Some cool Keystone history.

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pittsburghracer

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I’m not attending this weekend’s Nostalgia race at keystone as I have a busy race schedule coming up to end the year but this race is one of the local favorites. It always drawls a nice car count and lots of spectators. I found this to be pretty cool for my local track.


As we get ready for this weekend's GIS Automotive PID/KRP Nostalgia Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment, we also celebrate Keystone Raceway Park's 55 year history. One particular historic event took place here 50 years ago when on October 22, 1972 "T.V." Tommy Ivo laid down the first 5 second Top Fuel pass to become the charter member of the Cragar 5 Second Club. Tommy wanted to pass along this message about that historic event.....

"For the first part of my racing career, before I started professionally touring the country full time, we were always pushing the envelope. We accomplished the first 8 second run, as well as the first 170 & 180 mph records on gas. Then we were the first to break the 7 second barrier and the first to run 190 mph on fuel to become the "baddest bear in the woods" at the time.

But on October 22, 1972 the stars aligned once again and we broke the 5 second barrier at Keystone Raceway Park. Fifty years ago a warm track was the ticket for the best traction but it was also hard to make horsepower at the same time. The early part of the event was a nice, warm day but a very cold front rolled in late afternoon and the horsepower got a huge lift of it on that warm track, and one of those magic moments in the 30 years that I raced 31 cars in 12 classes for, came to fruition and one of the handful of special events in my racing career was achieved."

*Trivia Note: Tommy's first 7 second run at San Gabriel happened on Oct. 27, 1962...and almost exactly 10 years later is when he broke the 5 second barrier!

While Tommy cannot be at Keystone to celebrate his historic run, he sends his best wishes to everyone for a great weekend of nostalgia racing and thanks all his fans for their support! Please check out Tommy's webiste for highlights of his television, movie, and racing career here... Tommy Ivo Official Website

And special thanks to Tommy for sharing some photos, including the picture of him receiving a color painting and jacket from NHRA's Wally Parks and Cragar Pres. Tom Shedden as the first entrant of the Cragar 5 Second Club, as well as a shot of his trophy room where that picture proudly hangs today!
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I’m not attending this weekend’s Nostalgia race at keystone as I have a busy race schedule coming up to end the year but this race is one of the local favorites. It always drawls a nice car count and lots of spectators. I found this to be pretty cool for my local track.


As we get ready for this weekend's GIS Automotive PID/KRP Nostalgia Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment, we also celebrate Keystone Raceway Park's 55 year history. One particular historic event took place here 50 years ago when on October 22, 1972 "T.V." Tommy Ivo laid down the first 5 second Top Fuel pass to become the charter member of the Cragar 5 Second Club. Tommy wanted to pass along this message about that historic event.....

"For the first part of my racing career, before I started professionally touring the country full time, we were always pushing the envelope. We accomplished the first 8 second run, as well as the first 170 & 180 mph records on gas. Then we were the first to break the 7 second barrier and the first to run 190 mph on fuel to become the "baddest bear in the woods" at the time.

But on October 22, 1972 the stars aligned once again and we broke the 5 second barrier at Keystone Raceway Park. Fifty years ago a warm track was the ticket for the best traction but it was also hard to make horsepower at the same time. The early part of the event was a nice, warm day but a very cold front rolled in late afternoon and the horsepower got a huge lift of it on that warm track, and one of those magic moments in the 30 years that I raced 31 cars in 12 classes for, came to fruition and one of the handful of special events in my racing career was achieved."

*Trivia Note: Tommy's first 7 second run at San Gabriel happened on Oct. 27, 1962...and almost exactly 10 years later is when he broke the 5 second barrier!

While Tommy cannot be at Keystone to celebrate his historic run, he sends his best wishes to everyone for a great weekend of nostalgia racing and thanks all his fans for their support! Please check out Tommy's webiste for highlights of his television, movie, and racing career here... Tommy Ivo Official Website

And special thanks to Tommy for sharing some photos, including the picture of him receiving a color painting and jacket from NHRA's Wally Parks and Cragar Pres. Tom Shedden as the first entrant of the Cragar 5 Second Club, as well as a shot of his trophy room where that picture proudly hangs today!View attachment 1715989530View attachment 1715989531View attachment 1715989532View attachment 1715989533View attachment 1715989534View attachment 1715989535

Such an iconic picture of Tommy Ivo's car!

I had a poster of this years ago.

It looks the the same one as in the pic above , lower right of the coca cola lamp.

Thanks for posting Pitsburgracer!!
 
Such a great post, Pittsburghracer. Thanks for sharing and I'll bet you have a few interesting stores yourself. Thanks again and good luck on your racing.
 
My wife and I are taking the Dart to the cruise-in today. It will be the first time ever at Keystone. Really looking forward to the racing.
 
This is great. I get to ask my geographic great-grandson, a did you know something. He digs history and geography
 
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