Image: namethattrack.com

During our Flashback Friday feature in August of last year, we took a little trip down memory lane to the famed Beeline Dragway in Mesa, Arizona that once proudly hosted the nations best drag racers out in the middle of the desert – a site that still discernibly stands nearly 30 years later.

This week, thanks to Gregg Teel over on the classracer.com forum, we have just the video to follow that piece up with. And a unique one it is indeed. Teel’s uncle captured this footage in 1971 during the annual AHRA Winternationals and Gregg recently took the time to convert the original reel to DVD for the viewing pleasure of the racing world.

Slingshot Top Fuel dragsters, Funny Cars, Pro Stockers, Modified Production, Super Stockers, a young and curvy Linda Vaughn; it’s all there. But perhaps the most interesting element captured and one that drag racing historians will pick up on right away is the presence of “Big Daddy” Don Garlits’ Swamp Rat XIV. Although not the first rear engine dragster by any means, it undoubtedly ushered in the rear engine movement that led to the Top Fuel cars of today, and it’s the footage of Garlits debuting and winning in the car at Pomona in 1971 that will forever live in infamy. But, as the AHRA Winternationals at Beeline took place in late January – prior to the NHRA Winternationals – what you’re witnessing is the actual debut of the Swamp Rat XIV at Beeline.

The nearly 12 minute clip lacks audio, but when you’ve got footage this awesome, who really gives a hoot, right? so kick back on your afternoon break and watch history in the making.