Welcome back to the conclusion of my two-parter "Need For Speed."
As you recall, in Pt. 1 you had a front row seat to watch a demolition
derby, a spectacle I gleefully witnessed a dozen times or more as a boy.
And then I took you on a tour of Central PA stock car racetracks
and introduced some of the most popular local race drivers
that entertained me, my family and thousands
of others throughout the 1950s and 60s.
It didn't take long for me to learn the names of the drivers that
raced every week at Susquehanna Valley tracks I attended.
I also became familiar with the corresponding numbers
and, in some cases, letters of their cars.
At the same time, I was adding auto racing jargon to my vocabulary:
"on the pole"
"pace car"
"straightaway"
"qualifying heat"
"firewall"
"feature"
"powder puff derby" (all female drivers)
"consolation race"
"scratch"
"figure 8"
"spin-out"
"caution flag"
"roll cage"
"under the yellow"
"the pit"
"pit crew"
"victory lap"
"banked turn"
"semi late"
"late model stock"
"sportsman"
"modified"
"sprint"
"midget"
"go-kart"
Over the years, I have searched for and watched
quite a few movies about hot-rodding and auto racing.
The following are my three favorites...
all highly recommended for any racing enthusiast.
SNAKE & MONGOOSE
(2013)
THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY
Howard Hawks’ 1965 cult classic
RED LINE 7000.
The movie stars James Caan as stock car racer Mike Marsh...
and co-stars Laura Devon, one of the most
alluring beauties of the 20th century....
in what has to be her greatest career performance
as the soulful, sultry and seductive Julie Kazarian.
Watch these two scenes and “meet the speed breed!”
If I wasn’t watching a "racy" movie...
or catching the action at one of the area's oval racetracks...
chances are I was making the scene at York U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way,
(aka U.S. 30 Dragway) home of the Super Stock Nationals...
a drag racing event so important nationally that
it was nicknamed The 4-Wheeled Woodstock.
Opened in 1960 when the sport of drag racing was
becoming a phenomenon on the West Coast...
U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way was located at the York airport
in the community of Thomasville west of York.
Photo provided by Jim Sieling
Known as "Super Track of the East" and "Pride of the East..."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqqCqO7ntKuPeGcxpHajRw9PxYVlYLbLQWdjYX4IdkpPBxnG1LUqRRzvHs-5GVvD8UD3NwGUKtOwdrSX6Apg586McYCvuCs4xqXNHitNw471UfIzok-XAMVGqWFclzZ917vUOaWy13oSU/s16000/1+u.s.30+logo.jpg)
York US 30 Drag-O-Way remained in operation until 1979.
As I soon found out, the sport of drag racing
had its own roster of driver legends, including
“Big Daddy” Don Garlits
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWbGowv4yY0o94YMZvd0bnmBVTxejqtB7tstP-GJ7hJZqfrehEjyzezZYi95rK6L76uULsqC9ysEjRa7hE_vEzo3g4DHkNKWdsjMI1DxH3lRBf9HkmsnwokwQJwS4D8xhnqA-siocLY4cfEZe581Z7aTqXmCntb3FjKi6_Otuy5ug-008ttNlIUbatKJJ/s16000/000000000000001%20-%20A.jpg)
“Jungle Jim” Liberman
Don "the Snake" Prudhomme
Tom "the Mongoose" McEwen
Larry Lombardo
Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins
Dave Strickler
Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney
Sox & Martin
"Dyno Don” Nicholson
Bruce Larson
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWY9bovCp6sfv9IXp42o2iEbZj2fGEhNHxpu3LaWiN3YCrt2-7xfpzbTYIU3yT4TyzZ9a96-C4Z15Sl0TS_awlwOgoCVoJx4DALgNSVDodZ0JysvhYiHnCJVGt4y9TwFBhJwbTBmu1ns4lw0CL4aREKRxMUOKordQyKqnTqffYqFgOA9qNZdYrJx9qJfTt/s16000/000000000000001%20-%20A.jpg)
Dandy Dick Landy
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdODQeTIlzECeN43LUX_xJ9-DgkaA-desEeksD_dQMEx1wWQctzmNHKzscB_LCXqjnaaAIUhHWpA36jUCyYgI7GlVRW9Xg_aiXrxv3kxAdhEhIUZK_wU_60FqAGA2a_dcvJDkU3BKTccOXC8pk2AQfW_AE9XMdcPbvz3jLHLRmO2VW_RcNXf5cReb0Bfq/s16000/000000000000001%20-%20A.jpg)
Ed Miller
George Cureton
Charlie Garrett
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3A2t49S-6HRkagAo6RLhb3fdrMKhug3NOw6zRcrZKD8BYrMNfnCpSor-GRvtYnsSR2WImJlRAftwITopEEzeUpt2FHBiNCqxCmd8EwcFuHGYtwFqPY9AEPRh4PddoIAephk7yldcyqSPIJlneT7GtSVlqJZTFhIHtjHuaW2_BxHyAJhCw8m0rtfc6qmFC/s16000/000000000000001%20-%20A.jpg)
Bill Stiles & Jere Stahl
"The drags," as they were called, also had
a whole new set of terms for me to absorb.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBBMotdwt2KlvkMuVQpG64OlS3py7OWlBEsLHJkAWBjD0eDi6MTES601x2OGr8CAjtof_-I4UVE1DeROnDrx7JHXqcoBVIc_PJM3imdtoYAH3c3bOKO2TnWEE9Uz3zBGwgI9QibsQxzZ99ccxmhkY7kIikZ7BXLHjHNzkzAihb2MBhMFWoH-gZdzKgq46/s16000/000000000000001%20-%20A.jpg)
"NHRA"
"burnout"
"quarter mile"
"trophy run"
"staging"
"Christmas tree"
"slicks"
"smoke the tires"
"e.t." (not the lil "phone home" dude)
"speed trap"
"super charged"
"turbo charged"
"nitro burning"
"fuel injected"
"shutdown"
"shut 'em down"
"wheel stand"
"wheelie"
"funny car"
"gasser"
York's WSBA radio ran those power-packed promos:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lAOGjjzWcYnPhoJ6V-48FAUNqsVrDoGKLLB6j1Cyf4WZJGrqjZmOXtfvBjjzb6jSzXaKpgZP6N6oJvOXYMJXlq95C_Ujcqzb46Z3CVMYsPce_AUj93oYPA1SYA8nP0-gJMucOOitffh4/w640-h331/1+us+30+dragway.jpg)
“Saturdaaaaay! Saturday night and all day Sunday, it’s the biggest
drag racing showdown of the year at York U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way!
in flat-out competition at the Super Stock Nationals!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkHmZ-q9eRQVBMiwBefwdGwclHelEyl1ntTHZyMZnJ8YoE7nsaVDUZNVerkZY2aIY-UdlruukDhBfIZE6EJTQnazns5KDmRw9SVEwPSZ0cCvYTJ1QlwwxeLdBZpLd7uAse4UksG_JRO5c/s16000/1+drags+2.jpg)
When the dust settles and the smoke clears...
who will wear the crown of Mr. Top Stock Eliminator?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjRBvIPAqmNiiKRvWmSphiMOjZjFeeCeI-d5jCcoMbdd4J5S39_-k7LIUfte4UtS7e9WRG_J_hsNGdbpXhq5axSzM-yZ1DWvm9aBuTOB7Y3Ju1O8pMeXrBXkOq0i92xwWqfvSUB0QMtVX/s16000/1+drags3.jpg)
It's all happening this weekend at the Super Stock Nationals.
The action starts Saturday night at U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way,
Route 30, six miles west of York!
BE THERRRRRE!!!
Shady – I really enjoyed this part 2 presentation of York county racing and the York drag strip. Your recollections and pictures/videos brought back so many memories that have been hidden somewhere back in my mind! One important detail not made clear was how many local drivers would run their street cars at U.S.30 to let off some steam instead of getting in trouble on the public roads or driving 'the circuit' in York city.
ReplyDeleteI first went to the drag races at the Thomasville airport a couple of times in late '50's when I was in high school. Although it was exciting to watch the action, there were a couple of issues. The first, due to the airport being a working airport, all races had to be put on hold and the runway cleared if a plane needed to take off or land. Secondly, the parking area close to the track (runway) was nice and level but it was dirt and if a storm came through it got very, very muddy. I can remember getting the family car stuck up to the axles in the mud.
When I left York to go off to college, I was amazed to find out how famous the now renamed York U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way had become nationwide, drawing some of the biggest names in drag racing. After college I landed a good job in the York area, bought a used sports car, and began running autocrosses.
It was at an autocross that one of my competitors showed up with a huge trophy, almost 3 feet high, that he said he won at the drag strip. Best of all, anyone could enter whatever they drove and all you needed was a helmet – no competition license required and no special safety equipment needed in the car.
I decided to give drag racing try to see what it was like as a driver. It turned out to be a competitor only cost a couple of dollars more than just sitting in the stands. When I pulled into the pits, first thing to be done was weighing the car and then getting assigned to the correct class. The technical people had a lot of trouble deciding just what class my little British two seat, four cylinder, convertible car should be in. The number of cylinders, engine cubic inch displacement, and the number of carburetor barrels appeared to be the most important details. When it was time for my class to run my first competitor was a stock four cylinder Ford Pinto. Completely unfair to him! Once we “got staged”, the yellow lights started blinking down toward the green one (they had a lot more yellow lights on the “Christmas Tree” back then (1967) than they do now). The pinto started to go anticipating the green (which I later learned was called 'a hole shot') while I was still sitting waiting for the green. He got a great start and a good jump on me before I finally got started. It's terrible when a bad driver can beat a good one just based on the machinery, but at the end of the night I got the class win and took home a giant trophy instead of a little mug or plate as in autocrossing. As bonus they also gave out souvenirs in the form of a little plaque that said “York U. S. 30 Dragway Competitor” and a decal that said “National Hot Rod Association York U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way Class Winner”.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the real beauty of being a competitor was just being in the pits where I could go anywhere I wanted. There were no restricted or roped off areas. You could see any of the dragsters or cars up close and the other competitors were very easy to talk to. I remember standing right next to Don 'the Snake' Prudhomme (he ended up in the hall of fame) while he was working on his engine between runs.
I was also at York one Saturday night when the headliner was Art Arfons who had a dragster named “The Green Monster”. It was a very ugly looking machine powered by a J-79 jet aircraft engine. The exhaust about blew me away when he was getting the engine up to speed and I remember getting hit by lots of little pebbles and heat when he released the brake and shot off down the track.
ReplyDeleteI continued to go to U.S. 30 occasionally whenever I made a change to my car to see what difference it made in performance. At the end of each run I was given a card showing my reaction time (the time after the light went green until my car actually started moving), total elapsed time, and top speed at the end of a quarter mile. As a bonus I often came home with a trophy.
During this time I was an assistant scout-master for a troop in the Boy Scouts and the scout master decided to take the troop to U.S. 30 when he knew I would be running there. Unbeknownst to me, one of the fellows I worked with, who also moonlighted as an announcer at the drags was announcing that night. Every time as I was moving up in line for my run and then staging, he gave me (a nobody) and my car an unbelievable build up. At the next scout meeting I couldn't believe how the scouts thought I was a world famous drag racer.
My lasting memory of drag racing is how sensual it was to be very near the powerful nitro-methane powered dragsters that had thousands of horsepower, were unbelievably loud, had a very distinctive smell that made my eyes water, and made it feel like the ground was shaking. I had been close to big block race cars; but, when a big dragster took off it was mind blowing! Perhaps the promoters should not have allowed the people in the pits to get so close to the track. Now I'm sure, due do legal restrictions, no one will ever be able to get as close as we did in the 60's. I just wish everyone could have had a chance to witness a top fuel dragster launching, up close, just once.
Hi, Jim!
DeleteCat got your tongue, my friend? Nothing much to say on the subject of drag racing? :)
Seriously, Jim, I am thrilled to read about your experiences as a racer at York U.S. 30. All this time, I had assumed that your memories revolved around sitting in the stands watching other drivers compete. Turns out, you did quite a bit of racing yourself, making you a tremendously valuable source of information for this series. Just think. It is possible that I was there on one or more occasions when you towed the line, popped the clutch when the light turned green and tore down the quarter mile!
The way you described being in the pit with the other drivers and the various classes of cars, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the vibes - brings it all to life and let's us experience it, too, better than I ever could. You're right. Safety restrictions were not yet in place during the years you raced, allowing you the unique opportunity to get close to those monster machines and smell and feel their exhaust. While you gained a reputation locally as a racer, you also had "brushes with greatness," meeting national drag racing legends like Don "The Snake" Prudhomme. If you haven't yet seen the movie I plugged in the post, Snake & Mongoose (2013), please try to find it. I watched the bio film about Prudhomme and his friend and rival McEwen a year ago and loved every minute of it.
Thanks for adding the reminder that York's drag strip was also a functioning airport runway and that racers needed to get out of the way and share the strip with air traffic. I also appreciated your observation that the sport of drag racing gave many young men in the York area a safer way to compete than racing their cars on Market St., George St., Philadelphia St. or up and down I-83. In the mid 1950s, before drag racing was made available at the Thomasville Airport, my big brother routinely raced the family's '55 Chevy on the streets of York. As you might expect, he didn't tell mom and dad until years later.
Thanks a million for these important contributions to the topic, Jim. The post runs several weeks, so if any other memories surface, please send them to me for publication. I genuinely appreciate them. Also, be on the lookout for comments from Dell Rat Jerre who is bound to have something to say about all this. Take care and thanks again, Jim!
Hi guys, Jim described the dragway to a T. I never owned a car until after college, so I did not enter the races. I remember the noise and the smells and the weekend of the Green Monster. I also remember many nights at the drive in movies in the west end of town. Actually in both end of town. And I also enjoyed riding the loop with a friend in his old Mercury he thought was fast. Those were the days. Great post. Jerre
DeleteHi, Jerre!
DeleteThanks for reporting in, good buddy! I'm happy to know that Jim's anecdotes resonated with you and brought back your own memories of the Drag-O-Way. I'm sure you saw the pics of the Old Reliable race car. For me, it brought back memories of the many times I heard the singing jingle for Ammon R. Smith Auto Company on local radio stations. In the 60s, drag racing star Dave Strickler married Ammon Smith's granddaughter and took over the dealership. It was Strickler who drove the Old Reliable Chevy. The famous race car was tuned by Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins.
Thanks too for referring to the drive-in movie screens on either side of York - the 816 car capacity Lincoln Drive-in, located along Route 30 West of York near Thomasville (and the airport/dragstrip) - and Stony Brook Drive-in, located along Lincoln Highway east of the White Rose city. I just learned that Stony Brook opened one month before I was born. It was there around Halloween, 1968, that I watched in shock and horror with my girlfriend (the future Mrs. Shady #1) George A. Romero's classic black & white zombie film Night Of The Living Dead.
Yes, Jerre, those were the days, my friend, and The Loop which usually included pit stops at Gino's and at Avalong's Drive-in, is also worth mentioning again, even though you and I have discussed our adventures on the circuit many times over the years.
I'm delighted that you and Jim enjoyed this two-part salute to racing in Central PA. Stay well, good buddy Jerre, and look for my next post starting September 5.
Wow, you sure know your stuff when it comes to hotrods, Shady! I've not seen any of the films you mentioned. About the closest I can come to racing knowledge in a film are scenes like the one in American Graffiti. Which brings to mind the drag-race that took place the evening of my sister's HS graduation in which one of the boys was killed. Such a tragedy!
ReplyDeleteI had no trouble picking a favorite image from today's post. I like the skeleton driving the Frankenstein car. (only it's spelled "ien" on the side of the car!)
Pat and I hope you and Mrs. Shady enjoy the rest of your summer! We'll see you back here in September.
Hi, Kelly!
DeleteThanks for hurrying over to take 2nd place in the race to Shady's Place, dear friend! The coveted "Silver Shady" is yours to take home!
I'm excited that you got so much out of the post, Kelly. We both need to give credit where it's due and thank friend Jim Sieling (above) for his marvelous 3-part comment describing what it was like for him to be one of the drag racers at the York/Thomasville strip. You can consider Jim's massive contribution an extension of my post, because he provides all that extra information about being at "ground zero" - the pit area with the other cars and drivers. My testimony only covered memories and impressions of attending the track as a spectator.
Thanks for reminding us of the climactic scene in American Graffiti in which Milner and Falfa drag race on the outskirts of town. I am terribly sorry your mind also jumps to the grad night drag racing accident that claimed the life of one of your sister's school chums.
As I did research for this series, I was amazed to find so much excellent, colorful stock car and drag racing artwork. Thanks for selecting a favorite image and pointing out the spelling error on the side of the car. It would be interesting to know if it was accidental or intentional.
Thank you very much for coming over, spreading cheer and offering well wishes for Mrs. Shady and me. Please remind my buddy Pat that these are the dog days of summer. :) See you next month, dear friend Kelly!
I'll be alone each and every night
While you're away, don't forget to write
Bye-bye, so long, farewell
Bye-bye, so long
See you in September
See you when the summer's through
James Caan - surprised I haven't seen that film.
ReplyDeletePowder Puff Derby. I bet they aren't allowed to call it that anymore.
Hi, Alex!
DeleteThanks for coming, good buddy. Your third place finish earns you the bronze!
To this day, I am often mistaken for James Caan and mobbed by female autograph seekers. I hope you get to see Red Line 7000 because it's a fun film packed with exciting race footage plus interesting romantic storylines. It has been 55+ years since I went to an oval track and saw a Powder Puff Derby. Famous female drivers like Danica Patrick remind us that, in modern times, women compete alongside men in racing events.
Thanks again for your visit and comment, good buddy Alex. I'll be back in action sometime next month and hope to see you then!
Don't forget that before Danica was on the scene Shirley Muldowney clearly was faster in dragsters every weekend than the men were.
ReplyDeleteHi, Anonymous!
DeleteWelcome and thanks for joining the discussion here at Shady's Place! In today's Part 2 post, I did not forget to include a mention and pictures of Shirley in my salute to the who's who of drag racing. She was indeed a force to be reckoned with.
Thanks again for dropping in and contributing to the topic, Anonymous. I hope you will stick around and join me next month when I get back to more "normal" programming with a post that contains music and humor.
Until then, take care!
I haven't seen the movies. The Frankenstien car is quite cool though. I've watched a few funny car races and thought they were fun. They sure can get up and go fast. I don't watch much drag racing so I don't know much about it but I enjoyed all the pictures. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteHi, Mary & Falcor!
DeleteThanks for swinging by for a visit, dear friend! So far, the blog gremlins have been kind, allowing your comment to be published on the blog w/o any problem, and I hope it stays that way.
I think you might enjoy the three racing movies I plugged in the piece. (not counting Attack of the 50 Foot Camgirl :) I am referring to Snake & Mongoose, a cool drag racing biopic, Talladega Nights, a hilarious spoof of modern NASCAR racing starring Will Ferrell, and Red Line 7000, a mid 60s stock car racing saga directed by Howard Hawks who, as producer, was also largely responsible for the horror sci-fi classic The Thing From Another World (1951).
I'm pleased that you enjoyed these vintage photos as well as the imaginative racing artwork. Thank you again for joining the fun and please take good care of yourself and my buddy Falcor until we meet again, dear friend Mary!
No Pinky Tuscadero for the Powder Puffs? Poor Rudolph Valentino was called this, not in a nice way. I saw movies with James Garner, Steve McQueen and Paul Newman but it wasn't drag racing but regular raving. These 3 always like to drove the car themselves I would like to see the movies you mentioned but surprised there are no movies starring trash gal Mamie Van Doren. These names are great a d love the nerdy girl laying on top of the car with size ginormous boobs. That is hilarious. I also like that you showcased her.
ReplyDeleteThe James Caan film looks fun but laughing at all the squealing of the tires. Must see that and the Abbott and Costello film. Been watching The Olympics and have been crazy at work 0lus we were gone to hubby's Aunt's place. Hope you both well
Hi, Birgit!
DeleteThanks for coming by on your weekend, dear friend!
Since Happy Days is set in the 1950s, it's fun to imagine that spunky tomboy Pinky was among the gals I watched competing in those Powder Puff Derbies. Thanks for reminding us that Garner, McQueen and Newman all starred in their own racing films. I never even heard of that Abbott & Costello movie, but was happy to find the vintage poster and use it in this Part 2 post. I hope you get to watch the three racing movies I plugged. I also highly recommend Attack of the 50 Foot Camgirl, winner of 50 Academy Awards including Best Supporting Role for the leading lady's wireless bra.
Yessum, how about all this colorful, mind-blowing race-themed artwork for Jungle Jim and other drivers and car companies? I only used a fraction of the images available online because this post is already the longest ever to appear on my SPMM blog. That being the case, I thank you again for setting aside time on your busy weekend for a visit and for risking carpal tunnel scrolling down through all this stuff.
I hope you have a safe trip to your hubby's aunt's place. If my buddies Harley and Lexie stay home, I hope they behave themselves while you are away. Take care of yourself and I'll see you around the 5th of next month, dear friend BB!
I can't say that I recall ever seeing the Powder Puff Derby on TV but I recognize the term. It wasn't until we went to see Richard Petty last year that I saw in person a car called the Roadrunner. I didn't even know such a thing existed until then. That's a great name for a race car. I can conclude from your two part series that you are a huge race car fan. This is a sport that carries a lot of excitement. I'm not much into Nascar or other types of car races but I do appreciate the athletic ability to wrangle with a fast vehicle for hours and the skill to out pace the other drivers. Thanks for walk through time with memories of your youth, my friend. This summer is zooming by fast. Enjoy what's left of it!
ReplyDeleteHi, Cathy!
DeleteThanks for hustling over on your Sunday and during hiatus, dear friend!
Yessum, like the Demolition Derby, the Powder Puff Derby, which featured all female race drivers, was an event occasionally included in a track's afternoon or evening racing program. Most of the competitors were the wives or girlfriends of established male drivers. To take part, the women needed to borrow cars and helmets from their men. At first, PPD's were novelty events that got a chuckle from the audience, but some female drivers took it seriously, were determined to excel and went on to command respect in the male-dominated motor sport. Yessum, I remember your post about you and DH visiting the Richard Petty Museum. I admit that I was a huge race fan in boyhood and during my teenage years. While I am still fond of racing movies, having watched Talladega Nights and Snake & Mongoose in the last couple of years, I no longer follow NASCAR or NHRA races on TV.
Yessum, every year we say the same thing to each other, remarking how the year is whizzing by. Soon, summer will be over, and I will be very happy to experience another fall and winter up here in the north. Take good care of yourself and your family until we meet again next month. Right now, I am planning to publish my next post on September 5. See you then, dear friend Cathy!
Howdy Shady! Wow, what a line up of races and cars! I know nothing about racing and even less about cars except they run when a key is used but I did have a moment this week that brought you to mind when a patient of ours starting talking about his drag racing days and I guess he's still racing at Drag strip 42. Then going through your post there was the car make that he said he ran...A dodge charger! He said his was a '74 charger. He still has it! The male nurse with me that day knew the car and they spoke the language of motor size, speed, and stuff that went over my head. However, I told him that I tried to buy a brand new '72 charger as my first car. The sales guy just ignored me even though my Dad was with me. It was gold with a white vinyl top..the car not the sales guy. Anyway, Dad and I got mad and left and I ended up buying a new '72 chevy malibu as my first car I ever purchased. However, I never forgot that gold charger. I just knew I'd look rad in that! Ha! Thanks for the memories of a car I never owned but loved and how funny to have a patient actually be a drag race person and your post coming right to mind...small world my friend! It's late but I stayed up on purpose to see if I can see any meteor showers tonight. To I'm off to the race of space! Take care Shady!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThanks for dropping by, dear friend! It's admirable that you stayed up late to view meteor showers and to pay me a visit. I hope you didn't go to bed suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome after having to scroll down through the longest post ever published at Shady's Place. As you see, the post isn't exactly loaded with text. It was the abundance of vintage photos and colorful art illustrations that contributed to its extraordinary length. I couldn't believe all the excellent images I found depicting dirt track, asphalt track and dragstrip racing plus hot makes, models and classes of cars (plus the poster of the 50 Foot Camgirl :)
My big brother owned a filling station garage, was mechanically inclined, knew his way around under the hood and always drove fast, powerful cars. Some of his car mania rubbed off on me. Thanks for sharing that a patient of yours discussed his days as a drag racer. That's quite a coincidence and also what I would call a "Brush With Greatness" on your part. By chance, was his name Big Daddy Don Garlits? :) I looked up Dragway 42 and noted that it is located in Wayne County, Ohio. You and Jack should head over there someday. You might catch racing fever. I'd say your story about wanting to buy a Dodge Charger with your dad by your side qualifies as an Unsolved Mystery. I never heard of a car salesman who wasn't eager to unload his stock. Wonder what he was thinking. I'm sure you looked good in your plan B car, the '72 Chevy Malibu. "Rebel" that you were (or wanted to be) in those days, I can also picture you as a "Mustang Sally" or as a drag racing champion like Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney. You could have become famous as Kathy "YaYa" Starkey! :)
Here's a very cool idea. Why don't you fulfill your lifelong dream and shop online for a restored 1972 Charger? Life's short. Why not treat yourself to the rad ride you always longed for?
Even though you are not a racing enthusiast, I thank you again for staying up late and sharing two interesting anecdotes related in some way to the topic. That's being a great blogger! Take care of yourself and my smooch pooch Annabelle, dear friend YaYa. I'll meet up with you again when I return to blogging with a new post on September 5.
Never heard of the Abbott and Costello film so I googled it. Apparently, it's not a full-lenght movie at all but a "short subject" that preceded the main attraction back in the days when you had to sit through a lot of stuff before you got to the main attraction. What I saw on YouTube was completely silent and focused more on the midget car racers than A&C themselves.
ReplyDeleteIn one of those clips I caught site of an AMC Gremlin. I remember one of my customers on my paper route had a Gremlin and I thought it was the coolest-looking car. By the time I was old enough to get a car of my own, the Gremlin had been discontinued. I've never even seen one in a used car lot!
Enjoyed those looking at those Rat Fink cartoons again.
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for coming over, good buddy! You did us a service by googling that Abbott & Costello film and discovering it was a short rather than a feature. I enjoyed the story about your neighbor's AMC Gremlin catching your eye as a paperboy but the model becoming obsolete by the time you were old enough to own a car. The company's Pacer was an even bigger failure, as you might recall. In my younger years, I yearned for an Edsel, a DeLorean and a Yugo, lemons one and all. :)
I knew you would appreciate the CARtoons illustration and the mind expanding Rat Fink art creations. There are countless more hot car and racing illustrations I could have included in the piece, but it was already the longest ever to be pubbed at Shady's Place, and so I refrained.
Thanks again for making time for a visit, good buddy Kirk. I hope to see you around the 5th of September when I return with my next post. Take care!
Wow. So many cars! I do remember some of the racers names because my brother-in-law was really into that stuff and had a lot of memorabilia around their house. My nephew races now out in Colorado occasionally. I was reading Kirk's comment and have to interject that I owned a Gremlin!! I must have had one of the first ones out. I thought it was so cool and named it Bullet (because it was silver). Interestingly, my first husband had one too, although his was blue.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely fun looking at all these pictures and I have to say that my favorites are actually the drawn ones with all the bright colors. Hope I caught you before your three day window. Hope all is well with you and the Mrs. and that you are nice and settled in your new digs. Have a great rest of the month dear Shady.
Hi, Janet!
DeleteI'm thrilled to see you, dear friend! Thanks for checking out Part 2 of my Need For Speed racing series.
Yessum, I remember your comment on Part 1 describing your indirect links to these motor sports. Tell your brother-in-law and nephew about the three movies I recommended in the text in case they haven't yet seen them. You might enjoy them as well. I'm glad you read Kirk's comment about how a neighbor's Gremlin caught his eye during boyhood. It's a cool coincidence that you actually owned one and so did your first hubby. It's a small world, because, in my Dell Rat years, I was a member of a small gang of guys called the Silver Bullets. We wore fake silver bullets on the lapels of our jackets to appear tough and worldly and impress Dellettes. (Our plan backfired. Girls thought we were... what's the word I'm looking for... WEIRD! :)
Glad you like the brightly colored muscle car art renderings. I could have included dozens more, but the post would have gotten so long that you and other kind readers would have been scrolling for hours. :) Yessum, tonight marks the end of my three day stretch of active blog duty. I'll be returning September 5 with my next post and I promise it will be significantly shorter than this one.
Janet, I keep searching for a new post on your site but can't find anything after your May 1 post, the one you published immediately following the completion of the A to Z Challenge. I'll keep my eyes peeled in case you publish anything new during my absence because I certainly want to reciprocate. I hope Bill's mom had a lovely birthday celebration.
Thanks again for being such a true blue friend, Janet. Please take good care of yourself and my buddy Benny until we meet again next month!
I can just imagine the adrenaline rush of those driving and watching. Have you ever been to such events?
ReplyDeleteWow! That's quite a line-up of drag-race pictures. I imagine it must take you all month to find the photos you post! Have a great month, my friend!
ReplyDelete