Don Lorentzen’s ’57 Chevy bracket car ran all three of the major Southern California tracks in the late ‘60s. The Jack Bayer built 427 powered car from J. & S. Speed Center in Westminster was always in contention with Don driving.

In 1972, Don brought out this immaculate ’69 Camaro that he used in local Pro Stock races for the next six seasons. When the timeframe ran out on the older Camaros at NHRA, the AHRA took over OCIR and they were much more ‘liberal’ about rules.

Quoting Dean Tait, a former Pennzoil National rep.: “I drove the Tait & Laughlin front engine dragster. It was the first A/ED at OCIR and had a 482 big block Chevy out of Kenny Laughlin’s famous ’56 T-Bird. Our best e.t. was 7.72 at 172.60 MPH! Kenny then put the motor/trans into his new A/Gas Vega with me driving. I drove the Vega in brackets at OCIR, but once we got it to go straight, Kenny took over driving again.

“My best E.T. with the Dick Landy Dart was a 9.43 at 147.50 MPH. We were runner-up to Bill Bagshaw at the March Meet one year. We ran the West Coast mainly due to $$$ and did OK I guess for a four-speed car.”