FEEDBACK ARTICLE: CHICAGO - ONCE A FUNNY CAR HEAVEN!  

I read your excellent article pertaining to drag racing in the "Chicagoland" area. I was especially drawn to the portion that outlined Ron Pelligrini's involvement in the sport as I knew Ron through a now defunct speed shop (Speed Craft) owned by Pete Gizzo and Gil Turner.  Ron was always in their establishment helping out. Because I was there almost as much as Ron, I was able to meet some of the most interesting people in the sport. Ivo, Prudhomme (when he was just a helper for Ivo at the time). I am now retired and live in Florida. 
We have many car shows down here and there is some fellow down here who has Ron's original, in the sport, "funny car" on display at these events.  He even starts it up at these events, and it really gets the attention of everybody. I could go on and on about the good times we had going to the various strips with Ron and the Speed Craft crowd. - Frank Pisano

FEEDBACK ARTICLE: CHICAGO - ONCE A FUNNY CAR HEAVEN!  

I read your excellent article pertaining to drag racing in the "Chicagoland" area. I was especially drawn to the portion that outlined Ron Pelligrini's involvement in the sport as I knew Ron through a now defunct speed shop (Speed Craft) owned by Pete Gizzo and Gil Turner.  Ron was always in their establishment helping out. Because I was there almost as much as Ron, I was able to meet some of the most interesting people in the sport. Ivo, Prudhomme (when he was just a helper for Ivo at the time). I am now retired and live in Florida. 
We have many car shows down here and there is some fellow down here who has Ron's original, in the sport, "funny car" on display at these events.  He even starts it up at these events, and it really gets the attention of everybody. I could go on and on about the good times we had going to the various strips with Ron and the Speed Craft crowd. - Frank Pisano


Great article ... one of the best in awhile! Really enjoyed the stories, history and gallery links. It's hard to believe that there was a time when there were so many cars running at so many tracks. The current NHRA tour has about as much personality/diversity as lawn full of dandelions. BLAH!!!  I frequented Suffolk Raceway (in VA) in the 70's and 80's for the big shows. The Coca Cola Cavalcade and the Little Guy Nationals in early Nov always drew great cars. The track, like those mentioned in the article, offered little in the way of modern comforts, but it was just so much fun!!! Thanks again for the trip down memory lane! - Scott Amiss


Great article!  We raced around Chicago in the 60s, and it was way more competitive than the left coast.  You could have everybody covered one week, and get thumped soundly the next week.  We raced injected against such fine competitors as Fontanini and Nanini (very quick) in '68.  In '69 we were Harrell's #2 car and raced at all the Chicago tracks.
 
I remember when the left coast funny cars were saying that the mid-8s times for the Grand Spaulding Dodge were bogus because the left coast cars were only running low 9s.  Norm sent Gary out to California, and he unloaded at Lions with an 8.63. That shut them up for some time.  He cleaned house out there. - John Martin


Great article on Funny Car racing in Chicago.  I had a front seat as I worked at Oswego for the Gold Agency.  The betting in the stands is absolutely true as I used to sit up there on Wednesday nights and watch the whole thing unfold.  S/SE (Pro Stocks) were also hot with Satmary, Kenny Perry, Hoger, Miller as the cars to beat so you could say S/SE was just as hot as Funny Car racing.  Brings back old memories. - Bill Baird

When talking about the Chicagoland tracks you mention Cordova.. Then you just forget about it. Cordova's world series was the end all be all race for us when I was growing up. I live the same distance from Byron as I do Cordova and Cordova was by far the place I visited more. The meets at Byron (Rockford) were kick ass but they didn’t even begin to compare with the World Series.

Cordova still today hires in big show Funny Cars and Top Fuel for the World Series along with hosting Nostalgia Funny Car points race. That’s just for the Series we also have a second Funny Car race each year ... anyhow great article, loved it – Shane Boyungs


Fantastic story with great photos. Got out of the ARMY in 70 (Nam 68) and had the good fortune to go to a F/C Meet at Union Grove the summer of 70. Union Grove looked BADDD in the daytime but when the sun went down it was like Magic. Ended up racing a Harley with AMRA in the 80's - 90's. I was a gearhead before that weekend at the Grove but after that, I was hooked on drag racing for good
- John Nance


The article on Chicago tracks in the 60's 70's and the insight AND the terrific photos are much, much appreciated.

The whole article, plus links should be submitted to the Chicago Historical Society, no joke.  I'm a member; I think they'd appreciate it. - Stan Scott


6-5-2009

Man! You guys have made it hard to get any work done today by linking to pictures of old Funny Cars in action. I ran at another midwest track in the 70s Mid-America Dragway in Muncie, IN., and remember seeing many of these classic floppers. That was real racing. We actually got to cruise  the local hotels and watched the racers rebuild their cars in the parking lots using locals that were willing to help. A friend and myself helped T/F racer Pat Dakin one night. Again I cant thank you enough for the great race coverage and pics of the events. See you at the U.S Nationals - Mike Gates

 

Great article. Asher's memories are far more accurate than the mellifluous axxxxxx from California. The midwest had a history of much broader dimension than the I, Me, My, Mine coast. - Rich Kreider

 

You guys hit the nail on the head! - Dale Tuley

 

Great story, those were the days. - Jack Thomas

 

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