Old drag photos

Misc. Photos from a Prior Life:
Drag Racing in the Early 60's

"The Shadow"
Owned by Dick Belfatti of Willow Grove, PA

#1: This is where I got my start with dragsters. This was built by Vernon "Smitty" Smith in a little shop a block from my house in 1959.
A Scotty Fenn "Chassis Research" TE-440 chassis, it featured a 392 Chrysler hemi. Initially it had 6 carbs and burned gasoline,
driving through a 2-speed gearbox. Then we upgraded to a 671 supercharger with Hilborn injection and the 2-speed went away.
Then we made the leap to nitromethane about the time this group of pics was shot in 1961.

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#2: K88 Chassis Research

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#3: Kent Fuller car, twin to Greer, Black & Prudhomme car.
(Sorry this photo is so beat up - it's been in my wallet for many years)

#3 seen also in York photos, below.

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#4: Fred Allen chassis. The photo on this post card was taken at the NHRA Nationals
at Indianapolis in 1964, losing a hole shot to Connie Kalitta in time trials.

Bob Vodnik driving.

#4 seen also in Vargo's, Scottsdale and Island Dragway photos below.

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#5: Final stage of construction in Kent Fuller's shop in Belmont, CA in 1965. That's Fuller
on right and our driver, Bob Vodnik, on left of first pic. The blur in 2nd pic is Fuller laying a
2x4 in the nose to draw a centerline. End result on right...

Ad on page 23:

Long Beach: 3rd out of state car ever to win! (Garlits & Karamesines were the other 2)

Hey, I just noticed the date: that was my 23rd birthday!

With paint

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32(?) Bantam (American Austin)
The body nearly ended up on a retiring dragster to revive it as a competition coupe.

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Atco Dragway, NJ 1964 (?)

2 unidentified rails take off.

Arfons jet.

Connie Kalitta's Bounty Hunter (Plymouth power).

Sox & Martin.

Charlie Seabrook straight-8 Buick.

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Vargo's Dragway

Vargo's lost the finish line lights to our header and tire, and in the process Joe Nocentino caught our parachute.

Unidentified rail red-lights at Vargo's.

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York US 30 Dragway

Shadow #3. Could have been the night of the big engine blow, below.
That's my back in right photo, foot on bumper.

Badly blown engine!
(ya think?")

Karamesines Chizler in front of the watering hole near York Dragway.

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Connecticut Dragway

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Bee Line Dragway, Scottsdale, AZ
1965 AHRA Winternationals

Chris Karamasines "Chizler"
(White 63 Caddy in background is our tow car)

E.J. Potter, the "Michigan Madman" Chevy-powered motorcycle.

Bud Faubel's "Honker", one of the original altered wheelbase "funny cars".

Shadow #4
(Check the light bulb!)

Connie Kalitta's cammer Ford "Bounty Hunter".

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Island Dragway, Great Meadows NJ

Shadow #4.

Don Garlits Swamp Rat #?. Below he runs 199 mph.
The next day he turned 200 for the first time at Cecil County MD.

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Speaking of Cecil County, that's where I spotted this cool hemi-powered Model T phaeton.

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I still have these:

Front Back

I worked in their engine shop for awhile.
We did "Grumpy" Jenkins' balancing for years.

This jacket came from our first time out on fuel.
I have just donated it to the Eastern Museum of Motorsports Racing
to be included in a display dedicated to Dick Belfatti's career.