Nitro idols

[robslob]

Of course,The Swamp Rat covers many years of drag racin'. But what about The Surfers? Robert Skinner and Tom Jobe ran 100% pop in the early 60's and used no idler pulley on the blower drive!! Legend has it that The Surfers raided other fuel team's pitside trash cans for parts. Who can forget Sneaky Pete Robinson, Dyno Don, The Bounty Hunter, and the other fuel teams that ran with the cammer in the later 60's... 6 feet of timing chain. Can you imangine pullin' the heads between rounds on those puppies??

 

[flapjack]

Nitro only huh... ok in NO particular order:

Austin Coil / Dick LaHaie / Don Garlits / Tony Schumacher / Don Prudhomme / Alan Johnson

Paul, I would ask about PS, TA/FC, TA/D, A/Fuel and the like, but sadly I wouldn't recognize many of the names.

 

[d'kid]

some of my childhood idols and heroes became friends . . .Leroy Dewdney, Bunny Burkett, Frank Manzo, Bob Newberry, Joe Lepone ,Camp Stanley, Tommy Howes, Tom Anderson, (just to name a few). . . .talk about a rush. . .as a kid I watched and admired these racers, now I have more memories that were never dreamed of!

You forgot John Parish, and I agree, Carol is cool away from the track too

d'kid

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Paul, I would ask about PS, TA/FC, TA/D, A/Fuel and the like, but sadly I wouldn't recognize many of the names.

Tom, one class at a time is better. When this cools off, then pick another class. It's interesting to see peoples opinions. Often they think of folks that you've forgot.

Great thread idea Tom, thanks.

 

[pomona99]

How about the engine builders...Keith Black, Ed Donovan, Ed Pink, and the guy who went out of his way to help lots of nitro racers, Marv Rifchin. I also liked the innovators such as Jerry Verheul, Pete Robinson, Pat Foster and Tommy Ivo, and the flat out tenacious competitors such as Gary Beck, Gary Ormsby, Shirl Greer, John Wiebe, Richard Tharp and Dale Pulde. Also ANYONE who ever drove a AA/FA!

 

[Tim5636sc]

Paul, I would ask about PS, TA/FC, TA/D, A/Fuel and the like, but sadly I wouldn't recognize many of the names.

Well let me help you get to know them...

PRO STOCK - LEE SHEPHERD.... The Legend of Lee Shepherd… READ THIS CLASSIC ARTICLE by some guy named Bobby Bennett Jr.

TA/FC - CHUCK BEAL.... http://www.nitromater.com/blogs/gordon-carlon/47-chuck-beal-racing.html READ 'FLAPS' Blog....truly describes my 'hero worship' of this guy too....

TA/D - RICK SANTOS .... Rick Santos - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia His Small Block Chevy tuned by his Dad George was my ALL-TIME Favorite TA/D.....

A/Fuel - Gene Adams.... Gene Adams - Interview - Hot Rod Magazine

When his shop was in Oceanside, I used to watch legend after legend walk into his shop looking for injection help.

This should give you a good start Tom...

 

[Kansas Stan]

forgot to put that old Georgia engineer on my list....Pete Robinson and another who had my full appreciation....Don Enriquez. How about Steve Carbone?

 

[Gordon]

Well let me help you get to know them...

TA/FC - CHUCK BEAL.... http://www.nitromater.com/blogs/gordon-carlon/47-chuck-beal-racing.html READ 'FLAPS' Blog....truly describes my 'hero worship' of this guy too....

Thanks, Tim! I forgot I wrote that - not too bad if I do say so myself.

I'm sure you noticed who I listed as my nitro hero. He may not have accomplished everything some of the others have, but in my mind accomplishments don't always make heroes. I'm not now, nor would I ever take anything away from anyone else on the list - there are some true studs in this thread... I just kept my hero worship a little more personal for me.

 

[Rajunz]

Paul Candies, Leonard Hughes and Mark Oswald

I grew up in Houma, Louisiana so these guys were definitely my childhood heros. I can remember back in '69 driving by Leonard Hughes' house and he had the chassis on jackstands under his carport, the body laying in the lawn and the ramp truck parked along side of the road in the ditch. He would just cover it up with a blanket at night. The next year they built this new shop in Houma and we used to go there and watch them work on their Cajun Cudas..............this is when Snake came to race at LaPlace Dragway in April of '70.

........and they were winners.

My bar room.........

 

[none]

Paul Candies, Leonard Hughes and Mark Oswald

I grew up in Houma, Louisiana so these guys were definitely my childhood heros. I can remember back in '69 driving by Leonard Hughes' house and he had the chassis on jackstands under his carport, the body laying in the lawn and the ramp truck parked along side of the road in the ditch. He would just cover it up with a blanket at night. The next year they built this new shop in Houma and we used to go there and watch them work on their Cajun Cudas..............this is when Snake came to race at LaPlace Dragway in April of '70.

........and they were winners.

My bar room.........

That is good stuff Lance.........

 

[bigguy]

Kosty Ivanoff took me in and made me learn, also Bill Peterson his crew chief one smart person, to bad he did not stay in the sport , would have gone far. Many other div. 7 drivers and crew that helped me wrench and drive. and my best friend and favorite Joe Clement miss you hope you finally ran that 4 upstairs. RIP friend.

 

[Speed1288]

Hmm tough to say

drivers
1. Garlits
2. Snake
3. Shirley
4. KB
5. John Force

tuners
1. Armstrong
2. AJ
3. Coil
4. Leong
5. Richards

 

[JAG]

I'm going to have to go with the ones that got me hook, line and sinker:

Rapid Ronnie Runyan
Al Vanderwoude
Doc Halladay

See you this afternoon Doc!

 

[Kansas Stan]

Ronnie Runyan was a hell of a showman. In the same category as Dickie Harrell and Jungle. and he sure did a lot with a big block Chevy. Another that I really liked but only got to see once was Warren Gunter and the Durachrome Bug....certifiably insane to be driving that wicked little monster.

 

[Rajunz]

Ronnie Runyan was a hell of a showman. In the same category as Dickie Harrell and Jungle. and he sure did a lot with a big block Chevy. Another that I really liked but only got to see once was Warren Gunter and the Durachrome Bug....certifiably insane to be driving that wicked little monster.

Check this out, pretty cool..........
Durachrome Bug

 

[cephus]

Biggggggggggg Dadddddddy

 

[Kansas Stan]

Thanks for the pics, Lance. Loved that car! Saw it at Wichita at a Coke sponsored race.