Indoor Drag Racing
 

Anybody here remember Indoor Drag Racing at the International Amphetheater in Chicago??????
Bill Bretz.....Clyde Hopper....... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif
Ken

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

Last year at VF, my first time to be in McCormack Place, I suggest to Al that we could clear a center aisle and do some racing. He filled me in about the good old days of indoor racing in Chitown. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

That was just crazy! I have some info & pics out in the barn that I'll try to post tomorrow. It was very short, with very narrow lanes, and, guardrails. I think the "finish line" was a pair of garage door openings, one for each lane. Some pretty hot cars, even sponsored superstockers, showed up for the insanity.

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

Now this sounds cool.

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

Kelly Peters winning at the Amp.
http://www.bmara.com/Photohtms/past/010_10.jpg

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

That was just crazy! I have some info & pics out in the barn that I'll try to post tomorrow. It was very short, with very narrow lanes, and, guardrails. I think the "finish line" was a pair of garage door openings, one for each lane. Some pretty hot cars, even sponsored superstockers, showed up for the insanity.


That's right.......as you were stopping, you had to go thru the doors and make a hard left turn as there was a wall there that was lined with hay bails...... (Those "Crazy" car guys).....Through the eyes of a 13 year old car nut.....that was the ultimate........I thought that Bill Bretz's Black 62 409 Bel Air bubble top was the "Holy Grail"......then there was Clyde Hopper with his Max Wedge..........." I Wann'a go back ".......
Ken

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

I don't know how well this will turn out, but, here goes.

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

Cool stuff guys. And here's another pic courtesy of sixtiesmuscle...

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

Wow.. cool pics. Would be neat if someone had a video from back then. Unreal some of the things they did. Can you imagine the liability risks if some one tried somethimg like that today. Reminds me of the story Ed Hedrick told us at SCR8 about he and Grumpy testing the Grump's car in the race shop.

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

More from Guarise...

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More...

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Another...

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One more...

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And this one...

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

A few notes about the pics Rob posted. The '57 B/Gasser is a local legend by the name of "Shake, Rattle, and Run". From the time sheet, it looks like the '61 B S/S Pontiac ran the best time of all! The Plymouth that ran into the guard rail is about to go thru the doorway at the end of the track.

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

Sweet stuff!!!

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

Very cool stuff Mike! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

I saw Shake Rattle & Run at Super Chevy this past summer. It was all restored and the guy said it was the real car

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

Absolutly unbelieveable that Pictures exist..........How "KOOL" is that...............You guys are awsum.......... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif

Ken
Who grew up in a different time... with Truth, Justice, the American Way.........and Nickey Chevrolet.......

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

Great stuff Mike...thanks for posting them young man !

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-------Im about half-way sure that the 62 Impala pictured is a Corvette buddy of mines cousin. The two of them raced that Nassua blue 09/09 all over the Chicago/southern Wisconsin area for a couple of years, and did pretty well as I recall. Unfortunatly as so often happened the car ended up with a 283 and got lost. The cousin was quite a tilter of beer bottles and beat it up quite badly...........Bill S

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

Now that I think of it...NO SPONSOR 61 Ventura coupe is still around and is local to me !!! I can't remember his name !!

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

I think his name is Rick Johnson. He currently is running an original 1962 Catalina 421/ 405 hp, super duty on the nostaliga super stock drag racing, under the name "NO SPONSOR IS BACK". He is a great guy who has been doing this a very long time. I believe he is from the Michigan area. His '62 Cat runs in the mid 10's low 11's. I have some video of the '62 running at Quaker City Drag Strip, Salem Ohio, 2000. It was the year I raced my Z-L1.

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

You are right Mark...the No Sponsor today is a 62....I can't find the site for those midwest nostalgia guys...the black 61 used to run with them and is here local...I have talked to the guy several times but can't remember his darn name...

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

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I have talked to the guy several times but can't remember his darn name...

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At a time when more Americans are living into their 80s and 90s than ever before, the fear of dementia, or "Alzheimer's anxiety," is rising and motivating many people to try to keep their brains sharp into old age.


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Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

The 'NO SPONSER' is owned and raced by Rick Johnson of Crete Illinois(south of Chicago). The 1961 from the indoor races belonged to his brother back then. He built the 1962 with that name as a tribute to his brother. Rick is a great guy and can build some great Super Duty engines.

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

Yep I have talked to him before too....the guy local with the black 61 Venturas last name was Kaufman I'm pretty sure...from Niles,Illinois...he used to run with the Midwest Nostagia Super Stockers but I found their site and I don't see him or his car....they may have split off into another group...

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

Awesome pics, talk about a rush, drag racing under those circumstances https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

Come on ..one of you Poncho guys should be able to dig up a pic of the black 61 that raced N/SS...the name may be Hoffman or Kaufman..Niles,Il.

Re: Indoor Drag Racing
 

[ QUOTE ]
The Plymouth that ran into the guard rail is about to go thru the doorway at the end of the track.

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Notice the driver's head! I don't think he was looking in the right direction at the time the picture was taking.I can only imagine a split second later. Maybe he did not want to see what was coming.( To see picture, go to reply before the quote)