Kalitta vs Garlits at the US Nationals, Ohio Geoge Montgomery vs Stone, Woods, and Cook, coverage of loads of class eliminations, the biggest races of the year in 1964 and early 1965 covered in color, with sound, and even with voices like that of Jon Lundberg! Not sure how we have missed this video for as many old drag racing films that we have posted but it is an enthralling and very professionally made piece. We’re reasonably sure that Champion Spark Plugs bankrolled this film, but whoever did it had some budget to spend. For the era, this was big buck stuff.
Roughly the first 45-minutes of the film are spent on the 1964 NHRA US Nationals and then it transitions west with the AHRA Winters at Bee Line Dragway in Arizona and finally to Pomona where the NHRA Winternationals were being contested. Many of the big names of the sport at that time hit both races. AHRA running their event earlier to get guys heading out west and the NHRA also benefitting from the proximity of the events themselves.
You’ll see everything from tech inspection to round by round results with hilarious name gaffes, some weird sound editing that has motorcycle noises when gassers are out, and as mentioned some live action announcing by the likes of Jon Lundberg. Where this film really shines is in the round by round coverage. You NEVER see this stuff on old films like this one!
Kill an hour and a half of an otherwise unproductive day right here. The sport’s explosive growth era, the sport’s legendary names, and all of it in color, with commentary and sound!
Good Stuff Mr. Lohnes, Keep’m comin’