THE CHUCKLE:

During Pro Stock’s first NHRA season, ‘The California FLASH’, Butch Leal, constructed a first-class Pro Stock Camaro at Bill Thomas Co.  The project took several months and Butch became one of the crew. Each morning at 10 a.m. the ‘roach coach’, or catering truck, would arrive in the alley behind the shop. The driver would set out his small table and, while we were selecting our fare, he would be taking shadow golf swings. Leal, who went on to the Senior PGA tour, was always ready for action, so he struck up a conversation about golf.  The driver said that he did play a little golf and Butch, who loved to gamble, talked him into a $100 NASAU that weekend.

The following Monday, Butch was late to the shop. However when the lunch truck arrived, out popped the same driver nattily attired in a golfing outfit which proclaimed, ‘Los Coyotes Country Club Pro’ over the pocket.  He simply asked, “Where is that drag racer? I need some more of his $$$.”  GOTCHA!

Beeline Dragway, Scottsdale, Ariz. Mid 1970: This is Butch Leal’s first Pro Stock car. It was totally constructed during the spring at Bill Thomas’. The ‘Flash’ won a lot with the car, but when Chrysler came knocking and GM quit racing (again), Butch built a Plymouth Duster for 1971 and really lit ‘em up!	Pomona, Ca. 1963: Butch Leal, before he was the ‘Flash’ piloting a Bill Thomas 409 powered stocker at the Winternationals. Leal had a long term relationship with B/T prior to building the Pro Stocker in 1970. (Photo from Ron Cooper)

Nobody can argue that Randy Walls is not a true blue Chevy racer. This Nova was his third funny car and his first fliptop.  Bill Thomas built it to replace a crashed Corvair. The Nova ran a Chevy on 60 percent nitro with an automatic transmission. Randy took the yellow Nova on national tour and ran times in the 7.50 range. Walls returned in the new millennium to race a vintage Chevy powered Nova on the Goodguys circuit. In fact, he was the 2004 series champion and the first to be crowned. Randy is said to have built an all-new Nova, which is almost ready to race. (Photo courtesy of Mike Ditty: info from Draglist.com files)

[Ed. Note: Check out the truck bed ‘executive suite’ “THEN” compared to modern towers “NOW”]

CORRECTIONS: It seems I goofed in the last issue! ‘Berserko Bob,’ a popular East Coast promoter, wrote in to explain the ‘four wide’ pro stock race was held at Bud’s Creek (now Maryland International Raceway). Thanks Bob!

And on the West Coast, Stephen Justice wrote in to correct Blackie’s name. It is Gejeian, not Blackburn as was reported. He also named all four cars in the four-wide smoke-a-thon. WOW, WHAT A MEMORY!

Until next time, Be on Time!  Jim Baker

For information on building your own Cheetah, check out our sister mag, MaxChevy.