There are cool old drag racing videos and then there’s THIS! We dug up this footage from the incredible drag racing archive known as YouTube. We’re not sure where the film first ran but it was definitely a professional produced piece from the middle 1960s and was certainly intended to be used as a “news report” or highlight reel from the race. The quick introduction is done by the guy I regard as the greatest sports announcer ever, Keith Jackson and he throws it to a young sounding Steve Evans who reports on the race.
Of note is the audio of the gassers heading down the track. By 1966 automatic transmissions had become extremely popular in the gasser ranks. The famed “B&M Hydro” was a dominant piece but the Torqueflite began to show up in volume that year and would ultimately become one of, if not the most popular slush box used in the class. The video synchs up some audio of four speeds being expertly powershifted. While that may have been a possibility the B&M logo can bee seen on one of the cars so we don’t think so!
Also cool is the mention of “Funny Cars” and the showing of a run that had Tom McEwen’s 1966 REAR ENGINE NITRO BURNING Barracuda on one side of the course and a car I sadly cannot 100% identify but I believe is the “Kingfish” of Bill Taylor. Surely one of you out there in reader-land can set me straight! The McEwen’s car is shown again and it seems to be lined up next to Don Gay’s Infinity Pontiac. You’ll see Karamesines and a host of other legends as well. Of all the cool stuff one of the neatest moments shown is Shirley Shahan winning Top Stock at the event, making her the first woman to win a class at a national drag racing event. It would be years later that Shirley Muldowney would become the first woman to win a professional category at an NHRA event.
There’s lots more to oogle, so watch the damned video….and tell me if I am right or wrong about Taylor’s primordial Barracuda funny car being lined up next to McEwen!
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE SOME TRULY AWESOME FOOTAGE FROM THE 1966 WINTERNATIONALS!
SNAKE ! ! !