The start of it all....

[Furyous]

Having a bit of a clear out come tidy up, found a very old album with a few special (to me) pics.

This is me, at SPR for my first time, on my 12th birthday.The man Im watching, as Im sure you have all recognised, is non other than Don Garlits.
At the time, I was vaguely aware he was "quite good" but its only as the years pass I realise what a rare treat this actually was.
Anyway, that meet was welded into my mind and the start of many years of enjoying our beloved sport.

[veryoldfart]

and i know

"cos i was there"

i wonder where all the "alleygator" chassis-cars went

fast lady
alleygator
highway patrol
hemi-hunter (?)
the needle

were there more?

Edited by veryoldfart on Wednesday 4th November 13:59

[firewalker]

I was there too if it was the visit after he got beat by Pete Cranes 5! My first taste of drag racing, came away with an autograph book with Big Daddys scribble and his big oily thumbprint alongside it. Also remember getting Alan Herridges in that too but it's long been lost. [ : (

[Eurodragster Tog]

The Olavi Knuutinen FC dates the pictures to Garlits' second visit to SPR in July 1977 when he came back and cleaned up. Ran a new speed record of 232 mph in the final.

[veryoldfart]

Eurodragster Tog said:

The Olavi Knuutinen FC dates the pictures to Garlits' second visit to SPR in July 1977 when he came back and cleaned up. Ran a new speed record of 232 mph in the final.

wasnt that the AAFC car Priddle built but the owner never raced it?

looks like it was a sponsorshipped deal then...

http://www.trakbytes.co.uk/vech6.html

Edited by veryoldfart on Friday 6th November 14:17

[firewalker]

Eurodragster Tog said:

The Olavi Knuutinen FC dates the pictures to Garlits' second visit to SPR in July 1977 when he came back and cleaned up. Ran a new speed record of 232 mph in the final.

Did he race against Roz Prior in Maneater (in the Finals?) by any chance at that one? Still have that race on cine film! Also from the same meeting - Als' Gasser without the flame job if that's anything to go on.
I'm trying to pin down the dates for seeing my first drag race, pretty sure it was this one though.

[herb andrews]

firewalker said:

Did he race against Roz Prior in Maneater (in the Finals?) by any chance at that one?

Sure did. The International race dates were July 9/10 1977. He won with a 6.17.

Herb

Edited by herb andrews on Friday 6th November 17:44

[firewalker]

herb andrews said:

firewalker said:

Did he race against Roz Prior in Maneater (in the Finals?) by any chance at that one?

Sure did. The International race dates were July 9/10 1977. He won with a 6.17.

Herb

Edited by herb andrews on Friday 6th November 17:44

Thanks for confirming that! Quest over!
6.17 eh? Pretty much top form for the day!

[Jon C]

veryoldfart said:

Eurodragster Tog said:

The Olavi Knuutinen FC dates the pictures to Garlits' second visit to SPR in July 1977 when he came back and cleaned up. Ran a new speed record of 232 mph in the final.

wasnt that the AAFC car Priddle built but the owner never raced it?

looks like it was a sponsorshipped deal then...

http://www.trakbytes.co.uk/vech6.html

Edited by veryoldfart on Friday 6th November 14:17

Olavi Knuutinen was a Swedish Ice Hockey player who commissioned Dennis to build the car, but, for whatever reason, failed to take delivery, so Dennis kept it!

[Big go'75]

I am actually in the Don Garlit's picture here together with the person that came along with me (near the left slick). Considering it was July everybody has a jacket on!

[Geoff Stilwell]

Big daddy in the staging lanes at the Pod.

Edited by Geoff Stilwell on Saturday 28th November 17:17