Lindsey Lister has been going to the drag strip with her dad, Jim and grandfather, Bob for as long as she can remember. It all started in 1999 when Jim and his friend, Dale Taros, partnered in a Jr. Dragster for Lindsey. Father and daughter raced the car for seven years before Dale’s son was old enough to take it over. For her last year in junior competition, they borrowed a car from Richard Weathersbee. They went to Denver for the West Coast Nationals three times and made it to the quarter finals that last year. During Lindsey’s time in a Jr. Dragster, though she did not win any championships, she won several races, met a lot of great people, and made some good friends. That set the course for what would be a successful career with a “big car”.

When Jim and Lindsey weren’t running the junior dragster, dad was crewing for the Taros family (brothers Dale and Don; and dad Tom). It was a Nostalgia Eliminator 1 dragster (7.60 index) that competed in the Good Guys’ Vintage Racing Association Series. Lindsey had always been around front engine dragsters and dreamed someday of having one of her own. When Jim and Lindsey went to the track with the Taros family, he would teach her how to clean the injector nozzles, change the oil, and pack the parachutes. Once she was old enough, Lindsey was also towing the car into the lanes. That was about the time they found a 1972 John Shoemaker front engine dragster on racingjunk.com. Jim, Dale Taros, and Lindsey piled into their truck, borrowed Don Taros’ trailer, and drove north to pick up the Shoemaker car. It needed some chassis work and a whole new body, so they took it to Bruce Dyda Engineering so he could update it. Then, it was off to Glen Smith Motorsports for a beautiful coat of their now signature red paint. Glen also showed the Listers how to use his vinyl cutting machine so they could make their own letters and numbers for the car. After parts were purchased for a 383 cid SBC, it was off to Tom Taros for assembly. While the engine was being built, they took the chassis to another racer friend for all the other little things that a race car needs. Wes Anderson, an artist with a torch, took the parts Dale machined and welded them up for the Listers.

          By the end of 2006 they were roaring to go. It took the rest of 2007 to get Lindsey licensed and test-and-tuned. She got the licensing process started at the now closed Los Angeles County Raceway in Palmdale and finished the requirements at Fontana Dragway. She was fortunate enough to have her grandpa there to see her license. Sadly, he passed away a few days later. At the end of 2007, Jim and Lindsey went to an American Nostalgia Racing Association (ANRA) night race to get some side-by-side experience. That done, they felt ready to start the American Nostalgia Racing Association (ANRA) 2008 season and the then newly formed NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series. With dad as crew chief and Dale Taros helping tune the car, Lindsey was able to win both championships in the 9.60 index class-- Nostalgia Eliminator III.

In the beginning: Sacramento Raceway; June 2008

       In 2009 dad and daughter switched to a smaller carburetor to help with consistency. Lindsey was also able to take over tuning responsibilities with what had been learned from Dale. They won both championships again as well as the 2009 March Meet. Since then, they’ve won the 2012 March Meet, three more ANRA championships (five consecutively), and the 2011 and 2016 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series championships (four in total). Add to these impressive statistics the fact that they qualified number one at four more March Meets.

       The last ten years have been a blast for the father/daughter team. There’s been some intense rivalries, great friends made, and travel to awesome race tracks, some of which are now gone. In Lindsey’s own words, “Getting to race with my dad and his friends has been the best part though. As for the future, we’re deciding on whether or not we’re going to move up a class. It may yet happen, but we’re not sure when since dad prefers not to have to do a lot of work on the car between rounds. Everyone that races knows that it takes a village to get a car ready to race; it’s been no different with us. I would like to thank all the people that made it possible for me to participate in this amazing sport: Dad and Mom for spending the time and money on the car and equipment to go racing as well as for continuing to support the whole endeavor. Also, the Taros family (Dale, Don, and Tom) for the driving and tuning instruction, help building the car, and all the other things they helped with (it’s a long list). Wes Anderson for his amazing fabricating skills, and Glen Smith for the awesome paint and the time he’s taken to teach me how to use a vinyl cutter as well as some pinstriping. Dave Bentley for his generous sponsorship; Dyda Engineering for keeping the car up to code. Finally, Simpson Safety Products for all of my safety equipment.”

Winner’s circle at the 2018 NHRA Heritage Series event at Wild Horse Pass; May 2018

TECH SHEET

Chassis: 1972 John Shoemaker

Engine: 383 cid sbc

Engine Builder: Tom Taros

Induction: Holley 650 double pumper

Manifold: Edlebrock Victor Jr.

Cylinder Heads: Edlebrock Victor Jr.

Camshaft: Comp

Lifters & Springs: Comp & Manley

Valves & Rocker Arms: Manley & Comp

Crankshaft: Eagle

Rods & Pistons: Eagle & JE SRP

Oil Pump: Millings

Fuel: System: Holley blue pump

Ignition: Vertex Magneto

Transmission: Shorty 2-speed power glide

Shifter: Frameworks Pro Comp

Torque Converter: Continental

Tires & Wheels: Rear – Goodyear 30x12x115

Front – 17” chrome wire spoke

Rear End and Axles: Chrys 8 ¾ Summers Bros 35 spline

Fluids:  Engine – Kendall 20-50

Electronics: Trans brake, Tach, and shift light

Gauges: water temp. and oil press.

Safety Equipment: All Simpson

Body Work: Dyda Engineering; also, chassis work

Paint & Air Brush: Glen Smith Motorsports, Lindsey Lister vinyl lettering

Chrome & Polishing: Vern’s Chrome Long Beach Plating

Pizazz Racing zoomies/Dale Taros (homemade) throttle linkage

Lindsey and Jim; ANRA September 2018

Quick disconnect water drain/fluid balancer damper/comp belt drive

Autometer tach and shift light/Vertex magneto/Mallory wires/Autometer oil pressure gauge

Autometer water temp. gauge/weight plates and shifter (right)/mag. Switch/start button/power switch /trans brake button on wheel (center)/chute lever (left)

Tom Taros homemade brake pedal/Dale taros homemade drive shaft cover/foot peg

Transmission and flywheel shields

Holley Blue fuel pump/Odyssey PC 925 battery

Postscript

On October 21, 2018, Jim and Lindsey won the prestigious California Hot Reunion NE 3 class against a “loaded” field that included 2018 series champion Ed DeStaute and ended her season with a second-place finish in the point standings.

Lindsey’s final round run against Wes Anderson. She capped off her stellar weekend with a perfect 9.600 against Anderson.

This sticker, as well as the attitude, has been in the car since the Jr. dragster days

NOSTALGIA DRAG WORLD - By Stephen Justice and Wayne Lederer