Back again after a 2 day layoff from here. Now if I remember right, that trick-performing airplane was owned / flown by some guy named Art...and he called that plane the "Flying Chipmunk"?? I'm relying on 40plus yr. memories now. Man, that guy could fly, fellas. And I didn't know that Beeline was Garlit's rear eng. rail debut. That's pretty cool. I also remember it took forever to get out of there when the racing was done...and it was frickkin' dusty as heck. Boy, I miss it too. joel in tucson
@WickedTornado That would be Art Scholl, the grandfather of modern aerial manuevers; the film "Top Gun" is dedicated to his memory, as he had just passed away. He pioneered much of the extreme flying that the best pilots in the world learn to survive in combat. Great footage of 1971---fond memories of attending the AHRA event in West Palm Beach right after this race :-) Peace
I can't believe I found this vid. I was there! Yup, juniors in high school...3 of us made it up from Tucson to Beeline. A lot of years ago, for sure. As is life, one of them is dead, and the other one contacted me from Wash D.C. where he lives, and we hadn't talked for decades. Great to hear from my old buddy! Anybody reading this that has old buds that you haven't talked to in ages...I heartily recommend calling them. Yes, just do it! We had such a ball at that race. Great time for me in life.
@dart1966man the SOUR SIX was Dennis Kucera, who soon drove the WHATLEY EXCAVATING MP Camaro. He did real well with it, winning several AHRA national events. He then drove some guy named Tioa from Cali's AA/Altered in the 80's & 90's. I knew Dennis to talk to him when I went to AHRA national events in the 70's.
@cb3961 The Sour Six Ford Falcon was owned by my bother in law Kelly Lane. He later sold it to Dennis Kucera. We drove the damn thing to Beeline one year. 144 ci monster with a wide open header. The fun meter was pegged. I went to alot of races with Kelly and Dennis. Both great guys and awesome racers and they put that little falcon in the winners circle alot. They raced out of the House of Speed in Glendale, so did Harry Larson and a bunch of wonderful people. I could go on for a week. 1rahd
@cb3961 You are very welcome. Harry did have a 57 Chevy Wagon. Very fun person to hang with and also did some winning with his car. I have a photo of his hot rod from an old Arizona Racing News dated March 22,1973. He had just won Stock Eliminator at the AHRA Fremont Northern Nationals in California. Ran a 13.05 at a 89.91 mph for the win. My brother found a stack of old ARN magazines at a swap meet and and they are cool tro look at.
@1rahd I remember Kucera's Falcon. I think I'd see him run it at the old Tucson Dragway...am I right? Yeah...he won a LOT with it as I remember. What were the times on that thing....16's or thereabouts? Do you remember that top fuel racer that got killed there at the top end? His name was Paul Pritchett. I think it was this race. I was at the start / pitside. I remember when the rail flipped and endo'd, EVERYBODY in the stands just knew he was dead. The entire crowd went silent in an instant.
I loved Beeline. we would go to the pits and help Prudhomme, Garlits, McEwin or whoever was short handed. Remember Jim McDade? Slant six bracket racer. Back when racing was freindly and everyone hung out together. Those days are gone.
great videos tag . a friend of mine used to race out here in his anglia
TheMsautobodyman 5 days ago
Back again after a 2 day layoff from here. Now if I remember right, that trick-performing airplane was owned / flown by some guy named Art...and he called that plane the "Flying Chipmunk"?? I'm relying on 40plus yr. memories now. Man, that guy could fly, fellas. And I didn't know that Beeline was Garlit's rear eng. rail debut. That's pretty cool. I also remember it took forever to get out of there when the racing was done...and it was frickkin' dusty as heck. Boy, I miss it too. joel in tucson
WickedTornado 2 months ago
@WickedTornado That would be Art Scholl, the grandfather of modern aerial manuevers; the film "Top Gun" is dedicated to his memory, as he had just passed away. He pioneered much of the extreme flying that the best pilots in the world learn to survive in combat. Great footage of 1971---fond memories of attending the AHRA event in West Palm Beach right after this race :-) Peace
binnyman 1 month ago
I can't believe I found this vid. I was there! Yup, juniors in high school...3 of us made it up from Tucson to Beeline. A lot of years ago, for sure. As is life, one of them is dead, and the other one contacted me from Wash D.C. where he lives, and we hadn't talked for decades. Great to hear from my old buddy! Anybody reading this that has old buds that you haven't talked to in ages...I heartily recommend calling them. Yes, just do it! We had such a ball at that race. Great time for me in life.
WickedTornado 2 months ago
I wasn't born until the next year; but I have a bunch of photos from this weekend from my father's albums. Very cool!
SPIKEX68 3 months ago
I bet I was there that day at age 6. Cool vid thanks for sharing. I remember all the STP jackets you got if you competed.
AirbrushzoneLLC 3 months ago
I bet I was there that day at age 6. Cool vid thanks for sharing.
AirbrushzoneLLC 3 months ago
@dart1966man
1rahd 3 months ago
One idea that I had (and some of you will probably think I'm a sentimental goofball) is have music from that time dubbed into the video.
Majikart 4 months ago
this race was the National event debut for Garlits' RE dragster !!!
cb3961 4 months ago
@dart1966man the SOUR SIX was Dennis Kucera, who soon drove the WHATLEY EXCAVATING MP Camaro. He did real well with it, winning several AHRA national events. He then drove some guy named Tioa from Cali's AA/Altered in the 80's & 90's. I knew Dennis to talk to him when I went to AHRA national events in the 70's.
cb3961 4 months ago
@cb3961 The Sour Six Ford Falcon was owned by my bother in law Kelly Lane. He later sold it to Dennis Kucera. We drove the damn thing to Beeline one year. 144 ci monster with a wide open header. The fun meter was pegged. I went to alot of races with Kelly and Dennis. Both great guys and awesome racers and they put that little falcon in the winners circle alot. They raced out of the House of Speed in Glendale, so did Harry Larson and a bunch of wonderful people. I could go on for a week. 1rahd
1rahd 3 months ago
@1rahd Great story !!! Thanks for sharing !!!...didn't Harry Larson have a '57 Chevy 2 door wagon, ran formula stock with it. ???
cb3961 3 months ago
@cb3961 You are very welcome. Harry did have a 57 Chevy Wagon. Very fun person to hang with and also did some winning with his car. I have a photo of his hot rod from an old Arizona Racing News dated March 22,1973. He had just won Stock Eliminator at the AHRA Fremont Northern Nationals in California. Ran a 13.05 at a 89.91 mph for the win. My brother found a stack of old ARN magazines at a swap meet and and they are cool tro look at.
1rahd 3 months ago
@1rahd I remember Kucera's Falcon. I think I'd see him run it at the old Tucson Dragway...am I right? Yeah...he won a LOT with it as I remember. What were the times on that thing....16's or thereabouts? Do you remember that top fuel racer that got killed there at the top end? His name was Paul Pritchett. I think it was this race. I was at the start / pitside. I remember when the rail flipped and endo'd, EVERYBODY in the stands just knew he was dead. The entire crowd went silent in an instant.
WickedTornado 2 months ago
love stuff like this
mark4tk 8 months ago
I loved Beeline. we would go to the pits and help Prudhomme, Garlits, McEwin or whoever was short handed. Remember Jim McDade? Slant six bracket racer. Back when racing was freindly and everyone hung out together. Those days are gone.
bigdpw 11 months ago