First Car to the Strip - Page 2

Frank Castros · 01-03-2021, 10:09 AM

1971, Dover Drag Strip, 1969 Plymouth Road Runner, 383 four speed.
I still have the time slip somewhere in my attic, but after 50 years I don't recall the results of that day. I do remember my leg shaking so hard I could barely find the clutch pedal!

Jeff Niceswanger · 01-03-2021, 10:27 AM

1969 Z-28. I drove it to high school. (1972) My 2 years of savings from my paper route netted me the 1600 dollars needed to purchase this three year old sports car . WOW, how times have changed !
Took the 302 out and installed a new 427/425 target GM replacement motor. Before installing changed cam to the 2nd design L-88 and springs. Hayes aluminum flywheel, 4.88 Zoom gears, cable drive Moroso tack and shutoff, Hooker headers, Thrush mufflers, Holley 800 double pumper. Ran 11.88 at 116.
I was terrified to take it down the track the first pass so my brother John gladly obliged. Brought it home on a flatbed as all 12 bolts holding the ring gear sheared . I had borrowed a set of 10 inch white dot #8 Firestones and those bolts did not like them .. LOL

James Jeschke Jr · 01-03-2021, 10:49 AM

Looks like Boburka going through the drive thru in the back ground! LOL

Ken Kopecky · 01-03-2021, 10:50 AM

1968 I believe, Took my daily driver, Maroon, black vinyl top 66 Chevelle Malibu 283 3-speed on the floor to Island Dragway for my very first trip down the 1/4 mile. Nervous as heck, popped the clutch and did a one-legger all the way down. Things sure have changed!

Ken Kopecky

1matcoman · 01-03-2021, 11:22 AM

1966 - took my red '63 Chevy Super Sport, 283 2bbl 3 Speed on the floor to Porter (old, sadly now closed, drag strip north of Houston). They teched me in O/S. Don't remember what it ran, but it was slow.

My main memory was being in the staging lanes with all of the Houston legends - Raymond Martin, Nickens Bros, Willis Ragsdale, Earl Muscarili, Sammy Cunningham and several others. I was so nervous that I would screw up and do something wrong.

Rory McNeil · 01-03-2021, 11:24 AM

First pass August 1974, in my $50.00 57 Ford Sedan Delivery. Extremely tired 272 Y block, 3 speed manual with factory 3.89 gears. I added a 4 barrel intake and carb from a 57 Mercury that I found parked in the woods. Ran a blistering 17.2 at 78 MPH, at Mission Raceway. The first "real" car was my 70 Mustang Sportsroof (non Mach 1 fastback) that I bought in 1976 for $2100. 351Cleveland 4 barrel, FMX 3 speed automatic with 3.25 open rearend. Bone stock ran 14.72 @ 94.5 MPH, just a set of $79.00 Cyclone headers hooked to the factory mufflers and pipes went 14.22@99.44 MPH. The car was totalled in 1978, but still have the time slips!

Bob Don · 01-03-2021, 11:33 AM

1974 New England Dragway. 1971 6 cyl Nova that I bought off my brother. It ran 18s. I beat a 318 Fury for class. I was hooked. Eventually built the car into a U/SA.

6130 · 01-03-2021, 11:36 AM

1979, right after I got my driver's license, right after my 16th birthday. 1964 Chevy Nova SS with the stock 2-barrel 283, floor-shift 'glide, and open 3.08 10-bolt. It got 28 mpg on the highway, and ran 10 flat on the eighth at Portland International Raceway on Wednesday nights and mid-15s on the quarter at Woodburn Dragstrip on Sunday mornings, on a pair of G70-14 sticky recaps.

The first car I ever made money with, was a '71 Pinto coupe (the one with the separate trunk, not the hatchback). It had the stock 1.6 and a 4-speed, and had been repainted the color of a green crayon. I raced it one season, in 1981. It ran surprisingly consistent 21-flat ETs, and more than one opponent threw a temper-tantrum after losing to it.

Henrys Toy · 01-03-2021, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Kopecky

1968 I believe, Took my daily driver, Maroon, black vinyl top 66 Chevelle Malibu 283 3-speed on the floor to Island Dragway for my very first trip down the 1/4 mile. Nervous as heck, popped the clutch and did a one-legger all the way down. Things sure have changed!

Ken Kopecky

It was 1974, my second 1955 210 2dr 265 3 spd. with a Hurst floor shift, 4.10 gears. JC Penny A/FX Cheater slicks, 1969 Z-28 intake and carb(way too big) and Dougs headers. Went to National Speedway on Long Island and ran some 15.80's almost lost it on the first run , rear tire pressure was too low. I've been hooked ever since. I still have the engine in the garage, I lost in the class final to a Ford Fairlane 260 4 spd. 2 four barrels, Its been quite an adventure and now I drag my son along with me! He loves this stuff as well.

John Dinkel · 01-03-2021, 12:32 PM

Went Onondaga Dragway with my first car a 55 Dodge Coronet. Won a trophy, only car in my class, went a blazing 19.45 don't remember how fast. They had me hooked every since. I remember E J Potter and Dick LaHaie were racing there too.

01-03-2021, 10:09 AM	#11
Frank Castros VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Lowcountry. Posts: 2,959 Likes: 2,550 Liked 2,626 Times in 950 Posts	Re: First Car to the Strip 1971, Dover Drag Strip, 1969 Plymouth Road Runner, 383 four speed. I still have the time slip somewhere in my attic, but after 50 years I don't recall the results of that day. I do remember my leg shaking so hard I could barely find the clutch pedal!

01-03-2021, 10:27 AM	#12
Jeff Niceswanger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 890 Likes: 679 Liked 1,019 Times in 367 Posts	Re: First Car to the Strip 1969 Z-28. I drove it to high school. (1972) My 2 years of savings from my paper route netted me the 1600 dollars needed to purchase this three year old sports car . WOW, how times have changed ! Took the 302 out and installed a new 427/425 target GM replacement motor. Before installing changed cam to the 2nd design L-88 and springs. Hayes aluminum flywheel, 4.88 Zoom gears, cable drive Moroso tack and shutoff, Hooker headers, Thrush mufflers, Holley 800 double pumper. Ran 11.88 at 116. I was terrified to take it down the track the first pass so my brother John gladly obliged. Brought it home on a flatbed as all 12 bolts holding the ring gear sheared . I had borrowed a set of 10 inch white dot #8 Firestones and those bolts did not like them .. LOL Attached Thumbnails __________________ Jeff Niceswanger 3740 SS Last edited by Jeff Niceswanger; 01-03-2021 at 10:43 AM.

01-03-2021, 10:49 AM	#13
James Jeschke Jr Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Pittsburgh Pa. Posts: 35 Likes: 20 Liked 19 Times in 10 Posts	Re: First Car to the Strip Looks like Boburka going through the drive thru in the back ground! LOL __________________ James Jeschke Jr. #1603 I/S

01-03-2021, 10:50 AM	#14
Ken Kopecky Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Edison, NJ Posts: 235 Likes: 374 Liked 273 Times in 56 Posts	Re: First Car to the Strip 1968 I believe, Took my daily driver, Maroon, black vinyl top 66 Chevelle Malibu 283 3-speed on the floor to Island Dragway for my very first trip down the 1/4 mile. Nervous as heck, popped the clutch and did a one-legger all the way down. Things sure have changed! Ken Kopecky

01-03-2021, 11:22 AM	#15
1matcoman Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 340 Likes: 821 Liked 350 Times in 134 Posts	Re: First Car to the Strip 1966 - took my red '63 Chevy Super Sport, 283 2bbl 3 Speed on the floor to Porter (old, sadly now closed, drag strip north of Houston). They teched me in O/S. Don't remember what it ran, but it was slow. My main memory was being in the staging lanes with all of the Houston legends - Raymond Martin, Nickens Bros, Willis Ragsdale, Earl Muscarili, Sammy Cunningham and several others. I was so nervous that I would screw up and do something wrong.

01-03-2021, 11:24 AM	#16
Rory McNeil VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: from Vancouver BC Canada, now in Nova Scotia Posts: 1,311 Likes: 314 Liked 1,102 Times in 301 Posts	Re: First Car to the Strip First pass August 1974, in my $50.00 57 Ford Sedan Delivery. Extremely tired 272 Y block, 3 speed manual with factory 3.89 gears. I added a 4 barrel intake and carb from a 57 Mercury that I found parked in the woods. Ran a blistering 17.2 at 78 MPH, at Mission Raceway. The first "real" car was my 70 Mustang Sportsroof (non Mach 1 fastback) that I bought in 1976 for $2100. 351Cleveland 4 barrel, FMX 3 speed automatic with 3.25 open rearend. Bone stock ran 14.72 @ 94.5 MPH, just a set of $79.00 Cyclone headers hooked to the factory mufflers and pipes went 14.22@99.44 MPH. The car was totalled in 1978, but still have the time slips! __________________ NHRA 6390 STK M/S 85 Mustang

01-03-2021, 11:33 AM	#17
Bob Don VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Greater Boston Posts: 1,495 Likes: 1,113 Liked 900 Times in 191 Posts	Re: First Car to the Strip 1974 New England Dragway. 1971 6 cyl Nova that I bought off my brother. It ran 18s. I beat a 318 Fury for class. I was hooked. Eventually built the car into a U/SA. __________________ Bob Don 128 SS

01-03-2021, 11:36 AM	#18
6130 Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 409 Likes: 295 Liked 117 Times in 50 Posts	Re: First Car to the Strip 1979, right after I got my driver's license, right after my 16th birthday. 1964 Chevy Nova SS with the stock 2-barrel 283, floor-shift 'glide, and open 3.08 10-bolt. It got 28 mpg on the highway, and ran 10 flat on the eighth at Portland International Raceway on Wednesday nights and mid-15s on the quarter at Woodburn Dragstrip on Sunday mornings, on a pair of G70-14 sticky recaps. The first car I ever made money with, was a '71 Pinto coupe (the one with the separate trunk, not the hatchback). It had the stock 1.6 and a 4-speed, and had been repainted the color of a green crayon. I raced it one season, in 1981. It ran surprisingly consistent 21-flat ETs, and more than one opponent threw a temper-tantrum after losing to it. Last edited by 6130; 01-03-2021 at 12:22 PM.

01-03-2021, 12:32 PM	#20
John Dinkel Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Pinckney, Michigan Posts: 507 Likes: 399 Liked 263 Times in 68 Posts	Re: First Car to the Strip Went Onondaga Dragway with my first car a 55 Dodge Coronet. Won a trophy, only car in my class, went a blazing 19.45 don't remember how fast. They had me hooked every since. I remember E J Potter and Dick LaHaie were racing there too. __________________ John Dinkel 3295 STK