CLASSIC DRAG RACE - 1979 NHRA GATORNATIONALS

[@hotrodriguez549]

Steve and Dave. Announcing in heaven together again. RIP

[@robbyburns]

Rest in peace Dave McClelland the great early voice of the NHRA

[@jeffrojacobs8094]

Let's also recognize the legendary Steve Evans RIP.

[@toddclark332]

Them were some good old days with my dad and his cousins in Cali thanks folks

[@mchristr]

Ah yes, when Pro Stock cars and bikes looked like something you could buy at the local dealership.

[@andyharman3022]

This was sort of a throwback race at the time. The heavy rain the night before eliminations made the track fresh, and all of the fuel cars had trouble getting ahold of it. All of the runs looked like it was 1966 where every fuel car smoked the tires at the start, and driving skill entered into the race to see who could get traction first. Kelly Brown showed real driving skill on every run, keeping his foot in it and driving a sideways race car. And Pro Stock was a treat. Bob Glidden in his 1-year-only Chrysler effort faced off against Ronnie Sox. That was the first all-Chrysler final since 1971, and probably hasn't happened since.

[@qibble455]

I loved every second of this video. Well, liked very much:)

[@larryphillips7349]

So I did not know Rogers jet car pulled the front wheels up with the chutes in the lights at 250+. Nice...

[@hectorboneuoropeza2744]

Estas carreras de estas fechas me acen recordar lo vivido , que buenos tiempos ,en esta carrera corre la primera mujer piloto de autos de carreras .del MUNDO ...

[@bigharrykochenbauls4567]

Just came for the buffering nostalgia

[@elliottmagnum4998]

The Chrysler small block is a killer.

[@elliottmagnum4998]

@GonnaStartaRiot!! it kills generic motors and the f word.

[@elliottmagnum4998]

@GonnaStartaRiot!! wow

[@andyharman3022]

With a favorable weight break....

[@elliottmagnum4998]

@@andyharman3022 yeah, the other way around, NHRA factored Bob three times that year, meaning they added weight to his car! He was heavier than any pro stock car and still won the championship.

[@elliottmagnum4998]

@@andyharman3022 he won nine races in a row with the small block. And the competition had a favorable weight break.

[@williealston9120]

First time Sox and Martin drove a Dodge, before the Omni they campaigned Plymouths.

[@noahmercy-mann4323]

Funny that Ronnie Sox's car was built on a front-wheel-drive car that came equipped with a 1.7 liter Volkswagon engine (same as what was in the US Sciroccos). At least most of the other Pro Stockers were RWD and available with V8s from the factory.

[@keithlarge1151]

That's what drag racing and hotrodding and good ol engineering was derived from.

[@noahmercy-mann4323]

@@keithlarge1151 Oh, for sure. Pulling everything unnecessary off Model Ts, dropping surplus airplane engines in what amounted to sand rails, alcohol burning big blocks in Fiat Topolinos...the desire to go faster has always resulted in some unusual mechanical marriages. I just think that Sox's car was the first Pro Stocker based on a front-wheel-drive four banger. (I had the Plymouth version of that Omni 024; the Plymouth TC3.) Of course that skin is the only thing factory on it, and he was smart to pick a slippery body that punched a small hole in the air.

[@scottamiss1071]

Actually, neither Glidden's Arrow nor the Chevy Monza's were available from the factory with V8s.

[@noahmercy-mann4323]

@@scottamiss1071 I agree the Arrow wasn't available with a V-8, but at least it was rear wheel drive, and the Monza was available with three different V-8s throughout its run; the 262, 305, and 350. The 305 was available in the 1979 model...at a whopping 140 HP LOL!

[@keithlarge1151]

@@scottamiss1071 actually the Monza could be had with a V-8....Chevy had a version called a Monza Spyder that had a 305 in it.i had the task of tuning one up at the shop o worked in cause to change plugs the engine had to be pulled to do it....

[@dondeese837]

I was here...78-79-82-86

[@dendens8188]

Rip Dave and Steve

[@codyalbright4137]

Oh Yeah baby

[@jeffreymorris4827]

Quit calling me Shirley 🚬💣👽💩🚲🎣🇺🇸 Colorado Springs Colorado USA gots TEGRIDY

[@larryphillips7349]

You mean cha cha

[@williealston9120]

Wayne County Opal more wins than any Sportsman car in history: Wayne County, Larry Kopp, and Patterson Racing.

[@codyalbright4137]

Shot nitrous All of 95 cheats that took money from my dad's pocket and cost him a championship season

[@williealston9120]

@@codyalbright4137 I am not talking about Pro Stock Wayne County.

[@butchcassidy3373]

Cheating ain't winning and everybody knows it. I raced for years and never cheated.

[@williealston9120]

@@butchcassidy3373 Junior Johnson and Smokey Yunick said differently.

[@andyharman3022]

@@williealston9120 They called it gettin' competitive.