As the night descended on Dave and Sandy’s backyard, the fireworks, which were being lit and sent into air by the comedy duo of Honda Doug and Shooter Doug, was reaching critical mass. Suddenly, an LA County Sheriff helicopter appeared above out of nowhere, searchlight on and aiming back and forth at all of us while screaming down to us mixed into the roar of rotor blades. This didn’t stop Honda or Shooter at all, and soon the helicopter was circling and dodging the illegal fireworks that volleyed into the air. A plethora of black and white Chevy Novas then converged at the front of the house wanting some explanations and answers of what was being fired at their helicopter!

It was certainly a different time and a different world back then when compared to today, but being the youngest. (I was 17 at the time) I was given the duty of fending off the officers at the front door and my first thought was that I’m going to jail for the first time in my life and my parents are going to kill me! Thankfully, none of us went to jail or were cited that night but we were given a stern warning to quiet it down, as the neighbors were getting upset. Still, you just couldn’t help but love this crowd!

When it came to drag racing, on the track I can’t ever seem to remember one dirty or unmaintained LA Hooker or Condit Brothers race car, whether it be their legendary orange and gold Mach I Mustang; one of the most beautiful funny cars to ever grace the track in the Kenny Youngblood-designed LA Hooker Mustang II, and then on to the simply awesome Plymouth Arrow and Dodge Omni funny cars that would eventually close out their careers all too soon.

All of these cars were easily warranting best appearing honors where ever they would go, whether it be local tracks like Lions, Irwindale and Orange County to most every obscure track in the country while racing with the Coca-Cola Cavalcade of Stars, but perhaps the greatest moment in Condit history was when Dave piloted the Plueger & Gyger Donovan-powered Mach I Mustang to an upset victory over Ed McCulloch at the 1974 Supernationals at Ontario, California. This was a gutsy, hard-earned win that most anyone will remember as one of the more shining moments in their years at the track.

Off the track, Dave was more than just a drag racing lover of life, he was more a great family man. Meeting and eventually marrying Sandy, they adopted two sons and raised them well. Sadly, Sandy passed away from lupus in 2001. Dave continued to raise their boys, Ryan and Anthony, and eventually moved to Bullhead City, Arizona, upon retirement.

In honor of the Condits’ accomplishments, but more out of the great friendship over the years, Steve Plueger honored Dave and Steve, as well as their cousin, the late Gene Beaver, by naming one of his nostalgia funny cars, LA Hooker, with plans to do a more recognizable tribute to the car in the future -- more than likely with one of the Mach I bodies, or perhaps the Condit Brothers Arrow (to be determined). I know Dave and Steve both were thrilled by this. It was/is a fitting tribute.

Sadly, what it will be missing is the driver that made terror for his opponents on the track, as well as friends off of it. I do believe that Dave was one of the best, and years of match racing and the Coca-Cola Cavalcade helped form him into a complete funny car pilot.

I will long remember the first time Steve gave me an order to wash the car as well as make sure Dave’s safety helmet and trademark black fire mask and goggles were spotless. When it went back into its helmet bag finished, I was sure I missed a spot, took it out and repeated the same. There was no way in Hell that Dave Condit wasn’t going to look his best! For a drag racing youth of 15 years of age in Southern California, I had the greatest job of all!

This last week, I lost my hero -- my very last one -- but I got to re-live a lot of great memories and pay thanks in my prayers to the people that kept me in the mix; invited me into their home and gifted me with some of the greatest experiences I’ve had in my now 52 years. Dave was a fearless driver who could put his race face on and still come out of the car smiling or joking, win or lose.

Legendary Funny Car driver, Dale Pulde told to me, “Racing against Dave was simply the best. He was one of my oldest friends in Drag racing. We grew up together in a sense, but yet, I still wanted to beat him and he wanted to beat me. We were total competitors while in the cars. When the race was over, we would be out of the cars and laughing it up talking about the run in such detail that it seemed as if the 6-1/2 seconds was 6-1/2 hours. He was family to me. In fact, Ma and Pa would always sit with my dad up in the stands at the races. We were like one big family.”

While many of the emails and on-line tributes pass on great regret and sorrow of the passing of another great drag racing veteran, this is not the Condit way.  You see, life to them should be a celebration, and in true Condit fashion, it’s time for a party.

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