The earliest reconds I have only go back to 1964 in the Hot Rod Magazine Yearbook No. 4. It seems Top Fuel has progressed by light years but in the lower classes the times were still pretty good compared to today's times. I am not a detailed fan of Drag Racing records, but I enjoy the races on the sattellite channel and I tried to follow my inspirational leader Joe Gibbs when he was simultaneously running in Funny Car and NASCAR following a successful career with the Washington Redskins. Let's see if he can do it again with the Redskins!?? Anyway here are a few numbers from 1964:

Top Fuel Eliminator: Don Garlits, Dodge, 7.67/198.22

Top Gas Eliminator: Gordon Collet, Chry, 8.47/182.92

Stock Eliminator: Rodger Lindamood, Dodge, 11.31/127.84

Street Eliminator: Joe Lunati, Chevy, 12.00 104.40

S/S Class Winner: Butch Leal, Thunderbolt, 11.76/122.78

A/FX Class Winner: Dave Strickler, '64 Dodge, 11.04

B/FX Class Winner: Fred Cutler, '64 Doge (wagon), 11.81/120.48

A/MP Class Winner: Bill Flynn, '64 Dodge, 11.95/119.36

B/MP Class Winner: Jesse Platt, '60 Corvette, 12.12

B/SP Class Winner: Paul Albert, '62(?) Corvette 13.06/106.33

From there on there a lot of other class winners in cars that are so modified that it would not be reasonable to relate them to any particular model or year due to big engines in '40 Willys bodies and other modifieds. I wish I could find a picture I used to have with the last flathead engine to win in Top Eliminator, was that 1956 (???) and I think that was the only time a flathead made it into the 12s but I don/t recall the exact time and the "body" was a "dragster". I am sure there are other members with better memories about this than myself AND if you go to your local library you may find microfiche copies of HOT ROD back to the early '50s. For the Hudson fans I note that in 1964 the

L/S Class Winner was Chuck Parcell, '54 Hudson, 17.21/78.26.

Maybe someone can look up/find a 1/4 mile time for a '55 Packard, it should be better, but I am disappointed with the '54 Hudson time as I recall them as pretty quick on the street AND there should also be some good times for '53-'55 Oldsmobiles.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder