Quote: I was born in 1968, so these cars that I love I never got to see run in there day. When I did get to see drag racing it was Bob Glidden in a Thunder bird.
Anyway, I got to learn and found a love for the Missile as well as few others over the years by reading and listening to stories.
The "Wire Car" was the 1st one I ever read about and found myself wanting to know more and more about Don Carlton and who he was and all the history. I am lucky to know one former NHRA drag racer from years ago and hearing his stories is a treat. I try to read what I can about other racers as much as I can. My current study Is Billy "The Kid" Stepp. Could you share any stories about racing The Kid or Akron Arlen (that's if you guys ever did of course).
Please keep telling of the stories and maybe share pictures if you wouldn't mind. For me its like being there and seeing & Hearing it firsthand. To me, those were the days of drag racing.
Thanks for joining and be sure to stick around, allot of fun guys here.
It never ceases to amaze me that folks like yourself are so interested in what we all did so many years ago. Like so many young racers of today, we were just trying to make a living (well, maybe have a bit of fun along the way too).
Getting to your question, yes, we did race against both Billy Stepp and Arlan Vanke many times. In fact, at one point in his driving career, Don Carlton drove one of Billy's cars.
When it comes to Billy - the stories I have to tell would best be told in private. What I can say it that he was a very likeable guy, but never, never, make him angry. Enough said.
Arlan Vanke was then and is today one of the neatest guys you will ever want to meet. That guy is the essence of "cool". Whenever I see him I always call him DAD and ask if I am still in the will. Arlan has more stories to tell than any person on earth and every one of them is priceless. In October, Arlan, Ted Spehar, Dave Kanners, and I went to spend a day with Mike Fons at his home near Houghton Lake Michigan. It was a day to remember! Story after story rolled off and it was much like 35 years ago after a day at the track where the stories never ended... Priceless.
To remember specific races against Arlan is tough but needless to say he was a fierce competitor and you had better be ready or he would get you!
