[DeTomaso] NPC: Drag racing history in NE Ohio

[Larry - Ohio Time]

Local Ohio drag racing legends Art and Walt Arfons, Otis "Otie" Smith, and
"Akron" Arlen Vanke will be the subjects of an Ohio Historical Marker plaque
dedication on Father's Day, June 19th, at the Akron Fulton Airport to honor
their contributions and innovations in the drag racing industry. The plaque
will rest at the spot where the four renowned drag racers first began their
careers in the early 1950s. At that time, Fulton Airport runway was the
first National Hot Rod Association sanctioned drag race track east of the
Mississippi.
This will be the first Historical Marker dedicated to racing of any kind in
Ohio, and comes thanks to the efforts of the group Akron Race Legends,
headed by Randy Lipscomb, with further assistance from Paul Suloff, Bob
Jones, John Stevenson, and Ken Andrus. "This is the spot where these local
heroes became drag racing innovators back in the '50s and '60s," said
Lipscomb, "and we believe that honoring these racing pioneers is long
overdue."
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In addition to the ceremony, the group will also be hosting a car show,
which begins at 4PM. There will be food, entertainment, and dozens of
classic cars from all around Ohio in attendance. The dedication itself will
begin at 5PM, and features Ohio Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor as the key
note speaker. State Representative Greta Johnson, 35th House District, will
also address the audience.
Relatives of the former hot-rodders will be in attendance: Tim Arfons and
Dusty Arfons-Spraggins (son and daughter of Art Arfons), Terry Arfons (son
of Walt Arfons), Billy Smith (son of Otis Smith), and Craig Vanke (son of
Arlen Vanke).
Both of the Arfons, who are half-brothers, were early pioneers of fast
vehicles. In 1964, a car designed by Walt Arfons, and driven by Tom Green,
called the Wingfoot Express set the world land-speed record of 413 mph.
Three days later, Art's jet-propelled Green Monster took the title with a
speed of 434 mph. Then, in 1965, Art Arfons went on to set the world
land-speed record of 576.553 mph. Art Arfons has been inducted into the
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, the International Drag Racing Hall of
Fame, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Ohio State Tractor
Pullers Hall of Fame, the National Tractor Puller Hall of Fame, and the
Summit County Sports Hall of Fame.
Otis "Otie" Smith was another Akron hot rodding hero to come from Akron,
Ohio. An early supporter of the National Hot Rod Association, Smith was
running the regional NHRA races in his hometown before the nationals were
even established, and he raced all over the Midwest, as well as Florida,
Maine, and California. By his own estimation, he went on to compete in about
100 NHRA events in his 13-year career, which included being named the 1959
Middle Eliminator winner at the National Hot Rod Association Nationals in
Detroit. In addition, he was the first president of the Akron Cam Jammers
car club, and was the proprietor of Otie's Automotive in Kenmore, Ohio.
Along with the Arfons and Smith, "Akron" Arlen Vanke was another local hot
rodding legend. He won innumerable races in the Stock, Super Stock, and Pro
Stock classes over the course of his career, and was hired by Chrysler while
still racing to help test their performance technology. In 1971, he became a
member of the United States Racing Team, an organization consisting of the
top names in Pro Stock racing, which exhibited across the country until
1972.
 
I remember Akron Arlen yelled at me for lighting up a cutting torch with in
50 feet of his Pro Stock car (1973) in a shop. He later apologies for
yelling, but said don't do it again.
 
Remember driving past Art Arfons shop to see if I could see anything they
were working on.
 
 
Larry (memories) - Cleveland
-------------- next part --------------
   Local Ohio drag racing legends Art and Walt Arfons, Otis "Otie" Smith,
   and "Akron" Arlen Vanke will be the subjects of an Ohio Historical
   Marker plaque dedication on Father's Day, June 19th, at the Akron
   Fulton Airport to honor their contributions and innovations in the drag
   racing industry. The plaque will rest at the spot where the four
   renowned drag racers first began their careers in the early 1950s. At
   that time, Fulton Airport runway was the first National Hot Rod
   Association sanctioned drag race track east of the Mississippi.

   This will be the first Historical Marker dedicated to racing of any
   kind in Ohio, and comes thanks to the efforts of the group Akron Race
   Legends, headed by Randy Lipscomb, with further assistance from Paul
   Suloff, Bob Jones, John Stevenson, and Ken Andrus. "This is the spot
   where these local heroes became drag racing innovators back in the '50s
   and '60s," said Lipscomb, "and we believe that honoring these racing
   pioneers is long overdue."

   <a
   href="http://www5.smartadserver.com/ac?jump=1&nwid=1775&siteid=97808&pg
   name=home_ros&fmtid=39541&visit=m&tmstp=[timestamp]&out=nonrich"
   target="_blank">< img
   src="http://www5.smartadserver.com/ac?out=nonrich&nwid=1775&siteid=9780
   8&pgname=home_ros&fmtid=39541&visit=m&tmstp=[timestamp]" border="0"
   alt=""/></a>

   In addition to the ceremony, the group will also be hosting a car show,
   which begins at 4PM. There will be food, entertainment, and dozens of
   classic cars from all around Ohio in attendance. The dedication itself
   will begin at 5PM, and features Ohio Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor as
   the key note speaker. State Representative Greta Johnson, 35th House
   District, will also address the audience.

   Relatives of the former hot-rodders will be in attendance: Tim Arfons
   and Dusty Arfons-Spraggins (son and daughter of Art Arfons), Terry
   Arfons (son of Walt Arfons), Billy Smith (son of Otis Smith), and Craig
   Vanke (son of Arlen Vanke).

   Both of the Arfons, who are half-brothers, were early pioneers of fast
   vehicles. In 1964, a car designed by Walt Arfons, and driven by Tom
   Green, called the Wingfoot Express set the world land-speed record of
   413 mph. Three days later, Art's jet-propelled Green Monster took the
   title with a speed of 434 mph. Then, in 1965, Art Arfons went on to set
   the world land-speed record of 576.553 mph. Art Arfons has been
   inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, the
   International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, the International Motorsports
   Hall of Fame, the Ohio State Tractor Pullers Hall of Fame, the National
   Tractor Puller Hall of Fame, and the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame.

   Otis "Otie" Smith was another Akron hot rodding hero to come from
   Akron, Ohio. An early supporter of the National Hot Rod Association,
   Smith was running the regional NHRA races in his hometown before the
   nationals were even established, and he raced all over the Midwest, as
   well as Florida, Maine, and California. By his own estimation, he went
   on to compete in about 100 NHRA events in his 13-year career, which
   included being named the 1959 Middle Eliminator winner at the National
   Hot Rod Association Nationals in Detroit. In addition, he was the first
   president of the Akron Cam Jammers car club, and was the proprietor of
   Otie's Automotive in Kenmore, Ohio.

   Along with the Arfons and Smith, "Akron" Arlen Vanke was another local
   hot rodding legend. He won innumerable races in the Stock, Super Stock,
   and Pro Stock classes over the course of his career, and was hired by
   Chrysler while still racing to help test their performance technology.
   In 1971, he became a member of the United States Racing Team, an
   organization consisting of the top names in Pro Stock racing, which
   exhibited across the country until 1972.


   I remember Akron Arlen yelled at me for lighting up a cutting torch
   with in 50 feet of his Pro Stock car (1973) in a shop. He later
   apologies for yelling, but said don't do it again.


   Remember driving past Art Arfons shop to see if I could see anything
   they were working on.



   Larry (memories) - Cleveland