Old NED Photos.... Remember When.....

[CCRT]

Take a look at some of these.......

http://www.motorsportunderground.com/NE%20Match%20Racing/Pages/Main%20Page.htm

http://www.motorsportunderground.com/NE%20Match%20Racing/NE%20scrap%20book/New%20England%20Scrapbook.htm

http://www.motorsportunderground.com/NE%20Match%20Racing/Pages/New%20England%20Dragway.htm

Great site..... http://www.motorsportunderground.com/index.htm

[CCRT]

This is the real thing........


Mr. Bill???????

http://www.motorsportunderground.com/Stories/2002%20FC%20reunion/pages/00-074-12-Mr-Tomato.htm

[Joe Henderson]

GREAT PHOTO'S !!!!!!!!!

I was at the track when the Jade Grenade crashed against
Barry Setzer's Vega (possibly 1974?).

WOW!!

Joe

[Belvedere65]

Indy 1965

C/Modified Sports

[Belvedere65]

Want more?

[Belvedere65]

A/Gas Willys Coupe

Indy 1965

[Belvedere65]

1966 NHRA Spring Nationals

First national event at Bristol, Tenn

Do you Banana heads notice it's a GM product?

Small block, at that!!!!!!!:p :p :p :p

[chan]

Jims dad used to take him to the drags when he was little there is a bio on that site which gives the history.
I think it is cool he saved all those old news papers from NED and tickets etc.
A true lover of the sport.
There is even a pic of him when he was a teen at NED standing next to a funny car.
All I have from them days is hand outs.

[Belvedere65]

Phil Miller making the turn at the top of staging, after being push started from the other end of the track.

Mid to late 60's

[Belvedere65]

Golden Commandos, mid to late 60's

Looking towards the pits.

Notice the lane numbers are a little back, from where the water box is now.

That's where staging started at that time.

[chan]

Bill, did they have dyno's back then?
When we were ivestigating CCRT camp we made this discovery,
Looks like Dave is doing some testing.
We did get a look inside, but we are waiting for approval from homeland security before we can show the photos of the interior.
They are trying to identify one of the crew members.
http://topbike.homestead.com/files/ccrtdyno.jpg

:eek: :eek: :confused:

[Belvedere65]

Stone Woods & Cook

Mid to late 60's

Old timing tower on the left side of track.

Pick up time slips at base of tower.

[Belvedere65]

Chan,

I'm surprised you got a peek inside the dyno room!!!!

I heard that after the Homeland Security warning, that duct tape and plastic went up on the inside. After a couple of pulls on the dyno, no one could breathe. The crew forgot how to remove the tape, and the boxes it came in were outside. :rolleyes:

I hope their okay!!!!!:p

[Belvedere65]

"Ohio George Montgomery"

"The MALCO Gasser" Mustang

Mid to Late 60's

Notice in this and other pics, the pipe guard rails.

[Belvedere65]

Our Own:

Eddie Dubois on the right, checking out his Hemi Road Runner.

Conneticut Dragway

late 60's

[Belvedere65]

Yours truly:

About 1958/59

[Belvedere65]

Me Again!

Sanford Maine

1961/62

Don't want to spoil your fun Dougie & Dave but,
283 Chev with dual carbs, Factory unit!:D

[Belvedere65]

New England Dragway

Mid to late 60's

Pretty sure this is Jack Doyles car with Don Roberts driving. Bill Watson head of staging pulling him back and Dave Berube is the starter.

New info from old minds, think this could be Ron Charlands car.

Anybody know for sure?

Jack, you reading this?

[Belvedere65]

Doug Juonis after breaking two NHRA national records at Sanford, Maine.

1966

Heading for Bristol, Tenn

[chan]

Bill,
Those are some great photos! They sure bring back a lot of memories. I was a little track rat, my dad, uncles, even my mom used to take me to the track in the early 60's through 70's
I remember my mom bringing me to Norwood, Ma. 1/8 mi.
she was actually more of a race junkie than my dad.
My dad brought me to NED a lot.
I knew every drag racer lived in a 10 mi radius as a kid.
Remember Joe Fennesy (Fuel altered). He is still around, That old guy rides a Hyabusa and brags he has gone a 180 on it!
One guy down the street still has his FED small block injected car collecting dust in the garage.
Oh one more thing, funny you should mention the mishap at CCRT dyno room, wait till you see what happened to Daves new crew chief!

Bill that picture of you and the boys (about 1958/59)
COOL! Is that the get away car from the "Great Brinks Job"
I knew they never caught three of them
__________________
;) :D

[chan]

Bill I have some bad news, there was an accident with only one survivor in the CCRT Dyno room.
Not to worry though, Dave has survived the incident, but he is under investigation again, for the unfortunate passing of his crew member.
He claims he was dead when he found him. YIKES!:eek:
http://topbike.homestead.com/files/inside.jpg

[Tom Kerr]

Hi Bill and Thanks for the pictures and sharing with this Tough crowd, takes a lota man to share knowing what in store for you. The picture with the 3 stogges racing team really rocks, you even look like a Tough Guy hahahahah. I like It!!!!! Your alright for a Mopar guy even if i haven't been able to beat ya in what 29 years,, But Mr Tomato your day is coming and soon buddy hahahhaahahaha, what a suprise i have for you, i'll bet ya can't wait till opening day just to see what i have in store for You!!!!!!, will it be a Mopar or a Chevrotoliet as yer buddy calls us, ethier way it's gonna be fun, and that goes for Everyone who has Underestimated me in the past years, it's all over being fun and games now it's time to race and win and i mean Win baby, like you have Never seen me do before, mark these words when i have the Win Lights !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tommy Kerr

[MikeSawyer]

Bill,

Those photos are great! It's even cooler for the youngin's like me (who is the same age now as you were in the pictures probably!). I never got to see the track in those days, and when I started going in 1985 I was too young to remember too much from then.

Thanks for sharing! Maybe 30 years down the road, I'll be sharing the pics I have now with another generation!

Later!
................... Mike

[chan]

Bill,
With the purchase of new Dyno room and new concept car CCRT's buget was stretched, they only had enough money for 2 home security survival kits.
There was no hope for there new friend.
This is where Dave met him - http://www.roswelldragway.com/

http://topbike.homestead.com/files/revive.jpg

[chan]

This is what they were working on before the incident

http://topbike.homestead.com/files/newcar.jpg
:D :D :D

[CCRT]

Mr. Bill--

Great Great photos.... thanks for sharing:D

You were a Chevy man...........:D


Chan...... stay tuned for our rebuttal:eek:

[Polaris4X25]

Don't let my dad fool you all. He may not have photos from back in the day, but he has saved every single solitary time slip. I was looking through them one day and man o man.......they were handwritten on what feels almost like an index card. Those were the days when he used to race a 1937 pickup.....and then the 57, which was white back then. I'm sure Mr. Bill can remenisce and think of a day when he first raced my father....whether it was Conn. dragway or NED. I'm sure he still has that timeslip somewhere. Heck, I've been at the track with my father ever since I was potty trained......could that explain why I like it so much??? NNAAAAHHHHH LoL. And the countdown continues to drop till opening day...now if only that snow would melt..... Speaking of, has anyone recently driven by the track? If so, how much snow do they have there?

[Belvedere65]

Chan,
The one with Mr. Dave and crew member!

Looks like the crew guy wiped himself out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:D

To bad, that Homeland Security didn't have more survival kits for the CCRT crew. I doubt they will be able to bring their buddy out of the coma he's in!!!

Have to give them credit on that concept car. Look close, and you can see, the hammer and sandbag craftmanship in the tin work. And the six dueces on a blown small block should work!:p

I remember Roswell fondly. The first place on earth I ever visited! Flew what seemed like a million miles, to get there for eliminations. Then the Army shows up, and sticks us in a hanger. Something about a protest and being torn down to see if we're legal. Dougie knows all about that kind of stuff.

:p Dougie= Mod313:D

[chan]

Yikes, Pop say's, Boy who play with bee's nest most likely get stung!
he he he
I hope there isn't an abduction over here tonight.:p

[Belvedere65]

NED: 1960's

Doug Juonis
57 Vette
Hillborn Injected

[chan]

Bill, will we see the vette at the hot rod reunion?

[chan]

HTTP://TOPBIKE.HOMESTEAD.COM/FILES/ALFRED.JPG
:eek: :eek: :confused:

[CCRT]

I like the hair...... but the ears stick out too far:)

[Belvedere65]

Chan,
No, the vette hardly sees daylight anymore. It was completely restored to 100 point condition years ago, has won everything possible that way, and is stored now. But Doug is at all of the reunions and national events at NED with an imaculate orange roadster, that comes away with some kind of award, about every time.

[CCRT]

Got to love them there Chebbies

[Belvedere65]

Bristol motel 1966
No motor homes then! Took the car back to motel at the end of each day.

Even Chevys needed maintenance!:p

[CCRT]

Chan--

Drove by your street and snapped a picture...... It explained a lot about your "STRANGE BEHAVIOR" :eek:

[chan]

Dave when you drove by, you should not have stopped!
This is what you get for hanging around my neighborhood.
"LOOK" at the bottom of the street sign.

http://topbike.homestead.com/files/sign.jpg

YOUR TURN!:eek: :confused:

[Belvedere65]

:D :D :D :D :D :D :p :D :D :D :D :D :D

Chan,
I told Dave it was lemonade, and he went for it!!!!!;)

[Belvedere65]

Sox & Martin at Bristol
1966

[Belvedere65]

Burgess & Steed

Sanford, Maine

[SSTCamaro]

Hey Bill,

Those pics are pretty awesome my friend! Thank you for sharing with the rest of the class.....

BTW, WHEN do we load up the "rides" and head down to Bristol for the "hunt"? :p :p

[Belvedere65]

My pleasure sharing them Pete.

As for loading the rides and heading for Bristol, well, the hunting guides are still in a folder on my desktop, waiting for us to say the word!

Should I post them? Naw! Mike will download them for himself, and the rest of the class, will be without.

Although, they might be up long enough as a teaser!!!!:p

Have you seen the new UPS uniforms? Skimpy!!!!!!:D

[Belvedere65]

Pete Troppiano (spelling?)

"ORANGE PEAL" Fruit wars back then!

A/Gas

Sanford, Maine

[mod313]

Mr Bill,
Great pics!
Maybe Mike can set up a section for Moldy Oldy pics of the way things used to be.

Nice to see that you were once on the correct side :D . I'm sure there is a cure for that infliction you're going thru now ;) . I bet Mr Dave can whip something up in his Super Secret Squirrel Lab :cool: .

[T.Howell]

Bill, thanks for taking the time to share your photos.

I am fortunate enough to have dinner on Fridays with some of the guys that were around from the beginning and your photos have brought up some entertaining stories.

I have one correction for you: In the photo captioned,
>>"Pretty sure this is Jack Doyles car with Don Roberts driving. Bill Watson head of staging pulling him back and Dave Berube is the starter".<<

The guys believe this car belonged to Ron Charland who owned an appliance store in Salem, MA.
They were thinking '67 or '68 as that is when he switched from a 4 port Hilborn to the Enderley. ( are these guys good or what?)

BTW, the tube guard rails were built by Ray Harmony of Harmony Metal Products, Danvers.

Thanks again, Tom

[Belvedere65]

Tom,
Thanks for the correction. Like I said, I wasn't sure of that one.
Also, thanks for adding the info about Ray Harmony.

Glad to hear, that your guys minds, are still functioning.

Please feel free, to add anything, you all have from the past.

[Belvedere65]

Don Morin's 40 Willys
NED
Late 60's
427 Chevy BB
Hillborn Injected

This car and the crew with it, are the reason, that the tree that stands in front of the gas shack, can never be cut down!:D

There are to many sentimental times involved, to ever take that tree out!;)

Permission must be granted, if anyone even thinks about it!!!!!!!!!!! :mad:

[Belvedere65]

Nostalgia

[Belvedere65]

Ok Tom Howell, need a name for this one!

[Belvedere65]

Smiley Smullen

Sanford, Maine

[Belvedere65]

Dick Allard's "Gemini Cricket" wheelstander

Sanford, Maine

[Belvedere65]

How many of ya bought parts here?

[T.Howell]

Can't help you on that one Bill. I'll have to print it out and present it to the "panel of experts." lol

I can add that Smiley's car was a 1947 Loyde (sp.), some sort of English car they found in a junkyard.

Keep 'em coming.
Tom

[T.Howell]

Smiley's car might have been a '57 instead of a '47.

[Belvedere65]

Another fix for that Corvette, Banana Gang!

Cripes, their all over it like ants building a nest!

Oh yeah, Sanford again!!

[Belvedere65]

Paul Wentworth in the left lane with his 64 Plymouth, spotting Doug Juonis in his Vette two car lengths.:rolleyes:

[Belvedere65]

NED

"Hemi Under Glass"

late 60's

[Belvedere65]

NED

"Shores & Hess"

Late 60's

[Belvedere65]

Hemi Barracuda in the air

NED
Late 60's

Bill Watson in foreground

Dave Berube in red shirt at the starting line

[Belvedere65]

Tom,
One more for the boys to ponder.

NED

Mid to late 60's

[James]

Hi Folks, anyone who would like to share old NED photos can send them to me, James@motorsportunderground.com and I'll add them to the New England Dragway pages, would like to make that section of the site HUGE! The photos posted in this thread are WAY COOL.

James

[Belvedere65]

Phil Miller with full body panels?

NED

mid to late 60's

[Belvedere65]

NED

"Stone Woods & Cook"

Mid To Late 60's

[Belvedere65]

Another S W & C

Same time period

Bill Watson with white( AHRA) t shirt on, trying to rip side mirror off car.:p

"American Hot Rod Association"

[Belvedere65]

Rodalyn Knox

"The Country Girl Cuda"

Same years!:D

[James]

As most probably know after a short stint with a Nitro burner, Rodlynn went on to win a couple championships in NTPA tractor pulling.

Bill, would it be OK to use some of your images at Motorsport Underground?

James

[Belvedere65]

Attention Dragracers:

This map contains directions to the newest dragstrip on the East Coast.
Get that iron tuned, and be ready to roll on September 11, 1966.

[Belvedere65]

For those that were not born yet, or to young to be there, this was the groundbreaking, for what has become one of the finest Dragstrips in the Northeast!

[CCRT]

Originally posted by Belvedere65
Attention Dragracers:

This map contains directions to the newest dragstrip on the East Coast.
Get that iron tuned, and be ready to roll on September 11, 1966.

September 11

Kind of creepy, don't ya think ?

[Belvedere65]

"New England Dragway Then"


Eddie Bernier & Roger Bacon

Gas Dragster

Mopar Tow Car:D

[frelncdrgguy]

whose digger was on hand for the ground breaking?

who are the guys in the ground breaking picture?

killer stuff!!!!



later,

Brian

[T.Howell]

Bill, you stumped 'em with the blue car and the yellow car.

Blue car: maybe Minic ???
Yellow car: Low budget team from Conn. ??? Someone thought they saw that car at Conn. Dragway in pieces at a race.

[Belvedere65]

Best of my recollection:

The car was the Bernier & Bacon dragster: Eddie Bernier & Roger Bacon

Left to right:

1 ?
2 Jerry ?
3 Jack Doyle
4 Pa Sidebotham?
5 Don Hale
6 Eldon (CY) Sidebotham
7 ?
8 ?

[Belvedere65]

Sanford, Maine

Left to Right

Doug, Bill, Frog, Denny
5th guy on right, I am pretty sure, is the father of Mr. Daves CCRT group, stealing info about the car, to be used by his children, in the 90's and 20's at NED!

:p :p :D :p :p

[chan]

Bill I am alway's on this site and continue to view many pics from NED and many other northeast tracks.
These photos are definitly worthy for that site.
Even thou it is a pay site now, I don't mind it is worth it.

Haven't heard from CCRT lately must have been at the beach.
:rolleyes: ;)

[SSTCamaro]

Mr. Bill, you are bringing a tear to my eye :( I am always taken aback by the early pics from NED. Back when men were men........and sheep were nervous:p

I have always been proud of the fact that a group in New England took the initiative to built and operate a facility of NED's stature for so many years. The older pic's I've seen, of Snake, Bernstein, Garlits, Shirley, Lieberman and the rest of the touring pros makes me wish for those days back!

My only quick recollection of my early years count Caminito, Force, West, Walsh, Lagana, Santucci, Etchells, Hofmann, Smith (driving Castronovo's car) as being the main stays.

I'm going to start another thread for the next question..stay tuned....!!!!!!

[hotrod7043]

32


nostaglia mr bill brings back good memories, those factory wars were great.

[Belvedere65]

Sanford, Maine
Doug Juonis
Early 60's

[Belvedere65]

"The Hayseed"
Sanford, Maine
Early 60's

[Belvedere65]

"Memories"

[chan]

Hey Bill, On the side of the HaYseed is that "heads by Mondello"?
I would like you to touch on that subject a little.
I have been using his heads since 1982,
They make major power. I have a brand new set on the shelf now.

[Belvedere65]

Chan,
Yes, Joe Mondello. Doug used his heads from the start, as far as I remember. Headers by Doug Thorley for awhile.

[James]

Remember those insane rocket cars and this 200 mph rocket cart?

http://www.motorsportunderground.com/Rocket-cart.jpg
:eek:

James

[James]

In the 70's New England was one of the top Funny Car tracks in the country. At one point an article in Car Craft proclaimed "No track books in more cars more often or pays them more money. New England may be the Funny Car capitol of the world."

http://www.motorsportunderground.com/CMGII.jpg

James

[hotrod7043]

no orange county was in late 70s you think we had shows here the had abunch there just ask John force he was a weekly attaction

[James]

They had a bunch of shows, with their big shows being in the winter when the touring Pros would head West, but few tracks could match New England. In 76 (maybe 75) they had at least 12 Nitro burners every Wednesday night from June through August. A typical year consisted of early 2 car matches, the 16 car Spring FC nats, 8 to 12 car FC tourney's on Wednesday nights, a 8 car show for the August Grande American, then the 32 car 5 round barn burner New England Funny Car Nats and some times an early October 8 car show to close the season. While OCIR got a lot of the press because of the Drag Mags proximity to the place I still feel NED had the upper hand.

James

[hotrod7043]

64 car deal at Ocir i heard

[wildbill426]

Wow. What a trip; that was my childhood. Some comments/questions:
1) The Smiley Smullens car; think that was called a competition coupe back then? AA/C? There's one at the Garlits museum, and Monogram made a model of one back in the sixties. The main question: what the heck body style is that puppy? Looks almost like an AMC Marlin (remember those?)
2) Loved the photo of the Malco Gasser. MPC made a model of that...anybody got one?
3) The rocket cart! I think the guy in the picture bought it from the originator, Captain Jack McClure. The car was on the cover of Drag Racing magazine back in 1973 or 1974, along with a feature article on my friend Ken Riehle's mid-engined Hellfire camaro funny car, later driven by Lew Arrington (and burned to the ground by him!) Riehle was later partners with the late Kosty Ivanof and then moved to Texas and disappeared. He also hung around with Willie Hardie from Stafford Springs, who drove a top fuel car back in the sixties and then a very short vega funny car also driven by Jet boy Bob Beaulieau. God, don't get me STARTED on this stuff I'll be here ALL NIGHT typing memories. And when I get another scanner I'm gonna post MY pictures from all the seventies funny car shows at CT Dragway where I used to take pictures with Jon Graves and Clay Taylor!
4) I'll leave you with the craziest memory...Madman EJ Potter and the nitro burning SBC injected motorcycle which smoked the tire the entire length of the CIR quarter mile. He built a jet trike, and then disappeared.
Somebody send me Jungle Pam's phone number.....

[frelncdrgguy]

Hey Bill,

EJ Potter is alive and well up in Michigan. I spoke to him a couple of months ago..if ya wanna call him I got his #.

does anyone remember New England's own version of EJ? I met this guy a couple years ago...Eddie "The Savage" Sarno. He ran a V8 bike...his was powered by a 401 Buick motor. He made a pass or two at the hot rod reunion/dragin in the 50's last year. He gave me a hand bill from one of his appearances down south. The pic on the Bill is from NED.

man..this really kicks ass..keep the good stuff coming!!!!


later,

Brian

[chan]

Brian, Ed Is alive and well, he lives in Reading, Ma.
He recently e-mailed me.
I had spent some time with him at the last two events and discussed our mentor The Michigan Madman.
Ed was so blown away after he witnessed EJ make those incredible runs at NED, he ran home and built his own.
I told him I had the same reaction but was to young to act on it.
The first time I inquired if he would make a pass he said did not and I offered to do it for him.
You can Imagine the look I got.
So I took him over to see my Modern Day Drag Bike, and had him sit on it.
His first words "your nuts"
Yikes, anyway we laughed and exchanged some great stories.
I'm still beging him for that ride.
http://topbike.homestead.com/files/sarno.jpg

[chan]

http://topbike.homestead.com/files/sarno2.jpg

[James]

Some of the cars that attended the 73 Spring FC Nats.

http://www.motorsportunderground.com/70s FC 1.jpg


James

[chan]

Jim I agree with you on the funny car capital, I was discussing it with dad and he also agreed.
32 funny cars, the action was awsome, I remember the excitement level the anouncer would bring to the show too.
It was pure entertainment.
My dad like yours never missed a show.
I wish we could get that funny car reunion up at NED.

I have a good friend you might remember from those days, he had driven for different car owners through his racing career, his name is Bobby Rowe.
When he first learned I was from New England he jumped up and exclaimed how he loved to race at NED.
Some of his story's were about driving from one race 1800 miles away to get to NED to race.
He never brags about what or who he drove for but I do believe Bobby Rowe* - drove Don Schumacher’s second “Stardust” ‘Cuda in 72 and Roland Leongs the "Hawaiian"
He jumped into the "mr. Ed" car after Stardust.
Still into racing but builds engines.
I found this page on funny cars of 70's with pictures and descriptions, Bobby's first ride is in there.
"super Duster"
There is a cool shot of Frank "The Beard" Federici (the Shark) he was one of my favorites.
http://www.computermagiconline.com/70sfunnycars/FunnyCars19.html
If you want to see all of them there is a exstensive collection here for the flopper freaks.
http://www.computermagiconline.com/70sfunnycars/

[James]

That's neat you mentioning Bobby Rowe as he was driving Schumacher's Cuda at that race in my pictures and won the event.
New England's announcer at the time was Jan Landers and your right, he was part of the show, I have a story on my site dedicated to Jan. Got to meet him Saturday night of the IHRA race and he was just as quick witted and funny as I remember him at the mike.

The 70's Funny Car site is one of the best on the web and all us fans of the old Funnies kinda owe Bill Pratt (Draglist webmaster) a big thanks for bringing it back from the dead.

James

[frelncdrgguy]

Yo,


Chan-na-nator....

Slide "the Savage" this link to the EJ potter feature from Competitionplus.com........I'm sure he'd dig it.

http://www.competitionplus.com/07_17_2002/ej_potter.html


later,

Brian

[chan]

For those who follow Goodguys here a some shots fro OCIR in Cal. from 3/07/03
http://www.nitronic.com/2003marchmeet1/

[James]

One of the local heroes.

http://www.motorsportunderground.com/70s-Kosty.jpg

James

[T.Howell]

Who IS that damn kid, anyway. (g)

[chan]

Day 2, more pics, Mark Hovsepian and wife are out there covering event with Nitronic Reasearch great photos.
http://www.nitronic.com/2003marchmeet2/

[wildbill426]

Hey, James: Great photos. You know that Funny Car show picture? Not sure who they are? I know almost all of them! Left to right, Top to Bottom: Fearless Fred Goeske, Paul Radici, Tony Wahlay's Warlord, Barry Setzer vega (Pat Foster driving?), Swensen and Lani, Arne Swensen driving, Fighting Irish with Tim Beebe up, ?? Not sure on the mustang, Jim Fox perhaps?, next is Castronovo's car with Tom Prock (Jim's dad) driving, Schumachers Wonderwagon (with Bob Rowe, obviously), and last Lew Arrington's Brutus. And if any of you doubted my earlier diatribe on Ken Riehle look at the bottom left photo of the Ivanof pictures; his name is on the car. God, I love this stuff..

[CCRT]

Lets not forget Al Segreni (Spelling?) with the Super Brut... I think it was out of Brockton?

[SSTCamaro]

Good Ol Al! Al currently resides in Canton and is basically enjoying the facets of "forced retirement".
He was building motors at my engine shop until the call came from Steve Plueger a few years back.
I wonder what happened to that deal anyway...Plueger and his partners were supposedly "hooked" on making that car competitive.

Dunno.......nice to have to those decisions, huh;)

[hotrod7043]

I know willracing ever return to that era, be neat wouldnt it. And Dave ithink Segrini is with a i not the second e. last time i saw him he was at Fremont dragstrip in cal for a booked in show.was good talkin to somebody from back home.

[KEITHZ06]

well now we have done it! check nhra.com for the story of the return of Arnie Karp and the " BOSTON STRANGLER" funny car seems he has hooked up with the Worshams and will field a third car for them with seperate sponsorship. Seems all the nostalgia chatter thats been going on must of had an effect on him...

[hotrod7043]

Chan < March meet is held at Famoso in Bakersfield, Ocir closed in the late 70s

[SEEYAA]

one of the drivers mentioned back a page or so Fred Goeske is now living out in Los Angeles CA running a small company hand making wheel spacers (wheelspacers.com). he is semi retired and just doing it for fun, he is one of the nicest people i have ever met...he loves to talk about the old days and it seems he knows everybody and everybody knows him, last time i talked to him, Jay Leno had just come by his shop.....i just wish i was around to see him and all the other greats race....must been awsome!!!!!!http://www.wheelspacers.com/images/RP-FG6903A.jpg

[hotrod7043]

Those were the days when s/s cars became A/fx cars and then funnycars, and they ran the engine of the body maker. then pro stock comes along , was quite the fun times and the factory wars
it was great.

[chan]

You win, your the first one to pick it up
But it closed October 30, 1983
;)
Didn't you know friends of CCRT had abducted us and returned us to earth recently. we thought it was still open, this is what I was driving out there OCIR when it happened.
http://topbike.homestead.com/files/dragula1.jpg

[hotrod7043]

good one chan lol

[Joe Taff]

All you old funny car enthusiasts should go to Englishtown on July27,2003 for the funny car reunion.
Last year they had 31 cars ,about 15 nitro cars and the balance were alcahol.
They lined them all up on the track and fired them all up.
They hade 8500 spec.

[chan]

Do you think this dude will be there?
http://www.colormegoneracing.com/

[hotrod7043]

Hey joe thanks for the pm , and i woulnt doubt ya word any day. larson still doin exibitions?

[Joe Henderson]

Jungle Pam photos!

www.junglepam.com/photos.html

[hotrod7043]

all those good times Pam stiil looks good .MKakin us old men realize how old we really are.

[Joe Taff]

Hey hot Rod-- we will be racing the 68 camaro ( on 50% nitro )
at Englishtown on July 27, South mountain dragway on Aug 3
and in KY in June at the hot rod reunion
we will also be on display at a camaro reunion somewere in Conn.

PS When we ran at Englishtown in July, we had PAM back the car up.( She still looks goods ).
There has been some discussions with the Old timers about running the car at NED at one of the nostagia races.
JOE

[hotrod7043]

that be cool joe maybe i can make a race this year.

[chan]

You got to check out these pics from 1965 Indy
http://www.nitronic.com/indy65/

And these are probably the best March Meet (Bakersfield) I have seen yet, they were shot by Gil Rebilas, who is known for top end photography.
I met him many years ago at the Boat drags and Gil and his son took some of the most amazing action shots I have ever seen.
I own many of his photos.
http://www.draglist.com/Pictures/POD-Mar-2003/POD-031303.htm

[chan]

I was concerned that I have not heard from Dave lately, so I went by CCRT's new Dyno shop. I wasn't sure what to do. (must have forgot to pay the heating bill)
http://topbike.homestead.com/files/ColdinMassachusetts.jpg
:eek: :confused:

[CCRT]

Burrrrrrrrrr............................;)

[mod313]

I see he was hard at work studying those dyno printouts :D .

Or is that just his "cool, icey" outward stance towards all things non Chevy? ;)

[Belvedere65]

Anybody remember D & D speed Shop?

I found 7 of these, in new condition plates on E Bay a couple of months ago.

Originally, D & D were, Doug Juonis & Dick Allard.

[Joe Taff]

I did business there when I was a street racer???

[hotrod7043]

No joe we should never admit to that terrible curse that that press calls "Drag Racing" , i see Court tv is now shoowing a case from SAn diego were the 2 STreet racers killed a couple of kids that pulled rt in front of them, im sick of the press calling street racing drag racing and i thinks its time we as racers stand up and call them on it.

[Belvedere65]

Say it aint so, Joe!!!!!!!!!! You were a street racer?:D
You didn't happen to use Tony's in Lowell, to hook up with unsuspecting victims, did you? Entice them to follow ya out to the (Boulevard)? Go light to light, then get the h_ _ _ out of there!!!!!!!!! :p

[Joe Taff]

I was at tonie's when it was downtown.
Noticed I called it street racing.
Sanford was too far to drive back then.
I had a 58 chev. conv. with a 425 hp 409. ( I still have the moter)
I also had a 55 chevy with a corvette fuel injection on it.(small Block).
Jerry cady in Hudson worked on my four speeds and injections.

[Belvedere65]

Tonys, was downtown Lowell, and Jerry was the man for Rochester Injection/4 speeds at that time.

[Joe Taff]

Wow
Did I race you on the street or what?

[hotrod7043]

we all did at one time till we smartened up.WE EVEN marked of rt 12 in fitzwiiliam nh exactly like ne dragway was paintedat the time, got caught one night Acertain Mod et" Mistress" was doing battle with a GTO judge and had to back them off like 8 times traffic, then i hear a motor screamin it NH Stat trooper well the kid we are running is a chief of polices son from a coupleof towns over, the cop says what you doin here we said oh we came to help our buddy that overheated, then pulls the flag out fron under the Cuda and it say FITZWIILIAM DRAGWAY ON IT. dont believe me ask "THE MIstress" he will tell ya.

[chan]

Here is the best story yet on Jungle Jim Tribute
Even has a pic of Beserco Bob streaking at NED!
http://www.nitronic.com/jungle/tribute.html

[Don Roberts]

James Morgan was close...........

Alright I'll help you out a lilttle:

There was 1 Top Gas Car

There were 4 Top Fuel Cars, one team had a front engine car and a rear engine car...I'll count that as 1 car

There were 6 Funny Cars

So, you think you know New England drag racing history??...First one to get them all correct gets a dinner at the Outback Steakhouse on me. That Bloomin Onion sure smells good........!

Don Roberts

[frelncdrgguy]

Top Gas

Doyle's "slider" AAGD

Top Fuel
A&J Speed Center
K&M
Freedom Machine
Jade Grenade

Funny Cars

Boston Shaker
King Cuda
K&M
Freedom Machine
Bill Lawton's Pinto
(It may be a technicality) but the second Boston Shaker?

How close am I?

[64 B-body]

Awesome pictures Bill, I just finished watching a video Up in Smoke 3 of early races at NED and Sanford, Connecticut Dragway and LVD. Thanks again for sharing your pictures. ;)

[Don Roberts]

Brian
Are you asking me if it's a technicality, or are you telling me it's a technicality???

Don Roberts

[Smink]

http://members.cox.net/smink3176/Conn-Startline.jpg


http://members.cox.net/smink3176/Aug-74--03.jpg

[frelncdrgguy]

Don,

Asking I suppose.....I wasn't sure if the Boston Shaker counted as just one car or if the car you drove in 72/73(?) at the F/C Nationals counted as the 6th.

Brian

[Don Roberts]

Hey Brian,

You Won!!!!..........You got all the cars correct...........Good job!!!

I drove Kosty's Vega at the 73 Funny Car Nationals race, and I drove his Plymouth Satellite that he owned with Steve Kunevich at the 74 race. The Satellite was sold to the Hill Brothers and they burned it up pretty good at the 75 race.

How did you know all that, you got this stuff written down somewhere...<g>.

Send me your complete name and address and there will be a gift certificate to the Outback Steakhouse on the way to you shortly.

I didn't figure anyone would get the Satellite, it was a one race deal.

Send your info to me at Topfuel169@aol.com

If the weather clears I'll be at Epping tonight, come by Sy's King & Marshall trailer and say hi if you are there.

Wow, what a good memory..........

Don Roberts

[frelncdrgguy]

Hey Don....

For one reason or another my gray matter retains drag racing stuff like rain man knew numbers...I have a good memory of stuff that I have read and I read an assload of stuff. I'll get some digital pics up here of my bookshevles one of these days.

The plymouth that you drove for one race was the easiest one for me to remember because I never knew there was a second car. Anyway I will swing by the trailer tonight.....and I will politely decline the gift certificate.....an autograph would be a good substitute.

Brian

[frelncdrgguy]

Actually i have a question for you...

How many managers has NED had?

Jack Doyle
Don Roberts (I think)
Smiley Smullen
Ron Champagne
Joe Lombardo

I was born in 1980 so I'm fuzzy on the guys who ran the place through the 1980's.

[MikeSawyer]

Ron Heath was manager in the late 90's...

Later!
............ Mike

[Don Roberts]

The manager question is never easy.........

In the begining Sy Sidebotham was the genral manager and Jack Doyle was the track manager. In that time Gil Coraine took care of marketing and public relations.

When Sy left Doyle became the general manager and track manager. I took on marketing and public relations also at the same time as Gil left with Sy. We all wore lots of hats so it wasn't just PR.

When Doyle left Smiley Smullen became general and track manager. Don't know who did marketing at that time. I think Joanne Cultrera did more than anyone knows at that time.

Then came Ron Champagne, and Heath came along a little later. Goodbye, Good Luck, Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Currently Larry Bean is your general manager and Joe Lombardo is your track manager. Cliff Jaques is your marketing guy.

I have been through all of the incarnations of New England Dragway since day one. There have been some dark times at NED. Be very, very glad you have the people in place who are there now.

Don Roberts

[frelncdrgguy]

Hey Don,

Yet another question for you....

When you fellas came up to make the burnout early in the evening there was an obvious issue (my power of observation are great indeed). It looked like Cy was saying "way too much" as they were walking toward the rear of the car. Not having tuned any blown nitro burning hemis in a while...errr....ever, way too much of what?

By the way we were watching bitchin header flames from you guys a couple of times during the night from the tower...Mike Williams and I had our faces jammed up against the glass like idiots...lol

Brian

[Don Roberts]

What you saw was an overly rich fuel condition on the bottom end. The engine could not process the fuel that was going into it. Similar to a stuck float in a Holley carburator, the engine just won't burn the fuel that's being dumped into the cylinders. However, nothing stuck in the fuel system on the car Saturday night, it was set that way.

That is a brand new Donovan 417 engine and Mastedon heads. Those engines require tremendous amounts of fuel to keep them happy. Just how much at this point is what was being worked on Saturday night. The throttle response in the pits on the warmup is entirely different than real race/burnout conditions. Don Marshall and I made the decision as Tom was backing up that nothing was going to be gained after seeing that burnout, or lack of it, and the decision was made to shut it off. What you saw Sy say was, "too much", meaning too much fuel on the bottom end.

If I had to have a situation of rich or lean, I'd take rich any day. A rich condition will cause the car to stumle around as you saw it. A lean condition could send the blower 100 feet into the air.

The old cast iron 392's that the car has had in it previously is a completely different animal and the fuel system is the same but with different fuel nozzles top and bottom.

Later down at the trailer you saw 3 or 4 warmups in an effort to correct that starting line stumble. It will be corrected.

While the car, truck, and trailer makes it appear there is endless money, that is not the case. It would be easy to write a check for $10K and have someone send you a fuel system that you put on the car and go out there and haul ass. There isn't $10K to give someone and nobody wants to go out there and hurt that Donovan. Start out rich and work back.

I hated to see that great old car go out there and do what it did, but, it will be fixed. That's only suppossed to happen on Wednesday afternoon track rentals when nobody is looking.

Good show Saturday evening, good job to all............

Don Roberts

[frelncdrgguy]

"It will be corrected"

With what is probably the most experienced group of nitro racers ever assembled from New England fiddling with the "old girl" none of us have any doubts!

If anyone has ever been to the NHRA museum in California you may have seen that cut away they have of a cylinder head attached to a modern top fuel pump...there are not words to describe what happens when that thing goes on "the high side" and starts pushing fuel...it's like a freakin' fire hose.

I realize that the K&M car does not move that much fuel, but it must have been moving a pretty good volume to choke that donovan!

[Don Roberts]

One thing I didn't mention before, the plugs get washed down with nitro and will not fire, and then they might. It's not an even burn with the huge volume of fuel going into the cylinders.

I don't know if there is a MSD 44 amp system in the cards. I would like to see it get corrected with the Vertex mag that's in there.

It's a delicate balance to get all the cylinders to fire as they should and get enough nitro in the motor to keep it happy and safe.

Who said drivers only know how to drive..........<g>.

Don Roberts

[James]

http://members.cox.net/smink3176/Conn-Startline.jpg


http://members.cox.net/smink3176/Aug-74--03.jpg

Just Noticed these photos, the top one (Etchell's vs Larson) was taken by me at the last FC show held at Connecticut. Was a great race with (If I remember correctly) Rick Johnson in the "Custom Body" Stang defeating Bruce Larson's Vette in the final. Lots of good side by side races that day. The Bottom photo is by a friend of mine (Paul Jenkins) from Connecticut in 1976.

[Don Roberts]

For those that were not born yet, or to young to be there, this was the groundbreaking, for what has become one of the finest Dragstrips in the Northeast!

This question was never answered a couple of years ago, so..........

From left to right, Mark Connolly cousin and driver of Jack Doyles AA/GD, Jerry Bonnazoli stockholder, Jack Doyle, Melvin Sidebotham Sr, Sy's grandfather and major investor in NED, Don Hale stockholder, Mel Sidebothtam Jr, Sy's uncle, Moses Frankel lawyer and corporate advisor from Stoneham. Doyles 1965 top gas car in the background.

Don Roberts

[Don Roberts]

This question was never answered a couple of years ago, so..........

From left to right, Mark Connolly cousin and driver of Jack Doyles AA/GD, Jerry Bonnazoli stockholder, Jack Doyle, Melvin Sidebotham Sr, Sy's grandfather and major investor in NED, Don Hale stockholder, Mel Sidebothtam Jr, Sy's uncle, Moses Frankel lawyer and corporate advisor from Stoneham. Doyles 1965 top gas car in the background.

Don Roberts

I tried to get the picture up with this.....didn't do too good. There was a shot of groundbreaking at NED in 1965 I think, and no one could name all the players. I think Bill Freel put up the shot and asked the question who everyone was.

DR

[Joe Taff]

This question was never answered a couple of years ago, so..........

From left to right, Mark Connolly cousin and driver of Jack Doyles AA/GD, Jerry Bonnazoli stockholder, Jack Doyle, Melvin Sidebotham Sr, Sy's grandfather and major investor in NED, Don Hale stockholder, Mel Sidebothtam Jr, Sy's uncle, Moses Frankel lawyer and corporate advisor from Stoneham. Doyles 1965 top gas car in the background.

Don Roberts
Donny
Let's see how old you are?

What was the name of the company in Cambridge that Sy's father and uncle owned, that later had something to do with the company I now work for?

[Don Roberts]

Donny
Let's see how old you are?

What was the name of the company in Cambridge that Sy's father and uncle owned, that later had something to do with the company I now work for?

Joe,
I don't remember anything in Cambridge. Specialty Automatic Machine was on 80 Cambridge Street in Burlington. Sy's grandfather had the patent on the first machine that folded cardboard boxes, a tremendous feat in it's day.
Specialty also owned a small company next door called Specialty Waveguide that I worked at in 1967.

DR

[Don Roberts]

Joe,
I don't remember anything in Cambridge. Specialty Automatic Machine was on 80 Cambridge Street in Burlington. Sy's grandfather had the patent on the first machine that folded cardboard boxes, a tremendous feat in it's day.
Specialty also owned a small company next door called Specialty Waveguide that I worked at in 1967.

DR

Sy's grandfather was the BRAINS behind the operation. Sy today is just like his grandfather, smart. Sy's father and uncle were just along for the ride. Once a management consulting company was called in to evaluate Specialty's operation. The consulting company strongly recommended that Sy's uncle and father be fired immediately. That never happened.

Specialty was driven into the groound by mis-management....should have never happened.

DR

[frelncdrgguy]

Sidebothtam Engineering?

[hotrod7043]

cHAN
OCIR HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE EARLY 80S.

[SSTCamaro]

cHAN
OCIR HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE EARLY 80S.


Bob, did you take your meds today?

What the HELL are you referring too?

[Joe Taff]

Sy's grandfather was the BRAINS behind the operation. Sy today is just like his grandfather, smart. Sy's father and uncle were just along for the ride. Once a management consulting company was called in to evaluate Specialty's operation. The consulting company strongly recommended that Sy's uncle and father be fired immediately. That never happened.

Specialty was driven into the groound by mis-management....should have never happened.

DR
DON
Think I had the town mixed up with the street. They started in Chelsea.They made parts for a company in Wilmington nemed unit packet. I also think they owened a small part of the company.Unit Packer later became diamond crystal salt company and now it's called Diamond Crystal Brand.Sales of $450 million a year. I bet they wished they sisn't let there part go.

[Don Roberts]

DON
Think I had the town mixed up with the street. They started in Chelsea.They made parts for a company in Wilmington nemed unit packet. I also think they owened a small part of the company.Unit Packer later became diamond crystal salt company and now it's called Diamond Crystal Brand.Sales of $450 million a year. I bet they wished they sisn't let there part go.

Thanks Joe,
That's good information that I wasn't aware of, but doesn't surprise me.

Sy's grandfather was a brilliant man. He saw things way ahead of most. And it all goes back to packaging. I'm sure he had a big part in the slat/sugar pack that you rip open. They could have even offered him stock options to bring his magic salt pack over to them.

But knowing Mel Sr I'm sure he said no...........He was his own man.

I remember him well, he was quite a guy.......

Don Roberts