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Drag Racing: Doug 'Cookie' Cook Dies

19 June 1999

One of the all time great drag racers, Jesse Douglas Cook passed away Wednesday, June 16th at 5 pm of complications from double pneumonia.

Born in Little Rock in 1932, "Cookie" migrated to the Los Angeles area as a teenager and was one of the original drag racers at the Santa Ana Drags, which historians consider the first commercial drag strip. Later, as the driver for the infamous "Stone, Woods & Cook" gasser, a blown on gas Willys coupe, his career was notable for two reasons: 1) The fear that the team struck in the hearts of their competitors as they dominated the "Gasser Wars" on Southern California's drag strips in the 1960s and 2) the fact that Cook was Caucasian, but both Fred Stone and Tim Woods were African American. Their partnership was the first competitive multi-racial team in drag racing.

Cook's family requests that instead of sending flowers, donations be made to the El Mirage Ladies Auxiliary. This is an organization that helps racers who are injured or ill. Please send your cards and donations to:

In Memory of Doug Cook
El Mirage Ladies Auxiliary
c/o Mike Cook
2955 Bronco Ln
Norco, Ca 91760 USA

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