Met a Drag Racing Legend

Grant Eldridge · 12-20-2010, 12:39 AM

Great post, thanks for bringing back the memories! I remember Gas Ronda driving one of the 1964 Thunderbolts that year at Arlington, Washington when I first began drag racing. Believe it was orange, gold leaf lettered and was sponsored by a West Covina Ford dealer (Russ Davis?)....I was 18, and couldn't believe how that guy could powershift that 427 dual quad four speed! It sounded like an automatic going down the track every pass. Bill Ireland also had a Thunderbolt out of Portland, Oregon that was impressive in the day. There were other "name" cars also that toured the northwest , but my memories have faded a bit. I think a few of these legendary name racers squared off against each other match race style at that time and were very cool to watch for a kid just starting out....Gas Ronda was one name I'll never forget!

bill dedman · 12-20-2010, 02:38 AM

Mike Keener is another legendary name among Stockers; his "Checkmate" cars have few equals in Stock Eliminator...

John Leichtamer Jr · 12-20-2010, 07:36 AM

Bill

Don't forget the Modified Era.
Those day were special.

Hammer

X-TECH MAN · 12-20-2010, 08:37 AM

WOW Mike.....Thats cool. I wish I could have been hanging around when he walked in. I would have recognized him right away. You and Paul are quite the Hero's also form the modified days. Watched and read all I could about you guys before Top Stock ever existed. I have been lucky to meet and get to know a few of my heros from the early days. Some sadly are no longer with us. Id have to say one of my highs of being a tech guy for over 22 years was meeting you and Paul and helped with you to make Top Stock become a reality when it did. Have a very Merry Christmas.

Ed Wright · 12-20-2010, 10:13 AM

How cool!!

Wade Mahaffey · 12-20-2010, 10:51 AM

Mike, great story and your price was right. I'm sure the gifts from Gas was more to you than your time on the clubs. If you like the behind the scenes drag racing history, go to this site: www.dragracersreunion.ning.com there you can listen to the real stories from the real stars themselves. The live radio shows air on M-W-F at 7pm. all of the shows are archived, so you can go back and listen to Gas Ronda,Tasca,Leal,Garlits,Prodoume,Sox&Martin,Jenkins,Beswick and many others tell the real stories....how it all happened....you won't believe the history lesson that awaits you my friend.

Wade Mahaffey

bill dedman · 12-20-2010, 01:13 PM

Yes, I remember the Checkmate Modified Eliminator cars,very well!

My bad for not mentioning that.... but, hey, I'm 72 as of today; cut me some slack, will ya????? LOL!!!

Dave Ley · 10-26-2017, 10:46 AM

Great story, Mike, but you can ad Merc's and your name to that legends list. Your string of "CheckMate" cars are legendary and I have been lucky enough to have seen them all !!!

12-20-2010, 12:39 AM	#1
Grant Eldridge Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 124 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend Great post, thanks for bringing back the memories! I remember Gas Ronda driving one of the 1964 Thunderbolts that year at Arlington, Washington when I first began drag racing. Believe it was orange, gold leaf lettered and was sponsored by a West Covina Ford dealer (Russ Davis?)....I was 18, and couldn't believe how that guy could powershift that 427 dual quad four speed! It sounded like an automatic going down the track every pass. Bill Ireland also had a Thunderbolt out of Portland, Oregon that was impressive in the day. There were other "name" cars also that toured the northwest , but my memories have faded a bit. I think a few of these legendary name racers squared off against each other match race style at that time and were very cool to watch for a kid just starting out....Gas Ronda was one name I'll never forget!

12-20-2010, 02:38 AM	#2
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend Mike Keener is another legendary name among Stockers; his "Checkmate" cars have few equals in Stock Eliminator... __________________ Bill

12-20-2010, 07:36 AM	#3
John Leichtamer Jr Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Orange City Fl Posts: 764 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend Bill Don't forget the Modified Era. Those day were special. Hammer

12-20-2010, 08:37 AM	#4
X-TECH MAN Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lake Placid, Florida Posts: 3,203 Likes: 1,047 Liked 235 Times in 110 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend WOW Mike.....Thats cool. I wish I could have been hanging around when he walked in. I would have recognized him right away. You and Paul are quite the Hero's also form the modified days. Watched and read all I could about you guys before Top Stock ever existed. I have been lucky to meet and get to know a few of my heros from the early days. Some sadly are no longer with us. Id have to say one of my highs of being a tech guy for over 22 years was meeting you and Paul and helped with you to make Top Stock become a reality when it did. Have a very Merry Christmas. Last edited by X-TECH MAN; 12-20-2010 at 08:44 AM.

12-20-2010, 10:13 AM	#5
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend How cool!! __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

12-20-2010, 10:51 AM	#6
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 18 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend Mike, great story and your price was right. I'm sure the gifts from Gas was more to you than your time on the clubs. If you like the behind the scenes drag racing history, go to this site: www.dragracersreunion.ning.com there you can listen to the real stories from the real stars themselves. The live radio shows air on M-W-F at 7pm. all of the shows are archived, so you can go back and listen to Gas Ronda,Tasca,Leal,Garlits,Prodoume,Sox&Martin,Jenkins,Beswick and many others tell the real stories....how it all happened....you won't believe the history lesson that awaits you my friend. Wade Mahaffey

12-20-2010, 01:13 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: Met a Drag Racing Legend Yes, I remember the Checkmate Modified Eliminator cars,very well! My bad for not mentioning that.... but, hey, I'm 72 as of today; cut me some slack, will ya????? LOL!!! __________________ Bill

10-26-2017, 10:46 AM	#8
Dave Ley Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Jersey , The 51st. State Posts: 424 Likes: 1,825 Liked 241 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend Great story, Mike, but you can ad Merc's and your name to that legends list. Your string of "CheckMate" cars are legendary and I have been lucky enough to have seen them all !!! __________________ Dave Ley

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode