First Car to the Strip

Rick Kolber · 01-03-2021, 11:36 PM

My first trip down the dragstrip was Beeline Dragway in my brand new 73 VW type 1(I hate the term bug). Anyway it ran low 19's and eventually got a best of 18.37 at OCIR. I eventually tore into the motor and trans and by 1975 the car ran a best of 13.99 at like 93mph. This was my daily driver and even made trips to and from CA. The car was not gutted, just looked like any other stock VW. How things have changed!

Rick Kolber · 01-04-2021, 12:03 AM

[QUOTE=Rick Kolber;631071]My first trip down the dragstrip was Beeline Dragway in my brand new 73 VW type 1(I hate the term bug). Anyway it ran low 19's and eventually got a best of 18.37 at OCIR. I eventually tore into the motor and trans and by 1975 the car ran a best of 13.99 at like 93mph. This was my daily driver and even made trips to and from CA. The car was not gutted, just looked like any other stock VW. I've always been known to do things the hard way...LOL!

John Winslow Jr · 01-04-2021, 02:47 PM

I-55 speedway in Missouri 1/8th mike, 71 ranchero 351, don’t remember what it ran, but remember it was fun. First trip down the track was OCIR, in a super gas Vega with my dad driving after the track closed on a milk crate 1978, now that was a hoot. Think he ran 11.50, John

TGould · 01-04-2021, 03:17 PM

Feb 1959,Pensacola Florida. Our 1955 Chev Del Ray Cpe, 235 six with a stick shift. Car was bone stock with the exception of the Corvette floor shift I had just installed...But, since that was not allowed, I had to run F Gas.. Won class (6 inch trophy). still have it. I don't remember the times. Back to Pensacola in August, Now .060 over, shaved .060. and a Corvette cam Again, won F Gas with a 17.78. (12 inch trophy) Still have it. That was the last time the car was run (on a track). Then, in October, It was on a ship to St Johns Newfoundland, our next Air force assignment.

We were supposed to be in Newfoundland 3 years, but in June of 1960, the base was closing and we were on our way to our new assignment, at an Air Force Station just west of Winslow Arizona. After picking up the car in NY we headed west via Columbus Ohio and eventually route 66. While in Columbus, I went by Jegs (just opened) and picked up a 1960 NHRA rule book (50 cents) . Still have it. It,s been on my bucket list to make that route 66 drive to Winslow again.

Tom Gould
2706 Stock

SSDiv6 · 01-04-2021, 07:05 PM

At the age of 16, in 1973, 1969 Impala Sports Coupe, 350-255HP engine. Did a few changes to the engine and had Corvette 15 x 8 rear and 15 x6 front rally wheels. Ran in the 15's.

In 1974, I almost traded across to an FBI agent who had a 1969 Impala Sports Coupe SS, 427-4 speed car and was tired of shifting and paying for high octane gas and was looking forward to it. Except.... One Friday afternoon, I had washed, waxed and detailed the car, left it home and went out on a date on her car. Driving back home through town I saw some of my buddies shaking their heads and when I arrived home, I noticed the park parked on the street and sort of twisted!

Although I hid the keys of the car, my dad was going out drinking with his friends and decided he wanted to drive a cool car to impress others in lieu of driving his Vega Station Wagon. He took the car, got drunk and tried to move a concrete barrier with the front end of the car. He still drove the car home, with a bent frame and lower control arm, on a flat tire, riding on the rim producing all kinds of sparks and by some miracle, no cops around!

Tried to fix the car but couldn't straighten the frame so I sold it for parts.

MR DERBY CITY · 01-05-2021, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssdiv6

at the age of 16, in 1973, 1969 impala sports coupe, 350-255hp engine. Did a few changes to the engine and had corvette 15 x 8 rear and 15 x6 front rally wheels. Ran in the 15's.

In 1974, i almost traded across to an fbi agent who had a 1969 impala sports coupe ss, 427-4 speed car and was tired of shifting and paying for high octane gas and was looking forward to it. Except.... One friday afternoon, i had washed, waxed and detailed the car, left it home and went out on a date on her car. Driving back home through town i saw some of my buddies shaking their heads and when i arrived home, i noticed the park parked on the street and sort of twisted!

Although i hid the keys of the car, my dad was going out drinking with his friends and decided he wanted to drive a cool car to impress others in lieu of driving his vega station wagon. He took the car, got drunk and tried to move a concrete barrier with the front end of the car. He still drove the car home, with a bent frame and lower control arm, on a flat tire, riding on the rim producing all kinds of sparks and by some miracle, no cops around! :d

tried to fix the car but couldn't straighten the frame so i sold it for parts.

damn .......

01-03-2021, 11:36 PM	#1
Rick Kolber Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 98 Likes: 20 Liked 32 Times in 13 Posts	Re: First Car to the Strip My first trip down the dragstrip was Beeline Dragway in my brand new 73 VW type 1(I hate the term bug). Anyway it ran low 19's and eventually got a best of 18.37 at OCIR. I eventually tore into the motor and trans and by 1975 the car ran a best of 13.99 at like 93mph. This was my daily driver and even made trips to and from CA. The car was not gutted, just looked like any other stock VW. How things have changed!

01-04-2021, 12:03 AM	#2
Rick Kolber Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 98 Likes: 20 Liked 32 Times in 13 Posts	Re: First Car to the Strip [QUOTE=Rick Kolber;631071]My first trip down the dragstrip was Beeline Dragway in my brand new 73 VW type 1(I hate the term bug). Anyway it ran low 19's and eventually got a best of 18.37 at OCIR. I eventually tore into the motor and trans and by 1975 the car ran a best of 13.99 at like 93mph. This was my daily driver and even made trips to and from CA. The car was not gutted, just looked like any other stock VW. I've always been known to do things the hard way...LOL!

01-04-2021, 02:47 PM	#3
John Winslow Jr Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Prunedale Ca Posts: 196 Likes: 537 Liked 412 Times in 87 Posts	Re: First Car to the Strip I-55 speedway in Missouri 1/8th mike, 71 ranchero 351, don’t remember what it ran, but remember it was fun. First trip down the track was OCIR, in a super gas Vega with my dad driving after the track closed on a milk crate 1978, now that was a hoot. Think he ran 11.50, John

01-04-2021, 03:17 PM	#4
TGould Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Beaufort,SC Posts: 145 Likes: 18 Liked 32 Times in 6 Posts	Re: First Car to the Strip Feb 1959,Pensacola Florida. Our 1955 Chev Del Ray Cpe, 235 six with a stick shift. Car was bone stock with the exception of the Corvette floor shift I had just installed...But, since that was not allowed, I had to run F Gas.. Won class (6 inch trophy). still have it. I don't remember the times. Back to Pensacola in August, Now .060 over, shaved .060. and a Corvette cam Again, won F Gas with a 17.78. (12 inch trophy) Still have it. That was the last time the car was run (on a track). Then, in October, It was on a ship to St Johns Newfoundland, our next Air force assignment. We were supposed to be in Newfoundland 3 years, but in June of 1960, the base was closing and we were on our way to our new assignment, at an Air Force Station just west of Winslow Arizona. After picking up the car in NY we headed west via Columbus Ohio and eventually route 66. While in Columbus, I went by Jegs (just opened) and picked up a 1960 NHRA rule book (50 cents) . Still have it. It,s been on my bucket list to make that route 66 drive to Winslow again. Tom Gould 2706 Stock Last edited by TGould; 01-04-2021 at 03:47 PM.

01-04-2021, 07:05 PM	#5
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,044 Likes: 712 Liked 1,583 Times in 582 Posts	Re: First Car to the Strip At the age of 16, in 1973, 1969 Impala Sports Coupe, 350-255HP engine. Did a few changes to the engine and had Corvette 15 x 8 rear and 15 x6 front rally wheels. Ran in the 15's. In 1974, I almost traded across to an FBI agent who had a 1969 Impala Sports Coupe SS, 427-4 speed car and was tired of shifting and paying for high octane gas and was looking forward to it. Except.... One Friday afternoon, I had washed, waxed and detailed the car, left it home and went out on a date on her car. Driving back home through town I saw some of my buddies shaking their heads and when I arrived home, I noticed the park parked on the street and sort of twisted! Although I hid the keys of the car, my dad was going out drinking with his friends and decided he wanted to drive a cool car to impress others in lieu of driving his Vega Station Wagon. He took the car, got drunk and tried to move a concrete barrier with the front end of the car. He still drove the car home, with a bent frame and lower control arm, on a flat tire, riding on the rim producing all kinds of sparks and by some miracle, no cops around! Tried to fix the car but couldn't straighten the frame so I sold it for parts.