One of the true
legends of the sport, the Speed Sport Roadster is often referred
to as " the sound of a million bumble bees" when it
runs. The team, made up of Gary "Red" Greth, Lyle Fisher
and the late Don Maynard, ran with a 331 hemi with 6 carburetors
on 100% nitro. Based out of Tucson, AZ, they campaigned a 102"
chassis that was constucted by the trio and covered basically
with a '23 T Ford body that had a nose and rear canopy made out
of fiberglass that was painted by George Witt. Best times or
the red racer were 9.10-169.11. In addition, it also took top
honors at the AHRA Nationals one year in Great Bend, Kansas and
during three years of competition it was never beaten in its
class. The car was dubbed "Ol' Noisy" because of its
unique header system which had all eight pipes under the rear
of the car which created a sound, especially on the top end,
like no other car in the sport. In 1958 the team retired this
car and built a blown version - Speed Sport II.
Commentary by Bud DeBore
These are the
earliest known photos of the Speed Sport roadster taken during
its construction by Bill Turney in 1955. Childhood friends Gary
"Red" Greth and the late Don Maynard installing the
6-carb mainfold on the 331" Chrysler hemi. The date of these
photos makes this the oldest current cacklecar.
Don Maynard sands
the fiberglass engine cover while Red Greth and Lyle Fisher work
on the engine. Note the weird design on the nose of the car.
The Speed Sport roadster is thought to be the first drag car
to ever use fiberglass in the body configuration. The entire
nose was hand formed from a flowerprint fiberglass drapes...
this the weird designs on the nose prior to paint.
One of the cars
first outings in early 1956 at Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson that
allowed drag races once a month. Maynard (with sunglasses) Greth
with one shoe off and his sister-in-law, who was also the Trophy
Queen, on the rear tire.
Bill Turney Photo
Greth in the
far lane racing another legend Emory Cook in the Cook & Bedwell
dragster at Davis Monthan AFB in 1956.
Bill Turney Photo
Great
Bend, KA 1957. Greth vs. Bobby Joe Ruttledge (above) and on a
single below.
Don Elliott Photos
Cordova, IL 08-24-57 - ATAA World
Series - Greth in the cockpit with crew members Don Myers, Lyle
Fisher, Joe Bush and Don Maynard. Greth had just run the meets
best 9.83 at 169.
Lyle Fisher at the ATAA
World Series in 1957.
Ron
Johnson Photo
"Another
Top Eliminator Trophy". Paradise Mesa Drag Strip in 1957.
Red Greth, Joe Bush, Don Maynard, Trophy Queen Louise Muller
and Lyle Fisher.
Bob Hardee Photo
1959
- Ralph Guldahl Photo
1959
- Ralph Guldahl Photo
Like many other racers, Greth is a consummate pack rat. He initially
restored the car in 1997 to fill a display spot in the then new
NHRA Motorsports Museum (and for Memory Lane at the CHRR's).
The Speed Sport Bunch (as they are known) took the back to Tucson
in 1999 and made it "race ready" and did a push start
and made a run at the 1999 CHRR. When Cacklefest was born the
car was ready to play.
Greth does a push start
during the 2000 CHRR.
Parked in its spot at
the 2001 Cacklefest.
Pre 2002 Cacklefest parade.
2002 Cacklefest push
start
Greth to his spot at
the 2002 Cacklefest
Flag start pass at the
2003 CHRR
The first nighttime Cacklefest
was in 2003 and the Speed Sport car was present and accounted
for.
When its not on the road the
"Speed Sport I" is on display at the Wally Parks NHRA
Motorsports Museum located at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona,
CA.
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