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Hero's in Nebraska
by Stan Weber
I never raced at Des Moines (used to go to the track in Sioux City though -
just at the Iowa/Neb border), but I do remember Howdy Williams. He was hot
stuff around these parts back in the mid sixties, as he had run a gen-you-wine
200 mph with his ultra low-buck SBC digger. You need to keep in mind that
T/F cars were scarce as hen's teeth here in corn country, so us hayshakers
were gol-durn proud of our local boy! And that brings me to this little
tale. Not that much of a story really, but one that would have a profound
effect on my life.
Our regular track was in Irvington - an Omaha suburb. Typical airport deal,
like so many drag strips were back then. This particular Sunday, TV Tommy
and Tom Hoover were booked in for a best-of-three match. Now this was a big
deal for me, 'cause aside from Howdy, I believe the only other fueler I'd
ever laid eyes on (besides one or two ancient "sputter-and-backfire
specials" that showed up now and again) was Earl "The Fuelin' Farmer" Binns
- who I believe was from somewhere over in Iowa. I'm pretty certain I'd
never actually witnessed an actual two-car top fuel pass up to that time
Well, me and my pals are busy in the pits - prepping our '57 Chevies and the
like, when we hear them light the two fuelers. Everyone moves over to the
pit fence to see the action. In my mind's eye, I can still see the long,
sleek, aluminum nose of TV's golden car - and the glint of the sun on the
front spokes as he and Hoover staged. Right at the hit though, Hoover
lunched his rear end. Bummer! TV smoked it on through for effect (probably
accompanied by some "popcorn" times from the tower), but my first-ever fuel
dragster match race looked like a bust, as it was announced that Hoover
didn't have a spare rear end. They called for one over the PA in the pits,
but chances of finding something like that at this track were thinner than
the "wind gravy" my dad told me they used to eat on the farm during the
dust-bowl days of the great depression. We all let out a collective sigh,
and turned back to messing with our stockers.
Not the time or car that Stan speaks of but a shot of
"TV Tom" at yet another Match Race
Photo by Paul Wasilewski
But wait! Didn't we have our own 200 mph hero on the premises?! Sure enough,
it wasn't long until the promoters put two and two together, and some kind
of a deal was cut. The local boy would get his shot at the big time! It was
decided there would be two more races. When they called the first "David and
Goliath" match, we actually left the pits and trotted over by the starting
line, so as not to miss anything. Wouldn't it be just too cool if our boy
could knock off the West Coast hotshot?! Of course, that wasn't going to
happen... was it?
They pulled to the line - with Howdy's tiny home-built SBC car (wrapped in a
bare-aluminum "shorty" body, of course) looking like a sad little toy next
to TV's gleaming steed - it shining in all its glory like a new penny,
perfectly fit for another magazine cover photo. We watched intently as the
tree counted down and were surprised when Howdy's little Chevy jumped off
the line like never before. Amazingly, our boy is out on TV by two-lengths -
then three! Our brows raise and our eyes widen. Could it be?!
Tommy is just a bit slower off the line - but surely he'll quickly close the
gap. Just then though, heavy smoke starts to billow - and while Tommy
churns, Howdy is hooking up and running hard. A massive adrenaline rush
shoots through the crowd. Howdy is at a thousand feet already - and still in
the lead! TV is closing on him for sure, but there's still a good-sized gap.
Before we can catch our collective breath, the unthinkable has happened! Its
over and David has slayed Goliath - this time in the cornfields of Nebraska!
The crowd goes wild for what is likely the single most exciting moment the
Irvington track has ever known. The impossible has happened!
Finally though, the excitement fades, and its back to the regular show.
Still, the pits are abuzz. Was it just a fluke - or could it happen again?
Crazy talk of a "two-straight" victory for Howdy is overheard, and a few
guys are making bets on the next run. "That Chrysler just can't hook up -
too much power" someone says. "Howdy knows this track like the back of his
hand - he'll do it again, for sure", adds another. "I just heard Williams is
really gonna tip the can this time - what's he got to lose?", says another.
More money changes hands, and the foolish talk builds.
Well, I was as big a fool as anyone there, but I had done my homework (that
is to say, I had read and re-read every magazine article about California
diggers and their hero drivers published in the last half-dozen years -
LOL). It was no secret to me that TV Tommy was as much a showman as a racer
- probably more so when he was "playing the sticks" as he was this day. And
too, even to this neophyte, that late leave of his seemed just a little bit
too late to be counted off as a slow reaction - or a case of underestimating
the competition. I had a hunch things would be different this time, and
covered what few bets I could afford to - on TV to win.
Finally, they shut down the local yokels for the final match. This time, the
pits are cleared. The spectators in the stands are on their feet from the
time the push cars nose up to the diggers' push bars. A few last minute bets
are made as the cars boom to life. Sure enough, Howdy's Chevy sounded
stronger than ever. Someone elbowed me as the crowed jostled around the
starting line for a better view. He pointed at the Chevy and said with a
tone of authority, "I was there when they fueled up, and saw 'em toss in the
can and the label. I'm tellin' ya', Howdy has this one in the bag!"
You could tell Williams was anxious. He turned and staged quickly, while TV
was still straightening out from his turnaround (no burnouts in those days,
kids). That seemed like a good sign to Howdy's supporters. He was loaded for
bear and roarin' to go! Then TV pulled in, and I focused on his eyes behind
the lenses. He didn't seem to be showing any strain. His look was like it
was just another ho-hum day. Maybe I was wrong. Was it possible that the
legendary TV Tommy was just another media myth? Both cars brought up the
revs as the tree counted down. Dad's hiked their kids onto their shoulders,
and every eye was glued to the action. I had wedged my way up close, and for
the first of many times I felt my eyes well up and begin to tear, as the
nitro started to permeate the air.
Then, just as the last yellow lit, and before anyone was really ready, Tommy
dumped the clutch on the mighty Chrysler and it shot off like a cannon.
Before Howdy even knew what happened, Tommy was on his way. No thick,
billowing smoke this time, just a quick burst of white fog tapering to an
even trail of whispy grey - and even that had almost cleared away by the
thousand foot mark (and this was no "slipper" clutch - we were seeing a
fueler being driven - not just ridden in).
Fact is, TV was putting on a drag racing seminar for us hicks. Howdy made a
good try - quite likely his best run ever, but the West Coast wonder was
putting distance between them all the way. TV had surely clicked it early
the time before, but not now. He streaked through the lights at over 200 for
sure. His 'chute was out and he was already scrubbing off speed, by the time
Howdy's slicks rolled over the finish line. I hadn't really been a contest.
All thoughts of collecting on my bets had evaporated. Who cared if I would
eat steak instead of a burger on the way home that night? I had just seen
what a top fuel pass really looked like - and I'd never watch another drag
race with the same eyes again. Home-track advantage? Too much power? None of
that bullshit mattered. In just two "showoff" passes, the consumate master
had learned the track better than the local guy who raced there every
weekend. And, Ivo hadn't just "trimmed" the tree, he had lopped it clean off
at its base! Hell, he was out a bus-length or more, before the green light
had reached full glow. His timing and "tune-up" had been perfection - just
as they had been hundreds of times in the past. The wizard had shown his
true magic - and to those who were astute enough to grasp the lesson, it had
been taste of nirvana.
Well gang, that was my introduction to California dragsters - and I don't
need to tell you how deep the hook was set. Within a month, I had quit my
job as a construction laborer, tucked a week's wages in my pants, fired up
my 1950 Chevy fastback, and headed for L.A. Next stop - Irwindale Raceway,
then on to Lions, and then - well, you get the idea.
Now, fast forward to the 2000 CHRR, where Warren Walther and myself are
sitting in the NHRA tent chowing on our In-&-Out burgers at the RCS "Bench
Race and Gathering" (remember those?), when a gentle voice from behind asks,
"You fellas mind if I sit here to eat?" We look around to see who's talking,
and both our jaws drop as we instantly realize we are in the presence of a
legend. Our tongues stumble as we both attempt to speak - both of us at a
loss for words - like a couple schoolboys at thier first dance.
Warren finally mumbles something and Tommy sits down - with that famous grin
shining away. Me, I'm still mute, thinking to myself, "Yeah, I guess it
would be OK if you sat with us. After all, you are my all-time drag racing
hero - in fact, your the very guy responsible for changing my life about
thirty-five years ago. You're the reason I left my high school sweetheart
with just an emtpy promise and a cheap diamond ring. You're the one who
caused me to spend the best years of my life hanging out at SoCal dragstrips,
and probably the fellow who's directly responsible for my hearing loss - now
that I think of it.Yeah, I guess it would be OK if you sat here!".
We'll once Warren and I finally got our tongues untwisted, we proceeded to
enjoy a wonderful half-hour's chat with as nice (and down-to-earth) a
gentleman as you'll ever meet.
I can't really describe it, but for me, many things from my past came full
circle that night - and, for a few hours, all was right with the world.
"Your hero and mine", indeed!
If you are willing to share your 'Drag Racing
Memories" I would love to add them
to this website. Just contact me at
nitro92@charter.net
and we will get them here
for everyone to enjoy
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