The "Freight Train"
John Peters "Freight Train" AA/GD The "Freight Train" is owned by John "Freight Train" Peters who currently lives in Lakeport California. In it's hay day the "Freight Train" was the top twin engine gas dragster in the US and still holds track records at some venues. The venerable "Freight Train" is the most famous Chevrolet dragster of all time, and the most successful and popular Top Gasser in the history of drag racing: The Name "Freight Train" The car was initially white and Tommy Ivo called it “The Great White Steamship.” Let’s face it. How many diggers had Monroe Load Levelers for front suspension? By 1960 the concept was established, but it would be two years before Peters and Frank would capture their first big win. Judy Thompson, a columnist for Drag News, christened the machine after a notable performance at Fontana Raceway, by writing that the car beat the competition by a ‘freight train length.” That, coupled with the first-generation machine’s incredible weight of nearly 2200 pounds, led to the most famous moniker in drag racing. The first basic engine/chassis combination was run until 1965 with minor modifications. Then John fashioned a new 164-inch car that was nearly 600 pounds lighter, and featured an unusual, single three-inch blower drive for both 6-71 blowers. Initially referred to as Freight Train II, it was campaigned for a while by Peters and George Bacilek. (Frank had left the team to build the twin-unblown Chevy fueler, fully streamlined, known as the Pulsator.) During the next two years, the new combination would reach its full potential with a remarkable string of wins in ’67, as the ‘slipper clutch, no smoke” drag racing era began. The car became world famous. John "Freight Train" Peters John, a 20+ year employee of Engle Cam Company, is a modest, soft-spoken, hard worker who loved to win races, but shied away from notoriety. He never drove. Always by his side was the faithfull Beverly peters and her famous "Chicken Wings". In many ways she helped keep the train alive. John was understandably bitter when NHRA dropped Top Gas from its pro ranks in ’72, and hasn’t raced since. After tens of thousands of hours in the shop, week after week, the last Freight Train was partsed-out, and the chassis hung in the rafters untill The "Freight Train" was once again "Back on Track". you can now see the train amidst many other of the drag racing greats at various nostalgia events across the country. “I never went out to the track to lose first round,” John said. “I worked hard all the time so we’d be ready to race. I went out to win. “Running gasoline is a challenge,” he added. “It takes more than adding 10 percent and some overdrive. Nitro isn’t even a fuel. It’s an excuse.” “We could run one pass for the whole ball of wax and maybe make a run. Now, they’re spending two thousand to make how much?? .”
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