I remember that night! And if I not mistaken, not long after, Don Prudomme had a new ride.Years ago Roland brought the first Hawaiian top fuel dragster to Lions to get his top fuel license. the rules at that time you were required to make a half pass on the first run MAX. I reminded him three times of the requirements, once before he push started and twice when it lost fire push starting. when he finally made his first run he did not shut of at half track and ran the full quarter mile he got oiled in, not able to see where he was going he went to the left at high speed down the return road all the way to the end of Lions and on top of the railroad tracks. he only had minor injuries but later he was called to a NHRA drivers commission review board. I was a member of the drivers commission for 28 years, we all suggested that his license be taken for life for lack of following the rules after being informed of the rules many times. NHRA agreed later Roland's mother sent a letter to NHRA thanking them for taking his license for life. I don't think Roland would have achieved the greatness he achieved as a owner and crew chief had he continued to drive a race car. Roland has help so many racers through the years.
Larry Sutton---Lions Starter
...geezer gatherings...
Chassis guru Dave Uyehara was born in a Japanese-American internment camp. And as strange as it sounds, we had a German POW camp here in Daytona Beach, FL.We have a remnant of an internment camp for Japanese Americans, around Parker, AZ (kinda by Colorado river). Really hot in the summer, must have been hard for those folks. In WWII, a lot of Japanese Americans volunteered for the Army & a lot of them came from the internment camps. Go For Broke was the slogan and they were heroic in battle.
We also had a German POW camp in Scottsdale. Story goes that the Germans saw a map of the area, noted Salt River on the map. Decided to escape & float down the river. Only problem was that the Salt has no water - dry river bed. They got captured pretty quick. But at least one of them came to Phoenix area to live after the war.
I was with Cerny's junior fuel car and we had just made a run and were still on the return road at top end. Roland came down the track at we weren't to far away from where he crashed. We went over there after he had got out of the car and you guys were checking him out. Keith Black was there with his Ranchero and he was really mad. He told Roland "so now what is your mother when I tell her you crashed the car on the first run, plus a few more choice words. As we know he never drove again. One of the memories when drag racing was still a lot of fun and you didn't have to break the bank to go racing.Years ago Roland brought the first Hawaiian top fuel dragster to Lions to get his top fuel license. the rules at that time you were required to make a half pass on the first run MAX. I reminded him three times of the requirements, once before he push started and twice when it lost fire push starting. when he finally made his first run he did not shut of at half track and ran the full quarter mile he got oiled in, not able to see where he was going he went to the left at high speed down the return road all the way to the end of Lions and on top of the railroad tracks. he only had minor injuries but later he was called to a NHRA drivers commission review board. I was a member of the drivers commission for 28 years, we all suggested that his license be taken for life for lack of following the rules after being informed of the rules many times. NHRA agreed later Roland's mother sent a letter to NHRA thanking them for taking his license for life. I don't think Roland would have achieved the greatness he achieved as a owner and crew chief had he continued to drive a race car. Roland has help so many racers through the years.
Larry Sutton---Lions Starter
Chassis guru Dave Uyehara was born in a Japanese-American internment camp. And as strange as it sounds, we had a German POW camp here in Daytona
David, I will help out. It is Kenny Hirata and the Ono Bros.Kenny herrada and the oh no brothers top gas competitors both were in internment camps sorry for spelling can't figure out exactly how to post LOL
Mitts onoDavid, I will help out. It is Kenny Hirata and the Ono Bros.
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Jim Harnsberger in the seat Ono Bros. AA/FD. Looks like one of the Ono Bros. with the VHT
jug in hand. Just classic
Years ago Roland brought the first Hawaiian top fuel dragster to Lions to get his top fuel license. the rules at that time you were required to make a half pass on the first run MAX. I reminded him three times of the requirements, once before he push started and twice when it lost fire push starting. when he finally made his first run he did not shut of at half track and ran the full quarter mile he got oiled in, not able to see where he was going he went to the left at high speed down the return road all the way to the end of Lions and on top of the railroad tracks. he only had minor injuries but later he was called to a NHRA drivers commission review board. I was a member of the drivers commission for 28 years, we all suggested that his license be taken for life for lack of following the rules after being informed of the rules many times. NHRA agreed later Roland's mother sent a letter to NHRA thanking them for taking his license for life. I don't think Roland would have achieved the greatness he achieved as a owner and crew chief had he continued to drive a race car. Roland has help so many racers through the years.
Larry Sutton---Lions Starter