What got you started drag racing?? - Page 4

Gary Smith · 03-12-2010, 11:40 AM

First trip to Lions in 1966 as a pre-schooler planted the seed. Was surrounded by it my entire youth (coming from Long Beach it was hard to avoid). Dad, uncles, school teachers, and many neighbors were drag racers. Richard Bays, Gene Conway, Randy Humphrey, George Schreiber, and a host of other sportsman racers all within walking distance from where I grew up. Dad went to high school with Doug Cook. Next door neighbor bought one of Gary Hansen's old Camaros, restoring it back to a street car. When Lions closed several racers would test at Veterans Stadium or in McDonnell Douglas parking lots, only 1/2 mile from home. Weekends I would tag along with dad to Clark Cagle's shop, Reath Automotive and various other cool places.

Pvt Parts · 03-12-2010, 11:44 AM

The locals, Donnie Schanz and his brother Del. I remember seeing Donnie pull their senior float in the homecoming parade with his brand new 1964 Stage 3 Ramcharger with the factory headers open. What a sound!! I was 13 then. The local track, Indianapolis Raceway Park was 15 minutes away and I used to go to the track with then and watch. I was hooked. I remember Donnie filling up his car with Sunoco 260 and writing FUJIMO on the back window. Anyone remember that one????

rx dealer · 03-12-2010, 01:13 PM

Being from the Flint, Michigan area, all my high school friends had 1 or both parents working for G.M. It was after all where all the Small Block chevy's and Buick V-6 and V-8's were built. we tried to race anything ( my dad's mercury monterey 4 dr. with snow tires at Lapeer Dragway). my brother and I used to go to Gratiot Auto Supply and dream about what we would buy and do if we had a race car ( we couldn"t afford anything back then) we would read about Paul Mercure, mike keener,wally booth, Ronnie Mancini, Andy manarino,mark yamarino(RIP), It's ironic they became friends years later... Luke SS 311

Curt Rees · 03-12-2010, 01:17 PM

One of my Uncles was a mechanic. He got me interested in cars.

I remember drooling over the ads for the '64 GTO. That got me started, 1st pass down the track was in 1967 at Thunder Valley, Marion, SD.

I don't have many passes left, but plan on enjoying a few over the next year or two. Hopefully, the next several years.

#5457

Curt Rees

Todd Bailey · 03-12-2010, 02:34 PM

Someone should start a poll on WHO got you hooked. Like many here, it seems like the older brothers got us interested in this sport. For me, it was when we moved from New Orleans to a place Southeast of Houston, where my father took a job with NASA. We were all living in a motel and one day I walked out and right in front of our room was Huston(sp) Platt's Altered, injected Chevy II sitting on his ramp truck. He was in town to match race someone at the old Houston International Speedway in Dickinson. I had never even seen a race car in my life other than pictures in magazines. That dragstrip would be where I later first raced a street car and then a racecar. I was there the last (freezing) night they ever ran. Home Depot is the starting line and Best Buy is the top end now.

hemidup · 03-12-2010, 11:57 PM

Dougy, his Gramp's, old girlfriends, ex wife, my Mom & Dad..........They all warned me to stay away from it............To this date, I never listened. Never have, never will.

Larry Fulton · 03-13-2010, 07:01 PM

Hanging out at San Bernardino Racing Equipment 1967-1972...
and going to Fontana, Irwindale, OCIR, Ontario and Fremont

Geerhead55 · 03-14-2010, 02:03 AM

April 1968,,I'm in Jr. High and even though I'd been reading car mags for 3 years(Hot Rod, Car Craft, Super Stock and Popular Hot Rodding) I had no idea there were 3 race tracks within a half hour of my house. Then one day a classmate of mine said he was going to a drag race and I said "Where?" He said Puyallup and I asked if I could go too. So his mom drops 3 of us off outside the gate ( no on had a license yet, we were 14 and 15) and we go in and I couldn't believe the cars we saw! I remember sitting in the front row of the stands across from the tower, and the announcer asking us "How 're you guys doin? Is this your first time to a drag race?" We shook our heads, then took in all the sites and sounds and had a blast.
Some of the cars I remember there that day were: Crazy Corky in the Charlie Brown Javelin, Wild Bill Ireland in his 427 Fairlane, The Hemi Countdown car of Harry Holton, Gary Coe and his Gunfighter Ford. There were lots of 55-57 chevys, big block Chevelles, a few Camaros, GTOs, 442s and of course a bunch of old hot rods, altereds and some dragsters(no fuelers). We were hooked and it got worse after we were old enough to drive and race ourselves. We ended up racing at Bremerton and Seattle as well as Puyallup until it closed in 78', and here in 2010 I still haven't kicked the habit, 42 years after good ol' Mrs.Lewis dropped us off and changed our lives forever.
Danny Durham

coolvette · 03-14-2010, 03:30 AM

Went to watch my first drag race in 1960, 1961 had a 57 Chev 283 Power pack. 1966 first race with a C/MP 56 Chev 327 Two 4's with Olds Hydro 4 speed with 4000 stall covt. Ran a D/MP , E/MP 56 chevy wagon then moved to Comp in 1970 to 1973 with B/D 426 Hemi, 1974 to 1978 to A/D with a 426 Hemi Pro Stock motor with Lenco 3 speed. Then 1980 to 1990 S/C with a 340 W-2 Mopar P/G. Had a ton on FUN racing.

Photos of my Race cars

03-12-2010, 11:40 AM	#31
Gary Smith Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 820 Likes: 9 Liked 132 Times in 30 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? First trip to Lions in 1966 as a pre-schooler planted the seed. Was surrounded by it my entire youth (coming from Long Beach it was hard to avoid). Dad, uncles, school teachers, and many neighbors were drag racers. Richard Bays, Gene Conway, Randy Humphrey, George Schreiber, and a host of other sportsman racers all within walking distance from where I grew up. Dad went to high school with Doug Cook. Next door neighbor bought one of Gary Hansen's old Camaros, restoring it back to a street car. When Lions closed several racers would test at Veterans Stadium or in McDonnell Douglas parking lots, only 1/2 mile from home. Weekends I would tag along with dad to Clark Cagle's shop, Reath Automotive and various other cool places. __________________ Gary Smith "another broke racer spectating"

03-12-2010, 11:44 AM	#32
Pvt Parts Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Avon, Indiana Posts: 327 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: What got you started drag racing?? The locals, Donnie Schanz and his brother Del. I remember seeing Donnie pull their senior float in the homecoming parade with his brand new 1964 Stage 3 Ramcharger with the factory headers open. What a sound!! I was 13 then. The local track, Indianapolis Raceway Park was 15 minutes away and I used to go to the track with then and watch. I was hooked. I remember Donnie filling up his car with Sunoco 260 and writing FUJIMO on the back window. Anyone remember that one???? __________________ Scott Wilcox 2193 3x National Champion SS/A, SS/B, SS/K, SS/L, SS/AM, A/SM, C/SM, B/A, C/A, G/A, H/A

03-12-2010, 01:13 PM	#33
rx dealer Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lake Orion, Michigan Posts: 337 Likes: 12 Liked 53 Times in 13 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? Being from the Flint, Michigan area, all my high school friends had 1 or both parents working for G.M. It was after all where all the Small Block chevy's and Buick V-6 and V-8's were built. we tried to race anything ( my dad's mercury monterey 4 dr. with snow tires at Lapeer Dragway). my brother and I used to go to Gratiot Auto Supply and dream about what we would buy and do if we had a race car ( we couldn"t afford anything back then) we would read about Paul Mercure, mike keener,wally booth, Ronnie Mancini, Andy manarino,mark yamarino(RIP), It's ironic they became friends years later... Luke SS 311 Last edited by rx dealer; 03-12-2010 at 07:27 PM.

03-12-2010, 01:17 PM	#34
Curt Rees Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ft. Pierre, SD Posts: 355 Likes: 405 Liked 236 Times in 49 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? One of my Uncles was a mechanic. He got me interested in cars. I remember drooling over the ads for the '64 GTO. That got me started, 1st pass down the track was in 1967 at Thunder Valley, Marion, SD. I don't have many passes left, but plan on enjoying a few over the next year or two. Hopefully, the next several years. #5457 Curt Rees __________________ Curt Rees 5457 SS

03-12-2010, 02:34 PM	#35
Todd Bailey Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 311 Likes: 29 Liked 31 Times in 16 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? Someone should start a poll on WHO got you hooked. Like many here, it seems like the older brothers got us interested in this sport. For me, it was when we moved from New Orleans to a place Southeast of Houston, where my father took a job with NASA. We were all living in a motel and one day I walked out and right in front of our room was Huston(sp) Platt's Altered, injected Chevy II sitting on his ramp truck. He was in town to match race someone at the old Houston International Speedway in Dickinson. I had never even seen a race car in my life other than pictures in magazines. That dragstrip would be where I later first raced a street car and then a racecar. I was there the last (freezing) night they ever ran. Home Depot is the starting line and Best Buy is the top end now.

03-12-2010, 11:57 PM	#36
hemidup Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 409 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? Dougy, his Gramp's, old girlfriends, ex wife, my Mom & Dad..........They all warned me to stay away from it............To this date, I never listened. Never have, never will.

03-13-2010, 07:01 PM	#37
Larry Fulton Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 271 Likes: 54 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? Hanging out at San Bernardino Racing Equipment 1967-1972... and going to Fontana, Irwindale, OCIR, Ontario and Fremont __________________ Larry Fulton Last edited by Larry Fulton; 01-25-2018 at 07:36 PM.

03-14-2010, 02:03 AM	#38
Geerhead55 VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 1,632 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? April 1968,,I'm in Jr. High and even though I'd been reading car mags for 3 years(Hot Rod, Car Craft, Super Stock and Popular Hot Rodding) I had no idea there were 3 race tracks within a half hour of my house. Then one day a classmate of mine said he was going to a drag race and I said "Where?" He said Puyallup and I asked if I could go too. So his mom drops 3 of us off outside the gate ( no on had a license yet, we were 14 and 15) and we go in and I couldn't believe the cars we saw! I remember sitting in the front row of the stands across from the tower, and the announcer asking us "How 're you guys doin? Is this your first time to a drag race?" We shook our heads, then took in all the sites and sounds and had a blast. Some of the cars I remember there that day were: Crazy Corky in the Charlie Brown Javelin, Wild Bill Ireland in his 427 Fairlane, The Hemi Countdown car of Harry Holton, Gary Coe and his Gunfighter Ford. There were lots of 55-57 chevys, big block Chevelles, a few Camaros, GTOs, 442s and of course a bunch of old hot rods, altereds and some dragsters(no fuelers). We were hooked and it got worse after we were old enough to drive and race ourselves. We ended up racing at Bremerton and Seattle as well as Puyallup until it closed in 78', and here in 2010 I still haven't kicked the habit, 42 years after good ol' Mrs.Lewis dropped us off and changed our lives forever. Danny Durham

03-14-2010, 03:30 AM	#39
coolvette Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Sioux Falls SD Posts: 7 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? Went to watch my first drag race in 1960, 1961 had a 57 Chev 283 Power pack. 1966 first race with a C/MP 56 Chev 327 Two 4's with Olds Hydro 4 speed with 4000 stall covt. Ran a D/MP , E/MP 56 chevy wagon then moved to Comp in 1970 to 1973 with B/D 426 Hemi, 1974 to 1978 to A/D with a 426 Hemi Pro Stock motor with Lenco 3 speed. Then 1980 to 1990 S/C with a 340 W-2 Mopar P/G. Had a ton on FUN racing. Photos of my Race cars