Met a Drag Racing Legend

Mike Keener · 12-19-2010, 10:37 PM

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".

12-19-2010, 10:37 PM	#1
Mike Keener Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 294 Likes: 102 Liked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Met a Drag Racing Legend 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". Attached Thumbnails __________________ Mike Keener A/S B/S C/SM Last edited by Mike Keener; 12-19-2010 at 10:43 PM. Reason: extra words