| Why not review some of December's great
or near great drag races and chronicle them below. And after that, let's
stand and say in one voice, what in the hell's happened to our sport,
the economy, whatever, that has prevented us from twisting again like
we did last winter? I think you history freaks will dig this. We'll drive
this tub from the sport's birth in 1950 to the front door of the Winston
era in 1975. So pour yourself a bourbon, grab a hot dog and a candy cane
and check this. Merry Xmas and watch your step.
1950
Dec. 3 - Otto Ryssman and Don "Soon-to-be-Dyno" Nicholson both ran 120-mph
to set the speed record at Orange County Airport in Santa Ana, Calif.
Ryssman beat Nicholson in the Top Eliminator run-off, clocking a second
120-mph time.
1951
Dec. 23 - Lou Castro's motorcycle (report didn't say which kind) clocked
a 130.60-mph time at Santa Ana, to become the first motorcycle rider
over that barrier. He was the second over 130 for anything on this run.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Castro's 131-mph run reported in last month's Top Fuel
motorycycle feature was not the first 130 as reported; it was the second.]
1952
Dec. 7 - The team of Yates & Cooper (Don Yates driving) wheeled their
210-cid Fargo four-port-motored roadster to a 119.20-mph shot, the then
fastest ever "four banger" drag race pass. The site? Santa Ana.
1953
Dec. 6 - Joaquin Arnett's "Bean Bandits" team out of San Diego won both
the D/Roadster and C/Roadster classes at Santa Ana, clocking a 132-mph
best with the D car ... Jack Ewell wheeled his and Belmont Sanchez's
Modified Coupe to class honors at the same race.
Dec. 19 - The Scotty's Muffler belly tank D/Roadster out of San Bernardino,
featuring an Ardun-equipped Mercury for power, ran only the sport's
fourth 140-mph time with a 140.32 at Santa Ana.
1954
Dec. 12 - The Top Eliminator final between Jim "Jazzy" Nelson's Fiat
nitro-burning '51 Fiat Topolino modified coupe and Pat Pressetti aboard
the nitro-burning Pressetti & Glavas Triumph motorcycle was adjudged
a dead heat. Both racers received first-place trophies.
1955
Dec. 18 - Nelson's Fiat made one of the greatest runs in drag racing
history on this date at San Fernando Raceway. His Edelbrock Equipment-backed
Fiat ran a 9.10 to win Top Eliminator, and this elapsed time was not
bettered until Don Garlits ran an 8.76 on Nov. 10, 1957 (!!) at Brooksville,
Florida.
1956
Dec. 16 - The fabled Emery Cook-Cliff Bedwell team out of San Diego
made their first headlines with a top speed effort at Saugus Drag Strip
in Southern California. They set Top Speed of Top Eliminator with a
potent 153.64-mph blast.
1957
Dec. ? - Don Garlits runs the third eight-second run in drag racing
history with an 8.95 at Chester, South Carolina.
1958
Dec. 7 - The twin Chevrolet (613-cid combined), 4:71-GMC blower-equipped
and carburated dragster of cam grinder Howard Johansen and driver Glen
Ward set a world record for gas-powered dragsters. The Howard Cam Spl.
ran an aggregate best of 9.10/166.05 at Bakersfield. A 9.13/162.74 was
the back-up.
1959
Dec. 26 - Art Malone ran an unofficial world Top Gas dragster speed
record for the 1/8-mile in the Garlits & Malone dragster at Golden Triangle
in Oldsmar, Florida. A 6.12/142.85 left 'em gasping for breath.
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 Auto
Racing Digest
Auto Racing Digest covers auto racing events throughout the world
with a major emphasis on Formula One Grand Prix events, NASCAR Grand National
stock car races, CART and USAC Indianapolis car racing, SCCA and IMSA
road racing, and other major racing events. The magazine includes features
on drivers, races, cars, issues and events plus action photos, statistics,
schedules, point standings, and auto racing quizzes.
Musclecar Review
Musclecar Review is a leading authority on American performance
cars. It spans the spectrum of brand preference with step-by-step restoration
articles, helpful performance upgrades, and exciting and controversial
drag-race "shootouts," in which two closely matched musclecars race on
the drag strip. The bimonthly magazine shows readers what parts to buy,
where to get them, how to install them, and how to tweak and tune.
 
Road & Track
Road & Track caters to vehicle enthusiasts by focusing on automotive
subjects such as design, engineering, driving reports, road tests, racing
coverage, and detailed technical discussions. Also included in each monthly
issue are profiles of personalities in the auto industry as well as auto-related
books, art, history, and humor.
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