What everr happened to the good ol' days

Jimmy R Parker · 11-09-2008, 03:28 PM

Ed, I have eight pictures taken at Tulsa in June of '62 but don't know any of the cars pictured. Send me a Pm with your address and I'll send them to you. One of the pictures is of the "Modern Signs Special" B/MR. I ran quite a bit at Okla City in the early sixties and have some newspaper clippings of the class winners for the summer of '61 when I won my first trophies. Some of the winners from Tulsa were: Roger Takas, A/Sports, Jerry Weidiman, A/GS, Moody-Fritz, A/MR who ran 149.10 MPH on 6-15-61. I also raced at Cushing a few times during that period. I remember one year they have a divisional at Cushing and everyone was setting records until they remeasured the track and it was short by a 100' or so.

Jimmy Parker

bill dedman · 11-09-2008, 05:44 PM

Ed,

No, I didn't know about the airplane deal because in '64, I moved twice; first to Colorado Springs (in June) and to Des Moines, Iowa in October. They're both a ways from Tulsa.

My times in Tulsa were always as a visitor. I had a friend (Sonny Gray) who ran a coffee house/nightclub out on Lewis, and they had great music by the "house band," of which he was the leader. I lived in Little Rock at that time (272 miles away), but had a cousin in Tulsa I could stay with, so, I'd pack up my guitar and amp, and head for Tulsa for the weekend. Sonny usually invited me to sit in with the group. We even did a "live" radio show from the club.

He was staff photographer for the SCCA, and his drop-dead gorgeous wife, Susan, was the club's vocalist.

I was honored to play there. The next morning I'd trek out to one or the other of Tulsa's TWO local drag strips (one was actually an airport), and enjoy a day of spectating before driving back to Little Rock, that night.

Moving to Colorado Springs and then to Des Moines ended all that, and, it turned out I missed hanging around Bob Creitz's shop more than anything else... He WAS the WIZARD... sorry, Bennie... LOL!

Bill

Marty Hujda351 · 11-11-2008, 02:45 PM

Ed Wright · 11-11-2008, 04:04 PM

Bill, you mentioned Ray Lollar, I guess you knew he and Jerry Enerline (probably mis-spelled both last names, sorry) are the two guys that built the new Tulsa track? Mike Edward's (Local Pro Stock hero, or mine anyway) Dad built the round timing tower. He's told me how he did it and about the size blocks he used to make it round. Mr Edwards doesn't get to the races much anymore.

Ed Wright · 11-11-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy R Parker

Ed, I have eight pictures taken at Tulsa in June of '62 but don't know any of the cars pictured. Send me a Pm with your address and I'll send them to you. One of the pictures is of the "Modern Signs Special" B/MR. I ran quite a bit at Okla City in the early sixties and have some newspaper clippings of the class winners for the summer of '61 when I won my first trophies. Some of the winners from Tulsa were: Roger Takas, A/Sports, Jerry Weidiman, A/GS, Moody-Fritz, A/MR who ran 149.10 MPH on 6-15-61. I also raced at Cushing a few times during that period. I remember one year they have a divisional at Cushing and everyone was setting records until they remeasured the track and it was short by a 100' or so.

Jimmy Parker

Jimmy, I raced at Cushing also. First night races I ever knew about were there. Racing in the dark. The guy at the finish line used his turn signals to show which lane won, instead of the usual flag. I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. 16 years old, had a '48 Plymouth with a '54 Dodge Hemi in it. All valve covers, something like 336"? Looked big anyway. I thought I was bad-fast.

My address is:
Ed Wright Automotive
1114 west 41st Street
Tulsa, Ok 74107

Thanks, Ed

Paul Dilcher · 11-11-2008, 05:38 PM

The good ole days, got up and went.

bill dedman · 11-11-2008, 08:35 PM

Ed,

No, I wasn't aware of who had actually built that new track ay Tulsa. AlI I knew was when I went there in '67 for the Finals, it had covered bleachers, something I REALLY appreciated because JUST as soon and Bennie left the line on the T/F Final, the sky literally opened up, and I don't know of I've seen it rain that hard since. I was high and dry, about 40 feet off the starting line with a ROOF over my head!!!

The round tower was cool...

I had a '48 Plymouth business coupe with a 308 cid 1953 Hudson Hornet in in it. Flathead six.... but, it ran like a V8 with two 2-bbls and an Isky cam. The guy who built it (not me) said it ran high 15's...
I never got it on any clocks, but everyone who looked under the hood assumed it was a Plymouth flathead six and wanted to race... LOL!

Ed Wright · 11-12-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Dilcher

The good ole days, got up and went.

Amen!

Paul Dilcher · 11-12-2008, 04:04 PM

ED, if you really want to have fun, try flat-towing from LosAngeles to Buffalo,New York. Did that three times in the 1970`s. That was without Jeff`s high-classed towing hubs or all the superhighways that we enjoy today. One trip when when we got to Cleveland we ran into a blizzard , it was white-knuckles to Buffalo .

11-09-2008, 03:28 PM	#1
Jimmy R Parker Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Columbus, Ga Posts: 32 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What everr happened to the good ol' days Ed, I have eight pictures taken at Tulsa in June of '62 but don't know any of the cars pictured. Send me a Pm with your address and I'll send them to you. One of the pictures is of the "Modern Signs Special" B/MR. I ran quite a bit at Okla City in the early sixties and have some newspaper clippings of the class winners for the summer of '61 when I won my first trophies. Some of the winners from Tulsa were: Roger Takas, A/Sports, Jerry Weidiman, A/GS, Moody-Fritz, A/MR who ran 149.10 MPH on 6-15-61. I also raced at Cushing a few times during that period. I remember one year they have a divisional at Cushing and everyone was setting records until they remeasured the track and it was short by a 100' or so. Jimmy Parker

11-09-2008, 05:44 PM	#2
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: What everr happened to the good ol' days Ed, No, I didn't know about the airplane deal because in '64, I moved twice; first to Colorado Springs (in June) and to Des Moines, Iowa in October. They're both a ways from Tulsa. My times in Tulsa were always as a visitor. I had a friend (Sonny Gray) who ran a coffee house/nightclub out on Lewis, and they had great music by the "house band," of which he was the leader. I lived in Little Rock at that time (272 miles away), but had a cousin in Tulsa I could stay with, so, I'd pack up my guitar and amp, and head for Tulsa for the weekend. Sonny usually invited me to sit in with the group. We even did a "live" radio show from the club. He was staff photographer for the SCCA, and his drop-dead gorgeous wife, Susan, was the club's vocalist. I was honored to play there. The next morning I'd trek out to one or the other of Tulsa's TWO local drag strips (one was actually an airport), and enjoy a day of spectating before driving back to Little Rock, that night. Moving to Colorado Springs and then to Des Moines ended all that, and, it turned out I missed hanging around Bob Creitz's shop more than anything else... He WAS the WIZARD... sorry, Bennie... LOL! Bill __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 11-09-2008 at 05:49 PM.

11-11-2008, 02:45 PM	#3
Marty Hujda351 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Stapels,Mn. Posts: 14 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Rock falls raceway eau claire,wis. Oct.1978 Last edited by Marty Hujda351; 11-12-2008 at 09:17 AM.

11-11-2008, 04:04 PM	#4
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: What everr happened to the good ol' days Bill, you mentioned Ray Lollar, I guess you knew he and Jerry Enerline (probably mis-spelled both last names, sorry) are the two guys that built the new Tulsa track? Mike Edward's (Local Pro Stock hero, or mine anyway) Dad built the round timing tower. He's told me how he did it and about the size blocks he used to make it round. Mr Edwards doesn't get to the races much anymore. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

11-11-2008, 05:38 PM	#6
Paul Dilcher Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: brockport newyork Posts: 97 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What everr happened to the good ol' days The good ole days, got up and went. __________________ Paul Dilcher 1037 STK

11-11-2008, 08:35 PM	#7
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: What everr happened to the good ol' days Ed, No, I wasn't aware of who had actually built that new track ay Tulsa. AlI I knew was when I went there in '67 for the Finals, it had covered bleachers, something I REALLY appreciated because JUST as soon and Bennie left the line on the T/F Final, the sky literally opened up, and I don't know of I've seen it rain that hard since. I was high and dry, about 40 feet off the starting line with a ROOF over my head!!! The round tower was cool... I had a '48 Plymouth business coupe with a 308 cid 1953 Hudson Hornet in in it. Flathead six.... but, it ran like a V8 with two 2-bbls and an Isky cam. The guy who built it (not me) said it ran high 15's... I never got it on any clocks, but everyone who looked under the hood assumed it was a Plymouth flathead six and wanted to race... LOL! __________________ Bill

11-12-2008, 04:04 PM	#9
Paul Dilcher Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: brockport newyork Posts: 97 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What everr happened to the good ol' days ED, if you really want to have fun, try flat-towing from LosAngeles to Buffalo,New York. Did that three times in the 1970`s. That was without Jeff`s high-classed towing hubs or all the superhighways that we enjoy today. One trip when when we got to Cleveland we ran into a blizzard , it was white-knuckles to Buffalo . __________________ Paul Dilcher 1037 STK