You know John force recently did a interview and he was holding back tears naming most if not all of those drivers calling them his hero’s love him or not that’s respect coming from one who is still with us he even said I have others too but I can still shake their hands don garlets was one
I've been a Drag Racing fan since I was a kid & remember my big brother taking me & my other brothers to the Drag Races in Amarillo Tx back in the seventies & eighties & my 1st watching this video & it's the 1st time I've had a video leave me with a lump in my throat & teary eyes, God I miss my old America :..(
Great video! What struck me was seeing the film from those days gone by when the stands were full of people all the way down the track. The glory days of drag racing!
Love the pix of "Wild" Willie. Those of us fortunate enough to see him race will remember, most, his one-handed driving style. How that guy could hold on to a 90 inch wheelbase rocket like that, with his one hand on the wheel, is something I never figured out. Being a lifelong Chevy guy I remember so memorable races that Willie had against some of the big block Rat Motor Chevy powered fuel altereds of the 60's ~ in particular, Sush Matsubara driving the Mondello-Matsubara AA/FA. So much fun!
very nicely done and iam sure they are some of your personal favorites. lets not forget Ronnie Sox, Dickie Harrell, Dandy Dick Landy, Dave Strickler, Sneaky Pete Robinson,The Strip Blazer Malcolm Durham, K.S.Pittman, Stones Woods And Cook and so many more. Lets hope they are all in heaven at the big dragrace in the sky. RIP
I grew up at SoCal drag strips (Lions, Irwindale, OCIR, Pomona, Bakersfield and Fontana) from 1963 until I was drafted in 1969. Remember The Zoo Keeper so very well. John drove the Adams-Wayre-Mulligan car before he teamed up with Tim Beebe on the Fighting Irish car. They actually were running the 426 elephant at the time of the Indy Nationals fire & crash in '69. And Wild Willy ~ fuel altereds (AA/FA) were so popular & so much fun to watch in '67 and '68. Great memories of the past.
The giants of the sport who gave us so many memories. Thanks guys , may you all be in heaven delighting the Angel's with the sounds of those screaming BB,S.
Thank you for letting us know when some of the better known race car drivers passed on, I was just wondering to myself about the status of Don Nicholson.He was so successful with his Comet and later the Maverick that I was so fond of, this video showed his picture and what year he died, thank you for the information.
In the mid 70's he also raced a Mustang 2 in Pro Stock, if memory serves me right he one of the ones who helped organize the Pro Stock class in the 70's.
I was lucky enough to capture Willie on one of his wild rides at the US Nationals with my little wind-up Kodak 8mm movie camera. I've read that the reason that drove one handed was that by holding on to the side of the car's body with his left hand he felt more stable in the car and it gave him better leverage on the steering wheel. He was definitely one of a kind!
So many remembered, so many lost.. all in the spirit of Racing...all knew going in the dangers, yet did so with a passion not known today. Innovation and creativity IS the walk they all walked...and dreamed and raced! Very well put together vid! I thank you.
+Sir Trews - Several of these racers died of natural causes. Two that I can think of immediately are Elmer Trett and Scott Geoffrion. Each of them died from heart attacks. In Elmer's case, he had an apparent heart attack near mid track during a race and simply fell off of his bike. He had just 2 weeks prior set an E.T. record for T/F Motorcycle at Indy at a Pro Star motorcycle event, the same track where he died while match racing (exhibition T/F Motorcycle runs) at the U.S. Nationals. RIP and may your spirits live on, gentlemen.
This is by far the best video I have ever seen on fallen hero's of the quarter mile. The music of Jackson Brown could have not been a better match for the video.Best of all, The shot's of U.S. 131 in it's glory year's when the actual pro's of the NHRA came to our track to race and the stand's were packed.This was a tough one to watch without getting a lump in the throat or a tear in the eye. Great job on the video. My favorite.
WOW, I about fell over seeing the shot of Don Nicholson's Eliminator II. My Uncle ran a super stock Dodge in the Wichita area in the mid sixties, called the Incinerator II. I had to go back and take a second look just to make sure. Nice shots of Willy. He actually had his eyes open for the picture... Lots of memories. A great post. Good job. Yes, tears in my eyes too.
You're right, I wish that I had a chance to see and photograph Eric Medlen but unfortunately I never did. In this video I am using photos and movies that I took myself with the exception of the the portraits used for the names and the Scott Geofrion pit hand out. The list of drivers that we have lost is sadly too long to fit into a short video. Thanks for watching and mentioning Eric Medlen. Miss him. John
I used to watch John Mulligan and his mechanic Tim work on the cars after school at his shop in Garden Grove Ca. I still think of those days. Thanks for the video........
Wow, what a great clip. I have not followed drag racing closely in quite some time but since I am about to be 51 the "cars I never had" (69 Mach 1) are hitting me pretty hard these days! I am now a big time internet and "armchair" enthusiast. I sort of know Jungle Jim's brother Bob. He lives about an hour from me. We are both big time model railroaders. I used to build Jungle Jim plastic car kits. Anyway thanks much for posting the clip. A Jackson Browne song I never heard was a great bonus!!!
This was my first Indy in 1969. John Mulligan set low ET of 6.43 which was something in those days. He crashed after the first run and was badly burned. He died two weeks later. In those days funny cars ran 7.00 if they were good. You could run a good funny car motor all season if taken care of.
I loved this video, I watch it over and over again. As you made this video and all the comments you can tell that drag racing runs deep in so many hearts, souls and blood. We grew up in a time when these guys were flying by their seats of their pants for the love of this sport. Wish we could go back in time to be there once again to see these guys and the smell of the rubber and the nitro methane in the air, wow what a time we had. Does anyone here remember TRI CITY DRiAGWAY in Saginaw Mich?
Some of us were lucky, Very Lucky to have lived in So. Calif. With drag strips everywhere, on any weekend you could see Jungle Jim, Dyno Don, dozens of other funny cars, or at another track a Top Fuel show, and a fuel altered show with Willie Borsch, etc. Now, it's almost extinct here....
What a great video. I know it means a lot to the families and fans of these guys that gave so much of themselves,time and passion that influenced so many peoples lives. Thanks for putting it together. Super cool.
John, awesome video and music. Brought tears to my eyes as I remember these guys. I grew up with family that raced pro stock at TRI CITY DRAGWAY in Saginaw Michigan. I seen so many racers that are mentioned in this video that have passed ( JJ, SOX, MULLIGAN) just to mention a few. I also seen the end of this dragstrip by a owner that made a hasty decision that ended a era for this community. I was a young boy when the track was open and I have to say R.I.P. drivers that loved the sport. Godspeed
GREAT VIDEO. ALOT OF TREMENDOUS FEELING RUSHING THROUGH ME AS I WATCHED THE OLD RACERS. BEEN A FAN OF NHRA RACING ALWAYS AND THE TRADITION CARRIES ON IN MY BLOOD, AS IN MY SON'S. RIP GREAT MEN.
Man, just the other day, after watching a Big Daddy vid, I started thinking about Beebe & Mullitgan and here you are! Thanks for the nod out. A lot of great guys have come and gone. Lot of great memories.
The crash photos were taken by my friend in the '80s at the US Nationals and are just one of many spills during Elmer's career and not his fatal crash. Thanks for watching!
February 5, 1966 might have been the worst day I ever had as a 50 year fan of drag racing. It was @ Lions, late in the afternoon, and 22 year old driver Joe "The Jet" Jackson was out visiting from the east coast with his girlfriend. He struck an agreement with someone who had a not-so-strong top fuel car for Joe to try and qualify for the 8 car program that night. About 400 feet out, and in the tower lane @ Lions (left lane), Joe's car suddenly, and without warning, made a left turn.........
I lived at Lions Drag Strip (as well as Irwindale, OCIR and Pomona) from 1964 until I was drafted in 1969. I spoke with the "Zoo Keeper" many times over that period of time while he was driving the Adams-Wayre-Mulligan car and, of course, eventually the Fighting Irish car. I saw Pete Robinson killed @ the 71 Winternationals and Mike Sorokin @ OCIR at the end of '67. The racing was so special back then, and most did it for little more than the love of the sport, but it was dangerous.
I watched John Hagen's final pass at Brainerd. It looked like a normal pass, and then his car must have broken an axle or something right at the end, and the car went into a barrel roll. I'll never forget it. RIP.
Great video, John ! Never seen this one before. Martin 131 is still my favourite track. ! Like you I'm sure I've been there more times than i.can count.!
@jrsn2cars John, there are three things I have always wanted to experience, one being a ride in a front engined alcohol rail, a trip in a short wheel base altered and a sidewinder launch. Someday, it will happen. Thanks again for this post. It has to be one of the best I have seen. John.
........ I was sitting directly in front of the accident. Joe drove straight into one of the track light standards and crumbled. A few hours later it was announced that Joe "The Jet" Jackson had died. I've never forgetten that day though it has now been 44 years ago. R.I.P. Joe Jackson
OUTSTANDING JOB! Loved the VIDEO of Wild Willy driving the Winged Express. Quick question though. The pics of Elmer Trett crashing, are those Indy 96? When he died?
I had a similar experience at the '69 US Nationals when low qualifier John "Zookeeper" Mulligan exploded a clutch right in front of us and rolled over the guardrail in a ball of fire. He was severely burned and died a few weeks later. 1969 was a bad year for the fuel dragsters at Indy. It seemed like every other car exploded either a clutch or a supercharger. It was getting too dangerous and the slingshots had to go.
Front-engined cars were always trouble waiting to happen. Clutch explosions were particularly catastrophic which is how John Mulligan died. Those that chose to climb into a car from that era were brave and yet a little crazy too. I loved the sport more than I can tell you but we lost a bunch of great drivers who were great guys. Here's to all of you who helped make the sport what it is today. R.I.P., one and all........
Whoops! I forgot to say. I liked the 60s and especially the 70s era of drag racing. It was about going faster form self innovation & trial and error. Now everyone uses a laptop instead of a wrench! How boring! Thanks again for posting the vintage racers.
Just so that everyone knows... These are not all nitro fueled cars. Some are alcohol cars. Also, not all of these drivers died from accidents related to drag racing.
Sorry everyone ~ Joe's car made a hard right turn, towards the spectator side, and into the light standard. It was surrealistic to watch it happen directly in front of me ~ I couldn't believe what I was watching because the circumstances were so strange. The old saying about those days was appropriate, "we did it for love."
The crash photos were taken by my friend in the '80s at the US Nationals and are just one of many spills during Elmer's career and not his fatal crash. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for remembering "dyno don" . Miss him. God bless. Stacey.
You know John force recently did a interview and he was holding back tears naming most if not all of those drivers calling them his hero’s love him or not that’s respect coming from one who is still with us he even said I have others too but I can still shake their hands don garlets was one
I've been a Drag Racing fan since I was a kid & remember my big brother taking me & my other brothers to the Drag Races in Amarillo Tx back in the seventies & eighties & my 1st watching this video & it's the 1st time I've had a video leave me with a lump in my throat & teary eyes, God I miss my old America :..(
Great video! What struck me was seeing the film from those days gone by when the stands were full of people all the way down the track. The glory days of drag racing!
Those crowds were amazing.
It's sad but The younger generation are not taking to the car thing like yrs back, I also see it at car shows,just alot of grey hair people now.
An absolute great tribute. I grew up going to York and Cecil..... miss the old school racing of driving it out the back door with everything you had!
Love the pix of "Wild" Willie. Those of us fortunate enough to see him race will remember, most, his one-handed driving style. How that guy could hold on to a 90 inch wheelbase rocket like that, with his one hand on the wheel, is something I never figured out. Being a lifelong Chevy guy I remember so memorable races that Willie had against some of the big block Rat Motor Chevy powered fuel altereds of the 60's ~ in particular, Sush Matsubara driving the Mondello-Matsubara AA/FA. So much fun!
very nicely done and iam sure they are some of your personal favorites. lets not forget Ronnie Sox, Dickie Harrell, Dandy Dick Landy, Dave Strickler, Sneaky Pete Robinson,The Strip Blazer Malcolm Durham, K.S.Pittman, Stones Woods And Cook and so many more. Lets hope they are all in heaven at the big dragrace in the sky. RIP
I grew up at SoCal drag strips (Lions, Irwindale, OCIR, Pomona, Bakersfield and Fontana) from 1963 until I was drafted in 1969. Remember The Zoo Keeper so very well. John drove the Adams-Wayre-Mulligan car before he teamed up with Tim Beebe on the Fighting Irish car. They actually were running the 426 elephant at the time of the Indy Nationals fire & crash in '69. And Wild Willy ~ fuel altereds (AA/FA) were so popular & so much fun to watch in '67 and '68. Great memories of the past.
The pop hot rod meets were the greatest. Sad to see so many legends gone. Martin is so more updated now. Thanks John !
The giants of the sport who gave us so many memories. Thanks guys , may you all be in heaven delighting the Angel's with the sounds of those screaming BB,S.
Thank you for letting us know when some of the better known race car drivers passed on, I was just wondering to myself about the status of Don Nicholson.He was so successful with his Comet and later the Maverick that I was so fond of, this video showed his picture and what year he died, thank you for the information.
In the mid 70's he also raced a Mustang 2 in Pro Stock, if memory serves me right he one of the ones who helped organize the Pro Stock class in the 70's.
I was lucky enough to capture Willie on one of his wild rides at the US Nationals with my little wind-up Kodak 8mm movie camera. I've read that the reason that drove one handed was that by holding on to the side of the car's body with his left hand he felt more stable in the car and it gave him better leverage on the steering wheel. He was definitely one of a kind!
So many remembered, so many lost.. all in the spirit of Racing...all knew going in the dangers, yet did so with a passion not known today. Innovation and creativity IS the walk they all walked...and dreamed and raced!
Very well put together vid!
I thank you.
+Sir Trews - Several of these racers died of natural causes. Two that I can think of immediately are Elmer Trett and Scott Geoffrion. Each of them died from heart attacks. In Elmer's case, he had an apparent heart attack near mid track during a race and simply fell off of his bike. He had just 2 weeks prior set an E.T. record for T/F Motorcycle at Indy at a Pro Star motorcycle event, the same track where he died while match racing (exhibition T/F Motorcycle runs) at the U.S. Nationals. RIP and may your spirits live on, gentlemen.
I get CHILLS watching this,miss you all including Dick Landy, Ronnie Sox & BIG John Masmanian, thanks for posting.
Thanks for making such an outstanding video. Gone but definitely not forgotten.
Thanks Again,Ace Job.
I love Jackson Browne.
This is by far the best video I have ever seen on fallen hero's of the quarter mile. The music of Jackson Brown could have not been a better match for the video.Best of all, The shot's of U.S. 131 in it's glory year's when the actual pro's of the NHRA came to our track to race and the stand's were packed.This was a tough one to watch without getting a lump in the throat or a tear in the eye. Great job on the video. My favorite.
WOW, I about fell over seeing the shot of Don Nicholson's Eliminator II. My Uncle ran a super stock Dodge in the Wichita area in the mid sixties, called the Incinerator II. I had to go back and take a second look just to make sure. Nice shots of Willy. He actually had his eyes open for the picture... Lots of memories. A great post. Good job. Yes, tears in my eyes too.
Gone but never forgotten by us oldfarts who loved the drags. The ones who knew where they would be on a Sunday.
@magicbrainman Thanks! I just saw Jackson Browne in concert last week. He's as good or better now as he has ever been! Thanks for watching!
John
You're right, I wish that I had a chance to see and photograph Eric Medlen but unfortunately I never did. In this video I am using photos and movies that I took myself with the exception of the the portraits used for the names and the Scott Geofrion pit hand out. The list of drivers that we have lost is sadly too long to fit into a short video. Thanks for watching and mentioning Eric Medlen. Miss him.
John
Thank you very much for your comment Herbie! Very well put! Thanks for taking the time to watch this.
John
I used to watch John Mulligan and his mechanic Tim work on the cars after school at his shop in Garden Grove Ca. I still think of those days. Thanks for the video........
Wow, what a great clip. I have not followed drag racing closely in quite some time but since I am about to be 51 the "cars I never had" (69 Mach 1) are hitting me pretty hard these days! I am now a big time internet and "armchair" enthusiast.
I sort of know Jungle Jim's brother Bob. He lives about an hour from me. We are both big time model railroaders. I used to build Jungle Jim plastic car kits.
Anyway thanks much for posting the clip. A Jackson Browne song I never heard was a great bonus!!!
Great memories, I was a Chevy guy and I remember I hated that Eliminator II so much I started to love it. Well done video, Thanks.
@NcalBiker Sure appreciate you taking time to watch and comment! Thanks!
John
Thanks so much for taking time to watch and share your memories.
John
Boy that'll put tears in your eyes. We raced with all those guys from the 80s & 90s.
This was my first Indy in 1969. John Mulligan set low ET of 6.43 which was something in those days. He crashed after the first run and was badly burned. He died two weeks later. In those days funny cars ran 7.00 if they were good. You could run a good funny car motor all season if taken care of.
Thanks for making this video and the memories of seeing some of these guys racing at one of the strips shown, US-131 Dragway.
I loved this video, I watch it over and over again. As you made this video and all the comments you can tell that drag racing runs deep in so many hearts, souls and blood. We grew up in a time when these guys were flying by their seats of their pants for the love of this sport. Wish we could go back in time to be there once again to see these guys and the smell of the rubber and the nitro methane in the air, wow what a time we had. Does anyone here remember TRI CITY DRiAGWAY in Saginaw Mich?
Thanks for taking time to watch and comment! I'm glad you liked the video.
John
Trip down memory lane. Knew of some but not all. Golden Age of drag racing. Thanks
Some of us were lucky, Very Lucky to have lived in So. Calif. With drag strips everywhere, on any weekend you could see Jungle Jim, Dyno Don, dozens of other funny cars, or at another track a Top Fuel show, and a fuel altered show with Willie Borsch, etc. Now, it's almost extinct here....
What a great video. I know it means a lot to the families and fans of these guys that gave so much of themselves,time and passion that influenced so many peoples lives. Thanks for putting it together. Super cool.
John, awesome video and music. Brought tears to my eyes as I remember these guys. I grew up with family that raced pro stock at TRI CITY DRAGWAY in Saginaw Michigan. I seen so many racers that are mentioned in this video that have passed ( JJ, SOX, MULLIGAN) just to mention a few. I also seen the end of this dragstrip by a owner that made a hasty decision that ended a era for this community. I was a young boy when the track was open and I have to say R.I.P. drivers that loved the sport. Godspeed
I rarely find a video done with taste and respect.
This video my friend, is of professional quality and editing.
Thank you for posting this one and the Bob Glidden tribute.
GREAT VIDEO. ALOT OF TREMENDOUS FEELING RUSHING THROUGH ME AS I WATCHED THE OLD RACERS. BEEN A FAN OF NHRA RACING ALWAYS AND THE TRADITION CARRIES ON IN MY BLOOD, AS IN MY SON'S. RIP GREAT MEN.
Great video, and nice pics of the man, Dyno Don. He is like Jesus to us Mercury boys.
Man, just the other day, after watching a Big Daddy vid, I started thinking about Beebe & Mullitgan and here you are! Thanks for the nod out. A lot of great guys have come and gone. Lot of great memories.
@ElectraGSX Thanks for the nice comment and story! I appreciate it!
John
@MrRonnieG Top notch commentary! Thank you so much for watching!
John
The song is "All Good Things" from Jackson Browne's "I'm Alive" album from 1993. Thanks for the nice comment!
John
The crash photos were taken by my friend in the '80s at the US Nationals and are just one of many spills during Elmer's career and not his fatal crash.
Thanks for watching!
February 5, 1966 might have been the worst day I ever had as a 50 year fan of drag racing. It was @ Lions, late in the afternoon, and 22 year old driver Joe "The Jet" Jackson was out visiting from the east coast with his girlfriend. He struck an agreement with someone who had a not-so-strong top fuel car for Joe to try and qualify for the 8 car program that night. About 400 feet out, and in the tower lane @ Lions (left lane), Joe's car suddenly, and without warning, made a left turn.........
What a fitting song from jackson Browne Great Job
I lived at Lions Drag Strip (as well as Irwindale, OCIR and Pomona) from 1964 until I was drafted in 1969. I spoke with the "Zoo Keeper" many times over that period of time while he was driving the Adams-Wayre-Mulligan car and, of course, eventually the Fighting Irish car. I saw Pete Robinson killed @ the 71 Winternationals and Mike Sorokin @ OCIR at the end of '67. The racing was so special back then, and most did it for little more than the love of the sport, but it was dangerous.
Another great video..your choice of music is great..we have lost some great people. Thanks for all your video
I watched John Hagen's final pass at Brainerd. It looked like a normal pass, and then his car must have broken an axle or something right at the end, and the car went into a barrel roll. I'll never forget it. RIP.
Thanks a lot for taking time to watch and leave such a heartfelt comment. I really appreciate it!
John
Great video, John ! Never seen this one before. Martin 131 is still my favourite track. ! Like you I'm sure I've been there more times than i.can count.!
@jrsn2cars John, there are three things I have always wanted to experience, one being a ride in a front engined alcohol rail, a trip in a short wheel base altered and a sidewinder launch. Someday, it will happen. Thanks again for this post. It has to be one of the best I have seen. John.
Also Ronnie Sox, Darrel Russell, Blaine Johnson.
This was awesome I live in Canada and saw Jungle Jim run many times
........ I was sitting directly in front of the accident. Joe drove straight into one of the track light standards and crumbled. A few hours later it was announced that Joe "The Jet" Jackson had died. I've never forgetten that day though it has now been 44 years ago. R.I.P. Joe Jackson
OUTSTANDING JOB! Loved the VIDEO of Wild Willy driving the Winged Express. Quick question though. The pics of Elmer Trett crashing, are those Indy 96? When he died?
Great video of some of drag racings legends.
I had a similar experience at the '69 US Nationals when low qualifier John "Zookeeper" Mulligan exploded a clutch right in front of us and rolled over the guardrail in a ball of fire. He was severely burned and died a few weeks later. 1969 was a bad year for the fuel dragsters at Indy. It seemed like every other car exploded either a clutch or a supercharger. It was getting too dangerous and the slingshots had to go.
thank you, for helping me remember
Dyno Don won more races than any one in his day RIP FORD GUY FOR EVER
It is good to see old friends again
really nice video...like the JB cut as your choice ....thank you!
Front-engined cars were always trouble waiting to happen. Clutch explosions were particularly catastrophic which is how John Mulligan died. Those that chose to climb into a car from that era were brave and yet a little crazy too. I loved the sport more than I can tell you but we lost a bunch of great drivers who were great guys. Here's to all of you who helped make the sport what it is today. R.I.P., one and all........
You have to be an adrenalin junkie to enjoy nitro racing. What a rush. I would love to go out like this
Very nice tribute!!!!
Thank you so much for the kind words, it means a lot.
John
Oh Baby ,those sure were the days.
Whoops!
I forgot to say.
I liked the 60s and especially the 70s era of drag racing. It was about going faster form self innovation & trial and error. Now everyone uses a laptop instead of a wrench! How boring!
Thanks again for posting the vintage racers.
wow great song . jackson brown . the best :-)
Great video, would like to see Blaine Johnson mentioned as well.
Live like you'll die tomorrow-dream like you'll live forever. Enjoy life to its fullest!
Just so that everyone knows... These are not all nitro fueled cars. Some are alcohol cars.
Also, not all of these drivers died from accidents related to drag racing.
Dyno Don Nicholson is my great uncle...
And great he was, Brandon!!!!!!
This vid brought tears to my eyes.....I was in the mix back then.
Should have included pro stock racer Don Carlton.
Gregory Timmons yeah rite don Carlton is meverious Greater as a personal,,,
You forgot to mention Pete Robinson.
Sorry everyone ~ Joe's car made a hard right turn, towards the spectator side, and into the light standard. It was surrealistic to watch it happen directly in front of me ~ I couldn't believe what I was watching because the circumstances were so strange. The old saying about those days was appropriate, "we did it for love."
You forgot eric medlen
I built the dino dons model, me and my dad did
Iron American Dream on UA-cam. Share it. Take a ride across the promised land.
Q.E.P.D.
QUE EN PAZ DESCANSEN
Thumbs up !
Jackson Browne............? Drag Racing is the most powerfull motorsport..........."The"
Thanks but a lil tuff for me to watch..
Les
were blain t he world champ
mmmmmmmmmmmm
The crash photos were taken by my friend in the '80s at the US Nationals and are just one of many spills during Elmer's career and not his fatal crash.
Thanks for watching!