TEXAS RACER/COLUMBUS

TEXAS RACER/COLUMBUS

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http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/Topic31487.aspx

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By Ol Ford Guy - 15 Years Ago

I was googling NHRA 57 Rules and ran across a picture and comments about a drag racer from Texas, Jim Butler. It says he won just about every race he was in in a 57 Ranchero, the picture shows a bonnet...so I presume his Ranchero was an F code. He was also World Points Champion in 1966 with a Falcon Ranchero. I will try to attach a picture of his 57 Ranchero. Someone has a tape recorded interview of Jim, He is no longer living.

Columbus was great again this year. Extra special thanks to the Bob Martin, the Hutton's and Ted Eaton was helping everybody.

By Ol Ford Guy - 15 Years Ago

I thought someone on the forum may have heard of or have knowledge about Jim Butler and his F Code Ranchero. I have made contact with the person who did the taped interview and will send what ever I can come up with to Jerry Christenson or Bruce Young.

By mctim64 - 15 Years Ago

Thanks for posting, I for one would like to see more pixs and hear the story. Wink

By Hoosier Hurricane - 15 Years Ago

I remember reading about a Jim Butler who ran a Willys coupe with I believe a Lincoln engine in A/Gas, probably in the '60s. Could be the same guy.

By pegleg - 15 Years Ago

Somewhere I read that he drove it while his wife wrenched!!

By suede57ford - 15 Years Ago

James Bulter was from Morton, TX, which is 45 Minutes from Lubbock. He was factory sponsored and supplied experimental parts by Ford.He was very successful drag racing Fords and still a huge legend in the region. He was especially well know by scrub racers, as he was one of the few dominant Ford racers around.

He raced a supercharged black '57 sedan, then changed to the white '57 Ranchero, also supercharged. The Ranchero supposedly had a tailgate full of concrete and a gas tank with separate fuel compartments. He later raced a Falcon Ranchero. He did some racing with the Lincolns series engines too. The FE forum has links related to him as well.

He was known for thinking outside the box and his wife did the wrenching.His eyesite was not good and had been blind the last years of his life. A friend of mine interviewed him a few years ago so that history could be documented. He recently passed away in a rest home Ft. Stockton.

An article about him is being developed for a future issue of Y-Block magazine.

By Ol Ford Guy - 15 Years Ago

Pat & All,

Thanks for the great input. If you google nhra national drag races Oklahoma, city, ok, you will find under Untitled 1, a site that begins with hdeshazo.com, click on it and then scroll down to " Where did they go and what did they do" and click on that box. The story about Jim Butler is the third story down. I really love hearing about the history of our favorite cars and engines.