Steve Reyes, a celebrated Hall of Fame drag racing photographer, has etched his name into the annals of motorsport history through his incredible ability to capture the adrenaline-fueled moments that define drag racing. His passion for photography and the roaring engines of race cars began in the early days of the sport, leading him to become one of its most revered chroniclers. With a career spanning several decades, Reyes has had his work featured in numerous prestigious automotive magazines, offering readers a front-row seat to some of the sport’s most unforgettable moments.
Each month, Reyes will share his wealth of knowledge and an exclusive collection of historical photographs with CompetitionPlus.com, bringing to life the vibrant stories behind each image.
From legendary racers battling it out on the strip to ground-breaking innovations in the drag racing world, Reyes’ images encapsulate the rich tapestry of the sport. Through his lens, fans can experience the emotion, excitement, and sheer power of drag racing as it unfolded over the years. His contributions not only honor the sport’s past but also inspire future generations of motorsport enthusiasts and photographers alike.
Get ready to journey through time with Reyes’ captivating photography as he unveils the legends of drag racing history.
It’s the end of 1970 and Kuhl and Tidwell had just screwed up their nose and paint at the U.S. Nationals when they ran off the end of the track and hit the ABC Wide World of Sports camera. So, we decided to try one of those new-age fire burnouts during the week at OCIR. Loaded with a few gallons of high-test gas and with the hope we didn’t burn a hole in the OCIR bleach box. Kuhl’s crewman “Fats” poured large amounts of gas under the rear tires…….and “Woof”. Fire was everywhere as Tidwell hit the throttle.
I got my photo, Kuhl and Tidwell burned off all the paint and stickers on their AA/FD. Oh, yeah, they got a PHR cover and a poster from our adventure at OCIR.
Don Garlits was putting on quite a show wherever he and TC Lemons raced in 1971 and 72 with their version of tire-burning fireburnouts. This is one at Fremont, Ca. in 1972. He and TC had it down to a science when NHRA declared fireburnouts illegal.
One of the few fire burnouts that Shirley Muldowney did took place at the Popular Hot Rodding Championships at US 131 in Martin, Michigan in 1974. This was a total accidental fire burnout as the bleach box erupted into flames when she started her burnout. NHRA saw the spread in PHR and let Shirley know that they didn’t want to see any more fireburnouts from her.
Dave Hough and his “Nanook” AA/FA light up the Tucson, AZ., night with this huge fireburnout in 1973. Hough did some of the most incredible fireburnouts when he raced in Arizona and the fans loved it. Magazines loved it too, “Nanook” scored a nice color spread in Drag Racing magazine.
Late in 1970 the all new “Winged Express”AA/FA was debuting at a AA/FA event in Las Vegas, NV. Willie Borsch had never done a fire burnout but that changed that night in Vegas. I got my photo and the all-new “Winged Express” got a cover on Drag Racing Magazine……….that made Willie very happy
It’s that Kuhl guy again, this time with my longtime friend Carl Olson at the controls of the all-new Kuhl and Olson Top Fuel dragster. We are at Lions in 1971 where I’m shooting from the crossover bridge and on ground level is Gary Densford of Newport Productions. Both Gary and myself did okay with this shoot, he got a really cool poster and I got a PHR cover and a blister card for Johnny Lightning diecast about 23 years later.
When Revell/Monogram wanted a fire burnout of Don Prudhomme for a box top, Don and I got together at Irwindale, CA., and did this one. I believe it may have been the only one that Prudhomme ever did, at least it’s the only one I saw anywhere. Revell was happy with the results, and I got another model kit box top.
The very first Funny Car I ever saw do a fire burnout was my old friend Jungle Jim Liberman. Jungle came to OCIR and got the crowd buzzing with a couple of huge fireburnouts. It was 1971 and he was on tour with his Camaro-bodied AA/FC.
Drag Racing’s ultimate showman, TV Tommy Ivo, put on quite the show at Lions in this 1972 private shoot. Ivo did three big-time fireburnouts with his then-new Top Fuel dragster. His crewman, John “Tarzan” Austin, was the official “fireman” with the gas and did his job very well.
The “Nanook” wasn’t the only AA/FA to do fireburnouts back in the day. “Dirty” Ed Moore and the “Mob” AA/FA lit one up for me at OCIR, and the results were a cover on Car Craft Magazine’s Drag Racing Pictorial.
Another AA/FA owner/driver who did fireburnouts for me was “Blazin’ “ Gary Hazen and his “Panic” AA/FA. Hazen is seen here at OCIR burning a hole in the bleach box, which did not make manager Mike Jones very happy, but I got my photo and Hazen got his cover.
One of my all-time favorite Top Fuel racers and human beings is Chris Karamesines, the “Golden Greek” with his Top Fuel dragster lit up the Michigan night with this great fireburnout with the assistance of the Greek’s crewman “Pork Chop”.
How not to do a fire burnout is shown here by Norm Reis and his clueless crewman. Yes, the bleach bottle is on fire, and so is the pants leg of the crewman. Norm sensed something was wrong and drove his AA/FD out of the bleach box at Irwindale, CA., in 1970.
If you ever make the trip to the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, on display, I shot a photo of Don and TC doing their fire act at Lakeland, Florida in 1971. It looks pretty cool when you first walk into the museum. Garlits also put the photo on T-shirts sold at the gift shop.
