the last 3 hope they are in order---this is the 317 runAttachment 55644Attachment 55645Attachment 55646
Courtney 4.049/317.27
Beckman 4.051?310.70
Number 1 and 2---
Printable View
the last 3 hope they are in order---this is the 317 runAttachment 55644Attachment 55645Attachment 55646
Courtney 4.049/317.27
Beckman 4.051?310.70
Number 1 and 2---
Jerry, That last frame should be copyrighted and sold to one of several magazines. It meets the adrenaline standard for me, wow(!) what a great shot! I paid your price of admission with Yuengling.
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/Teen Rodder
Jerry, can you tell us some of the history of the California Challenger? I came across a site that shows it repainted and raced in Finland with a reference to racing in Norway before that. See 70s Funny Cars - Where Are They Now? Did you go to a lot of trouble to repaint it as original after they had a simpler design on it? That site seems to be from about 2003-2005 and then you bought it back? The original blue/white scheme was beautiful but intricate. Probably some funny cars have more money in the paint job than the cost of a family car?
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder
Don, we had 3 funny cars---Pinto, Mustang and then the Firebird------
the pinto went to Hawaii, Mustang to Canada and back, the Firebird to Norway/Finland---------
Cruz and Tony Pedregon lived about a block from the shop and they were around 9-10 years old and hid in the back of our trailer and snuk into the races when the firebird was new!!!!!!!!!!!!Cruz called me over a year ago and asked permission to build a replica of it that he could run at the nostalgic races/reunions----
It is a all new build to as close as the original as they could do except for some required roll cage updates and safty items.
They did a super job and I feel that John Keeling and Neil Leffler are looking out those front eyes lites---------
Also about copy right on the photo---need to get releases from all the orange jacketed obstuctions to a clear view for anyone in the stands---at one time I counted 19 photogs on our side of the track with about the same number on the otherside
Didn't go back for the week end as weather was severe t storms all nite and cooler today---yep, right choice--temp 65 while it was forecast to be 69, they had 2 + inches rain, everything still flooded, plus 15-20 mph winds---
Don't know why it is, but even just watching the US Nationals on TV I always feel like I'm, watching history happen!!!! The US Nats are more then another drag race, they're an institution!!!!! When you win even a round there, you know you ran against the best and came out on top!!!!
Neff won Funny Car again!!! If you're in Indy tonight, party is at Force's shop!!!!!!!!
and, Tony Schumacher won Top Fuel, his 9th win at the US Nats, broke the tie with Garlits at 8!!!! Always history at the US Nats!!!!!!
And how about Dave Connaly shutting out his teammate Erice Enders!
It never gets old!! Thats why we have oil in our Blood!! Pete
If you want to see some good photos of happenings over the last 2 days go to NHRA.COM and check out the photo blog pages for Saturday and Sunday--theres a couple shots of the tribute car in Cruz's lobby at his shop---much better shots that what I did --------
One thing for sure.You can have the best TV system and it isn't anything like being there.If your in the stands and a T/F or Funny makes a pass,it takes your breath away.To go back to the US nationals after all the yrs I haven't,is certainly on the bucket list.
