Re: GASSERS.!.At Dover —–Photos/Stories /Historys

Forums Forums OLD RACE CAR LOCATOR GASSERS.!.At Dover —–Photos/Stories /Historys Re: GASSERS.!.At Dover —–Photos/Stories /Historys

#42179
babycakes
Participant

      Bobby,that was Jack Merkel’s (black) ’39’ Willys B/GS ‘record’ holder,and two times Nationals class winner in 63 and 64. It went through a few
      owners.The one your showing is when Gillis Bertran had it,and the ‘fancy’ paint job was done by Bob Mercer,it ran BB/GS. Gillis sold it to Art Brissett, as a ‘roller’. Art never did nothing to it,and he sold it to John Arsenian, John sadly died of cancer,at age 42. John had sold the original ‘Hill-Zartman’ 39 glass nose to Tom Grasso,in Omaha, Neb.and put a one piece glass nose on in,and primed the body.John’s wife sold it to Bob Kutsagoitz.Bob put a small block Chevy in it,and replaced the nose with an original ‘steel’ 39 Willys. Bob sold both the ‘Bee Line’
      Willys,and Merkel’s ’39’ to Ron Normann in 2010, who lives in Hebron, IL. A ‘Willys Nut’, like me, he has a great selection of ‘known’ Willys gassers,that he has ‘totally restored, just like they were,back in the day!!! To say the least,Ron is a ‘FANATIC’, he cuts ‘no’ corners,it has to be ‘period’ correct,no second best! Believe it or not,he tracked down the original Hill-Zartman glass nose in California! In order to buy it,he had to buy the whole ’39’ Willys gasser,it was on! If everything goes as planned, Ron will have it done for the Epping Drags Aug.28-30th this year,where Jack Merkel will be inducted into the N.H.R.A ‘Hall of Fame’. Jack will be there,seeing both his ’39’ and ’33’ glass Willys there, as Ron owns them both! I have followed the life of Jack’s ’39’,since I first saw it in ’62’ at Island Dragway. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT,and has been since!!! Who’s also excited to see it again, Pat D. and Jack’s pit crew member ‘Junior’ Hopkins, ‘good’ buddies for ‘many’ moons!!! Pete.