Hot Rodder born and Bred (drag race story)

[jetboatperformance]

Before it was cars it was model cars and slot cars and coasters with soap box derby wheels , I ate, slept and dreamed cars (till I discovered Girls and Surf boards) My First "Car" was a Honda 55 trail bike, horse traded that for a 54 Mercury then in HS my parents helped my buy a 56" Belair rolling Chassis for which I built my first ever engine (265 V8) Fast forward and a couple Surfer wagons later I scrape together the Funds for a 64 Black Original SS 409 Impala This article is a blast from Mine and Rhondas Past A few years back I searched the Telegram Tribune (SLO news) microfiche archives to no avail then this week on a "I grew up in SLO" FB page the subject popped Up after I posted a picture of Tank Farm road as a recollection of our 70s drag race spot . Tank farm is a 3 mile long well maintained raid thru Chevron oil properties and straight as a string. My best Friend worked at "The Parts House" He was the local your Hot rod Guru and his friendship helped me thru a short lived first marriage/divorce ............... The FB story : Speaking of Drag races (at the airport) I had occasion to cruise one our old "drag strips" Tank farm road Yesterday while on business in SLO , In May of 73' My Buddy Greg Stark (The Parts House) (rip) and Phil Ragsdale and over 100 others including my now wife of 50 years Ran a few semi organized races at what Greg (Stroker) Stark aptly named "Balls out" drag way . Ragsdale built a battery operated pro start light and It was awesome fun, some cars we even trailered in .... until LEO boxed us in on either end of Tank farm , Over 100 cited /arrested Judge Jackson the blind traffic court Judge summarily dismissed all charges I remember the Judge asking guilty or not guilty to which I started with and explanation about being there with my "girl friend" He said "dismissed , Rhonda said I'm, the girlfriend to which he said dismissed too .... I remember the Telegram Tribune Headlines the next day "Hundreds arrested in illegal street race (and yes my windshield has a crack)