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My first real sanctioned drag strip experience was in the mid 60's at the old (gone for decades) KC drag strip off of I-435 south of the Missouri river. Saw Joe Bananas(sp) and his Semi-Hemi Chevele (whatever that was), the Missouri Mule and several other altered WB cars. Seeing a stock looking car leap off the start and run 9-10 second quarters was mind blowing for a 16 year old. That drag strip was never good enough for any national events, but tons of great memories.
This video popped up on my YouTube this morning. There is a C2 at 34:45, C1 at 35:19 and a couple more C2’s at 35:34. Interesting to see the Hurst safety team at the beginning where you could repair your car.
Thank you for posting that...... It is great to see so many of the racers I grew up watching, and many that I idolized as I grew up, a fan of the sport..... then later as a competitor, and seeing them at the track......
Great to see Ed Hill and his twin motor Pontiac powered dragster...... later, known as Eddie Hill, The Four Father, he and his wife Ercie were two of the people I really enjoyed seeing at the races....
One thing I particularly enjoyed, was seeing the "masters" shifting their 4spds. I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW that today, auto trannys are the thing today, with multiple advantages over 4spds---------------------DON'T START RAGGING ON ME ABOUT THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But this 80yr old man ain't gonna switch to a slush box. I still love banging the crap out of my Muncies (and the Richmond 5sp in the Cutlass)!!!!!!!
One thing I particularly enjoyed, was seeing the "masters" shifting their 4spds. I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW that today, auto trannys are the thing today, with multiple advantages over 4spds---------------------DON'T START RAGGING ON ME ABOUT THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But this 80yr old man ain't gonna switch to a slush box. I still love banging the crap out of my Muncies (and the Richmond 5sp in the Cutlass)!!!!!!!
I figured I would need to take up smoking a cigar..... if I ever wanted to shift like Grumpy.....
Some might argue that Dick Landy was one of the best. The story, apocryphal or not, is that Landy was the only person to ever break a Hurst shifter. Whether it is true or not, the story went viral when I was a teen and it certainly gave Dick some additional "street creds". If it was just a story, it didn't really matter. It just increased his popularity tenfold. As a sixteen-year-old, you just wanted to believe it and that is all that really mattered.
Some might argue that Dick Landy was one of the best. The story, apocryphal or not, is that Landy was the only person to ever break a Hurst shifter. Whether it is true or not, the story went viral when I was a teen and it certainly gave Dick some additional "street creds". If it was just a story, it didn't really matter. It just increased his popularity tenfold. As a sixteen-year-old, you just wanted to believe it and that is all that really mattered.
Landy was superb, but in late 60s many became masters in shifting when the crash box modification was made which allowed the driver to simply yank and shift as fast as they could without using the clutch.
Another noted driver who broke a Hurst shifter was Dick Moroso and, unfortunately on the final elimination run at Indy against Joe Lunati. Dick was leading by a comfortable amount until he went to shift into 4th gear and the entire shift handle came off in his hand and Lunati passed him just before the traps. Dick was also noted for being able to cut the light better than most and when setting a record always did it by the minimal amount,
A correction the incident happened on the final run for all the marbles at the World Finals in Tulsa in 1967. Dick wanted me to go with him, but I was sidelined at boot camp at Great Lakes. Dates can get mixed up after 55 years !
Some might argue that Dick Landy was one of the best. The story, apocryphal or not, is that Landy was the only person to ever break a Hurst shifter. Whether it is true or not, the story went viral when I was a teen and it certainly gave Dick some additional "street creds". If it was just a story, it didn't really matter. It just increased his popularity tenfold. As a sixteen-year-old, you just wanted to believe it and that is all that really mattered.
I sent the original engine from my 1968 Hemi Charger to Dick Landry and had him rebuild it years back. I also remember the dealership car clinics both Landry and Sox and Martin did at dealerships as part of their sponsorship deal.
12-22-2022, 09:19 AM
