Great Bend, Kansas, is no doubt best remembered by drag racing fans as the site of the very first NHRA Nationals. As such, it has been designated by the State of Kansas as a historical site.

(As an aside, this first national drag race was rained out before top eliminator was crowned. It was reconvened elsewhere and won by Calvin Rice in a flathead powered dragster. Calvin Rice's team had a supercharged Chrysler engine, too, but the flathead was quicker. Boy, those days are gone!)

When the Denver Flatheaders met on this hallowed ground in 1997, they were almost rained out, too. Almost.

There were several cars running turbochargers. This is Gary Light's "Purple People Eater."

Larry Whetstone is the owner of this dragster. Unfortunately, he had a bit of a mishap before I got to see the car make a pass.

Wayne Lichtenwalter's turbocharged '47 Ford coupe.

The Lichtenwalters' dragster with a 471 blower.

Some other cars that caught my eye.

Back to Flathead Index