In 1964, while driving from Redmond, Oregon, back to Portland, my
buddy and I saw a sign that said "Drags." So we went to check it out.
One of our high school classmates was racing a 60 Impala 348. I had a grudge against this guy, so I wanted to race him with my 57 Ford Convert. But we were too late; eliminations were already started. However, we learned that he would be at Woodburn the following Sunday. So I was there. He was in G stock, and my car was in H stock, so I did not get to race him. However, I won my class, received a trophy, and I have jokingly said that darn trophy likely cost me over $2 million.
I raced through 1965 with my 57 convert, then in 1966 with a 57 9
passenger wagon in I stock automatic. But the need for speed was growing, and over that winter built, the original GUNFIGHTER, a 57 Ford Custom 300, powered by a Hilborn injected 289 small blocks and an aluminum Borg Warner 4 speed. I raced in a class called D/Altered, and I think the best passes were in the low 11s at about 120 mph. After a flip-top 69 fiberglass Mustang and 71 Comet, I sold everything at the end of the 1972 season and started building a Pro Stock Pinto.
I enjoyed Pro Stock; however, it was hard to compete with the guys that were pros and worked at it full-time. We raced the Pinto from 1974 through 1977 then we built a great Mustang 2 for 1978 and 1979. At the end of the 79 season, I sold everything and concentrated on business for 30 years, watching drag racing from a distance.
In 2010, brother-in-law Rick gathered a group of 8 of us to travel to
Indianapolis to watch the US Nationals. There was this 67 Mustang for sale. I made the seller a ridiculous offer and found myself back in racing.
Some things never change. I have enjoyed racing for most, if not all my adult life. But like a lot of things priorities change and I changed my focus from racing to my business. I am happy to say that I have loved every minute of running my business, but it was time to pass the torch, and not have the grind of running the business everyday. It was time for me to do, some of the things that I wanted to do while I was still young enough to enjoy them. I hope that you will enjoy this web site and the many pictures of days gone bye and of the coming days of my racing career. The back ground picture is the Original and now famous "Gunfighter" It is an altered wheelbase 57 Ford Custom 300, powered by a Hilborn injected 293 cubic inch 289 Ford, positioned under where the dashboard was. I used an aluminum Borg Warner T10 4 speed and 9 inch M&H Racemaster slicks. On several occasions it carried the front tires all the way up, dragging the quarter panels all the way through third gear. No way to steer the car when in that position.
To say I love cars is an understatement.
Here are the cars in my garage.
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