NHRA / PRO split

[robinjackson]

It's now 40 years since Don Garlits formed the PRO (PRA at first?) and promoted the Labor Day weekend race at Tulsa head-to-head against the Indy Nationals. Some racers, I think, even managed to compete at both events.

And again in '73... yes?

I only followed the story several months in arrears from imported copies of Hot Rod (same for many people, I guess, in that pre-digital age).

Does anyone here have closer-to-first-hand memories of that occasion? Jon Asher, no doubt? Pat Green? ...

Can you imagine the online stink that would erupt if such a thing were to happen today?

 

[d'kid]

It's now 40 years since Don Garlits formed the PRO (PRA at first?) and promoted the Labor Day weekend race at Tulsa head-to-head against the Indy Nationals. Some racers, I think, even managed to compete at both events.

And again in '73... yes?

I only followed the story several months in arrears from imported copies of Hot Rod (same for many people, I guess, in that pre-digital age).

Does anyone here have closer-to-first-hand memories of that occasion? Jon Asher, no doubt? Pat Green? ...

Can you imagine the online stink that would erupt if such a thing were to happen today?

Let's not forget Grump, Viper, and $$$$Help$$$$ from Jim Tice and the AHRA... I'd guess it as a 7 hour drive... maybe a little less

d'kid

 

[Nunz]

How about this: Garlits paid the fuel winners 25K to win. 40 YEARS AGO. Now, NHRA pays 50K, and 75K for Indy. Progress?

 

[nedannouncer]

There was a Challenge race in 1974 as well, held in NY. It was pretty much an unmitigated disaster and that ended that. In fact, the name PRO was first used for the organization coming into that 1974 event.

Garlits quit as head of PRO before the race even finished because it was such a wreck. Most historical accounts have Don Schumacher stepping in to at least guide the race to completion. Without his leadership, the whole thing may have devolved into an even worse mess.

Brian

 

[none]

There was a Challenge race in 1974 as well, held in NY. It was pretty much an unmitigated disaster and that ended that. In fact, the name PRO was first used for the organization coming into that 1974 event.

Garlits quit as head of PRO before the race even finished because it was such a wreck. Most historical accounts have Don Schumacher stepping in to at least guide the race to completion. Without his leadership, the whole thing may have devolved into an even worse mess.

Brian

Brian, I was at the 74 PRO race at New York National and it went down just as you said. This was without a doubt the biggest clusterf*** I have seen at a drag race. When Big Daddy had taken all the BS he could take and just walked away that was pretty much the end of that event. I seem to remember one of the competors being asked to leave and refused to so they locked a gate to stop him from getting on the strip, he just used his tow vehicle and smashed through the gate! Needless to say that was the end of PRO. It's a shame as they only ran T/F Nitro F/C and Pro Stock at there events and they had a ton of them,A wonderful concept but we all learned you can't have the animals running the zoo!

 

[stanzig44]

For everything about National Challenge 74, read PRO 1974 Page 1.

Great Read!

 

[robinjackson]

Thanks, Stan, for posting this link.

A great read indeed.

The Golden Age of drag racing... eh?

 

[Pinocchio]

My business, Ai Fiberglass attended both the Tulsa and NY races. Along with the racers mentioned, Ray Godman raced at both with his Tenn. Bo Weavil cars.