Posted on 06/16/2018 1:21:54 PM PDT by mabarker1
Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen, one of the iconic figures in drag racing history, died June 10. He was 81. McEwen, voted No. 16 on NHRA's Top 50 Drivers lists in 2001, competed in both Funny Car and Top Fuel, and although he wasn't one of drag racing's most prolific winners, he certainly was one of its most colorful.
(Excerpt) Read more at nhra.com ...
Thanks and RIP
Yep. Me too. I had the comic book too.
Is Snake still alive?
Same here. It happens. Still fun though.
Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! Motor City Dragway—Don “The Snake” Prudhomme versus Don Garlits for the NHRA World Championship title!
Heard that on CKLW radio about a thousand times back when I was a kid...
Don is still alive -— 77
I was done with drag racing by the time funny cars came along. My first “sanctioned” race was at Hammer Field in 1952 (now the Fresno Air Terminal). My nephew got enough money for his Hot Wheels & Match Box cars in the original boxes to remodel his kitchen. Listed them on Craigs List and a Japanese collector bought them...
I saw Shirley race top fuel in Vegas years ago. It was my first drag race so I made sure to get right up against the fence across from the starting line.
Mistake.
A co-worker of mine in the 1990s, visited his son in TN while on vacation. He showed us photos of his son’s collection.
His son had converted the basement into a temperature-controlled area, with lighted display cases about 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide with glass doors and shelves. The cases were side-by-side along 3 walls of the basement.
The collection had been appraised to be worth more than $1 million at that time. It was heavily insured.
La Mirada.
Indeed.
They were a LOT of fun.
Grew up in the Inland Empire in the mid ‘60’s when there was still a drag strip in Fontana. Good times....
RIP, Tom. Thanks for all the memories.
I just ordered my first pair of hearing aids and I turn 70 this year...I think feeling old is normal for old people.
With you brother!
Grew up in the Inland Empire in the mid ‘60’s when there was still a drag strip in Fontana. Good times....
RIP, Tom. Thanks for all the memories.
Still kicking. IIRC He’s got 4 Funny Cars making up the Team.
Thanks Everybody for your stories, pics, info and memories of good times.
The Good Old Days. It would be neat to have a Time Machine and go back to when times were simpler.
(plus we could solve a butt load of political problems)
From Bristol aka Thunder Valley:
FINALS Sunday, June 17, 2018 7:30pm - 10:30pm ET FS1 ORIGINAL
FINALS Monday, June 18, 2018 9:00pm - Midnight ET FS2 RE-AIR
FINALS Thursday, June 21, 2018 7:00pm - 10:00pm ET FS2 RE-AIR
FINALS Friday, June 22, 2018 3:00am - 6:00am ET FS1 RE-AIR
NHRA IN 30 Friday, June 22, 2018 8:30pm - 11:30pm ET FS2 ORIGINAL
NHRA IN 30 Sunday, June 24, 2018 11:00am - 2:00pm ET FS1 RE-AIR
La Mirada.....just over the hill. Cool........:)
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