CLASS RACER FORUM - View Single Post - Old Farts that don't have enough sense to quit

NewHemi · 03-05-2013, 01:52 PM

Read with excitement on the sports page an article with a picture about the "rail dragsters" exceeding 100 mph at Akron Municipal Airport in the late 50's. It was an amazing feat; over 100 mph in less than 13 seconds from a dead stop in only a quarter mile!!! And in those days, the airport was the only place that this kind of racing could occur.

Took my first car to the track (Dragway 42 in Ohio which, back in the day, even actually hosted NHRA Nationals) I was there in 1961, with a 1961 Ford Falcon (140 cubic inches of "nothing but slow"..but it ran, so I raced it. And I actually beat a corvair once) , followed a year later by a 1956 Chevy hardtop with a 283 carrying 327 350 heads, and dual quads whose powerglide transmission was good for two runs before low range was gone..... and then in 1963 I was back with the falcon and a 260 V8, and ran C/MP.

I continue to laugh at the time that Shirley Muldowney went past the finish line, through the gravel and fence at the end of the track at Dragway 42, across the road, and into corn field on the other side. Her car was stripped of most of it's paint by the corn stalks, and she was mad as hell about the whole thing. If you ever meet her, ask her about it. And then get ready for an explosion.....

Frankly I never enjoyed night racing at Dragway 42, which was slightly uphill at the end, and poorly lighted. So it was like driving into a black hole even with your headlights on. But still.... it was a place to race.

Then life got in the way and I wasn't back at the track until my son Chris got a car that he wanted to run. It was a 1967 Ford Galaxie with built 351 Cleveland. It ran surpisingly well actually hitting 12.99 once.

And I took my 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 there with him also. I got pulled off the track, when Chris had left an ice bag on the motor, and water was dripping out. I just came upon a video of him as he was videoing and narrating that embarrassing event.

Memories are good....

David
The New Hemi Guy

03-05-2013, 01:52 PM	#44
NewHemi Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 472 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Old Farts that don't have enough sense to quit Read with excitement on the sports page an article with a picture about the "rail dragsters" exceeding 100 mph at Akron Municipal Airport in the late 50's. It was an amazing feat; over 100 mph in less than 13 seconds from a dead stop in only a quarter mile!!! And in those days, the airport was the only place that this kind of racing could occur. Took my first car to the track (Dragway 42 in Ohio which, back in the day, even actually hosted NHRA Nationals) I was there in 1961, with a 1961 Ford Falcon (140 cubic inches of "nothing but slow"..but it ran, so I raced it. And I actually beat a corvair once) , followed a year later by a 1956 Chevy hardtop with a 283 carrying 327 350 heads, and dual quads whose powerglide transmission was good for two runs before low range was gone..... and then in 1963 I was back with the falcon and a 260 V8, and ran C/MP. I continue to laugh at the time that Shirley Muldowney went past the finish line, through the gravel and fence at the end of the track at Dragway 42, across the road, and into corn field on the other side. Her car was stripped of most of it's paint by the corn stalks, and she was mad as hell about the whole thing. If you ever meet her, ask her about it. And then get ready for an explosion..... Frankly I never enjoyed night racing at Dragway 42, which was slightly uphill at the end, and poorly lighted. So it was like driving into a black hole even with your headlights on. But still.... it was a place to race. Then life got in the way and I wasn't back at the track until my son Chris got a car that he wanted to run. It was a 1967 Ford Galaxie with built 351 Cleveland. It ran surpisingly well actually hitting 12.99 once. And I took my 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 there with him also. I got pulled off the track, when Chris had left an ice bag on the motor, and water was dripping out. I just came upon a video of him as he was videoing and narrating that embarrassing event. Memories are good.... David The New Hemi Guy Last edited by NewHemi; 03-05-2013 at 01:57 PM.