old alton drag strip

200 mph record

Did you know that Chris Karamesines was the first person to go 200+ mph. It happened at Alton Dragway April 16, 1960
 
200 mph

When that 200 MPH pass was made the "east" and "west" coast media yelled and screamed that the tower had "fixed" the clocks! Some to this day won't accept that it happend. And I think the backup pickup was built is St.Louis by Holleys speed shop. I think I still have some 8mm film from alton in the mid 60s if I can find them and the film is still good.;):)
 
alton drags

I remember the local guys like Curtis Watson in his 62 corvett. Bob Murray in a dragster. Mike Kool in a Willys that he won the Winternationals in. There was another guy who ran a Ford station wagon who won alot Lyles i think was his name. Thats when you raced to win not like now you go to fast you lose??? DINO
 
Where was that strip at? We race Nostalgia Super Stock in the NMCA with 66 chevy biscayne's. If anyone has any other sites with the old pics and stories, please post. Moster Mopar at Gateway this weekend will have all makes of Nostalgia Super Stock cars racing. My Dad is on a hot streak with a win this year with a 10.005 on a .10 light. Hope his has that good of luck this weekend.
 
Did anybody see the 4 wide funny car and top fuel passes on NHRA last night? 3 out of 4 were within a car lengh of each other at the finish line. The funny cars and top fuel cars finshed in the same order and it almost looked like the exact same race. In lane 3 both cars had problems but 1,2 and 4 made good passes. They said it was done in Rockford, Illinois "back in the day" but with WAY LESS horsepower.
 
Bruce Cummins used to take his car to Alton's drag strip, but since he's so much older than I am, I don't remember it.

And, yes, I did see 3 cars about even, with one falling back.
 
nitrocowboy84 said:
Did you know that Chris Karamesines was the first person to go 200+ mph. It happened at Alton Dragway April 16, 1960
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Yes, I was there. Chris could not repeat with a run with the required speed (I forget if it was 10% or?) and he was not awarded the world record at the time. His speed was officially recognized at a later date.
 
Is this the old track by gordan Moore park and don't the hold a pretty good size car show there every year???
 
I member when Art Badgsley had a old station wagon with one badass motor... Seen him blow the doors off a few nice sooped up cars !!! Believe he was the best motor builder around alton.
 
Art Badgley

Art Badgley attends the FBI (Fat Boys of Illinois) weekly lunches along with many other guys who raced at Alton Dragway and Mike Storey who's father was an original owner. The dragstrip is now a street in Storeyland mobile home park. There a couple of the FBI street rods sporting Art Badgley motors. Art also often attends the local weekly car cruises.
 
bean610 said:
Yes, I was there. Chris could not repeat with a run with the required speed (I forget if it was 10% or?) and he was not awarded the world record at the time. His speed was officially recognized at a later date.
Click to expand...

I never made it to Alton but my brother took me to St. Louis International a few times. My brother won a few trophys at Alton that I have stashed away in the attic. I do remember Karamesinines beating Garlits on a Friday night of the nationals. I think that was the same year that Bagshaw crashed into the stands.
 
nitrocowboy84 said:
200 mph record

Did you know that Chris Karamesines was the first person to go 200+ mph. It happened at Alton Dragway April 16, 1960
Click to expand...
I was staged right behind Bob Murrey when he ran 204. I was told it was the first 200 MPH run at Alton. It was a clean run and I believed it. Some claimed gibberish about the sensors not picking up his front wheels and such. Bull! I saw it and he did it. 1964
 
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