Godspeed to One of Drag Racing's Truly Epic Figures

[ColeCoonce]

Robert "Jocko" Johnson (1936-2008)

Legendary, iconoclastic drag racer Robert"Jocko" Johnson passed away last week from natural causes. His story, developments, accomplishments and way of life is/was moving, inspirational and beatifically bizarre.

Only one word can describe Jocko: "irreplaceable."

A Memorial “Celebration of Life” for Robert “Jocko” Johnson will be held Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 in Joshua Tree.

Here's a shot of the Jocko's Porting Service streamliner... in 1958, the quickest Top Fuel dragster on the planet, by 2/10ths of a second.

photo by Doug Peterson (begging his permission)

 

[ColeCoonce]

Then there's this streamliner, which was commissioned by Garlits... and which... ummm... didn't match the success of Jocko's Porting Service 'liner from '58...

 

[yoda]

As a fan of full body aerodynamics (albiet fairly useless in a quarter mile), I wish to send my condolences to the Johnson family, and wish Godspeed and thank you to "Jocko" for making his dragsters the sexy cool b!tchin beauties that were too far and few between,and a nice change from the spindly shirthangers and raingutter cars that are (and were) so prominant.

 

[yoda]

A really great read:

Top Fuel Wormhole: The Cole Coonce Drag Strip Reader