American Graffiti

[Gearz]

[Gearz]

[Gearz]

[Bill Sampson]

Did I mention that the AA/FA cars were my very favorite back then? Absolute insanity and I loved it. At the 50th Winternationals the competitor to the Pure Hell car, Pure Heaven (of course) was in the huge display of the old cars. I spoke with the owner/driver that day expressing my admiration.

I took my wife on her first trip ever to the drags. What could possibly be more romantic than filling rattling ground shaking noise, nitro fumes and track food for, yes, Valentine's Day.

I found this video, there are others, of Pure Heaven "cackling." Those were the days, in the stands at Irwindale, almost right on the track, being coated with nitro as the cars roared by. Tee Hee. Obviously I suffered no mental impairment from inhaling all that stuff. Yes, I inhaled. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLoAIp_LjCc

[JTR70]

Bill, you are a hopeless Romantic! Great video and what a sound!!!!!!!!
Thanks for posting it! Justin

[gkw]

Bill, I met my wife at the drags and we have been married 51 great years.
Thanks for sharing that, Gordon

[Bill Sampson]

Gordon:

THAT would be true love. Congratulations.

Bill

[Gearz]

[Gearz]

[Gearz]

[Phil Planck]

This is my 2nd Model A on the left(28 coupe) just after installing a 53 Merc flathead in 1961. Did not have the funds at the time to properly do the radiator. Ended up just putting 2 inlets on top of the Model A radiator. Worked ok around town but not at speed. The light primered A on the right is my best high school friends A after he just installed a flathead Ford. He still has the car 53 years later with a Chevy 350 in it now.

[JTR70]

Thanks for sharing this one Phil, Great story!

[Gearz]

[Bill Sampson]

Gordon:

I you keep posting those hot rod pix I'll have to sell my 356 to acquire one.

Know where I can find an original steel 34 Chevy 3 window with serious modern running gear? My wife would kill me. Death where is thy sting?

[gkw]

Nice story Phil, Here is a picture from 1961.
note the roll bar welded from water pipe. I ran at local drags trip in A-SR and did not have a chance in a million in winning that class but had a great time.
was running a 1957 J-2 Olds. motor. ran in high 12's and slightly under 100 mph.
ThanksGordon