Post by dragnews on Nov 11, 2008 19:59:25 GMT -5
THE STIDHAM FAMILY IS AS MUCH PART OF OKLAHOMA HISTORY AS ARDMORE DRAGWAY ITSELF. I CAN REMEMBER AS A YOUNG BOY, GOING UP TO CHICKASHA AND VISITING WITH THE WHOLE
FAMILY AT THE SPACIOUS TRAILER MANUFACTURING FACILITY.
BACK IN THOSE DAYS IT WAS A GIVEN THAT MOM AND POP STIDHAM WOULD SHOW YOU THEIR ANTIQUE TRUCK COLLECTION THAT WAS DISPLAYED OUT IN FRONT OF THE SITE, AND IF HE WASN'T TO BUSY, JACK MIGHT EVEN TELL YOU SOME STORIES FROM HIS PAST TEXAS PLAYBOY BAND DAYS. IN THE MID 70'S RONNIE, JACKIE AND MY DAD WERE ALWAYS TRADING PARTS CARS OR SOMETHING.
NOT ONLY ARE RONNIE AND JACKIE DIVISION 4 RACING HALL OF FAMERS, THEY BOTH ARE PRETTY GOOD CHASSIS BUILDERS. IN 1978 RONNIE BUILT A CHEVROLET MONZA TO REPLACE THE VEGA WAGON HE HAD RACED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
IN TYPICAL STIDHAM TRADITION THE MONZA WAS A SHOW PIECE
AS WELL AS A GREAT RUNNING SMALL BLOCK BRACKET CAR PHOTO BELOW IS THE MONZA DURING A SUNDAY BRACKET RACE AT ARDMORE.
BACK IN THOSE DAYS THE CHICKASHA CLAN WHICH INCLUDE, RONNIE, JACKIE, PAUL ALBERS, GARY COOK, PLUS A HOST OF OTHERS WOULD COME TO ARDMORE SATURDAY AFTERNOON, AND WE WOULD CONVOY WITH OUR CAR, SEARS & RUSHING,AND CHARLES CATHCART DOWN TO GREEN VALLEY TO RACE SATURDAY NIGHTS. THEN IT WAS BACK TO THE RAGLANDS FOR A STAY OVER BEFORE GETTING UP AND RUNNING AT ARDMORE ON SUNDAY.
DURING THE BRACKET FINALS HOWEVER A PARTS FAILURE PUT RONNIE OUT OF CONTROL, AND ON HIS HEAD DESTROYING THE LITTLE MONZA. RONNIE WAS OK , BUT AS THE PHOTO BELOW SHOWS JIM RAGLAND COULDN'T FIND MUCH TO SALVAGE AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
RONNIE REPLACED THE MONZA THE NEXT YEAR WITH A LONGER WHEELBASE LENCO EQUIPPED CAMARO. THE STIDHAMS MOVED THROUGH THE SPORTSMAN RANKS BEFORE DOMINATING THE DIVISION 4 ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR RANKS.......................ROB
COMING SOON I HAVE A REALLY UGLY STORY TO TELL YOU!
(STORY AND PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE RAGLAND COLLECTION)
FAMILY AT THE SPACIOUS TRAILER MANUFACTURING FACILITY.
BACK IN THOSE DAYS IT WAS A GIVEN THAT MOM AND POP STIDHAM WOULD SHOW YOU THEIR ANTIQUE TRUCK COLLECTION THAT WAS DISPLAYED OUT IN FRONT OF THE SITE, AND IF HE WASN'T TO BUSY, JACK MIGHT EVEN TELL YOU SOME STORIES FROM HIS PAST TEXAS PLAYBOY BAND DAYS. IN THE MID 70'S RONNIE, JACKIE AND MY DAD WERE ALWAYS TRADING PARTS CARS OR SOMETHING.
NOT ONLY ARE RONNIE AND JACKIE DIVISION 4 RACING HALL OF FAMERS, THEY BOTH ARE PRETTY GOOD CHASSIS BUILDERS. IN 1978 RONNIE BUILT A CHEVROLET MONZA TO REPLACE THE VEGA WAGON HE HAD RACED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
IN TYPICAL STIDHAM TRADITION THE MONZA WAS A SHOW PIECE
AS WELL AS A GREAT RUNNING SMALL BLOCK BRACKET CAR PHOTO BELOW IS THE MONZA DURING A SUNDAY BRACKET RACE AT ARDMORE.
BACK IN THOSE DAYS THE CHICKASHA CLAN WHICH INCLUDE, RONNIE, JACKIE, PAUL ALBERS, GARY COOK, PLUS A HOST OF OTHERS WOULD COME TO ARDMORE SATURDAY AFTERNOON, AND WE WOULD CONVOY WITH OUR CAR, SEARS & RUSHING,AND CHARLES CATHCART DOWN TO GREEN VALLEY TO RACE SATURDAY NIGHTS. THEN IT WAS BACK TO THE RAGLANDS FOR A STAY OVER BEFORE GETTING UP AND RUNNING AT ARDMORE ON SUNDAY.
DURING THE BRACKET FINALS HOWEVER A PARTS FAILURE PUT RONNIE OUT OF CONTROL, AND ON HIS HEAD DESTROYING THE LITTLE MONZA. RONNIE WAS OK , BUT AS THE PHOTO BELOW SHOWS JIM RAGLAND COULDN'T FIND MUCH TO SALVAGE AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
RONNIE REPLACED THE MONZA THE NEXT YEAR WITH A LONGER WHEELBASE LENCO EQUIPPED CAMARO. THE STIDHAMS MOVED THROUGH THE SPORTSMAN RANKS BEFORE DOMINATING THE DIVISION 4 ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR RANKS.......................ROB
COMING SOON I HAVE A REALLY UGLY STORY TO TELL YOU!
(STORY AND PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE RAGLAND COLLECTION)
