Just a day at the office -> labor of love -> FINISHED!

[wdfifteen]

If you remember Car Craft and Hot Rod magazines from the 1960s you probably remember "Ohio" George Montgomery and the Gasser Wars. About a year and half ago a writer pitched me the idea of a book about “Ohio” George. It looked like just another book project to me, albeit with an interesting subject. Ho hum. But six months later this “writer” had pissed off George and gotten thrown off the project after only getting about ¼ of a book done. I reluctantly took the project over – I already had plenty to do and George was rumored to be a cranky old cuss.
George and I really hit it off after a few visits, and I subsequently spent many hours video recording interviews with him. I loved listening to his tales of the early days of drag racing. He is an engineering genius and I loved hearing about how he solved engineering problems. There I was, little ol’ me, laughing and yucking it up with one of the icons of of my youth. Sometimes I almost had to pinch myself. It was the most fun I’ve ever had writing a book. AND IT’S FINALLY FINISHED!
George is so happy with the book he’s taking me down to visit Don Garlits in June. He thinks Don needs to have me write a book about him. There are already several books about Don, so it won’t likely happen, but it will be fun to go talk to him. I can't wait to see these two together.

The story of how the famous Malco Gasser came about is one of George's tales:

“After a successful season with the Ford Cammer engine and the Ford C6 transmission in the Willys, Ford invited George to display the car at its motorsports banquet in Detroit as a centerpiece. At the event, Charlie Gray, head of Ford Racing, introduced George to Don Frey, a vice president at Ford. As they looked at the Willys, the skeptical Ford executive remarked, “Don’t we sell Fords?”
The Ford official’s simple question sent George’s career off on yet another trajectory.
Gassers had evolved from street rods and had traditionally been built with advanced mechanical components in coupe bodies from the 1930s, ‘40s, or ‘50s. George thought Frey’s comment meant he would prefer to see Ford’s engine winning in an old Ford bodied hot rod. With their long wheelbase and heavier weight, no Ford would be as competitive as the Willys. In fact, he had moved from the ‘34 Ford to the Willys to improve his competitiveness. He didn’t have long to contemplate this shocking comment before a conversation with Charlie Gray confronted him with an even more stunning problem.
“Charlie asked me, 'Did you hear what he said? We need to get you into a Ford,'” recalled George.*
I asked him, “Do you mean something like a ’40 Ford? That’s a terrible car!”
“No, no,” he replied, “Something we sell today. We need you in a Mustang.”
And the concept of a Gasser with a modern body was born.



The book available in our bookstore web site. It's also for sale on ebay and it's going up on Amazon in a couple of days. If you would like a copy send me a PM and I'll work up a "friends and family" deal for you.
edit: I got the website set up with a "Friends and Family" deal. Retail is $34.95. Use the coupon code "PPOT" at checkout and get the book for at a reduced price and free shipping.

"Ohio George" Montgomery Drag Racing's Gasser King — Ertel Gift Shop

[bkreigsr]

I saw Ohio George a bunch here at Englishtown Raceway back in the day. Seemed like a genuine results orientated racer. Out of the 5 or 6 times he came out for the Nationals or Regionals, he never failed to qualify, and always finished the meet intact. He had a huge following in NJ.
Seemed like every time he visited he would be matched up against Jungle George Liberman - good stuff.
Congratulations on the book - I'm in.
(I also have a connection with a 'Mr. Gasket' car. I was pit crew for Dale Welch's, Kansas City Bomber, top-fuel car whenever he did the east coast tour.)
Bill K

[motion]

Wow, very nice accomplishment. Congrats!

[Weaver]

Very cool!
George built the Indy Lights Buick V6s when I was a mechanic at Tasman Motorsports from '95 to '98. I know he had the contract well before then, but I'm not 100% of the dates. Went to his shop a few times to pick up engines, some really cool stuff hiding under covers there.
Good guy, his son (I think his name is Mike?) seemed to be a good guy too.
I'll probably pick up a copy go the book!

[wdfifteen]

They still have some Buick engines laying around the shop. The amount of incredible stuff they have just laying around in unbelievable - like a 494 cubic inch aluminum block Ford Can-Am engine. Just lying there.

Here is George and Gregg with some Indy Lights engines. They started IL work in 1985. (It's all in the book )

[onewhippedpuppy]

Very cool, congrats!

[KFC911]

I get the feeling you REALLY enjoy your work projects Patrick . Amazingly cool stuff there....congrats!

[wdfifteen]

I got the website set up with a "Friends and Family" price. Retail is $34.99. Use the coupon code "PPOT " at checkout and get the book for at a reduced price and free shipping.

[Weaver]

Just ordered my copy. Thanks!

[herr_oberst]

If you were a kid who loved drag racing in the '60 and '70's like me, then you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of this book. Patrick has done an exemplary job sifting through the hours of interviews to put together the biography of one of the giants of the glory days of drag racing.

I literally couldn't put it down - I read it in one long evening. The story is amazing, the man was bigger than life and whip smart, with a single-mindedness and a gift for innovation and detail that allowed him to become a big star among great stars...and when his racing career was over, he transitioned into a sought after and successful engine builder!

This book is well written and illustrated with oodles of great photography from the days of drag racing where innovation was much more important than cash by the barrel.

The fact that Patrick is offering a sweetheart deal to Pelican bloggers makes this a no brainer - buy this book, you won't be sorry!

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Having spent a good 10 minutes or two messing with your "malco" hotrod from what you have posted recently-- From a photoshop perspective, how you incorporated it on the cover looks great. Nice job with shadowing btw!