Weekend at Mission

[triple66]

There was a little gathering of legends at Mission Raceway last weekend. Thor, TheJudge, 1ProGTO, and ReedRacing came up to hang with Royal Botkin and myself. We went to the local cruise on Friday night, and again I apologize for the light turnout because of the threatening weather. We endured a rainout on Saturday, but come Sunday Royal Bob let it rip. He cracked the old Golden Tiger into the 9's

[triple66]

While we were sitting around the track on Saturday, a man walking past saw my GTO and brought over this picture

[triple66]

Apparently he and some buddies were driving past a track in SoCal in 1966 and they stopped to watch an east coast vs west coast funny car shootout. He had some pictures that he took with his Kodak Brownie. He actually let me borrow the pictures to scan!!!

[triple66]

He got a picture of Dale Armstrong from before he earned the nickname Double A Dale and before he was crew chief on Kenny Bernstein's BudWeiser King funny cars and top fuel rails.

On the right is a younger version of the man we met.

[triple66]

Those old Brownies didn't have real fast shutter speeds

[triple66]

He also got a shot of Arnie Beswick in the Tameless Tiger. I think that is the 65 GTO Zombie in the far lane

[triple66]

Brad: What did you say this one was?

[theJUDGE]

Awesome pics Dan, thanks for scanning. 8)

And Royal Bob Botkin, congrats on dipping into the 9's :!:

I know it was years in the making so great job you drag racing stallion. :mrgreen:

[1PROGTO]

AWESOME Weekend!!! Thanks to Royal Bob and the crew that showed us a great time as usual in Canada. You guys are the best.

Bob's shop in Langley was the hub for the weekend. Friday we got there and unloaded the hardware for the Java Hut Cruise. The Rev. Mark D. and I rolled the Plain White Wrapper '55 and cruised with Bob & Dan Willms and the yellow '66 GTO. As it got dark the cars rolled in and turned out to be a great night despite the threatening skies. Bruce Morrison AKA Thor rolled in later also with the silver Chariot '70 Judge. Later, Reed Racing joined us for the festivities.

Saturday we waited through a pesky light mist for most of the day till it was finally called. We had a good time hanging at the track anyways though. Saturday night was the Tiger Motors BBQ, hosted by the one and only Royal Botkin. Special thanks to Todd for manning the grille. Stellar!!!
Later that evening The Bisschop's and Rob & Kelly Spelay swung by. Robbie was catching us upo on his recent trip back to Michigan & Woodward avenue for the GTO Nats.

Sunday the skies looked promising so we headed back out to Mission for the drags. Things got rolling by 11 am or so as they called our cars to the line. With the help of Dan, Bob, Thor, and the crew I got the '55 teched and ready to run. Bob got out first and posted his first 9 second run! This has been a journey that started with a recipe scratched out on a napkin at Tiger Run that started over 3 years ago. After many trials and tribulations we were there to see him hit the promise land. Congrats Bob!

I was up next. After getting pointers from Bob and Dan I was ready to run the '55 down the track for my first run ever on a track! I took it easy going a little light on the burnout, launching the hemi 4-speed 427 BBC at 4500. I nailed the throttle kinda gradually and banged all 4 gears at 7200 getting to the end in an easy 11.63 @ 113. Awesome!!!

Danny was up next and had the class of '66 running hard ripping off an easy 9.50. Man that car is killer! When it comes to burnouts, he's my idol.

Thanks for the great weekend guys!!!

[1PROGTO]

Tiger Motors Central

[1PROGTO]

Royal Bob

[1PROGTO]

'55

[ViolentBird]

:D Alrite Bob way to go. Xcellant Brad.

[69projects]

Awesome! Legends know how to rock. I enjoyed seeing all you guy's at the 'hut on Friday. Good to get re-aquainted and to meet new! Congrats on the in-the-9er Bob!
Pete v

[REED_RACING]

Don't forget meeting the Ladies at Gabby's on friday night! :shock:

[THOR]

Don't forget meeting the Ladies at Gabby's on friday night! :shock:

:wink: :wink: :wink: