Post by dragnews on Jul 2, 2009 20:37:59 GMT -5
I apologize to my loyal readers that this story has nothing to do with Ardmore Dragway. I hope you will enjoy it anyway.
As many Americans began their July 4th celebrations. This is truly a special time to reflect back on our Independence and what was sacrificed for our freedom.
But! You know me, it's a time for a flash back. Back when I was a child. A poor deprived child who never had fire works or sparklers on the 4th of July. Why? Was it because my mom thought I would shoot my eye out? Was it because my dad was to stingy to give my $4? NOPE! It was because I spent my early years of life celebrating the 4th of July at Green Valley Race City.
The above mailer is from 1964. For those of you that are not old enough, that would be RT.1 Box 48 Smithfield Texas 76080 Jimmy Kirk's Green Valley Raceway. Phone BU1-1225
Now the 200 years 200MPH was the call on all radio stations for the year 1976. If you were never blessed to hear a Green Valley Race city Radio add, remind me. I have one for a ring tone on my cell phone.
Big names on July 4 1976 included Showtime, Orange Baron,
Custom Body, Snowman, Sundance, Rolling Stone and many more.
I know the above photo means nothing to most of you, but it is all thats left of a place even more fantastic than Disneyland. This is the last turn off and part of the return road of what is left of my favorite place in the world Green Valley. As I stated earlier I spent 26 years here. It was exactly 26 years to the date, when Guyniece and I took this photo from the time I made the final turn off in 1986 at the Last Drag Race to Lynn Cleghorn in the finals.
Now back to 1976. Thats me 16 years old folding the Parachute for Ben Griffin, driving the Carroll Brothers dragster from Dallas Texas. If the spot looks familiar its the same spot as the above photo. It's hard to believe all the years between the two photos, Not only did I still have all my long blonde hair, I have raised a family of my own between all this time.
This is Dad and I July 1964 at Green Valley.
Not don't feel sorry for me I really had fireworks at times on the fourth. Even better than most, when Bob Crietz and Don Cook
would see who could launch a trash can the highest with dynamite! Or Frank Cook would ride a motorbike into the Big Tex swimming pool....BOOM! Well it's time for me to put some Bardahll motor oil in the dragster and have me a Green Valley Lil burger, Oh by the way if you see Henry tell him I said Hi!
.........................................Happy 4th of July................................
Rob
As many Americans began their July 4th celebrations. This is truly a special time to reflect back on our Independence and what was sacrificed for our freedom.
But! You know me, it's a time for a flash back. Back when I was a child. A poor deprived child who never had fire works or sparklers on the 4th of July. Why? Was it because my mom thought I would shoot my eye out? Was it because my dad was to stingy to give my $4? NOPE! It was because I spent my early years of life celebrating the 4th of July at Green Valley Race City.
The above mailer is from 1964. For those of you that are not old enough, that would be RT.1 Box 48 Smithfield Texas 76080 Jimmy Kirk's Green Valley Raceway. Phone BU1-1225
Now the 200 years 200MPH was the call on all radio stations for the year 1976. If you were never blessed to hear a Green Valley Race city Radio add, remind me. I have one for a ring tone on my cell phone.
Big names on July 4 1976 included Showtime, Orange Baron,
Custom Body, Snowman, Sundance, Rolling Stone and many more.
I know the above photo means nothing to most of you, but it is all thats left of a place even more fantastic than Disneyland. This is the last turn off and part of the return road of what is left of my favorite place in the world Green Valley. As I stated earlier I spent 26 years here. It was exactly 26 years to the date, when Guyniece and I took this photo from the time I made the final turn off in 1986 at the Last Drag Race to Lynn Cleghorn in the finals.
Now back to 1976. Thats me 16 years old folding the Parachute for Ben Griffin, driving the Carroll Brothers dragster from Dallas Texas. If the spot looks familiar its the same spot as the above photo. It's hard to believe all the years between the two photos, Not only did I still have all my long blonde hair, I have raised a family of my own between all this time.
This is Dad and I July 1964 at Green Valley.
Not don't feel sorry for me I really had fireworks at times on the fourth. Even better than most, when Bob Crietz and Don Cook
would see who could launch a trash can the highest with dynamite! Or Frank Cook would ride a motorbike into the Big Tex swimming pool....BOOM! Well it's time for me to put some Bardahll motor oil in the dragster and have me a Green Valley Lil burger, Oh by the way if you see Henry tell him I said Hi!
.........................................Happy 4th of July................................
Rob