I was there to race (a' 53 Ford Flattie) the very first night Detroit Dragway was open, And I remember the first time Chrisman ran the Comet at Detroit. I'd seen lots of early factory-connected cars from such as the Ramchargers , with rear axles moved forward, but Chrisman's Comet, sponsored by a Mercury Dealer's Association, was the first car with the engine moved back and the air intake cut into the bottom of the windshield. They brought the car into the staging area and then brought up a Merc stationwagon with the back full of a bunch of paralleled batteries. Had a pair of receptacles , probably from a welding rig, let into the fender, and what looked like double aught welding cables they plugged in. Chrisman, in a full Double A Fuel aluminized suit, got in the car, sitting, probably, on the back seat footspace and started the car. They pulled the cables free and he pulled up to the line. I believe he spun tthrough the entire quarter. His time ---I don't remember the number---was low enough to have everybody on their feet. That was a serious car. And he shoved it up the Ramchargers nose on their home track.
KS
