While being #3 on the Drag news Top-Ten they also held the NHRA Top Fuel speed record as well as numerous track records across the country. In 1964, with Red Lathrum as his crew chief, Jerry won the 1964 World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova with a 7.86 @ 204.54. Along with the win he garnered top speed and low e.t of the meet as well as setting both ends of the track record. Red was fresh off his 1963 tour with Jess Van Deventer, the 1962 World Points Champion and one of the most sought after crew chiefs of the time. Together they also led the NHRA World Points for a large portion of the year and finished 2^nd only to Jack Williams who took home the championship.

Just a few of the many awards that Jerry
has amassed.

While today, multiple car teams are the norm in drag racing and most forms of motorsports, it was unheard of in 1964. Jerry however, build a second car to compete on the west coast while he was fulfilling dates in the east. The car was the Croshier, Baltes & Leavitt AA/FD driven by Bill Leavitt. He would also do it once again in 1972-73 when he fielded both the Tom & Jerry Mustang and the Tom & Jerry Duster. Jerry has always been a leader in both his racing and his business endeavors.

Thanks to the public relations work of Bud DeBoer the C-B-L car appeared on a official NHRA picture post card, a Drag Spot Illustrated Calendar, two record albums and more than a dozen equipment manufacturer’s ad’s in trade papers and national magazines. Sponsors included Crower cams, Mickey Thompson, Valvoline, Schiefer and Perfect Circle among others.

Announcement of Speed Record

Over the winter of 1964, Jerry went to work for Doris Herbert at Drag News, where he remained until 1967 but returned in 1965 to drive Val LaPorte’s car at the World Series in Cordova.

In 1967 he drove the "Guzzler" car for "Bud & Don" from Chicago, Racing the mid-west UDRA Circuit as well as the south and east coast, he won many races and qualified at the NHRA Spring Nationals in Bristol, TN as well as the U.S. National in Indy. Racing against Dick LaHaie in Muncie, IN, Jerry crashed the car and has not been back in the seat since that time. While driving the "Guzzler" car at Richmond Dragway he met a young girl who worked in the timing tower. Her name was Pat and after seeing her for quite a while, he proposed marriage. They have now been married for more than 38 years.

Jerry lifts the wheels in the "Guzzler" at Bristol 1967

In 1972 the drag racing bug would not give up so Jerry started "Dragster, Inc." with his business partner, Tom Woodbridge to race the two "Tom & Jerry" funny cars. Jerry had his old friend and drag racing partner, Bill Leavitt build a Mustang funny car (the Tom & Jerry Mustang) that was driven by Harlan Thompson. Later that year, he also purchased the Bob Banning Dodge car, driven at that time by Tom Sneden, which ultimately became the Tom & Jerry "NiteMayer" Duster driven by the late Bob Mayer. As mentioned earlier, they campaigned both cars across the U.S and Canada as well as running match races along with the Coke Cavalcade of Stars. The two cars won the "Best Appearing Crew" Award at the 1973 U.S. Nationals. Scott Hughes of American Racing Equipment and Bob Gibson of NHRA found and restored the Tom & Jerry ‘Duster and displayed it at the 2000 SEMA Show

The orginial Tom & Jerry Duster in 1973

The restored Tom & Jerry Duster in 2000

In 1968, Jerry and his new wife settled down in Richmond, VA and in 1970 started Commercial Power Cleaners, a company that washes trucks from pick-ups to 18-wheelers. In 1984 they also started Total Cleaning Power, which cleans the interior of tanker trailers and in 1996 they expanded into the tank trailer leasing business. In the late 1980’s Jerry and Pat’s two daughters and their husbands joined the business and are now running the businesses on a day to day basis.

Hall of Fame Awards Dinner in Gainsville, FL 2002
(editors note; I was on hand for this one)

In 1985 Jerry was inducted into the Inyokern Drag Strip Hall of Fame. He still holds a 47-year old top speed track record at Inyokern which is still an active track. ( Editors Note; While writing this feature the Inyokern strip was closed due to FAA regulations after celebrating their 50^th year in 2004) He was also inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2002 and the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame in 2003

While attending the first California Hot Rod Reunion in 1992, Jerry saw a couple of the 1960’s Top Fuel cars that were being restored and got the itch to find his old car and restore it. What ensued was a six-year search by him and Red Lathrum for the old car which was to no avail. In 1998 Jerry started collecting parts and talking to Rod Peppmuller about doing a reproduction. Rod had built the original car and at the first National Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, KY, he agreed to start on the project. While at the second NHRR in Bowling Green, Tom Hanna agreed to build the body since Bob Sorrell, who did the original had passed away. Hanna and his team in Wichita completed their part of the project in less than a year. At the same time Carl Johnson of Sterling Engines, Bob Creitz of Creitz Automotive and Steve Carbone competed the potent "392" Chrysler Hemi. With the bodywork completed the car was sent to Chris Ellis of South Hill, VA, who is a Grand National winner of Dupont’s "Hot Hues" competition for the paint and lettering. Fittingly, the car made its debut at the 2005 National Hot Rod Reunion.

CLICK HERE for more photos from Jerry's own scrapbooks
Don't Miss It !!!!

In the next article & photos we will follow the build of the car almost from beginning to end, so set back, get a cold drink and enjoy seeing another "Mechanical Masterpiece" take shape at the hands of a group of friends and "Legends of the Quarter Mile"

CLICK HERE for the C-B-L Restoration Feature