Met a Drag Racing Legend

[Mike Keener]

Sometimes it pays to be in the right place at the right time. Last Friday while running my golf shop in Palm Desert, CA it was just like any other day with customers coming and going until a new bad *** looking Black Mustang came rolling in to my parking lot and out of it comes this good looking slightly older guy with black hair about 6'2. Nothing unusual so far until we start talking about his golf game. The subject of his grip came about and he said he couldn't close his hand very tightly around the club. He went on to explain that he had been injured years ago in a racing accident. Naturally I asked him what kind of racing he did and when he said he was a drag racer I'm now quite obviously intrigued. He said he was a factory sponsored Ford racer back in the 60's and suffered his hand injury in a fire related incident in the early days of Funny Car which ended his career in January of 1970.

A few sentences later he told me who he was and it was none other than Gas Ronda! He said "you've heard of me"? I said hell yes I've not only heard of you I used to watch you race back at Detroit Dragway in the days of your Galaxie. The next day he came back to pick up a few clubs that I built for him and brought me some autographed photos of two of his Funny Cars, one from the Cover of the Aug 69 issue of Car Craft, but the one I will cherish forever is the one of his 64 Thunderbolt. At this point the stories between us are rolling hot and heavy and it goes without saying it was a lot of fun.

When he asked me what he owed me for the clubs I said Gas, you owe me nothing...and that without guys like you paving the way for the rest of us.. we may not have had the same sport to enjoy.

Here is a photo of me and the 84 year old Drag Racing Legend "Gas Ronda".

[joe176]

Great story Mike....something you'll never forget !!!!!

[Arnold Greene]

Great story, Mike. I think most of us 'old guys' remember him from his tours back east. That was a great gesture, as well. When Lynn and I get out your way, maybe we can play a couple of rounds......however since you are a pro, I'll be expecting a few shots on each side!

[davidhuff]

Cool!

[Grant Eldridge]

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]

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

[John Leichtamer Jr]

Bill

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

Hammer