Matthew 10:16
Member # 003
Lets here some drag racing stories here. Post em if ya got em guys.
Calling Kerry, MikeyW, Paul, Snakey Guy & others
- Thread starter Matthew 10:16
- Start date
Kerry & Kathy
Member #007
In 1984 I received a call from the management at the old St. Louis International Raceway. They wanted to do a 30 sec TV commercial with Mario Andretti as the spokesperson , using my Funnybike and Jerry Haas’ Pro Stock Car as the backdrop for the commercial. The plan was to have Jerry and I suit up and then do loud smoky burnouts side by side past the Christmas tree as the “lead in” for the commercial with Mario then providing the advertising pitch for the track.
The day we were scheduled to shoot, Jerry trailered his car in and I trailered the Funnybike and we both suited up. The day was overcast and it soon began sprinkling rain forcing us to stand under cover in the pits while waiting for Mario’s limo to arrive from the airport. A short time later a stretched Lincoln pulled in with Mario just as it started to rain steadily. There was NO WAY Jerry and I were going to get out on a wet track with slicks so it was decided to wait around for an hour or so to see if the weather would clear and the track might dry off.
While we were waiting for the track to dry, we had a chance to talk very informally with Mario. He was very candid talking about how he and his son Michael rode Kawasaki street bikes together. I was standing there in my full set of racing leathers, holding my helmet and Mario looked at me…. then looked down at the 11” wide car slick on the back of the bike…then looked at me….and back at the rear slick…Then he just shook his head, smiled and said…. “Your F...ing CRAZY”….!.
It was the nicest complement I could have received from a racing legend who routinely exceeded 200 mph in all kinds of professional race cars.
As it turned out, the track never did dry off and Mario had to get back to the airport so Jerry parked his Pro Stocker in the background and I parked the Funnybike on a stand where Mario could sit sideways on the rear fender and make his spiel in front of the camera. When it was all done, we shook hands and off he went in his limo.
It was a day I will not forget.
Kerry
The day we were scheduled to shoot, Jerry trailered his car in and I trailered the Funnybike and we both suited up. The day was overcast and it soon began sprinkling rain forcing us to stand under cover in the pits while waiting for Mario’s limo to arrive from the airport. A short time later a stretched Lincoln pulled in with Mario just as it started to rain steadily. There was NO WAY Jerry and I were going to get out on a wet track with slicks so it was decided to wait around for an hour or so to see if the weather would clear and the track might dry off.
While we were waiting for the track to dry, we had a chance to talk very informally with Mario. He was very candid talking about how he and his son Michael rode Kawasaki street bikes together. I was standing there in my full set of racing leathers, holding my helmet and Mario looked at me…. then looked down at the 11” wide car slick on the back of the bike…then looked at me….and back at the rear slick…Then he just shook his head, smiled and said…. “Your F...ing CRAZY”….!.
It was the nicest complement I could have received from a racing legend who routinely exceeded 200 mph in all kinds of professional race cars.
As it turned out, the track never did dry off and Mario had to get back to the airport so Jerry parked his Pro Stocker in the background and I parked the Funnybike on a stand where Mario could sit sideways on the rear fender and make his spiel in front of the camera. When it was all done, we shook hands and off he went in his limo.
It was a day I will not forget.
Kerry
Matthew 10:16
Member # 003
- Thread starter
- #3
NEAT story!!!!! Thanks Ker. Love the pic. 
others??????
others??????A Snake
Member #024
The latest issue of Hot Rod Mag has an article about Chris Karmeninise(the Golden Greek) the first top fuel to go 200+mph.
I was there!! April 1960(I was 15 y/o). Went with my sister and her boyfriend that had a super hot '58 BelAir with 348 tri power.
He ran a 204.54 and backed it up with a 201mph.
This was probably the beginning of my obsession with power and speed.
Chris is now 81 y/o and still running top fuel as a privater and doing pretty darn good.
Hope I still can do something similair at that age.
I was there!! April 1960(I was 15 y/o). Went with my sister and her boyfriend that had a super hot '58 BelAir with 348 tri power.
He ran a 204.54 and backed it up with a 201mph.
This was probably the beginning of my obsession with power and speed.
Chris is now 81 y/o and still running top fuel as a privater and doing pretty darn good.
Hope I still can do something similair at that age.
Matthew 10:16
Member # 003
- Thread starter
- #5
WOW Snakey. I was there too that day at Alton dragway. Does memory serve me correctly? Wasn't he running against big daddy that day? I remember the track announcer going beserk because no one had ever gone 200mph in the Qmile before.
A Snake
Member #024
I think it was April 4,1960..boy is that selective recall or what...can't remember what I had for breakfast today but can call that one up.
Yes Big Daddy was there!!!!!!!!
You had to be in diapers.
Yes Big Daddy was there!!!!!!!!
You had to be in diapers.
Matthew 10:16
Member # 003
- Thread starter
- #7
Yeah durn near. 
Actually almost 10 yrs old. I saw a lot of neat stuff at the Old Alton dragway. Art Arfons, Ronnie Sox, Don The Snake Prudomme, Little Red Wagon, Linda Vaughn, Hurst Hemi under glass, Bill Grumpy Jenkins, Chitown Hustler, can't remember em all. Funnies were always my favs. Loved Chitown Hustler cause he always did the longest burnouts. Darn near all the way down the track & then back up all the way back to the lights. Ah the good ole days.
Actually almost 10 yrs old. I saw a lot of neat stuff at the Old Alton dragway. Art Arfons, Ronnie Sox, Don The Snake Prudomme, Little Red Wagon, Linda Vaughn, Hurst Hemi under glass, Bill Grumpy Jenkins, Chitown Hustler, can't remember em all. Funnies were always my favs. Loved Chitown Hustler cause he always did the longest burnouts. Darn near all the way down the track & then back up all the way back to the lights. Ah the good ole days.
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