Legendary Gassers On The ‘Road"

This topic has 9 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated October 18, 2012 at 4:02 pm by babycakes.

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October 16, 2012 at 2:30 pm #11173
dino
Keymaster
Rocky Pirrone just told me :
“Dino…We’re splitting the team this weekend… We’ll have the Ellershaw part down in Henderson ,N.C. cheering on Harry Hall’s induction into the Hall of Fame …the Pirrone part will be in Bakersfield for the CHRR…! Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too!”
Don’t know Rocky? check out his TEAM:
http://www.rockypirrone.com/index.php

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October 16, 2012 at 4:22 pm #36067
babycakes
Participant
Nice to see Rocky’s Willys gassers ‘clones’,paying tribute to both Big John and K.S. Nice surprise to hear Harry Hall being inducted into the Hall of Fame.Harry was a tough competitor! Back in ’61’ we ran against him with my good friends 34 Ford coupe (A/GS).I was one of the pit crew.It was at Atco,N.J. Harry has bought Jack Kulp’s 40 Willys A/GS.Harry cranked out an 11.09 et.Over the pa,we heard ‘we have one of the fastest A/GS here today! My friend Bill cranked out a 10.7et.with the 34;once again over the pa.’we have 2 of the fastest A/GS here today’! Tight race,beating Harry by a fender! I think it was 69 Harry bought K.S. 33 Willys,which was destroyed at the 72 Summernationals,when he lost a front wheel at high speed! I believe from there he went the funny car route.Congrats to Harry,a very friendly guy,a gasser legend and pioneer in drag racing!
October 16, 2012 at 8:46 pm #36068
dino
Keymaster
Here Ya Go …so the ‘kids’ know the history… Harry’s Son Mike drives the Pittman recreation. Harry Did have a red BB/FC called “Shenandoah” …and Mike had a AA/FA called “Shenandoah”.

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October 17, 2012 at 12:49 pm #36072
babycakes
Participant
Sad to say.’times were changing’. ‘Ohio’ George starting the trend to slowly expire Willys gassers in the AA/GS class. Big John went the Austin route with his chopped top Austin (a.k.a the ‘football’). He put it up for sale in ’68’,and K.S Pittman bought it. A promoter named Ira Lichey that K.S. knew,set up a match racing schedule to run the top names in the AA/GS class across the country.Ira who’s company called The Gold Agency,took 10% of the profit. It made decent money and a living for those running the scheduled circut at the time.K.S went on to utilize an ‘Opel G.T. fiberglass body,on the Austin frame (that’s the one Dino is showing of K.S. Opel verses Harry Hall’s 33 WIllys).In 72 K.S. sold the Opel to S & S Speed Shop,in Falls Church,Va. It was repainted blue and ran BB/FC in match races.As a ‘Willys” lover,I’m very happy to see either restored or cloned Willys gassers resurrected once again,and appear to run the 1/4 mile,usually at the nostalgia drag races!
October 17, 2012 at 9:24 pm #36077
john-sachs-sr
Participant
quote Babycakes:

Sad to say.’times were changing’. ‘Ohio’ George starting the trend to slowly expire Willys gassers in the AA/GS class. Big John went the Austin route with his chopped top Austin (a.k.a the ‘football’). He put it up for sale in ’68’,and K.S Pittman bought it. A promoter named Ira Lichey that K.S. knew,set up a match racing schedule to run the top names in the AA/GS class across the country.Ira who’s company called The Gold Agency,took 10% of the profit. It made decent money and a living for those running the scheduled circut at the time.K.S went on to utilize an ‘Opel G.T. fiberglass body,on the Austin frame (that’s the one Dino is showing of K.S. Opel verses Harry Hall’s 33 WIllys).In 72 K.S. sold the Opel to S & S Speed Shop,in Falls Church,Va. It was repainted blue and ran BB/FC in match races.As a ‘Willys” lover,I’m very happy to see either restored or cloned Willys gassers resurrected once again,and appear to run the 1/4 mile,usually at the nostalgia drag races!

Cakes…you da man.
I ran out of Iras’ Gold Agcy., until I got with Frank Marotta, and took over booking AA/GS cars. I match raced Harry Hall, Jr. Thompson, Steve Korney, and others many times. 😉
John
Sachs & Milanese
October 18, 2012 at 1:40 am #36078
dino
Keymaster
Ira…”such a Deal”…we used him at Dover…But Yeah….S-W-CMustang at Dover as was Ohio George with his,,,the end of the Willys era…Check out that link in first post to Rocky…saving em and running them. I stay in touch with Rock…might be doin something with his team down the road.
October 18, 2012 at 12:02 pm #36079
babycakes
Participant
John,you had to be ‘proud’ big time,to match race against the nation’s .big dogs’,back in the day! Being kinda partial to Willys,I liked Anglia’s too,like yours! They were becoming popular,and my partner and I in late 63,had bought an Anglia body to replace the Willys to run in B/G.We chopped the top (first one we ever did).Wasn’t long after,I got my ‘greetings’ Xmas eve from Uncle Sam.Me being drafted,and my partner Bill with 4 kids to feed,ended our plans for the Anglia,and decided to sell the Willys in 65.’Coney Island’ Ralph Landolfi in 65 totaled his red B/G Anglia at ‘E’ town;needed a new body.We sold him Anglia roller body,which he painted it white with blue outlined accents,running B/G and C/A.Anyway,John,CONGRATULATIONS to you and Ron to compete against the legendary ‘blown’ gassers! You guys ‘stole the show’ at the drags!!! 😮 😀 Pete.
October 18, 2012 at 1:22 pm #36080
dino
Keymaster
Mr. connect the Dots Here….Cakes…Heres YOUR Body Winning Our Oct ’68 Altered Showdown:
Photo Not from Dover…seems Terry got the mail out late so Jack Redd the editor “gave” us the Cover from a stock photo .

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October 18, 2012 at 1:47 pm #36081
dino
Keymaster
Rocky and his crew are making the lengthy commute to Southern California for this weekend’s NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion. The Pirrone, Ellershaw & Musser “Screamin’ Eagle” ’77 Trans-Am Funny Car team are heading west to strut their stuff in Bakersfield. Special guests will be coming along to help with crew duties, including Rocky Roxalu, Bob Toth, who is actually a regular at the team’s shop, along with Tom Fox Sr. & Tom Fox Jr… Driver extraordinaire Rocky Pirrone will be wowing left coasters with his signature 800-1000ft “Screamin’ Eagle” smokey burnouts, demonstrating the kind of showmanship that’s already made Rocky a household name among nostalgia fans in the eastern region… Rocky Pirrone and his posse are also bringing the “Big John Mazmanian” ’41 Willys with legendary driver Bones Balogh AND the K.S. Pittman ’33 Willys with driver Fred Bear! That’s right, they’re additionally towing two of Rocky Pirrone’s pristine Gassers to do battle with each other in Bakersfield!!…

Scrool up to start of topic
October 18, 2012 at 4:02 pm #36084
babycakes
Participant
That’s the one Dino! Thank you for posting it.A bittersweet story,as we lost out on finishing our Anglia ‘gasser’ project,due to circumstances beyond our control,however,the ‘brighter’ side,it went to a good home of a ‘gasser’ legend.’Coney Island’ Ralph Landolfi,who was inducted also in the Hall Of Fame!
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