Nostalgic Photos From B.O.D. 1979 - 1981

MEMORIES · 05-02-2009, 11:43 AM

My home track was called "Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip" and it was located just inside the Georgia side of the Georgia - Tennesse state line, about five miles from Chattanooga, Tennessee. We had weekly super stock and modified class racing through the 1981 season, when NHRA killed modified class. After that, our track went to bracket and heads-up class racing only. It has never been the same and those good times are just a memory. We were located about half way between Nashville and Atlanta and all the big names in this part of the country came by at one time or another. We also had one of the most famous photographers in Southern drag racing, the late Marty Johnson. This group of photos were taken by Marty to put in National Dragster magazine. Most of these photos were of final rounds and don't show nearly all the cars that competed. A friend of mine, who belonged to the Brainerd Optimist Club, which the drag strip was named for, rescued these photos from the trash where someone else had thrown them.

There are some well known drivers here as well as some unknowns. Feel free to ask questions. I was there at most of these races. I've tried to group similar photos together. We'll start off with Sonny Ray driving the Collins & Jones Hemi cars. There's also a photo of him driving the Jerry Hurley SS/DA Cuda.

Wayne Holland.

MEMORIES · 05-02-2009, 11:48 AM

Sonny Ray's son Chuck Ray drove Sonny's old car, the Pontiac GTO shown in the far lane. This is the same car that David Rampy won the Cajun Nationals with in the early eighties.

MEMORIES · 05-02-2009, 11:52 AM

Clark Davis was a regular in his SS/LA Chevy II. Clark's biggest near win was a runner-up at the World Finals one year. We had a lot of SS/LA cars.

Charlie Lee Jr. took over the driving from his dad about 1979. His dad, "Cheatin" Charlie Lee, was famous in the South.

MEMORIES · 05-02-2009, 11:56 AM

The Cheek and Ross Chevy II was drivien by Floyd Cheek of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Floyd Cheek had a winning career on the national level in IHRA culminating in the IHRA Pro Stock championship in 1997 I believe it was.

Dennis P Chapman · 05-02-2009, 11:57 AM

Love those old pictures.

MEMORIES · 05-02-2009, 12:01 PM

Jim Favors in the Chevy II was one of only a couple of black drivers competing at our track at that time.

The Mustang of Eddie Caheely was one of a very few Fords at our track. Eddie went on to be IHRA super rod champion a few years later.

MEMORIES · 05-02-2009, 12:06 PM

The "CHOO CHOO HEMI" SS/CA Plymouth was owned by J.W. Fitzsimmons and driven by his son Charles. I was good friends with the Fitzsimmons and in 1978 Mr. Fitzsimmons aked me to go to Illinois with him to purchase the car. I drove the car hauler up there and brought it back to Chattanooga.

MEMORIES · 05-02-2009, 12:08 PM

MEMORIES · 05-02-2009, 12:13 PM

Robert Nance was a drag racing star in the sixties. His "Mr. Plymouth" cars were famous in the South. This Duster was his last race car before retiring from racing. Robert Nance is driving in the first photo. He sold the car to Jerry Bryant and Jerry is driving in the last two pics.

mcink · 05-02-2009, 12:16 PM

Thanx' for posting these photos...
Can't get enough of Cotton Perrys Pocket Rocket Chevy.

05-02-2009, 11:43 AM	#1
MEMORIES Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 298 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nostalgic Photos From B.O.D. 1979 - 1981 My home track was called "Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip" and it was located just inside the Georgia side of the Georgia - Tennesse state line, about five miles from Chattanooga, Tennessee. We had weekly super stock and modified class racing through the 1981 season, when NHRA killed modified class. After that, our track went to bracket and heads-up class racing only. It has never been the same and those good times are just a memory. We were located about half way between Nashville and Atlanta and all the big names in this part of the country came by at one time or another. We also had one of the most famous photographers in Southern drag racing, the late Marty Johnson. This group of photos were taken by Marty to put in National Dragster magazine. Most of these photos were of final rounds and don't show nearly all the cars that competed. A friend of mine, who belonged to the Brainerd Optimist Club, which the drag strip was named for, rescued these photos from the trash where someone else had thrown them. There are some well known drivers here as well as some unknowns. Feel free to ask questions. I was there at most of these races. I've tried to group similar photos together. We'll start off with Sonny Ray driving the Collins & Jones Hemi cars. There's also a photo of him driving the Jerry Hurley SS/DA Cuda. Wayne Holland. Last edited by MEMORIES; 05-02-2009 at 12:42 PM.

05-02-2009, 11:48 AM	#2
MEMORIES Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 298 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Nostalgic Photos From B.O.D. 1979 - 1981 Sonny Ray's son Chuck Ray drove Sonny's old car, the Pontiac GTO shown in the far lane. This is the same car that David Rampy won the Cajun Nationals with in the early eighties.

05-02-2009, 11:52 AM	#3
MEMORIES Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 298 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Nostalgic Photos From B.O.D. 1979 - 1981 Clark Davis was a regular in his SS/LA Chevy II. Clark's biggest near win was a runner-up at the World Finals one year. We had a lot of SS/LA cars. Charlie Lee Jr. took over the driving from his dad about 1979. His dad, "Cheatin" Charlie Lee, was famous in the South.

05-02-2009, 11:56 AM	#4
MEMORIES Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 298 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Nostalgic Photos From B.O.D. 1979 - 1981 The Cheek and Ross Chevy II was drivien by Floyd Cheek of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Floyd Cheek had a winning career on the national level in IHRA culminating in the IHRA Pro Stock championship in 1997 I believe it was.

05-02-2009, 11:57 AM	#5
Dennis P Chapman VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toms River NJ Posts: 1,594 Likes: 413 Liked 53 Times in 25 Posts	Re: Nostalgic Photos From B.O.D. 1979 - 1981 Love those old pictures. __________________ Dennis P Chapman 1904 STK NHRA National Record Holder Car Owner.

05-02-2009, 12:01 PM	#6
MEMORIES Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 298 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Nostalgic Photos From B.O.D. 1979 - 1981 Jim Favors in the Chevy II was one of only a couple of black drivers competing at our track at that time. The Mustang of Eddie Caheely was one of a very few Fords at our track. Eddie went on to be IHRA super rod champion a few years later.

05-02-2009, 12:06 PM	#7
MEMORIES Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 298 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Nostalgic Photos From B.O.D. 1979 - 1981 The "CHOO CHOO HEMI" SS/CA Plymouth was owned by J.W. Fitzsimmons and driven by his son Charles. I was good friends with the Fitzsimmons and in 1978 Mr. Fitzsimmons aked me to go to Illinois with him to purchase the car. I drove the car hauler up there and brought it back to Chattanooga.

05-02-2009, 12:08 PM	#8
MEMORIES Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 298 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Nostalgic Photos From B.O.D. 1979 - 1981

05-02-2009, 12:13 PM	#9
MEMORIES Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 298 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Nostalgic Photos From B.O.D. 1979 - 1981 Robert Nance was a drag racing star in the sixties. His "Mr. Plymouth" cars were famous in the South. This Duster was his last race car before retiring from racing. Robert Nance is driving in the first photo. He sold the car to Jerry Bryant and Jerry is driving in the last two pics.

05-02-2009, 12:16 PM	#10
mcink Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: eastriver Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Nostalgic Photos From B.O.D. 1979 - 1981 Thanx' for posting these photos... Can't get enough of Cotton Perrys Pocket Rocket Chevy.