, I titled the topic and have no problem with it.
Every veteran is not a hero. IMHO
I signed up to do a job and did it. Had I done something heroic....different story.
My friend has a Bronze Star. (Hero)
I know what he did to earn it.
We're both veterans of the same time but...me? (not hero)




Back on subject please.

Heros/legends/positive influences and your stories about them.

Re: Drag Racing Heros
 

You are certainly entitled to your opinion and thank you for serving our great country. I would consider them a legend ...

legends plural of leg·end (Noun)Noun:
1.A traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated.
2.An extremely famous or notorious person.


he·ro   /ˈhɪəroʊ/ Show Spelled[heer-oh] Show IPA
noun, plural -roes; for 5 also -ros.
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.

Re: Drag Racing Heros
 

When I was in high school my race hero was Ronnie Sox with his '70 Barracuda Pro Stocker.My local race hero was a racer named Nick Masciarelli,also raced a wide variety of Mopar Super Stockers and Stockers.He raced at many of the Ohio tracks as well as Pittsburgh (PID).Also ran many national meets. This was in the 60's and 70's.Nick was just inducted into the PID hall of fame a few months back. He is very proud of that .
Others in our area were Bob Bond with his Rod Shop Charger, PJ Ballog with his '55 Chevy E/G ,as well as Hudson & Reischman's SuperStock Mopars and Ford.
Jeff Ross

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Even before I knew he was a drag racer my hero was, and always will be, my Daddy. He's had a lot of drag racing accomplishments, I've been there for a lot of them but he really excelled at being a Dad.

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To the Ross Family: will you say hi to Nick from John Book and John Oliverio from Bridgeport, WV and Eldora Raceway will would really appreciaie it and tell him congratulations on PID.

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So....tell us of a legend (local or national) who was a positive influence on your interest in drag racing.

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John,
I'll tell Nick you all said hi! Didn't John Book buy one of Nick's Cuda convertibles as well as his ramp truck?
Jeff Ross

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No one in particular, I thank the Good Lord everyday that he has given me the opportunity to associate with some of the most wonderful, kind and generous people on the planet ... drag racers ...

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When I first started getting into Class Racing, I had only really ever talked to three people who were S/S racers (John Kunsak, Bill Davis and Wally Clark). I was all about Top Alcohol racing when I was a kid. At Norwalk 1995, I was helping Wally in between rounds on the TA/FC I was helping with, and Wally won the race, and basically got me hooked. Wally, along with a few PA S/S racers (Jim Boburka, Merle Eschman, Joe Scott and Tim Worner to name a few), along with Bill and John are probably as responsible as anyone for my love of Class Racing.

My first two jobs out of high school in 1999, were working at the Leopold's body shop and Kunsaks truck garage. Doesn't seem like 13 years ago.

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Ross Family: We bought the original 71 Hemi Cuda Conv. 4spd in 1972 along with his72 D500 which we still have w/less than 40k. Then we bought are 2 A990 cars. Thanks

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I was wondering the same thing...just curious what yours were.

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Lee Crupi----Reading Pa .

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.

Our local track had a booked in 8 car F/C show.
I showed up EARLY because I was dying to see all the cars, not just the funnys, that were going to show up for this big race. Top Stock was a stock/super stock combo. Several altereds and gassers.
Anyway, I was as close to starting line as I could get when a guy from the tower asked if I'd like to come help!!!!!!
He gave me some stats/car owner driver info to review, showed me how the clocks worked and shoved a microphone in front of me.
All he said was, "Keep it clean and have fun".
He let me stay there until eliminations and then he took over.
Never knew the guys name. I suppose he was part of the booked in group because I never saw him there again.
A 15 year old kid got to be a part of the show!

Hero for the day.

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I've met so many incredibly smart and talented people (and some characters too) in this sport that it is hard to choose just one. If I had to, I guess that one would have to be Bobby Warren.

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Dwight Southerland, Jimmy Bridges,Kenny Schindler,Dennis Oliver,Donnie Beeler,Don Wolf,Jack Mullins and Tucker Parrish. They all change their own gears.

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Here's a few photo's of Dick Landy inspecting his old '70 Hemi Charger R/T...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...d/CIMG1524.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...d/CIMG1518.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...d/CIMG1519.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...d/DSC00612.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...d/DSC00606.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...d/DSC00604.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...d/DSC00602.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...d/DSC00601.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...d/DSC00600.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...d/CIMG1498.jpg

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...and what it used to look like.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/in...ch=91774;image

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...the car after it was sold to Sam Pannuty and renamed Poor Boy.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/in...h=111065;image

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I'm on my way to his shop right now...Paul Mercure.....Luke SS 311

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I had 3 very influential people get me into racing...Rob Roth..infected me with the drag racing bug....took me from the street to the track. Rich Locker..introduced me to class racing and most importantly engine building,and why class racing is the best there is....and Jack McCormack...who showed me how to be a good racer, respect others and helped me constantly improve.
And I have sooo many friends who are all heros in my racing world.

And a special shout out to Dan Fletcher who proves every season that racing for a living on the sportsman level is attainable with hard work and a lot of luck!

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For me it's Dandy Dick Landy. Dick was a great innovator for our sport. He lived & breathed dragracing .
I consider myself very lucky to have been able to have Mr. Landy come up to my place & document one of his old race cars, the 4 spd. Hemi Dart. He spent the weekend & shared many "war stories" with us. The best memory I have with him, was picking up Dick & his wonderfull wife Jean at the hotel with my 70 Hemicuda, driving around town with them for awhile, before finally getting them out to my place. Having Dick sitting there with a big smile on his face chompin on a cigar, while I was pulling some gears will go down as one of the best highlights for me.
http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/.../Landy2000.jpg
http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/...ts20032004.jpg
http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/...a/HPIM0248.jpg

liteweight

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Liteweight, so what other stories did he tell you about his other old race cars...

Re: Drag Racing Heros
 

Since I'm a Pontiac guy, all my heroes drove Pontiacs, at least for a while. Some of 'em didn't stay with Pontiac. Some have raced both Pontiac & some other brand at the same race. But, anyhow, these were my heroes, while they were/are racing Pontiacs. I've really enjoyed learning of, & sharing with others, the accomplishments of these & other Pontiac powered racers ! :)

(1) Truman Fields

(2) Jack Mullins

(3) Bob Michael

(4) Scott & Brad Burton

(5) Don Kennedy

(6) Gary & Charlene Wood

(7) John Clegg

(8] Don & Roy Gay

(9) Arnie "The Farmer"

(10) The original H-O Racing Specialties guys.

(11) Arlen Vanke

(12) Bill Abraham

(13) John & Ryan Schloe

(14) Nunzi

(15) Randi Lyn Shipp

(16) Carroll Warling

(17) Roy & Mike Mckinney

(18) Ken Shawver/Monte Howard

(19) Sonny Ray

(20) Phil Monteith & all the Biondo family who raced Pontiacs.

Well, that's 20 +. But I can think of others, like Phil Szupka, Lloyd & Carol Cox, Richie Hoffman, Mickey Thompson, Bob Mulry, Bob Aceves, Bill Rink, Lindy Lindholm, John & Keri Angeles, Mick Leiferman, Leo Glasbrenner, Dave Ribeiro, Todd Hoven, Bryan Phillips, Larry Maxwell, Chris Stevenson, Don & Rob Holmes, Steve Smith, Jay Hamilton, Ramon Lowe, Rock Running, Al Vanis, & I could add many more to my list.

Most all these people had some pretty big accomplishments, in one or more Pontiacs. Some have had lots of accomplishments, in several cars, and some, for a long time. Some have built & driven the cars. Some just drove 'em.