Tucson Dragway

Featured Driver
Doug Wachter

Doug Wachter in front of Larry Long’s 34 Ford

Our featured driver is Doug Wachter of Tucson Arizona. Doug is among the many grass roots racers who race for fun. What better reason is there…

Doug began racing at Tucson Dragway, right after high school. He began running his ‘35 Ford pick up after replacing the 1948 flathead with a 303ci Olds engine and a Hydramatic transmission tied to a Olds rear end. This combination was later replaced by a 324ci Olds with a Ford T-10 4 speed and 4.56 gears. His best time was 14.99 at 101 MPH. More often than not, Doug won his class at Tucson Dragway, C/Gas.

Doug making another pass in his '35 Ford Pick Up

Doug later bought a 1951 Anglia, minus engine, transmission and rear end, for $300. Initially Doug equipped the car with a 303ci flathead supplied by Larry Long hooked to a Ford 4 speed and a 57’ Olds 4.56 rear end. This was later replaced with an L88/427 Chevy and TH400 supplied by Steve Hammond. The best time for this car was an 11.80 pass made at Beeline Dragway against Johnny Loper in A/Gas.

Doug in action…

Although the ‘35 Ford pick up and the ’51 Anglia are the ones Doug raced the most and had the most fun with, he also raced several other cars including a '32 Ford Roadster (flathead), '34 Ford 5 Win (flathead), 1950 Harley Davidson Pan Head, '53 Ford pick up (455 Buick), '55 Chevy coupe (292 S.B.) and a '68 SS Chevelle.

Doug and his '32 Ford

Doug and his '68 Chevelle

We can’t forget those that helped Doug make it to the track to race each week. They include Larry Long (who still has the Ford 5 window coupe), Steve Hammond (who currently drives a 1970 1/2 Z28 with a blown Small Block) and Mike Terrell who ran a '38 Chevy Sedan Delivery with a big block Chevy (which Doug later bought). A quick note here, the ‘38 Chevy Sedan Delivery was featured in the May 30/31, 1980 issue of the “Tucson Dragway News”. All are still good friends after all these years. Others include Larry Smith and Carol & Dave Kaercher (they raced a '57 Chevy called Strip Teaser).

The '38 Chevy Doug bought from Mike Terrell

(L to R) Mike Terrell, Steve Hammond & Milton Aragon

Larry Long and his 34 Ford

One last photo... This is Doug with his Corvette

If you know Doug or maybe you were one of his “victims”, drop him an e-mail at: dwach22351@aol.com. I’m sure he would enjoy hearing from you.

This page was lasted updated on August 29, 2004

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