What got you started drag racing??

[chris3racing]

1961, 13 years old, we lived in Charlotte, NC on a street right off of Independence Blvd. Across the street from from us a couple had, what most of the young guys in the neighborhood thought was the "sweetest" car in the country. It was a B/Gas, Injected '40 Ford Coupe. This bad boy had the chrome injector tube out the top of the hood. Those who don't remember, the pumps were mechanical and you had to squirt fuel in the top to crank it. They raced this car a the old Shuffle Town Dragstip in Charlotte.

The man was involve in a bad auto accident and his injuries left him paralized from his waist down. Bud Moore and Curtis Turner, old NASCAR racers, had their shops down the street from us. They took the car to the race shop and rigged the steering column such that all of the controls were on the steering wheel. The guy wanted to keep racing; therefore, on Saturday morning he would get a couple of young guys to help get the car ready and go to the track on Saturday night to work on the car. We changed plugs, sprayed injectors, what ever needed to be done for him to race that car. It is ironic that this post come up here. I met a man at the car show, where we had our race car on display, and we were discussing Shuffletown Dragstrip. He knew the man I have described and told me that he has just passed away within the last couple of years.

My wife and I raced up until 1973 and I can say I owe all of the memories I have of traveling over the country and getting to know and race against so many of the people who are, and were, a big part of drag racing history, to that neighbor and that little B/Gas coupe.

[ssladyracer]

Well lets see I watched for about the first 10 years of my married life and got to where I almost hated drag racing. I kept asking Can we do *something, anything* else this weekend? At our local track they had a powder puff race once every year. I begged my husband TC for about 2 years to just let me make a pass and see what was so fun about going down the track. In 1989 the powder puff race fell on my birthday and that's what I ask for, to get me to the track before anyone else and let me make a pass and he finally agreed.

To say the least he has no patience and he just knew the car would scare me to death and that would be the end of that. I could not get the car to set in the water box at all. We didn't use line locks then and after the 3rd try he pointed to the starting line with a look of "she can't do this" and I rolled up to the line.

We foot braked back then so I hit the pre-stage torqued up and lightly bumped in. The tree came down I had a .019 light and went a 6.94 @ 97mph on the 1/8 mile. That was maybe a few hundreths quicker than he usually ran. Funny thing was, the announcer at our local track said TC just walked off the starting line shaking his head while they were trying to ask him over the PA system who was in the car and he wouldn't even look up at the tower. I got out of the car jumping up and down talking a mile a minute and was hooked. I won the powder puff race that day and the first thing he said was "Your not getting my car"

The next year I had my own car and have been in it ever since. I can remember that first run to this day. So advise to some of you men out there that have wives or g/fs that hate racing, unless you want to loose your ride or build another don't give them the chance to make that first pass. Take it from a woman who got the chance, it is VERY addictive!!!! I am ready on Saturdays to load up hours before he is and the last that wants to leave the track.
Donna Morris

[Chevellewagon]

It was 1978. Got a good deal on a 65 Nova SS street car with a 300 horse 327.....30/30 cam.....M21 4 speed. Wasn't that fast but when it's your first run down the 1/4 you think it's a rocket........LOL !! Been addicted ever since. With good luck and some "extra" money my be out a couple of times this year.

Phil aka Chevellewagon

[Nitro Joe Jackson]

I was borned, most of you know the rest of the story, lol

[Casper68]

dad and his '59 El Camino.....



....and having the fastest Big Wheel on the block.

[Mike Taylor 3601]

Got to start going with my Dad when I was 2 years old He ran modified at Bluegrass Dragway in Lexington Ky. and Mountain Park Dragway in Clay City Ky. He had 66 Chevelle ran E-F gas then built 67 SS/RS camaro that ran H/G had 292 sbc with Crower injection. he had to quit in 1974 I was one heatbroke 7 year old every Sat&Sun when we were'nt racing anymore it was all I had done as long as I could remember.I still remember the sound of that 292 @ 9200 and 40 pound flywheel on the way back down.He still has the Camaro and 292 shortblock and injection.
Dad would'nt let me go to track when I got my license finally in 1986 when I was 18,a bunch of my friends went,I could'nt go my nova street car was apart I was repainting it I had rearended a car,but next Sunday I had it back together in primer and went,I told Dad I just wanted to see what it would run,because he did'nt want me to go,he give me every excuse he could come up with from exagerating how much it would cost me to go to track or any other myth he could think of ,all because he knew I went I'd be hooked and he would'nt be able to stand it.
I did'nt miss a race after that for 3years,Dad was building a new race car within about a month after I started.I wanted to be drag racer as far back as I can remember.
Mike Taylor 3601

[Dion Hildebrandt]

at the age of 3 mom told dad to take the truck to the track and get it out of your system. Well this stuff has staying power because the whole family is involved and the third generation is taking interest. It's in my blood, all the adventures this crazy hobby/sport brings with it. All the places it's taken me Orange county, spokane , seattle , The Big Go, pomona, as well as many others I wouldnt trade it for the fat wallet i would have instead.hahaha. Man I can still hear the old modifieds leaving the line ,Big daddy flipping over for the last time 20 feet away from me, Mike Dunn's engine explosion at OCIR, stockers running at the weekly races, Roger Bateman mowing over the christmas tree at the old edmonton track..all the memories and stories hard to turn a back to all that