Washworld Repair

[RykoPro]

Ric,
I just checked out your web site. You are only a few miles from one of the tracks I drag race at. I will have to stop by and check out your site the next time I am heading from GR to Kalamazoo.
Thanks,
Mark

 

[Ric]

Ric,
I just checked out your web site. You are only a few miles from one of the tracks I drag race at. I will have to stop by and check out your site the next time I am heading from GR to Kalamazoo.
Thanks,
Mark

I still refer to that as Martin Dragway. I was a frequent spectator there as a teen. I saw duels between "Big Daddy" and "Cha Cha", "Snake" and "Mongoose", etc. The track hosted some big races. As you know, it has been revitalized into a first class facility over the past few years. I have not been to a race there since the 70's. I drive by it often and toured through it last summer.
Do you work out of GR?

 

[RykoPro]

I still refer to that as Martin Dragway. I was a frequent spectator there as a teen. I saw duels between "Big Daddy" and "Cha Cha", "Snake" and "Mongoose", etc. The track hosted some big races. As you know, it has been revitalized into a first class facility over the past few years. I have not been to a race there since the 70's. I drive by it often and toured through it last summer.
Do you work out of GR?

My wife and I moved to the GR area about 15 years ago. I worked for Ryko directly for almost 15 years, the first few in Louisiana. I now work for the Ryko Michigan distributor and manage the service department from our Grand Rapids office. Please let me know if there is ever anything I can do to help you with anything car wash (or even petroleum for that matter) related.

I did not realize Martin was that big of a venue in the 70's to attract these great drag racing legends. I lived in Iowa for most of my youth and I did not have access to these major racing events. I did meet big Daddy at the Stanton track a few years ago and I have been to his drag racing hall of fame in Ocala Florida. When we met him at Mid Michigan he was making exhibition runs with one of his old front engine dragsters (swamp rat 4?)
http://www.garlits.com/
It is so cool that you were able to see these legends in their prime!


Here is a picture of me doing a burnout at Martin after the track was rebuilt:

 

[JIMT]

I guess I am a little older than you guys I raced at Martin Dragway many times in the 60's. I drove the Ramchargers funny car.
Jim Thornton

 

[RykoPro]

Mr. Thornton,
I was born the year you drove the car to a great 8.925, 150.75 at Cecil County (1965). You are defiantly a drag racing legend!
The first 8 second, unblown, stock body pass!!!
Another tidbit I found:
1964 Jim Thornton wins 1964 U.S. Nationals in Ramcharger's "Candymatic" 426 HEMI Dodge.
and
http://main.ramchargers.com/history.html

 

[Ric]

RykoPro,
Sweet Olds Cutlass! I used to have a 1968 Camaro SS Big Block and a 1957 Chevy. I sold them about 25 years ago. I have also been to the Garlits museum. I now spend winters in FL. (I am on my way home right now). On my way down in Dec. We stopped at the same exit as the Garlits musuem. I went into Arbys to grab a sandwich. He and his wife were in there also. He really hasn't changed much since the 70's. He was wearing a greasy Garlits museum shirt.
Do you work for Mercer?

Jim,
You Got me taking a trip down memory strip. My earliest recollection are guys like "Jungle Jim", Gene Snow, Danny Ongias, etc. probably the late 60's. I was born in 1960. I remember drooling over the "Hurst" girl (Patty Vaughn?). I would build the plastic model cars etc. I still have my collection of Hot Wheels cars (many redlines).

Thank you both for stirring up those memories. I had long forgotten about that stage in my life.

 

[RykoPro]

Ric,

I have worked at RW Mercer for over 3 years now.
You are thinking of Linda Vaughn, Miss Hurst Golden Shifter. http://www.gilchristbnw.com/GPC/RP-LVGallery.html
I too had many models and hot wheels as a kid. The mongoose and the snake were EVERYWHERE.
Anyone into Oldmobiles needs to come to Lansing this year for the annual Oldsmobile Homecoming.http://www.reolds.org/homecoming.htm This is the birthplace (and resting place) of Oldsmobile. I try to go every year but nothing compared to the 100 year anniversary back in 2001. On one day 2500 oldsmobiles met at the old's plant and drove single file along a planned route around Lansing! We took the 68' convertible and it was really something to see as the people of Lansing stood all along the route waving as each car passed by.

My 450 plus horsepower 69' "pro bracket"/street car looks like a pedal car compared to what Mr. Thornton was doing 43 years ago! You never know who you might meet on this Forum! At first I was worried I went a little off track, but now I am glad I did. I thank both of you for sharing.

Maybe I will see some Forum members at the Olds show this year. Doc Watson and even Miss Vaughn is known to make an appearance every few years.

Thanks again,
Mark

 

[RykoPro]

I meant "are known", I add Doc later and should have made the change.

Mr. Thorton,
I assume the Moser you were racing against back then, started Moser engineering? I just bought my second Ford 9" from them a couple months ago. They have quality housings at decent prices.
If you do not mind, I may have drag racing questions for you in the future.
Thanks again,
Mark

 

[Gabriel]

GM should have kept Oldsmobile and dropped something else!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JIMT]

RYKOPRO,
Herman Mozer drove one of the Ramchargers Super Stock cars in 1963 and won Super Stock Eliminator at the Summer Nationals at Indy. I don't know about a Moser.
JimT

 

[RykoPro]

I must have read something were they spelled mozer wrong.
I looked and Moser engineering was started in 82' by a Greg Moser Who "resplined a pair of axles and shortened a ’57 Olds rear for his own race car in his garage. After discovering that others were also in need of this service, Greg began advertising his service and perfecting the splining process still used today."

Good stuff and much cheaper than Currie. Now both my Olds have a Ford 9".