The Golden Age Of Drag Racing Gassers

[@glenncanale9225]

Great video Thanks I ran a 1962 FI Corvette in the Midwest in 1965 -66 before i went to Vietnam. Still have the car.

[@danklein7318]

thanks tour the man

[@Richard.Hybels]

I was a couple years earlier than you and got the Germany trip instead of Nam. The number one luckiest thing in my 80 years. Glad you made back sir.

[@thomaslongshore1295]

Stone, Woods and Doug (Cookie) Cook was my favorite gasser and driver. Loved the M/P class and it's now gone as well.

[@JasonMyers-c6z]

One of the many versions is currently on display at the NHRA Museum in Pomona, CA.

[@tomrobards7753]

My favorite Willy's

[@tomrobards7753]

@@JasonMyers-c6z Kool , wish I had had the time to went through Don garlits in Florida

[@hubiesgarage]

I own the Green E/Gas '55 Chevy on the towbar seen at 14:05. This photo was taken in Long Beach, just after the '57 had won D/Gas at the Winternationals in Pomona in 1963. That photo was taken just before they left for Indy in '63 for the Nationals. They caravaned with a number of teams including, Stone Woods and Cook, Chuck Finders, Radoumis and Moore and the Mallicoat Bros. The '55 set the National ET Record at Indy, then set the National Speed Record on the flat tow home at Half Moon Bay. The records held up until early to mid 1964 when Gene Schwartz, took the record over. The '55 is still in nearly the same condition today and can be seen on my historical gasser playlist on my KZbin Channel. It is also nice to see the Panneton Owned '56 B/Gasser at San Fernando! Ric Panneton is still trying to locate this car today if anyone knows its whereabouts! Great video with a good mix of cars from all over the country!

[@stur.7502]

Excellent!, Excellent!, Excellent! Documentary! I feel like my old self again. This world has definitely wondered off the reservation. I feel sane again watching this , like coming down off a bad high. Excellent commentary. 1969 was the best year ever! You had to be there!

[@buzzwaldron6195]

I was there in '69... also in '62... and earlier...

[@ixlr8677]

for sure.

[@AmeriTint]

Gassers- many would say the true character of grass roots drag racing! Thank you for putting all this together!

[@spidersinspace1099]

My world revolved around the gassers running at Lions Drag Strip during the mid 60's through the 70's. I was a young teenager back then. Too bad there weren't more big-name west coast guys mentioned in this video but believe me, Lion's was making a lot of history during that time. Saturday summer nights at Lions will always be a part of me. Cost a $1.50 to get in and another 50 cents for a pit pass. There was a grandstand where you could sit around fifty feet from the starting line and get your eyes full of nitro fumes and damage your hearing for life. I wish I could relive those days.

[@SteveMarchand-h7q]

Wow I remember you could hear Lions at a friends house in Marina Del Ray. After banning nitro, the owners citing safety (and environmental) concerns, attendance dwindled at the strip eventually closing. (mid '70s?) Being a San Diego native my dad talked about riding a bicycle to where the birth of sanctioned drag racing started. "Paradise Mesa" was a retired aux navy landing strip where 'Spring Valley' now resides. Pre -"Lions", "Riverside", "Pomona", "Irwindale", and NHRA, there was Paradise and the San Diego Timing Association. Of which became the enduring Southern California Timing Association [SCTA] sanctioning land speed racing. -jus' braggin'.

[@SteveMarchand-h7q]

Speaking of which, speed week is going down right now at Bonniville. This day of our racing Lord 08/05/24. They're streaming live from the start line.

[@spidersinspace1099]

I grew up in Lynwood, CA about eight miles north of Lions. You could hear those dragsters taking off from where I lived on Saturday evenings.

[@notinterested8397]

​@@SteveMarchand-h7q Paradise Mesa was well before my time, and Lions was too far away for me at the time, but I've made laps at OCIR, Pomona, Riverside, and both Irwindale. I still live 10 minutes from the L.A Co. Fairgrounds, and still race at the Irwindale eighth. .

[@danielcombs3048]

When I about 12yrs old. There's was a young man that lived down the street from me. Had recently gotten back from Vietnam in the early 70s. And was blown away one day when he pulled out of his garage the most awesome show room quality Anglia gasser. Don't remember what it had for a motor. All I can remember is the fiberglass tilt front end, straight open headers and the coolest set of velocity stacks. The man was partially crippled from the war. But that didn't stop him from lighting that mother up. And running it down the street that day. I'll never forget him getting squirrelly and out of shape and almost wrecking. But he pulled it off. I've liked the hell out of gassers ever since. Thanks for the show 👍

[@michaelchevreaux7780]

As a Former Vietnam Era Vet Myself, Don't Be Too Hard On Him. Just Hope You Don't Vote For Biden Or You May Have Your Own War Story.

[@danielcombs3048]

@@michaelchevreaux7780 not knocking the soldier at all. In fact I lost my older brother to the Vietnam conflict. My father and uncle are both 35&38yr career veterans. I have the utmost respect for the military service men& women. Thank you for your service 🇺🇸

[@woolyhighlander7280]

@@michaelchevreaux7780 No Sh*t man.Vets should be allowed to do those things,the've earned the right ! This from an Early Hemi Racer/ builder.

[@lonnyjaw]

Oh Yes! Back in the GOOD DAYS when America was pretty much NORMAL yet. Back when a citizen could still experience FUN, FREEDOM, and LIBERTY right here in OUR OWN COUNTRY and still be called the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!! Thank You for this breath of FRESH AIR with the 'fragrance' of high octane racing gas!!

[@mikestaihr5183]

Yeah. Before we became a "Corporate-tocracy" and only the rich get the freedom to have fun...... how many home garage mechanics do you see in any racing these days.

[@SteveMarchand-h7q]

@@lonnyjaw Yeah! Vote Republicsn!

[@ixlr8677]

@@mikestaihr5183 cant afford it.

[@RoadRunner-l3b]

IVE SEEN MANY OF THESE GASSERS S.I.R..-DRAGSTRIP …MARCH MEET FOMOSO TOO..😅 Over 40 Years RoadRunner BeepBeep 🔥⚡️⚡️

@@SteveMarchand-h7q Yes and get screwed by the orange turd. Again

[@bruceturner6283]

I "SUPER PICKLE" Henry J was a regular at Fontana Drag City around "70-71. Car was super clean w/ cool theme and graphics! I believe it had a 327 if my memory is correct and being sponsored by Scotty's Muffler was probably from the Inland Empire . Car is pictured in the staging lanes at Orange County and was a fan favorite at the time.

[@jesseortega8598]

I love Old school Gasser's. They're absolutely Awesome.

[@stevehammel2939]

Great documentary, gassers aren't dead, they are alive and well in the nostalgia gasser meets. BTW, I had a 1967 Ford Mustang Square Back gasser with a 351 Clevland and 4-speed top loader that was both street and strip.

[@boldrbangr9834]

Outstanding coverage! I grew up with the gassers & really miss them.

[@strokersteve468]

Another well-done video! Really like the history of drag racing. Gassers were interesting to me because of the home built aspect.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

So true!

[@kenmackenzie295]

At 2:08 in the video, the burgandy 55 Chevy was my gasser, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. That car in 1968 ran D/Altered (11#/ci) in NHRA Div 5 Comp Eliminator. High points winner all divisions, #1 seed at Tulsa Worls Finals, In 1969 returned to E/Gas, set and held a number of class records

[@DavidMolnar-xc5on]

The best class ever! Thankfully, there are still some gassers today in nostalgia racing and I still love to watch them.

[@Vegaswill714]

These were true hot rods in every sense. Great video.

[@dmk7700]

Bravo my Friend!!! Excellent "GASSER" documentary. I dig your no-nonsense delivery. Short & to the point.

[@hillbilly4christ638]

Awesome video. I was just imagining the amount of work that went into building and running these beautiful racers. The times with the old body styles was really impressive.

[@gkrew1969]

Couldn't agree more about what d racing has become over the years. Incredible boring,overpriced,generic jelly beans. Even the comments of drivers are homogenized. Im stuck in this 60s,70s era also.

[@docsmallblock6584]

Well we now have small tire no prep, back of the track type racing which is pretty damn cool!

[@garycamara9955]

This is drag racing, not street or road racing. Also not autocross.

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

Give me a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 7 days a week and twice on sunday! There is nothing like the sound of a big block being rung piss tight!💯

[@randallbaker1308]

I drive a 68 dodge polara 500 with a 383,and a 66 falcon station wagon with a built 302,,,no school like old school. No substitute for AMERICAN MUSCLE

[@jcindahouse]

@@docsmallblock6584just flip out that laptop and instant tune!

[@acetomatocompany]

Gassers have always been my favorite race cars. Absolute great video, thanks for posting. I see these cars and can’t help but wonder, where are all these cars now.

[@scottnovak8903]

Blasting me to past, i always loved 41' Willy Stone woods in 1980's resurrection it painted blue awesome sharing this topic budget racing. I had a couple sleeper's in my early 20's Good ole times 😄 we need go back to analog and phones on wall, eliminated cell phone's 😜

[@bolt4694]

Stone, Woods, Cook, Ford Willys was my favorite model car kit. We went to Alton Dragway in Illinois in the sixties to see our favorite dragsters. Charlie Smith's Plain Vanilla A altered. Tommy Ivo's four engine Buick dragster. Little Red Wagon with the engine in the cab and ran backwards wheelies all the way down the strip. Don Garlits AA fuel Swamp Rat. Swindler II Willys coupe. And of course the Bloody Mary motorcycle with a 327 V8 chevy mounted sideways. Fun times.

[@sourkrautracing8108]

some more details info about the EMPI Inch Pincher: Was actually owned by Joe Vittone's son Darrell Vittone. But the majority of the innovation developed by Dean Lowry, the R&D guyy at EMPI.l Dean also drove the Inch Pincher until 1967 when he left EMPI to start his own company. Darrell took over the development and driving of the Inch Pincher, gave it the updated paintjob you see in this video and raced that up to 1970 when they sold EMPI and Darrell had to build a new car. In 1967 Darrell clocked off 11.80's in the Inch Pincher.

[@ChuckWheeler-n5y]

I grew up with the gasser era cars and built many models based on these examples. Harry Hurst built and ran the Willys gasser now owned by Dale Lang, and still runs at the Coles County Dragstrip west of Charleston, Illinois. Coupes and sedans! What fun we had!

[@richardturk7162]

@ 10:35 I remember seeing that car run many times. Always clean as a pin. Saw John Carters car run at Ohio Valley Dragway and other tracks in Ky . I have seen quite a few in this video so it brings back memories of the good old days. I ran E/SA and SS IA during the 70s.

[@rodneyharouff5739]

seein' all these cars is too cool! i remember a lot of 'em from hot rod mags when i was a youngin'! 😃

[@MikeCase-ly3qc]

My dad was a photographer in the sixties and sold a lot of the photos to Hot Rod magazine. We grew up at Aquasco drag strip on the weekends. Saw a lot of great drag racing and unfortunately it will never be like that again. Had boxes of 8" x 10" black and white photos from that drag strip but unfortunately my ex-wife refused to let me have them, put them in a shed and let them ruin. Hemi Underglass, Leroy's Toy, Little Red Wagon and hundreds more. Great video, brought back a lot of memories.

[@keithdmaust1854]

That's just cruel...

[@anthonyhendricks7377]

Fantastic video. I remember a lot of the cars competing at Beachben in KY. As a kid.

[@jasonbennett8455]

This is why they call them the good old days I was born about twenty five years to late great video

[@markpospichal1309]

In my freshman year of high school (winter of '69), I started building my '56 Chevy 210 into a gasser. By the time I graduated and finally got enough money to make it competitive, they did away with the class! Worst case of born too late...

[@mgbchuck6527]

thanks, great memories. made models as a young'n of several, always a SKC/Big John fan

[@ixlr8677]

i had the malco gasser model.

[@edwardchascsa4191]

Subscribed, seeing the Jim Oddy opel always gets my attention as I own that car. Was the Frank & Linda Mazi car until my friend Tom Joblinski of Rebellious drag traikers, bought it in the mid 80s. He has since passed, so now I have it. Being a violent car it's on the third body. That info is on line under the combustion chamber site that Franks daughter has. I've also been looking for pics of the Olynick body 55 d gas 55 chevy from the detroit area. My brother , cousin and I got that car mid 70s and ran it at Detroit Dragway. Keep up the good work

Seeing that image of Johnny Lopers "Lil Hoss" took me WAYYY back to the 60's cruising Central Ave In Phoenix, A lot of us use to hang out at Indian School road and Central. once in a while we would hear that Anglia cackling just down the street. We would jump in our cars and dash down to watch Loper's and watch them tune or test.... On Indian School road. Made that evening great!

[@Leftycraig48]

@ 21:08 I love the original artwork on the injector scoop cover on the Slo-Poks A/GS pickup

[@robertklein1316]

7:40, the Filthy Forty, amassed the crowds with it wheel standing antics for a C/G'er. At registration at Speedway shopping center I was intrigued by the electric water pump and by how much water was leaking from the radiator, they had a serious overheating problem at the time. Only a little over 60yrs. ago.

[@vehdynam]

Great video , lots of memories here. I have a 37 Chev coupe Gasser now. Always loved the Gasser era. Many thanks..

[@rwstillwater]

Great video. Loved the gassers as I am from that era, Modified Production sort of took over as street/strip racers but didn't last.

[@Roger-c5y]

I had a ball with my L/Gas VW bug,I finished first in my division and eighth in the world in 1979 AHRA bracket racing in Ohio. I also took first in my bracket and second in the king of the hill race at the Hot VW drag day in December 79. Everyone had a VW story wherever we went and I still get a lot of attention with my 71 hot rod beetle today, the gassers were always good to watch. 😊

[@rjecsn]

Looks to be a 426 hemi rather than a 392 in Paddack's Opel @ 6:27. Great video Thanks for sharing

[@ThomasELeClair]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,true.........426,,,,Magneto poking out on the front pass side.......Also i live in Pittston PA...,,,learned much history about Joe Amato ,,,Heard he raced with his Dad....never heard Joe had a brother......Also,,,,The great Tim Richards grew up in a small area near Dunmore PA,,,,,,,Someone did a great job of restoring all the photos from back in the era........thanks........

[@robertfrobes5028]

Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

[@boost7983]

My favorite class of all time, great stuff, I love it! I watched many of these cars run. All others pale in comparison. Great stuff, thanks!

[@3DScaleParts]

These videos only get better. Thanks so much for the education.

[@ronnieroberts9478]

That was a great video the good old days

[@johndool6567]

71 year old muscle car collector I've had multiples of everyone in 1966 I was at the opening day at New England dragway I seen all these cars I walked over to the fastest car that was there was the 40 willys ask him how much he wanted he said $1,400 I only had 12 100 without a Cadillac engine and he wouldn't sell it the only time I failed to buy a car thank you for the great memories next time showing running wolf Lynn Massachusetts

[@SteveMarchand-h7q]

Man! You got a lot of cars in 25min! It was a great moment in time after the birth of drag racing in and near SoCal following the 2nd World War. That spreading across the country to almost every mid sized town or county having at least one drag strip giving it a go. A ton of pre nitro innovation by home brewed mechanics and those that love acceleration came from the era. Don't know how you got all these cool images but ya' done good. Thanks for your work and share!

[@badgerbait8351]

Man, that was therapeutic! Coolest car vote goes to the black 1940 Willy's coupe with the 283!

[@smithgroove945]

Great video. Yes this was the golden age for sure. And yes, please do a whole vid segment on Stone Woods and Cook. I am searching for what i belive was an early 34 Ford by them.

[@johncrawford6992]

Thanks for the video,your right it ended the sportmanclass of racing and made it all Bid Dollars

[@rickyrunner7619]

thanks for sharing video needs to be more of this today

[@barrycuda3769]

Good photos. I love all those Ansen Sprints.

[@johnnienitro6812]

At 6:35 That's a Gen 2 hemi sir......... Thanks for your video Sir..........Cleans a lot up!

[@garypankratz9352]

That was great!! Love the Super Pickle!

[@willt9172]

Great stuff, Awesome Old School!

[@clementevaldez1271]

Most beautiful and very exciting race cars .... awesome times for true drag racing

[@gregwitkamp5583]

Back when any one could drag race , now its a rich mans game. Wish the gassers would come back and let these young guys race again.

[@woolyhighlander7280]

AWWW, you forgot Wild Willie Borsch !

[@craigwilkin7286]

Excellent quality pics and great variety of cars. Good voice over info and pleasant subtle background music.

[@curtis6554]

excellent video .I remember watching the Grubb Brothers run a 41 willys ( I think) at Coles County dragstrip in Charleston Illinois in the mid 60s . Loved that willys

[@NewellsRules]

The unnamed Willys at Aquasco was Dave Hales (sp?) it ran D Gas and was later sponsored by S&S Speed shop along with several other National gassers that invaded the 63 Nationals at Indy

[@carlo6230]

ME TOO ...I GREW UP AT ENGLISHTOWN DRAG STRIP....SUMMERNATIONALS EVERY YEAR...FUNNY CARS WERE DOOR SLAMMERS...SHIRLEY MULDOWNEY WAS FOR REAL...THE BLUE MAX....JUNGLE JIM....WE SAW THE BEST....GOD BLESS OUR MEMORIES...AND THE GOOD OLD 60s. WE LIVED IT

[@danielhackleman2140]

The time you give us to look at the cars. It's wonderful.

[@jsharpe45]

In 1969 I had a 57 Corvette with a tube front axle and a blown 392 hemi that I ran as ABB gas lot of fun used to run at Irwindale OC. IR lions and riverside.

[@vinceleone3952]

Priceless!!!🏁I have been very lucky to see them run many times at Nostalgic events,this is a fantastic compilation.Saw Gene Schwartz run in the beauty a few times.👍Thank you

[@stephenhayden2712]

I love the video thank you very much, I went to the drag strips a few times in my youth, mostly Colonial Beach Dragway in Virginia & Buds Creek Dragway in Maryland, I have a few fond memories !!!!

[@gord-p2z]

100 % correct mid 80,s built a c/gas nostalgia car what a blast , its still running actively at events the RUDE STEWED, 54 studebaker

[@Ron-j3t]

Give yourself a pat on the back, for sure one best drag racing video's I've watched. Thank you

[@larrytucker2938]

Great video, saw a lot of my old favorites even some I'd forgotten.

[@1Truckman]

The names of the builders and drivers of these cars really spark my memories of the hot rod and drag racing magazines I spent my meager funds on in high school...

[@RandysFiftySevenChevy]

[@mikedarr6968]

When the home garage built, low budget racers were squeezed out I sadly lost interest in the sport. A great video, Thanks!

[@DavidCampbell-ed3lb]

I loved these cars & watched them in the day. Saw "Ohio George. Montgomery" & he let sit in the Mustang at Muncie Dragway in Muncie, Ind. in 1968. Not to many remember when ran "The Gasser Passer" Anglia. A guy I went to school had one of STONE WOIDS & Cook's spare Willies

[@notinterested8397]

Love seeing the Opel Kadett gassers. (A blown Hemi in a Kadett? Amazing) I remember one from LACR. A very rude and crude race car. I have an Opel GT with a 454 in it so im naturally fascinated.

[@EdMuha-d8h]

I remember that era. Helped with a 57 chevy running in N stock. The good old days when the average person could compete. those days are gone forever

[@mikco99]

I have fond memories of those days. In 1963 3 of us 17 year old high school kids went to Dragway 42 in West Salem Ohio just to see Stone Woods and Cook race Ohio George Montgomery. Cookie ran off the end of the strip that had a banked turn to slow down the cars. He didn't have any brakes and the B&M trans wouldn't slow it down. That beautiful Willies flew into a beanfield across the road. Cook broke his nose and sort of wrecked the car. Good Times!

[@SuperDirtyred1]

What , No Jack Ditmars Lil Screamer ? B/A & 😂 Wheel Stander when It Felt Good.😂

[@dmk7700]

16:29 - 16:36 I remember this guy tearing up the "Oswego Dragstrip" back in '68 & '69.

[@joepepi7394]

What a great video.Brought back some great memories!

[@Brianscoronet]

Awesome video, really enjoyed seeing all those pictures, i enjoy your channel.

[@glorialotz3333]

Stickel & Riffle's Willys had a small block Ford in it when I watched it at National Trail. Pulled the front wheels in 1st and 2nd gear. Nice car.

[@markweber7275]

Bare knuckles racing using your head and experience NOT a huge wallet with high dollar sponsor.👏👏👏

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

🏁Enjoyed!! 🏁

[@barttimmerman6077]

Wow, excellent in depth video! Thank you for sharing.

[@A_to_Zappa]

I look for and buy all the Hot Wheels Gassers... My favorite the Volvo P-Gasser.

[@timrayburn2461]

Outstanding video and work.....thank you

[@brianalbrecht4423]

SO cool...!...!..the golden years of Drag raceing & for that matter all forms of race'n...and probaly America...! dident know Jack Merkel ran his willys blown..!..very cool..Jack was always a nice guy whenever I met him..!...great video....!...thank u..!

[@jerrypuckett6733]

Love it. I watch SEGA videos on KZbin all the time. The Best racing. And you HAVE to Bang gears in SEGA. 🤘🏼🇺🇸

[@timmitzlaff8960]

That’s a crack up. When I was 15 in 1968 I bought a 1959 Opel Olympia wagon from my friend’s Dad. I also paid $25.00

[@chillaxin813]

Slight correction. Jack Coonrod is from Vancouver Washington even though Portland Ore. is painted under his name on the car. There is no such place as Portland WA. Portland Oregon has Portland International Raceway which used to host NHRA events back in the day. The Top Fuel National events were eventually shut down because of noise complaints from the local neighborhoods but the road racing course and drag strip are still in use today. The Willis has survived to this day and still looks just like it does in the pictures. I don’t know that it has been raced competitively in decades but I did see it at the weekly cruise in at PIR not long ago.

[@RonCobb-co6dr]

That brought back some wonderful memories, 😊 thanks 👍

[@RayTuttle-of5qd]

I was always a big AHRA fan and then NHRA later on! Now a big fan of the Nostalgia classes

[@anthonytripp2251]

Great video. Outstanding research

[@daviddonaldson809]

21:10 Willys pickup truck is from the SLO POKS car club of Vancouver, Washington and was driven by Wayne Harry. The truck never has a name.

[@johnjwedrall4290]

I found your channel today and subscribed to it today 😀

[@LP-lb7jo]

Great video!! Lots of memories...

[@jbviper1]

A gas supercharged was my favorite class I raced at Lions Drag Strip and Irwindale my two favorite gassers was King Kong Korola Brothers Anglia and the MGM Truck.

[@jeffreystinger]

👁️ BAD-ASS!!! BRINGS BACK SOME GREAT MEMORIES!!!👀

[@clintonsmith9931]

Great days. Did winter nationals in 62 The most all cars were constructed out of whatever they could come up with. There was Isky, Crane, and a few other cam grinders. Edelbrock manifolds Headman headers and a few others. No glue for the strip, no electronic anything. Never be the same!

[@bretgatrell3700]

Thank you for your time

[@markmccabe934]

I grew up watching Gassers!!!!

[@edlattina2638]

Love those old gasser!! I looking for a 40 to 46 dodge truck for project .

[@JohnCaldwell-m6t]

I went to Irwindale Dragstrip almost every Saturday from 1964 to 1969, I saw many of these cars run, however, I am surprised that you did not mention Big John Mazmanian.