Tv tommy ivo biography engine dragster roller

by Greg Sharp

Today's professional drag racing features elaborate haulers, hospitality areas and equipment to rival that of any motorsport. Tommy Ivo played a major role in getting it there.

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Tommy's" nickname was earned by appearances as a young actor in nearly 100 movies and 200 television shows. His show business experience taught him that a good show will always bring crowds back for more and he became drag racing's Master Showman.

Most drag racers of the 1950s were concerned primarily with performance and the appearance of their machines often suffered.  From the beginning, Ivo's cars looked as good as they ran.

His first success came with a new '55 Buick that won its class and set a new track record on the same day. Before his career ended he turned speeds over 300 mph, and raced 36 different cars in 12 classes.

Ivo's first real race car was his Buick-powered Model T roadster pickup. It was versatile enough to be undefeated in class, earn countless sh