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George Montgomery (drag racer)

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George Montgomery (January 27, 1933 – August 24, 2023), nicknamed Ohio George, was an American gasser drag racer.[1]

Montgomery began drag racing as a teen,[2] learning mechanical skills at the AC Delco plant in Dayton, Ohio, he would later use to build the supercharger on his 390 cu in (6 L) Cadillac; he would mate a Cragar 4-71 manifold to a GMC 6-71 blower, and hand-fabricated the drive pulleys.[3]

In 1950, he opened George's Speed Shop, which would ultimately earn the distinction of being the oldest continuously-operated speed shop in the U.S.[4]

He got the nickname "Ohio George" from Tim Woods, owner of the Stone-Woods-Cook Willys gasser, at the 1963 Nationals in Indianapolis.[5]

Montgomery won an NHRA national title in a gas class seven times, once in A/G, four in A/GS, and twice in AA/G (supercharged).[6] He was also thrice Gas Eliminator champion,[7] meaning he had the quickest gasser at the meet.

At Detroit Dragway in 1959, his first appearance at a national event,[8] he drove his Cadillac-powered 1933 Willys to an A/G win, with a pass of 11.94 seconds at 124.65 mph (200.60 km/h); he also took Little Eliminator.[9] He repeated at Detroit in A/GS in 1960, with a pass of 12.36 seconds at 107.65 mph (173.25 km/h); he again took Little Eliminator.[10]

In 1961, at Indianapolis Raceway Park, he took the A/GS title with a pass of 10.91 seconds at 130.63 mph (210.23 km/h).[11]

Changing classes to AA/G, Montgomery won again at Indianapolis in 1963, now with Chevrolet power[12] (and a magnesium-cased supercharger)[13] Facing the well-known Stone-Woods-Cook gasser (driven by Doug Cook) in "the race of the meet", Montgomery recorded a pass of 10.45 seconds at 129.00 mph (207.61 km/h), and also took Middle Eliminator.[14] By taking the Eliminator, Montgomery became the first driver in NHRA to win it three times.[15]

He repeated the class win there in 1964, with a pass of 10.20 seconds at 138.88 mph (223.51 km/h).[16]

Changing classes, and to supercharged 427 SOHC power in AA/G, for 1966, Montgomery again won the national title at Indianapolis, turning in a pass of 9.58 seconds at 153.58 mph (247.16 km/h).[17] He repeated the win there in 1967, clocking 8.92 seconds at 134.32 mph (216.17 km/h).[18]

Montgomery also drove the AA/G Ford Prefect he named The Gasser Passer.[19]

In 1967, Montgomery was offered a new fiberglass-bodied Ford Mustang (to go with the 427),[20] and promptly retired the ill-handling Willys.[21] The Mustang gave him Super Eliminator wins with passes in the mid eights at speeds over 160 mph (260 km/h).[22]

Montgomery took the AA/GS title at Indy in 1968, also setting new gasser records for low e.t. and top speed (8.56/171 mph (275 km/h), as well as the award for "Best Engineered".[23]

In 1969, he introduced a fiberglass copy of the new Mustang, at first with the 427 SOHC, later with a 450 cu in (7 L) version of the Boss 429.[24] While Montgomery was unimpressed with the Shotgun engine, it nevertheless powered the Mustang to a Super Eliminator win at that year's Nationals, beating the AA/A roadster of Ron Ellis.[25]

The Mr Gasket- and Chapman Race Products-sponsored Mustang, now with twin Schwitzer turbochargers, would give Montgomery a class win again at the Nationals in 1971, with an 8.50 second pass.[26]

During the "gasser wars", he was a continuing favorite among touring match racers, often facing "Big John" Mazmanian and match racer K. S. Pittman, among others.[27][28]

He would close his regular racing career in 1975, as the popularity of gassers faded, switching to driving a turbocharged Ford Pinto, but only occasionally, until 1986.[29]

In 2000, he and his son, Gregg, were refurbishing Buick V6 engines used in Indy Lights racing.[30]

Montgomery was also inducted to the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame.[31]

Montgomery was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on March 17, 2020.[32]

George Montgomery died on August 24, 2023, at 90.[33]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Davis, Larry. Gasser Wars (Cartech, 2003), pp.180-8.
  2. ^ Hardin, Drew. "Remembering Gasser Legend 'Ohio George' Mongomery". Hot Rod Magazine, January 2024, p.8
  3. ^ Hardin, p.9.
  4. ^ Hardin, p.9.
  5. ^ Hardin, p.8
  6. ^ Davis, p.180-7.
  7. ^ Davis, pp.181-3.
  8. ^ Hardin, p.9 caption
  9. ^ Davis, p.181.
  10. ^ Davis, pp.181-2.
  11. ^ Davis, p.182.
  12. ^ Motorsport.com Archived 2018-09-22 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 21 September 2018)
  13. ^ Hardin, p.9.
  14. ^ Davis, p.183; Motorsport.com Archived 2018-09-22 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 21 September 2018).
  15. ^ Hardin, p.8
  16. ^ Davis, p.183.
  17. ^ Davis, p.185.
  18. ^ Davis, p.185.
  19. ^ Davis, p.187.
  20. ^ Hardin, p.9
  21. ^ Motorsport.com Archived 2018-09-22 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 21 September 2018)
  22. ^ Motorsport.com Archived 2018-09-22 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 21 September 2018)
  23. ^ Hardin, p.9 caption.
  24. ^ Hardin, p.9.
  25. ^ Hardin, p.9 caption.
  26. ^ Hardin, p.9.
  27. ^ Motorsport.com Archived 2018-09-22 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 21 September 2018)
  28. ^ Hardin, p.9.
  29. ^ Hardin, p.9.
  30. ^ Hardin, p.9.
  31. ^ Motorsport.com Archived 2018-09-22 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 21 September 2018)
  32. ^ 2020 Inductees at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
  33. ^ Early NHRA gasser star, Indy winner "Ohio George" Montgomery passes away

Sources

[edit]
  • Davis, Larry. Gasser Wars, North Branch, MN: Cartech, 2003, pp. 180–8.
  • Hardin, Drew. "Remembering Gasser Legend 'Ohio George' Mongomery". Hot Rod Magazine, January 2024, pp. 8-9.
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