In 1959, he moved to California, bought a 1932 Ford Coupe and held the Dry Lakes record at 151 mph. He also raced it at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.Dave bought the old Southern California Lakester from Ed Iskenderian, rebuilt it with a Chevrolet 258CI engine for E Lakester Class. First time out, he broke the National record 2-way average of 208.00 mph which he held for 2 years (1960-and 1961). He also held the Dry Lakes record at 165 mph.
In 1962, Dave went back to drag racing and ran a Fiat C Competition Coupe and held the 1320 record at 135 mph with an ET of 10.50. Then he held the DMP Chevrolet Sedan Long Beach record at 110 mph with an ET of 12.85.
In 1963, he built an A fuel-dragster, and won his first big meet in Fremont, CA for $1,000. After that, he won a few more races.
The latter part of 1963, Dave started going on tour and won a few strip records in the East - one at Lebanon Valley, NY (214 mph); Dragway, Inc. Nubly, PA (201 mph); and Fargo, ND with an ET of 7.12 at 219 mph. Most of these records are still held by Dave Babler (in 1967). He also won the Michigan Nationals and was runner up at the NASCAR Meet at Dragway 42 in West Salem, Ohio.
Dave built his new car in 1967. The chassis was built by Race Car Specialties, Tarzana, CA, with a 172-in. wheel base. The body was built by Kent's Kustom Bodies, Culver County, CA with a full body with real wood strips, painted pearl white with candy red outline around the wood. The engine is a 1657 Chrysler Hemi, blown and on fuel. The car has run 214 mph with an ET of 7.30, at the Hot Rod Magazine Meet in April, 1967. Had 3rd best qualifier position.

Dave tours 6 months of the year and races in California the rest of the year. He lives in Santa Monica, CA (again, in 1967).
(Editors note: Dave Babler is the father of Clark Babler who along with his wife, own and operate Porter Mufflers. This is a 1967 Dave Babler biography when Dave was on the racing circuit. It was probably a promo packet sent to race tracks.)
Porter Mufflers
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