Coolest off track and historic drag racing photos ever

[TSK]

This was at the I-30 Raceway. A 1/8 mile track just south of Little Rock in the late '70s to early '80s.

 

[TSK]

Buddy Martin and Larry Lombardo at Indy '79.
It was during Sunday qualifying. Things were a bit more laid back then.

 

[TSK]

Bob Glidden, the master of the internal combustion engine, Indy 79 in his killer 340/W2 Plymouth Arrow.

 

[TSK]

Larry Lombardo at Indy '79.

 

[Tony]

Bob Glidden, the master of the internal combustion engine, Indy 79 in his killer 340/W2 Plymouth Arrow.
View attachment 4379

Look at the spectators literally looking over BOB GLIDDEN'S shoulder. You sure as h-e-double hockey sticks can't do that now.

 

[TSK]

A few more.

Glidden's 340 Arrow

 

[Porkchop]

I forgot Lee Beard came up with the actual "Terrible Towel" when he put one on the accelerator pedal on Gary Ormsby's TF when he had a string of great reaction times, just to fool with the other racers. Dale's towel came later, with that great question mark on it. It covered an air operated lean out system that opened up a jet at about 3.6 seconds into the run.
Dale had a lot of tricks, like using a kickdown switch from a junkyard GTO hooked to the shifter and to a light bulb on the back of Kenny's FC to find out KB was shifting right after launch, not where he needed to.....sort of a lie-detector system!

Actually Dales towel was well before Ormsby and Beards towel. Dales was in 85 I believe and Lees came around 89

 

[flapjack]

Actually Dales towel was well before Ormsby and Beards towel. Dales was in 85 I believe and Lees came around 89

I think the towel came out not for the air actuators but for the data recorder. But I was 14 at the time so what do I know?

 

[Porkchop]

I think the towel came out not for the air actuators but for the data recorder. But I was 14 at the time so what do I know?

It was a fuel control valve under Dales towel

 

[sdwarf36]

It was a fuel control valve under Dales towel

That was always my guess. I think he did something with the linkage ratio that allowed him to cut a reasonable light-at a time when nitro lights were a joke.

 

[TSK]

 

[Mike_in_Toney]

 

[Mike_in_Toney]

 

[Pete]

Bringing this thread back to the front. Lets see if we can capture any newly found pics from the olden days