History TV Tommy IVO the early years

I met him at the CHRR in Bakersfield about 10 years ago and got him to sign this photo for me. He looked at it and said 'This picture was taken here yesterday.'

 

At Continental Divide

 

Ron Pellegrini driving

Roo

 

TV Tommy sold this to Jerry Norton

 

NHRA Winternationals - Pomona. TV Tommy Ivo installs a spark plug on his Hemi-powered Top Fuel dragster.

 

Tommy Ivo’s red, lower, Dutch-striped, and injected Buick-powered T . Most of those trophies were for drag racing–something that ultimately sidetracked Tom’s acting career (unlike Grabowski’s, come to think of it).

 

Sorry if this has already been posted, but here's a great article Tony Thacker wrote on Ivo's early racing career in Speed Hunters
http://www.speedhunters.com/2009/07/guest_blog_tony_thacker_nhra_museum_gt_gt/

 

Good article but they forgot to mention the the blown Buick in the two engine one was borrowed from none other than Tony Nancy.

 

Here’s Where The Money Went From The Sale Of Don Prudhomme’s Street Roadster. Notice That Nobody In Riverside’s Pits Is Noticing The Car Painter Who Assumed Ivo’s First Fuller Car On What TV Tom Calls “the No Money Down, Easy Payment Plan.” By The End Of The Season, This Gas Burning Buick Was
Winning Trophies.

 

Sounds like the 4-engine dragster recreation and the Wagon Master will be going to auction.

Mick

 

Again??? where and when did you hear this??

 

According to Hemmings, both will be part of Don Wallace's collection that Mecum is auctioning January 2 -12 in Kissimmee Florida.

Mick

 

Must not have posted it yet, went thru the catalog and nothing popped up

 

I browsed Mecum's website and it shows the dragster being offered on Saturday but no mention of the Wagon Master.

Mick

 

OK found it.
OMG some wanker bashed in the left rear corner of the body

 

Looks like I need to work on my reading comprehension. The wagon Master is not part of the auction,
just the 4-engine recreation that you did and the '74 rear engine car that was restored after the crash.

Mick

 

Here is the list.
https://www.mecum.com/auctions/kissimmee-2020/collections/don-wallace-collection/

And just the Showboat Ivo car
https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0120-397360/2007-showboat-slingshot-dragster/

@dreracecar is this the one you built?

 

Yes, its the clone I built for IVO, the real one has the Buick stationwagon body on it

 

Current photos

 

Posted by Low Kat in the vintage thread

1965