FULL HISTORY of Gene Cromer's MOONLIGHTER Willys Gasser
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Gene Cromer is a TRUE LEGEND of drag racing, and his 1941 Willys named "The Moonlighter" is part of what gave him that reputation. We dig DEEP to find the history of the Moonlighter and show you every step of this car's evolution, from an original passenger car to a 1960's gasser super star. The car was updated in the late '60s and was retired in the early '70s, stashed away in Gene's barn. He kept this legendary, historic drag car for all these years, but it was disassembled and he lost hope in ever putting it back together.
Enter Quain Stott, the leader of the @SoutheastGassersAssociation, who befriended Gene and offered to help put his iconic Willys gasser back together. This lit a fire under Gene and his old racing buddy, Melvin Craft. The resurrected gasser was a team effort, and resulted in a fully functional car...not just a museum piece. In fact, the Moonlighter is quicker than it was back in its heyday. This FORD-powered 1941 Willys used mostly original parts for its restoration, aside from a few modern safety features, which are hidden from plain sight. Vintage speed parts include magneisum Torq Thrust wheels, Hilborn mechanical fuel injection, an aluminum radiator from a factory lightweight Ford Galaxie, and much more.
Take a look at its full history and see some great old clips of it racing at tracks like Starlite 25 Dragway, Shuffletown and more. This is my biggest, most comprehensive episode of Hot Rod Hoarders, so I hope you enjoy it!
UPDATE: Gene Cromer and his iconic Moonlighter Willys gasser were involved in a terrible accident. Unfortunately, Gene did not recover from his injuries and has passed away. He is greatly missed.
#hotrodhoarders #history #dragracing
Wow, when you call and asked to use some of my pictures and videos, I never dreamed it would come out this good. You really did a great job.
Thanks again for all the help with this...definitely one of my biggest video projects yet.
Amazing story guys! So cool to see Gene blast it down the strip & how proud he is of that car.
Great job Frank!!
@@jimmypopp2695 I had a very small part in this. All the credit for this video goes to Hot Rod Hoarder, AKA Tommy Lee Byrd.
@@franktaylor6863 You had the forethought to document so many decades ago and moreover, you hung on to it for so many decades to come...
That's no small part Frank. The stars have aligned to get this story from your lens to my eyes.
I am grateful to have viewed these images and been told this story.
This is one of the best UA-cam channels. Great content everytime. Look forward to fridays. Thanks
Thank you for the kind words Jamie, it means a lot!
Man, what a great story and fantastic video. You've out-done yourself!
Thank you Larry!
Excellent job!!!!
Another great video brother, love the video of it launching with the front end high in the air ! Keep the gassers coming!
Thank you Kirtland!
Thank you for this one, it does my 51 year old heart good to see one of these old cars brought back to life by/for the original driver!
It was awesome to see this thing in person. Really a great car and a piece of history!
Very good coverage and back story on this car. probably the best yet!
Thank you Tim!
what an amazing story and video. i grew up watching gassers at Lion's drag strip. there my favorite class along with fuel altered. the car in its original state was super cool, restored its awesome, it certainly deserved to be resurrected.
Great vid, really enjoyed!!!!!!!!!!!! 👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you for watching!
Great episode I really enjoyed seeing the old footage and build photos. Thanks
Thanks Sam!
I wish I was growing up back then. I love those old gassers
For sure, I would've loved to experience drag racing in the '60s.
That’s a time of scratch for every tenth you could FIND!!!
John DeHaven I did grow up back then. Yeah, it was great. But think how old you'd be now.
Nice. Wonder where the 55 is now
Good old days when you read about Drag racing in the newspaper before it was considered a bad thing... Man I wanna go back
I'd love to go back to the '60s!
@@HotRodHoarder at one time we had 5 drag strips on long island. One by one they took em out. Then we had to resort to going out to new jerseys englishtown... Then they took that away. 🤦🏻♂️
I want to go back for many reasons brother.
@@HotRodHoarder Me too!! MUCH better times back then.
Great job, your work is second to none! The countless hours and dedication it takes to make a video with great detail like this is awesome. Thank you!
Love that Ranchero too.
Oh yeah, a very cool tow vehicle.
Absolutely well put together documentary on this car
Everything this kid does is Gold. He's gonna go far.
Thank you 383 Garage!
Thank you for the kind words Joshua!
Excellent video brother! I met Gene a few years back at a SEG race. He is a very humble man and loves life.
Thank you Doug! Gene is a true Southern Gentleman.
Thanks Man Great video. Best I seen on utube in a long time. Always wanted a willy's for forty years. Still chasing the dream of finding one in a Bush. Lol. Great history. Thanks again.
Thank you for the kind words!
That's my dream too. I take it you've seen the movie "Hot Rod" ? (1979 movie) It's here on UA-cam also. It's a MUST see for Willy's lovers. I saw it when I was a kid when it first came out. It just added to my Love and Desire for a Willys.
I learned a lot about Gene from this film. Great job. May he Rest in Peace.
Thank you so much beautiful car awesome guy forgot to do his last little thing with the car used to have I'm 70 now and I remember back when they used to run anglia's and and these little gas or cars just awesome thank you so much flashback from the past good job man and good job taking the time to do this video
I've watched this I bet 8 times now! Awesome back story and what a great car! Amazing what a little history, family and saved parts can accomplish!
Great story telling. Awesome love for the cars and passion building and racing . All those involved in this are great people. Gene must be a happy man to take this out racing once in while and tell the story. Thanks for sharing. Your great at storytelling.
WHEN YA SAY CROMER AROUND HERE EVERYBODY KNOW'S WHO YER TALKIN' ABOUT,
THANK'S FOR PUT'IN ANDERSON, SOUTH CAROLINA ON THE DRAG RACING MAP.....
Great job on restoring a great piece of drag history..thats awesome you guys keep him and his legacy alive.
This video gave me chills. It was like reliving when I was a kid. Loved going to the drags and watching those old gassers run! Thanks for this video. ❤️
This was awesome how you all came together to restore this iconic hotrod. Lane did a great job so cool Gene kept it and motor parts. Love those Rancheros too.
Great job on video! And hats off to Gene for running a great FE engine...proving once again, bbc is not the only option!
Thank you for watching!
Bet that Cammer looked good in there! Probably a little heavy though
Thank you for this video. We so much appreciate learning more about a legend in the gasser world. Quain Stott has done a wonderful job bringing gassers BACK - SEGA is gaining traction and a big fan base. As more and more sponsors join the association SEGA - and hopefully other regions - will build an even bigger following. The day of the gasser is NOT OVER!
Thank you for watching John! I love following along with the Southeast Gassers Association. Those guys are doing it right!
Absolutely loved that - Thank you, I’ve wanted a willys coupe since the age of 13 - kind of an odd thing for a kid from the UK in the 1980’s, I’m 53 now and still have that itch I need to scratch- one day soon hopefully 🤞👍
Thank you for watching!
I been knowing Mr gene corner when I was a kid he done some motor work for me when I was raceing still love that car may the good Lord be with him and all of us
Thank you for this video, you've done an outstanding job documenting this old ghost. Thanks to Gene for all the wonderful memories. God Bless you all.
Thank you for the kind words!
OMG thank you so much for doing this! What an incredible story. Brought tears of joy to my eyes. Would love to get this to make an appearance October 30th at our home our Florida Dragstrip Riot 5.
Thank you for sharing this valued pice of history. Very well researched and told. I thank you for posting this sir.
Having grown up with Big John Mazmanian's nephew and Rich Siroonian coached a football team I played on, gassers hold a special place in my heart. Great video thanks for doing these!!
Thanks Kenny! Big John was a drag racing hero!
Worth the wait. Fantastic research and images. Sweet (re)build. Gene’s smile says it all.
Thanks Matt...this rebuild definitely lit a fire under Gene.
This by far the best gasser documentary you've done on the channel. I enjoyed every bit of it from start to finish.
You have done an amazing service to the memory of this man and his family . Who could have known fate was just around the corner as you and all that contributed pieced together this beautiful tribute to a racing legend and really great guy. You have outdone yourself ! R.I.P. Gene and godspeed.....
Great video and story, awesome man and car, thank you!
Thank you for watching Robert!
I've been watching your vids along time . This is the best I've seen out of them all . You did an amazing job !
Awesome video!! The car and history is amazing the best part is it’s Ford Powered!! Love the fe sound!!
I grew up watching these Gassers back in the 60s and fell in love with them! To this day, they remain my favorite drag racers. Thanks for bringing this story to us, you covered this extremely well!
Little known fact: Willys is correctly pronounced “Willis”. I just found out a couple years ago and I’ve been a car nut 45+ years. Kinda bummed too, because I prefer “Willeez”.
You are correct. I too have always heard and called it Willy's. Probably because I came from Yankee territory originally. Lol
Matt, who is to say what the correct pronunciation is? The man Willys who calls it WILLIS is just pronouncing it WRONG!!!! It is pronounced exactly the way it is spelled or else just throw away the know pronunciation of ALL english words and pronounce them any screwed up way you please...
Yeah, I can't break the habit of calling it a Willeez. All the old guys I grew up around called it Willis, and I always said Willeez. Now it's stuck haha.
@@redlinerracer7178 “I talked to many people, now deceased, including his private secretary, and all said emphatically that he pronounced it `Willis,' said Ron Szymanski, local Jeep historian. “I can attest to the fact that Willys' relatives all say `Willis.'”
However, Mr. Szymanski acknowledged that many Jeep workers pronounce the name “Willies.”
The Internet has numerous references to both pronunciations, and even a web site devoted to the controversy.
Adding to the confusion is that millions of GIs saw World War II Jeeps stamped WILLYS, and they came home with their own opinions as to the pronunciation.
In 1952, as Willys-Overland Motors was preparing for the 50th anniversary of the first Overland cars, The Blade declared: “It's `Willis.'” A number of reporters and editors at the time had known Mr. Willys personally.
The current owner of the famed Willys automotive nameplate, DaimlerChrysler, is no help - even though the automaker may put the Willys name on some future versions of the Jeep.
“When we came out with the Willys [concept vehicle], we pronounced it `Willis,' like Bruce,” said Sjoerd Dijkstra, a Chrysler spokesman.
“We got a lot of flak, so we changed it to [sound like] `Willies,' even though John North Willys probably did pronounce it `Willis.' We use `Willies' now, the common way, so we don't have to explain how [the auto pioneer] pronounced it.”
John Conde, an auto historian in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (and former Jeep public relation executive), said Mr. Willys “was probably the type who would say, `I don't care how you pronounce it as long as you buy my cars.'”
- HOMER BRICKEY
@@joshuagibson2520 Thanks for covering my reply to Redliner. 👍
Fantastic video, fantastic character Gene, appreciate his faith and character!
God Bless You, Gene!
I’m old enough to well remember the 1960’s and Gene’s determination to race while working full time to support his family!
AWESOME CAR ,GREAT ENGINE, GORGEOUS PAINT, GREAT STORY THANX FOR SHARING IT
Thank you for watching Kevin!
Amazing look at the history of this Willys and Gene. I was about 14 years of age & I used to deliver newspapers and magazines for extra pocket money. One house I delivered to had a Hotrod magazine (don’t remember what it was called) on monthly subscription and I was looking through a copy & there was a feature on a red Willys gasser, it turned out to be Big John Mazmanian’s. Needless to say in early 1960’s England it wasn’t common to see cars like that, but I was hooked. From then on I made my mind up that was what I wanted to do. I’ve been involved with drag racing and hot rods ever since. Never did get to own a. ‘41 Willys but I have a steel ‘32 Ford Roadster, maybe in another life I’ll get to find one.
Thanks for sharing this amazing story & I hope Gene gets to enjoy his awesome Willys for many more years.
👏👏👏👏👏🤣🇬🇧.
The greatest story you've ever done very well done. Thank you
Thank you Tony, that means a lot!
0:09 that wheelie footage was awesome!
That launch is awesome. Love how unpredictable these cars were back in the day.
Yeah ,Man...HE WAS GONE!
That was a great video. You are knocking it out of the park. Thank you so much for sharing this story. Hollywood couldn't of presented this as clean and cool as you did. Wow what a great true story. Please keep them coming
Thank you for the continued support. I love this stuff!
Great video Tommy! Gene sounds like a great Christian too
Fantastic story done very well . I have to admit that was what racing really is all about . To go that fast back in the day is damn impressive . I'll take a car like this any day over a high tech car . These are a lot more fun and usable .
Thanks for sharing the story with us. I love hearing about the heyday of dragracing, especially grassroots.
I was sixteen in 1968when I met Gene at an old airstrip dragway between Orange Park and Green Cove Springs Florida called Thunderbolt Dragstrip. It was a Funnycar meet with about twenty or so Funnycars. Lighting was poor so they used two World War two spotlights behind the starting line to light up the strip. Gene had his Mustang roadster there running as a Funnycar. In those days, you could just stand around the cars at the starting line and staging area. I was a budding Ford fan and I walked up to Gene and told him how I loved his car. Well Gene proceeded to tell me all about his 427 Tunnel port engine, injectors and chassis. That really impressed me as a teenager that a pro racer would take time in the staging lane to talk to me a total stranger just as if I knew all he was talking about. He just filled me in on his ride. Awesome good guy! I'll never forget that event. I built a model car after his in the following weeks. I cut the top off a 66 Mustang fastback and made a roadster out of it with a homemade chassis and 427 wedge and metalflake gold body color. I wish I still had it.
I love it man🎉
Awsome! Great to see these old racer willys back out and being used as they were intended to be .a very well put together informative video sir.
This is a awesome video.and the story is incredible and so happy gene got to get back in the saddle of his special pride and joy .thx for sharing bud .hope all is well in your family and I'm sure the lil one is growing up fast .. godbless and stay safe.brother.
thank you ! i really enjoyed this!
Thank you for watching!
Awesome video ! Loved taking the step back and seeing a big part of drag racing history !
Great video!! Love all the old photos and in depth research. Amazing story! It’s so cool he kept the car after all these years. Awesome job!!
Thank you for watching Andrew!
This has got to be my favourite yet, very well done.
Thank you for the kind words!
Thank you.Beautiful story!
Thanks for watching Gregory!
Great job on this car and owners history. Was a garage rat as a kid. Drove a 57 chevy gasser on streets in Chicago . My reward, for going to get smoke and beer yes old day. Missed them. If your old as I am you understand. Thanks
Thanks for watching and sharing your memories Pete.
Awesome job man, very well done, I saw Gene run in Greer, he can wheel the mess out of that thing!!! Never knew about the mustang, thats soooo cool.My pastor was one of the people that was responsible for starting greer dragstrip back in the 50s he has some cool stories about it. You are blessed with a awesome talent of story telling, keep up the awesome work!!!! GOD Bless Adrian at AC Designs Garage 🙏
RIP to legend and friend.
Gene Cromer 7/14/2021🕊️
Great vids and info.. you make the history of the “ cars” come alive.You are doing us ” a great service.
Thanks bud.
Great video! Thank you for taking the effort and time to create this great content!
Wow 9s in an FE is flying. Very cool story. Ford Guy. 🤘😎🇺🇸
Yes sir, he knows how to make those FE's run hard.
Great video. Loving your channel. Very well done documentaries. Very inspiring for me in what I do. Thanks. This You Tube thing is allot of work for very little. Sure do appreciate ya.
Love the Car and the Story. I was born in 65 and my Dad Drag Raced from the late 50s into the early 70s and I Grew up around these Cars. I'm from Michigan so he Raced at Lapeer Drag way and Tri-City and one more i CAN'T spell. I lost my Pop 5 years ago and Get my Love of Hot Rods from him. I can feel and hear what a machine is Doing. That man could shift a 4 speed and come off the light like no bodys business. I'm so Glad that I got to see this Story. I always loved them willys and straight axle cars. God bless all of you that helped and made this Dream stay alive.
You are incredible with your talent. I love watching all of your work! Thank you so very much
Thank you for the kind words Robert!
Excellent story and put together perfectly. Keep em coming!!!
Absolutely amazing video. Thank you for taking the time to do this. I'm the same age as you,I grew up with a 64 vette too and it's up to us to tell these stories and keep it all alive....thank you.
Congrats.....great video....i watched the rebuild on The Hamb back in the day......Quian's effort to keep it period correct was incrediable....set the standard for others to follow....which still stands true with the SEG Assoc....
Absolutely, Quain set the bar pretty high! His efforts to document the rebuild will go down as one of the best build threads on the HAMB.
Powerful elements all around this story. Thanks for sharing it🙏😎👍
Thank you for watching Jim!
Awesome story, I grew up in the 60s and Willys gassers were always my favorite. Finished my own blown Willy street rod last summer!
Badd ass car nice story appreciate it ....keep it coming please
Please keep Gene Cromer (Moonlighter) and his family in your prayers. Had a throttle issue while loading to go to the Anderson car show. Shot across the road at high speed off of an embankment and 100 yards into a construction site.
What a great story Thanks so much for sharing that with us Keep up the GREAT work !!!
Thank you Michael!
I've got to go to a Gasser Race soon ! Back when drag racing was real!!
If you've never been to a southeast gasser race..you're cheating yourself!
Absolutley awesome!!
What a great story. It gave me great pleasure watching that. I love that the car was kept as original as possible and is still racing.
Love to see old school stuff I have 51Ford old school flathead good stuff
Always amazing, you guys have the coolest cars and stories coming out of S.C. I feel like I need to make it done there one summer just to take in the sights and sounds.
South Carolina is PACKED with racing history and lots of fast modern day race cars as well.
Well done. Videos keep getting better and better.
Thank you for the kind words!
That's an incredibly moving story...what a nasty little car then and now!
Yes sir, it's making some big power!
@@HotRodHoarder What a crowd pleaser, this was a wheelstander back when very few were doing that. Willy's rock!
Wow what a great story and tribute to Gene and his family! A beautifully done car beautifully restored. one of my all-time favorite gassers, ‘41 Willys
I appreciate the video on the willies I am now building 841 Willys I sent you a message before this is Rick from Michigan
Thank you Rick!
Thanks excellent put together video great memories and thoughts of back then you made my day catch you next time God Bless !!!!
Thank you for watching Jim!
Great job! I remember as a kid in the 60's reading about these gassers and others. I have also followed your printed work for years. Keep it up, we need to keep ahold of this history.
And people think the 426 HEMI is cool, Ford 427 is the real racing engine kids.
Oh yes, Ford had some killer engines. Gene seemed to have them really figured out.
This says Allot; "I did not fast forward, if anything, I reminded"..
Amazing Videos of History.. 👍
I subcribed..
I really enjoy all the videos and documentaries that u put out there brother, I have a 78 Malibu I race at Muncie drag strip, I feel we are all part of history racing these cars, thank you and god bless you and your family..
Talk about going back in time, I was at that one and only race at Donaldson and watched Gene win A/G. It was also the first time I got to see Big Daddy Don Garlits run and I was hooked. We used to race all over the area between 1964 and 1967, until I got drafted. Ware Shoals was an outlaw track meaning it wasn't sanctioned by any racing body that didn't mean they didn't have rules. They would make you throw your beer out when you got to the starting line. Sorry to hear of Gene's passing he will continue to be a legend all around the Carolina's for many years to come.
Thank you for sharing this Awesome story ! Take care , stay safe and healthy with whatever you maybe doing next ! Doing well here in Kansas .
Thanks for your continued support Steve!
@@HotRodHoarder You're welcome
Every car has a story. That’s why gear heads stand around talking when they aren’t driving Some cars like this one have a legend. And now this one continues its legend after its slumber. The Moonlighter was a hero in Gene’s part of the world and is again. But now, because of technology the Moonlighter story reaches farther than it ever could have. I live near Vancouver BC Canada. Now I know Gene’s story. Nice work. To all of those who say the internet is full of meaningless content! You’re looking in the wrong places.
Thanks for the history and how well you presented it,God bless
Fantastic car and build. Glad the engine stayed with period correct parts as well. Many do not.
another awesome video thanks for sharing and can’t wait to see the next one
Thank you for following along Al!
Thank you, thank you, thank you all!!! What a great story, great racing history and family documentary.
It was in that time period Stone Woods & Cook's Willys gasser that got me hooked on gassers, Willys and dragracing in general.
Awesome history! Happy to see it back racing again! Thanks for sharing!😎
Thank you for watching David!
my dream car is a wheelies 40 41 love to have one 1 day but a real own not glass car so i know its just a dream lol
but even old people can dream to
This is the best one you have done! Thank you for sharing all you have done!
Thank you for your continued support Alan!
This reminds me a lot of the Stone Woods and Cook 41 Willy's . One of the first traveling race teams who I believe ran at some of your tracks in the south.
The stories I've heard that were told to me by Doug "Cookie" Cooks son Mike are pretty wild for the day.
What a great tribute ,to the man and the car. I was in my late 20s during the Gasser days and went to a lot of drag races back then that featured match races between gassers ,I really enjoyed this it brought back a lot of good memories for me thank You .
What an AWESOME Willys. I think the best part is it's FORD POWERED!!!