The Greg Palen Photo Collection

A photo of Greg's 1935 Ford 5-Window Coupe. The coupe was Greg's first hot rod. "It was 1961. I was 14 years old and worked at a paint store to get the money," he told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2020. It was powered by a 1949 Cadillac engine with a 1939 Ford three-speed transmission, and it ran a rolled and pleated interior. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A photo of Greg in his 1950 Mercury. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

The AMF Drag Team photographed at Island Dragway around 1961-62. AMF was short for Adios My Friend. The names escaped Greg in 2020, but his brother Bob is standing in the back row second from left with sunglasses on. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Joe Praizner's 1961 Chevrolet Corvette photographed at Island Dragway in the early 1960s. Praizner was part of the AMF Drag Team. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

An unknown 1957 Chevrolet Corvette photographed at Island Dragway in the early 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Brother Bob and a friend standing by a Pontiac Tempest at Island Dragway in the early 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

The Tempest racing an older Ford at Island Dragway in the early 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A 1935 Ford pickup that Greg's brother Bob used to race. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

"A yellow roadster we used to see a lot at Island Dragway in New Jersey." Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A photo of Tommy Ivo's Showboat taken at Island Dragway in the early 1960s. The Showboat was a monster of a dragster running four engines. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Dave Strickler's 1962 Chevrolet 409 Impala photographed at Island Dragway in the early 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A photo of "Coney Island Ralph Landolfi"'s Willys gasser taken at Island Dragway in the early 1960s. Ralph is running American Racing Torq-Thrust wheels and Blackwall pie crust slicks on the Willys. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

An A/AA altered Fiat photographed at Island Dragway in 1963. Greg is the fellow next to the Fiat in the photo. The Fiat is running American Racing front wheels and steelies with full Moon discs and Blackwall pie crust slicks. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A slingshot dragster photographed at Island Dragway in the 1960s. The rear wheels are running American Racing Torq-Thrust mags. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

An injected altered that Greg photographed at Island Dragway in the 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Another slingshot dragster that Greg photographed at Island Dragway in the 1960s. The rear wheels are running American Racing Torq-Thrust mags and Blackwall pie crust slicks. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A 1963 Chevrolet Corvette photographed at Island Dragway in the 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A homebuilt slingshot dragster photographed at Island Dragway in the 1960s. The dragster is running American Racing Torq-Thrust wheels and Blackwall pie crust slicks. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A 1959 Chevrolet Corvette photographed at Island Dragway in the 1960s. The Corvette is running American Racing Torq-Thrust wheels up front. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

"The 32 roadster was always at Island Dragway. I think he was a worker there." Glen lived in Livingston, New Jersey in the early 1960s, and spent a great deal of time at the drag races. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A photo of Art Malone in his AA Fuel Dragster at Island Dragway in the 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

The Snizek and Dodge Chrysler powered altered running American Racing Torq-Thrust wheels. The photo was taken at Island Dragway in the early 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A 409 powered Chevrolet Coupe running American Racing Torq-Thrust wheels. The photo was taken at Island Dragway in the early 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A 1962 Chevrolet Corvete that has been dressed up with American Racing Torq-Thrust wheels. The photo was taken at Island Dragway in the early 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A rear-end shot of the same Corvette. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A photo of Chris Karamesines' Chizler dragster taken at Island Dragway in the early 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A photo of Don Garlits' Swamp Rat V taken at Island Dragway in the early 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A photo of Don Garlits in his Swamp Rat V. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A photo of Don Garlits taken in the pits at the Island Dragway. Greg showed Garlits some of the photos at the Turkey Rod Run at Daytona and he remembered where and what year. "Pretty good for an 80 years old," Greg told Kustomrama. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A photo of Don Nicholson's 1964 Mercury Comet taken at Island Dragway in the 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

The Tasca Ford Thunderbolt photographed at Island Dragway in the 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

The Sox & Martin 1965 Plymouth photographed at Island Dragway in the 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

The Sox & Martin 1965 Plymouth at the starting line. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

A photo of Al Eckstrand's 1964 Plymouth Belvedere taken at Island Dragway in the 1960s. Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Photo courtesy of Greg Palen.

Greg Palen lived in Livingston, New Jersey in the early 1960s. "I used to ride my bike to the local shops to watch them build customs," he told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in 2020. Amongst the shops were Korky's Kustoms in Whippany. Greg also spent a great deal of time at the drag races, and he has hundreds of photos that he has shared with Kustomrama.