and the
The Drag Racing Heritage Foundation
Present

NHRR - REACHING FOR THE STARS

Few images are more iconic of "Golden Era" drag racing than a slingshot dragster smoking off the starting line with the front wheels lifted in a tall wheelstand. While seldom the quickest way to reach the finish line and often bending parts sufficiently to halt the run, such dramatic photos were magazine editor favorites as cover-shot material!

As the new owner of the restored King & Marshall dragster, Ray Helger had nothing like this in mind as he approached the starting line in the car on Saturday afternoon during this year's National Hot Rod Reunion. This was to be a licensing run for future exhibition passes in the car. Helger's inexperience with the unusual throttle/clutch co-ordination required by the car, however, led to the wild ride seen in the attached photo sequence captured by lensman Bob Wenzelburger. Taking the green light, Helger hit the throttle very briefly, backed off for a moment and then got back the throttle again. The car launched vertically into a huge wheelstand, then began to twist, teetering perilously on one slick for a moment.

Fortunately the K&M car didn't quite achieve the point of no return and recreate the infamous backflip it performed during the first round of elims at Indy back in the early 1970's in the hands of Jimmy King. It was pretty close though!

The car landed hard enough to bend the front wheels and probably some body panels as well. With spare (or loaner?) wheels they were able to participate later in Cacklefest, although minus the car's nosepiece.

Nitrogeezers will be providing full coverage of the Reunion as soon as our contributors complete their reports. Watch this space for notification, but meanwhile Bob Wenzelburger's photos provide a great introduction to what proved to be another exciting event.

PAUL "HUTCH" HUTCHINS NHRR PHOTOS