Saints Cruz 2014
Racing legend Herman Petersen: “The Northwest Terror”
Page 7
Former drag racer posted wins over sport’s biggest names By DANNIE OLIVEAUX and RON WEEKS
H
erman Petersen became involved with drag racing after her joined the Handlers Car Club in 1962 and was president from 1966-68. The club called Bremerton Raceway its home. His passion for racing grew rapidly as he built his first race car — a 1952 Willys — then followed by a top-fuel dragster in 1968. Throughout his career, Petersen ran a total of six top-fuel dragsters and he also built the Northwest’s first rearengine dragsters in 1972. He won the U.S. Gatornational with his second rear-engine dragsters in 1973. According to www.nhra.com, Petersen qualified sixth with a 6.20, more than a 10th off of Carl Olson’s polesitting 6.08 and got past Dick LaHaie in round one with a 6.19 to move him into a second-round date with “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, who had just sent his hometown fans into paroxysms with a 6.05 against Chris Karamesines. Petersen took down the legendary Garlits on a 6.08 to 6.18 score. “When I beat Garlits, you could hear a pin drop,” said Petersen. Another 6.08 in the semifinals put the sport’s other legend — Don Prudhomme — on the shelf. “I beat Prudhomme, then everybody liked me again,” Petersen laughed. Awaiting Petersen in the final was the meet’s other Cinderella story, Jim Bucher, in his Chevy-powered Kenner SSP dragster, who had set the national record at 6.079 in the second round, backed up by his first-round 6.12.
Bucher’s Can Am Chevy pulled loose the head studs and backfired the blower on the burnout, leaving Petersen to solo for the win with an easy 6.22. On July 21, 1973, Petersen was involved in a fiery accident at the Orange County International Raceway, while qualifying at the Orange County Professional Dragsters Association meet, where he was the defending champ. “All of a sudden, [stuff] starts happening. It broke the right rear axle, which caused the car to go to the right,” he said during the 2013 interview with Phil Burgess. “Immediately, I cranked the wheels back to the left and grabbed a handful of brake; that now pulls the car the other way, and it finally dug in and flipped. It landed upside down and slid upside down and backwards for 1,000 feet.” The flip-top lid on the fuel tank — just behind the driver — came off and seven gallons of fuel poured out. With the car going backwards, it flowed right into the cockpit, and the sparks from the roll bar set everything on fire, including Petersen. Petersen suffered third- and fourthdegree burns on more than 55 percent of his body, including his back, legs, arms, hands, and face. His eyesight was saved by the glasses he wore, but his nose was destroyed. After nearly a year of surgeries, skin graphs and rehabilitation, he later returned to racing. Petersen developed a unique top-fuel “Streamliner” which remains in the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Fla. He retired from racing in 1976. Since retiring, Petersen has used his experience and his injuries to teach and inspire others. He continues offering talks to school assemblies, com-
Image courtesy of www.nhra.com
Herman Petersen, a former drag racer, overcame injures suffered in a 1973 accident and is active in the Belfair community.
munity groups and individuals on many topics including his drag racing career, maintaining a positive attitude and overcoming any challenges in life. He has been particularly touched by many of these discussions with “burn unit” patients who struggle emotionally in dealing with their injuries. In 1979, Petersen joined the North Mason Kiwanis Club, where he focused on serving the local community. As a 26-year member, he served in several capacities, including leadership roles as vice president and president.
After his 1973 accident, Petersen contracted Hepatitis C from blood transfusions during his life-saving treatment in the Orange County Medical Center. In 2003, he received a liver transplant at the University of Washington and later developed B-Cell lymphoma from anti-rejections medication. He is now cancer free. In 2004, Petersen restored his frontengine dragster, which is now owned by the World of Speed Museum in Portland.
For more on Petersen’s story, go online to: www.nhra.com/blog/dragster-insider/ 2013/08/16/herm-petersen/
See PeTeRSeN, Page 8