It would be interesting to know who are peoples favorite drag racers from the glorious past. For me it is real easy and without a doubt what my favorites have always been. For TOP FUEL it is the one and only DON GARLITS (Big Daddy) . Don not only has the most wins in Top Fuel, he is also the most prolific builder and innovator in Top Fuel. For FUNNY CAR it is JIM LIEBERMAN (Jungle Jim). Jim was a major Chevrolet supporter and racer, who stuck with Chevrolet even when most other racers were jumping ship to Hemi's. He was also a real showman and one of the most popular drivers ever. For PRO STOCK............ well this one is a no brainer, MR. BILL JENKINS (Grumpy). Bill was the best and he did it with Chevrolet all the way. A genius in everything automotive and did many things that boggled the minds of his competitors. He was beating big Hemi's with his tiny small block Vega time and time and time again and started a trend. These are my all time favorite drag racers, what are yours. George.
__________________
1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
The last time I was in Brainerd Don "The Snake" Prudhomme won the top fuel event. He's my top fuel favorite. At that same event in Funny Car, John Force and Del Worsham did a half track burnout side by side that I will never forget. Hard not to choose John in this category. Bob Glidden is a no brainer for Pro Stock. Sox and Martin stand out for me in Super Stock.
__________________
66 Beaumont Sport Deluxe, 72 Nova SS, 2009 Solstice GXP Coupe (wife's toy)
As Jay Leno says "There was nobody cooler than Don Prudhomme". I'm fortunate to have one of the Hot Wheels 'Legends' Snake funny cars that has the audio track of 'The Snake' doing his burnout, a wheelie to start the race and running through the traps. I had it signed by Don Prudhomme at his shop in California.
Bill Jenkins so doubt. I met him briefly at Sanair Quebec, 1972, he was driving a Duster!!
Thanks Randy
Randy, why was Bill driving a Duster??????? He was knee deep in his small block Pro Stock Vega's at that time. Was Bill trying to be funny? Bill only drove Mopar in 1964-1965 before he found the hot combination in 1966 with the 66 Nova with 327/350. With that car in 66 he really cleaned up and it was nothing but Chevrolet from there on. Of course before 1964 Bill Jenkins was nothing but Chevrolet from 1951 to 1963. Chevrolet pulling out of racing in 1963 made Bill go to Mopar. Randy when you met Bill in 1972 at Sanair, was that the time when Bill got really pissed off and drove back down the track going the wrong way. Bill was really angry at someone at the starting area.
__________________
1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
Watching him in the 80's was amazing. Glidden was far too yappy, with a big ego to boot. (Remember, that's just my own opinion, no need to take it personally you Glidden fans!!!)
__________________
1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Don "The Snake" Prudhomme X2. Saw him in Seattle on summer at the Seattle Seafair. Took the Beaumont, which was a bit of an attention getter in the parking lot. Also saw the Budwieser boats. A good trip (other than sleeping in the car.)
__________________
"So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think... The good outnumber you, and we always will." Patton Oswalt
Bill Jenkins so doubt. I met him briefly at Sanair Quebec, 1972, he was driving a Duster!!
Thanks Randy
Randy, why was Bill driving a Duster??????? He was knee deep in his small block Pro Stock Vega's at that time. Was Bill trying to be funny? Bill only drove Mopar in 1964-1965 before he found the hot combination in 1966 with the 66 Nova with 327/350. With that car in 66 he really cleaned up and it was nothing but Chevrolet from there on. Of course before 1964 Bill Jenkins was nothing but Chevrolet from 1951 to 1963. Chevrolet pulling out of racing in 1963 made Bill go to Mopar. Randy when you met Bill in 1972 at Sanair, was that the time when Bill got really pissed off and drove back down the track going the wrong way. Bill was really angry at someone at the starting area.
It was his rental car, complete with his signature box of cigars!!
I don't remember him driving backwards but probably missed it.
However, I once ran down a strip backwards in Nova Scotia.!!
Another guy and I made time trial and at the shutdown area we were told we weren't getting the next two we were entitled to.
I didn't even know the other guy but we looked at each other and both drove right back to the finish line.
After we stopped and made sure the track was clear, off we went, down the track the wrong way, across the starting line and out the gate!!
Talk about a commotion, its a wonder we got away.
Thanks
Randy
-- Edited by GLHS60 on Tuesday 3rd of March 2015 12:40:26 AM
Watching him in the 80's was amazing. Glidden was far too yappy, with a big ego to boot. (Remember, that's just my own opinion, no need to take it personally you Glidden fans!!!)
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Bill Jenkins so doubt. I met him briefly at Sanair Quebec, 1972, he was driving a Duster!!
Thanks Randy
Randy, why was Bill driving a Duster??????? He was knee deep in his small block Pro Stock Vega's at that time. Was Bill trying to be funny? Bill only drove Mopar in 1964-1965 before he found the hot combination in 1966 with the 66 Nova with 327/350. With that car in 66 he really cleaned up and it was nothing but Chevrolet from there on. Of course before 1964 Bill Jenkins was nothing but Chevrolet from 1951 to 1963. Chevrolet pulling out of racing in 1963 made Bill go to Mopar. Randy when you met Bill in 1972 at Sanair, was that the time when Bill got really pissed off and drove back down the track going the wrong way. Bill was really angry at someone at the starting area.
that was at boundary bay in '75, he was match racing dick landy
I saw Hawaiian Punch at toronto international raceway in '74. There was a bunch of wheelie cars there too. I don't hink anyone has won more championships than John Force, no other driver burns up a car at 300 mph, doing whatever it takes to win a race.
I suppose you can break it down by your favorite driver and what car company he or she represented as well. For CHEVROLET is Bill Jenkins (Grumpy) in Super Stock then Pro Stock, Jim Lieberman (Jungle Jim) in Funny Car, Dick Harrell (Mr. Chevrolet) in Super Stock and Funny Car. Kelly Chadwick in Funny Car. For PONTIAC is Ernie Beswick (Tameless Tiger) in Super Stock, Pro Stock and Funny Car. For OLDSMOBILE it is Warren Johnson (The Professor) in Pro Stock and Dick Smothers in Super Stock.For FORD it is Bob Glidden in Pro Stock, Mickey Thompson in Funny Car and Barrie Poole (Border Bandit) in Super Stock. For PLYMOUTH it is Sox and Martin (The Boss) in Super Stock and Pro Stock. For DODGE it is Don Garlits (Big Daddy) in Top Fuel, Dick Landy (Dandy) in Super Stock and Pro Stock and Shirley Shahan (Drag on Lady) in Super Stock. For AMC it is Wally Booth in Pro Stock and later Shirley Shahan (Drag on Lady) in Pro Stock. George.
-- Edited by long stroke on Tuesday 3rd of March 2015 01:08:40 PM
-- Edited by long stroke on Tuesday 3rd of March 2015 01:13:59 PM
__________________
1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
Watching him in the 80's was amazing. Glidden was far too yappy, with a big ego to boot. (Remember, that's just my own opinion, no need to take it personally you Glidden fans!!!)
.........agree Carl........Warren was KING of Pro Stock when Pro Stock was fun to watch......imo Glidden just didn't get
caught with the NO2 .....unlike Alderman and Eckman ........as for Top Fuel has to be Big Daddy and
Funny Car by default John Force as he has done more for Drag Racing on and off the track than any other single racer.
Followed Garlits right from the 50's until he retired......met him several times when we raced, a real gentleman and
unbelievable true racer..........any Drag Racing fan must get to his Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, FL
__________________
......big block, 4 speed, bench seat, it doesn't get much better
