What got you started drag racing?? - Page 3

Chevellewagon · 03-11-2010, 10:55 PM

It was 1978. Got a good deal on a 65 Nova SS street car with a 300 horse 327.....30/30 cam.....M21 4 speed. Wasn't that fast but when it's your first run down the 1/4 you think it's a rocket........LOL !! Been addicted ever since. With good luck and some "extra" money my be out a couple of times this year.

Phil aka Chevellewagon

Nitro Joe Jackson · 03-11-2010, 11:05 PM

I was borned, most of you know the rest of the story, lol

Casper68 · 03-11-2010, 11:26 PM

dad and his '59 El Camino.....

....and having the fastest Big Wheel on the block.

Mike Taylor 3601 · 03-12-2010, 12:12 AM

Got to start going with my Dad when I was 2 years old He ran modified at Bluegrass Dragway in Lexington Ky. and Mountain Park Dragway in Clay City Ky. He had 66 Chevelle ran E-F gas then built 67 SS/RS camaro that ran H/G had 292 sbc with Crower injection. he had to quit in 1974 I was one heatbroke 7 year old every Sat&Sun when we were'nt racing anymore it was all I had done as long as I could remember.I still remember the sound of that 292 @ 9200 and 40 pound flywheel on the way back down.He still has the Camaro and 292 shortblock and injection.
Dad would'nt let me go to track when I got my license finally in 1986 when I was 18,a bunch of my friends went,I could'nt go my nova street car was apart I was repainting it I had rearended a car,but next Sunday I had it back together in primer and went,I told Dad I just wanted to see what it would run,because he did'nt want me to go,he give me every excuse he could come up with from exagerating how much it would cost me to go to track or any other myth he could think of ,all because he knew I went I'd be hooked and he would'nt be able to stand it.
I did'nt miss a race after that for 3years,Dad was building a new race car within about a month after I started.I wanted to be drag racer as far back as I can remember.
Mike Taylor 3601

Dion Hildebrandt · 03-12-2010, 12:51 AM

at the age of 3 mom told dad to take the truck to the track and get it out of your system. Well this stuff has staying power because the whole family is involved and the third generation is taking interest. It's in my blood, all the adventures this crazy hobby/sport brings with it. All the places it's taken me Orange county, spokane , seattle , The Big Go, pomona, as well as many others I wouldnt trade it for the fat wallet i would have instead.hahaha. Man I can still hear the old modifieds leaving the line ,Big daddy flipping over for the last time 20 feet away from me, Mike Dunn's engine explosion at OCIR, stockers running at the weekly races, Roger Bateman mowing over the christmas tree at the old edmonton track..all the memories and stories hard to turn a back to all that

George Fitzpatrick · 03-12-2010, 07:49 AM

In 1968 bought my first real car 1963 Pontiac Catalina factory 4 speed, the guy I bought it from suggested lets see what it can run in 1/4. Sooooo went to New York National speedway and luck would have it my first race was against Sam biondo, in a bracket race (image that’s your first race). Lost but got hooked forever. And by the way I have never beaten a biondo yet. I can still remember Sam looking over and pacing me as we race.

Dick Butler · 03-12-2010, 08:10 AM

I was given a copy of HOT ROD 1956. I liked some of the cars. Had friends who had 56 chevies and built their own motors and tuned while working Gas Stations evenings and Week ends. My High School lunch class had a view of the racing on the boulevard outside the school and I almost failed Latin watching. Helped dad do a few rebuilds of family car in the garage and saw my first race at STOUT AIR FIELD in Indy. Ohio George ran his 34 ford and his Chevy Cameo pickup.
Got into a local Car club with the guys and decided watching them always come up short on money to continue racing or buy the next parts I would go to College so I could afford to race and afford it.
It was a great stimulus to keep going. Then the Jr. Stock Articles from Car Craft ? and the infection was total and the rest just got better...

SCOTT SST2871 · 03-12-2010, 08:41 AM

When i was in high school i had a friend that had a 65 chevy short bed p/up with a 283 4speed with a cam ,headers,4 barrel and posi rear..we went every where in that truck and i thought it was fast.i had a 74 gto 350 auto and i just knew it wasnt fast!! We raced down a side street one day and i beat him badly..we went to the track the next weekend and ive been there ever since..by the way that friend still lives in town and has an auto repair shop and buys parts from me at the pontiac/buick/gmc dealership that ive worked at for 19 years
scott fifield

Isaac Zane · 03-12-2010, 10:24 AM

I'm blaming this addiction on my uncle Jim Zane. He got out of the service in 1968 and he and his buddies took a little 9 year old to Cecil with them. Man it was a fun time with the sights, sounds and smells! Next thing, he brings home a brand new 69 Z/28 and off to the track we go. It's been a whirlwind of fun and excitement ever since! From Nat'l records and class wins and many round wins with Jim to S/SS, Div. and Nat'l event wins with Lee along with a World Championship. It's been fantastic! I have even managed to win a few rounds myself. Three semifinals, one with the Opel at Maguire AFB, one S/SS race in 2004 (lost to Mark Faul on a R/L) and late this past year at a bracket race at Atco, both with the Apollo. Gotta thank Barry Johnson for the Apollo!

Safe Trips All!

will prater · 03-12-2010, 10:55 AM

I have to blame Ed Wright. When I was a kid growing up in Tulsa I used to see his SS/MA Chevelle outside his shop on a ramp truck. I wondered what it was and stopped to investigate. His wife Jeannie let me look at the car and explained what it was. The next stop was to see it run at the track and I have been hooked ever since. I went from cars to drag boats but finally back to cars.

03-11-2010, 10:55 PM	#21
Chevellewagon Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cantonment, Fl Posts: 104 Likes: 76 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? It was 1978. Got a good deal on a 65 Nova SS street car with a 300 horse 327.....30/30 cam.....M21 4 speed. Wasn't that fast but when it's your first run down the 1/4 you think it's a rocket........LOL !! Been addicted ever since. With good luck and some "extra" money my be out a couple of times this year. Phil aka Chevellewagon

03-11-2010, 11:05 PM	#22
Nitro Joe Jackson VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Loudonville, Ohio or where ever the Nitro Lounge is parked Posts: 2,293 Likes: 57 Liked 67 Times in 19 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? I was borned, most of you know the rest of the story, lol __________________ Nitro Joe Jackson STK 3431 nitrojoe@neo.rr.com

03-11-2010, 11:26 PM	#23
Casper68 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 44 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? dad and his '59 El Camino..... ....and having the fastest Big Wheel on the block.

03-12-2010, 12:12 AM	#24
Mike Taylor 3601 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somerset,Ky Posts: 1,371 Likes: 352 Liked 304 Times in 102 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? Got to start going with my Dad when I was 2 years old He ran modified at Bluegrass Dragway in Lexington Ky. and Mountain Park Dragway in Clay City Ky. He had 66 Chevelle ran E-F gas then built 67 SS/RS camaro that ran H/G had 292 sbc with Crower injection. he had to quit in 1974 I was one heatbroke 7 year old every Sat&Sun when we were'nt racing anymore it was all I had done as long as I could remember.I still remember the sound of that 292 @ 9200 and 40 pound flywheel on the way back down.He still has the Camaro and 292 shortblock and injection. Dad would'nt let me go to track when I got my license finally in 1986 when I was 18,a bunch of my friends went,I could'nt go my nova street car was apart I was repainting it I had rearended a car,but next Sunday I had it back together in primer and went,I told Dad I just wanted to see what it would run,because he did'nt want me to go,he give me every excuse he could come up with from exagerating how much it would cost me to go to track or any other myth he could think of ,all because he knew I went I'd be hooked and he would'nt be able to stand it. I did'nt miss a race after that for 3years,Dad was building a new race car within about a month after I started.I wanted to be drag racer as far back as I can remember. Mike Taylor 3601

03-12-2010, 12:51 AM	#25
Dion Hildebrandt Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: calgary alberta canada Posts: 383 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? at the age of 3 mom told dad to take the truck to the track and get it out of your system. Well this stuff has staying power because the whole family is involved and the third generation is taking interest. It's in my blood, all the adventures this crazy hobby/sport brings with it. All the places it's taken me Orange county, spokane , seattle , The Big Go, pomona, as well as many others I wouldnt trade it for the fat wallet i would have instead.hahaha. Man I can still hear the old modifieds leaving the line ,Big daddy flipping over for the last time 20 feet away from me, Mike Dunn's engine explosion at OCIR, stockers running at the weekly races, Roger Bateman mowing over the christmas tree at the old edmonton track..all the memories and stories hard to turn a back to all that __________________ Dion Hildebrandt 6009 STK H/SA

03-12-2010, 07:49 AM	#26
George Fitzpatrick Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Babylon, NY Posts: 344 Likes: 118 Liked 94 Times in 24 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? In 1968 bought my first real car 1963 Pontiac Catalina factory 4 speed, the guy I bought it from suggested lets see what it can run in 1/4. Sooooo went to New York National speedway and luck would have it my first race was against Sam biondo, in a bracket race (image that’s your first race). Lost but got hooked forever. And by the way I have never beaten a biondo yet. I can still remember Sam looking over and pacing me as we race. __________________ George Fitzpatrick 426 HEMI STK, SS

03-12-2010, 08:10 AM	#27
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? I was given a copy of HOT ROD 1956. I liked some of the cars. Had friends who had 56 chevies and built their own motors and tuned while working Gas Stations evenings and Week ends. My High School lunch class had a view of the racing on the boulevard outside the school and I almost failed Latin watching. Helped dad do a few rebuilds of family car in the garage and saw my first race at STOUT AIR FIELD in Indy. Ohio George ran his 34 ford and his Chevy Cameo pickup. Got into a local Car club with the guys and decided watching them always come up short on money to continue racing or buy the next parts I would go to College so I could afford to race and afford it. It was a great stimulus to keep going. Then the Jr. Stock Articles from Car Craft ? and the infection was total and the rest just got better...

03-12-2010, 08:41 AM	#28
SCOTT SST2871 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PORT ST JOHN FLORIDA Posts: 226 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? When i was in high school i had a friend that had a 65 chevy short bed p/up with a 283 4speed with a cam ,headers,4 barrel and posi rear..we went every where in that truck and i thought it was fast.i had a 74 gto 350 auto and i just knew it wasnt fast!! We raced down a side street one day and i beat him badly..we went to the track the next weekend and ive been there ever since..by the way that friend still lives in town and has an auto repair shop and buys parts from me at the pontiac/buick/gmc dealership that ive worked at for 19 years scott fifield

03-12-2010, 10:24 AM	#29
Isaac Zane Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: North Myrtle Beach, SC Posts: 361 Likes: 391 Liked 50 Times in 14 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? I'm blaming this addiction on my uncle Jim Zane. He got out of the service in 1968 and he and his buddies took a little 9 year old to Cecil with them. Man it was a fun time with the sights, sounds and smells! Next thing, he brings home a brand new 69 Z/28 and off to the track we go. It's been a whirlwind of fun and excitement ever since! From Nat'l records and class wins and many round wins with Jim to S/SS, Div. and Nat'l event wins with Lee along with a World Championship. It's been fantastic! I have even managed to win a few rounds myself. Three semifinals, one with the Opel at Maguire AFB, one S/SS race in 2004 (lost to Mark Faul on a R/L) and late this past year at a bracket race at Atco, both with the Apollo. Gotta thank Barry Johnson for the Apollo! Safe Trips All! __________________ Isaac Zane STK 1237 J/SA Buick Apollo Patriot Guard Rider DOOF 43

03-12-2010, 10:55 AM	#30
will prater Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Carthage, MO Posts: 108 Likes: 2 Liked 7 Times in 4 Posts	Re: What got you started drag racing?? I have to blame Ed Wright. When I was a kid growing up in Tulsa I used to see his SS/MA Chevelle outside his shop on a ramp truck. I wondered what it was and stopped to investigate. His wife Jeannie let me look at the car and explained what it was. The next stop was to see it run at the track and I have been hooked ever since. I went from cars to drag boats but finally back to cars.