Tommy Greer - Don Prudhomme
- Keith Black
As far as anyone knows, this is the very first shot taken of
the new car/team that took drag racing by storm starting in 1962.
With its yellow body (the car
also ran with a red/orange paint scheme), chassis by Kent Fuller
and a 392 Chrysler engine from the mind of Keith Black, the Greer,
Black & Prudhomme dragster cranked out some of the best times
of the era, including an unbelievable 7.77 second elapsed time
at over 191 miles per hour in 1964. Then, at the end of their
remarkable two year run, the team basically disbanded, with Tommy
Greer going into drag boats, while Keith Black became just
an engine builder and not a car owner and Prudhomme, well,
he went on to have a moderately successful career in the sport
of drag racing as both a driver and a car owner and thats
not too bad for a kid who started out as a car painter in Southern
California. And, coincidentally, one of the first cars that he
painted just happened to be this Greer, Black and Prudhomme yellow
dragster.
"Greer, Black & Prudhomme"
- AA/FD - Fontana, 1963. This shot of the car gives a true aspect
of just how short it was.
Keith Black runs behind the car
as Prudhomme moves up to stage at Lions, 1964.
If this car looks strangely familiar its because it used to belong
to the lesser known team of Tommy Greer, Keith Black and Don
Prudhomme. Somehow the "magic" didn't get sold with
the car. "Reno Auto Wrecking" - AA/FD - Lions, 1967
- after this the car went into "the rafters" until
Davis restored in in 1968.
The restoration
of this incredible piece of drag racing history was left in the
hands of Steve Davis - who was not new at this game and remains
to this day as one of the premier car restorers on the planet.
Steve's attention to detail is only rivaled by Bruce Dyda and
Pat Foster.
Needless to say, a popular stop
in the CHRR pits is Steve Davis' restored "Greer-Black-Prudhomme"
Fuller car along with the recreated Keith Black 1958 Ranchero
for a push car. Class act all the way.
"Pete" Garramone
Photo
Early Saturday morning of the
2000 CHRR the crown jewels of the restored "Fuller Fleet"
were rolled out to the track for a photo shoot. Photos don't
do this scene justice at all! "The Magicar" -- "The
Vagabond" -- "Greer-Black-Prudhomme" -- "Western
Mfg. Special".
Steve Davis in the car
for Cacklefest One
Cacklefest One - Davis takes
his spot on the fabled 1/4 mile at Fomosa Dragway (more commonly
known as Bakersfield). Although the car was officially retired
after the 2005 Cacklefest, it will forever remain a champion
then and a champion now. It will be on display at the Wally Parks
NHRA Motorsports Museum for years to come... hopefully.
Davis going to and in
his spot at the 2001 Cacklefest.
Steve Davis in the Pre
2004 Cacklefest parade.
Final appearance for the GBP
car for a while was the 2004 Cacklefest. It was, until 2007,
retired by its owner. It's now back in action at selected events.
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