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Brian Watts
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« on: February 28, 2007, 04:57:23 am » |
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Coming from the VW races back in the 80s I was used to seeing a good turnout of dragsters every race. But it seems here on the west coast all we usually get is Lauffers and Eserinis coming out. Thank God for them!!
Looked back through my photos and some old mags and was amazed at the number of drasgsters which was higher then I even remembered.
Here is a few names that were pretty regular at events here in California in the 80s.
Keith Longerot
Tom Schuh
Dave Folts
Lloyd Mosher
Dave Guerro
Lyle Berkinlau
Don Mehling
Cory McClenathan
Dan Lynch
Terry Gordon
Dave Kawell
Pat Treichell
Larry Van Wilgen
Bonbright and Haire
What are the reasons or opinions of why noone really races dragsters anymore??
Where are these drasgsters today, racing still or just sitting waiting to be found?
I think they are a big part of the events and I personally appreciate the time and money the Lauffers and Eserinis spend to attend the current events!
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Marty
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« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2007, 12:25:37 pm » |
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Tom Schue still has his dragster.
Dave Folts still has and sometimes runs it
Lloyd sold his two years ago
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Marty
staggsracing.com
m-specmotorsports.com
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JVance
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« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2007, 01:43:59 pm » |
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What are the reasons or opinions of why noone really races dragsters anymore?? Money. |
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Thanks Rocky Jennings, DRD, and Pauter -Stripped66
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Tom Simon
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« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2007, 05:01:25 pm » |
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Since Marty isn't taking the bait, I'll bite... maybe they need a class to run in?  (you're welcome, no need to thank me  ) |
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D.Heath
Junior
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Posts: 199
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« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2007, 05:14:46 pm » |
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John Redding
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« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2007, 05:22:35 pm » |
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The No Doz digger my cuz Jeff owned for some time and ran it at the sand drags, that car I saw run at the last Bug In at Orange County, it became not leagal for asphalt. The Kawells Dragster, they put all the parts back on the shelf and cut the chassis up, I think.... Judy right?
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« Last Edit: February 28, 2007, 05:33:22 pm by John Redding »
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Brian Watts
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« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2007, 06:05:16 pm » |
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Hey John, good to see you chime in!! Going to see you this year maybe?
Cuz still have NoDoz? historical car, I remember holding the record a long time!!
Love the Godfrey Funny Scirrocco
Wondering about the other funny cars?
Mark Deacon's twin engine turbo Red Rider 2?
Cory Macs Ghia funny?
Don Shelton's Engine Masters bug Funny?
Etc
Loved those cars!! Hard to believe that much money spent and the cars would just dissapear and not continue to be raced? Guess it happens
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Timbo
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« Reply #7 on: February 28, 2007, 06:10:54 pm » |
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There are a lot of race cars that just sit in a garage under a cover with boxes on top. A lot of cars not around now that was a few years ago. Tim
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Brian Watts
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« Reply #8 on: February 28, 2007, 06:23:25 pm » |
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Love the NoDoz "garage shot"! Love those shots of old race cars, like the SumFun photos when it was forsale. Got photos of the Vallero choptop 912 Jeff sent me, which I love  !! Some how nice to just know they are still out there even if they aren't running the 1/4!! Lets see more! |
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John Redding
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« Reply #9 on: February 28, 2007, 07:00:22 pm » |
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Hey Brian,
Yep, take the car up to our local track to get the chassis recerted, just ordered in a new MSD box and few other goodies. I'm getting that feeling again. Just cleared all the boxes off the race car last weekend.
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Brian Watts
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« Reply #10 on: February 28, 2007, 08:13:17 pm » |
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JOHN, THATS GREAT TO HEAR!!!!!! Whats your schedule? Drag Day, BOR,?  Looking forward to seeing you run again |
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ErikTheRed
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« Reply #11 on: February 28, 2007, 09:03:35 pm » |
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"ALRIGHT JOHN!! Now THATS the spirit!" exclaims Eric as his race car sits on the Samba classifieds.  |
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May God forever bless these United States. Amen.
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John Redding
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« Reply #12 on: February 28, 2007, 11:36:45 pm » |
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Brian, Looks like we are trying for Phoenix, all depends on Saturdays chassis stuff. So we will see....
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Gary L.
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« Reply #13 on: March 01, 2007, 12:29:03 am » |
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Didn't Turbo Dave Perkins have a twin turbo dragster too?
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young racer
Junior
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Posts: 108
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« Reply #14 on: March 01, 2007, 01:26:32 am » |
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Here are some pict of my dad's Dino Bakolas old dragster which is owned by Clyde berg now
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jeff denham
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« Reply #15 on: March 01, 2007, 03:31:28 am » |
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diggers are cool there the cadilac of speed. hey brian remember the old snooze ya loose digger short little thing but deffenetly a rush to drive 10.24 at 132. 3 speed 4.86rp 215hp around 750lb the thing never hooked to short no flex larrys first digger that one is some wher here in the us. but larrys #2 is over in south africa. would deffenetly like to get another down the road you have to drive one to deffenetly apreriate the rush its deffenetly different than a door slammer i love it. jeff d.
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jeff denham
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« Reply #16 on: March 01, 2007, 03:47:59 am » |
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thers one guy you did not metion in your list thats dave perkins digger that was the space shuttel from hell would deffenetly like to see him bring it back out. i realy like to watch tom shoes short digger when he had the blower engine in it at palmdale that was cool. jeff d.
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the owner
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« Reply #17 on: March 01, 2007, 04:36:13 am » |
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Last i heard Godfrey sold the funny. What ever happend to Mark Davenport and his brother that had the dragsters out of Riverside?
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fifty8
Newbie
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Posts: 19
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« Reply #18 on: March 01, 2007, 11:27:55 am » |
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what about Rathbun's dragster? I've not seen it in years.
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sandshark
Junior
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Posts: 211
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« Reply #19 on: March 01, 2007, 11:56:38 am » |
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Rathbun had his dragster for sale at Milan last year... just a roller, no engine. Don't think he has sold it though...
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Joel Mohr
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« Reply #20 on: March 01, 2007, 12:54:44 pm » |
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I think the PRA should re-instate a dragster class....Espscially an aspirated cc limit class......Very competitive....and fun to watch!!
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SEE YA AT THE RACES!!!
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silverbugget
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« Reply #21 on: March 01, 2007, 02:29:08 pm » |
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oh here we go again... as AJ likes to say .. let them bring the cars out first then they build a class.. kinda backwards if you ask me but who's asking.  |
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Nick Wharton
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« Reply #22 on: March 01, 2007, 02:41:31 pm » |
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get a group buy of 20 chassis, all the same wheelbase, run unlimited and go play... all shorter digger style
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Jim Gillum Racing
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« Reply #23 on: March 01, 2007, 08:25:49 pm » |
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Another dragster racer from the past was Gene Brown with his son driving. In the early 90's they put a Pontiac Iron Duke in it and went NHRA F-dragster racing. They raced it for quite a few years.
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The older I get, the better I was.
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matchap
Junior
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Posts: 205
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« Reply #24 on: March 01, 2007, 11:45:31 pm » |
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Seems logical to me. Spend a boat load of money to race for peanuts with a handful of other cars.
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Old VW racer
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« Reply #25 on: March 02, 2007, 10:56:26 am » |
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I am glad Clyde Berg found a dragster. He came to my house and looked at my dragster. After he had gone, I decided not to sell my dragster. I just got it recertified by NHRA. It's no fun running by yourself. If a class or event happens I will bring mine out. I think it would be best to stay with the NHRA rules. More events to choose from for the racers. The rules are, engine on gasoline no power adders, 8.4 or more pounds per cubic inch, opposed 4-cylinder engine only, 155 cubic-inch maximum, 850 pound minimum. These rules have been around for ever, Don't change them.The only change for the VW events would be "air cooled vw engine only"
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Marty
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« Reply #26 on: March 02, 2007, 12:26:19 pm » |
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That would be G/D rules.
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Marty
staggsracing.com
m-specmotorsports.com
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Old VW racer
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« Reply #27 on: March 02, 2007, 01:59:04 pm » |
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yes, G dragter rules
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407.MIKE
Newbie
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Posts: 56
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« Reply #28 on: March 03, 2007, 04:36:26 am » |
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Here are some pict of my dad's Dino Bakolas old dragster which is owned by Clyde berg now
Hey that dragster is sitting in my shop. I'll be out later this year with it . |
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407 SPEEDSHACK
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Dave Kawell
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« Reply #29 on: March 04, 2007, 11:52:54 am » |
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The Kawells Dragster, they put all the parts back on the shelf and cut the chassis up, I think.... Judy right?
Yep, after taking the engine and glide out we tried to sell the tubes to an "at the time racer". Was asking $2000.00 for the chassis, wheels, tires, gauges, fuel lines, etc., everything except the engine and shorty glide/convertor. Not many were into longer VW dragsters then and we only had the one offer and desperately needed the shop space and room, well and then hopefully the money too. The "generous" offer was $1100.00 so I went and got the hacksaw and started cutting it up in front of him while he was screaming "you can't do that" and to add to the merriment, Dave went and got the recip saw and help finish the job. Weren't you there ? I know there were alot of other guys at the shop that were laughing their heads off at this idiot.... Life goes on.... So the first VW dragster to sport a powerglide and get into the 7's in the 1/4 mile at OCIR is a goner. Dave was thinking about building another dragster when we got back here to TN but was having so much fun banging gears in Blackie that that never happened. We still have most of the major components up in the loft, did sell the shorty glide/convertor and just sold the 8 3/4 awhile back. Our dragster was a FrameWorks car.... Thanks Steve, you built a helluva car ! Judy |
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VWGLENN
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« Reply #30 on: March 04, 2007, 12:00:51 pm » |
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Early OCIR Days
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RED BARON
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« Reply #31 on: March 04, 2007, 03:34:31 pm » |
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Blackie was my first crush- Love that car. I vote we put the Barons engine in Blackie and show the front engine guys what time it is. Better yet Scotts RevMaster- I can Dream cant I.
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RUN YOUR CAR NOT YOUR MOUTH!!
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sweet67
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« Reply #32 on: March 04, 2007, 04:01:57 pm » |
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The days of seeing the dragsters at the track were good days. |
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"Life is an opportunity and challenge" - Victor A.
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fine53
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« Reply #33 on: March 05, 2007, 07:35:48 pm » |
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ya know, for the kind of bucks being spent on pro-mods and pro-turbo cars, you could build a long tube car !!There are lots of dragsters w/o motors for sale.
BILL
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Tom Simon
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« Reply #34 on: March 05, 2007, 07:45:46 pm » |
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ya know, for the kind of bucks being spent on pro-mods and pro-turbo cars, you could build a long tube car !!There are lots of dragsters w/o motors for sale.
BILL
no kidding.... I actually thought I wanted to buy/build a rVW rail for a while. What stopped me? Two things 1) I don't have a per se 'shop' a rail won't fit in my two-car garage. 2) I like to race. I like VW events. There was no class to race a dragster in at VW events. If there were, be prepared to run low 7's or be a 'first round runner-up'. |
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