11/9/04

Haulin’ Ash

Good Communications Photo By Dave Wallace

Ever the innovators and never followers, drag-racing people don’t let a little thing like death keep them away from their friends. When the dearly departed has selected cremation as his or her disposition of choice, the possibilities extend well beyond the permanency of a pine box or urn on the mantle -- in stark violation of laws that strictly forbid any scattering of human remains without a permit. Even then, there are may be restrictions against dumping the ashes in environmentally-sensitive locations.

Real racers don’t need no stinkin’ permits!

Gray Baskerville, the beloved photojournalist for Rod & Custom and Hot Rod, got his last wish when land-speed-record-holder Al Teague popped the ‘chute of his 400-mph streamliner at Bonneville. Pete Millar’s widow, Orah Mae, and their three daughters honored the cartoonist’s request to be united with the sacred stretch of asphalt in Famoso, Calif. Better, their co-conspirators were two pals of Pete’s, Bob Muravez (alias Floyd Lippencott Jr.) and Jon Halstead, who had a front-motored fuel dragster at their disposal. Better yet, they chose a half pass for the ceremony. The announcer clued-in the crowd just before the run, and Muravez dumped the laundry -- and their old buddy’s considerable remains -- at 600 feet, in full view of everyone. Way to go, Pete!

Photo courtesy of the Raffa archives

HotRodNostalgia.com Photo by Don Gillespie

Indianapolis Raceway Park was a special place to Willie Borsch and John Raffa. Indeed, not even their untimely demises could deter these two Indy legends from joining the 50th annual U.S. Nationals, with a little help from their friends. “Wild Willie,” the one-handed handler, died of natural causes on Oct. 10, 1991. He was a regular class winner here from the mid-Sixties ‘til NHRA eliminated AA/Fuel Altered. Raffa, a multitalented photographer, editor and publisher, was taken by cancer on Jan. 20 of this year. It was here that “J.R.” shot what is arguably his “career photo,” and certainly the most-viewed. That eerie image of the start of a fatal crash for a Top Fuel Motorcycle rider (whose name escapes me, regrettably) was featured in The National Enquirer.