Romeo Palamides & Bob Smith
Al “Romeo” Palamides and “Jet Car Bob” Smith both started as archetypal Caliornia hot rodders. Romeo began building his first hot rod at age 15 in his native Oakland and participated in all forms of the sport including: dry lakes, Bonneville, and even track roaster racing as a member of the Elmwood Auto Club. Always an innovator, Romeo constantly tried something new and despite their paramedical nature, his cars were always among the best appearing.He was among the first to use a tort converter in a dragster, as well as an on-board starter. His enclosed canopied, full-bodied dragster was named” America’s Most Beautiful” at the Oakland Roadster Show in 1958. Romeo manufactured disc brakes and even a dual blower manifold under the Palamides Engineering banner. He was the first to manufacturer magnesium racing wheels principally for straightaway racing and founded the company which became American Racing. In 1962, Romeo moved his shop to Oakland Airport and built one of the first jet dragsters, called the “Untouchable”. Smith joined the Rod and Wheelers of San Jose club with his customized ’59 Chevy began driving career at the wheel of Sid Waterman’s gas burning Chevrolet dragster. After three months, the money ran out and Bob moved to seat of Tom Prufer’s Power King fueler. Waterman saved enough for a blown Chrysler and Smith returned to his old ride. A close explosion and lack of funds left Smith without a ride and did early 1963 to work for Romeo. The team toured the country as one of the most popular exhibition attractions, match racing fuel dragsters and other jet cars. Smith even made a pass down 6th Street in Cleveland for appearance on the Mike Douglas television show. Palamides built a long series of jets for drag racing and Bonneville including: a twin jet powered Falcon station wagon, Dodge charger funny car, and even a rocket car. Between bookings in the jet, Smith remained a journeyman dragster driver, behind the wheel of as many as three cars at a single meet. Although he made hundreds of flawless passes, Smith suffered a series of spectacular accidents which left him battered and broken. When asked why he got back in the cars after an especially nasty crash, he replied, “To pay the hospital bills from the last one”! In the early 70s, Romeo moved to Chicago to continue to build jets as well as compressional chassis, including innovative “Stardust” and “Mr. Norm” funny cars.