jannes_z-28
10-17-2009, 12:26 PM
I went through some old photos the other day and found a stack from 1979 when I first visited the NHRA US Nationals at Indy. At the time I was selling parts from Strange Engineering so I went there with them. They had a 42ft motorhome parked at the finishline and to get that spot it had to be parked there on the first day of the event.
We got there late in the afternoon on Wednesday before Labor Day. When we had parked it the first round of qualifications in Funny Car started. The air must have been extremely good because I saw three consecutive five seconds run by Funny Cars. The first ever since Prudhommes 5.95 on Ontario a few years earlier. If I remember correctly it was Ray Beadle in Blue Max 5.95, Gordie Bonin 5.97 and Billy Meyer 5.99. Just like that with almost no spectators at all. This was the best times the Funnies ever did at that race! And I was one of very few to witness it.
Cragar had its five second club if you remember and here they filled spot 2-4 in that exclusive membership.
Here is one picture of Raymond Beadle in his 5.95 run.
http://www.protouring.se/files/beadle.jpg
= = = = =
This is a shot from the roof of the motorhome. It was quite a bunch of celebrities up there on final day.
Many of the guys running equipment from Strange was invited up there and many came there. This shot is probably early afternoon. When the last rounds was I think it was around 40 people on that roof and a lot on the ground. You can see 'Lil John Lombardo with a guy I don't remember reading a Swedish dragracing magazine I brought. Chassiebuilder of Fame Don Hardy talking with Chris "The Golden Greek" Karamesines and a lot more. That year they had the Funny Car pits on this side so it was close by for the racers to come by us.
Behind my back was another motorhome that made good burgers. Strange had a deal with them, they supplied the burgers and Strange supplied the beer. Even Wally Parks came by for lunch one day.
http://www.protouring.se/files/roof.jpg
I attended this race for a few years, the last one was 1982.
It was a very great experience and a lot of nice people. And of course good racing.
Jan
We got there late in the afternoon on Wednesday before Labor Day. When we had parked it the first round of qualifications in Funny Car started. The air must have been extremely good because I saw three consecutive five seconds run by Funny Cars. The first ever since Prudhommes 5.95 on Ontario a few years earlier. If I remember correctly it was Ray Beadle in Blue Max 5.95, Gordie Bonin 5.97 and Billy Meyer 5.99. Just like that with almost no spectators at all. This was the best times the Funnies ever did at that race! And I was one of very few to witness it.
Cragar had its five second club if you remember and here they filled spot 2-4 in that exclusive membership.
Here is one picture of Raymond Beadle in his 5.95 run.
http://www.protouring.se/files/beadle.jpg
= = = = =
This is a shot from the roof of the motorhome. It was quite a bunch of celebrities up there on final day.
Many of the guys running equipment from Strange was invited up there and many came there. This shot is probably early afternoon. When the last rounds was I think it was around 40 people on that roof and a lot on the ground. You can see 'Lil John Lombardo with a guy I don't remember reading a Swedish dragracing magazine I brought. Chassiebuilder of Fame Don Hardy talking with Chris "The Golden Greek" Karamesines and a lot more. That year they had the Funny Car pits on this side so it was close by for the racers to come by us.
Behind my back was another motorhome that made good burgers. Strange had a deal with them, they supplied the burgers and Strange supplied the beer. Even Wally Parks came by for lunch one day.
http://www.protouring.se/files/roof.jpg
I attended this race for a few years, the last one was 1982.
It was a very great experience and a lot of nice people. And of course good racing.
Jan