Don Garlits, 1970

While the promotion has Don Garlits racing at Eugene, OR, in 1970 it seems it was too soon after his big wreck earlier in the year. That was the accident that got the rear engine fueler up and running and changed the look of drag racing forever.

But Don was there, it's just that Marvin Schwartz was driving. A four car show that had Tommy Ivo, Don Prudhomme and Jerry Ruth with Big Daddy in the neighbourhood? I'd pay to see that every time.

Don Garlits in the northwest, 1969

Came across some information about Don Garlits touring the northwest in 1969. Only have clippings about the visit to Balboa in Eugene, OR, but the preliminary article mentions him being in both Edmonton and Calgary.

Now that I want to find out more about.

The art of racing in the rain

I haven't finished the novel The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein yet.

I think there is a movie being made out of it. Hope it doesn't suck.



Because so far the book is pretty good.

2012 Knox Mountain Hill Climb

Went to the latest Knox Mountain Hill Climb over the long weekend. Good to see John Haftner back. He's got the all-time quickest run up the hill at 1:37 and a bit. Best he could do this year was 1:41 and something. The last run I saw him start he got all sideways on the launch and then it was reported he was moving slow through the final turns.

He was quickest this year again but we all want those records.

Here is a summary of the runs: http://www.knoxmtnhillclimb.ca/results/2012results_ranked.pdf

the midgets at PGARA, 1977

Cliff Hucul was advertised as being in the Gordon Reelie Weldco midget. Not sure if that happened.

and even more PGARA stuff

From the 1970s at PGARA.

some more PGARA

More clippings on the PGARA Speedway.

bonus PGARA

Talk at the Canadian Rodder Hot Rod Community Forum went this direction.

And after a dozen (count 'em!) snips and pastes I got the page together.

PGARA Speedway

The Prince George Auto Racing Association is celebrating its 60th year. The Prince George Citizen had an article about that in last Friday's edition.

Go here for that.

And just for the heck of it here's some clippings from that newspaper from over the years.

Sunday comics, a day late

There weren't many comic strips devoted to racing. And it could be argued this one, Johnny Comet, wasn't either. Only lasted for a short time.

Very notable because the artist was Frank Frazetta, who went on to great celebrity with his science fiction and sword and sorcery art work, covers for the old Conan the Barbarian novels, etc.

The writer was supposedly Peter De Paolo, winner of the Indy 500 back in the 1925. Not sure how much he contributed, other than his name to give the strip some racing credibility.

a jockey on the drag strip

With Mario Gutierrez, former Hastings Park jockey, doing well winning the Kentucky Derby (with a horse under him) I came across this mention of Bill Hartack, another multiple derby winner, trying his hand at drag racing.

I'm sure there were others who did the same.

RIP Carroll Shelby

Carroll Shelby passed away a couple days ago. I have nothing to really offer here except this routine Bill Cosby did years ago.

1972 formula ford at Westwood

Tom Johnston remembering how he had one of the first Formula Fords on the coast. And how he managed to win with it back then. Now, it was tougher.

Okay, that's not nice. I apologize. I just want to see if he reads this while on vacation. :)

it flies through the air....

A somewhat forgotten aspect of racing at Westwood. Off road dune buggies. Nothing captures the imagination, or the first page of the sports section, like a vehicle up in the air.

Where, or how, he landed...well, you'd have to go to the next race to see for yourself.

Karting

 An ad from Cal-Van Automotive for a go-cart. And a tune from 1964 about karting. Well, it has a buzz saw engine roar through it a couple times so I guess that makes it a karting song.