The Delmar Dragway
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Delmar Dragway and I’m sure many people around here have some interesting tales to tell. Prior to the Cathells opening the quarter mile strip just north of Delmar, the only drag strip on the Shore was the one in Georgetown. The one in Georgetown was only an eighth of a mile and had a wicked drop-off just past the finish line. Anyone daring to go down that strip was taking their life in their hands.
Back in 1963, drag racing was a very big thing. Some of the local boys spent many an hour getting their car ready for the Sunday races. Of course, it was much simpler with the cars then.
Some of the really fast cars running against each other had all the anticipation of a championship match. Some would run every week and the owner made whatever adjustments needed to be made to get the most out of his car. Some of the more simple adjustments could be made on race day. Taking the breather off the carburetor was common practice. I don’t know whether this made the car go any faster, but it sounded faster.
Along with the boys that had their cars to do with as they pleased, there were always a few that drove their father’s family car. If their fathers only knew what Junior was doing, he would skinned him alive.
Every once in a while, they would bring in big time talent. I remember one time when I was in the National Guard; they brought in TV Tommy Ivo and Don Garlits. Not being able to get out of the mandatory Guard week-end,
I was determined to see this classic race. Ivo had four Buick engines synchronized to carry him down the track. But Garlits was everyone’s favorite and didn’t disappoint. I took my lunch hour and sped up to Delmar and in time to see “the race” and sped back to the armory before the hour was up.
I remember one time Ralph Seaton tore up his clutch in one of the preliminary races. Instead of giving up, he went to his home in Wango, got another clutch and switched them right at the drag strip. Some of those boys were better mechanics at 19 and 20 years old than many of the “parts changers” that pass themselves off as mechanics today. The change to electronics in cars has caused many of the old time mechanics to hang up their wrenches.
Drag racing was like one of the major sports. The names linked to their cars brought them notoriety. Most of the boys that bought their own cars, sacrificed most of the luxuries so that they could have the biggest engine the manufacturer offered. Names like Lee Phillips, P. K. Truitt, Pete Maldve, the Brown boys ( Tom and George), Sonny Cox, Mickey Wigglesworth and Henry Heygood bring back many a sweet memory. Of course all the racing didn’t take place at the track. There was many a drag race held at one of the favorite straight stretches of the county’s back roads.
All competing cars were classified at Delmar and the designation was clearly marked with white shoe polish on the windshield. Sunday night at the Oaks was the chance to show off that you had been to “the track” if you had the big letters on your windshield.
Technology has replaced good old-fashioned knowledge of the engine by the drivers. Nowadays, anybody can have a fast car if they’re willing to pay the price. And the names like “Mother-in-Law” and “Sour Grapes” are only a pleasant memory to a few of us “old guys”.
(Photo above is of Lee Phillips with the Pepsi Cola trophy he and P.K. won in 1965 for the most points)
The rocket car was my most memorable experience.It trumped everything else I'd seen race at the track.Actual track surface repair had to be done after it had raced.I also loved watching the "Giant Killer" race,not always being 100% sure who won until the light at the end of the track came on.
ReplyDeleteAnd chlorophyll cookie of Buck Frye
ReplyDeleteGood memories George. Before Delmar opened we raced out on Fire Tower road. I believe many police officers knew what was going on, but just left us alone. We did have Walkie Talkies at each end to notify if the "fuzz" was in the area. DNR's Fulton Bagwell would harass us sometimes. There was a time when he got his DNR car attached to a tree with a logging chain and pad locks around his rear axle. He didn't chase us that night.
ReplyDeleteAlways preferred a plaque that could be hung on a wall. What the hell does one do w/ a monstrosity like that LOL
ReplyDeleteSomebody shoehorned a 427 into a 1952 Sears Allstate.That thing was scary fast.
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ReplyDeleteWhat a great article for those who remember the old days.So nice to remember some of the names of the old racers . We remember the Porky Pig with Lee and PK
Yeh , I used to go down the track with a smoke in hand . Those were the days. Wayne
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget Dicky Smith in the a-model Ford with a Chevy 409 engine. And 2:24, I went down Fire Tower Road with a beer between my legs. For the record, Henry Haygood is still going strong. We still hook up at car shows. How many people out there remember "Mother In Law". That was the name of the car.
ReplyDeleteMany people don't know that women raced!
ReplyDeleteSonny Cox's widow Lulu was great! She passed away a few months ago. In addition, Smiley Hastings and his wife Chatlotta owned gas stations and both raced.
I thought Henry Haygood passed away a bit ago. Mother In Law was a strong running 61 Chev and gave the Brown Boys a fit
ReplyDelete5:47 yes I sure do remember Sonny's Plymouth's. loved the name on his 63. "Lucky Lu" but I am not sure that FX Plymouth was the one LuLu drove. I have a picture of it at Cecil County I think
ReplyDeleteSonny used to hang out at the H&J Drive in a lot for some reason.A crowd of kids(like myself) would gather around his Plymouth.He'd always say "I don't care how much you look at it,just don't touch it".
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, Henry Haygood passed away in January of this year. The last time I heard from his widow, Mrs. Stephanie, Henry's daughter was going to take Mother-In-Law with her to California (I believe) and cherish her just as Henry did.
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