Jerry Clayton in National Dragster

rooster · #1 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 02:57 PM

Just wanted to congratulate you on being in the new National Dragster. Ed the Ace and Wild Willie were a couple of my heros back in the day and I saw them and all the other guys race a lot. Garlits used to pit next to me at Byron all the time back during the Garlits-Muldowny feud in the late 70's. He even knew me by my first name for a whole summer. Anyway your not forgotten after all these years. Sincerely,
Russ (Ralphs buddy with the black cobra)

Clois Harlan · #2 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 04:34 PM

Way to go Jerry! Congratulations.

Clois

Jerry Clayton · #3 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 06:34 PM

thanks rooster and clois---got to find a copy

wtm442 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 08:04 PM

Congrats Jerry

I spent a lot of dollars flying to various NHRA races in the 70's ...

Hearing your name again brings back a lot of memories.

Jerry Clayton · #5 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 08:08 PM

Warren

you might of even been on one of my flights---I used to run across someone every now and then that knew me--guess I better try to find a copy for the museum!!!!

wtm442 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Clayton

Warren

you might of even been on one of my flights---I used to run across someone every now and then that knew me--guess I better try to find a copy for the museum!!!!

Maybe
I did a lot of flying for business then and I always scheduled a trip just before various races, especially the Gatornationals, US Nationals, Keystone Nats and Englishtown.

I always purchased a jacket patch and I have over 30 before 1980. Back then, I needed a monthly snort of nitro to keep the cobwebs out of the brain. Just as good as smoking weed (they tell me).

Now I catch the vast majority on ESPN. Not quite the same.

Jerry Clayton · #7 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 08:25 AM

yep, today its like a corporate world---do you have an appointment??? the driver will be here to sign autographs between 10 and 10:30---oh we got to warm up the car then also---if he is on time!!!

RedBarchetta · #8 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 08:33 AM

Jerry, please tell us some stories. Tell us what it was like to don a fire suit and step into one of these cars. Take us through the sequence of a run in an early nitro funny car. Tell us about some of your better races (and even some of the scary moments, if you feel up to it).

-Dean

BAD ASP · #9 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

Jerry, please tell us some stories. Tell us what it was like to don a fire suit and step into one of these cars. Take us through the sequence of a run in an early nitro funny car. Tell us about some of your better races (and even some of the scary moments, if you feel up to it).

-Dean

+1 love the war stories

congrats Jerry

bulletbrown · #10 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 09:01 AM

Wow Jerry this is great to see ! I have to find a place that sells National Dragster around here .

rooster · #11 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 09:09 AM

Jerry, if you can't find one you can have mine. Russ

Jerry Clayton · #12 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 12:11 PM

I can tell you some stories , but I didn't drive it---we had a little guy 108 # for a driver--I drove my pro stocker in late 70s early 80s but generally didn't drive too much as airlines said ----make up your mind--wanta fly? or drive?? without flying couldn't have been able to race the fuelers so I flew and built the cars/engines--we held many track records, the NHRA national record, generally was #1 qualifier and had low et/ top speed of the event, won several, got beat some---

Gonna be gone for 2 weeks, will try to find a library to keep up on things

Thanks guys and gals

Jerry

PS--do a search for Keeling & Clayton California Charger and go further down the list than the model shops and you can find some race stories.