Racing Research Archives

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Sand Jeep @ Silver Lake in 2009

• CATEGORIES: Features, Racing This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I spotted this great shot from Quadratecforum.com.

According to the post, his is a sand Jeep. It was the annual Mt. Baldy hill climb Spring 09. (Silver Lake State Park.) This thing was wicked. Easily won the class. He could stand it up at will and ride it as long as he wanted. Frickin awesome!”

 
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Race / Sand Drag Flattie Oregon **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Racing • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE:  Was $5500. **SOLD**

(07/16/2010) My only question is, why park it facing a tree for pics?

“Built 355 Chev. 800 plus hp Sand Dragger – Hill Climber! 1956 Willys flat fender, body and frame. Narrowed and lengthened. All fiberglass body. 4-wheel drive capability, with automatic hubs. 1000 plus CFM, Holly double pumper, Holly fuel pump and fuel regulator with pressure gauge. Custom flowed heads with roller rockers and girdles. Roller lifters and diamond pistons. High volume oil pump with extra deep pan. Power glide, 2-speed trany, with 6500 ratchet stall converter. Trany lock-out micro switch and ratchet shifter. Aluminum radiator with switches for fan, trany fan, water pump, fuel pump, ignition. Locker rear end with new Strange axles. 20.00 – 15 comp. cut paddle tires and Mitchell triple laminated aluminum rims. Sturdy, weighted triangular wheely bar, Mallory tack with rpm limit and shift light. Raced in B-Comp Modified Class! Never used nitrus, Fuel used is C-12. Geared for 100 yds. in 4.5 seconds. This rig is testosterone on steroids!!!! Proven Record of consistency.”

 
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Finally, Just Some Soda Pop

• CATEGORIES: Features, Racing This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I think this builder couldn’t decide between Coke or Pepsi.  I found it at jeepfan.com.

 
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Old Racer Pennsburg, PA **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Racing • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $500

Here’s an old racer with a nice cage.

“Old Willys race jeep. been sitting a long time. No motor or trans. $500.00. NO SCAMMERS!!”

 
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1948 CJ-2A Woodland, Wa $325

• CATEGORIES: CJ-2A, Racing • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This looks like an old racer.  The roll cage alone is worth some money.  The engine might be worth $325 if it runs like the seller indicates.  The seller also has a set of mounted terra tractor tires for only $150.

“1948 Willys CJ2A Jeep, You can air up the tires, light it on fire & push it down a hill……….but you probably won’t drive this one without a little fine tuning here and there!
It has been converted to a Buick 3.8 V6 engine, but all of the rest of the drive train appears to be original……..Dana 25 in the front…….Dana 30 in the rear.
The tub, firewall and hood have been hacked by someone that shouldn’t be allowed to have any sharp objects. The fenders, grill and frame might be of use to someone, or, you can refer back to my opening line at the top. $325 and it is yours! You could offer me a little less if I appear to be in a good mood.
Call Steve @ 1-360-600-4223

I also have other Willys Jeep parts for sale, but not included in the price above:

1. A custom raised fiberglass hood for a 3A (it has an embossed WILLYS on each side) $100.00,

2. a stock metal hood (it has an embossed WILLYS on each side) $75.00

3. grill for a 2 or 3A $75.00

4. 2 terra tires with tractor treads 31 x 15.5 x 15 mounted on 13″ wide steel wheels that fit a Willys $150.00”

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/2294251104.html

 
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1945 GPW Sand Jeep Project Junction City, OR **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Racing This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE:  **SOLD** Was $2800

There’s still some work left.

“I have for sale a 1945 willys jeep built by ford. It doesn’t need much to get running. It has a new 450 horsepower 388 cubic inch chevy engine. The engine is pump gas friendly with edelbrock rpm heads and a comp 282 hydraulic roller camshaft. Tranny is a short tail shaftturbo 350 and has a tci reverse manual valvebody and 3500 stall converter. The tranny needs new clutches. Rearend is an old dana 44 with 4.30 gears and is welded. Front end is a mail jeep 2 wheel drive straight axle that shaved 130 lbs off the front from the old dana 30. The jeep body is a little rough on the sides but has been heavily modified everywhere else and was nicely done has gm pedals and tilt and telescoping steering wheel. Tires are 16.50×15 paddles on new 15×12 wheels. It has a clear title and new tags as I drove it a little last summer. I am willing to part this jeep as well. Engine should make about 450 horsepower and 450 torque and is daily driveable.
Runs great. Has 60lbs of oil pressure.
Ill sell the engine alone for —————————————————————————————————-$2000 which is half what it costed me.

Transmission is a th350 short tailshaft with
TCI reverse manual valvebody
new j.w. 3500 stall converter
hurst shifter
tranny needs rebuilt.—————————————–350 bucks for all of it.

Paddles are 16.50×15 in fair condition with new tubes and newer 15×12 wheels with 5on5.5 pattern———$300

The Jeep i will sell for 2800 firm complete or just the rolling chassis w/out the paddles for ——————-$850
Also the jeep has a dana 44 with 4.30 gears and welded diff. Front is a postal jeep straight axle
2wd. To get running needs a carb, and tranny rebuild and a front wheel cylinder. I will drive with a carb on it.”

 

 
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EC4WDA Jeep Racing Videos

• CATEGORIES: Features, Racing, videos • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

HOG spotted these videos of some east coast racing from the last few years.

OBSTICLE COURSE

FLAT DRAGS: Kempton EC4WDA Jeep Racing – October 2009

HILL CLIMB: Gravelrama 37 August 24th, 2007. Includes a CJ-5 called Indian Uprising powered by a Pontiac 4 Cyl.

Here is a shot of the motor:

FLAT DRAGS: Gravelrama 37 August 25th, 2007
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlVJVSUyuOg&NR=1

 
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Legends Race of 2009 from the EC4WDA & Jeep Fan

• CATEGORIES: Features, Racing • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

As I was looking for a picture of Indian Uprising’s engine, I came across this flyer. As the flyer indicates, it was a special gathering of old racers and racing jeeps.  I thought this was a fun idea and thought the PNW4WDA might think about that (or maybe they already have).

Here is a link to a page that shows some of the old jeeps that were on display at Jeep Fan.

Here is one of the old flatties that was shown:

 
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1948 CJ-2A Ice Racer Denver, Co $3000

• CATEGORIES: CJ-2A, Racing • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Looks fun.  I can’t quite make out the name.

“1948 Willy’s 2A ice racing jeep
350 chevy engine,propane fuel system, auto transmission, full roll cage,
5 point seat belts, power steering, steering brakes, sheepskin seat
covers w/heater

linda turner 719-221-5631”

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/2234526558.html

 
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1957 FC-170 Drag Jeep Anderson, CA **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: FC150-FC170-M677, Racing, Unusual • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $25,500.

This is pretty cool and unusual!

“its a 1957 jeep fc170 wheel standing p.u !
2×3 tube frame
funny car roll cage
3″ chopped top
all lexan windows
tilt steering column
removable steering wheel
single seat
10 lb fire suppression system
parachute
both side panels removable for engine access
dodge van vacuum brake system
independent front suspension ( no front brakes )
dana 60 rearend ( 4:88 gears)
dual rear brake system ( 1 set to stop 1 set to steer)
4 – 1968 corvette calipers
dune buggy dual master cylinders for steering
ladder bar rear suspension
trasfer case
turbo 400 trans with external filter system
dual drive line loops
dual batteries
headlights and tail lights
8 gallon fuel cell
runs on alcohol
bug catcher injection
6:71 blower with 11% over drive
427 ci motor
8:1 compression
10 quart oil pan
cam drive fuel pump
dual fans / electric water pump
82 % rear weight
has been certified but it has expired”

 
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Drag Jeeps

• CATEGORIES: Features, Racing • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: An update on Rapid Transit

Jeff and I were exchanging emails about drag jeeps the other day.  We were both sharing our memories about Roger Monson’s drag jeep, Rapid Transit. As Jeff notes, it certainly had its own sound!

Jeff wrote “it had an actual belt driven blown 4cyl pontiac motor in it.  A small 471 blower, insane RPMs and crazy loud! If ya didn’t cover your ears when it came by it HURT.  I saw it run @ the old firemountain drag strip @ washougal in the mid 1980s”

I’ve included a pic of it below.  Wes has collected a variety of old school Sand Drag vehicles at offroadracecanada.  Check it out!

 
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Sometimes They Break …

• CATEGORIES: CJ-3B, Features, Old Images, Racing This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Gerald found two more pics Ron May’s Jeep, which show what can happen when you drive off course.  You’ve seen this first one.

 
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1946 CJ-2A Ice Racer Denver, Co $5000

• CATEGORIES: Racing • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

No pics provided.

“1946 willys jeep built 350 chevy automatica, 3 sets of ice racing tires for more information call 720-937-3417 runs very strong”

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/2176497785.html

 
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1948 CJ-2A Astoria, Or $3000

• CATEGORIES: CJ-2A, Racing • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

1948_cj2a_astoriaUPDATE: Still Available

(10/26/09) There has been a few mods on this jeep.

“48 cj-2a 302 ford c-4 tranny dana 18 tran-case full width dana 44 front full width 9″ rear sprung over suspension. one peice front hood fenders and grill. tub is just a shell with all alluminum floors. 8 point cage to the frame and the motor has a half cage around it. This is the do-all jeep, goes good in the sand good in the mud and good on the trails. Needs to be teailered, not street legal and I do have the title. $3000.00 OBO may consider a trade”

http://portland.craigslist.org/nco/cto/1733351006.html

 
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1946 Sand Drag Flattie Battle Ground, WA **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Racing • TAGS: , , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $15,000

(01/18/2011) This rig looks ready to blast off.  That looks like a Bobcat Fiberglass body to me.

“1946 willy’s sand drag jeep. Best run was a 3.93 at 88 mph in 100 yards. It has small block chevy 705 hp built by somers racing, deden bear transmissions, ford 9 inch with strange 3rd member, custom chassis”

 
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1961 DJ? Portland, Or $650

• CATEGORIES: Racing • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Someone thought this would be a good idea ….

“right hand drive 2 wheel drive jeep power glide bolt in your chevy this is a project but an easy one come get it before i part it out Trades? 503-819-6194 paddles shot”

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/2117985021.html

 
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1948 CJ-2A Racer Yuma, Az Status Unknown

• CATEGORIES: CJ-2A, Racing • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Was listed at $4500.

Looks nice. I can’t tell if this has an engine in it.

 
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Flattie: Drag Racer (and daily driver?) Kalispell, MT **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Racing • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE:  **SOLD** Was $10,500

(08/17/2010) Believe it or not, this is licensed for the street ….

“For sale or partial trade, 1950 Willy’s Pro Street Jeep. 900 HP big block chevy with Nitrious. Licensed, streetable except extremely LOUD! Turn key. Will trade for classic car or street rod or $25,000 cash. Can be seen in parade downtown Kalispell Saturday morning starting at 10:00. Serious inquires ONLY please.”

 
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1947 Drag Jeep Hesperia, CA **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Racing • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $3200.

(08/03/2010) I thought I had listed it earlier, but I couldn’t find this in my searches.  It doesn’t come with a motor.

“1947 WILLYS DAND JEEP COPLETE LESS ENGINE..SET UP FOR A SBC CHEVY 350, HAS TH350 WITH TRANS BREAK trans cooler- ,RATCHET SHIFTER,3500 RPM STALL,4500 RPM STALL, FORD 9″ WITH 456 GEARS, SPOOL, ALUMINUM RADITOR,ALT,FUEL SELL HOLLEY FUEL PUMP,FENDERWELL HEADERS, FIBERGLASS FRONTEND,TACH,NOS TANK,BAT BOX,PADDLES ON THE FRONT AND REAR YOU COULD DUNE THIS OR DRAG RACE..WAS RACED IN 2008 2009. EMAIL CALL OR TEXT FOR MORE INFO NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP..Add your sbc and be runnin.”

 
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1947 CJ-2A Othello, Wa Make Offer

• CATEGORIES: CJ-2A, Racing • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE:  Still Available

(09/05/2010) This looks fun.

“1947 CJ Jeep Flat fender Over $9500.00 spent already. Has new 350 4 bolt main, rebuilt trans, transfer case, overdrive. All brakes and brgs gone thru.
1. 1979 engine bore .020 over RV cam polish intake tall Edelbrock valve covers.
2. Ford toploader 4sd from super cj adapted to scatershield bellhousing
3. Newer leaf springs
4. Chevy steering and buick tilt wheel
5. Hanging pedals
6. fenderwell headers
7. traction bars
8. 10″ brakes on front

Lots more email or call 509-750-5289. Make an offer or trade for equal value.”

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/1972089862.html

 
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Drag Jeeps in JP Magazine

• CATEGORIES: Racing, Website This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

HOG pointed out this article from 2009 in JP Magazine about some Flattie Drag Jeeps.  There are some good pics.  Here’s one below.

 
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Lisbon Ohio Races in the 90s

• CATEGORIES: Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, Racing • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Bob admitted he couldn’t remember much about the races in these photographs, other than they were shot in the mid-90s in Lisbon, Ohio; but he got some great photos.  Ok, truth be told, any photo that combines a flattie, desert dogs, and some mud is something I’d consider a great photo 🙂

And here’s a great M-170 Fire Jeep that was watching the action

 
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Late 70s & 80s Racing in the EC4WDA

• CATEGORIES: Features, Racing • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Inspired by the playday post, I had several emails about racing on the eastern shore of the US in the EC4WDA.

HOG explained how he used to race outlaw races to make money and those would give him money to attend the EC4WDA races for fun.

He writes, “I ran the East Coast 4 Wheel Drive Association from New York to Jacksonville Fla & from Ohio to the eastern shore. I would hit the outlaw races on one weekend & race EC4WDA with the winnings from the outlaw races. I miss doing that & the good friends I had back then.

I drove a 1978 CJ-5 with a 70 AMC AMX 360 motor with T-18 tranny & dana 20 transfer case. Its name was Wind Walker. It was Bright Red & I ran NOS on her to get me out of a class that was too crowded. My ex wife ran it in Powder puffs & won more than me.”

I asked HOG what an Outlaw race was. “Outlaw races were races for anything 4×4 put on by a local group. Mostly, they were hosted by Firemen. Best of all, they paid cash prizes (The EC4WDA didn’t pay cash, instead they gave you a $10 trophy).

I did well as my Jeep looked like a stocker jeep. In fact, I drove it as a daily driver & to the races. Also, when you’d get inspected by someone that had a Chevy or Ford hat you knew he didn’t know nothing about a AMC motor as they look so much the same. My 360 was mistaken for a 304 many times, with its the stock air breather (everything was covered in mud) sitting on top of a Holley spreadbore. I even had a cassette player to play my ZZtop, & a baby seat on the rear seat. Then all I had to do was just (key word) beat the guys I ran against.”

Gerald grew up in the EC4WDA with his brother and family. He forwarded me these pics from his days racing in the EC4WDA.

Here’s a scene familiar to all race days — the morning driver’s meeting:

Gerald tells me this is the line up for the Drags. I remember flatties just like these on the west coast:

You can see the family’s racer at rest and in action in the next two shots.  If I remember correctly, the front loop from this race jeep is now in Gerald’s brother’s new build.

 
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PNW4WDA Playday and Races in 70s

• CATEGORIES: Features, Racing, Women & Jeeps • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This is a post I have wanted to publish for a while and finally got to drafting it last night. I have a lot of good memories of Playdays.  One of my most powerful memories was a trip to Pendleton, Oregon, for Summer Convention 1975 (I think that was the year).  It was located in the middle of a clearing in a forest: no buildings, just dirt, grass and trees.  I was 10 and pal’d around with Tim and Steve Carter for most of the weekend. We were kids in a candy store, wandering around and through the various camp ‘cities’, made up of campers and tents and people and jeeps, meeting other kids and having a blast. There were an endless stream of club names and club stickers (on the side of the jeeps) that I’d never seen before.   It truly was a different world …

Most of the images below came from the WWJC Scrapbook I borrowed a couple weeks ago.  Because the book was too big to fit on my parent’s scanner, I had to snap photos of them, which explains some of the low quality.

It’s fair to call this a sampling of events, as I hardly went to all playdays.  Feel free to comment on any I’m forgetting and I’ll add them to the post.

We’ll start out with this article in a newspaper about Jeep Racing from the mid 70s. I have to say I was a little surprised at the ‘retarded’ comment, which just highlights how fast language can change.

Jeep Stuffing: For the first event, let’s highlight this this oddball contest.  Here’s Al “Ham” Hamilton in his old jeep Gypsy B.  He and his Wife Barb were founders and deeply involved in the WWJC and the PNW4WA for many years.  The remainder of the people piled on to this jeep appear to be WWJC members as well.

I couldn’t say how this was judged, but it reminds me of the Yipao events in Columbia where they stuff CJ-3Bs with just about everything.

Barrels: Here’s Al again.  This is a classic event that still endures.  Inspired by the barrel racing event you’d find at horse races,  barrels were positioned in a triangle.  The racer starts at a gate, circles around each as fast as they can, then heads back to the gate.

The Gypsy B was Ham’s road/race/trail jeep.  As you can see, Ham didn’t even bother to take off the winch. He even scored some trophies in his jeep (well, at least one big trophy according to the scrapbook).

Potato Stab: In the Potato Stab, a racer races around a track and stops at each box of potatoes to allow the passenger to stab a potato, put it in a sack, and race onward.  The fastest time won.  There were variations of this event. One variation involved popping balloons instead of picking up potatoes.

Balloon Throws: This was just for fun.  Two jeeps would pass each other and water balloons were thrown.  I *think* this picture was taken at the Beverly Sand Dunes in Washington (near Vantage).  In the CJ-5 is my mother driving and my sister riding shotgun, probably in the late 70s.  This is Dad’s post rollover Jeep, note the cage has 4 loops with two in the middle.  It’s the kind of cage you install in your jeep after you’ve rolled down a hill 5 times.

Balance Beam: The balance beam is pretty self explanatory.  Again, this is my mom and sister (which is kind of weird, because I do not remember my sister or mother ever doing any of this). The object was to balance as quickly as you could.  This had to be around 1973 — in other words, this is the pre-rollover jeep.  I’m not sure why the side of the body on this jeep is so beaten up.  I’ll have to ask Dad if he remembers why that is, though I suspect he might say something like “cuz your mom drove it” 🙂

Balloon Pop: In this event, a child drives a course and stops at a special spot.  Once stopped, the child jumps out, runs to the balloon, pops it, runs back to the jeep, and completes the course.  This jeep appears to sport a Bobcat fiberglass body, though it appears to be just a body shell.

Banana Course (no image): In the banana course, a driver drives the course with a passenger.  At a particular spot, the driver stops and the passenger hops out and runs through a little obstacle, consumes a part of a banana, hops back in the jeep and then the driver finishes the course.  There were probably variations of this as well.

Tire Pit: I suspect this is a precursor to the mud bog, but I couldn’t say.  I don’t remember ever seeing this event in person.  I suspect the object is to get out of the pit the fastest?

Obstacle Course: Still included in racing today, this course is a tight course, usually muddy, that racers try to get through as fast as possible. Below is an image of me after an obstacle course at the ORV Park Near Olympia during the 1985 Summer Convention.

Team Relay: This has been and continues to be a traditional end of the playday/summer convention race. It involves four teams of four jeeps and four drivers on one course. The object is to get all four drivers around the course one time. Each team is assigned a colored flag to make it easy to identify the teams while they are racing. The top two teams to finish a round advance to the next round. The team that wins the final round wins a trophy.

When I last raced, this event would take the entire day. There were many, many teams and people. It’s a fun event to participate in and watch.

The first time I ever ran this event (March 1985 on a cold weekend north of Everett), I broke the front driveline in my jeep in the first round, I broke the front driveline in Tim Carter’s race jeep Priority (version 1) in the second round, and I thought I had broke the front driveline of Jim Carter’s jeep Otis in the 3rd round (we lost, so we didn’t advance after that — and I was relieved!), but fortunately I didn’t break it. I have never broken a driveline since. Weird ….

Other events not shown:

Water Course: The object is to get around the course the quickest without spilling water held in a cup by a passenger.  It’s a slow, but comical race.  A derivation of this involves an egg; if I remember correctly, the passenger carries a spoon, on which they balance an egg through the course.  If the egg falls off, they have to stop and can’t start forward again until the egg is back on the spoon.

Tonka Course: Kids put strings on their Tonka vehicles and pull them as they run through a course.  There were other kid-specific courses that I don’t remember.

Backwards: The racer drives a course forward to a stopping point, then has to drive the course in reverse as fast as possible.

The Divorce Course: The driver is blindfolded.  The passenger must tell the driver how to drive the course.

Cross Country Course: This is still in racing today and is a faster, longer course designed for faster speeds.

Hill Climbs: Self Explanatory.  I haven’t seen one of these in a long time, but they got held occasionally.  A derivation, based on the newspaper article above, is the chain hill.  In this event, climbers put chains on their jeeps and try to climb hills.  However, these hill climbs do not compare to those crazy Finnish Hill Climbers.

Drags: Self Explanatory.

King and Queen: This race is still run today. I’m not exactly sure when this was first run. If I understand correctly, this is an elimination race where 2 racers compete against one another.  One racer starts on one half of the track and one on the other.  Each racer completes the entire track.  The first one to complete the race advances to the next round.   The man that wins the final round is King and the woman that wins her final round it Queen.

Sprints: You can still find this racing occasionally (Here are some pics from earlier this year).  This is head-to-head competition where a group of racers have to race a certain number of laps on a course.  I never saw this at a playday, but did watch the Yakima Mud Races with were sprints in mud.

Top Eliminator: Only the fastest winners in certain events (such as the fastest cumulative times in the obstacle, cross country and barrel races for example) race in this race.  There are no separate classes.  The winner is the top racer (male and female brackets) for the weekend.  The race track is usually a tighter version of a cross country course.

 
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1953 CJ-3B Racer Palm Springs, Ca $7500

• CATEGORIES: CJ-3B, Racing • TAGS: , , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Looks nice.

“1953 willy,title in hand $7500 obo serious buyers only call with question after 5pm 928 580 0150”

http://palmsprings.craigslist.org/rvs/1932066520.html