Old Car towing pictures

Rich Erickson · 06-06-2009, 04:48 PM

Towed by a 68 Cornnet 440

Michael Pliska · 06-09-2009, 01:51 PM

When I started bracket racing (in 1983), there were still a few cars around here getting flat towed to the track. I always wondered why nobody used one of those tow dollies like they use behind RVs. You could back the race car onto it and have it running backwards with its front tires on the ground (just lock the steering wheel if it was new enough, or use a bungee cord if it didn't have a column lock).

I had big plans to set up such an arrangement. I had a '73 Trans-Am clone (built from a Firebird and wrecked T/A) that I raced in Street and Heavy bracket (it was on the bottom end and could go either class depending on shift points and tires). Then I got a true '73 TA which ran low 13's. My plan was to put a hitch on the clone and use a tow dolly to get them around to all the races. Never did it since the clone car got rear-ended and totalled.

I did have a fun time going to the Firebird Raceway Bracketeer/Nightfire race one year (roughly 1985). My friend Bob Kelly had a 67 Chevelle he ran in Heavy bracket, then built an identical-appearing car for Pro bracket. We were both short on cash as the race approached, and decided to split travel costs and tow with the Heavy bracket car (using a fairly lightweight open trailer he had). It was quite a sight as both cars were show quality. Wish I had taken pictures.

Regards,

mtkawboy · 06-09-2009, 03:19 PM

In 67 I flat towed our $600 P/S 59 Chevy Biscayne with my brand new 67 GTO 400/360 HO 4 speed car with 390 gears

art leong · 06-09-2009, 04:09 PM

Back then we literally could not afford a camera, the fim, and the developing.
The rigs we used to get our race car to the track were all "SHOW QUALITY"
"FREAK SHOW" that is.
LOL.
I wish I had some pics of "super truck" and or "trick truck"
THOSE WERE THE DAYS

Bimbo Jones · 06-09-2009, 04:18 PM

No picture, but in the late 70's a lot used car haulers and I went to Prescott AR with a friend and their stocker. Four guys and a single cab truck. I don't remember how they decided who had to drive the rig but two guys took naps on the bench seats of the race car while I road shotgun in the truck.

John Mason · 06-09-2009, 07:04 PM

If Jackee Allen reads this forum (and I'll bet she does) she used to have an photo album titled "Slack Rigs" from the 60's and 70's in Division 1. If that's still available it would be interesting if it was posted.

bill dedman · 06-09-2009, 08:04 PM

In about 1974, I was at a n NHRA Points Race at Sioux City (IA) watching my friend Denny Reed try out the concrete starting line with his '68 CJ Mustang C/SA car. He even let me drive it that day, so I couldn't refuse him when he suggested that perhaps I could tow his ramp truck with the Mustang loaded on the back of it, back to Des Moines with my Dad's '60 Mercury Park Lane (430 2-bbl), because both heads on the old Y-Block in that ramp truck had developed BIG cracks in them, and shipped water like a bilge pump on the Titanic.

So, when the race was over, we got his 15-foot-long tow chain and away we went; 195 miles of hilly, Interstate driving from Sioux City to Des Moines... lol!

Can't believe we got away with some of the stuff we did back then..

06-06-2009, 04:48 PM	#1
Rich Erickson Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 246 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Old Car towing pictures Towed by a 68 Cornnet 440

06-09-2009, 01:51 PM	#2
Michael Pliska Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Happy Valley, OR Posts: 260 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Old Car towing pictures When I started bracket racing (in 1983), there were still a few cars around here getting flat towed to the track. I always wondered why nobody used one of those tow dollies like they use behind RVs. You could back the race car onto it and have it running backwards with its front tires on the ground (just lock the steering wheel if it was new enough, or use a bungee cord if it didn't have a column lock). I had big plans to set up such an arrangement. I had a '73 Trans-Am clone (built from a Firebird and wrecked T/A) that I raced in Street and Heavy bracket (it was on the bottom end and could go either class depending on shift points and tires). Then I got a true '73 TA which ran low 13's. My plan was to put a hitch on the clone and use a tow dolly to get them around to all the races. Never did it since the clone car got rear-ended and totalled. I did have a fun time going to the Firebird Raceway Bracketeer/Nightfire race one year (roughly 1985). My friend Bob Kelly had a 67 Chevelle he ran in Heavy bracket, then built an identical-appearing car for Pro bracket. We were both short on cash as the race approached, and decided to split travel costs and tow with the Heavy bracket car (using a fairly lightweight open trailer he had). It was quite a sight as both cars were show quality. Wish I had taken pictures. Regards, __________________ Michael Pliska 643 S/G

06-09-2009, 03:19 PM	#3
mtkawboy Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Billings Mt Posts: 281 Likes: 182 Liked 54 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Old Car towing pictures In 67 I flat towed our $600 P/S 59 Chevy Biscayne with my brand new 67 GTO 400/360 HO 4 speed car with 390 gears

06-09-2009, 04:09 PM	#4
art leong VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Richmond Hill, Georgia Posts: 2,003 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Old Car towing pictures Back then we literally could not afford a camera, the fim, and the developing. The rigs we used to get our race car to the track were all "SHOW QUALITY" "FREAK SHOW" that is. LOL. I wish I had some pics of "super truck" and or "trick truck" THOSE WERE THE DAYS __________________ Art Leong 2095 SS

06-09-2009, 04:18 PM	#5
Bimbo Jones Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 109 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Old Car towing pictures No picture, but in the late 70's a lot used car haulers and I went to Prescott AR with a friend and their stocker. Four guys and a single cab truck. I don't remember how they decided who had to drive the rig but two guys took naps on the bench seats of the race car while I road shotgun in the truck.

06-09-2009, 07:04 PM	#6
John Mason Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 147 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Old Car towing pictures If Jackee Allen reads this forum (and I'll bet she does) she used to have an photo album titled "Slack Rigs" from the 60's and 70's in Division 1. If that's still available it would be interesting if it was posted. __________________ John Mason 7743 SS

06-09-2009, 08:04 PM	#7
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Old Car towing pictures In about 1974, I was at a n NHRA Points Race at Sioux City (IA) watching my friend Denny Reed try out the concrete starting line with his '68 CJ Mustang C/SA car. He even let me drive it that day, so I couldn't refuse him when he suggested that perhaps I could tow his ramp truck with the Mustang loaded on the back of it, back to Des Moines with my Dad's '60 Mercury Park Lane (430 2-bbl), because both heads on the old Y-Block in that ramp truck had developed BIG cracks in them, and shipped water like a bilge pump on the Titanic. So, when the race was over, we got his 15-foot-long tow chain and away we went; 195 miles of hilly, Interstate driving from Sioux City to Des Moines... lol! Can't believe we got away with some of the stuff we did back then.. __________________ Bill

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