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OCIR's Last Drag Race: The day the music died
(Poster courtesy of Steve McDermott)
Oct. 29, 1983. It was a day, 25 years ago today, on which many Southern California racers and race fans mourned, and mourned heavily.
Twenty-five years ago,…
Welcome to OCIR Week! Today: The '83 season
Welcome to OCIR Week at The DRAGSTER Insider, a triple-play week of nothing but stories of good ol' Orange County Int'l Raceway, beginning today with a look back at the fabled SoCal supertrack's final season. It…
The column with a little of everything
It's been a busy week here at The Big Show, what with all of the various series working their way down to championship scenarios – the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Summit Racing Series, Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series, etc. – and putting together…
Top Fuel domination, 1983 style
The 1983 Larry Minor-owned, Gary Beck-driven, Bernie Fedderly-tuned world championship entry was one of the baddest Top Fuelers ever, recording 16 of the season's 17 quickest runs, including a national record…
Ghost-track hunting goes high tech
Okay, ghost-track fans – and that seems to be just about every one of you based on the e-mails (more than 60) I've received and all of the comments last weekend in Bakersfield (about a dozen) – it's time to get…
My Bakersfield of Dreams
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about missing my 30th high school reunion to be at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event in Dallas, and noted that, all things considered, I'd rather be at the drags than at…
You've got questions, we've got answers
Another week, another zillion ghost-track requests. … I'm slowly working my way through your latest batch of submissions and stories and will present them sometime next week. It takes time to track them down, research a little history, pinpoint…
Ghost tracks, the scary sequel
Like a scary sequel to your favorite horror flick, we're back with another edition of ghost tracks. Every serious drag fan, of course, had a favorite haunt in his or her formative years, and many of them have passed away, leading to the sport that's…
In a Pryor life, plus more ghost tracks
Bill Pryor tried on Don Garlits' car, the first step toward Top Fuel.
Friday's ghost-tracks column inspired a lot of mail and a little bit of sadness from those who had…
A vividly imagined column
I spent some enjoyable time with Billy Meyer at Texas Motorplex during the O'Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec, listening to him spin tales about his career that I was all set to share with you here today,…
Your turn
Yesterday was a travel day home from Dallas, so I spent some time finishing this entry. During the weekend, I not only covered the big event but also did my darnedest to catch up on some correspondence I reckon I owe y'all (maybe I was in…
Motorplex memories and mishaps
It's Friday morning at Texas Motorplex, and it's good to see the old gal again. I haven’t been here in a few years, and even then it was to attend the Division 4 NHRA Summit Racing Series Finals and not an NHRA national…
Be true to your school
Voted most likely to become a drag racing editor?
We didn't have a drag racing team, so I had to settle for volleyball. That's me, number 5.…
They didn't call him 'Wild Bill' for no reason
The man, the myth, the legend: "Wild Bill" Shrewsberry
Shrewsberry, second from left, drove more than wheelstanders. He's pictured with crewmember Dee Catton,…
Concord, N.C., 1960 style
"T.V. Tommy" Ivo has always been a great self-promoter – witness his television career, four-engine Showboat, glass-sided trailer ... heck, the guy even unabashedly signs his correspondence "your hero and mine, TV Tom" – and…
Stone, Woods & Cook: From the inside
When ND published a story in 1984 about the great 1964 Lions Drag Strip match race of Stone, Woods & Cook versus "Big John" Mazmanian, we also arranged a reunion of sorts. (Above) Leonard Woods Jr.…
And the winner is ...
Final results for Favorite Race Car Ever
Stone, Woods & Cook Willys
2088
(17.40%)
Winged Express
1598
(13.31%)
“Jungle Jim” Liberman Vega…
Favorite Race Car Ever voting: The final round!
Final results for Favorite Race Car Ever
Stone, Woods & Cook Willys
2088
(17.40%)
Winged Express
1598
(13.31%)
“Jungle Jim” Liberman Vega
1115…
Superman lives!
Long before John Force ever saddled up in his first Funny Car, drag racing had another gregarious character that we all called “Superman,” a tough-as-nails nitro jockey who piloted fuel dragsters and Funny Cars in a 20…
Mondays with Murray: Shirley Muldowney
Seeing drag racing legend Shirley Muldowney in the photos from John Force’s induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Novi, Mich., last Wednesday reminded me that I haven’t run a Mondays with Murray column in…
If the Shoe fits ...
Even as our Favorite Race Car Ever poll heads toward the final rounds, I’m still getting e-mails asking how I could possibly have forgotten to include this particular car or that car in the polls. The perceived slights run…
Favorite Race Car Ever voting: 1980s and Beyond
Joe Pisano/Mike Dunn Olds Funny Car
Don Garlits Swamp Rat XXX Top Fueler
Gary Ormsby Castrol GTX streamliner Top Fueler
Joe Amato TRW Top Fueler…
'I was there:' Garlits debuts Swamp Rat 14
While watching the numbers on our '70s Top Fueler poll inch slowly toward the cutoff point (as opposed to the ‘70s Funny Car poll, which is skyrocketing toward that number; there's still time to vote in both if you scroll…
Favorite Race Car Ever voting: 1970s Funny Cars
“Jungle Jim” Liberman Vega
Don Prudhomme Hot Wheels ‘Cuda
Don Prudhomme Army Monza
Tom McEwen Hot Wheels Duster
Raymond Beadle Blue Max Mustang II
Ed McCulloch Revellution Dodge
Barry Setzer/Pat Foster Vega…
In the Mood
Veteran fans recognize this masked man. "I never used the full-faced helmet," said Moody. "With both rear-engined cars, I used the old Tony Nancy leather face mask. I guess it was less confining, and I…
Favorite Race Car Ever voting: 1970s Top Fuelers
Don Garlits Swamp Rat 14
Don Garlits Swamp Rat 22
Beck & Peets Export A
Warren-Coburn-Miller Rain for Rent
Don…
Get 'er Dunn (and happy anniversary to us!)
I’m putting the finishing touches on all the research-doing, photo-grabbing, and poll-making for the next step in our Favorite Race Car Ever poll, which will cover 1970s Top Fuelers -- look for it Monday, and, in the…
Favorite Race Car Ever voting: Early Funny Cars
Sachs & Sons/Chrisman Mercury Comet
Jim Liberman’s Chevy II
Gas Ronda’s Ford Mustangs
Arnie Beswick's Tameless Tiger GTO…
Voting recap, making it up as I go, and your stories
Final results for all-time favorite exhibition car!
"Winged Express" fuel altered
1394
(36.53%)
"Little Red Wagon" wheelstander
1109
(29.06%)
" L.A. Dart"…
Favorite Race Car Ever voting: Early Dragsters
The Glass Slipper
The Speed Sport Roadster
Arfons Bros. Green Monster
Don Garlits' Swamp Rat I
Don Garlits' Swamp Rat…