Jim Walther
Jim built his first hot rod, in 1950 Oldsmobile, when he was 17 years old. It started out stock, but it didn’t take him long to modify it and enter it into the gas class wars. At age 18 he signed up for a two-year tour in the Army, but soon after talking with Connie Swingle Jim started looking at going top fuel racing. From 1960 through 1964, Jim divided his time between work, drag racing, and circle track midget car racing. During this time. Jim teamed up with two friends Dick Advey and Don Spangler, to campaign a 1956 Chevy first in C/MP and then in B/MP classes. The modified production classes were fun, but before long Jim was looking to go a lot quicker and faster.
In 1965, Jim and Advey purchased their first top fuel car, 134-inch Woody Gilmore car. Although this car was not the latest in design, Jim broke the 200 MPH barrier in it early on and went on to successfully campaigned for nearly two years. This is one of the original “low-budget” teams, and in 1966 Advey had to bow out of his share of the team. In 1967 Jim teamed up with Dave Metcalf, stretched the car to 165 inches and started to really build a solid reputation at the surrounding tracks. By the end of the 1968 season, it was assumed by everyone that when Walther pulled to the gates he would automatically qualify for the program.
In 1969, Jim procured some sponsorship funds to put together a new Woody car with a Hanna body and Ed Pink motor. With this car, Walther and Metcalf toured the country through 1971, consistently running in the mid-six second bracket and winning more than his share of races, such as the Turkey and CanAm Top Fuel finals in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. In 1970, Jim one top fuel at the Tri-City Fuel Show in Saginaw Michigan, the Turkey Trots in Gainesville Florida, the WCS Meet at Milan Michigan, the Professional Fuel Dragster Association meet in Orlando Florida, and the UDRA meet at Martin Michigan. He and the crew also finished second in the Division III WCS series and took several Best Appearing Crew awards, including the title at the US Nationals in Indy.
1971 was another great year for Jim, posting wins at the you UDRA meet at Saginaw Michigan and Milan Michigan, dominating the action in NHRA’s Division II and coming in second in the point standing in the division and placing fourth overall in the Top Fuel Eastern Conference series.
1972 was good to Jim also, with wins at the Turkey Trots in Gainesville Florida, the National Dragster Open in Columbus Ohio, the World Finals in Amarillo Texas, and a lot of local races in the NHRA’s Division II and Division III. Also, in 1972, Jim was named Division III Pro-Driver of the Year and Division III Man of the Year.
In 1973 Jim won the IHRA Winternationals in Lakeland Florida, the WCS Division II at Tri-City Saginaw Michigan, and the you UDRA meet at Martin Michigan. In addition to adding several other local top fuel show wins to his winning streak, Jim managed to match race most of the season from May to September. 1974 wasn’t the best year for Jim, and with the gas crunch, escalating cost of racing, and some engine problems he spent most the season match racing at local tracks. In 1975 the team sold out and disbanded, and while Jim drove for several top fuel teams in 1976, it wasn’t what he wanted to do so he decided to retire.