Dads and video cameras. What is it about that? As a kid in the 1980s, my dad would have the big shoulder mount home movie camera out taking footage of every road trip, vacation, and other thing we participated in. We rolled our eyes at the time but now being able to look back on that stuff is actually really fun. That’s why this home video from the 1969 NHRA US Nationals has me smiling wide this morning. I’m typing this in the tower of Lucas Oil Raceway looking out over the same race track these guys were hammering down back then. While lots has changed, the red white and blue bunting still lines the fences, the expansive swaths of grass run down both sides of the track, and this weekend the place will be filled with rabid drag racing fans from all over the world. Those are constants that I hope never change.
The genuine nature of this video is what I love. It is not produced, directed, or otherwise “steered”. Instead we are seeing the stuff that caught the eyes of the guy with the camera. You’ll see cool cars, scenes like the one I stuck in the lead photo of a dragster being fired up on the roller starter, Tommy Ivo’s legendary glass sided truck, and more.
The video opens up with vintage footage of Indianapolis Motor Speedway as it was back then, leading me to think that this was part of a family road trip or maybe just a bunch of guys who piled into the car with the drag strip being the end destination but the speedway was a must see stop. I drive by it every morning on the way to the strip and am awed by it every time.
I\’m a blur in there…driving the emergency truck at the finish line. It was tough duty…Johnny Mulligan\’s accident, and Jim Paoli clutch explosion. It was at this race that Wally Parks hired me to work full time for NHRA. Lasted 48 years.
Wow! Great inside info! Thank you for sharing
I was there that day. It was scary. Seen a lot of bad accidents. Sitting on the east side on the hill. One of the pieces went into the crowd and hit someone where we had been sitting. Had the pleasure of being at Clearmont at the first one. Seen a lot of changes since then.
I almost didn\’t watch this. I really didn\’t want to be reminded of John Mulligan\’s
accident and eventual passing. Still, it\’s tough to pass up vintage front engine dragster footage.
My first year what a race thanks for the memories.