Trophy trivia

[robslob]

We have all seen the top end interviews: Victorious driver holding the "Wally", performing everything short of the consummation of a civil union with it, all the while acknowledging anything from the team mascot to the Good Lord. BUT, does anyone know the history of The Wally ???

 

[Surfer Ed]

I do remember hearing long ago that the person standing by the drag slick in the statue was based on a California top gas dragster driver whose name escapes me at the moment.

 

[sammi]

Jack Jones

 

[Rajunz]

http://www.northridge-montgomery.k12.oh.us/HallofFame/biography PDF/jones.pdf

 

[mike]

Now that you got that right what was the winners trophy called before that?

 

[dragstats]

at one time they used to call it an oscar and the the movie academy asked nhra to stop using the term

 

[robslob]

The Oscars, huh. What started me on this trivia search was I noticed that the face mask had goggles made into them and Jack's helmet also had goggles attached to it. I looked at quite a few old pictures of fuel drivers in action and in the ones that are clear enough, all I could make out was the driver was wearing just one set of goggles. I thought that back in the open crankcase vent days that the shoes might want two pair in case one got covered in puke or the like. THEN, I came across an article in HOT ROD DELUXE about the Wally and it stated that the goggles were added by the American Dragway Trophy Company and were not in the photos shot by Les Lovett in '69. NOW, I would like to know if any 'Maters know if the fuel shoes of yore wore more than one pair of goggles???

 

[mike]

Robert in them days it was common to wear two pair of goggles I know idid in top gas

 

[Randy]

And after your picture is taken at the top end and you are all done consumating your relationship with it they take it back to give it to the next winner so he/she can do the same thing with it. The real Wally that you get to keep is given to you later before the winner's circle photos are taken.

 

[robslob]

Thanks for the info... I just hope the drivers use some sort of protection in the winner's circle. Can you imanagine getting a transmitted disease from some doorslammer ???