Racing

Willis Ragsdale and "RAUNCHY"

Reher & Morrison's "LOANER" Corvette

Cross & Reher's CHAMPIONSHIP MAVERICK

Houston Dragway 1965

Green Valley Raceway 1969

Austin Raceway 1967

Eastex Dragway

I first remember seeing legendary Texas sportsman racer Willis
Ragsdale chasing down the competition in his wild Street Roadster at
the monthly Modified/Competition Eliminator events at Eastex
Dragway in the late '70s and early '80s. I was amazed to later find
out that he had won the Indy Nationals 20 years prior in 1961.
Needless to say he was a fan favorite at Eastex and he was always a
favorite to win the event. After posting images that I took of

Doing a little research, I found out that the Reher & Morrison Maverick (article above) with Lee Shepherd at the wheel won the 1974
NHRA Winter Nationals. They transplanted the Maverick's power train into a "borrowed" Corvette which had a shorter wheelbase and
rearward engine location. The new combination gave them a victory at the 1975 NHRA Spring Nationals. A Pro Stock Monza soon followed
and the rest is history (NHRA Pro Stock Champions 1982-1985). The part of the Reher & Morrison history that I wanted more information
on was who did they borrow the Corvette from? I couldn't find anything online but I remember when I worked as a clerk for the post
office at the main location in downtown Houston, I would occasionally talk to a female co-worker about drag racing. She asked me if I had
ever heard of the Reher & Morrison racing team and that they were currently using her husband's Corvette to go racing. That was over 30
years ago and I couldn't remember her last name. The only name that came to mind was Holcombe, as in Hokie Holcombe. Holcombe was a
well known Texas sportsman drag racer who passed away a few years ago. As it turned out, I was right. After inquiring on my previous
website, I received an e-mail from the grandson of the late "Hokie" Holcombe and he confirmed not only that his grandmother worked at the
Post Office with me, but also that it was his grandfather's Corvette that was loaned to the Reher & Morrison Racing Team. As a matter of
fact, he told me that Reher & Morrison "thanked" car owners Raymond Davis and "Hokie" Holcombe on his rear quarter panel (just above
the Rocket Racing Products decal). All these years and I never noticed it before.

The photo (above, left) of the Cross & Reher Maverick at speed was taken at Eastex Dragway. Because the car was nationally known and the
crew eventually went on to become the Reher and Morrison racing team and of course because it was taken at Eastex which is no longer with
us and it was my "weekend hangout", the photo is one of my favorites. Obviously it's also a favorite of an avid drag racer from Tennessee.
He had seen the photo before and requested a repost. As it turns out he wrenched on the car for the guys who purchased the Maverick from
Cross & Reher. Last time he saw the car was in 1977 when the car was resold. After searching for a number of years, he recently found it in
Arkansas where it's been sitting for the past 11 years and he plans to restore it. Looking at the picture he sent me (above, right), it looks
like he doesn't have much restoring to do. By comparing the pictures, all I see missing is the wheelie bar setup, the front splash pan and
front bumper. The wheels and hood scoop look exactly the same. The car also came with the original title which was in the name of Bobby
Cross' father with Lee Shepherd's name and address on the back as the buyer. It's great that the car is being "reborn" and I'm glad that I
can help in applying the final details.

On my old website, this would have been my "Looking
Back" page and it's easy to see why. And even though some
of my images are close to 40 years old, you can still find
images on the Internet from years before that.....and from
the same tracks! I just hope you enjoy my photos as much
as I enjoy checking out old drag racing images on the
Internet, especially from down here in South Texas.
Below the photos, you'll find several pieces that appeared
previously in my old website that pertain to feedback
that I have received over the years. Incidently, the ticket
on the left is from my own personal collection. I found it

ten years ago in a metal suitcase in the attic of my mother's house not long after she passed sway. Before I had a driver's license, she would
drop me off at Houston International Speedway in Dickinson and then come back from Houston to pick me up when the races were over. I
guess she knew just how much I loved the sport. Sure do miss her.

Quite a while back I received an e-mail from Mickey Mills requesting photos of his legal Pro Stock Maverick that he used to race as a
gasser at Eastex Dragway during the track's monthly Modified/Competition Eliminator combo events. Below left and center are those
pictures. I recently received another e-mail from Mickey this time with an attachment of his current ride, the sharp looking BMW road
racer below right. It might not be drag racing but it's good to see Mickey still racing after all these years.

Neal Wynn's "LIL' BEAR"

I'm amazed sometimes when I find out just how old some of my pictures are. It's not that important to me but when I find out that it's over
20 years old or almost 40 years old, I guess it's amazing just how fast time flies. Usually the only way I find out how old the picture is, is
when someone e-mails that had some type of contact with the vehicle. Now the pictures above of Neal Wynn's sharp looking Nova were a
little easier to narrow down. First off the picture on the left is the former version in action at Houston International Speedway. The
second two images are the "show car" version with custom paint and molded in hood scoop and front spoiler. On the right it's on display at
the Houston Autorama and in the center it's parked in front of my parent's house in the Heights down here in Houston. Neal had come by to
purchase some pictures from me. Posing with the vehicle in the center photo is my favorite cousin's daughter. Not sure of her age at the
time but she's turns 41 this year. I know it's approximate but do the math!

Mickey Mills' MAVERICK

"RAUNCHY" at Eastex Dragway (above and left), I began receiving e-mails from Ragsdale's family who in turn sent me earlier photos of
Ragsdale and "RAUNCHY" in action (below) at several legendary Texas race tracks and I have to thank them for that. Now here I am 30
years after seeing Ragsdale racing for the first time and this past year I had the extreme pleasure of sitting and bench racing with him a
couple of times at local area Houston car shows where he's been showing his great looking '36 Ford Coupe. I've posted several images of his
current "ride" below. I'm looking forward to talking to him again sometime in 2012.

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