e02.29.08_707_TAS_REA_0060

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Date:	Visitor's Name:	Comment:
03/01/08	BOBBY FIORELLO	EVEN THOUGH WE LIVED IN TRENTON,EVERY TIME WE HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE THE BEST DRIVERS EVER ,,READING WAS THE PLACE TO BE,,NEVER FORGET THE MARCH OPENERS,,,SNOW NEVER GOT IN THE WAY,,,THANX LINDY AND FAMILY FOR THE GREATEST MEMORIES,, FROM BOBBY FIORELLO AND THE JERSEY BOYS ,VAN, LEGS, JEFF, LANE, CZAR,,
03/04/08	Bill K	This car is a bit of a puzzle to me as it is not the well known "Big Donkey", that car having a '37-'38 Plymouth body while the car pictured is a '36 Chevy. The (mostly) intact body and fenders date it to the early/mid '60's, when the "Donkey" and the "Gypsy" sedan were running. Later versions of the 707 used Chevy bodies, but this one is new to me. It reminds me a little of the M2 that Jackie McLaughlin built for himself before his accident. Anyone know the scoop on this one?
03/07/08	George Gwynn Jr.	This is a great shot. Just above the #707, you can see the three minute clock. It was 4 sided so all could see it, competitors, officials and fans alike. In this shot, only the red lights are illuminated, and the green and yellow have already expired. Before every race, after the line-up was called and after every red flag, due to an accident, the 3 minute clock lit up and the lights started to go out, one by one. If a car didn't return to the front stretch by the time that last red light went out, it was back in the pack for you, ol buddy. The crowd used to go crazy, every time the clock expired on one of the hot shoes. Wow, some great memories from the Home of Champions!!
3/7/08	Jeff Crane	Reading these stories and seeing these pictures brings back the memories that this era brought to all of us is very special to me. I had a Dad that took me as I grew up to follow the one and only Al Tasnady. We went to his shops and we were always at the Reading opener in March (most of the time freezing). We were regulars at Flemington and always got there early to get top row in the first turn just before the crossover gate. We traveled to all the tracks to follow Taz. What a driver he was I really miss seeing him drive. I miss my Dad too! It's a shame that kids these days don't have an activity like this to grow up with and share great memories with their Dad's. Today most are wrapped up in computers and Video games. They really have missed something not watching the greats race on dirt. More importantly being together in something as a Father and Son. Nothing like hearing the 39 coming down the front stretch sideways off the "short shot" as the late Bill Singer called it all wound up. We called it the sound We knew Taz was going to run strong that night if we heard it. Thanks for bringing back those memories of some very special times in my life.
03/08/08	George Perkins	Anyone know when this version of the Big Donkey ran? This is a Chevy. I only remember Tas driving a Plymouth.
03/08/08	Pjakey	Note the helmet visor, this maybe late 64. Never saw Tas with a black visor, maybe Cagle for the night ?
03/16/08	Ned Stites III	Jeff's comments echo my memories as well. My dad took me to William's Auto Parts and we met Tas and saw the #44. This occasion started a friendship with Tas that our family would always cherish. Later my father would have his name on "the Big Donkey" and "the Gypsy". I believe this Chevy coupe replaced the Plymouth (DeSoto)? bodied version after Tas hit the fourth turn wall at Flemington. I don't think he was in it very long before he started driving Walt Donald's car. Everyone is so concerned with the mighty dollar today. Families have no time because of working all too many hours to make ends meet. The tracks are all being sold, again the mighty dollar. Kids aren't allowed to be kids anymore. They must grow up fast with an agenda to earn the mighty dollar. Ned Stites III
03.23.10	Richard Coleman	I know this isn't the Big Donkey but it brought back some memories of the 707 running at Nazareth in the late 60s. The huge boom going into the turns was there, as well as the Donkey starting up after everyone else in the pits. Over the sound of sometimes 30 stock cars revving you could always hear the Big Donkey start. I think Bob Pickell drove it for around a month when he had wrecked his car at Flemington the night before. The last version I ever saw was the one that Deasey put the SOHC 427 Ford engine in that was produced mainly for drag racers. Even the Lincoln engined versions had that loud boom on backing off.

Photo ID #	e02.29.08_707_TAS_REA_0060_1
Car #:	#707
Driver (s) :	Al Tasnady
Location:	Reading, PA
Date:	1960's
Photographer:	Roger Kofroth
Photo provided by:	Roger Kofroth
Comments:	Comment from Roger: YOU EITHER LOVED AL OR YOU HATED HIM. HE WAS A GREAT DRIVER. AL AND FRANKIE SCHNEIDER HAD SOME GREAT RACES SIDE BY SIDE AT READING.THE 707 MADE A LOUD BOOM GOING INTO THE TURNS AND BY THE END OF THE RACE THE EXHAUST WAS GLOWING RED HOT. "OH WHAT MEMORIES"