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Legendary NHRA automotive proprietor and crew chief, Roland Leong handed away Dec. 29. He was 79.
Born and raised on the Island of Oahu, Leong took to quick vehicles when sizzling rod tradition made its technique to the Hawaiian Islands within the late 50s. He spent plenty of time hanging round an area velocity store which served to throw gasoline onto an already rising flame. “I keep in mind taking my mom’s 1959 Oldsmobile out at evening, promising her that I wouldn’t race, however I didn’t maintain my promise fairly often,” Leong famous within the Sept/Oct difficulty of Classic Motorsport.
Leong grew to become a profitable gasoline dragster racer in Hawaii however knew the actual motion was in California. His mom lined up a job for him at Jim Nelson and Dode Martin’s Dragmaster Firm in Carlsbad, Calif. and Leong headed east within the early ’60s.
Whereas at Dragmasters, Leong minimize his tooth doing all of the work that will serve him properly all through his profession. Every part from rebuilding engines and chassis portray to sweeping the flooring and loo responsibility. He additionally started to see simply what it took to run a profitable race workforce.
Fellow Hawaiian racer Danny Ongais additionally made the mainland transfer with Leong and labored Dragmasters together with racing their vehicles. The Hawaiian duo labored collectively in 1964 successful the High Gasoline class on the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona.
Leong had ambitions of being a High Gas driver however infamously crashed at greater than 191 mph at Lions dragstrip in Lengthy Seashore throughout his first run in a nitro automotive. His mentor, Keith Black, was frightened by the occasion and steered Leong crew chief the Greer/Black/Prudhomme automotive he had been working. “I agreed and I employed the “Snake” on the spot,” Leong recalled.
Recognizing the hardcore racer inside one different, Don Prudhomme and Leong rapidly grew to become a workforce to be reckoned with. Successful races up and down California, and famously claiming the 1965 Winternationals and U.S. Nationals.
Although, the flame burned moderately rapidly and the duo parted methods 1966 with Prudhomme going out on his personal and Leong persevering with on his path to a legendary automotive proprietor and tuner.
“He was my buddy, my brother,” mentioned Prudhomme to Phil Burgess, NHRA. “There’s most likely nobody on this sport that I used to be nearer to than Ro. I’m so sorry to see him go, however not less than he’s not struggling. I’m going to overlook him.”
Leong continued to have success with Winternationals and U.S. Nationals victories in 1966 (pushed by Mike Snively) and in 1969 switched to Humorous Vehicles noting the rise in reputation and the bigger canvas for sponsorship alternatives.
Leong’s vibrant Humorous Vehicles, emblazoned with the “Hawaiian” identify grew to become as ubiquitous as “Snake” or “Mongoose” inside the scene and later the complementary sponsorships of Kings Hawaiian Bread and Hawaiian Punch resulting in iconic liveries inside the sport.
Leong retired from competitors within the early ’90s however could possibly be discovered at NHRA reunion occasions working classic Humorous Vehicles for personal house owners.
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