Wally Parks   1913 - Sept 28, 2007   RIP

Richard & David,
 My condolence on your Father. I worked for NHRA when it was Wally World, I mean that with all due respect.
 We were at the Old Atlanta Dragway, sometime in the 80's. I was working Race Control Monitor in the Tower. Sometime during each event, Wally always went to each post of the race to talk to all workers, Part time or Full time. He always had
some personal comment for each one about their family or their hobbies. He always had a personal touch But he really liked to spend time in Race Control. I told him to watch the guy on the Right side of the track. Everytime a Funny Car would run, the guy went thru all the necessary motions of a driver. Letting go of the brake handle & steering during the burnout. Stopping the car, putting it in reverse, backing up, putting it back in gear, staging, Pulling the chutes. You get the idea. The guy was driving every F/C from the stands. I told Wally to watch when we started running Top Fuel. The guy just sat there.
I said what's with this? Wally looked at him for a few minutes and said. I'm sure he's not licensed in Top Fuel.

RIP Wally,
Keith Ferrell
Former NHRA Division III Director

Wally was the nicest man I never met. I had a chance a few times at the reunions but he couldn’t walk two feet without someone approaching him. He had a Jimmy Stewart way about him that gave you the feeling that he was the real deal, what you saw is what you got. When my late Uncle Pete Millar ( who told of some of his encounters with Wally and NHRA) was inducted at the CHRR Wally stopped by the family table, I took the photo while everyone gathered around Wally,Orah Mae and the girls knew him forever and it was a nice moment.Rewind a couple of years earlier and I had put together a tape I made from my first CHRR filming from the starting line I sent a copy to Steve Gibbs and asked him to give it to Wally, a few months later I receive a package from the museum and inside is an autographed photo of Wally with a thank you note ( it still hangs on the wall and is something I treasure). My best Wally moment was in 1990 at Pomona, I was in the stands and during some down time I noticed Wally on the starting line, as he was walking he looked up at the stands and I waved to him, he smiled and waved back. I might have had a hundred people around me at the time all going about their business but at that moment it was just me and Wally. Saturday morning after his passing I went to Woodburn Dragstrip where I am one of the track photographers, I talked to our manager Gene Bergstrom who said he got the call Friday night and pretty much summed it up, “it is the end of an era”. Wally was many things, maybe at the top of the list he was a visionary and what an incredible life he had.
Thank you Mr. Parks
George Adams
Salem, Oregon
 George and Karen Adams
www.nwdragracing.com

"Wally Parks was one of the finest men we have ever met. . .not only a true gentleman, but a true man, an icon in every sense of the word. Through the more than 40 years of knowing Wally, there was never a time, a deed or even a word that came from him that those close to him could not be proud. He was, without a doubt, one of a kind. Drag racing's "One Eyed Jack". Thank God we count ourselves among those fortunate to be close to him and had the very special privilege of that relationship. We, in the Mickey Thompson family, will also always remember him for his loyalty and concern during the many years of "our trials". We will miss him greatly. . .as will millions around the world."
 God Bless You Wally,
Collene and Gary Campbell

My name is Michael Jubber I am from Geelong, Australia.
Whilst on a trip to the States back in 2000 with a few members from our Hotrod club I was fortunate to visit the NHRA motorsport museum at Pomona, I was also fortunate to meet Wally, and have my picture taken with him, as a dyed in the wool Hotrodder thats something I will cherish forever, the man was a absolute gentleman.
A statement is often made when someone passes on, He left the World a better place, this is true of Wally Parks, he is the reason Hotrodding is now a Worldwide passion. Thankyou Wally, I was a Hotrodder long before I knew of you, then I learned it was you who was responsible for createing my chosen lifestyle, I only met you once but you made an impact on my life that will last forever. You will be sadly missed and always respected. Rest in peace.
To Richard and David Parks I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to you and your families.

Of all the advice Wally gave me, the best was to “Never sell yourself short on what you do…not too many people know how to run a race…”. He was a great man. I will honor his memory by always doing my best to keep the sport healthy and srong. Top Speed,
Jim Partridge  Director of Drag Racing Operations
California Speedway
Fontana, CA 92335

Although I never had a chance to meet him Wally Parks probably influenced a number of my decisions about career and hobby activities as much as anyone.
i was 12 years old when I discovered a few issues of HOT Rod Magazine on the bookmobile when it visited Capt Wilkes School on Bainbridge Island , Wa. That would have been early 1959. I read each issue that I could get my hands on and on my next birthday my grandmother bought me a subscription that she continued to buy as long as she was alive.
I followed along as Wally and others built the NHRA, and waited each month to read the new national records for each class. I also followed the racing at Bonneville and managed to go in 1988 and 1998.
Wally's and others influence caused me to decide on a career of automotive mechanics that ended up including working as a front end and alignment mechanic in Texas and Washington state and teaching Vocational Auto mechanics at the High School level for 13 years following the two men who had been my teachers when I was in high school.I managed to drag race in the stock classes before the days of bracket racing and have had some form of custom car or street rod for the past 45 years.
If I hadn't spotted that magazine that day and read the words inside my life may have been completely different.
Rob Davison
Toppenish, wa

Dear Richard:
In 2002 I made the four-hour drive down to the Museum's monthly cruise to talk to Wally about the early days of drag racing at Santa Maria. He took me inside, where we found a deserted corner, and he proceeded to show me what living history really is. The facts he still had fresh were just amazing.

I also told him about my buying a DVD of the original Dragnet TV series from the early '50s and discovering an episode about the NHRA. I kidded him about the Wally Parks depicted having a moustache, obviously an impostor!

Because we shared the same birthday I last year sent him a card. It had Elvis on it and like I told him, even if he didn't swivel his hips, he was just as much an Americana icon. With hot rodding and drag racing added on, few people get to say they are an icon, let alone icons of three separate worlds.

Like everyone, I am saddened by Wally's death. It is a huge loss that can never be replaced. You and your family are very much in my thoughts and prayers.

God Bless, Love & Respect,
Joe "Blues Animal" Stephan

As the daughter of Bob Russo and a child that was raised for most of her life in racing, I had many favorite people and drivers but none more special to me than Wally and Barbara. I have many memories of spending time at the NHRA offices (especially the one in Hollywood) when my dad was the Public Relations Director for NHRA. With each visit I would spend time talking to Wally and Barbara. I traveled with them to several of the races that were held in Indianapolis during my summer vacations and they never grew tired of my endless questions and the boundless energy of a young child. Wally always spent time with me and always made me feel like each track was my home away from home. I cannot tell you how much fun I had traveling to the different NHRA races with my dad and getting to spend time with Wally and Barbara. They basically let me have free run (with the exception of the pits). My father worked with some of the greatest people in racing and had the very good fortune to call many of them his friends but he held Wally in the highest esteem. There were few people that he respected as much as he did Wally. When my father passed away in September 1999, Wally and Barbara were there for my mother and me. I will never forget the wonderful memories that I had the good fortune to share with two very special people who will always hold a very special place in my heart.
 
Thanks for the love and wonderful memories!
 
Terri Freeman (Peanut)
 

About 3-4 years ago around Wally's 90th birthday, one of our club members asked Wally what he would really like for his birthday. He said he wished he could find the 32 roadster he had in 1951. He sold it to generate funds to start Hot Rod Magazine. Well this started a project that took the better part of 2 yrs to complete.
After exhausting all avenues of searching for his original roadster, including a claim or two that the original had been found, our club The Cal-Rods of SGV embarked on a project to re-create Wally's roadster. Using only photos that were taken of Wally's roadster just prior to him selling it (we had the photos provided by Wally and the NHRA Museum blown up to 20"x30") and many sessions with Wally going over the photos, we started the project of the re-creation.
With 90% of all the parts (engine, body, chassis, wheels, etc) being donated by the many friends of Wally, the Wally Car was finished in November of 2005. It was an exact reproduction of the roadster in the photos, down to the holes we drilled in the dash panel (we hated to ruin a new panel) that matched the photos and the steering wheel center portion that we left off, to the dull chromed over rear rough nerf bar type rear bumper. Wally advised us on the paint color and the upholstery style.
 
The Cal-Rods presented the roadster to Wally at the December 2005 Twilight Cruise at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. We handed him the key to the ignition, helped him get behind the wheel and nervously prayed that the engine would start for him. With the turn of the key and the push of the starter button, Wally instantly fired the engine on the first attempt. His eyes now wide open and with a great big smile he raced the engine a few times. The large crowd that had gathered at the Museum for the event were cheering and clapping as well as enjoying what they were seeing. You just had to be there to witness the moment. The look on Wally's face of his satisfaction is the best memory that I have of Wally. Later on, Wally said the roadster was an exact duplicate of his original roadster that he sold in 1951 and that it was one of the best gifts he had ever received
 
We had been friends for many years and I always looked forward to spending a little time with Wally when ever he was at the Museum. He always had a kind greeting.
He will always be remembered and forever missed.
 
You can visit our web site and click on the Wally Car Project Link to view the photos and progress of building the roadster from start to finish. Go to
www.calrods.com to see the photos. The Wally Car is permanently on display at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, at the Fairplex, Pomona, CA.
 
Big John Morehead
BigJohn@calrods.com
www.calrods.com
 
P.S. Oh yes. Wally gave me a copy of the ignition key and said I could take the roadster for a spin anytime I could convince the Museum to do so.

I hope i am not to late to responed the passing of Wally Parks. I just found out where to send the email for my tribute. I had the great fortune to meet Wally Parks only once. I had flown out to the Pamona Drag Races in February of 2003,which i was told was his 90th birthday. I had tricked him in coming down from his suite and meeting by telling someone who was going up there to tell him that Chuck Griffith wanted to see him for just a moment. I knew that he and Chuck were good friends and i counted on him wanting to come down and see him. Low and behold he showed up. I told him i was Chuck Griffith Jr. That Chuck Griffith is my father. He had invited me to sit in the suite with him and watch the race but i told him i was headed to the starting line to watch the race. I know that Wally has a BIG,BIG,BIG,INFLUENCE ON THE SPORT OF DRAG RACING, but what i wanted to know was why didn't anyone know who the legends were who were responsible for the sport of drag racing being what it is today. He told me so many stories about my dad and how he knew and a lot of the old timers also knew what Chuck Griffith brought to the sport of drag racing. I knew that Wally had started the S.C.T.A. but it was my dad who started the P.V.T.A. The S.C.T.A. was the timing assoc. for the Bonneville Salt Flats,which Wally had started,and the P.V.T.A. was the timing assoc. for the Pamona Drag Strip which my father had started,and also held the deed to the property. Wally had talked real highly of my father and my father holds the highest regards for Wally. I have been to the museum and have seen for myself the influence each has had on this great sport. I have seen some of the records that my dad has set and the tributes given to him and the Starlite Racing Team. I just wish that everyone could know the legends, the old timers,the pioneers of this great sport that have made it possible for the John Forces,Ron Caps,Tony Shuemakers,Dave Connleys,Gary Selzis,Robert Hieghts etc... that are able to enjoy the love they have for this sport. I raced here in Michigan for a few years until i had to give it up. I wish i could have been right there with my father like so many of the other racers of today have been able to do,and follow in thier dads foot-steps. From what i have known of Wally Parks and his involvement in Drag Racing and the inspiration that he has given to so many,i feel and know in my heart that he was without a doubt a very caring and well like man. The sport of Drag Racing will never let the memory of Wally Parks fade and die. Lets hope some day the greats of yesterday will be picked out of the shuffle and be given the recognition they deserve right along side of Wally Parks. I would like to have known more about Wally Parks,and my best wishes go out to his family in this great loss of thiers. I will miss
Wally. Chuck Griffith Jr. 

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