Photo Gallery
"TV" Tommy Ivo in Photos
September 6, 2011
Drag racing’s greatest showman, “TV” Tommy Ivo, will be honored at zMAX Dragway during the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals weekend, Sept. 15-18, as a part of the NHRA’s year-long 60th anniversary celebration. Ivo claims the trip may be his “last hurrah” on the East Coast. Ivo earned the nickname “TV” Tommy for his involvement in the entertainment industry, which continued through his illustrious drag racing career. In this photo gallery, fans can view snapshots taken throughout Ivo’s career, from his first on-camera performance at age 5 to his induction to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005.
Photos and captions are courtesy of Tommy Ivo.
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Start of Ivo’s entertainment career in Denver, Colorado at age 5 on CBS radio.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Ivo’s very first movie "Earl Carroll Vanities" when he was seven - front and center.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Tommy Ivo and his first drag race car, that he drove on the street as well (a model-T roadster with one Buick in it). This was used in the camp movie that both he and his car were in, "Drag Strip Girl," in the late 1950's.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Ivo (right) in the movie "You’re Never Too Young" with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Four-engine car on the set of "Margie" in 1961, with Margie. They had a Dixieland band in the episode they were shooting that day. The series took place in the roaring 20's.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Prudhomme sitting in cockpit, with Ivo looking on. This was taken on the "Margie" set, just before the car ran the first time. Prudhomme got paid $25 a race to drive it and it was his first professional driving job. It got him started in drag racing.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Head shot of Ivo at the end of his career at age 45.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Ivo and "Big Daddy" Don Garlits in the early 60's.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Prudhomme and Ivo leaving California with Ivo's twin engine dragster on Ivo's first tour in 1960.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Poster layout for racing at the old Concord drag strip in 1960.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Barn at the main entrance to the old Concord track, Concord Drag-O-Way, used for checking in cars.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Looking down track at Concord Drag-O-Way. You drove up onto the track from the dirt pits that ran right up to the starting line. The old Concord track boasted they were the only track in the south to have lights for racing at night. As you can see, the lighting was very dim.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Racers used such a big parachute in those days, it actually pulled the rear wheels off the ground when it hit. Those were some of the first parachutes used in drag racing.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Side shot of the four-engine car smoking the tires.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Prudhomme driving the four engine car during testing with no body on it.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
This was his point of view from the driver’s compartment. This was not your father’s Buick!Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Pushing the four-engine car to the starting line with Don "The Snake" Prudhomme (left) and Ivo (right).Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Ivo in the cockpit, pushing the car around the pits – dirt in those days!Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Four-engine car blazing the tires off the starting line.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Glamour shot of the four-engine car in the NHRA museum at Pomona, California.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Tommy Ivo and Mario Andretti at the 2005 Motorsports Hall of Fame ceremonies.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo -
Tommy Ivo being inducted into The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005.Credit: Photos Courtesy Tommy Ivo
