Raymond Beadle: Gone but not forgotten

Edited by Nitro T
I do not own any of the pictures

[@darthvadar2757]

In 1977 I was 11 years old . And I walked the 12 Mike's to PIR Portland international raceway to watch blue max and others race at the 32 funny car race. When I now see a picture of the blue max car from the area a instantly feel like a kid again. It takes me back to a wonderful time in my life. I simpler carefree time of excitement and fun . MR Raymond Beadle you are always remembered and loved.

[@bugme9085]

Wow thanks ☺️Nitro for this video of Raymond’s races, we matched raced him at Green Valley race way, we were the Texas Yankee Chris Bergs funny car from San Antonio ,Tx.he was a down to earth guy, great fiend .thank .

[@mikebaker9574]

Most people won't forget his big smile and that great car!!!!

[@glenwestlund4961]

A true icon of Top Fuel Funny Cars and arguably the most liked drivers.

[@chrisholcombe137]

Blessed to have watched him on a sunny 🌞 day ,and disturb the peace with nitro . See you when I get there

[@iw1149]

Such good memories here,,,Damn I miss those days .But so grateful I grew up in those times and saw him and talked with him at Dragway 42 In West Salem Ohio 1972....

[@charlesmitchuson9884]

One really nice guy!

[@brianrhodes1330]

My uncle was Dale Emery, the crew chief for Raymond, They all were a great team and awesome car. I remember rideing in the back of the truck at fremont raceway, n Calif., back in oh, maybe 1979 or 80, raceing against Prudome . It was awesome !

[@wkmac2]

RIP Ray Beadle, Dale Emery & D. Gantt. These 3 and Waterbed Fred were some of the great characters of the golden age of FC's of the mid 70's through the early 80's. What I would give to revisit that "Field of Dreams" one more time.

[@leonardoaruca1]

My favorite funny car RIP

[@geraldtarpley3103]

Raymond Beadle, Jungle Jim, and Shirley " Cha Cha " Muldowny were my favorites back in the day when Drag Racing was " Drag Racing " and NASCAR had real Stockcars

[@southernload5710]

Exactly right

[@robertkinholt621]

I didn't know, God Bless, I painted some of his Floppers, yrs ago, that your showing, it was, Jak & Kinholt, back in the early 70'S, thank you,

[@SorryWereOpen247]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@CSXer]

There was always something special when that man brought that machine to the line... A true legend in the sport...

[@369Bandido]

I remember being about 7 when he retired in 86. Then came back to race in 87 running a KODIAC oldsmobile against Ed Mculloch at texas motorplex

[@jbond4078]

back when drag racing was fun thank you

[@rjeff753]

Love the shot at 1:28 showing the two greats that were from my hometown of Lubbock, TX. Do miss Raymond and rooting for Kenny. ☹️☹️😔😔

[@lawrencearansaspasstx4374]

I had the privilege of seeing the Blue Max in Corpus Christi TX in the '76-'78 era, and it was something that I NEVER, EVER forgot. Thanks to Raymond Beadle, for a life long memory of the rumble and sound of the Blue Max. All these years later, I still remember!

[@kissklassics]

Great drag racer. The Blue Max was always one of the cars in the top of the field. Raymond Beadle will be missed.

[@rcworks9762]

My favorite driver, no matter what he never quit. The car may roll but when and if the wheels hit the ground he was still driving. My favorite car was the '73 Mustang funny car, it seemed to have a "presence".

[@danf321]

I saw the Blue Max run a few times...at Pomona, Lions, Irwindale...and he was always a thrill to watch. Good memories!

[@jayandrade2785]

OCIR 80-82 i was there all the time as a kid with my dad. The blue max was the most popular car for many years. Raymond was a real cool guy,grace under pressure. Miss the good days of drag racing

[@robertkinholt621]

I remember, Dale, he was always wearing that Straw Cowboy Hat, think I still have some of the Ole Blue Max, patterns still tucked away, even Shirley's, an Snake's, got to Don on his Final Strike, before he retired,

[@terencekellymybestscooters2415]

The BLUEMAX was the reason I bought a MUSTANG II WHEN I SAW HOW GOOD THEY COULD LOOK!

[@sofalugger]

Can remember him coming to Santa Pod late 70`s early 80`s + Don Prudome (Snake) think they ran the fastest side by side ever in Uk. . also he had a `lucky` piston which `moved` around the block!!? Halcyon Days. .RIP Ray. . .

[@hudsonauto13]

My uncle has the lucky

[@cherylz178]

My two favorite drivers.

[@cheeseburgertim1694]

@ sofalugger I myself had an "unlucky piston", unlike the lucky piston that moved around the block, my unlucky piston went straight through the block

[@sofalugger]

@@cheeseburgertim1694 OUCH!!!!. . . .

[@jacksonmehoff4963]

Ya need a pic or 2 of the 82 Gatornationals when beadle had a slow drift, over corrected flipped it on its roof into opposite lane guardrail tore the body off then flipped in back on the tires and beadle drove it through the traps in his lane, in less than 10 seconds.

[@Petequinn741]

Was a huge fan of his as a kid mid to late seventies.. awesome

[@cschoen100]

I always liked the yellow on blue Arrow car the best, but all of the Blue Max cars were killer looking. First class operation

[@cherylz178]

A little girl growing up I wanted to meet him and touch the car.

[@billhuseth5955]

Awesome video! Thanks for posting!

[@maxxwick246]

I am probably the only Max out here named after the Blue Max.

[@richardlucero9265]

really sad to hear that, I had the great pleasure to see him at "IRWINDALE" Raceway, along with many of the greatest racers in the sport,

[@ray6342]

@ 2:55 great shot.

[@michaelwalkermw83]

I knew Raymond beadle I had a video of him racing the Kodiak trans am funny car in the video billy Meyer's Texas Motorplex video and I knew him from the breather mask he wore and I knew my first funny car will be called the blue scorpion the reason for that is I will be a tuner/driver in the like of Raymond as a tuner/driver I will be hooking up with the right people like Raymond did as a rookie tuner/driver as I knew I will be good as he was and I knew as a disabled rookie tuner/driver I knew how to run these cars as a hearing impaired rookie tuner/driver I will have some help from my family that's my bro Jason he's gonna tune the car with me and help me on the clutch as well as a nitro rookie I will tune the car myself like Raymond beadle was someday I will be well known like him what a legend I will be like him and he was a good guy I knew him via my main event videos tapes on the race he won that's was the coca cola funny car classic that's set the hook for me to race funny cars and drag racing I am gonna run a funny car called blue scorpion in memory of Raymond beadle and others like harry Schmidt and I am of German descent too like harry Schmidt that's the reason the name blue scorpion will be the name of my 1st funny car as I get well known I will be good like Raymond as a tuner and driver as I knew I will be known as mick the scorpion due to my ability to tune the car and race the car with whatever parts I have at the time as I get more experienced the good money wont be a worry this will actually help me step things up a bit as I get more drivin time and the same with the tuning side of things that's how I will be known for the tuning side of racing and also of the driving too this way I have my fun drivin the funny cars and the tuning as well this will help me get well known as a disabled tuner/driver with the hearing impairment this will be great for the disability community in my home country of Australia and even in the US where disabled are the ones those who want to race in drag racing should be given a chance say those people who want to drive funny cars say the nostalgia funny cars are good hope this will inform you in my hope to run funny car called blue scorpion as a disabled driver racing funny cars with a disability and tune the cars well with a disability as well

[@collincole1469]

Ik the new driver personally

[@rjeff753]

Love the shot at 1:28 showing the two greats that were from my hometown of Lubbock, TX. Do miss Raymond and rooting for Kenny. ☹️☹️😔😔