Thread: A couple of rebuilt Colorado Gassers

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The black Willys ran here in the Rocky Mtn region in the '60s and early 70's. Well known competitor in the region. It was finally sold and was found in a shed behind a garage in Southern Colorado, no engine, trans or front clip. It has been totally restored to when it was in it's heyday.
The purple and white willys used to be run here but I don't know it's history

Very nice cars and it appears that are some in the background that would also qualify.

Yep it is almost as large a show as the Rocky Mtn Street Rod Nationals held down in Pueblo. This year it drew,so I was told,more cars then the Good guys show did. Great venue for it

Do you have anymore pictures of the event?

Yeah a few:0
I posted some of them in the lounge

I think I may have seen the black Willys run at CDR a couple times....what's a "constriptor"?

Man I dont remember that black beast. I used to be a regular at the strip east of Denver, where the new air port is at.

It's nice to see some of the old race cars coming back. I sold a 57 Chevy to a friend that turned it into a gasser and ran it at US 30 Drag Strip, he named it The Strip Duster. Some of you older guys may remember the car. When the fad died down he told me he wished he had left it like it was when I sold it to him for $650. He must of put 10 times that amount in the car. That was 1968 today he would probably like to have it back as a Gasser.

Originally Posted by animalracer

I think I may have seen the black Willys run at CDR a couple times....what's a "constriptor"?

Yeah it ran at CDR, Cheyenne, Bandimeres at the old strip, Erie, and the track east of Denver that used to be near Wiggins. he was from Longmont I believe originally.

Originally Posted by animalracer

...what's a "constriptor"?

It's a constrictor with a lisp.

Boy I love gassers. I bet not many people don't like them, they are just so cool. Nice to see these old ones being brought back. I posted a picture of this old gasser that was found abandoned and brought back to life. It was at a local show and was one of my favorite cars there.

Don

Wow, some great old iron!!!! Thanks for sharing the pics and pass on thanks to the guys who did all the work and spent all the $$$$$ to bring them back!!!!!!

If cars like that don't get your blood pumpin', might wanna go get a checkup.....you could be dead!!!!!

god i love that s&s dave hales willys for obvious reasons, gee look at the motor 301

I used to go to CDR, Erie and Rocky Mtn Raceway and don't remember these either (although they are really nice)-does anyone remember the Colorado favorite that is in my Avatar?

35Window is that Jake Takamotos '39/40 Ford out of if I remember right Golden? Sort of red/orange color?
Do any of you guys that were around CO in '66/67 remember a Morris Minor sedan delivery named The Ash Hauler, had Haulin' Ash on it's back doors, blown Caddy(?). It was a godawful gold color. Only ran 2 seasons and the few times I saw it it never won a race. Last time I saw it run was in Cheyenne and he blew the engine the first heat, that would've been about July of '67?

Originally Posted by G.R.

35Window is that Jake Takamotos '39/40 Ford out of if I remember right Golden? Sort of red/orange color?
Do any of you guys that were around CO in '66/67 remember a Morris Minor sedan delivery named The Ash Hauler, had Haulin' Ash on it's back doors, blown Caddy(?). It was a godawful gold color. Only ran 2 seasons and the few times I saw it it never won a race. Last time I saw it run was in Cheyenne and he blew the engine the first heat, that would've been about July of '67?

G.R.-this is a Taurus that was owned by Tak Shiramizu-it was campaigned as Tak's Toy-he owned a Machine/Repair Shop in Arvada(?) I think-it ran at CDR and Erie A LOT and was a fan favorite as it covered more ground sideways than it did forward sometimes-it was THE Car for me when I was a boy.

I don't remember the Ash Hauler-I wonder if anyone remembers the '57 Chevy that was called the "Screamin' Yellow Honker"? Or the '67 Camaro that was psychedelic painted that was owned by Gary Siefreid and ran a 10,000+ RPM screamin' small block? How about the white '69 Camaro of Swingin' Syd? Or Albert Guitlein's '57 Chebby? Lots of good ol' memories-


Here is a little more about Tak (he was inducted into the Colorado Motor Sports Hall of Fame)-

TAK SHIRAMIZU - He was considered one of the best engine preparation specialists In the Country. The drag race engines he prepared won major racing events across the United States as well as setting many track records. His own drag racing cars named "Tak's Toy” were a familiar sight at tracks in the region including a very successful A Dragster.

One of the Top Alcohol Dragsters Tak worked on took the Ramer family to the National Hot Rod Association's Top Alcohol Dragster championship in 1980. That same car finished in top ten in NHRA points every year it ran and was a National record holder.

Tak prepared engines and components for stock cars that won championships on oval tracks, speed boat championships and a very successful Mud Racing Jeep. He prepared a motorcycle engine that won The Pikes Peak Hill Climb and did the fuel management system for a Bonneville Salt Flats Streamliner that set a word speed record of 450 Miles per hour for a piston driven engine