Something about Wally Parks I never knew.

4543 · 03-21-2020, 12:02 PM

When Barbara and I aren’t racing we spend a lot of time participating in military vehicle shows, parades and events that bring awareness to and honor our veterans. I found this article posted on one of the forums I read. I think it came from Army Jeep Motors.

This is legendary Wally Parks and his modified 1941 Ford GP V8 jeep (most probably re captured from the Japanese) he built while on tour in the Philippines in 1945 nicknamed 'sigue na' meaning 'gotta go.' The story is that Wally Parks got a Ford V8-60 out of a surrendered Japanese truck and put it into this little jeep. In a letter he wrote home he said, "Things are going fine and my little V-jeep is really a peach. It really goes, and I claim to have the hottest thing on the island."

Wally Parks was the founder, president, and chairman of the National Hot Rod Association, better known as NHRA. He was instrumental in establishing drag racing as a legitimate amateur and professional motorsport. Parks Family Collection, Wiki, http://landspeedracing.com/2013/news...ection__1.html

Christopher Stewart · 03-21-2020, 12:37 PM

That link is not working for me.

Here's a little info and old pic,

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jeep/commen...eep_willys_he/

4543 · 03-21-2020, 12:39 PM

Thanks for posting the link to the photo. I didn’t have any luck posting it.

Jerry Terry · 03-21-2020, 12:56 PM

4543 that pic is awesome !

Jerry
Retired 3490 3492 STK SS SST

4543 · 03-21-2020, 01:12 PM

Jerry. Thanks. I posted the original article. Christopher posted the whole thing with the photo.

Shaun Quill · 03-21-2020, 02:43 PM

That’s why NHRA was what it was

jmcarter · 03-21-2020, 05:34 PM

If you’ve never been to the NHRA Museum (officially the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum) in Pomona it is very worthwhile. Includes a lot of historical info on how Wally transitioned from the salt to drags. Many cars on display that will remind you of the “golden age” of our sport. Free entry with your membership card.

JRyan · 03-22-2020, 11:21 PM

Bill Maudlin's short story, "The Affair of The Wayward Jeep", was based on something like Wally's deed, but occurred in the Korean War.

It was required reading in my "lit" class my Junior year in high school in 1961. It was always one of my favorite short stories; so much so that I remembered the name of the story to Google it.

Jerry

03-21-2020, 12:02 PM	#1
4543 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 593 Likes: 52 Liked 529 Times in 116 Posts	Something about Wally Parks I never knew. When Barbara and I aren’t racing we spend a lot of time participating in military vehicle shows, parades and events that bring awareness to and honor our veterans. I found this article posted on one of the forums I read. I think it came from Army Jeep Motors. This is legendary Wally Parks and his modified 1941 Ford GP V8 jeep (most probably re captured from the Japanese) he built while on tour in the Philippines in 1945 nicknamed 'sigue na' meaning 'gotta go.' The story is that Wally Parks got a Ford V8-60 out of a surrendered Japanese truck and put it into this little jeep. In a letter he wrote home he said, "Things are going fine and my little V-jeep is really a peach. It really goes, and I claim to have the hottest thing on the island." Wally Parks was the founder, president, and chairman of the National Hot Rod Association, better known as NHRA. He was instrumental in establishing drag racing as a legitimate amateur and professional motorsport. Parks Family Collection, Wiki, http://landspeedracing.com/2013/news...ection__1.html

03-21-2020, 12:37 PM	#2
Christopher Stewart Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Nashville, Tenn Posts: 82 Likes: 87 Liked 15 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Something about Wally Parks I never knew. That link is not working for me. Here's a little info and old pic, https://www.reddit.com/r/Jeep/commen...eep_willys_he/ Last edited by Christopher Stewart; 03-21-2020 at 12:39 PM.

03-21-2020, 12:39 PM	#3
4543 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 593 Likes: 52 Liked 529 Times in 116 Posts	Re: Something about Wally Parks I never knew. Thanks for posting the link to the photo. I didn’t have any luck posting it. Last edited by 4543; 03-21-2020 at 12:44 PM.

03-21-2020, 12:56 PM	#4
Jerry Terry Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 647 Likes: 5,890 Liked 448 Times in 132 Posts	Re: Something about Wally Parks I never knew. 4543 that pic is awesome ! Jerry Retired 3490 3492 STK SS SST

03-21-2020, 01:12 PM	#5
4543 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 593 Likes: 52 Liked 529 Times in 116 Posts	Re: Something about Wally Parks I never knew. Jerry. Thanks. I posted the original article. Christopher posted the whole thing with the photo.

03-21-2020, 02:43 PM	#6
Shaun Quill Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Hockessin DE Posts: 219 Likes: 25 Liked 82 Times in 20 Posts	Re: Something about Wally Parks I never knew. That’s why NHRA was what it was

03-21-2020, 05:34 PM	#7
jmcarter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Richmond Hill GA (and Port Ludlow WA) Posts: 4,120 Likes: 1,974 Liked 2,693 Times in 851 Posts	Re: Something about Wally Parks I never knew. If you’ve never been to the NHRA Museum (officially the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum) in Pomona it is very worthwhile. Includes a lot of historical info on how Wally transitioned from the salt to drags. Many cars on display that will remind you of the “golden age” of our sport. Free entry with your membership card. __________________ Jim Carter 2340 Super Stock 2340 SST/2340 Stock

03-22-2020, 11:21 PM	#8
JRyan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aberdeen SD Posts: 642 Likes: 28 Liked 104 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Something about Wally Parks I never knew. Bill Maudlin's short story, "The Affair of The Wayward Jeep", was based on something like Wally's deed, but occurred in the Korean War. It was required reading in my "lit" class my Junior year in high school in 1961. It was always one of my favorite short stories; so much so that I remembered the name of the story to Google it. Jerry