My first job in the sport of drag racing was with Phil Bellomy at Drag Sport Illustrated. I shot the "Engine Masters" Coupe crashing at San Gabriel so Mr. Bellomy liked what he saw and hired me for weekly duty paying $5 a week, a photo pass, and my film & processing. After that wonderful experience and working my way up to Photo Editor at Drag Sport Illustrated, I went on to be the Photo Editor for Doris Herbert's Drag News. I must have enjoyed it -- I'm still taking photos and writing about the best automotive spectator sport and it's 37 years later!

In my travels I've personally been to over 128 different drag strips, including "the Pond" San Fernando where I first met Dave Wallace Sr, Dave Wallace Jr, and Sky Wallace, along with later Hot Rod Magazine Publisher Harry Hibler, who at that time managed the Pond. Santa Maria Drag Strip was one of my favorites, with that track run by the late Steve Evans, which later Steve became drag racing's all time best announcer. I met the man I consider to be drag racing's finest promoter ever CJ "Pappy" Hart at Lions Drag Strip, when I was "too young" to be at trackside. CJ was only looking out for a young kid. But you couldn't tell me at the time. When I turned 16, publishers and editors signed a petition-like letter, CJ finally "gave-in" and allowed me to meet guys like "Digger Ralph" Guldahl, a great photog and writer.

Lions also allowed me to meet Larry Sutton, Lions official starter, and we really didn't get along too well but have since become great friends. Sutton is the best starter, along with Buster Couch. I also hooked up with the likes of Bob McClurg, Ron Lahr, Jere Alhadeff. Don and John Ewald, L & M Photos, Ron Stender and a host of others used to go to Lions. At this time I was lucky enough to meet Steve Reyes from Oakland, CA "a young Nor Cal freelancer" and got to work with the best-ever action guy for a long period of time shooting all the Super Chevy events. Steve probably influenced my life more than anyone along with "Diamond Jim" Kelly, Bob McClurg and Don Prieto too. My all-time favorite racer is the Golden Greek Chris Karamesines, and the handling ability of Kenny Safford. West Coast only James Warren, the Ridge Route Terrors.

In 1969 I returned from Germany and the military and my first weekend out of the service I went directly to the now-defunct Dallas Int. Raceway, and returned to my first love, drag racing. At that event I was introduced to Jon Asher who is now the editor at Drag Racing Action, and a great pick for that job. Asher is very opinionated but you'd better listen -- most of the time he's right. Got to work for Jon in 1980 back after my job of Photo Editor for Hot Rod Magazine was eliminated in 1980. He's tough but a fantastic Editor. Dave Wallace JR though gets the nod as the Best All-time Editor (even over Jeffy). Jeff Burk who along with Bob McClurg were a close second. Terry Cole and Bruce Hampson were pretty hot too. Doug Marion also, Mr. Super Chevy! The late Pete Pesterre also. Off Roads Duane Elliott was fantastic too

After that I went on to be Super Stock and Drag Illustrated's Photo Editor (twice, once for Jim McCraw, once for Jeff Burk). Both terms of duty were fantastic. Along with that same title for Hot Rod, Petersen's Vans & Pick-Ups, Petersen's 4 Wheel and off road. I worked with Bob McClurg, Dave Wallace Jr, Al Kirshenbaum, the later great Gray Baskerville (Hot Rod's Dear OLE Dad), CJ Baker, Dick Van Cleve, Lee Kelley, Mike Anson, Fern Cason, Pat Broiler, Pat Gahal, Tom Medley, Johnny Diana,"Jungle Jane" in the library, Marlin Davis, and many others.

Petersen was a last too. All the time I was NRA Division 7 Photographer for 19 wonderful years, too. I even kept that title when I worked at Hot Rod.

NHRA put me in tune with, Wally Parks, the great late Leslie Lovett, Jim Edmunds, Bill Holland, Dick Wells, Forrest Bond, Bernie and PJ Partridge, Gene and Judy Bergstrom, Rich Carlson, Warren Smith, Pam Sutton (Larry's wife), Roberta Leighton, Graham Light, Danny Garcia, Cloy Fitzgerald, Richard Brady, Teresa Long, Chris Martin, Bill Crites, and many others think back to when I was doing the NHRA Division, and the track photographer/writer for Sacramento Raceway, Firebird (Phoenix), and Las Vegas Speedrome all at the same time! Deadlines and more deadlines.

And here it is in late 2002, and I'm still doing this. Am I crazy? Probably. Do I love it? Most definitely. Broke? Lotsa the time. But as Lou Gehrig said...'Today I'm feel like the luckiest guy on earth." As a kid I wanted to be a professional baseball player, race driver, or a photojournalist. One outa three is not bad!

I just got back from the Pro Nitro/WCTA race at Dave and Nancy Smiths Sacramento Raceway Park, and for all of those who did not attend this event, you missed out! Watching the quickest "side by side" 5.891 to a 5.892 between overall winner Jim Murphy and Bill Dunlap was the best. Having eight nostalgia AA/Fas there was awesome! Only class that would be nice to see at Pro Nitro, Goodguys, or ANRA events next year would be nostalgia Funny Cars. Come on guys, who is going to be first? At the CHRR reunion probably seeing Rance McDaniel there was tops, but the three Funny Cars of Lil Nate Bugg, Flamed Fortune Corvette of Godfrey and Close, and Randy Walls Super Nova returning was fantastic.

Next year, as your new Nostalgia Editor, I will attend the Funny Car Reunion at Englishtown. Steve Bell and "Beserko Bob" thought of it first and that's certainly one I will attend next year.

Nostalgia has become a major part of drag racing, so if you have anything that you really want to see in this column, please don't hesitate to e-mail me at tmarshall29@hotmail.com or here at marshall@racingnetsource.com Please feel free to use our letters column too!

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