Found! A few old treasures

[Big Tracks]

Yesterday I was looking through a box of old snapshots and found some old (like late fifties and very early sixties) slides.

I hope some of my CHR friends will appreciate them. I know a few of you remember that era, so don't deny it.

..... More to come ....

Jim

[Big Tracks]

five more.

[Bob Parmenter]

Hemi with a hydro.............hmmmmmm

The '57 Buick push car is a beauty!

[Bob Parmenter]

Don't know if you have more pics of Langley's Scorpion, but here's a few more.

[Rrumbler]

Loved the shots of the roadsters, but like Bob, that white '57 Buick really caught my eye.

[Big Tracks]

This should be all.


First of the twelve is our roadster, finished (more or less) at last.

Second, loaded on the trailer for a ride to Caddo Mills on a non-race weekend to try her out. No spectators to watch in case things went sour. You know, one of those instances where you'd rather die than make a fool of yourself!

Third, How does our push car grab you? A '57 "Roadmaster 75", absolute top of the Buick line.

Fourth, the "office'. Check the first B&M "Hydro-stick" to come into Texas.

Fifth, trusty pit crew. One is probably Don Ross of Don Ross Fabricating in Dallas. He built the beautiful replicas of Bobby Langley's "Scorpion I" and other Langley works of art. Call him when you decide to have your car reproduced in perfection. The other guy is probably the late Skip Harter of the popular "U.S.Kids" racing team here in North Texas (along with Mr. Ross).

Sixth is Carl Stone with his beautiful '32 Roadster. Carl made it a habit of winning his class every year at the early NHRA Nationals. The class was, I think, "B-Street Roadster". Or maybe it was "C" ... I dunno, that was fifty years ago! I think I took that picture at the '58 nationals in Oklahoma City.

Seventh, another view of Carl's car.

Eighth, I'm pretty sure I took this at the Houston (Texas) Causeway Drag Strip, maybe in 1957 or so. The car looked strange and the frame flexed and the car sort of bucked (check the huge wheelie!) but, to quote Vance Hunt, IT CARRIES THE MAIL! Take note, if you will, of the flag man in the picture. Now, that's the way that God intended that a drag race be started. Them were the days!

Ninth, I don't know this fellow but I remember him to be a very pleasant dude who was competing at the '58 Nationals in the motorcycle class. Note that his bike has two tandem (Triumph?) engines.

Tenth, A good look at the art work on the rear of Bobby Langley's "Scorpion I" AFD. A lot of other drivers got a look at the rear of Bobby's cars.

Eleventh, I think I probably took this shot at Houston Causeway in the fifties. it gives a good look at what was the absolute handsomest engine ever produced, the "nail head" Buick, of course. I'd guess that the chassis is a Chassis Research product. What say you, Uncle Bob? Tech?

Last ...... I'm guessing I took this at the same meet where I shot the nail head picture. The chassis doesn't impress me as being a professionally designed one but the engine is impressive. From what is visible, what would you CHR experts say that the engine is?

Thanks for looking,

Jim

[NTFDAY]

Eighth,Take note, if you will, of the flag man in the picture. Now, that's the way that God intended that a drag race be started. Them were the days!
Jim

I can relate to that. I'm not to sure I'd want to stand out there and flag today's cars, but I had a ball in '59 doing exactly that and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

BTW, those were great pictures.

[techinspector1]

The engine is an early Olds, like 324 vintage....

[HOTRODPAINT]

I love the flag starter! I started going to Indy in '62, and loved the flag starts, and Bob Beezer's indian getup.

[yellowhenryj]

Great pics!!!

Angela

[Big Tracks]

I'm glad you enjoyed the old pictures and I'm happy that they turned up! Thanks for the kind comments.

And thanks to you, Uncle Bob, for the shots of Bobby Langley's "Scorpion". He's definitely a legend in these parts. When word got around that he would be at a race the fan turnout for that race would be guaranteed.

As for the world's classiest push car, well, there's not a person among us who hasn't said something like "Of all the cars I ever owned, that's the one I most wish I had never sold!" We have our favorites, of course, but one car probably stands out. That Buick is number one on my list. Ridiculously plush and expensive. the Roadmaster "75" was Buick's "top of the line" in '57.

I paid $1,200 dollars for it in 1960.

Not a real good photo, but here's a closer look.

Jim

[Big Tracks]

I blew it.

Someday I'm going to learn to operate this thing.

Maybe this will work.

[paul274854]

The race track with the altered looks like the Charleston RI naval base which ran in the 50's and 60's.