Say Goodbye to Art Chrisman
By
Art Chrisman was a giant in motorsports racing and a friend to many. He passed away earlier this year, and on Aug. 27, 2016 his family and friends gathered at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum to give him the kind of send-off he would have appreciated. The museum staff, composed of Director Larry Fisher, Historian and curator Greg Sharp, Board Member Steve Gibbs, Rose Dickinson, Wayne Phillips and others set up 300 chairs for guests. Approximately 450 guests arrived for the 1 PM Celebration of Life for Art Chrisman. They filled the North wing of the museum and overflowed into the museum proper. Steve Gibbs was in charge of the Celebration of Life. Dave McClelland was the narrator and conductor. Greg Sharp wrote a moving tribute in the program, which also included photographs of Art.
Sharp’s eulogy began, “Hot Rodding’s Renaissance man Art Chrisman passed away July 5th after valiantly battling cancer for more than six years. Rarely can one man build a racing chassis from the ground up, or the metalwork, paint it, build the engine that supplies record breaking power, tune it to perfection, and drive the results of his handiwork to victory. Art Chrisman could do all that and more. It would be impossible to list all or even most of Chrisman’s accomplishments in this space. In fact his friend Tom Madigan took over 200 pages to tell the family story in his book, 'The Chrisman Legacy: Always Faster.' Truly a pioneer of the drag racing sport, Chrisman street-raced near his Compton, California home until the first legal dragstrip opened at nearby Santa Ana in 1950. His self-customized ’36 Ford 4-door sedan that he raced at Santa Ana was featured in Hot Rod Magazine in 1951, beginning a string of projects that graced five Hot Rod covers in the 1950s as well as countless stories in virtually every enthusiast magazine on the stands. With his dad Evert and his older brother Lloyd, Chrisman and Sons Garage was operated for over 15 years. His late uncle Jack, a future drag racing champion himself, owned a service station on the same property completing this drag racing dynasty.”
Sharp continued, “In 1952, Art helped cam grinder Chet Herbert build his ‘Beast III’ streamliner for the Bonneville National Speed Trials. Thanks to a 235.991 mph pass, Art was one of the first five Americans to exceed 200 mph and thus become a charter member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club. He was the last living charter member. Art and Lloyd then built a radically modified mid-engine ’30 Model A Ford that was billed as ‘The Most Fantastic Coupe!’ on the February 1954 Hot Rod cover. Art drove it nearly 200 mph at Bonneville in 1955. Chrisman enjoyed tremendous success with the two dragsters his name is closely associated with. His famed No. 25 dragster, converted from a dry lakes modified dating back to the 1930’s, was the first to exceed 140 mph (in 1953); it appeared on the May 1953 cover of Hot Rod, and made the very first run at the first NHRA Nationals at Great Bend, Kansas in 1955. When old No. 25 began to get outrun by the newer slingshot dragsters, a sleek new machine called the Hustler emerged from Chrisman and Sons Garage, and was soon after named ‘Best Engineered’ at the 1958 NHRA Nationals. It appeared on the Jan. 1959 cover of Hot Rod and a month later scorched the strip on the back straightaway of Riverside Raceway at 181.81 mph, making Art the first drag racer to exceed 180 mph. In March, after dozens of runs, Art drove the Hustler to the Top Eliminator title at the first Bakersfield U. S. Fuel and Gas Championships (the famed Smokers March Meet).
“No doubt,” Greg Sharp wrote, “there would have been much more racing success had he not accepted a position with Ford’s Autolite Spark Plug Division in 1962. He travelled the country working in all forms of racing including NASCAR, USAC Indy cars, NHRA drag racing and Bonneville. Before data recorders and computers, men like Art Chrisman advised mechanics on tune-ups based on their expertise at reading spark plugs. Few ever did it better. After ten years, Ford sold off Autolite Division and Art turned to dynamometer installation and operation. In the early ‘80’s, he partnered with his son Mike to form Chrisman’s Auto Rod Specialties (CARS) in Santa Ana, just a stone’s throw from the site of the first run over 140 mph he made at the Santa Ana Drags four decades earlier. They have since turned out dozens of magazine quality race cars and hot rods. He has built countless engines including those for Jamie Musselman’s 1982 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster winner; Bruce Meyer’s restored Greer, Black and Prudhomme dragster, the aluminum Donovan Chevy for Dennis Varni’s 1992 AMBR winner, and the ZZ-Top Cadzilla. In 1994, together with very talented hot rodders Steve Davis, Tony Nancy and ‘Junior’ Conway, Art and Mike built Joe MacPherson’s AMBR-winning Infinity Flyer roadster.”
Sharp concluded his comments with, “Perhaps no family has had more influence on hot rodding and straight line racing branches than the Chrismans. In the ‘50s and ‘60s the Chrismans were to drag racing what the Andrettis and Unsers were to the Indy 500 and the Pettys to NASCAR. He was a member of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, the Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame, the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame and last year received the Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award. He is survived by Dorothy, his wife of more than sixty years, son Mike, two granddaughters and a grandson.”
Dave McClelland’s soft and low Southern accent intoned, “Once I drooled at the thought of driving the #25 car, and when I asked Art gave me the keys. When I returned the keys I told him that it was the roughest ride I have ever driven. Art went 156 mph in that car,” he told the laughing audience.
Art’s granddaughter, Kelly Chrisman Johnson, had her grandfather’s name tattooed on her back. She told the gathering, “I want to thank all of you for coming today and for your support and cards. Today is a bittersweet day for us as we say goodbye to one of the humblest and most respected in the racing community. He was respectful of others and stubborn too, but he couldn’t resist the little ones. He loved most his children and grandchildren and he knew how to give us his full love. Once we took his golf cart without his permission and it overturned and we were sure we were going to be punished. We strained and pushed and finally got it upright and took it back hoping he wouldn’t notice, but he just looked at us with that little smile of his. He had been watching us struggle, but he didn’t interfere and he let us work it out for ourselves. My grandfather loved vacationing in Maui. He could be brusque and blunt, but he left no doubt in our minds how much he loved us.”
Kelly’s daughter and Art’s great-granddaughter, Grace Johnson (around five years old) said, “He wouldn’t smile for you, but he would smile for me.” She giggled. “Thank you very much,” little Grace said with that wonderful, youthful smile.
Bud Rasner has known Art since the 1950’s. “Mine,” he expressed, “is a story of friendship. We were close friends and we went street racing together. My partner was Tom McEwen and we had Joe Reath for a sponsor. Tom and I were in awe of the Chrisman family in Compton. I saw Art at Lions and at Bonneville. The Chrisman’s work was magical. Ford asked Art to take their Thunderbird on the Economy Run when most everyone thought it a poor project, but he made it competitive. Art took me to Marine Stadium and introduced me to Rufus Parnelli Jones, another Compton racer who won the Indy 500. I practically lived at the Chrisman house and Art invited me to come by his shop on Wednesday nights when he held an open house for his friends."
Tom Madigan, who wrote the Chrisman biography, ‘Chrisman Legacy, Always Faster,’ echoed Rasner and said, “Art loved to hang out with his friends.”
Bobby Spears told us, “Art wasn’t one to toot his own horn and he didn’t like others to do so either. At a cacklefest Art let Don Garlits light up his engine first and then he cut in on Big Daddy’s show by firing up the mighty Hustler. Garlits was not going to be shown up and kept his engine firing away and neither would Art back down. On and on the motors roared until Don had to shut off his motor or risk damage. Don told Art that he got him that time but the next time would be different. Art shrugged and said, ‘Bring your lunch.’ One time we had trailered his race car and it slid off and down into a gulley. Art told me, ‘You lost my car,' as it hadn’t been tied down securely. The two of us pushed that car back onto the road and onto the trailer.”
A huge groan rose up from the crowd as McClelland introduced the irrepressible Don Rackemann. “I met the family,” Don began, “in February of 1949 when I went to their service station and the first person to greet me was Lloyd Chrisman. ‘Hey Sonny how do you like that tinker toy of yours?’ He meant my bike, which was in need of repairs. Art said, ‘Want that bike fixed?’ Their dad, Everett, had seen my bike previously and knew exactly what parts to order and the parts were ready for Art and Lloyd to put on my bike. When we were thinking about creating Drag Racers Inc to sponsor nitro racing when NHRA put a ban on fuel the organizers said, ‘Before we do let’s go ask Art.’ He thought about it for a moment and then told us to go ahead. ‘Everybody that I know will join,’ he said to us. The Smokers car club organized a nitro race in Bakersfield in March and it was a huge success. We stayed at the El Rancho motel and every bed was turned into a workbench, though most of us hardly slept at all. It wasn’t all around the clock work; we had fun too. Art pushed a man in a suit into the pool and of course the Sheriff was called. The Sheriff walked up behind Art, who turned around and tossed the lawman into the air and into the pool. Art didn’t know it was the Sheriff at the time and his eyes were like saucers as he took off. Luckily for Art the Sheriff didn’t recognize him in the confusion.
"Art had a very subtle sense of humor,” he went on as the crowd roared in laughter at the stories Rackemann told. “I remember a time when Wally Parks saw Art push his dragster off the dragstrip when it wouldn’t fire up, sparing a long delay in the action and allowing another driver to win that round. ‘That’s the kind of gentleman you won’t ever see again,’ Parks told me,'” Rackemann finished as he sat down to cheers from the audience.
Tom McEwen was the next to speak. “Art was like a father to me and I hung out at his Compton garage all the time. I was just a kid, but he taught me to drive. One time we were driving and I ran out of gas and he took racing alcohol out of the racecar and poured it into the tank. It got us to the next town but my car was sure angry. The Chrisman boys learned mechanics from their father, Everett. There was nothing that they couldn’t do or figure out. When I grumbled to him once he said to me, ‘What do you have to complain about they made a movie out of you.’ I will sure miss him on Wednesday nights when he held an open house for his friends,” Tom reminisced.
Ed Pink came to the podium and spoke after Tom. “I knew Art enough to say Hi to him on occasion. I went to his Compton garage with a problem and he really helped me and that’s when I realized how much he knew. Art came to me and asked for a job after talking to Lou Baney. I hired Art to work on the dyno and he fixed the problem right away. He also worked on the superchargers. You can usually tell a lot about a person by their shoes. Art always came to work with his shoes shined and polished. I never met another person who did that. He was professional and meticulous in his work, which was the highest quality. I went to visit him when he was in the ICU and asked him how he was doing. He just said, ‘Damn Good.’ No matter how good or bad the situation his answer was always the same, ‘Damn Good.’ Bless Art and all the Chrisman family,” said the master engine builder as the crowd nodded agreement.
Next up was Jim Dunn who said, “I was one of the lucky ones. When I was 14 I got to drive a car. When my parents asked me what I wanted for my birthday I said speed equipment parts. I’ve met all the good mechanics, but Art was my teacher. He’d explain carefully what I needed to do and it made sense. He taught me about blowers, clutches and everything else. Don’t feel sorry for us because we are old, we were the lucky ones. But any of our wives who can last 30 years with us should go right into a Hall of Fame,” said Big Jim, to the roaring delight of the many women in the audience.
Land Speed legend Al Teague took the microphone next. “Art Chrisman was all about mentoring. Art and Big Jim Dunn taught the younger racers. Art did it all in motorsports. He won Top Eliminator at the first Smokers meet and he was a Charter Member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club. He built beautiful cars. Art would check our spark plugs at the Salt Flats and show me things I didn’t know. In his day everything was learned by the seat of your pants, there were no diagnostics to speak of then. We’ve lost a gentleman and a true innovator of the sport of racing,” Al said.
Steve Gibbs, who was instrumental in organizing the Celebration of Life, was the next to speak. “Art was a quality guy. His father was a mechanic and he started his sons off at a very young age in the family business. Art raced at Bonneville, on the Dry Lakes of Southern California and at the Santa Ana Drags. He was the first dragracer to run 180 mph in the quarter mile, which he accomplished at Riverside. We were in awe of him as kids. He won Top Eliminator at the very first Smokers Meet in Bakersfield. He was hired by Auto-Lite and he knew his spark plugs. Art was a very humble guy who loves what he does and never blows his own horn. The cars that he built were quality. He was the ultimate hot rodder. Art was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame. He was my hero, friend and like my family. I loved the guy and we will miss him,” said the soft-spoken Gibbs.
Don ‘The Snake’ Prudhomme said, “I’m part of the young generation,” which elicited loud laughing from the audience. “We went to Lion’s drag strip and we all heard about Art, who we were in awe of. I had to race Art and my foot was shaking. I don’t remember who won (more raucous laughter). We all bought our equipment at Ed Pink’s even though his prices were steep (loud laughter) because it was great quality and Art helped make it that way. He impressed me at Bakersfield with his win there. Art liked to torment Don Garlits. Art was a quiet man, at the drags, museum or his shop. He was the guy who could make things happen, and the modern racers have sadly forgotten guys like Art Chrisman,” said the Snake.
Dave McClelland introduced Gary Beck, the 2 time NHRA dragster champion from Canada. “I first met Art when his son Mike came to drive the John Rodeck car. I grew to respect Art and his skills as a mechanic. It was a little intimidating to have Art Chrisman look over your shoulder as we worked on the car. We didn’t have all the fancy rigs and equipment that racing teams have today and it wasn’t easy working on cars while on the road, but Art knew all the old-time mechanic’s tricks. I remember that famous burn down at Bakersfield between Garlits and Chrisman. They went on forever, it seemed, as the crowd roared their approval. Finally Garlits shuts down his motor and says to Art, ‘You got me now but I’ll get you later,’ and Chrisman says as he starts to turn away, ‘Pack a lunch, Don,’ and that was it.
Ron Johnson added, “I met Art and Mike at the California Hot Rod Reunion when they had their Jr Fueler there. They encouraged me to get back into Jr Fuel. It’s a family sport in that class. I had an Ivo car in the 1960’s and we built a replica Ivo car and took it to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England for exhibits and Cacklefests. We fired up the motors while dressed in our tuxedos, probably the first and last time that will happen again. Art and I had the same kind of cancer and we talked and grew closer as friends because of it. He was always a ray of sunshine to me,” said Ron.
Fast Jack Beckman, as animated as any driver this side of John Force, said, “Why did Wally Parks choose Art Chrisman to make the first run at Great Bend, Kansas in the first U. S. Nationals back in 1955? Because Art represented the best in drag racing. I went through cancer too and know how hard he fought it. Art was true drag racing royalty,” said Fast Jack. There are very few drag racers that are as committed to the history and heritage of drag racing as Beckman.
Richard Catton, Art’s much younger brother-in-law, was very close to Art. “I started to go to drag races to see Art drive the Hustler,” Catton said to the enthralled audience. “I kept bugging Dorothy to get Art to take me to the drag strips with him. One day the bugging worked and Art called and said, ‘Let’s go to the races.’ I remember he said to Mike, ‘Let’s go start the son of a bitch.’ One time I took Mike out to a nightclub after the races and he came home a bit sloshed. Art didn’t yell at me, he just said in that dry humor of his, ‘You do know that Mike is only 12 years old?’ One time Art brought a T-shirt home for Mike and he wore it to school. It had a map of all the brothels in Nevada on it!! That sure caused a lot of commotion. It never mattered who you were or how famous you might be, Art was there to help one and all. He was a fighter and he always said, ‘I’m fine’ whether he was or not,” Catton concluded.
Then Dave McClelland read a letter from an old friend and nemesis on the drag strip. “Art was a professional. He was always a quality person,” wrote Don Garlits, and the day ended just as it should have.
The crowd mingled and swirled around and slowly, ever so slowly, left the great hot rodding museum. Roger and I noticed many old friends; Mike Uribe and Fred Angelo from the Bean Bandits, Nick Arias Jr and Fred Blanchard from Arias Pistons, Orah Mae Millar and her daughter Robin Millar who keep Pete Millar’s cartooning legacy alive, Dick and Beverly Martin, Ed Osepian, Bud and Lynn Rasner, Andy Brizio, Linda Vaughn, Jim Miller, Gloria Gibbs, Cindy Gibbs Arias, Mike Kuhl, Ed Iskenderian, Sheri Watson, Lynn and Bud Rasmus, Hot Rod Sheri, Wayne Phillips, Larry Fisher, John Duran, Dave Parker, Al and Jane Teague, Mindy Frye, Scrub Hansen, Jim Murphy, Ed Justice Jr, Roy Fjastad, Dellie Reath, Jerry Kugel, Spider Razon, Justin Arias, Bob and Sharon Muravez, Walt Stevens, Bobbie Colgrove, Lewis Bloom, Steve Chrisman, and many more.