Sad News: Chuck Finders was found deceased in his apartment on Tuesday, May 19th. He died of an apparent heart attack.
A Memorial Service will the held for him on Sunday, June 7, 2009 at the NHRA Museum in Pomona, CA at 2:00 pm.
This was 50 years ago in 1958 - From NHRA article on website "Little Eliminator, pitting the winners of the A through E Gas classes, was run the following day for the new Coca-Cola trophy, though, like in Top Eliminator, two winners in the slower classes conceded their chances, and only the A, B, C winners took part. Abilene, Texas' Carroll Howard, the A Gas winner, received the bye into the final, where he faced Junior Thompson and his South Gate, Calif.-based blown Chevy-powered '41 Studebaker. Thompson, the B winner, already had ousted C champ R.C. Jasper's '56 Chevy-powered '34 Ford coupe out of Grand Prairie, Texas. Thompson them trumped Howard's '58 Olds-powered '31 Ford with a 13.06 to become NHRA's first Little Eliminator winner."
Honorees have been chosen for the 17th annual California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. The 3-day festival of speed and rods takes place at Auto Club Famoso Raceway near The Honorees are Grand Marshal Junior Thompson, Steve Davis, John Edmunds, Georgia Seipel, Walt Rhoades and Butch Maas. The Justice Brothers' Reunion Spotlight will shine on Gas Ronda. "This year's Honorees are a highly eclectic group of deserving individuals who have dedicated their lives to hot rodding and drag racing," said Greg Sharp, curator of the nonprofit Wally Parks NHRA motorsports Museum, which produces the Reunion. "I'm glad we can honor folks like this who have meant so much to the sport." Junior Thompson (Grand Marshal): The gasser great is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of his Little Eliminator victory (the first ever event) at the third NHRA Nationals held in Oklahoma City. From a '40 Ford convertible in the early '50s to a Corvette alcohol funny car, Thompson enjoyed a 30-year drag racing career as a driver and is still actively involved as an engine builder for nostalgia vehicles.
To view some photos from the event go to: Rhonda's CHRR Photos
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Here's a section for drag racers that may not have been quite legends but had a big part of drag racing history none the less. Check this area out.
Do you know someone who was there during drag racing's gasser wars? Are YOU that someone?
Contribute your stories or pictures here by sending me an email and we will post it at our DRAG RACING MEMORIES page.
Ed Neumann of Bohica Grafix is shown here presenting Jr. the cartoon portrait painting he did for his Opel Kadett. This was at the
California Hot Reunion at Famoso Raceway Oct. 2007
Get favorite car turned into a painting.
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Doyle Hatfield has contributed COOL PHOTOS TAKEN AT LION'S, POMONA AND IRWINDALE FROM THE 60'S & 70's
These pages are dedicated to the past. . . The past in drag racing. And to the present. Drag racing is as current as anything new, space travel, the Internet, even the nostalgia race cars and awesome street rods. As the sport has evolved so has the spectator. Ever demanding, speed the ultimate goal, racers have kept pace with the need for speed. And having a really cool looking car doesn't hurt.
At a peak of a successful racing career Jr. was in a serious crash. After several years of recovery Jr. again became involved in racing.
Enter these pages and check out the career of one of the legends of drag racing. He was there when it started and he is still involved. That's my dad. I hope you enjoy these pages. Check back often.
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From the January 2001 issue of Rod & Custom Magazine.
Jr. Thompson's Scrapbook Pages Check out the article on the Prefect restored and turned into a street rod by Jr. & Tom Thompson in the November issue of Drag Racer Magazine.
Mid America Willys Club and Gasser Magazine sponsored a booth where these Gasser Legends met fans and signed autographs at the 2001 GoodGuys March Meet at Famoso Raceway. Thanks to Ken and Ernest McIntyre.
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Honorees have been chosen for the 17th annual California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. The 3-day festival of speed and rods takes place at Auto Club Famoso Raceway near The Honorees are Grand Marshal Junior Thompson, Steve Davis, John Edmunds, Georgia Seipel, Walt Rhoades and Butch Maas. The Justice Brothers' Reunion Spotlight will shine on Gas Ronda. "This year's Honorees are a highly eclectic group of deserving individuals who have dedicated their lives to hot rodding and drag racing," said Greg Sharp, curator of the nonprofit Wally Parks NHRA motorsports Museum, which produces the Reunion. "I'm glad we can honor folks like this who have meant so much to the sport." Junior Thompson (Grand Marshal): The gasser great is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of his Little Eliminator victory (the first ever event) at the third NHRA Nationals held in Oklahoma City. From a '40 Ford convertible in the early '50s to a Corvette alcohol funny car, Thompson enjoyed a 30-year drag racing career as a driver and is still actively involved as an engine builder for nostalgia vehicles.
