Now THIS is some killer stuff. We have no idea what channel “The World of Pro Drag Superstars” aired on back in the 1980s but we know that we did not get it or if we did, the Curtis Mathis VCR was not programmed to record it. The show was unique to the sport of drag racing because it was not simply based around NHRA or IHRA national events. It was a magazine show that covered all different aspects of the sport as this episode will show you. There’s BB/FC coverage fro Spokane, jet car coverage with Roger Gustin, and footage from the 1985 Popular Hot Rodding Championships at US 131 Raceway in Martin, Michigan.
The capper of this show is the Don Garlits/Connie Kalitta match race. As Garlits is one of the hosts of the show, we love to see him interviewing Kalitta as they both sit in the door of Connie’s trailer. Remember, Garlits was instrumental in launching the career of Kalitta and helping him get going as a young man. We love the line that Connie throws out about the quality of the equipment they raced in the early days and his thankfulness to still be around to race Big Daddy!
If you dig 1980s drag racing, you’ll love this show because it is not just the typical stuff. As corny as some of it is, there’s a lot to love here. In our opinion the sport needs more shows like this these days. Shows that take a wide look around and show off the diversity and the awesomeness that the whole world of straight line competition has to offer.
A fantastic time capsule…Gustin’s hair, Scott’s shorts, Big at the top of his game, Benson and a Dar Robinson mention.
It aired on WZZM channel 13. That\’s what I recorded it from as there were still ad in my original recording. Thanks for highlighting one of mine on here as I really value the old stuff from the 80s.