Posted by:
Ed J
(---.hsd1.fl.comcast.net)
Stumbled across this site and really enjoy reading what's said. Sure I remember Half Day drag strip - I drag raced a 1949 Vincent Rapide - friend of mine - Palmer Lazurus ran one the fastest cars back around 1950 - it was I think a 50 Olds coupe - called the Grey Ghost because it was in grey primer - he would turn around 99 to 101 ..... man that was fast back then. I flipped the bike one time coming off the line and bruised my right side pretty bad - the bike handlebars and tank were messed up. whoever was there working the drag strip called for the ambulance that was parked at the end of the strip to come get me - it was an old green Packard ambulance - when they were putting me in it, they first had to remove around 10 tires and a bunch of tool boxes so they could get the stretcher with me on it in the back. They took me to - can't remember the hospital right now, but it was near Half Day. Anyway, I got all patched up with a big bandage around my waist and taken back to the strip by the ambulance. I was around 15 then - got back on the bike (still damaged but barely driveable) and got on the start line to make another run and the small crowd started clapping and shouting YEAH YEAH !! I went down the track slowly laughing all the way. I met I think it was Andy or Leo Granatelli a few years later. They had I believe a '32 white chopped and channeled souped up coupe for sale - parked in front of their speed shop on the north side of Chicago - Leo Grancor was the shop's name or maybe just Grancor ? ANyway I wanted to buy the car but couldn't come up with the money - around $1,600 was what they wanted.
I think I have a couple pics from the 1949 - 1950 days at Half Day - take care everyone and remember the good old days :)
Would love hearing from you guys who read this and can relate !!!
Ed Johnson