Met a Drag Racing Legend - Page 3

Lyn Smith · 12-20-2010, 10:10 PM

Went to the Winternationals way back in 1978, and I think we went to a nightclub near our motel that was owned by Gas. It was disco back then.

bill dedman · 12-21-2010, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Leichtamer Jr

Bill

Do you still remember when they invented fire, and the wheel??

Happy Birthday Bill

Hammer

No, John,I was pretty old when that happened,and my short-term memory isn't what it used to be...

But, I remember when you could get disqualified in a Stocker at the starting line by having the wing nut on your air cleaner not sufficiently tight.... no kidding. Happened to a friend of mine at the '56 Nationals (Kansas City.)

troublemaker427 · 12-22-2010, 07:37 PM

Great story!! Gaspar is a true gentleman!!

Gas had a club called the "Gas House". I met him and Randy Ritchey at Bowling Green this past June. Both were great guys and a pleasure to talk to.

The SS/AFX racers in the '60-'66 era are my heros. I grew up buying old SS/DI magazines and reading them cover to cover. I'm 44 so I never saw them race in their hey day but its great to meet them now and hear the stories.

One of the best things to happen to me is that I've become close friends with Phil Bonner. We met while I was researching his racing career and just hit it off and became friends. His stories are great!!!

Joe Martens · 12-23-2010, 12:06 AM

Does anyone remember the picture disc of Gas Ronda? My brother had one, think it came in a box of cereal. Played it on a record player if anyone remembers them! It was a quick interview with him followed by a recording of one of his runs. I'm guessing 1970 or so!

Mike Keener · 10-26-2017, 09:54 AM

Yesterday was a sad day as the great legend Gas Ronda passed away in .CA.

It was my pleasure to have know him and he will be severely missed by everyone in our sport.

This great legend was a true drag racing hero!

Jim Kaekel · 10-26-2017, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Martens

Does anyone remember the picture disc of Gas Ronda? My brother had one, think it came in a box of cereal. Played it on a record player if anyone remembers them! It was a quick interview with him followed by a recording of one of his runs. I'm guessing 1970 or so!

I had that same record. Funny, because it was made of heavy paper, it wouldn't sit real well on the record player. I can't remember if it came in a box of cereal or a model kit. I think Gas Ronda was sponsored by Malco at the time, a company that made bulk chemicals including carburetor cleaner.

Dave Ley · 10-26-2017, 10:46 AM

Great story, Mike, but you can ad Merc's and your name to that legends list. Your string of "CheckMate" cars are legendary and I have been lucky enough to have seen them all !!!

Isaac Zane · 10-26-2017, 12:01 PM

Yes, I thought it was interesting that a thread title was "Met a Drag Racing Legend", that was done by another LEGEND, Mike Keener! Certainly made it a must read!!!

HR9121 · 10-26-2017, 12:08 PM

X3 what they said!

Dave Casey · 10-26-2017, 01:07 PM

I asked my Parents to go to the drags for my birthday about 1966-8 , we went to Connecticut Dragway , backed our car up to the fence for the day and saw a match race between Tasca Ford and Gas Ronda. RIP Gas , a true pioneer

12-20-2010, 10:10 PM	#21
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,209 Likes: 289 Liked 986 Times in 198 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend Went to the Winternationals way back in 1978, and I think we went to a nightclub near our motel that was owned by Gas. It was disco back then.

12-22-2010, 07:37 PM	#23
troublemaker427 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hampstead, MD. Posts: 422 Likes: 282 Liked 64 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend Great story!! Gaspar is a true gentleman!! Gas had a club called the "Gas House". I met him and Randy Ritchey at Bowling Green this past June. Both were great guys and a pleasure to talk to. The SS/AFX racers in the '60-'66 era are my heros. I grew up buying old SS/DI magazines and reading them cover to cover. I'm 44 so I never saw them race in their hey day but its great to meet them now and hear the stories. One of the best things to happen to me is that I've become close friends with Phil Bonner. We met while I was researching his racing career and just hit it off and became friends. His stories are great!!! __________________ Jody Aberts Troublemaker2 1966 Fairlane 427 Last edited by troublemaker427; 12-23-2010 at 09:32 PM.

12-23-2010, 12:06 AM	#24
Joe Martens Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: North Olmsted, Ohio Posts: 789 Likes: 635 Liked 196 Times in 69 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend Does anyone remember the picture disc of Gas Ronda? My brother had one, think it came in a box of cereal. Played it on a record player if anyone remembers them! It was a quick interview with him followed by a recording of one of his runs. I'm guessing 1970 or so! __________________ Joe Martens AA/Stock 3969

10-26-2017, 09:54 AM	#25
Mike Keener Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 294 Likes: 102 Liked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend Yesterday was a sad day as the great legend Gas Ronda passed away in .CA. It was my pleasure to have know him and he will be severely missed by everyone in our sport. This great legend was a true drag racing hero! __________________ Mike Keener A/S B/S C/SM

10-26-2017, 10:46 AM	#27
Dave Ley Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Jersey , The 51st. State Posts: 424 Likes: 1,811 Liked 241 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend Great story, Mike, but you can ad Merc's and your name to that legends list. Your string of "CheckMate" cars are legendary and I have been lucky enough to have seen them all !!! __________________ Dave Ley

10-26-2017, 12:01 PM	#28
Isaac Zane Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: North Myrtle Beach, SC Posts: 361 Likes: 392 Liked 50 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend Yes, I thought it was interesting that a thread title was "Met a Drag Racing Legend", that was done by another LEGEND, Mike Keener! Certainly made it a must read!!! __________________ Isaac Zane STK 1237 J/SA Buick Apollo Patriot Guard Rider DOOF 43

10-26-2017, 12:08 PM	#29
HR9121 Live Reporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 3,467 Likes: 146 Liked 3,363 Times in 731 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend X3 what they said! __________________ James Williamson W200 J/SA. SS/JA

10-26-2017, 01:07 PM	#30
Dave Casey VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hampden, MA Posts: 1,202 Likes: 233 Liked 797 Times in 165 Posts	Re: Met a Drag Racing Legend I asked my Parents to go to the drags for my birthday about 1966-8 , we went to Connecticut Dragway , backed our car up to the fence for the day and saw a match race between Tasca Ford and Gas Ronda. RIP Gas , a true pioneer __________________ Dave Casey 1330 STK