FORGOTTEN Photos from A True OUTLAW Drag Strip

My next door neighbor is a drag racer from back in the day and he let me borrow an awesome photo album from 1969 and 1970. It included pictures from Bristol and other cool stuff, but it was this collection of photos from Harriman Dragstrip that REALLY got me excited. I digitally scanned the albums to the best of my ability, although some of the pictures were stuck in the sleeves or on the album page, so I didn't disturb them.
I love these photos because it shows some of the infamous regulars at Harriman Dragstrip, like the ROHO 1969 Camaro, the Vibration Henry J and the Gray Ghost 1955 Chevy. But it also shows some out-of-town racers who came to this small town OUTLAW drag strip. Racers from over 100 miles away came in to race against the locals. I wish I could've experienced Harriman Drag Strip first hand, but I have to rely on pictures and stories to tell us the history of this old school home town drag strip.
I love this type of stuff, and if you like it, please leave a comment below because I have access to LOTS of vintage drag racing pictures that we could explore together.
#hotrodhoarder #dragracing #history

[@mattskustomkreations]

Sure, the jellybeans have a zillion horsepower these days, but the old school stuff is way cooler looking than anything new.

[@HotRodHoarder]

No doubt!!!

[@alanwood5857]

Wow, the Super Stock Dodge and Plymouth combo almost made me fall off my chair! Some serious cars there all round.

[@HotRodHoarder]

I can't imagine being a regular at Harriman Dragstrip and seeing THAT combination roll into the pits. Wow.

[@gmans7859]

How cool was that. I LOVE OLD SCHOOL. I too study the back grounds and even if just for a moment think about the sights, sounds and smells and what it must have been like then. A Day at The Drags.

[@HotRodHoarder]

Oh how I wish I could've been there.

[@granddad-mv5ef]

Because I AM that age, really love seeing these images. Of course, I am not from your area, but my local track had many cars like these. One I will mention--a '55 Chevy called the "Wild Mouse". It was powered by a 301 with a 4-speed (of course). I can hear his passes right now; never heard anyone shift a conventional 4-speed like Bobby! Years later, I saw the Wild Mouse not far from a barn in a field in Butler County,Pa. So sorry I did not even try to rescue it. Thanks again for the memories.

[@HotRodHoarder]

Oh man, that's awesome. I love hearing about old drag cars like that...thank you for sharing!

[@danroney4067]

Where about in Butler County did you see the ‘Wild Mouse’ ?

[@granddad-mv5ef]

@@danroney4067 In the field on the corner of 228 and Mars-Valencia Rd. BUT, I haven't been there since 1989.

[@danroney4067]

@@granddad-mv5ef I used to live about 10 miles from that intersection and traveled it quite often and never remember seeing it. Did it race at Sunset up near Mercer ?

[@granddad-mv5ef]

@@danroney4067 I saw it at Keystone when I was still in high school ('66-'67). I moved to Mars-Valencia Rd in 1984, feel sure it was there at that time. The owner-driver was from the Youngwood area, so how it got clear up there I do not know.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Very Very cool and the quality of the pics are still in great shape after all these years!! 👍👍👍 Finding and going thru those old pics sure is a treat! 🙂😉👍

[@HotRodHoarder]

I always love scanning old pictures, especially when the quality is good and you can see some of that cool stuff in the background.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

@@HotRodHoarder Exactly!!!! I was checking out the backgrounds too. Everything about those pics were GREAT!

[@asimplehorseman4648]

Wow, Those pictures sure do take me back. Those were the best days for an average guy going racing. Please extend a thank you from me to your neighbors. Great pictures!

[@HotRodHoarder]

Will do, thank you for watching!

[@keithphillips6111]

Man I loved this video. I was born in 74 so I wasn't even alive then. What I would give to just walk through the pits of that place. I'm so grateful to be able to even see pictures of this stuff. It's so hard for me to comprehend, some of those cars were new at the time that picture was taken..... this video was an absolute home run man! Thank you for taking the time to post this.

[@mattskustomkreations]

What a fantastic treasure to share! Thank you!

[@keithlarge1151]

I remember seeing the Housleys with that roho Camaro at English Mountain Dragway when I was a kid. I also raced against Ab Arnold at Knoxville Dragway and 411 Dragway in the 80's...ah how I loved the 60's thru the 80'drag racing

[@dantomlinson4407]

Thank you so much. Brings back memories. I frequented the Harriman Drag Strip in 1967 thru 1971. Thanks again!

[@roberthinkle981]

Nothing exites me more than old drags cars and history I come from a racing family thanks for sharing these great photos and history

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you Robert!

[@joshuagibson2520]

Damn man. I didn't want this video to end. :-/ Very appreciative of what glimpses I got of a now defunct outlaw track right down the road from me. Thanks Tommy.

[@philmoore2115]

Awesome photos of an awesome era! I am lucky enough to have some from my local track from late 70’s to early 80’s

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thanks for watching Phil. I love preserving these old photos and memories!

[@davidbarnsley8486]

I just love seeing this old stuff and also seeing some of them are still around It is absolutely amazing 👍👍👍

[@garybrinker4522]

Love seeing a Fairlane win all those trophies at the end..You probably know of another good channel called, Minnesota Max,,he has old racing pics too, but more oval track stuff,which was very popular and found in every County..Fun to see the ways cars can be modified 😎

[@kevinsnyder4425]

Love the old pics & your passion for drag racing history.! You never fail to disappoint with your videos. !

[@kevinhuber8723]

Wonderful! Almost made me cry! Grew up in Indianapolis not far from Raceway Park. This was the era when family guys had the money to buy something relatively fast and modify it. The Wednesday Nights at IRP followed by the annual "US Nationals" is where I spent a lot of time.

[@HotRodHoarder]

I wish I could’ve been around back then…sure seemed like a lot of fun.

[@MoparMan1320]

Awesome that you're preserving this precious history. My attendance at drag races started in So Cal, 1964...and was lucky enough to see legends run at Irwindale, OCIR, Lions, Winternationals (Pomona), and Bakersfield for the March Meet. I currently race in the NHRA Heritage Series, and donate yearly to the NHRA Motorsports Museum....so yeah, I appreciate those who highlight the true grass roots tracks of yesteryear. Good job 😎👍

[@jrsn2cars]

Love it, Tommy! That's my jam right there! Thanks!

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thanks for watching John!

[@kevinsnyder4425]

John ,I've watched your videos of US131 in Martin, Mi. Lots of times. Been there more times than I can count.! Love old school drag racing. Thanks John !!

[@jrsn2cars]

@@kevinsnyder4425 Thank you for watching Kevin!

[@wikdtrain]

i love lookin thru old race pic's, espeacially the stuff in the background, and daydreaming of what it would have been like, i was born in 68, my whole family have alway's said i shoulda been born earlier, awesome stuff, please keep it up

[@davidjones9518]

Loved it herd my mom and dad talk about going there❤

[@RooftopRocket]

Very cool! I know a couple of those men and their sons. I love hearing stories and seeing photos/videos from that era. Thanks for sharing!

[@HotRodHoarder]

That's awesome, thank you for watching!

[@melodigrand]

Great memories. When these photos were taken I was 19 years old and following drag racing on the other side of the country. The shots of the pits look very much like a typical weekend at the local strips in Salinas or Fremont.

[@HotRodHoarder]

That's awesome Rob, would've been cool to be a young adult during that era.

[@melodigrand]

@@HotRodHoarder I too preferred the old style cars. It was sad to see Mustangs replace the Willys coupes, Anglia sedans and 55 Chevys in the gas classes. Ford got top gas competitor Ohio George Montgomery to adapt his 427 cammer powered 33 Willys to a Mustang body, then the other top gas team Stone Woods Cook built a GT 350 bodied gasser from their 41 Willys with early Hemi power and pretty soon everyone was building Mustang gassers. That is undoubtedly what that Dennis Collins "mystery" Shelby Mustang is, one of dozens of Mustang Gassers built from wrecks near the end of the Gas Coupe and Sedan era. All the gasser specs are there, 10% engine setback, glass front end, tube chassis with beam axle, glass doors and deck lid. Definitely not an FX class, that class was gone before 69. A B/G car with that injected small block for sure. Can't figure out that FF/x, never heard of FF anything. First to Finish? That's what handicap racing is called sometimes. Keep up the cool posts.

[@stuarthightower418]

My dad wrenched and his friend Sam drove and won D/Gas in a 56 Chevy at the 56 US Nationals in KC MO.

[@HotRodHoarder]

Oh man, that's cool!

[@bobhope4732]

Dennis Hefner's car satisfaction was found behind his garage in Morristown Tennessee. His grandsons owned that car for years.

[@marvinhecox8289]

Always Loved the 55 gasser style great pictures brings back a lot of memories international drag strip Wichita KS.👍👍👍thanks for sharing

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you for watching Marvin!

[@davida.p.9911]

Really neat how some of these cars were fairly new at that time. It's hard to imagine buying a new car off the lot, then modifying it and racing it. Of course, a lot of these cars were quite formidable just in factory trim. But I bet your factory warranty went right out the window after that! 😅

[@HotRodHoarder]

Yeah, it's definitely crazy to think about...it was a different era for sure.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

Hi from Australia...thank you for sharing, it was a golden age in motorsport.

[@jeffwilbanks1033]

I watch the shows that you are doing and you have mentioned Robert NANCE. He was my transportation teacher for for years in high school. Great man. Rip Mr NANCE

[@HotRodHoarder]

Oh man, that's cool! I never knew he was a teacher.

[@wizzells]

Good stuff, nice pictures and good stories!

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you for watching!

[@LITTLE1994]

Awesome vintage photos.

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you for watching!

[@tommycook9620]

Grew up in the same way race car's and working on car's love the old pic's seen my dad's old ones at one time moved around and got lost hopefully I'll find them again one day love the channel always GREAT

[@HotRodHoarder]

I can't imagine how many old drag racing pictures have been lost or accidentally thrown away. Makes me sad to think about it, but I'm always happy when someone shares their old pictures with me and allows me to digitally scan them and preserve them.

[@tommycook9620]

@@HotRodHoarder right new way now lol

[@kellysrestorations.7397]

So good! What a great era of racing! Thanks!

[@stevewheat9030]

Man those pictures are pure gold... I love the way things were back in the old days... 😎👍

[@HotRodHoarder]

Yes sir, the old days were definitely better.

[@markweber7275]

These photos conjure up memories of our high school parking lot.

[@michaelheiges7516]

Yes, that was the good old days of drag racing. Some really nice pictures.

[@robertmills2058]

That photo album is just cool,my favorite era of hot rods and drag racing.

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thanks for watching Robert!

[@garygarner1095]

awesome pics and i actually got to help with the body work on the loudon automotive anglia many moons ago

[@davidm3302]

Great pictures I have a soft spot for the Henry j’s

[@michaelguinn5736]

I am at the age when those cars were the norm, we used to go to Detroit Dragway, Lapeer Dragway & see cars just like that yellow 69 Camaro. Be Safe.....God Bless!!!!

[@JA-sm9zf]

Oh goodness - what an impressive group of pics. Thanks for sharing. 😃

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you for watching!

[@NaturesChild]

Great stuff! I wasn't around drag racing until the late 70s early 80s, but I still remember as a kid in the late 60s loving the hot rod 55 chevies and sitting next to a kid in elementary school who could draw hot rods and Rat Fink style cars like a pro!

[@HotRodHoarder]

Ahh yeah! I used to draw hot rods constantly. I should carve out some time to sit down and draw more often.

[@garybrinker4522]

I was in first grade when the new 56 Chevy came along..I drew a picture of it, (from memory) and gotta highest grade 🍎🚸

[@robertafay9198]

love these storys there are so many more out there some cars evolved others are left rusting wish I could find some of these other than the pictures of drag strips in the east 60s 70s 80s

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you for watching! I'd love to find some of these cars as well.

[@rixkafer56]

Wow great pictures ! That was a great era... wish you had info on that 65 chevelle.... looks to be a Z16. Very cool when you can show their where abouts now. Thsnks for sharing

[@johnsargeant2041]

Love your videos.. wish I could have lived back in the day to see it first hand..

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thanks John, same here!

[@brianpridemore1965]

Thanks for sharing theses photos HARRIMAN is my hometown

[@HotRodHoarder]

That's awesome, thank you for watching Brian!

[@wreckerjonny6144]

I just started watching the old school racing pictures that is on here. Minnesota max Chanel. Lots of cool stuff there too.

[@taterkuhn5048]

Awesome video!!! I hope you n your family r feeling better! That photo album is awesome!! Much appreciated!

[@HotRodHoarder]

We're pretty much back to normal, thank you for asking!

[@alexkay1874]

Wow Great collection . That super stock Dodge Plymouth combo Fantastic they Got my three favorite things Cragars ,Orange and Hemi's

[@HotRodHoarder]

For sure, a killer combination!

[@davidvonanderseck8649]

Man way to cool. This is the old school I like. Thanks

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thanks for watching David!

[@crittercraig9445]

Great job on the video Enjoyed hearing the history and seeing the cars. Hope you have a good weekend and always be safe in your travels and Take Care

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you for watching!

[@joshuagibson2520]

Hell yeah brother. I don't live far from Harriman at all. I'm over there about once every week or two.

[@HotRodHoarder]

It's a neat little town. I need to get up to the site of the Harriman Dragstrip before springtime. It's pretty much just woods now, but would be cool to explore a little.

[@Sleeperdude]

I love the old drag car pictures

[@noduh736]

Thanks for sharing

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you for watching!

[@tysonsullivan7837]

Really enjoyed the video and pictures, Man how times have changed, tell the guys thanks for sharing the pictures, Indiana Racer Guy lol

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thanks Tyson, will do!

[@johndowney4461]

I grew up beside the Loggin road in Courtenay BC chinada.I started racing a 65 cuda in 72.We raced every Sunday and there are alot of footage on the racing on the logging road. We raced off a hand drop and the starters stood in front of the cars on a 16' quarter mile strip

[@Sleeperdude]

I remember a magazine article titled half-fast grabber

[@HotRodHoarder]

Yes, I remember that too!

[@Merylstreep1949]

OK this is your best video yet!

[@rubensalcido5606]

Reminds me of the movie two lane black top'.55 Chevy racing a 71 El Camino with a 454.

[@GBodyJames]

Your videos are the shit man!!! Always makes the hair stand up the way you tell the history of em all thanks!!

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you for the kind words! I enjoy doing this stuff, and hope to keep documenting these old cars and pictures.

[@keithreiffenstein9909]

Seeing those almost twin hemi cars put me in mind of John Labbous and his cars The Loose Caboose

[@edwardchascsa4191]

Enjoy those pics. I'm disappointed there are not a lot of pics of Detroit Dragway . I always look to see if I can find any of cars my brother and I raced in the 70s .

[@HotRodHoarder]

I always struggled to find local drag racing pictures, but the flood gates opened a few years ago and I've found a lot of good stuff from some of our obscure tracks. It's been a lot of fun to look back in time at our local drag strips.

[@bobbystewart5290]

Great video, I have alot of pics from the 70s in east Texas. There is a 55 Chev Blue Goose, im wondering if it could be the same car. Owned by Bill Alexander raced at Paris Tx and lots of E Tex tracks.

[@hankpugh4980]

Thanks to Mr. Dillard and you for sharing the photos.

[@sfpnostalgiamotorsports9943]

Absolutely awesome!!!

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you for watching!

[@hansosl]

What a blast from the past

[@robchan5912]

Awesome pics back when Racing was affordable and not over run by Daddy's deep pockets !

[@jaycox4986]

The Half-Fast 55 Chevy belonged to Frank Tipton out of Maryville Tn. Frank built race car engines for circle track and drag cars for a living up until about 10-15 years ago. Anything he touched was usually way more than Half-Fast.

[@donwhittaker2116]

Awesome video. Brought back memories.

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you for watching Don!

[@michellehoefer5922]

Thank you for the video."Wamplers, Wamplers is great sausage-made right here in Tennessee,Don't say sausage just say Wamplers,for the best in qual-lit-ty!"

[@HotRodHoarder]

YES!

[@levanblevins5401]

Wonderfull vibeo.rember the famly affare plymouth setting at dixon automotive just south of st elmo tn .drove by it for years on my way to work.you might get a heck of a story . Might call 'old rodger er Garfield dixon for some history

[@eddiehefner]

Dennis Hefner was my grandfather. I shot the right quarter panel of “Satisfaction” with a 30-30 when I was a kid. I’d love to have this car back! Would also like to see my grandfather’s 69 Camaro “Dennis’ Toy”. Great video. Would like to see the video on “Satisfaction”. Thanks

[@HotRodHoarder]

Oh wow! Unfortunately, I believe the car was dismantled after the Abbott's sold it. The ol' car was very rusty, but still a very cool piece of local racing history.

[@eason3]

Yello Belly Dragstrip non sanctioned outlaw track in Dallas county texas since 1955 still operating and growing

[@maximuswedgie5149]

Great video!!

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thanks Max!

[@davidsantos8206]

Wow! So many cool cars.

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you for watching David!

[@karllinden9246]

Anyone from NW side of Chicago remember a 57 Chevrolet red with considerable engine setback I believe at the time late 60's it was called Bonehead ? Fiberglass front with deep cut wheel wells.

[@jonathanolsen7254]

That was neat... Keep it up

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you Jonathan!

[@georgeshotrodbarn2113]

Cool pics. i was sixteen in 1974 and drove my mother's 1972 dodge dart to watch my first drag race and wound up making a couple of passes in her car. if she would have found out she would have beat my butt. so, i have seen drag racing grow from the sixty's cars to now and i like the older car. there was a 1969 Camaro there called troubleman and it ran a best of 7.03 that day and later in life i was the shop Forman at a truck repair shop and the guys nicked named me troubleman. but the fasted car of the day was the Davis brothers 1968 Hemi Cuda and it ran a 6.60.

[@DrArtshotrodrehab]

Cool photo album There is an automotive swap meet in Nashville at the fairgrounds on Sunday that’s tomorrow wondering if you had any plans to be there

[@HotRodHoarder]

Yes sir, I'll be there walking around.

[@ronwood7040]

Love the history. Ron

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you Ron!

[@williamgrasman1851]

Awesome

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thanks for watching William!

[@willsummers1245]

I grew up in the 60s and 70s thanks very cool video that's all we did fast cars and hot women !!!

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you for watching Will!

[@51-FS]

4:40 that hual truck was a old u haul truck. Win they was trying to come up with s paint scheme they knew they had to paint 3 vehicles. The truck was allredy orange and white. So to save money they went with orange and white for the cars.

[@douglaspell3764]

Yes, he would love to know if it's still around or what happen to it! Could you ask on your show if anyone has any info on it! I know he would greatly appreciate it! He was glad to hear about it! He said he was very successful there in that car!

[@proracer382d]

Great content as always Tommy

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you sir!

[@davidjones9518]

JerryHargust dodge valley slant 6 1967 Bad ass Wartburg tn ❤

[@roselleavenuecustomcards8961]

Amazing!!

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you for watching!

[@rogerwalker9191]

@ 10:03...WOW, Ya' Gotta be shittin' me!..?~oh, Thank ya' Jesus !

[@user-KrackerJack]

Love that Fairlane

[@HotRodHoarder]

Such a cool looking car. Simple and clean!

[@douglaspell3764]

The Silver Stocker! I know Ronnie! He would love to know were that car maybe or wound up! He thinks possibly toward Nashville I think he said! I can`t wait to show him this picture!

[@HotRodHoarder]

That's awesome! I've seen a few other pictures of the Silver Stocker through the years. Neat car!

[@eason3]

1000s come to race at Yello Belly just about every opening thursday night and Sunday afternoons eighth mile drag with quarter mile shut down and pro tree system with full safety system being added in 2024.

[@midnightraiin4035]

is that the same blue goose tucks rods mounted the body of to a buick roadmaster ?

[@Darrin_Wyatt]

Awesome video as always

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you Darrin, figured I'd try a little something different.

[@413x398]

Would love to know more about the black Ford at the end with the pile of trophies on it. Can I borrow someone's wayback machine?

[@tommycook9620]

HELL Yea

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

I agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ClintGrantham]

I'm a super fan of a Henry J

[@stevehowell4425]

Hi, love looking at all of the old drag car photos. Hope you have some of the old cars at Bristol drag way. I was looking threw some old car magazines a few years back and found a qualifying list from June 6-8th 1969 5th annual SHRA spring nationals at Bristol. You probably would recognize a lot of the drivers names If you'd line to see them, shoot me your cell# and I'll send you a picture of it, lot of net stuff! I really enjoy all your muscle car videos, keep them coming.....

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thanks Steve! I do have some Bristol stuff from 1970 and later. I need to do another one of these videos, going through some more of my collection of old photos.

[@curthutchings2910]

On a video you posted last September you were at a yard in east Tennessee. I beleive it was owned by Matt Klien. Do you have contact info for him? There were a few cars that peaked my interest. Thanks for any information, Curt Hutchings

[@frederickfranz2613]

I have a photo disc from our local track and be glad to send you a copy

[@businessdan01]

Should fine someone who can produce wallpaper with these printed on it!