Courtesy of A.J. Charlet’s Dad
Fourth generation drag racer, Andrew Charlet from Thornton, Colorado will be hitting the ‘track’ in style, as he brings his “Freight Train” tribute car to compete at the 2010 Cub Scouts of America “Pine Wood Derby”.
For the seven-year old Cub Scout of Pack 233 from Stellar Elementary School and his father, Competitionplus.com columnist Tim Charlet, the ‘Freight Train’ provides them an opportunity to introduce the history of drag racing to fellow members of the Cub Scout Pack.
“When I was a cub scout, my father and I used the pinewood derby as an opportunity to work together to make a really cool car and to introduce the sport we loved to the members of Pack 774 in Southern California,” noted Tim Charlet. “When my son Andrew became a scout earlier this year, our objective was the same. So we called ‘Grandpa Don’ and asked him if he could fabricate us an awesome car. We chose the ‘Freight Train’ because of its rich history and we hope the car runs well.”
There were several Freight Trains over the years, all twin-engines, and (after a brief period in 1959) all twin-supercharged which were operated and owned by John Peters. They raced in three decades, made over 1700 passes in 24 states, including Hawaii, at the hands of 13 drivers including Peters and legendary ’shoes’ Floyd Lippincott Jr. (Bob Maravus) and Walt Rhoades.
The car, an AA/Gas Dragster competed primarily in the Top Gas category in the 1960’s and early 1970’s and captured the 1963 NHRA Winternationals Top Eliminator championship with Peters behind the wheel. The ‘Freight Train’ also became the first Gas Dragster to break the six second zone in 1971 with Walt Rhoades as the driver. During one era it was nearly a half second faster than the rest of the field. It was the best known dragster in the country for many years.
The pine wood car was fabricated by Andrew’s grandfather, Don Charlet Jr., himself a former Modified Eliminator class champion at the 1968 Popular Hot Rodding Championships. And Andrew is looking forward to talk to his friends about drag racing. The car itself is not “legal” for Pine Wood Derby competition, but will be making exhibition passes at this year’s ‘derby’. Andrew’s competition derby car is a close resemblance to a Dodge bodied Funny Car with this seasons new Valvoline/MTS colors in tribute to his favorite race car driver, DSR Funny Car driver “Fast” Jack Beckman.
“I can’t wait to show the other cub scouts this cool race car,” said Andrew. “Whether we win or not does not matter. We are just going to do our best and have fun. That’s what cub scouts do.”
