nostalgiadragworld

Dan’s 50th Cover

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:29:30 GMT

Words and photos courtesy of Dan Ricks

Well with this issue I celebrate putting together my 50th cover for Nostalgia Drag World Magazine. It all started in August 2016 when my first image appeared on the cover, then in 2020 I had another image on the cover, 2021 two more covers and 2022 I had images on eight more covers.

In 2023 I took over putting the covers together on my own, in the beginning It was quite the challenge trying to figure out sizing, layouts and everything else that comes with it along with no previous experience. It took a while but once I got a pretty good handle on it, there was no turning back. I like the challenge of coming up with something different every month!

Along with doing the covers I started a section called Home Grown Car Feature’s where we like to showcase the grassroots nostalgia racers. And always looking for something unique and different. All it consists of is a short form to fill out. I'll take 4-6 pictures of the vehicle. It's all done that day (pretty simple) so look me up at the track I always have forms with me and we’ll see if we can get your hot rod some ink. To date we have done 33 Home Grown Car Features.

Lastly, I want to thank Rob at Nostalgia Drag World for letting me do my thing. We both love the nostalgia racing movement and want to continue doing what we love. So, any support, whether it’s sharing our Facebook page an or becoming a sponsor will be greatly appreciated.

To view all 50 covers click the link below

Dan Ricks 50th cover - NostalgiaDragWorld.com

World of Wheels Car Show Chicago

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:00:36 GMT

Words and photos courtesy of Dan Ricks

The 2026 Chicago World of Wheels show featured approximately 700 custom cars, hot rods and motorcycles held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.

The show featured some of the best custom cars and hot rods from the area and also the country. The paint schemes, engineering and displays were so impressive and chrome everywhere. It was a great event and I'm looking forward to the 2027 show.

View more WOW photos

WOW 2026 Dan Ricks - NostalgiaDragWorld.com

The History of the Fuel Altered

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:46:02 GMT

Words and photos courtesy of Dan Ricks

Fuel altered, known for their short wheelbases and untamable nature, emerged from late-1950s “outlaw” drag racing after the 1957 fuel ban, thriving as a fan-favorite, high-horsepower spectacle (AA/FA) in the 1960s-70s. Famous for iconic cars like the “Winged Express” these (awful-awful) machines represent a raw, entertaining era of nitro racing that persisted despite being dropped from mainstream NHRA categories in 1972.

Origins and “outlaw” roots (Late 1950s-1960s

Birth of the class: Following the 1957 ban on nitromethane by the NHRA, the American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) and other independent tracks allowed fuel-burning roadsters and coupes, giving birth to the Fuel Altered class.

The Rules: These were “altered” production cars or roadsters with significant engine setback (10-25%) usually featuring blown, nitro-burning engines.

The 1960 Heyday: Famous cars like “Pure Hell,” “Rat Trap,” and “Wild Willie” Borsch’s “Winged Express” dominated, with “Wild Willie” notoriously driving with one hand, becoming a legend of the sport.

Evolution and Transition (1970 to Present)

NHRA Drop: Due to their erratic handling and, perceived “regional” nature, the NHRA dropped the altered category in 1972, moving then into competition Eliminator.

Survival: Despite losing, top-tier status, they survived through independent, match-racing, particularly driven by promoters, like the Hough family and their “Nanook” car.

Modern Era: Modern Fuel Altereds (often in series like Nitro Chaos) are essentially Nitro Funny Cars without aerodynamic bodies, often running in the 5-second range.

The 300 MPH Barrier: In 2021, Richard Hartman made history by recording the first 4-second and 300-mph pass in Tim Wilkersons fuel altered, (4.92 at 304.53) proving these cars are faster than ever!

Today, fuel altereds are celebrated for their “old school” feel, short wheelbases, and the incredible, skill required to keep them straight, ensuring their legacy as drag racing’s most entertaining, (hot rods).

Click the link for more Altered images

Altereds - NostalgiaDragWorld.com

PART TWO OF CHAPTER FOUR. MY 1995 SEASON AND 1996, THE FINAL SEASON OF MY FABULOUS WUNDERBIRD

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:14:00 GMT

By 'Animal Jim' Feurer

The 95 season as a whole was ok. But my prior 94 season would be hard to match. Especially financially. I suppose one reason was I only did paid in bookings except for a couple IHRA NATIONALS and a Sunoco Pro Mod meet. Even those events I won enough money to be ok. And I was surprised at the Sunoco event winning $500 more dollars for best average reaction times, sponsored by Fast Lane Footwear. I did not know about the contest until it was over and Linda heard it announced on the PA. I loved the fact I was oldest racer in the stellar field. All other events, match races, Fun Ford Types, Special events, USSC, and even UDRA still paid me in. I made over $650 CLEAR every time I went down the track in 94! How I figured it was simple. Gross in minus all Expenses, and then divide by number of runs Plus I honored all contracts and obligations with little attrition. Perhaps some Divine Intervention????

In 95 I took more chances. My over load of panache was surfacing again. Plus I had more carnage to overcome. But let’s talk about the positive stuff. I had some great outings. They seemed to continue like in 94.

The fist memorable event was a USSC type race at Budds Creek, Md Wally Bell and I ended up in the final. Track conditions were not best do to cool damp weather. Wally and I had a classic “pedalfest”. I was not sure who got the win light. Wally and I were glad we made it right side up and never crashed. I was told by my crew I lit the win light. The fans went nuts!

We were side by side the whole quarter mile. Even when sideways off and on several times.

One serious problem was my heart problem. For my sins God had rendered me mortal; In 93 I suddenly acquired an irregular heart beat. It is called arterial fibrillation. In 94 I wore a heart monitor on one East Coast tour. So then I had another button to push while staging. Then after the run retrieve the info, go to payphone (cell phones not popular yet) and call Heart Care Midwest over a thousand miles away and fax the information the device recorded A nurse would tell me ok. I then went back to help get car ready, hug my wife Linda, talk to fans, go potty etc. For years the heart people tried different drugs. They would work for while----Then my heart would jump out of sync. And I would feel like crap! However in 2000 I was put on Warfarin. Been ok since. Of course blood thinners need to be monitored and controlled at a clinic. “So it goes.”

Enough whining!

My favorite win in 95 was my last event that season. The UDRA held it’s World Finals at Great Lakes Dragaway at Union Grove Wisconsin. UDRA was still paying me discretely. All the best UDRA PRO MODs were on hand. I have to be honest. When Bill Neri withdrew with a problem, I was relieved a bit. I had a chance to win this event. But there were several others that were definitely threats. Especially Steve Johnson and Bill Graziano.

One shot qualifying was not so good for us. I was #7 in an eight car field. I under estimated the track and had the clutch too soft.

Back at the trailer, my crew chief Al Schmitt, Chris McMahan and I whipped on Wunder bird. We put ½ turn ccw static and 2 grams a lever more counter and laid the spoiler flat. For first round I drew Steve Johnson. O-Boy! He is my equal. We both cut a good light! Mine was .001 better. That is what I won by .001. Our clutch management was back on tracked. In the finals it was me and Bill Graziano. Bill went too generous leaving the starting line on his run and red lit. I ran it out till about 1100 feet and coasted to a 6.69 at 205 mph. A new track record. It was a great day! Once again I was anxious to get home and tell my wife Linda Lou and present her with the money I earned racing and selling Animal Jim t-shirts to pay bills .Plus another nice trophy to add to our collection.

I would have won the UDRA season points , if I would have run another UDRA Points race. But because the UDRA bonus I was getting was paid only if the track would pay extra for me. So I was bound to run only the events the track paid extra. Winning this last race I became a spoiler for the late Ted Borowski. As we passed by Ted standing along the return road , Ted walked up to me and said, “Thanks Jim” Ted became the UDRA 95 Champion the instant Bill Graziano lit that red light. “So it goes.”

The 96 season started just like the last one. Wunderbird was performing great and so was my crew and myself. For most of 1996 , I had Al Schmitt as crew chief, his son Douglass , and Vance Tobalt for my crew. Vance was also my Torco oil and fuel sponsor. Then a new opportunity came to be. A chance to be in an ABC TV drag race special Show. It was called the ULTRA TEAM CHALLENGE.

The concept was pairing two popular drag racers of each type in an East VS West massive match race special event ,contested at Englishtown Dragway on Wednesday night June 5th. 1996. How Ironic. It was Linda and my 31st. wedding anniversary date. Some of the biggest names in drag racing were involved. Like Force and Worsham for Funny Cars. Al Hanna Jet cars, and Shirley Muldowny as color commentator. To represent Pro Modified, I was paired as the West contender with Mike Castellanna representing the East.

All contestants were required to turn in a press kit. ABC liked mine, so I was named the West Team Heavy. National ABC reps came to Lacon. To my shop and my home for video and interviews with me, my wife, and crew. The local affiliate led by Curt Pegler came back for more. This was a big chance for us. We were scheduled to be at Englishtown NJ on Tuesday morning. It was going to be tight. I was booked for Cordova, IL. Sat. and Sunday.And the following week end at Lebanon Valley Dragway in New York. Now a booking for the coming Tues. and Weds. ABC wanted me there Monday. Englishtown was a 1,000 miles from my shop. At least Cordova was only 100 miles. We had just enough time to stop at my shop in Lacon, Il. and prep for The East coast. What I did not count on, was an engine swap. I had kicked out a rod at Cordova. We were doing a super thrash. Linda and I had to turn away fans and friends including Warren Munson and family. I still feel bad about that, but I was not in the mood to entertain or had the time. It was already 1 AM.

Somehow we got it all done, bucking a nasty head wind all the way we got to Englishtown just in time for media interviews.

Jet car ace and my friend, the late Al Hanna met us at the rear entrance and informed me I was to be the acting circuit director for the west team. Al was one of the promoters. This was to be the first ever ABC drag race coverage. Last thing I needed was more responsibility.

Next was Vance got into a heated argument with Al Hanna over our pitting location? Next thing was my Honda generator fan quit and had to run to speed shop in town and get a small 10” radiator fan and rig it to the generator’s radiator. Amazingly that worked ok. We got the Wunderbird out and ready. By now It was 6 pm. They announced on PA for us to staging lanes. So it was up to me as the West contestant’s director to make sure everyone was ready. We had just all got in staging and answering media questions , like to me, several times , “Animal, are you going do your famous ballistic burnouts for us? “ Then out of nowhere a massive cloud burst rained us out!

Amazingly, ABC elected to stay and do the program on the next day. Which was a Thursday. It turned out to be a sunshiny beautiful June day. There was a bigger crowd than Wednesday. But do to poor drainage the hot sun was pulling water (weepers) up big as dinner plates up through surface imperfections. Those “weepers” were my “waterloo”. I was the third one to run in the right hand lane. Worsham running first vs Force oiled my lane. Next Danny O’ Day took his wheel stander down that lane to prove the cleanup was ok. But weepers are unpredictable. Especially after one of my expected and highly promoted quarter mile ballistic burnouts. On my run I ended up side down backwards at 200 mph, sparks flying, and crowd cheering.

That ended my Wunderbird and my 96 season.

For 99 I Bought the Ford Super Coupe McAmis Chassis from Roy Wasco. I used my engine and Lenco. I named it the “Ballistic Bird”

I stayed close to home match races and raced in UDRA. I was voted UDRA Pro Mod director. I won the UDRA 2001 Championship. Also Driver of the year, Sportsmanship Award, and Career Achievement Award presented by my late wife Linda Lou. UDRA VP Chris McMahon, and President, the late Ron Colson.

Everything ends! I am the last UDRA Champion. For many years,the UDRA was owned, ruled and funded by the racers.

Duane Nickels proved to me with our successful USCC circuit, a racing circuit /venue needs a Dictator ownership.

My 97 and 98 season circus, and other Animal Jim fun adventures, I will tell in a separate article.

ANIMAL JIM FEURER. Stay Safe, and God be with ya all!

What is a real Gasser

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:05:13 GMT

Words and photos by Dan Ricks

Just what is a Gasser anyways? The origin of the (GASSER) was simply a nickname for the cars that ran in the NHRA’s Gas Couple and Sedan classes in the 50s and 60s.

Unlike Dragsters and Altereds, Gassers still resembled the stock cars they were based on, but under their fiberglass flip-up hoods and fenders were high-winding small blocks, blown Hemis, and injected wedge motors. Their jacked-up suspensions got them off the line in a hurry, but the resulting high center of gravity made them just as likely to cross the finish line on their roof as on their wheels.

These wild wheel-up antics made them fan favorites as gasser drag racing exploded in the 60s.

Key Characteristics and Evolution

ORIGIN : Born from the need for faster, competitive cars in NHRA gas-fuel classes (A-GAS to H-GAS)

STANCE : The famous “Jacked up” look came from using a straight beam axle, often tubular to shift weight to the rear tires for better acceleration and traction.

WEIGHT REREDUCTION : Interiors were stripped, fiberglass panels used, and windows replaced with Lexan to lighten the cars.

ENGINES : Powerful engines, often supercharged, were fitted, with small block Chevys, big block Hemis, and later Ford engines dominating.

“ GASSER WARS” ERA (MID-1950-1968) This period saw intense competition and iconic matchups, with cars becoming increasingly extreme.

ICONIC BUILDS : Popular platforms included Willys coupes, Austin and Anglia sedans, and Chevrolet “Tri-Fives” (1955-57).

DISTINCTICE FEATURES : Many had front-mounted “moon tanks” for fuel/water, Halibrand wheels, and exhaust pipes exiting through the front fenders for shorter runs.

Gassers represent a pivotal era in drag racing, showcasing raw power, creative engineering, and unique aesthetic that continues to influence hot rodding and nostalgic racing today.

To view more photos click the link below

Gassers 02-26 - NostalgiaDragWorld.com

2025 Photographs in Review

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 20:15:07 GMT

Here are some photographs that NostalgiaDragWorld.com contributors shared with us in 2025. Make sure that you click on the link below the photos on this page to view many more great photographs.

Click the link below to view more photos

2025 Photographs in Review - NostalgiaDragWorld.com

THE BIRD IS THE WORD

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:58:33 GMT

By “Animal' Jim Feurer

CHAPTER 4 : EARLY PRO MOD STORY OF ONE OF MANY FATHERS OF PRO MODIFIED : ANIMAL JIM FEURER

THUNDER Bird 1. 1992 / 1996 Haas WunderBird

THUNDER Bird 2. 1999 / 2002 McCamis Ballistic Bird

Although the Probe served me well, Linda and I decided to build a new more popular car to try and Lure a major Sponsor. Ford was bailing out on the not so, popular Probe sales. Rick Jones and I parted ways. It was friendly. I understood. He had a new business to run.

Jerry Haas totally understood our reasoning. Ford was our main target, and they wanted a new popular car. So Haas and I chose the new 92 Thunderbird Super Coupe. Plus there is another factor. When working with major people they always have lot of up to date info for me to learn. ANIMAL JIM in a new Haas Pro Modified T Bird will get lot of media exposure! So the 92 SC BIRD was the word!!

In August of 91 Linda and I sent Jerry Haas $10,000 deposit for his waiting list. New Years Day Jerry called me and said they were starting on my Bird and needed $30,000. So we complied. A couple weeks later I went for a fitting. Five weeks later My new Bird was ready for painting. Haas and my son in-law Doug Fennell are the only major project outsourced persons that delivered on time. In fact Haas was a month sooner. I need to include Patton Ring was a sponsor that responded.

If we could not muster a major sponsor with a new Jerry Haas car, it certainly would attract promoters. Which it did.

The first race for the WunderBird was the USSC opener at Buds’ Creek, Md. April of 92. We won the event right out of the box. Which included Two career best runs. We out did a stellar field, including Charles Carpenter in the final. The next day the USSC was at English Town, NJ. I again ran a career best earning another final. This time vs. Manny De Jesus driving his Witch Doctor Pro Mod Nova. A burnt piston nosed my bird over 1000 feet, losing by only .001 and duplicating my prior career best. (what if huh)

1992 looked to be a great season. We had Al Schmitt again as crew chief, plus his son Doug Schmitt, Chris McMahon, Fletcher Harrison, Tim Smith, Dennis Pacetti, Terry Shirley, and Doug Fennell for crew. At the Bristol IHRA Spring Nationals we got to semis and won Best Appearing and Engineering award, plus did again in 93.

We were doing great winning some events, full filling contracted exhibition and match race contracts. Until September 23 , 93 when I put the Wunderbird upside down. HERE ARE THE FACTS!

It was the first round of qualifying on Friday evening for the IHRA President Cup Nationals at Buds’ Creek Maryland. Do to having to move our pit twice; I was late getting into staging. In fact Pete Williams and I were the last pair of 30 cars. This was not my usual strategy; I usually tried to be in first pairing. That gave more time to make changes and get ready for next qualifying run. Plus first one can pick a lane. (There are 4 qualifying sessions. Lanes must be swapped every session.) I usually try the weaker lane early so I have the good lane for the magic hour. That idea was also shot. Pete got ahead of me in staging and took the lane I wanted. “So it goes.” No wonder I had a migraine head ache.

Chuck Peterson went ahead of me in the left lane. His brand new trick billet aluminum rods failed windowing the block and pan on both sides. Now my lane had 8 quarts of synthetic oil dumped on it. (This was 1993, before diapers for Pro Mods were in vogue. I later learned a bad batch of billet aluminum had been causing early rod failures.) A fore mentioned were just a few of reasons I went on my lid. Ad the fact the Safety Crew came from the top end, but not far enough. The IHRA had no track spotters along it. ESPN was late due to weather. They would have detected the oil. Ad my stupidity; thinking the oil problem solved. So when I pulled third gear on my four speed Lenco I was deep in Peterson’s undetected oil. But wait! There is more! I was astraddle the center line, accepting the fact I was taking out Styrofoam timing blocks. I was trying to save my Bird by romancing it to the right lane and pull my chutes. Then , trying do so , Pete Williams had drafted me and was now in my way. I had no choice! To avoid a collision, I veered left back into the oil. The WunderBird did not buy being in oil again. I was upside down backwards at 200 mph, sparks flying along the right lane wall. (Drafting has been outlawed for that very reason) There are more lid cause details. Enough said. “So it goes!” (Kurt Vonnegut) So we rebuilt the WunderBird along with few updates. My son in law Doug Fennell, owner of Fennell Autobody in Lacon, Il., repainted WunderBird, and Al Schmitt and I put it all back together.

So back on the road again with some new crew members and sponsors. Daniel Barnes a fabricator from NC, and Gerald Rinehart. Gerald owned Rhino Exhaust in NC. Gerry made me several sets of stainless Zoomies. Hooker supplied the materials, and Rhino did the fabrication.

Off I went again winning some more events and full filling match race bookings. For that 94 season, my favorite race was the USSC at Epping NH.

1994 we celebrated our Silver Anniversary of drag racing tour. I won that event at Epping right on our 25 year date. Mike Faucher and his early bodied, super charged Chevy Nova, gave me and WunderBird a serious run. We both had identical .013 reaction times. It was door handle to door handle the full quarter mile. I won with a 6.89 to a 6.92. Both well over 200 mph. My bird nosed ahead right at the finish. For the final pairing it had all the Pro Mod early day drama a person could muster. The old man in a nitrous BB Ford in a late model 94 T-Bird VS a young man in a classic early 60s Nova BB Blown Chevy .

We had several other memorable bookings for 94. As I mentioned earlier, I was chasing the contracted money paying match racing and special events. That is how I afforded the cost of running a killer Pro Mod car. An example was my last outing Halloween week end which once again took me to Florida to match race a Fun Ford event VS my friend Ronnie Sox at West Palm Beach. Also Al and I had Warren Shafer as crew and we stayed with Warren and Pat and got a tour of Tampa Bay in their 45 foot cabin cruiser. I lay back on the stern wide seat and let the beautiful droning of the twin BB Chevy engines put me to sleep.

After our goodbyes Al and I trailored to Vero Beach to Jeff Velde’s abode to stay overnight with his family and next day, Oct. 31, we displayed the WunderBird and myself at his Auto dealership.

After more farewells , we were off to Carolina Dragway for a display ,interviews, and to race a Quick 8 Nov 5/6. (with a contracted booking fee of course). Ronnie Sox had a similar deal. They had two Quick 8s. Ron was in one and I was in the other. Both were !/8th mile. I won mine and Ron was runner up in his. After more goodbyes, we loaded up and headed for home to prepare for 1995

I need to tell 30 years prior I had been to Carolina Dragway. I was in Army stationed near Augusta, Ga. A bus would come on Sundays to Ft. Gordon to pick up solders and take them to the drag strip. No charge. I got to see a match race between the Dixie Twister Nova vs Fred Lorenzen in a new Thunder Bolt Ford Fairlane. Fred had just won the NASCAR Firecracker 400 driving a 65 Ford Galaxie. I related this story to my interviewer over the drag strip PA He told me ,he owned the dragstrip in 64 and he drove the bus!! Wow!!!

I am stopping here. My 1995 and 96 seasons will follow next episode.

Animal Jim
Thanks for reading. God be with ya all!

Animal Jim Car Show

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 19:02:13 GMT

Text and photos by Dan Ricks

Animal Jim held his second annual car show September 21st at his shop in Lacon Illinois. And what a show it was there were just about every type of vehicle there from new cars, old cars, street rods, rat rods, gassers a front engine dragster and a ford pro stock car on display.

AJ showed up and was signing autographs and sharing a lot of his stories with his friends and fans. But the highlight of the show was when they helped AJ get into the iconic Big Animal, he put his old helmet on and fired the Big Animal up you could see the smile getting bigger and bigger as he sat there!!!

Click link to view more images.
Animal Jim Car Show - NostalgiaDragWorld.com

RATSTOCK 3

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:55:05 GMT

Text and photos by Dan Ricks

The Psycho Silo Saloon held the Ratstock 3 event this year with Rat Rods from all over merging in Langly Illinois for the event.

New to this year's event was the dirty drags where participants were started with a flag start and raced side-by-side down a short dirt drag strip kind of like in the old days. The event was such a hit with racers and fans that the plan is to make it bigger and better for next year.

Another crowd favorite event was the burnout contest with high RPMs and a lot of smoke they had everyone on their feet. And as you take a walk through the property it was crazy to see all the wild vehicles that makes this event so great!

Click the link to see more Rat Rod photos from this event.
2025 Rat Rods - NostalgiaDragWorld.com

True Nostalgia Super Stock Series

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 18:52:31 GMT

Words and images by Dan Ricks

True Nostalgia Super Stock Series was born in the fall of 2021. This group was formed to help racers to get into Nostalgia Super Stock with some BADLY needed rule changes that has revolutionized the sport. We are the first NSS group that has allowed small blocks to compete in the Midwest. Small blocks were a very important part of the factory wars in Super Stock classes from the era we represent. We allow any car from 1955-1972 that was available from the factory production V-8. Other groups are slowly following are lead in some of our rule changes that have been in place for approximately 40 years.

O’Reilly Auto Parts True Nostalgia Super Stock Series was born to bring back the FUN in the very popular Drag Racing sport of Nostalgia Super Stock Racing! We celebrate these older cars! We are here to compete in a points series that is ALL FUN, and still very lucrative in payouts! The love of Drag Racing and the spirit of competition meet here mixed with a passion for the Old Historic Super Stock Cars that made Drag Racing GREAT! We have the best rules for FUN, and safety in the business!

We have a Facebook page entitled True Nostalgia Super Stock Series along with a website with all the information at truenostalgiass.com CHECK US OUT!

To view more True Nostalgia Super Stock pics click the link.
True Nostalgia Super Stock - NostalgiaDragWorld.com

Ozark Mountain Super Shifters

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 20:16:15 GMT

Words and images by Dan Ricks

In the fall of 1991, a small group of drag racers who chose not to use automatic transmissions with delay boxes, stutter boxes and other electronic devices banded together with the help of Ted Jones, Ozark International Raceway owner. The first race was sponsored by OIR dragstrip, and felt to be of interest to the spectators, enough so that a second race was put together.

This time, the participating racers collected sponsorship money for the purses from businesses in the immediate area who also liked this type of race. Again, the race was found to be of great interest to the spectators. The participating racers enjoyed the experience of racing against other stick shift cars and racing was once again fun.

Throughout the winter months, these racers continued to meet to discuss plans of how to continue this type of racing. The Stick Shift Super Club slowly evolved into the Ozark Mountain Super Shifters Inc. Original founders were Jim & Betty Ruble from Springfield MO, Leroy & Janet Tarr from Buffalo MO and Jim & Jason Ort from Lake of the Ozarks MO. Colombia MO Dean Arthaud served as president from 1994 to 1998 while Billy Leaf joined the group in 1996 and became president in 1998 till present.

The inaugural Ozark Mountain Super Shifter race was held Sunday April 26, 1992, at Ozark International Raceway in Missouri seven “Super Shifters” braved the cold for the first race of the newly formed drag racers association specifically for stick shift cars: Fred Quackenbush, Kerry Baker, Jim McGuire, Bill Porter, Larry Tarr, Jim Ort and LeRoy Tarr. McGuire’s Chevy II won with LeRoy Tarr’s Camaro taking runner-up spot.

Today however, to help increase membership and car counts, they have changed the rules to allow power adders, nitrous and hydraulic clutches. This rule change is new for the 2022 season.

Today we currently have over 30 members and average 22 cars per race. The Ozark Mountain Super Shifters gather for races in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Iowa to put on exciting drag racing programs for enthusiastic fans. They feature nostalgia- type cars from the 60s and 70s as well as late-model pro- stock style cars that run in the 7s at over 180 mph in the 1\4 mile. If long, smoky burnouts, high RPM wheels-up launches and exciting side-by-side drag racing action appeal to you, come on out and see the Ozark Mountain Super Shifters!

People ask why they have been so successful over the years it’s simple:

THEY PRAY BEFORE RACES, PRAY BEFORE MEALS AND HAVE A STRONG COMRADERY BETWEEN TEAMS!!!!!!!

To view more Super Shifter images click the link
Super Shifters - NostalgiaDragWorld.com

NOSTALGIA DRAG WORLD PART 3 OF MY PRO MOD PROBE DAYS

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 19:30:30 GMT

Give It A Name

For 1990, the IHRA created the new door car professional class and named it PRO MODIFIED. It was to be a 16 car qualified payout similar to their Mountain Motor class. Pro Mod would be raced heads up with a ladder just like the other professional classes. Nitrous Oxide and Super Chargers adhering to IHRA special rules would be allowed. NOS was once again with me.

A young pedantic layman asked me once if I ever ran nitrous oxide before. I replied: “ Son---I have used enough nitrous since 1981—It would put this whole county to sleep, and wake up laughing!” I added, “Always legally mind you!”

My first purpose built Pro Modified car, and one of the first Pro Mods was built by Rick Jones. Rich was owner of the new chassis shop, RJ Race Cars in Galesburg, Illinois. Rick Jones, became a sponsor and partner with my new Pro Modified Ford Probe. My Probe and the Wild Bill Kuhlmann Summit Sponsored Beretta were the bench marks for the new IHRA Pro Mod section in their rule book. Rick was on the phone constantly bantering with the IHRA rule makers like Robert Leonard. Robert really got nervous when we told him about putting the fuel cell up front like a blown car. The specs for doing so were ridiculous. But we did it how they specified.

I never did score a major sponsor, but many new associate sponsors came to my Probe into the future party. Rick Jones owner of RJ RACE CARS was the biggest. VFN Fiberglass made us a fiber glass body with separate doors, nose, rear deck lid, and hood scoop and dash board. Some of the IHRA rule makers were nervous about allowing a glass body. VFN had enough clout to handle that. Along with VFN, Bob Stroud supplied great parachutes. Strange Engineering stepped up with more help and the late Jim Ray owner of Hawkins Speed Shop in Richmond, In. also jumped in.

Thanks to Mike Thermos of NOS bringing MSD and Hooker Headers to my Probe Pro Mod party. BME supplied pistons and rods. I already had Comp Cams support, Sunoco Fuel, Pennzoil, VHT, Animal Alert deer whistles, A great Custom paint job by Dave and Keith McCoy of K and D Custom Body Shop, House of Powder, Centerline Wheels, Polydyn 7 Additives and Coatings, K&N Filters, FelPro Gaskets, Jim Naramore of Jims Racing Enterprises, Kevin Lee owner of Kleeco Enterprises, US Strange Ring and Pinions, and Ram Clutches. The new Lenco 4 Speed and Hurst shifter, I had to pay WD for. The same deal for a new super light weight Ram carbon fiber clutch. I also made deposit on a new Kaase/AR 700” Ford Boss Hemi that we did not get till August of 91. But it was worth the wait. That new 700 inch “Big Boy” Jon Kaase Engine put the ”Psychotic Probe” right in the constant 6 second quarter mile et range and accompanied with consistent 200 + mph runs.

Even with all the associate sponsors help, this new race car was going to cost Linda and I a bunch out of pocket. The engine alone was $45,000 plus new Lenco transmission and miscellaneous expenses; we needed about 50 more grand. Where? How? Well I will tell you where and how! A short term note from our local Lacon National Bank. Thanks to my Linda Lou she set up a line of credit with them several years ago. She took a press kit, match race contracts, and magazine and news articles over to the bank president. He was so impressed he gave us a loan. One of my very close Indy car friends Max Kelly told me, “I am not sure who has bigger balls? You or your banker?”

I did close my shop, made it Animal Jim Racing headquarters. All through my professional drag racing career, many times my Linda Lou and I would jump off the cliff of opportunity and hoped to grow financial wings on the way down, to make it work. Somehow we always did.

Something I want to make very clear. What I am telling, as always, is my interpretation of those grand days and what I sought and experienced.

I realize everyone has their own memories of those glorious days of yore. They are welcome to them as am I, till I die.

Now with all that said. Let’s probe forward with my memories of Rick Jones building my first magnificent Pro Modified car.

It is enough of a chore to build a car from a pile of tubing. Rick was building a modified version for a new class. The 1990 Probe was to be a full purpose Pro Modified race car. A bench mark, if you will. We were falling behind getting it done. The eyes of media, sponsors, and promoters were bugging us. So Rick and I, his employees, my crew and friends all pitched in to finish the Probe. It was not the way to build a proto type race car. My old Aunt Ann Feurer proverb was: Too many cooks in the kitchen cook up trouble.

Finally the Probe was done. Or was it?

Do to showers our test runs were during Pro Mod qualifying at IHRA Spring Nationals at Bristol, Then. Do to wiring mistake my rev limiter went off at 6000 rpm during the run. Joe Pando MSD rep came and corrected the problem right away. We used all 4 qualifying sessions correcting problems. Consequently we got bumped out of the IHRA SPRING NATIONALS.

The next outing was the annual Ford Motor Craft Nationals at Maple Grove, PA. I was booked as Exhibition with Wayne Torkelson, Ronnie Sox and Norm Wizner as always. We did run respectable that week end. People went nuts over our new RJ Probe. We ran 7,0 s at 198 mph. Fans stood in line 40 at a time as my Linda Lou handed hero cards and sold Animal Jim Shirts. I signed hundreds of autographs. After another successful match race at Columbus , Ohio, we had a USSC event for July 4th. at Norwalk , Ohio. The new Probe now had 11 runs on it. But still no 200 mph.

The first run at the USSC event on July 4th. made 12 total runs so far on the new Probe. It rang up a 7.07 et and a 199.9 mph. Before we got back to our pit , Bret Kepner already put a crude sign on my trailer; “Ho Hum ! Just another 199.9 run! But on the next run was 7.00 and 202 mph! We were #l1 Qualifier and broke 200 mph. My crew chief Al Schmitt amended the sign soon as we got back. We went over 200 every run after that. We won the event VS Al Billis from Canada. My 666 CI Damien and NOS Foggers had done the job. The 13th run on the Psychotic Probe netted my first of many more 200 mph runs. 13 was always my lucky number. Perhaps it was so because my beautiful late mother’s birthday was the 13th. of July. PS. I also won the burnout contest again. Another $500! Added to the $2500 purse. We also sold a mess of AJ T shirts and I signed countless autographs. And garnered more match race dates. 1990 delivered several ups and downs. But enough ups to win the 1990 USSC SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP. And even the downs provided valuable information and fond memories.

Thank you Rick Jones, NOS, Ram clutches, Roland Rich Ford, Big Time Trading Cards, Rqyal Publishing / Skip Ashcraft, Hawkins Speed shop, MSD, K and D Body Shop, Lacon First National Bank and over a dozen more that helped us. And most of all, a big thank you to our volunteer crew people for 90/91 seasons. Especially Al and Doug Schmitt and Ed Fogelsonger, Danny Smith, Doug Fennell, the late Rick Davis. And of course my catalyst and wife, the late Linda Lou Feurer.

The 91 season netted some significant wins. Also Bill Alexander owner of Fun Fords Booked Wayne Torkelson and I for all ten Fun Fords around the US. Plus I had several independent Ford events booked with Ronnie Sox and Norm Wisner. Plus more bookings with Wild Bill Kuhlmann , Wally Bell and more. I had contracts out the Whazoo! 1991 was a very busy year. I still managed to race a couple UDRA events, IHRA events , several USSC events and Broadway Bobs Three Labor Days at Great Lakes Dragway. They all paid me a hefty guarantee!

One of my favorite outings was winning the USSC at Epping, N.H. I won by cutting a great light in the final VS Manny Dejesus and his legendary Witch Doctor Chevy. And special thanks to my son in law Doug Fennell and to my crew chief Al Schmitt for bringing my Pro Mod Probe to pick me up at Indy were I was working for the Indianapolis 500 Bear Crew. And thanks to Bear crew chief , the late John Henninger for letting me go race at Epping. I made a pile of needed money that week end.

1991 also entered the NOS pink sun glasses. Dale Vizarian , was Mike Thermos’s partner of NOS showed up at the Aug. Fun Ford with a box full of hot Pink Sunglasses with NOS printed on the lenses. Those NOS pink glasses were a big hit. We offered them in an Animal Jim package deal. A t-shit, hat and throw in a pair of those pink sunglasses. You could see people all over the Norwalk Dragway wearing those glasses.

I did not try for any season championship in 91. I followed the match/exhibition money trail. Jon Kaase finally got our new 1300 hp 700” Ford/AR Boss Hemi finished. With NOS Foggers, It made over 2000 hp. Unfortunately, we had to pass on the Cordova annual World Series only 100 miles away and put the engine in the Probe which required several tedious modifications. My other two engines , the 675” Monolith and 666” Damien were tired and needed freshened. My crew including my Linda Lou spent the week end matching the new engine to the Probe. . We had a Big week coming up. Three days at Great Lakes Wisconsin, then Weds. Night with Bill Kuhlmann at Houston, Texas and the week end with Bill and I at McCalin Texas. Over a dozen runs total and several thousand miles traveling.

There is so much more to tell about the Probe. But I think I have rode this horse enough.

What us old timers started, in 87 with Bill Kuhlmann leading the way, Pro Mod today is now For the rich and crazy brave, and bigger than ever imagined.

God Bless all and In the words of the late Bob Fink, “I love yuuse ALL! RIP Bob.

Written by Animal Jim June 23/25

Illinois Outlaw Gassers

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 18:49:49 GMT

Illinois Outlaw Gassers was formed in 2022. We wanted to be considered as an alternative choice from other local gasser groups.

We currently have 12 members and continue to grow. Also, we have plenty of guests that race with us as well.

We are looking to grow into a larger group and continue to support and travel to Nostalgia racing events. We currently race at Midstate Dragway Havana, IL and Coles County Dragway Charleston, Il.

We would like to be able to go as a group to some of the other big events and spread out to other tracks. If interested in racing with the group, contact Bill Eveland on Facebook or Illinois Outlaw Gassers on Facebook.

Photos by Dan Ricks

Front Engine Dragsters DR 3-2025 - NostalgiaDragWorld.com

Part 2: PREPARING FOR PRO MODIFIED; LIFE BEGINS AT 200 MPH

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 18:37:39 GMT

After the 88 season and winning the IHRA Inaugural Heads up Quick 8 at Darlington, and UDRA season Championship, I decided to update Zeke for 89. Rick Jones who had opened a new Chassis Shop in Galesburg IL., Offered to do my changes as a sponsorship.

First came removing needless wt. and cosmetic devices. Head lights removed and replaced with course screens. Dash and extra seat removed. And so forth. All the changes were legal for IHRA Top Sportsman, UDRA Outlaw Pro Stock, and match race bookings.

Added was an escape hatch, mainly to relieve burn out smoke. But also became great fan and media attraction. I would sit in it and pose for pictures and on return roads that went by the stands.

Rick also built a huge adjustable rear spoiler that worked wonders. Rick also added a few bars around my head to appease NHRA track rules to get a current NHRA certification chassis sticker. Rick also made a cute small hatch in trunk lid to access the nitrous bottle valve.

A secret weapon I acquired by chance was a new light weight McCloud duel disc clutch my good friend (retired with crash injuries) Chuck Aronson sent me to try. Red at McCloud even knowing Ram Clutches was my clutch sponsor, was good enough to give a basic setup. The result was amazing. We had clutch management so defined with that RJ huge spoiler; when spoiler was moved up a click; the clutch would slip a bit from more rear down force as if some counter weight was removed. I won many races using that tactic. Many could not believe how I got down those nighttime dewed slippery drag strips.

When the clutch needed service, I sent it to Pat Norcia at Ram and they did a great job. I managed to go on and make my mark as a professional Outlaw circuit and match racer.

There are so many events and incidents devoted to my Zephyr we called Zeke. To tell it all about 1987, 1988 and 1989 alone, it would take 50,000 words to chip the tip of the per-verbial storied iceberg. Zeke served so well I shall still try to build it a monument of words. Here I will start by telling a few highlights.

I had told in previous article about the history making final at the UDRA annual Spring National at Byron Dragway in 87. We won several races that year and we were second in UDRA season points. Bill Kuhlman was number one. 1988 I won the first ever IHRA heads up Quick 8. Won several UDRA events including the Word Series and a dramatic final against Gary Duckworth capping the 88 UDRA Season Championship. Plus Fun Ford events were frequently booking me along with other match races.

At the 88 UDRA annual awards banquet at Pheasant Run in St. Charles, IL. Bill Kuhlmann and his wife Beth and I and my wife Linda were sitting at the big round VIP table. We filled it with Trophies and awards. At the afterglow promoter Duane Nickels was talked into providing a Super Circuit of nitrous door cars. With Ron Colson and Bill Kuhlmann and myself proposing it. After much conversation and whiskey the USSC was born that night. Duane hesitated his decision wondering who would star. Ron Colson pushed Bill and I forward toward Duane saying to him, “Right here in front of you are two of the biggest Stars. I am sure they can get Robbie Vandergriff and they can help find more peers.” DRAG RACE HISTORY WAS BEING MADE.

The 89 season was a mixed bag of adventure, successes and failures and tragedies. The successes we relished. The failures we all learned from. The tragic death of Walter Henry at Atco that October we all mourned.

89 at Darlington was for me was my first failure that season. Being the winner of the Quick last year and being a first round loser in 89 was hard to take. At Darlington in 89 My crew and I had to struggle with defective pistons and excessive wind blowing course sand on the track jamming my throttle plates. We finally loaded up and headed home to get ready for the trip to Puerto Rico. Wild Bill Kuhlmann had tagged me as his match race partner at San Juan Dragway on Easter Sunday.

Puerto Rico was a fun deal. It would take a chapter to tell about it. I just wish my Linda Lou could have been with me. She would not miss those days teaching at Mid County High School. About that same time Linda convinced me to close my customer business, use my shop for a headquarters, and drag race full time. She told me I better read what the media is saying about me. Linda told me I need to decide to pursue building engines, or drag race. And under her breath she said “It better be drag racing!” “OK then!”

My future son in law Doug Fennell saved the day that spring. We were heading to the East Coast for the first ever USSC race and my truck started missing. We were only about to Champagne, IL. on I 74. Doug Fennell was on his way to see my daughter Jackie at Butler University in Indianapolis. Doug saw us pulled over and stopped. I told him to get to a pay phone and call my shop. It was only 4 PM. I told him to tell my employee Roger Holsclaw to clear the center stall. We turned around and made it back. Got the truck fixed and were back on the road in an hour. We made it to Buds’ Creek in time.

The USSC (UNITED STATE SUPER CIRCUIT) was huge success! The first one in spring of 89 at Buds Creek Maryland was packed with fans. The pits and stands were so full of fans and media, we could Harley get ready. Car loads were still coming in during the finals. I was still driving my trusty 79 Mercury Zephyr we called Zeke. The engine was my original Boss 675 inch Ford Hemi we called the Monolith. I still had the original NOS single stage fogger, but I was still stuck with a fresh set of the bogus pistons I ran at Puerto Rico and the best couple from Darlington for spares. The piston problem was the skirts were too narrow and thin. I had sent samples and blueprints and explained on the phone how to make them. The new owners of BRC did not adhere to my directions to ditch cut the inside of the skirts and make them wide.

I had to tune down the nitrous so the piston skirts would not collapse as they did at Darlington. The only good was, the damage showed which cylinders were strongest and helped later to tune the nitrous oxide deployment.

At the 1989 inaugural USSC At Bud’s Creek Md. I ended up in the final with Robbie Vandergriff again. Just like the Quick 8 at Darlington I won in 88. I knew Robbie would be tough wanting revenge. This time we had better track conditions. I threw caution to the wind and tuned the NOS foggers for kill!

Robbie and I did side by side huge burnouts. During our final run we did not play any staging games. Rob had lane choice by 1 hundredth of a second. Rob and I after wild side by side burnouts slowly backed up to stage. We both lit the first bulb almost simultaneously. Robbie being the gentle man he is, lit the second bulb first. I rechecked my line lock and skidded forward. My starting line chip we had bumped from 6,000 rpm to 6500. With the raratatat from our MSD rev limiters we were both staged. The three yellow lights flashed on. Robbie and had almost the same reaction times. His was better by .0015. I learned later. We were side by side the full quarter mile. According to announcer Bret Kepner, Robbie and I change the lead three times. Robbie’s retribution was served. He had won. The margin was only .001. My fault for no cutting a better light. But oh man, what a race.

I was runner up and won the wheel stand and burnout contests.

The next day, Sunday, the USSC made their way to English Town, New Jersey. This was to be a day time race. Sadly, the BRC weak skirted pistons collapsed badly, casing a rod to kick out. Sliding in my own oil, I damn near ran into Wally Bell at the finish line. I was not the only wounded racer. To provide 8 cars for round 1, a dark horse, Mike Ashley was employed. Amazingly Mike won the event out doing us all. Mike became a regular valuable asset to the USSC. I did again win the wheel Stand and Burnout contest. We all stayed Monday for the magazine pictures and interviews. All present but Norm Wizner and his 57 Mega Ford. He had a match race booking. “So it goes.”

I went on to win my share of finals in UDRA and USSC. The most notable were the wins at Great Lakes WI. Capping the UDRA Championship again, and wining enough points in USSC to be Season RU in that circuit. I also won two UDRA “three peats” at Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, and the Cordova World Series plus setting several records.

Here I must tell about the bizarre tragedy of my friend Walter Henry. October of 89 Atco, NJ. Hosted the season end IHRA division event. Along with it, since our outlaw cars were getting so popular and IHRA being bugged about providing a professional class for us in 1990 ,they advertised a 16 car invitational. And with a decent payout. We still did not settle on a class name yet. More than 16 cars showed up. Sadly the event cost my friend Walter Henry’s life. It is ironic. Walter had flown 51 chopper missions in Viet Naum. And got killed by a score board barrier while drag racing.

My good friend Wild Bill Kuhlman won the event. Me? My engine was hurt. My monolith engine swallowed an exhaust valve during the last qualifier. Prompted by Atco Dragway track owner Joe Sway I ran first round for history. With only 7 cylinders.

The next weekend was Walter’s funeral. Unfortunately Carolyn Melendy, Norm Wizner, Charles Carpenter, and I were booked into Suffolk, Va. We reasoned Walter would be ok with us. We did honor him at that foursome match race. We also all honored our match race contract, and got full pay. I had one more match race obligation and the 89 season was done for me. I had couple more bookings I could have done. But I and my equipment were used up. Rick Jones offered to build me a 1990 Probe.

NEXT WE WILL “ PROBE” INTO THE FUTURE! Watch for part 3 on www.nostalgiadragworld.com and www.animaljimracing.com for more of my Pro Mod adventures.

May God be with ya all? As the late announcer and Dragway manager would Bob Fink would say, “I luv yuz all!”

Animal Jim. a.k.a. Sam Foyer. Contact me on FB messenger or call 309.238.8556 .

McKinney Corp Continues as The Official Fabrication Source of Chaos Drag Racing Brand

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 20:09:46 GMT

Lafayette, IN. 25 March 2025 – Throughout the course of a racing season, Funny Car Chaos, Nitro Chaos, and Fuel Altered Chaos see various types of racing vehicles from the old to new with a myriad of combinations. For all those teams racing in Chaos, having an official fabrication source to go to for all their needs to make race day is a great asset. For the third year in a row, McKinney Corp will continue its partnership as the official fabrication source of the Chaos brand and its three series, while also retaining the title sponsorship of the Nitro Chaos “A” Field competition.

Murf McKinney, a former Funny Car racer himself, who established McKinney Corp in 1981 building Funny Cars believes for the Chaos racer, McKinney Corp is a “one stop shop.” At McKinney Corp a customer can order a custom item as small as a tab for their own chassis build or an entire new chassis with all the modern amenities ready to race. There are several examples of Chaos racers using McKinney Corp products in planned competition in 2025.

“We’re looking for the do-it-yourselfer, the guy who does modifications himself, ”Mr. McKinney said. “We’ve got all the hardware to do the job.” An example of a do-it-yourselfer is Ken Singleton. Singleton captured three Funny Car Chaos Championships in a row as a driver, while also earning his first FCC championship as a tuner in 2024 with Shayne Lawson driving the Man ’O War II Funny Car which is a McKinney chassis. Ken is currently building a new car for a first time FCC competitor which will be decked out with components from McKinney Corp such as fuel tanks, oil tanks, seat pan, and more upon completion.

Another new ride that is ready for all the Chaos racing available in 2025 is with Chuck Loftin Performance. Chuck Loftin had many issues in 2023 with his Nitro Psycho Funny Car. Often consulting with Murf McKinney on adjustments, the car that he was competing with was unresponsive to changes or would respond in a way that wasn’t normal to a well-built chassis. Chuck decided, “Well, let’s just build a new car!” The Texas diesel mechanic will be rolling into 2025 with a new chassis tailored to him along with a renovated Trans Am flopper body. Chuck is the best prepared he has ever been to compete at a high level in Chaos this season as he is equipped for both Funny Car and Fuel Altered trims.

The McKinney Corp brand is one that through Chaos has been showcased well beyond just marketing. Within Chaos competition there are many McKinney Corp cars that showcase the dependability and excellence of a Murf built car. Colin Thomas, with his “Twisted Sister” Mustang Funny Car campaigns a chassis that was originally built in 1989 for the late great Roland Leong. You also have the “Made in America” team of Tom Furches, the 2023 Funny Car Chaos Champion, with a chassis dating back to the early 1990s. Even the most recent champion in FCC, Shayne Lawson, pilots a McKinney chassis that was originally built for Jay Payne around 2016. If it’s old, or if it’s new, a McKinney component or chassis will stand the test of time even in the highly competitive ranks of Chaos.

Murf McKinney and his McKinney Corp have been at the forefront of the industry for what will be 45 years in 2026. During that time many brands in drag racing have come and gone all the while seeking marketing partners for their endeavors. When asked if the Chaos brand has delivered on its return on investment, McKinney Corp founder, Murf Mckinney responded with an emphatic “yes!” The partnership with Chaos is deeper for Murf than just a matter of business. “The thing that stands out is that people came with their families to go racing, it wasn’t a lot of fly-in people,” McKinney reminisced of his visit to Chaos In The Cornfield at Eddyville Raceway Park which was a combined Funny Car Chaos and Nitro Chaos event. “It just appeared to me that Chris [Graves – series owner and promoter] really was trying to interact with the spectator, like when they warmed up the cars down-the-line instead of just one car randomly warming up here or there.”

For the racers and teams in Chaos, with McKinney Corp as the Official Fabrication Source, they have the go to place for all their component and chassis needs. As Chaos continues to grow, McKinney Corp is pleased to be associated with a grass-roots effort that is passionate concerning the sport of drag racing in every facet from the stands to the action on the strip. The motorsports division is ready to assist with your needs from front to back including body and tin mounting, roll cage adjustments, steering and rear end alignment and all the things you will need to get on the track and safely compete at your peak performance.

ABOUT MCKINNEY CORP

McKinney Corp. was founded by Murf McKinney and two brothers in 1981 to build Funny Cars for the sport of Drag Racing. Over the years, after solidifying a name synonymous with excellence and winning, the company has grown to become a self-sufficient manufacturing and research and development center. What started as a motorsports company has diversified into commercial machining and fabricating as well, staffed by a growing number of employees and equipped with state-of-the-art CNC machinery. In addition to Motorsports, we are also currently serving the following industries: Recreation - Medical - Marine - Aviation - Agriculture - Transportation - Academic, and more.

Contact McKinney Corp by visiting www.mckinneycorp.com or call directly at 1.800.542.3088

Front Engine Dragsters

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:15:57 GMT

Dragsters in the 1950’s and in the 1960’s were truly unique, as in, each one was somewhat different from all the others. We use to have front engine dragsters, rear engine dragsters, dual engine dragsters, three engine dragsters and even four engine dragsters. Some of the dragsters had four-wheel drive. Some of the multi-engine dragsters had engines mounted side-by-side, some mounted in-line. There were even some that were mounted sideways. Some had full bodies, some had partial bodies and some no bodies at all.

As far as engines, we had dragsters with Ford engines, Chevy engines, Pontiac engines, Chrysler engines, Buick, DeSoto, Cadillac, Packard, Lincoln, GMC, Oldsmobile, you name it. I don’t think you could name an automotive engine that wasn’t mounted in a dragster at one time or the other. We even had dragsters with aircraft engines.

In the early 1950’s when drag racing was still something new, the media called the dragsters “rail jobs”. This was because the early dragsters were not much more than a car with an engine mounted in frame rails. Get a car, remove the body, fenders pretty much everything else, and you had a “rail job”.

Sometimes it’s hard to remember that before we had 18-wheeler “transporters” with tool cabinets that cost more than a house, we had single axle open trailers and a tool box we could carry with one hand. Our “transporter” was usually a trailer hitch on the of the family station wagon or pick-up truck. It was a different time, but it was our roots and it is our heritage.

Words and photos by Dan Ricks

Front Engine Dragsters DR 3-2025 - NostalgiaDragWorld.com

MY PRO MOD DAYS. AND HOW PRO MODIFIED CAME TO BE! PART 1

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 22:13:23 GMT

Success claims many fathers. I want to say here and now. My stories are true as best as my 84 year old brain can muster. My still acute memory and the ability to prove what I tell may be the reason God delegated me to live this long. To tell true stories and try to set my drag racing history correct. THANK YOU GOD!

Let’s go back to 1986. My mountain motor days. My best friend and arch rival, Wild Bill Kuhlmann and I were jaded with our careers. We needed something new and with better pay. Bill and I set up a private meeting Dec of 86, at the Holiday Inn in Springfield, IL. That was midpoint distance for Bill and me. Bill was from Wentzville, Mo. Me Jim Feurer (Known better in drag racing as ANIMAL JIM.) from Lacon, Illinois..

Bill and I brought all our press clippings, resume etc. We decided we could not afford to run NHRA or IHRA Pro Stock. AHRA was long gone. So it was circuit race or match race for low budget professional drag racers. Bill and I even considered UDRA Funny Cars, and went to their annual UDRA Funny Car meeting. No way. Too much equipment changes.

We needed more bookings and for more money. To achieve that we needed to orchestrate something new. We both decided it had to be with door cars. One big thing Bill and I had was an overload of PANACHE. (RECKLESS COURAGE) This was very infectious to fans, media and promotors and even sponsors. I have always believed, that overload of panache Bill and I shared was a natural born attribute.

“How about 200 mph match race touring team of Pro Stock bookings?” Bill and I hit on that idea simultaneously. We then called around to various heavy duty promoters, race car journalist, and finally our own agent Duane Nickels’ of the famed Nickels and Associates. Duane thought our idea was great. But he said, “Before we advertise 200 mph Pro Stocks, someone has to do it first.” Then we realized no door car anywhere had ever hit 200 drag racing door slammers yet! OOPS!

Some IHRA Mountain Motor guys had broken into the 190. mph mark. What an opportunity. To be the first to run 200 mph in a door car. After our meeting, I lost focus due to family matters, caring for my invalid old parents. I am not blaming them. It is what should be done. Linda’s mother was also failing. We lived 45 miles from each. My parents had no insurance. We finally tapped out. Their church even helped. I had forgotten all about a 200 mph touring team.

Bill knew of my problems. So he did not bug me. My friend and former sponsor and owner of NOS (Nitrous Oxide Systems) Mike thermos did call me a couple times that winter offering to sponsor me again and was confident with my 675” Engine and the new NOS fogger nitrous system I could go 200 .Linda and I had so much family problems Mike’s offer fell on deaf ears.

But Wild Bill Kuhlmann did not lose focus of our dream. Unknown to me Bill Kuhlmann was methodically transforming his current pro stock Camaro into a one purpose machine. It was to be the first door car to break 200 mph in a quarter mile.

By the time February came, IHRA plus some fans and colleges asked if I was going to race Pro Stock at the IHRA Darlington Winter Nationals in March as usual. I told my wife Linda Lou. She said, “Send in your entry. This is business. That first race brings lot of promoters looking for match race talent. It always produces some bookings for us.” So I entered Pro Stock as usual.

When my crew Al and Douglas Schmitt, and Ed Fogelsonger were sitting in line at Darlington with our rig waiting for the gate for professional entries to open, I looked over at the Top Sportsman pits. Low and behold. There in the grassy area sat the Wild Bill Kuhlmann 87 Camaro, sporting a huge rear spoiler, new huge hood scoop with Sonny Leonard decals. Plus huge NOS decals all over the body. Top Sportsman was only a high level bracket class. But Nitrous and other modifications were legal.

It instantly it hit me. Bill was going to go 200 in Top Sportsmen. A lesser class. But with softer rules. Not Pro Stock rules. TS still is a door car class. Silly me. I never thought of that.

Bill did not disappoint. He went 202+ March 14, 1987. And smoking the ties from mid track to finish. Talk about panache! WOW!

As much as I admired Bill’s success, I got a sick feeling in my gut. Nitrous was legal in UDRA Pro Stock. I will have to run Bill in that venue and match races. I had no choice. I needed to conform. Hello NOS again!

My next race was a month later. The annual UDRA Spring Nationals at Byron IL. Dragway. To some that event, the Outlaw Pro Stock final became legendary. Byron then was NHRA sanctioned and also hosting an NHRA Div. 3 Event. Which meant all racers and cars had to be inspected by NHRA tech. My car along with most Pro Stock cars needed a new even larger bar once again under the driver side rocker panel mandated by NHRA for 1987. I pointed out that last year we added a new size bigger bar alongside the excising one, so both bars creating a duplex would be stronger than that the new rule. The NHRA tech official did not buy that. I responded with “You best brush up with your physics and common sense!” I was so upset, I threatened to load up and leave. My friends UDRA Event director Ron Colson and Super Stock Magazine Editor Jeff Burk talked me into staying. The NHRA waved the new rule till next event. Those two friends went to bat for me. So I stayed. This would be my first time with nitrous on my Kaase 675” Monolith Engine.

Bill and I made history qualifying. Both of us ran couple tenths quicker than rest of the field. Wild Bill and I qualified one and two swapping record setting numbers and went through that field of entries like poop through a goose. Bill ended number one qualifier and me a close number two. And we ended up facing each other in the finals.

By this time I decided to use the nitrous sooner than hitting it in third gear. I planned to use it when shifting to second. I did feel I could win and perhaps go 200. We both did humongous long burnouts. While backing up I had a miss. I think I broke an exhaust rocker arm stand. (So much for trying to win.) Al backed me up and I stage anyway hoping Bll would red light , get loose, shake the tires, or break. Bill and I played no staging games. Bill made a perfect run. I followed trying the nitrous to no avail.

Never the less. History was made that day. That final has become a legend. Pictures are all over face book. Bill and I went on be in 9 UDRA finals that season. We were always one and two swapping records and wins. This event was the start of something big. I don’t think anyone knew how big. Bill had kicked the door open breaking 200 at Darlington that March. The Pro Modified seed was planted.

Part two I will tell about four of my Pro Mod rides. 1989 to 2001 and about the modifications and updates of Zeke, plus my three purpose built Pro Modified cars’. The modifications and updates of my 79 Pro Stock Zephyr we call Zeke were done by me and Rick Jones 1989/90. 2. The Rick Jones Amazing Psychotic Probe 90 and 91. 3. The fabulous Jerry Haas WunderBird Thunderbird Super Coupe 1992 to 1996. 4. The sleek chopped top Tim McCamis Ballistic Thunderbird Super Coupe. 1999 to 2002.

Thanks for reading. ANIMAL JIM FEURER.

GOD BE WITH YA ALL!

MUSCLE CAR AND CORVETTE NATIONALS 2024

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 19:52:45 GMT

PHOTOS by RICHARD JAESCHKE WWW.HOTRODONLINE.COM

The MWPSA motto

The Nostalgia Pro Stock Speed Corral was packed full of top notch cars

The Midwest Pro Stock Association had an awesome display with well over a dozen pro Stockers from all over the country.

As we do every year Nostalgia Drag World spends a fun filled day at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals held every year at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, IL (Chicago) With out a doubt this show is the premier event to see some of the rarest and finest muscle cars in the country. One of the things we have noticed and are thrilled about is the growing number of nostalgia drag race cars on display.

This show allows attendees to get up close and personal with not only the cars but the drivers, crew chiefs and our favorite the lovely back up girls. Most of the guys have hero cards available and are more than willing to take the time for an autograph or photo. We highly encourage all of our readers to add the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals to your show schedule please tell them that NDW sent you. For now, sit back relax and enjoy the photos.

MOUNTAIN MOTOR MADNESS!

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 19:29:38 GMT

For 1984 , I switched from SB Nitrous Cleveland to a humongous 675 CI Mountain Motor we dubbed the “Monolith”. ( I have to explain hear and now, “Motor” is not the proper name. “Engine” is. But “Mountain Motor” has a better limerick cadence to it than “Mountain Engine”. Look up definition of “Motor” and “Engine”. Or how about “Elephant Engine”? Too clumsy! My engineer mentor Bob Olmsted would flip in his grave, if he read this. Never called an engine a motor around (Bob! ) RIP BOB!

This 675 Jon Kaase Engine sported Allen Root special Aluminum Block 11.2 Deck Ht. Steel Chrome Mollie Sleeves with O rings. Bore was 4.635 , steel BRC crank ,Arias pistons and Venolia aluminum rods, with 5” stroke X 0.7854 x 8 =675. Had AR Aluminum Hemi Heads. Worked over by Jon. AR Tunnel Ram worked over with two Holley 1100 dominators and MSD Crank Trigger Ign. Dynoed 1150 HP @ 7,000 RPM. Jon called me all excited about the results. Winter of 83/84. Cost was $25,000! Remember-This was 40 years ago! That engine also included a special .800+lift cam and 2.500” diam. Intake and 2.00” exhaust valves. All 16 were Manley Titanium valves of course.

Funny story: Shortly after Jon called, some dude called from Chicago area telling me he developed a Ford Cammer using Gilmer belts instead of timing chains. He wanted to team up with me putting his Cammer in Zeke. Then, before I could respond he insulted my persona telling me I would have to cleanup, starting with cutting my hair. Then!!! I responded. I told him about my Kaase 675 Boss Hemi, and Jon calling with results. I added, “As for my grooming .I would not cut my hair for my mother, let alone for you! You insulting joker!” And I hung up. I do not recall a name. Once I did trim my hair a bit. Promoters, media and fans did not like that. Especially the late great Bill Bader. And my little girl cried when she saw my hair trimmed.

First time out with the “Monolith” 675 was not successful. One problem was the new fiberglass doors. That big engine had so much torque it would twist Zeke out of shape launching the driver door. It would fly off. It happened twice in a row.

I had orange duct tape, and had my crew chief Cliff Sturm tape me in next run. Door stayed put. But had to wait for Cliff to come untape me at top end. Tech would have had a cow if they knew. (At US 30, perhaps not)

Another problem was starter was not strong enough for that engine. I could see some other matters would need looking after with that much power. So we loaded up and went home. I never experienced so much brute power.

At my shop at home we cured the starter problem by connecting another battery and solenoid to create 24 volts just when cranking, and included a MSD retard with momentary toggle switch. And just a cheap rebuilt starter worked great.

Until two years later and went to a dry sump system, and had to use a mini starter do to different pan. Amazingly that Hamburger mini starter and MSD retard and 12 volts worked fine.

For the next three years, 1984,85,86 and first race in 87 we ran pure Mountain Motor Pro Stock , mostly in UDRA and Match Races . We did ok, winning several UDRA events, and went rounds at a couple IHRA Nationals. One of my most memorable IHRA Mountain Motor runs was Aug. of 85 at Norwalk, Oh. I had Bob Glidden first round. I took a shot at the tree and cut a spectacular .002 light. I was way ahead of Bob. Then by fourth gear I saw that Thunder Bird nose appear. We went through the traps side by side. Bob got the win light by .001. While waiting for our tow vehicles, Bob came over and asked if I had a pretty good run. I said it was good. When I got my time ticket I realized I had run a career best et. But, so did Bob. He had won by .001.

However, during my 3 year pure Mountain Motor Pro Stock effort, as I told earlier, I won several UDRA , match, and special events.

One of my favorite wins was August 10th. 1986. I had the unbeatable Bob Olsen in the final. I was still driving my trusty Mercury Zephyr with the Monolith 675 engine.

This event was The Annual Pro Stock/Funny Car Open at Byron, Il. Rules? Ha! It was “Run what you Brung! And you better Bring Enough!” I went to finals, caught a great light and beat that Steward and Olsen Pontiac by a fender.

Then another big change happened.

My friend, Wild Bill Kuhlmann, In March of 77 put A NOS Fogger System on his new Sonny 632 bb Chevy. Bill entered Top Sportsman. Nitrous was legal there. Bill’s motive was to be the first ever door car to go 200 ! Which I witnessed him doing so at IHRA Nationals at Darlington SC. OH! OH! Nitrous was also legal in UDRA, No one had ever taken advantage of it with a killer mountain motor till Bill.

Bill Kuhlmann had gone ahead with his dream we both shared and discussed back in December. While I was side tracked with other matters.

I had no choice. I had to go same direction to compete from then on. UDRA was my main arena. So hello NOS. My old friend.

My Kaase/Allen Root, 675 Ford Boss Hemi loved it! It sure did! We estimated we went from 1200 hp to1700hp with just a basic single NOS Fogger system. And basic tune up. Just hitting the Nos during second gear on, would net 5 tenths quicker and 10 mph.

It felt like a powerful passing gear. We won many races and the U DRA Outlaw Pro Stock Championships 88 and 89. I consider 87,88, and 89 , The formative days o Pro Modified. Wild Bill had kicked that door wade open!

I ran our next car the same way. By then, we were running Pro Modified. The 90 Probe was one of the first cars purpose built for Pro Modified. Built and sponsored by Rick Jones. Officially it was the first Ford door car to go 200 mph.

I was still using old engines, the Kaase Monolith 675 Ford Boss hemi and the Jim Ehlen 666 we called Damian! And it ran high 6 second runs, still on a basic same Fogger system. But I was now hitting nitrous right after the launch. Better late than never, August of 91 we put a new Kaase 698” beast in the Probe.

We won a third championship with Probe with the USSC. That made 5 championships for me altogether.

In 92, came the fabulous Haas Thunderbird Super Coupe we named Wunder Bird! We set many records and won many races. With son in law Doug Fennell’s awesome design and paint job, it won IHRA Best Appearing/Engineering two years in a row. Which was unheard of.

With this car we used nitrous on the launch, and a second system @ .5 second timer , producing 1800/2000 hp. Running 6 sec/200 +mph runs at will. Ronnie Sox, Wane Torkelson and I, swapped records of quickest Ford door slammers on the earth for several years.

Well, it seems I am getting ahead of myself. My next chapter about my Pro Modified years will be my next article.

Written by ANIMAL JIM FEURER. MAY GOD KEEP YA ALL.

The History of the Hill-Boys' 1953 Studebaker Champion”

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:08:59 GMT

The year was 1961, and Don Hill bought the 1953 Studebaker as a parts car to his street 53 Studebaker. After pilfering all the parts Don needed off the Studebaker, one sunny summer day in 1963 Don and the family were having a picnic at their house in Ballwin Missouri. Don’s brother Jack Hill was there and the two of them were playing horseshoes and Jack made a bet with Don that if he threw the next horseshoe as a ringer Don would have to sell the Studebaker parts car for $25.00. Well Jack did just that and handed over the $25.00 to his older brother Don.

You see Don and Jack Hill were not just brothers, they were also a team together as the Hill-Boys racing team out of the Midwest. After the second world war, the two of them started racing an open wheel stock car. The Hill-Boys were known coast to coast on dirt tracks and later, asphalt tracks as fierce competitors. It was their way of life. In 1963 by now they both were not racing open wheel cars anymore and Jack had the need to play around with the 1953 Studebaker that he had just bought from Don.

Jack decided to put a 392 Chrysler Hemi with two four barrels, 727 torque flight transmission that all was put into the stock Studebaker chassis. Custom headers, Olds rear-end, ladder bars and a 4-point roll cage were added. The car was now ready to race, and the year was 1964.

After a few runs the Studebaker took a back seat to work. Just a few years earlier Jack started a company called Precision Rebuilders which is still in operation today.

In 1972 Jack gave the car to his son Mike Hill on his 16th birthday. The car sat around for a few years and in 1979 Don’s son Butch Hill and Mike became partners/owners in the Studebaker. In 1990 Butch decided to sell out to Mike to build a 1939 Ford Coupe so they could go racing together.

In the late 80s during a race in Wentzville, Mo at MAR raceway, the Studebaker was having trouble creating real horsepower. Don Garlits was at this race and took a liking to the car and within one hour after sitting down with Big Daddy he spelled out all the tricks to make the Hemi perform like it should.

In 1992 the car was chopped. Later in 92 Jack Hill lost his battle with cancer.
In 1994 both Mike and Butch willed their cars to one another to make sure they stay in the Hill family. In 1995 Golden Hawk fins were added to the car. 1997 came along a new paint scheme from red to the Blue/Purple with flames. In 2006 the car was awarded Dupont’s paint of the year.

In 2007 Don Hill lost his life to a stroke and in 2009 Mike Hill lost his 4-year battle with cancer. In 2012 Butch Hill willed the Studebaker to his children Cameron and Caitlin Hill to once again keep it in the family.
Today Butch Hill is still racing the car in the Nostalgia Drag Racing League (NDRL). And the car is considered the World’s quickest all steel 1953 Studebaker.

The car weighs 3,200 pounds and is still running a 392 Hemi. Although it does not run a steel block anymore, the aluminum Donovan motor from the 60s puts out 1,100 hp and 1,092-foot pounds of torque. Sitting on top of that Donovan is a 671 blower with a 4 port Hilborn injection running on alcohol. The car is still running a 727-torque flight, Ford 9” rear end with 4.10 gears and believe it or not, it is still running the same latter bars that were built in 1963.

No electronics other than a trans button. Even though this car looks like it is a fiberglass car going 250 mph setting still. This car is truly old school in its body and power plant. The body is original Studebaker steel even down to the door hinges and steel chrome bumpers.

.

NITRO CHAOS RETURNS TO ILLINOIS

Mon, 06 May 2024 18:13:30 GMT

By this point of the 2024 season, you can rest assured a heated points battle will be underway and it will all conclude with a return for the CHAOS brand to Midstate Dragway, formally Central Illinois Dragway, in Havana, Illinois for the Nitro Chaos Championship Finals, September 20-21st. CID was one of the original host tracks for Funny Car Chaos dating back to 2018 and after recent ownership and management changes, is very excited to welcome the CHAOS back to Havana to crown the 2024 Nitro Chaos Champion! This will be the largest gathering of nitro burning drag racing machines in track history, we assure you that.

Back-up vs Pin-up

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 19:12:12 GMT

By Dan Ricks

What is the difference between the two and how do they both relate in the nostalgic racing world?

First let us look at the pinup side, what does it mean to be a pin-up girl? Well, you should know that “pin” means pin; while “up” is up. Two English words whose union comes to form the expression “hanging on the wall.” For this reason, all the photographs, calendars, postcards, illustrations...that were hung on the wall, and had a suggestive, provocative posture...they were considered pin-up.

As we have mentioned, being a pin-up girl meant breaking with the norm, and not caring about doing it or what they will say. Therefore, you had to be a very self-confident woman, with high self-esteem and who did not mind seducing, being daring, spicy, even naughty, always with elegance and glamour, since what differentiated them from other types of women is that they do not fall into vulgarity. In other words, they left the honey on their lips when hinting and suggesting, but without going any further.
Wavy hairstyles, waves, loops, and even toupees were a trademark of pin-up girls. In addition to the colors in the hair, although this was not usual. In fact, there were brunettes and blondes, but redheads used to attract the attention of many because of that unusual color.

In addition, they used to adorn their hair with bows and other accessories to give touches of color, especially when it was more “normal.”

Click the link to see more Pin-up girls
Pinup Girls Dan Ricks - NostalgiaDragWorld.com (smugmug.com)

N ow let us look at the side of the back-up girl and or guy. Though that scene occurred years ago it is still fresh in the memory of many who had the chance to watch the dynamic duo.

J ungle Pam is one of the most iconic and well known “backup girl” She not only brought her own form of showmanship to the races, but her job did serve a purpose.

The “purpose” of a backup girl is to guide the driver of a car as they back up to the starting line after doing a burn out. The objective is to help the driver steer the car backwards to precisely follow the wiped clean and heated path of the slicks to improve traction. She and others like her did and do much more, including turning wrenches and other car and team related work. She has inspired many women worldwide to find their place within the sport, whether it be backing up cars, taking on pit girl duties, or getting in the driver's seat. Many of the ladies and or guys nowadays wear costumes matching their team’s colors or other interesting apparel.

So, in conclusion even though there are differences between the two and at times they do crossover especially in the nostalgia drag racing world I think no matter what side you are on backup or pinup we owe them both a lot of gratitude for what they do in keeping us all entertained!

Click on link for more Back-up photos

Backup Dan Ricks - NostalgiaDragWorld.com (smugmug.com)

Route 66 Classic

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 21:01:35 GMT

Text and photos by Dan Ricks

The Route 66 Classic was one of those nostalgia events that had something for everyone from great band performances to classic pinup contests to some of the finest street cars around in the show car corral.

Then you take a stroll through the pits and find just about every type of nostalgia race cars you could imagine from gassers, super stocks, pro stocks, funny cars, front engine dragsters and much more and at time there may be a big-time nitro car or two show up for a test and tune session.

With racing all day and into the evening it made for a great time for all those who love racing, especially nostalgia racing!

BRING BACK THE ROUTE 66 CLASSIC!

To view more Dan Ricks Rte 66 Classic photos click the link below:
Rte. 66 Classic Revisited - NostalgiaDragWorld.com (smugmug.com)

Those Fabulous Funny Cars

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 14:18:14 GMT

Text and Photos by Dan Ricks

This month Nostalgia Drag World will be featuring some of the famous and not so famous funny cars that have raced at tracks around the Midwest.

Whether they are the big races or just some heavy hitting match races, funny cars have always been a big tradition in the Midwest.

To view many more funny car photos by Dan Ricks click the below link Funny Cars Dan Ricks -

NostalgiaDragWorld.com (smugmug.com)

Meltdown Drags Revisited

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 17:39:35 GMT

Photos by Dan Ricks

This month Nostalgia Drag World with the help of photographer Dan Ricks looks back at the Meltdown Drags at Byron Dragway with photos from various years of once was the biggest and best nostalgia event anywhere.

To view more Dan Ricks' Meltdown Drags Images click the link below:
https://nostalgiadragworld.smugmug.com/Meltdown-Drags-Revisited

Nitro Revival 6 aka Sensory Overload/Ode to Nitro 2.0

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 18:39:50 GMT

Photos and Text by Ted Pappacena

The following report on Nitro Revival 6 will be done as it was last year as a daily diary. The contents are solely my opinions on my experiences at the event.

At the end of last year’s account of Nitro Revival 5, I alluded to me coming back this year. It was too much to experience last year and I was overwhelmed and not as prepared as I thought I was, so a return was almost mandatory. One year later the so called Pomona Posse reassembled minus one at Newark Airport at approximately 8 A M Thursday morning November 2. The crew consisted of me, John Cerchio, Warren Bader, and Keith Hudak. Our flight was uneventful (thank God) and we landed in sunny California at about 2 P M. We picked up our luggage and took a shuttle bus to Hertz where we picked up our Chevy Tahoe and went directly to our hotel. L A traffic didn’t disappoint as it took us almost 2 hours for a 45 minute ride. We arrived at the hotel, freshened up, and met Good Vibrations Motorsports rep Pete Mauriello for dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Pomona. After dinner it was back to the hotel for a much needed good night’s sleep.
Friday Nov 3

Friday is setup day at the track and admission is free. However, unlike last year when the track opened at 8 A M, this year it was to open at noon. This would give us the whole morning to visit the Lions Museum. We got there promptly at 9 A M when it opened. It is quite an experience. There was a special discount for those of us that would be attending Nitro Revival. Upon entering we were greeted by the Beaver Hunter AA/FA and a blown Willys gasser followed by rows of old cars and one row dedicated to the Willys. One area is filled with movie cars in a movie theater setting. Then you enter the star of the place; a recreation of Lions Dragstrip complete with murals depicting the track. We are greeted with Big John Mazmanian’s candy apple red Willys side by side with the Stone, Woods, & Cook blue Swindler Willys. Behind them are the original Pure Hell and Pure Heaven AA/FAs, and to the left is the Pisano & Matsubara Vega F/C. There are driver displays and lots of memorabilia. And it’s always expanding. There was a dry lakes area being prepped when we were there with murals being painted. Thanks to docent Darr Hawthorn, we photographers were allowed access inside the exhibit to get better photos. Thanks Darr! While there, the newest member of the posse, Dave Ferrin from Chicago, arrived straight from his flight to meet and hang out with us for the rest of the weekend.
Once we were finished, it was time for lunch and we were able to find a Jack in the Box (not my choice). Then it was on to the track and we got there at 1:30. I promptly unloaded my stuff at my west coast office for the event, Ross Howard’s trailer that housed (among other things) the 1973 Custom Body Dodge Challenger funny car. Then off to find Don Ewald who had my media credentials consisting of a media lanyard and gold speckled wristband. I asked if this would be it and was told to go to the track office around 4 PM to get their wristband and I did just that. I was also told that absolutely no photographers would be allowed on the track during Saturday’s “Line of Fire”. So now I have a media lanyard, gold speckled wristband, and the track’s very own wristband that I had to sign a waiver for. Okay, now I’m set (or so I thought). Back at my office I met Sirena Lee Hicks (daughter of famed top fuel pilot Lucile Lee). I brought along a photo I took of her mom racing Shirley Muldowney in 1982 at the NHRA Summenationals. I presented her with the photo and it was quite an emotional experience for both of us. Then it was on to shooting the cars and stars of the event.

At this point I have to go into a bit of a different direction. A few weeks prior to the event I was checking the Nitro Revival site to see who and what would be at the event. Under the cars section I saw that a Jungle Jim funny car would be attending. No year given and no owner/driver next to it. We all know that when any car with the Jungle Jim name comes up all hell breaks loose. Not everyone can have a Jungle Camaro/Nova/Vega and yet they pop up every once in a while. So, is it real? The correct chassis, engine, color, roll cage, wheels, etc., etc., etc.? So I thought I’d call the media guy for the event and ask him about the car. However he was under the weather at the time so I did the next best thing and called Ross Howard to see if he knew anything.
We both did a lot of speculating about the car because Jungle had 2 Camaros that he ran from 1970-72, a red one and a blue one. We really couldn’t come up with anything solid so Ross said “Call Steve Gibbs”. Steve runs the show along with daughter Cindy and a host of volunteers so he should know. So I did. I called Steve and asked about the car. He didn’t know all the details but did say that the car would be making its debut at the event. A big deal for sure! He did tell me who would be bringing it and as it turned out, I knew the person.

In the meantime I had conversations with 2 of my friends; John Cerchio and “Big” Bob Snyder as to what car it could be. They both sent me photos of what car they thought it was and then I found out that it’s the 1972 blue/flamed version. Then I called Ross and told him what I found out and I said, “Wouldn’t it be cool if it could be pitted next to your car (The Custom Body Challenger)?” To which he replied “It would be cool anyplace on the grounds”. That’s when I came up with the bright idea to see if we could put both cars at the starting line for a photo shoot. Ross then says “Set it up with Steve”, and “I’m in!”
And I did just that, I called Steve again and pitched the idea to him and with all of the planning going on in his world with N R 6 just a few weeks away he agreed it would be cool and one way or another, he’d get it done. All I had to do was get an agreement from both parties (I already had one). The gentleman bringing the Jungle Jim car was Ron Hugley. I knew Ron when he came east back in 2010 with his Tiki Warrior Monza funny car for a big nostalgia funny car event at the now deceased ATCO Dragway in New Jersey and when he came east again in 2012 to Maple Grove Raceway for their 50th Anniversary event. I did not have his number but “Big” Bob did and he gave it to me. I called Ron and pitched the idea to him and he agreed to participate. Plus I got the rundown on the car, it being the blue/flamed car that was run deep into the 1972 season. After I got off the phone with him, I called Steve and told him both parties agreed. Steve said that Sunday morning around 9 A M would be the best time to do it. And that was that! Done deal! Whew!

But, you know what they say about plans, right? The Tuesday before the event Steve calls to inform me that that JJ Camaro wouldn’t be coming. Great, now what? “No problem”, I said. There will be other funny cars there that I’m sure would like to participate and when I got there I would go around and see which car(s) would be interested in my idea, then touch base with him. I did just that when I got to the track. I approached a famous funny car that made its debut at the event and pitched my idea yet again and all parties involved with the car agreed. I told them my plan and asked them to have the car ready at 8:30 A M Sunday morning as I would be there around 8. Again back to Steve to tell him that I secured another car. At that point I thought it prudent to get a few more cars just in case. I didn’t want any last minute surprises. I approached Darryl and Pam Conrad and asked if they would like to participate with their restored Veney’s Vega and they immediately agreed. Then turning around I spied the Holy Toledo Jeep. I had a pretty good rapport with Robbie Fellows from the year before so I asked him too. However he declined saying that he’d be leaving the event Saturday night. So I was about to look for another car when Robbie talked it over with his crew if they could stay another night just so they could do it and they all agreed! Now I have 4 cars. I also asked that there be “drivers” in the cars to increase authenticity with the shoot. They would be suited up with firesuits, masks, and goggles, basically the whole 9 yards. This is going to be so cool! And it was, but not without a price.
The rest of Friday consisted of the In-And-Out Burger meet and greet from 4-7 P M and then a special memorial for Walt Stevens who sadly passed away a few weeks before the event. It was hosted by Jack Beckman and it was very moving. Then it’s back to the hotel and much needed sleep.
Saturday Nov 4

This is the main day of the event. A noise day and again it lived up to its name with cackles galore all day long as well as on track push starts for the dragsters and fuel altereds, as well as nitro exhibition runs, and like last year The Outlaw Gassers of Southern California. Adam Sorokin’s digger, Kazanjian & Lemon & Konno Mustang F/C, the Halstead “Over the Hill Gang” AA/FA, the Flournoy Family AA/FA, and Eily Stafford in a rear engine car, were just some of the cars making exhibition runs. The autograph session was as big as last years’. You could get signatures from the likes of Herm Peterson, Larry Brown, John Force, Jack Beckman, Linda Vaughn, T V Tommy Ivo, Gary Beck, Carl Olsen, Don Prudhomme, Frank Bradley, Glenn Way and a host of other notables. I had conversations with Gary Beck, Frank Bradley, and the owner of the Lil Old Whinemaker all steel Dodge Dart funny car (his name escapes me). It seemed that everything was going on all at once. You really had to choose what to do and see as the Southern California Outlaw Gassers were making their qualifying runs and fuelers were cackling all while long lines were gathering for the autograph session. So prior to all of this as I went to get on the track to shoot the action, I was told by a track worker I couldn’t go there. I showed him my media lanyard, gold speckled wristband, and white track wristband. “I don’t care about those”, says he. “You need a green fluorescent vest, go to the office and get one “. So I did. I went into the office and asked for said vest. Someone who I assumed was the track manager informed me that they didn’t have anymore. Twenty five certified media and the track has only 20 vests and everything else doesn’t matter. So I calmly asked “What am I supposed to do, not shoot the event?” “There’s nothing I can do”, says he. I left the office and went on the track anyway. This isn’t right.

This leads us up to recognition awards to those involved in the Greater San Gabriel Valley drag racing scene. Recipients included Jim Dunn and Henry Valesco. After the awards, more push starts and gasser racing lead up to the Line of Fire. All of the cars are jockeyed into position and Cindy Gibbs starts them up a few at a time until they are all cackling at once. As a photographer I quickly learned from last years’ event that I had to pick and choose which cars to shoot as all do not produce the same amount of flames and there’s not a lot of time to do it. That’s what everyone comes to see. So I went to where the fire was so to speak. Along the way I saw some photographers on the track during this part of the event. Huh? I thought that absolutely no photographers are allowed on the track at all during the Line of Fire. So, why are they allowed? Are they better than the rest of us? But what do I know; I’ve only been doing this for 56 years. As I got to the end of the line of cars at the 1/8 mile mark, I was literally gasping for breath. There was that much nitro in the air. A very big yellow cloud hung over the track. Nitro overload for sure. The cacklefest ended with a fireworks display. Saturday’s events are over and the Pomona Posse heads over to Whittier for a Chicken dinner at the Chicken Coop with Pete Mauriello’s posse and then back to the hotel for much needed sleep because……..
Sunday Nov 5

I have to be at the track for my photo shoot at 9 A M. After breakfast we all pile into the Tahoe for the trip to the track and we arrive about 10 after 8. Steve Gibbs was a bit under the weather and wasn’t there so I had to seek out Cindy and fill her in as to what Steve and I had planned on doing. So, at 10 after 8 she calls the track office to let them know what I had planned. Getting off the phone she tells me it’s okay but I have to do it now and get it done in ½ hour because the track has to be prepped before racing starts at 10 A M. Well this isn’t possible but I scrambled to get the cars to the staging lanes so I could get them into position. All except for one glaring absence as it was still in the trailer with no one connected with it to be found anywhere on the track. I had to work with the 3 that I had and proceeded to go to the track where I was met by the track manager who hassled me every step of the way. Even at one time threatening me to hurry up or he’d stop what I was doing. He relished the idea of shutting me down I might add. Generally one doesn’t smile while breaking my chops.Nice. Trying to keep cool, I set up the first pair; the Custom Body Dodge with Larry “The Okie Smoker” Brown inside and Kelly Bar Anderson at the helm of Veney’s Vega. When I was done with that pair, I motioned the Custom Body forward so that the Holy Toledo jeep could get into position. Robbie and Bob Waldman positioned the jeep next to the Vega with Robbie’s brother Mike at the controls. I have to hand it to him, because throughout the shoot, Mike did not move a muscle till we were done.

But I got it done with minimal grief coming from the tractor driver with the rubber strips to prep the track. Nice. A track that is half in shade due to signage on one side and the hot sun on the other side, dragging rubber strips across the surface ain’t gonna cut it and it clearly didn’t. The track couldn’t hold a bicycle let alone the exhibition passes. All the dragging of rubber and not spraying traction compound does not a sticky track make. I somehow got it done with some time to spare and cleared the track for the day’s racing. I stayed on the track’s return road with another photographer when a track worker approaches us telling us we can’t be there. Bet you can’t guess why? Yup, that pesky fluorescent green vest! So I told the guy that the office didn’t have any and he told us that now they did. Hmmmmmmmm. So yet again we go to the office and ask for said vests. There were other photographers there getting dressed down by track management for God knows what reason while I asked for the vest and surprise(!) they weren’t there but on the way. Seriously? I then had to sign another piece of paper and include my phone number of all things. Then I (we) waited while there’s action on the track for a young lady to appear with a box of fluorescent green vests; enough for all of us. So where were these vests yesterday? My guess is they came from the circle track adjacent to the drag strip. Clearly management couldn’t be bothered to fix a situation they themselves started the day(s) before. Now, I’m really official pretty much when everyone is packing up to leave. Maybe next year these issues can be ironed out before media gets there?

After more push starts, it was time for the big startup at 1 P M. Every car on the grounds started up at the same time. A sonic and aromatic assault on the senses. People were 3 and 4 deep by the cars and it was so crowded that I just lifted my camera over my head and randomly clicked off shots. Then back to my office for much needed refreshments. It was almost time for me to leave as the Posse agreed to leave at 2:30 so new member Dave Ferrin could go to the NHRA Museum in Pomona and possibly see the track and see where our infamous adventure from last year took place. We did just that and it was back to the hotel to freshen up and take an hour to decide where we would have a real sit down dinner (it was TGI Fridays). Then back again to the hotel to print out our boarding passes in the hotel lobby and more bench racing till midnight. Then we get up at 5 A M Monday morning to battle Los Angeles traffic for 2 hours to get to the airport for our 10:55 A M flight home. The flight home was as uneventful as the one on Thursday (thank God). We arrived at Newark Airport around 7 P M EST. My wife picked me up and we got home by almost 9. A quick trip to Chick-fil- A for the spicy deluxe sandwich, fries, and a cold Dr. Pepper was much needed. Then back home to hit the hay but not before sneaking a peek at my photos.

All in my entire second trip to Irwindale Dragstrip for N R 6 was as good as it was last year, albeit bigger. More cars and more stars and I made new friends and saw old ones as well. I had a great time in spite of the track management putting roadblocks in front of the media throughout the event. This is without a doubt the biggest and best Nostalgia Drag Racing event in the country if not the world. Heck, people came from Down Under, Japan, and Sweden! I’m willing to bet that there will be at least 3 new (to the event) funny cars at next years’ event. So mark your calendars because next November 8 & 9 the earth will shake again in Irwindale, California. Next year it will be Friday and Saturday. Don’t miss it!

Special thanks go to;
Steve Gibbs
Cindy Gibbs
Don Ewald
The whole N R 6 Crew
Ross Howard
Larry “The Okie Smoker” Brown
Darryl & Pam Conrad
Robbie Fellows
Mike Fellows
Bob Waldman
John Cerchio
Warren Bader
Keith Hudak
Dave Ferrin
And everybody else who made the event brighter for me.

View more Ted Pappacena' images by clicking the link below:
2023 Nitro Revival - NostalgiaDragWorld.com (smugmug.com)

Returning to the scene of the crime...

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 16:03:42 GMT

By Eddie Buck

It's been a while since I have done this. I truly thought I was finished. I missed it and often caught myself thinking, through some situations, “This would make a good topic for a column." Well, with all the craziness we have had in the world this past several months... this would make a great column!

The Hippo had been in the trailer since it left Bakersfield in October. I had no time to devote to it, less money and little desire. The plan was there, everything else just seemed to be out of reach. Occasionally, I would drop the gate to look at it and then would close it. I had rented part of my shop to a local auto dealer, to detail trucks. It turned into a headache, and took up almost 700 square feet of space in our front shop and severely limited the room to work on anything. With the onset of the pandemic, we ended our relationship with them and gained back space. One Sunday, I had a visit from a couple, new to the area, who were out exploring. The woman had seen the Mr. Ed parked outside one day, and even took a photo of it and posted it online. They introduced themselves and stayed for a few hours. They told me they were owners of a speed shop in Alabama, but were here due to the husband's "real" job. They were living in an apartment nearby for the next year and in the midst of all the madness, missing their dragster. One thing I can always count on, is the common denominator of that dragster. People, who know them, are sure to stop in and at least satisfy their curiosity as to what it is. That weekend was the first time I had pulled it out of the trailer. The husband lusted it and the wife hopped in! Smiles abound and it was a lot of fun. Not much work got done that afternoon, but there wasn't any drama either. Just good conversation and new friends made.

That visit was actually the catalyst to get started on it again. It's a great release working on it, or just staring at it really. Every time I extract it from the trailer, I marvel at the art, beauty and sheer sex appeal it possesses. Gleaming in the sun, as the light picks up the file marks in the raw aluminum. The simplicity of the structure and the hypnotic hues of magnesium, chrome and aluminum. Nothing beats it in my opinion. It has stayed this way, far longer than I planned. I had made an initial agreement, to show it for a year in bare metal. One year turned into two, with no complaint from the people who looked at at it. Some even told me to leave it that way. As much as I love the raw look of the perfect body and attending pieces, it needs to be finished.

It just takes time, that evil four-letter word. A necessity to the budget-minded builder/restorer/caretaker of these pipe racks. It's a well-worn struggle amongst those who want to make things letter perfect and those who want to see it done as soon as possible. Research, studying photos to make it exactly as it was built, holding out for correct parts, feeding kids, paying tuition, etc. It all contributes to the masters degree you earn in patience. The Hippo is pretty close to being ready to paint, with most of the chassis finished. There are a few details, brackets, this and that, either needing changed or made. Some changes were discoveries I made, when new photos became available, giving a clearer or completely different view of components. Some had to wait until the engine was ready to be seriously started on. The learning curve is also a big factor. Not only what that piece may be, what goes where, or how it goes... but, the learning curve that comes from accepting well-meaning help.

I have been involved with many facets of this hobby in the last 45 years, since I bought a 68 BelAir for 40 dollars. I am by no means afraid, too proud, or too stupid to ask questions. (I have asked my share of stupid questions too!) I'm also not afraid to tackle a project, even if I have to do it over until it is right. I have already had a few things on the Hippo, I just didn't find to my liking and decided to redo it, to be exact. Not close, or changed for the sake of making it trick, or reinterpreted... but exactly like it was in 1968. Some are things I did and some done by others. It gets a little overwhelming when you are attempting to restore a 40, 50 or 60 plus year old relic. But, the details are what makes an exact restoration or even recreation. Here is where differing opinions and well-meaning help come into play. I know firsthand, from many instances over the years, the fun factor can disappear faster than I care to admit. There's always going to be someone who inevitably tells you how much you don't know, how much they do and how they have a better way to do it. I have been lucky enough to have made friends with people who were "there", working on these things when they were being run. The best piece of advice came in the form of a question," Who owns it?" The answer is the solution and the advice is to go the extra step to make it right. You sometimes have to regain control and take the reins.

If you have kids, you know this part. You can try to do it for them, tell them what they are doing wrong, etc. But, it ultimately has to come down to them doing it on their own. If you are restoring a dragster or building a piece of furniture. There will be things you need to learn how to do. Take the time and do it. Who cares if it isn't right the first time? Keep doing it until you get it right. You will find the sense of accomplishment, is far more rewarding than being told something will never work, or how much you don't know. Sometimes, you actually find out, you know more than you thought. It could cost a friendship that is the part that sucks. But, if it turns into a pain in the ass and you would rather walk away from it, doing it yourself is the better choice.

I'd like to thank Brendan Murry ,owner of Raceparts.com, for sponsoring some of the engine parts and helping to move the project along. I've been super busy at the shop and even more so since the pandemic orders kicked in. My big plan was to get the mocked up engine out of the dragster and onto the engine stand. After getting the car out of the trailer, I started taking all the pieces off the block. After wrestling the block, engine plate and clutch can loose. I moved the cherry picker in place, well... I tried. The chassis sat too low, a few 2x4's and.... not high enough. A couple cinder blocks (with some towels) were enough, when put under the front axle, to get it high enough. A couple tries and it came out. Next, swing it around and on the engine stand it goes...or so I thought. Where are those damn bolts for the mount on the stand? A quick look through the bolt bin... not long enough. I started looking for all thread and found some... 20 minutes later. After assessing the situation... I went for a walk to Ace Hardware the next block over and bought some grade 8 bolts. That all thread was probably a bad choice. Once I got the bolts in the mount and block, I grab the engine stand. Suddenly, the realization of the weight difference of a small block Chevy and a 1957 392 hemi dawned upon me. Okay, back to the warehouse to find some steel. I came up with some 3x3 square tube and proceeded to make a base. Once it was done, it stood tall and could hold the hemi. The only way it was going to fall, was if I hit with the truck. By the time I was finished, it was time to go. The next day was Father’s Day and I had to do the dad thing. Then, I realized I needed the main bearings. Ordered those and they came in last week. Well... we got busy and the engine is sitting on the stand still. I did move it twice. I told my oldest son what we needed to do. I plan on mocking it up this week. Hopefully. It's will only take a short time.... I swear. Time... damn it... time. Stay tuned!.

Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 15:35:02 GMT

Jenkins grew up in Malvern Pa. He began racing in the late 1950s, driving his famed “Grumpy’s Toy” Chevrolet to Pro Stock success in the mid-to late 60s.

Jenkins earned fame by helping revolutionize the Pro Stock class through innovations in engines, suspensions and other parts. He also was a successful driver, winning 13 NHRA national event victories and numerous other races under various sanctions.

Jenkins earned a mechanical engineering degree from Cornell, using that knowledge and his personal skills to transform the Pro Stock class. Known as the “FATHER OF PRO STOCK” Jenkins’s engines won five NHRA championships in a row.

Jenkins’s mechanical innovations included drag racing’s first Kickout oil pans, the Pro Stock strut-style front suspension, the dry-sump oiling system, the electric water-pump fan, gas-port pistons and slick-shift manual transmission.
In 2011, Jenkins was voted number 8 among NHRA’S greatest racers by a poll of drag racing experts and is a member of the Don Garlits International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Hall of Fame and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Jenkins garnered the nickname “Grumpy” for his no-nonsense attitude.
Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins passed away March 29, 2012, at the age of 81 .

World of Mopar

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 15:30:55 GMT

Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio staged its Inaugural Ken Ganley Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram World of Mopar presented by Arrington Performance, Sept. 22-24, 2023.

Produced and presented by Summit Motorsports Park.
“We couldn’t be happier with our Inaugural Ken Ganley Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram World of Mopar presented by Arrington Performance,” said Bill Bader Jr., president of Summit Motorsports Park. We had a tremendous turnout, and we look forward to an even bigger event next year. The planning starts now.”

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To view more Bill Kloss photos click the link below.
World of Mopar - SmugMug Organizer

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 15:16:15 GMT

Remember going back to school after your summer vacation and the teacher asks you to write an essay about what you did over the summer? Well, this is that essay although I’m retired and every summer is a vacation for me.

It actually started in February when I got a notification from my friend Hayne Dominic. He and Gary Gore hold a yearly event at Mason-Dixon Dragway called the “Rocking Chair Nationals”. It’s a nostalgia drag racing event featuring the cars and stars of years gone by. Each year they recognize different categories in drag racing and this year’s honorees were to be photographers, journalists, and announcers. I would be one of the honored and would I be able to attend? Would I? You don’t have to ask me twice! June 24 is the date of the event.

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t write something tooting my own horn, but the company I would be in required I do so. This event and two others was all I had planned for this year. So, my wife and I drove for 5 hours from Long Island, New York to Hagerstown, Maryland, Friday morning in the pouring rain. Fortunately it stopped when we pulled into the hotel parking lot. That’s when we heard a rubbing sound coming from the right front tire of my Acura RDX. Great! Seriously? Now? We unpacked and went straight to the track (3 miles away) where a track official determined that there’s something stuck in the brake. Its 4 P M and the nearest Acura dealer is an hour away. We’d never make it before it closed but a Honda dealer is just 3 minutes away so guess where we went? In case you’re wondering, an Acura and a Honda is pretty much the same car. So off we went, found a technician, explained the situation, and had the car on a lift in no time. About a half an hour later, the tech came back, placed a pebble in my hand and said “That was your problem”. I still have that pebble because it’s worth $103.50!

We went back to the track and met up with Hayne and Gary and Fred Bear and others and we were promptly invited to have dinner with a host of others at a local Mexican restaurant. There were about 20 of us. We sat and had a good dinner with friends new and old. About halfway through, a tall gentleman sitting at the end of the table got up and announced to us that he just paid everybody’s tab! Came to find out it’s the track owner, Elmer Wachter. Hey, I know that name! That’s Dr. Wacko. He drove a wild silver metalflake blown Jeep called Quicksilver with the Wild Bunch group in the mid-80s. I jumped up from my seat and rushed outside to meet and thank him for his generosity. How cool is that? After dinner, it was back to the hotel for a long and rollicking bench racing session before heading to sleep.

Up early Saturday morning at to be at the track by 9:30 A M. That’s when the ceremony would start. Among the honorees were Jack Redd, Steve Bell, Todd Dziadosz , Vern Abernathy, Sam Auxier, Jr, Steve Lesuer, Tom Mc Rea,, and Phil Hutchens to name a few. Plaques were given to each of us and we were interviewed by Bill “Drag List” Pratt, Hayne and Gary. When it was over I found the time to try out my new camera. It has a vehicle tracking feature and I was eager to see how it performed. It did very well, but truthfully, it was just too hot to stand out there and shoot anything for an extended period so it was back to the tent for more bench racing before we left for the day. And a great day it was!

This brings us to July and nothing is on the docket. Actually nothing until the Dover Drags at Lebanon Valley N Y at the end of September. In the middle of July while talking with a good friend about having a lunch date, he was lamenting not being able to go to any events this year. He (and I) missed the nostalgia event at Cecil County Md earlier in June and he didn’t have any other on his docket. I should mention that among other attributes, he is a fireworks enthusiast and attends a fireworks convention each year (Wisconsin this year). This year’s event would be in early August. I mentioned Island Dragway’s 63rd Funny Car Throwdown in Great Meadows, N J (home of Don Garlits’ first official NHRA 200 mph run) was on August 6 but he couldn’t go because of the convention. He thought about it a bit and said he wouldn’t be leaving until the 11th, so………

We left Long Island at 7:30 A M August 6 bound for Great Meadows N J! We arrived there in 2 ½ hours, a minor miracle if you’re familiar with the Cross Bronx Expressway and the George Washington Bridge. In fact it was the same time going home. Amazing! There wasn’t even a line getting in. The lineup for funny cars included the Chris and Krista show featuring almost identical Monzas, The Sweetman Brothers Frantic Ford Mustang II, Rocky Pirrone’s Screaming Eagle T/A piloted by son Joe Jr (his first driving gig in competition), Dave Sano’s Screaming Insanity Cuda, Bob and Jon Wall’s Fireball Monza, Bill Dee’s Nor’Easter, Jim Gifford’s’ Svengali T/A, Rob Bundy’s Shellshock Vega, John Cerchio’s War Path Buick Somerset, Robin and Matt Stambaugh’s Generation X Vega, Ray and Cody Helger’s Dazed and Confused 69 Camaro, and Willie Johnson’s No Money No Funny Nova. Also on hand were 6 front engine dragsters from the East Coast Fuelers, Mike Geroni’s Fiat AA/A and Bob Hall’s Busting Loose Fiat AA/A as well as a wide variety of entries from N E T O.

Funnies would make 2 passes each (as well as the fuelers and altereds) with the 2 low elapsed times from the first round squaring off for the title. Kudos to Chris Massarella for putting together a flawless show. The East Coast Fuelers put on their patented smoky burnout and strong racing show. Mike Geroni had a good event as well taking both of his runs in his Fiat altered. Cody Helger took the Funny Car title with a strong 6.75/200mph pass in the heat of the day. And I’m not kidding about the “heat” part. It was HOT! High 80s temps all day took its toll on all of us. I really felt bad for the drivers in their firesuits waiting in the staging lanes to make a pass. I tried real hard to stay hydrated and although I had about 7 bottles of water and Gatorade and losing 5 lbs., I almost passed out at the top end taking parachute shots. A mistake I will not be making again! As an aside, last year’s event was held in October due to a few rainouts in August. That day was sunny and the air was cool and crisp with no humidity. A very enjoyable day. Maybe Melissa and Carl Milano will consider moving it next year?

While we were going around the pits, my friend stopped by the exhibit by the DMC (Dead Man’s Curve) car show. It didn’t take long for him to inform me “We’re going!” So………

Yet another unplanned event and in New Jersey to boot! Dead Man’s Curve is a car show held each year on Labor Day Weekend at the Sheraton Hotel in Mahwah, N J. It’s not just a car show, it’s more like a car happening. Hot Rods, Rat Rods, Customs, Muscle Cars, Show Cars, Antiques (a few), trucks (a few), vendors, bands, food trucks and celebrities like Candy Clark and Charles Martin Smith from the movie American Graffiti and Butch Patrick better known as Eddie Munster. Oh yeah, and then there’s POR Presents Thunder Alley powered by Racing Junk. Thunder Alley is the brainchild of “Big” Al Liebman. Al has a long and storied past in drag racing and especially with funny cars. Ever since he first saw them at Englishtown (N J) in 1969 he wanted to be as involved with them as much as he could. Short of driving them he’s done everything else and is currently involved with the Super Camaro funny car as well as being Senior Sales Exec at Racing Junk. The idea of Thunder Alley in the beginning was to cackle a few cars for the audience (2 to be exact). It has since blossomed to over 25 supercharged funny cars, front engine dragsters, a fuel altered, and a wheelstander! All cackling on healthy doses of alcohol and nitro. The cars are lined up on the road adjacent to the hotel entrance and 3 times a day all 3 days, they are cranked up and cackled. And it’s LOUD! I was standing between War Path and the Frantic Ford and it was total sensory overload. Highly recommended! The crowd applauds and roars in approval. This year’s participants included;

The Sweetman Brothers Frantic Ford Mustang II
Rocky Pirrone’s Frantic Ford 1970 Mach 1 Mustang
Troy Leibe’s Thriller Fiat Altered
Rocky Pirrone’s Super Camaro
Rocky Pirrone’s recently completed Time Machine Willys
Hell Bound
Poison Arrow
Iron Outlaw Mustang II
Matt & Robin Stambaugh’s Generation X Vega
Paddy Wagon wheelstander
John Cerchio’s War Path Buick Somerset
Nightmare Arrow
No Money No Funny Nova
Bits & Pieces T/A
Big Girl 55 Chevy
Shellshock Vega
KS Speed shop AA/FD
Lynwood Spl AA/FD
Gloyd & Grimes AA/FD
Blue Mountain Express AA/Fd
Freaky Tiki Fiat
Mike Geroni Fiat
Bradley Grey/ Blown Mafia 1970 Nova
Bud Man Arrow
Temporary Insanity Monza

That’s at least 25 cars cackling at once. A flawlessly run segment during a truly wild yet enjoyable event. I witnessed the 1 P M cackle but wish I could’ve seen the 8 P M cackles with all the visible flames. Oh well, there’s always next year.

And that my friends is how I spent my summer vacation. How did you spend yours?

STAY BEHIND THE WHEEL

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 18:20:55 GMT

Many race drivers retire too soon. Some not soon enough. A lot depends on level of racing, expense and sponsors. And of course desire. No matter. Stay behind the wheel long as possible. This advice can also be used as a metaphor.
My shrink friend Chris Holley back a few years told me, “Jim, whether it is a seven mile an hour garden tractor or a 200 mph race car, you are happiest behind the wheel.” It dawned on me later as I recalled his words. The man was correct.
How do you know when to give up your seat? That question could be different for all. A football player example would be comparing Broadway Joe Namath with Tom Brady.

The smart way to hang up the driver fire suit or football equipment etc. is when you are on top of the game. And importantly, affordability comes into play both ways. Can you afford to still drive or play ball or cannot afford not to?
Which brings my ramblings to my own situation. I never had major dollars behind me. But even after I retired from Pro mod competition and sold my contemporary ride, From 2000 to 2012 ,I still could book my old Pro Stock from the 80s for vintage match races , that ironically paid pretty well. So I booked a couple to 4 a year to supplement our income.
So it goes. I hung it up for good in 2012. There were too many problems. Like forgetting to plug in the cooling fan for two outings. Not realizing new batteries were needed. My foot slipping off throttle pedal Etc. My car Zeke and I were tired. WE both needed to be refreshed. Or retire.

I always say, “Everything ends”. It may not end the way you wanted. But it ends. My ending sucked. I went one booking too long. It still haunts me.
Some racers I admire for quitting fairly young and on top are Jackie Stewart, Ron Colson, Bob Olson. Those that stayed with it are Arnie Beswick, John Force, Wayne Torkelson, Bill Neri, Animal Jim. Etc.
When Folks call my time drag racing as a professional a “HOBBY” that riles me up. It may have been a hobby for some. For me and Linda it was far from a hobby. Linda was my team manager and she kept tract of the money and we made a living drag racing. The Animal Jim Racing program was a serious business.
We made some money with Animal Jim memorabilia. Selling Animal Jim T shirts, hats ,hat pins, sweat shirts etc. Linda even hand made wild graphic sweat shirts with her own label. “ANIMAL WEAR”.

We also had the Lacon ( little home town) hands on First National Bank boasting live tellers and staff in our corner. That started about 1989. We needed to update.
But we needed cash. Linda went to the Lacon bank with a stack of future match race contracts and several magazines featuring Animal Jim. The bank stepped right up and loaned us whatever we needed from then on. As long as we paid interest the bank would renew our loans annually. And we always paid back the loans. After every successful outing, Linda would keep the cash we needed and take the rest to pay on the bank loans .
Linda and I were a team. Several times we jumped off the cliff of opportunity hoping to grow financial wings on the way down. Somehow we always did.

I often wonder what it would have been like to have a major full ride. Our race crew was mostly volunteers, which we much appreciated. But there were a few times it was just Linda and I, and sometimes only me. I recall an Oct. race in Canada in 1981. Linda was teaching school of course I went alone. I recruited a couple fans to help.

Now at 82 I make a few close to home cruises with my 64 R code Galaxie ;with my son in law Doug Fennell’s help. For farther ones I use my 2005 GTO. It has now become a classic due partly to it’s rarity.
My Linda Lou loved all racing . But not car shows and cruises. A current post on Face Book shows my now late Linda Lou in the passenger seat of our 64 Galaxie as we are leaving the cruise at the Oglesby ,Il root beer stand. A rare picture indeed. That picture was 5 years ago.
Any way getting back to the topic of my rambling, heed Dr. Holley’s observation. Stay behind the wheel long as possible. Even if it is a 7 mph mower.

Oct 2023 Animal Stories. By Animal Jim Feure

Epilog:
For those not informed, my precious Linda Lou went to school teacher heaven Aug. 24, 2023. Linda was 81 and taught school right to the end. In fact right after she died the funeral director was our home. The phone rang. It was a local school wanting to hire Linda as a sub. She commanded a Job even after she died! In the haunting lyrics of Frank Sinatra, My angel eyes are gone.

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To Win-and Win Not

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:14:13 GMT

I am sure many of you know Earnest Hemingway's novel, TO HAVE and HAVE NOT. It was made into a B &W movie in 1944. Staring Humphrey Bogart and introducing and staring the sexy Lauren Bacall. (The word sexy in dictionary should have Bacall’s picture as example of sexy.)

This story is about races I should have won and did not. What I am about to tell happened long ago so some of the half dozen situations may not have occurred today.

I had two rooked situations which definitely reduced me to runner up in finals.
The worst was a race at an AHRA national event Winter Nationals in Tucson, Az. I was racing the early 80s Nitrous Small Block Zephyr Pro Stock Zephyr nicknamed ZEKE!

Nitrous for small block only had been put in rules as an option two years ago to try and even the sudden unlimited cubic inch rules .There was a lesser weight rule for unlimited cubic inch small blocks. Problem was the small block cars could not get light enough to use that weight break advantage. 600 plus CI plus Big Block cars could get to their min 2350# weight.

Enter The Nitrous Oxide Option. No SB CI Limit. But had to ad 250 LBS. to the Unlimited SB base weight. If canted valves,(like my Cleveland Ford-ad another 50# Types of trans also had wt. factors. My Merc Zephyr with Cleveland, NOS Nitrous and Lenco 4 speed weighed in at almost 2600 pounds. Zeke was AHRA legal.

I was sponsored by NOS . In 1982 I had won a few races including an AHRA National Event and several runner ups. Also set several records. I might have won the AHRA pro stock season Championship if parts would have arrived on time. We were using los of parts, learning about nitrous. I missed AHRA Salt Lake and Spokane, the AHRA World finals. By missing those last two events, I was reduced to 3rd. in the 1982 AHRA pro stock season championship.

Back to the before mentioned 83 Winter Nationals. It was the start of a new season. I was trying to win the AHRA pro stock championship this year. After months of preparation, and traveling 2000 miles through snow, ice, sleet, rain and high winds we finally made it to Tucson after 56 white knuckle trailer towing hours. Changing off driving with the late crew chief Cliff Sturm, and crew Terry Shirley and Dennis Paccetti.

I had run this race several times. The last season I was number 2 qualifier and I got runner up. This year I came loaded for bear. Good crew, Spare engine, spare Lenco and spare third member rear ends. I also had a spare set of new slicks. These were actually listed for a rail dragster. Slightly smaller than the popular Pro Stock Goodyears. These were much lighter with a Super soft compound. They would be needed before this week end was over.

When we arrived at Tucson mid morning Friday an overnight snow was melting. By 1.00 pm I was ready to make a qualifying run. The first run was only average. Starting line was junk. It had been repaved and was pealing up. By Saturday the track personal had moved the starting line ahead. I assumed the top end clocks were repositioned accordingly. Next run was better but we nipped a piston. We had to put my fresh 409 ci Cleveland in. Made another qualifying attempt. It was pretty good. We were number two after that. I wanted the number one spot. It meant another $500 bonus from my sponsor NOS.
It was late SAT. Night I made my last qualifier. About midnight, air temp 30 deg. F. I had put those new soft dragster tires on Zeke. I left starting line at 6500 RPM. Wow what a run. Those tires did the trick. I could feel them grab at all 3 shifts. We were number 1 qualifier by a bunch.

Later that night while celebrating being number one , one of my crew dove in the motel pool. Wow. Dennis dove in clothes and all. I was 12.30 am and only 30 degrees. The desert gets cold at night.

At the track next day first round was at 1PM. Conditions ideal. Sunshine and 65 degrees. In 1983 Pro Sock in AHRA was a 8 car field. Ladder was old school. 1 ran 5 -2 ran 6 and so forth.

So I had non other than Roy Hill for first round. Roy had a Mountain Motor Mercury Capri. Roy struggled to get to number 5. That big engine was too much for the Tucson track. We had swapped my engines Friday night from my killer 427 Cleveland to my 409” Cleveland and milder nitrous to get down that slick track.

My first round of eliminations turned out to be the most bizarre and longest stating line burn down in history.
Roy and I did our burnouts. We moved up to stage. Mike Thermos ,owner of NOS was my stage guide. As I start to light my first bulb ,Mike stops me. Roy Hill has backed up. I backed up to see his crew has rear deck lid off and adjusting his rear shocks. Starter motions for me to stage. All I had to do I light one bulb and Roy would be disqualified. But I wait. His crew finished and we start to stage again. Before I can light my first bulb, Mike stops me again. Roy has backed up again. So I back up again to see. Roy’s crew is now adjusting his wheelie bars. When done Roy backs back into the water! Well, hell. So do I. Roy and I start all over again. Both doing fresh burn outs. The starter is going ape! This time we both pull up and in as we should. I beat Roy Hill and his mountain motor Capri.

In the semis I beat Jim Basko in a routine elimination. Seemed no one could get down that track but me.
For the finals I had a local entry, Bennie Flowers. He did not seem a threat. But I must have been over confident, plus being distracted with all the hub bub by announcing I was to receive the first ever AHRA ALLSTAR award. I was confident I could out run anyone that day. OOOPS! I forgot one of my cardinal rules. Never to under estimate your opponent.

Benny and I left the line fairy close. But Benny was staying with me. It was so close at end; I could not tell who won. Amazingly Bennies win light came on.
The announcers and fans went nuts. I must have been lazy at the tree. To add insult to injury, I had just ran the record Pro Stock et. For the event.

Some of my fans that were at the finish line bemoaned I had actually won by half a fender? Mid week I even got a call from a sponsor congratulating me for winning. When I told him I lost, He said, “Bull shit! I was standing right there but left as you crossed the finish line to catch my plane to LA.”

After the finish , I almost had enough fans etc. convince me to contest. But while returning to tower for my All Star award pictures I noticed Don Garlits and Shirley Muldowny mid track arguing with staff as to who, if either had centerlined. Also it would be poor sportsman ship on my part to contest my finish. Plus when I got to tower, Benny Flowers was in tears over winning. Repeating, “I NEVER WON ANY THING BEFORE” I was not about to rain on his parade.

So I was runner up at Tucson once again. Win Not!

ANIMAL JIM SEPT 2023.

.

WORLD OF WHEELS CHICAGO 2023

Thu, 25 May 2023 21:50:35 GMT

The Chicago World of Wheels is one of the largest indoor cars show in the country. race, custom, hot rod, lowrider, tv, and movie vehicles of all types as well as custom motorcycles and tuner cars all migrate to the Windy City to play a part of this historic event. In recent years collectable bicycles have also joined in on the fun. Nostalgia Drag World has been covering this show for many years and must say this year’s crowd was one of largest in recent memory.

Besides getting to see and talk to Henry Winkler aka “the Fonz” our favorite part of this year’s event was the tribute to US 30 dragstrip. Over 30 cars that at one time or another raced down this famed racetrack were put together in a cool setting with lots of memorabilia and a lot of the original drivers and crew members. At the front of the US 30 display was the Shake Rattle and Run 57 Chevy. This iconic car has been owned and raced by the Messino family since it was new. This car is still racing today and is currently being driven by Pro Stock pilot Kevin Lawrence. We invite you to sit back and enjoy the pictures.

Nostalgia Drag World

As we said earlier the US 30 display was very popular. Here are a few of the cars on hand.

More cars from the US 30 display.

Where Did You Race?

Wed, 24 May 2023 20:04:24 GMT

I am frequently asked where I raced. That is probably the number one question from the casual Animal Jim fan and layman. I usually answer, “Do you know the country western song, (I’ve been everywhere man?)” Most claim they do. Then I respond with, “That is where I raced”. “Everywhere; Including Puerto Rico and Canada. I also had offers to match race in Australia and Aruba. But had conflicting contracted race dates in USA.”

The number two question asked of me is what organization I ran and liked the most.” There were many” I answer. That answer is very complex. I will try to break it down to types. National Assoc. of Motor Sports, NHRA, AHRA, IHRA, PRO, ADRA. Then we had racing circuits. Mid America Pro Stock, UDRA, USSC. Then there were Fun Ford and Ford Extravaganza bookings, Pop Rod, Don Garlits PRO EVENTS, and many other feature events and many match race bookings. Plus all booked dates I mentioned included static displays at various times. Especially for match and drag racing exhibition events.

Then I am asked my favorite track of all. I answer, “As a Sportsman in my early years Oswego, IL., and Later as a touring professional Englishtown NJ. Sadly both tracks are gone. Oswego just kind of dissolved. Englishtown fell victim to Industrial Sprawl. Plus Englishtown track owners tired of all the hassles with neighbors and got an offer they could not refuse. Last I knew it is a giant used car lot now.

Industrial and Urban sprawl have closed many race tracks. Especially in the last decade. The giant ware houses see all that space and the invasion begins. I do not want to get started on that. See the book called Lost Drag Strips and Ghosts of the Quarter mile by Tommy Byrd. Also available is an updated version Lost Drag Strips 2 by Scotty Gosson. The forward in Volume 1 is by Don Garlits. Volume 2 forward is by Tommy Ivo.

Yours truly is pictured in the Tommy Byrd version with Frank Marshall. Both of us with wheels up leaving the line. It is 1975 at Oswego, Il Dragway.

October of 79 Oswego closed up forever. I was racing national touring Pro Stock by then with my Pinto. The track manager Bub Thurlby called me and asked if I could come to Oswego the last day with my Big Animal 57 Merc I raced there in my earlier days to make a tribute good bye run. I did so pro bono. With tears in my eyes. My Big Animal 57 Merc I were the last down that track during a scheduled event.

It is sad all the tracks that fall to urban and industrial sprawl. Some close do to constant problems with neighbors. Kansas City and Oswego are prime examples of neighbor problems and even the sale of English Town was enhanced by neighbor problems.

The most recent buy out is Houston. It is already tore up. Another great track gone. Many good memories there.

Close to home in recent years Rt. 66 Raceway in Joliet folded due to Pandemic at end of 2019 season. I had worked at 66 as tech official for 15 years and occasionally match raced there. In fact my last good match race was at RT. 66. That is when I was featured as a Legend at RT. 66 annual Raceway Classic event.

RT. 66 operated as normal through the normal season in 2019. Then the BS pandemic panic hit and 66 along with a few other tracks and many events that created any type of close encounters with our fellow humans on this earth took hold. Even churches and schools shutdown and went virtual. The NFL had games without fans present. Many businesses went bust over the panic of 2019 to 2022. Face masks and 6 feet away from other humans were mandatory. We even got lessons how to wash our hands. LOL!

I for one do not believe staying normal would have made much difference in results .The outcome would have been about the same. I am sure there was a nasty flu, but those nut cases in charge of things were way off the real threat.

Those in charge! Many did and still are benefiting from the scare. Look at all the new products and services. But that is just this old drag racers opinion. LOL! Not to mention lessons how to keep hands washed. Enough said.

Rt. 66 Raceway did host a NHRA division event in 2022. And the weekend of May 18-20, 2023 a NHRA national event will take place at Rt. 66 Raceway.

If those in charge of that splendid faculty will open that fabulous drag strip for any other dates, I do not know at this time. Info seems to be mysterious.

Another amazing NASCAR decision and idea. NASCAR has scheduled a Stock Car road race in downtown Chicago. While a great 1.5 facility Rt. oval sits in Joliet across from the drag strip.

Imagine NASCAR Cup cars on Michigan Ave and Lake Shore drive! That event should be very interesting.

I have been everywhere. Animal Jim Feurer.

2017 Fall Nostalgia Race at CID

Mon, 08 May 2023 19:22:28 GMT

I have photographed a lot of nostalgia races at Central Illinois Dragway over the years and every one of them was unique in their own way but the 2017 fall nostalgia race for me had just a little more of a nostalgic flair to it.

Sure, they had the usual gassers, nostalgia outlaw quick series, Ozark Mountain Super Shifters, nostalgia super stockers, a couple Promods and several blown alcohol vehicles but what really gave it that nostalgic feel were the 3 young ladies with the nostalgia super stock group dressed in their nostalgic looking outfits assisting with the backing and staging of the cars. Then there was a local racer posing as the staging lane security (see photo) but what really added a nostalgic twist to the event was local photographer, Dennis Cumby's flag drop starts for the super stock cars and gassers dressed in all white with the red and green flags in hand.

It sure brought back memories of days gone by.

View more photos by clicking the link below:

2017 CID Fall Nostalgia Race - NostalgiaDragWorld.com (smugmug.com)

MY LAST HURRAH!

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 13:33:47 GMT

Little did I know when I booked the match race for the annual Classic Nostalgia Legend event at Rt. 66 Speedway on August 16th, 2012; it would be the last good run for me and Zeke. Zeke is my legendary 3 time championship Pro Stock Zephyr from the 80s.

Route 66 Raceway drag strip in Joliet, IL. has held a nostalgia event called the Classic for several years. It usually featured a national drag racing legend. The legend this year was yours truly, Animal Jim Feurer. Me also working as a Raceway 66 tech official created a unique situation.

As my crew unloaded “Zeke”: (Name of my vintage race car) I was doing my job teching cars at the far end of the drag strip.

The Route 66 Classic held a nostalgia Run Tuff Eliminator category for bracket cars like ran at Oswego and US 30 in the 70s. RTE was a special 11.99 or quicker bracket race that qualified 16 cars for eliminations. The 16 cars chosen were ones that won the first round and ran closest to their chosen dial in while qualifying. The program would also feature nostalgia funny cars, pro stocks, gassers, altereds and super stocks. And as I mentioned before a drag race legend would be featured.

For this year’s event they chose me: Animal Jim, and Bill Neri to open the program with our match race. I was driving Zeke, my multi championship Mercury Zephyr I raced in the '80s. My match race partner for this event was my old nemesis, Bill Neri, and his just finished Warren Johnson tribute '75 Camaro. Bill and I were hired to make one match race run only.

The Warren Johnson tribute 1975 car was newly built to modern specs by Jerry Bickel. But. It did look like the '75 Camaro. It was a wolf etc. Along with a new Bickel car Bill had a new mountain motor.

I was truly concerned if we were evenly matched. My 33 year old pro stock vs a new Bickel top sportsman car? Oh well, the show must go on.

Part of the chosen legend persons duty was to choose the car and driver in the event who most represented that nostalgic period. That was no problem for me. I chose Rocky Ausec and his SOLID ROCK VINTAGE FUNNY CAR.

(Note. After the 2001 championship season I had sold my contemporary Pro Mod, the Ballistic Bird and retired from competition. Since then I booked Zeke couple times a year for vintage features through 2012. This Classic event Route 66 in would be my last hurrah!

Back to the Classic at 66.

The Classic program could not have gone better, at least for me. I was introduced to the crowd properly by Rt. 66 Director Randy Simpson. I was given a hot pink ball cap with ANIMAL JIM embossed on it. Then Randy asked me who I chose as the best nostalgia racer and I yelled Rocky Ausec and his SOLID ROCK FUNNY CAR. Everyone in the place yelled and applauded.

Bill Neri and I were to open the annual CLASSIC event with our one run match race. Bill strapped into his new Bickel Warren Johnson tribute Camaro, and I did likewise with Zeke. We fired up our 700” engines and pulled into the water box. When signaled Bill and I did side by side 1000 foot burnouts. We both backed up dramatically slow. Of course I had my escape hatch open with tire smoke billowing from both of us.

Then Bill and I blew the starter’s mind. We failed to tell him we were going to do vintage practice launches. We both went to the starting line and launched wheels up to half track. I even pulled second gear. Stopped and then backed up slowly again to stage. My crew chief Al Schmitt put me exactly where I needed to be.

Bill and I did not fool around lighting the pre stage and final stage lights. We went in, pedal on the floor with the machine gun rata-tat-tat singing from our MSD rev limiters.

Soon as I saw a glimmer of the pro start 3 simultaneous yellow bulbs, I let the clutch out, concentrating to keep my foot hard the throttle so the severe 6 G force launch did not pull my right leg up taking my foot off the throttle.

We stayed dead even till a thousand feet. When I pulled 4th. gear Zeke made its move. I beat Bill and his new Bickel Warren Johnson tribute car by half a fender. I apparently had overestimated my foe.

It was a very gratifying day. It should have been my last day! But no. I had agreed to match race Arnie Beswick two runs as we did several times before, the next Sat. night at the annual Cordova World Series of Drag Racing. Wife Linda told me not to do it. She was right. I went loaded for bear. It turned out to be nightmare that sickens me to recall. Perhaps it was divine intervention telling me it was time to retire from racing. So actually the Cordova World Series August 25th, 2012 was my last hurrah. Everything in our mortal world finally ends. Sadly not always the way we may like.

But hey! I always had the Route 66 2012 Classic and a career that was a Hell of a ride for 50 years garnering 6 championships, over 200 wins, and countless records and awards.

Epilog:

The very next week end was Labor Day. I was a guest at Great Lakes Dragaway and inducted into their Hall of Fame. So there you are. Racing is full of ups and downs. Everyone does not pack the gear to hack it. I and my peers did.

ANIMAL JIM FEURER March 2023.

Nitro Revival 5 aka Sensory Overload/Ode to Nitro

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 14:48:28 GMT

Back in February my good friend John Cerchio (War Path N/FC) called to tell me he made reservations at the host hotel for NR 5 and there was room for me if I’d like to go. After checking with my wife (“Go, you only live once!”) I called back to say “I’m in!”

Once I committed, I called Rob Huckstadt of Nostalgia Drag World and told him I was going, could he secure media credentials, and of course he did. So, right away I started to compose the story in my head. I figured it would be easy; some superlatives, cars that were there, notable people, and done. So again, I started with different openings but never wrote anything down. I just kept visioning how it would be. I’m not going to go into why Nitro Revival was started in the first place. Anyone who follows the nostalgia scene knows why. Needless to say Steve Gibbs knew what to do to make a better experience and overall a better event. Yes, it started out slowly; first at Barona, then to Laguna Seca, and finally a home at Irwindale Raceway. By all accounts NR 4 was an overwhelming success.

I saw Steve at Bruce Larson’s Drag Fest the week after the event and then again in January of this year at an indoor car show in Pa. Both times I briefly talked to him and complimented him on a job well done. Little did I know then that I would be going to the event. So now, looking back on Nitro Revival 5, I’m trying to figure out how to convey my experience to you dear readers. After all of the thinking about it, I’ve decided to turn it into a daily diary.

Thursday, November 3

We (my wife and I) left our home in Breezy Point New York and headed to Newark airport where I would meet up with the rest of the group who would be going. They included John, Paul Ciribassi, and Warren Bader. We all met promptly at 7 A M for the 8:10 A M flight via Jet Blue airlines. The nonstop flight was uneventful, thank the good Lord. Since we landed and got our rental car relatively early we decided to do something before checking in. We decided to check out the Lions Museum since it was fairly close to the hotel (26 mi). While on the way we called to find out what the hours were only to find out it was closed. Okay, turn around and head back towards the hotel in what was rather horrible L A traffic. And I thought I had it bad in New York! Upon arriving at the hotel we circled the parking lot to see what cars might already be there. There was a very long trailer with a red cab and I knew right away that my friends Rick and Terri Osburn were there with their 38 Special 38 Chevy pickup gasser/wheelstander. So I jumped out of the car to greet them and do some bench racing. I met gasser great Gene Schwartz who would be match racing Rick at the event with his 50 Chevy gasser. Once we checked in, we went to the front desk and asked where we could get a good dinner. We were directed to a local barbeque joint in Monrovia and we chowed down. Upon our return to the hotel, I spotted Larry Reyes in the bar area and we had a great conversation about the Hawaiian and Super Cuda funny cars and the glory days in general. Then it was off to bed as it had been a long and tiring day.

Friday, November 4

We all met for breakfast early and made our way to a nearby Ihop thanks to Siri. After a good breakfast we headed out to Irwindale Raceway. Friday, the admission is free because it’s setup day for all of the participants. The weather was perfect; sunny and warm as it would be for the rest of the weekend. The first car we saw upon entering was the fully restored Gas Ronda 70 Mach 1 Mustang funny car. What a beauty! After shooting it, we parted ways as I had to find Don Ewald to secure my media pass. After introducing myself he gave the media pass to me and I was on my way. I guess I was overwhelmed by what I was seeing. Dragsters, fuel altereds, and funny cars that I’d only read about in Drag Racing Magazine, Super Stock & Drag Illustrated, and Drag News (to name a few) were right before my eyes. The cars weren’t allowed to fire up because Friday is not a noise day. As the cars emerged from their trailers, they were cleaned and positioned in their appropriate spaces. It became one giant car show dedicated to the glory days of drag racing.

Everywhere I looked was history; the late Tom Hoover’s Tom Hanna built dragster( stunning doesn’t come close to describing it), the Billy Lynch dragster, John Weibe, the Surfers, Doug Thorley’s Corvair, Don Garlits’ Swamp Rat III, Creitz & Donovan, Mike Kuhl, Flaming Frank Pedregon’s fuel coupe, Hustler VI, Tommy Ivo’s injected Buick, Holy Toledo Jeep, Newhouse Special, Magicar, the Spaghetti Benders, Bivens & Fisher Checkmate, Custom Body Challenger, and at least 8 fuel altereds. Being from the east coast I could count the number of fuel altereds I’ve seen on my left hand. In one row were the Stone T, Burkholder Brothers Fiat, Groundshakers Jr, Magnificent 7, Beaver Hunter II, and the Rat Trap to name a few. My head was spinning! There are over 30 gassers on the grounds including Rick Osburn’s 38 Special and Gene Schwartz’s Chevy as well as the gassers that were on display only. Gassers on display only included Rocky Pirrone’s knock out Big John Mazmanian Willys, The SWC Swindler A Willys, Bob Panella’s Panella Trucking Anglia and Willys pickup and the Kroona Anglia. Quite honestly there were too many cars to list without leaving one out. Actually there were 4 cars on the grounds that I ever saw in person; the Custom Body Challenger at Indy in 1973, Billy Lynch’s AA/FD (upon completion and shipped to Billy’s shop in 2007), Bradford’s Fiat AA/FA and the Rat Trap AA/FA at the 2013 New England Hot Rod Reunion. The rest that I saw was just history unravelling right before my eyes. Thanks to my good friend Ross Howard (Custom Body Challenger) who became a famous driver spotter, pointed out Herm Peterson, Vance Hunt, Frank Bradley, and Tommy Ivo to name a few who I met and got to talk to. By my estimate, I shot about 1000 photos from the time I got there to the time I left after sunset. The day was capped off with a dinner by event sponsor In-N-Out Burger. A voucher purchased for $10 (donated to charity) got you the famous Double-Double Burger, fries, and beverage of your choice. Considering prices in California, it was a pretty good deal. After dinner, there was a bench racing session around a pickup in the parking lot capped off with more bench racing at the hotel, and then off to bed.

Saturday, November 5

At this point we added ace photographer Keith Hudak to our group. Being that Saturday is the main day of the event, we got there as early as we could. Honestly, it was impossible to adequately see all that was going on. This day was a “noise” day and was it ever! There were fire ups all day long and I found myself zig-zagging up and down the rows shooting it all. Meanwhile there’s a full field of gassers, A/FX, and exhibition cars making passes. As you enter the place, you are greeted with a massive car show. Also inside is a rather large Hot Wheels track where kids could bring their best cars to race for a $100 prize.

And then there’s the Autograph Tent. There had to be at least 40 of drag racing’s best assembled there to dole out their signatures. Just some in attendance were Herm Peterson, Rob Bruins, Don Prudhomme, Roland Leong, a spry 101 years young Ed Iskenderian, Richard Tharp, Dan Richins, Bruce Wheeler, Charlie Allen, John Force, Wild Bill Shrewsberry, and Kenny Youngblood. That area was packed! In fact the whole place was mobbed!

A bit later on, the Greater San Gabriel Racers Recognition Awards were given out at the track. Racers who received awards were; Gas Ronda, Bill Schultz, Doc Conroy, Jim London, Stan Adams, Charlie Allen, Don Ratican, Don Gaide, and the late Kenny Safford. The last three were collectively known as the “Sour Sisters” a name bestowed upon them by Tommy Ivo. Special “Spirit of Nitro recognition awards were also given to Nitro Revival volunteers Toby Denham and Tommy Naccarato. Congratulations to all!

All this leads up to the evening’s featured event; the “Line of Fire” cacklefest. It was simply sensory overload. Flames, noise, and nitro! What’s not to like? I got some great advice from new pal photographer Dan Kaplan about positioning myself so I wouldn’t get overwhelmed with nitro fumes. Sage advice but I still got a very healthy (or unhealthy depending how you look at it) dose. The cars were started two at a time beginning at the Christmas Tree and ending at the 1/8 mile mark at the end of the track. Once all the cars were lit and running it was hard to keep track what car was producing the most flames. So much cackling but I did witness Cindy Gibbs literally dancing from one end of the track to the other while all this was going on. She was clearly in the nitro zone! Just as it was ending, a display of fireworks closed out the event for the day. Off we went with event sponsor Good Vibrations representative Pete Mauriello to a dining establishment called the “Chicken Coop” in Whittier for a good dinner. Then home to the hotel with more bench racing and on to bed. But wait, there’s more!

Sunday November 6

Things wouldn’t be starting for us till around 1 P M at the track when all of the cars on the premises would fire up at once. So after a rousing breakfast at McDonalds, we agreed to go to the NHRA Museum in Pomona, a great place with lots of drag racing history that just added to all the rest of the history we were already witnessing. In one room of the museum, there was a lot of commotion so I decided to see what was going on. It was a model car contest! Two really good builds that caught my eye were large scale models of Garlits’ Jocko streamliner and Mickey Thompson’s Monocoque Mustang.

So now comes the crazy part of the trip. Since we were so close to the Fairplex, we decided to go see the track. A track we’d only seen in magazines or on television when either the Winternationals or Finals are held. We really wanted to get some photos with the mountains in the background. We pulled up to the entrance and told the attendant our intention was only to get a few photos and leave. But you know what they say about plans. As we travelled on the road to the track, we found ourselves adjacent to the suites and starting area. There was an opening so we went through it and promptly found ourselves on the track. So naturally we all got out and started taking pictures. At this time it’s good to note that we are now 1 week away from the NHRA Finals where champions will be crowned. I did mention to the group that to get the iconic photos of the track with the mountains in the background, we needed to go to the 1000’ mark and shoot facing up the track. We all go back to the car and since we were there, might as well make a pass and we did just that. This would make the second pass I’ve ever made on a dragstrip this year (or ever in my 56 years attending the drags); the first being at South Mountain Dragway in owner Mike Natoli’s pickup at the end of a Vintage Drags event held there in April of this year. Two passes in 1 year almost 3000 miles apart. At the 1000’ mark we got out yet again and took more photos. That’s just about when I noticed a white pickup heading our way coming up the track behind us. The driver then stops where we are shooting and says something pretty much like “What the f&#k is going on here?” We tell him but he’s having none of it. Well it turns out he’s a head honcho with NHRA and he’s tasked with getting the track ready for the finals. He also added that the track surface was recently painted in all the appropriate areas with red, blue, and yellow lines and just how did we get over here without running over them? Clearly the areas were dry but he was still not having any of it. It was then that I sensed we were in escalating trouble so I went up to him and explained that were in town for NR 5 and just wanted to see the place, get a few pictures and leave. He calmed down somewhat and saw that we meant no harm and said “YES-JUST-GO!” Whew, dodged a bullet right there. But ya know there was an opening after all, and why wouldn’t, oh never mind.

We proceeded back to Irwindale to continue our great time at NR 5. I got to see more cackling, racing, and meet more people. By the time we got back, we missed the big fire up because we had to find an In-N-Out to get lunch and a few t-shirts (thanks again Siri). When we got back everyone was loading up the cars for the various trips home. My base of operations was Ross Howard’s trailer where I was able to put all my camera gear and swag. Ross, as I mentioned before owns the Custom Body Challenger. He was getting ready to load the car back in the trailer so I went to gather my stuff. Ross then asked me if I had a good day. My response was “You asked me that 3 years ago at the Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance (very long story) and do you remember what I said?” He did. He asked his helper for the event Larry “The Okie Smoker” Brown to raise the body because a “little kid wanted to sit in it”.

The body was lifted and Larry showed me how to contort my body so I could just drop into the seat. Something I was unable to comprehend just 3 years earlier at Amelia Island. The butterfly steering wheel was replaced and the body was lowered and I was one with the car. It was all documented for me by Don Ewald and Dave Kommel. A perfect end to a perfect event.

Monday November 7

Up very early for the drive to LAX to drop off the rental and get to the airport and wait for the flight home.

Thanks go to in no special order;

Steve and Cindy Gibbs and all of their volunteers who put on a spectacular event. Clearly the bar has been raised to new heights as this is THE event to attend.

Don Ewald

Rob Huckstadt

Tommy Naccarato

Ross Howard and Larry Brown

Any and all that I encountered throughout the event who took the time to talk to me and answer all of my many questions.

Is Nitro Revival 6 on the horizon? Stay tuned.

hover over any image to read captions

Click link for Keith Hudak photos
2022 Nitro Revival KH - NostalgiaDragWorld.com (smugmug.com)

Reliving: The '70s and Early '80s Funny Cars at Byron Dragway

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 16:52:29 GMT

The '70s and '80s were a great time to be a funny car fan in the Midwest especially when Byron Dragway held their annual funny car shows. I always loved getting there early in the morning just to watch all the floppers come in. Some came in on open trailers and some had big rigs.

You had your local favorites along with some of the countries biggest stars showing up to make the events the best and memorable funny car events around.

Luckily in todays era and thanks to Chris and Tera Graves we're able to revisit a lot of the '70s and '80s memories through Funny Car Chaos and Nitro Chaos. Get out and support the CHAOS and relive a lot of those old funny car memories!

Click link for more photos
https://nostalgiadragworld.smugmug.com/Funny-Cars-Byron-Dragway-70s-80s/

Durachrome Bug Funny Car

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 18:51:00 GMT

It’s been a while, so what’s Stormy up to?

After 45 years of racing, I’m cutting back on the competition part of racing 30+ other NE1 cars in our class and going back to my first love, Match Racing

This past October I had the privilege of match racing Jeff Atamain and his jet dragster the “Beast” at Eagle Field twice. Who won? That’s a no brainer as Jeff & I agreed it was about “The show”.

My 1st pass I had a tire turn on the rim wadding up the tube inside while smoking them. The car shook so hard I couldn’t see 100′ out, so I clicked it off. Our 2nd match up was great, I changed tires and we went back up. At the drop of the flag I nailed the throttle and annihilated down the track. Jeff hit the pedal on the big “Zippo Lighter” (as Jet Car Bob use to call them) and pulled out in front. Racing a jet dragster is quite the experience with the noise, vibration and feeling the heat off the engine as is gets in front of you, but this is what I live for “The show”

Also in October my crime partner Randy Winkle, proprietor of the “Famoso Speed Shop” scored a save for drag racing’s history books, He bought the Warren Gunter “Durachrome Bug” funny car that was run from the mid late 60’s to about 71! Dru Jaxon of Bend Oregon had the car for the last decade. Randy knew this and has been working on him the past 8-9 years . Dru came to the conclusion that he would not be able to restore the car to its former glory so he had to decide if it was going to the Lions Museum or Randy. In the end Dru knew Randy would bring it back to what it needed to be. The fact is we will not only bring it back but will race it again!

Some may say why? The Famoso Speed Shop builds race cars to race. Randy & I hauled up to Bend Oregon in early Oct. to pick the car up. Meeting Dru the next morning we knew immediately Dru’s love for the “Bug” and what a truly sweet man Dru is. With the sale of the car Dru will be able to finish his sweet 68 RS Camaro so that he and the love of his life, his daughter can cruise to the hamburger stand on their cruise nights with the other hot rods.

Dru gave Randy tons of history with the car also. 8 by 10′ color shots of the car, Warren’s firesuit, his address & logbook of where he rand the Bug, phone numbers of those tracks and friends like Jungle Jim & his address. Paula Murphy – Dick Harrel etc. We also have Warren’s printed press releases for 30-second radio spots and info for the track announcers. We have the original front & rear wheels, We have original contracts with Durachrome and the bill of sale when Warren sold the car. The list goes on & on.BTW Warren Gunter is alive & well at 81 living in So Cal, we plan on having lunch with him soon to pick his brain as Warren has degree’s in mechanical engineering and worked on the Apollo!

Once we got the car home we made some repairs, laid some red basecoat and graphics on the doors, we hauled it to the Reunion for display at the Drag Cartoons booth, the car was a hit!

The car is in surprisingly great shape for sitting for 50 years. The Mike Case chassis that Mike & Warren built is virgin, all chrome moly. The body needs some glass work which I have started. While working in the inside you can still see the repairs Warren did when he hit the right guardrail at OCIR in 69. were leaving that alone as it is part of the cars history & heritage . I’ll be strengthening parts of the body that are a little thin, this along with putting some glass in the roof as we have to put an escape hatch in to make it legal.

The chassis as of this writing is getting updated. Basically, the old cage had to come off as the car did not have a “Shoulder hoop” which will get a new roll cage all the while trying to keep the original look while doing so. The car has the original Dana60 rear end which we’ll keep but change the gear ratio.

All the front-end pieces will be going out for re-chrome also. People don’t realize that the car ran 7.02 @ 214 mph! We asked Warren what the car was like at 200mph. Warren said the car stuck like glue & was very stable. The problem was off the line or mid track which in hindsight Warren said it was most likely due to the “Posi Unit” and that we should remove it & put a spool in.

Warren ran a 427 big block Chevy on 75% nitro and in four years of running it never hurt the engine! The plan is to install a 496ci big block Chevy, Mag 6-71 blower & Iron heads running on alky and a little bit of that funny yellow stuff in the tank for “stink”. We see no need to run the car as hard as it used to run. We would like to run the car perhaps in the high 7.90’s – 8.20’s @ 170 mph. we have nothing to prove with the car as we want to tour it and match race the 66/67 Jungle Jim Nova we are re-popping with Jim’s son James’s blessing, but that is another story as we’ve had the body & chassis for 2 years to get ready with the same engine combo.

The trans will be a ATI Case Turbo 400 as the mid 60’s funny cars use to run automatics in the day. The car will be painted candy apple red like it was with the gold leaf lettering on it . The car had many different paint schemes while Warren ran it as far as sponsors & placement, Painting will be done in house. As of this writing it appears Frank “Magoo” Roberts will be doing the lettering We are so looking forward to meeting Warren. We asked what ever happened to his Red Injected BBC Model T coupe he ran at Lions before building the BUG , Warren still has it, it’s his daily driver ! As a kid I loved seeing the Durachrome BuG at Lions, it was one of two nitro VW’s in the country, a 3rd would be the Mori Bros “Chev-Wagon they ran as a B/Altered on gas.

There’s never a dull day at the Famoso Speed Shop, there’s never a normal project. We don’t do normal. Were stuck on the past when cars had souls & personalities. Randy & I have been very blessed to do what we love. Randy loves bringing the past back to life then onto the next resurrection. The 66 “Dirty Sanchez” BB/FC Mustang was sold and will be going north to Washington to be in good hands as part of a 5 car BB/FC class that Randy started a couple years back, there are over 20 cars being built for this heads up, run what you brung class that the basic rules state “You can run any parts / body from what was available in 1969 on down. That does not mean you have to run a 50 year old blower. You can buy a new/fresh cast 6-71 blower. The general rule in NO BILLET STUFF.

Photos courtesy of Stormy

Dover Drags 2022

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 15:26:43 GMT

Well, the 14th edition of the Dover Drags at Lebanon Valley Dragway is in the books. Looking back, three words (actually one name and one word) come to mind; Dino Lawrence and weather. As you should know by now from previous reports I’ve done on this event, Dino Lawrence is the driving force behind it. He spent a lot of time at Dover Dragway in Wingdale New York as the announcer as well as managing duties. His experiences left quite an impression on him enough to start and continue this amazing event. The man practically leaves no stone unturned in promoting it. Endless hours are put into the show and he’s already working on 2023’s edition. He constantly updates additions to the event throughout the year leading up to it via social media.

This year, besides all of the Dover eliminators, there were healthy doses of exhibition cars featured. We’ll start with 4 alcohol funny cars; Rocky Pirrone’s Super Camaro, the Sweetman Brother’s Frantic Ford Mustang II, Steve Musser’s Time Bomb Vega, and George Reidnauer’s new China Syndrome Vega (tribute to the late Al Hofmann). There were 2 nitro cars as well; Keith Davidson’s Bits & Pieces T/A and Chuck Exton’s “Devil’s Fuel” Mustang. Up next would be the East Coast Fuelers including Jim Cummings’ Seconds of Pleasure, the Outer Limits, Blake Belbot, SBS Racing, and Bill Masiello. All are blown front engine dragsters guzzling healthy doses of alcohol. Want more? How about 4 fuel altereds? Troy Liebi’s Aftermath, the Pale Rider coupe, the Fuelish Behavior T-roadster, and Jon Wall’s Night Moves roadster. Interestingly Troy was to do double duty driving not only his roadster but Richard Walkoviak’s Fuelish Pleasure as well! It would be the first time out for the car and Rick wanted Troy to pilot it.

Not enough? How about 4 supercharged gassers including the Caged Heat 33 Willys, Junkyard Dog 33 Willys sedan, Headknocker 39 Willys and the Mopar Missall Dodge Business coupe? Curiously, they only ran the 1/8th mile. I wondered why and found out that they only wanted to run the 1/8th mile because if they went the full quarter it would put more stress on the cars and risk parts breakage. HUH! I never thought about that Wink! Wink! Seriously? So that means that it’s okay for all the other cars to be stressed? Weird, right? Too bad because 1/8th mile times are hard to translate when everyone else is going the full quarter. It would be nice to know what these cars are fully capable of plus they would generate some great parachute shots.

But wait, there’s more! Wayne Hofmann and Jim Gifford asked Dino if it would be okay if they brought their cars to make some test passes. How cool is that? Jim’s Svengali ex- Del Worsham CSK T/A would be the third nitro car on the grounds and Wayne’s China Syndrome Omni would be the second well, China Syndrome car on the grounds as well. They were even pitted next to each other. So Dino, no jets and no wheelstanders? Maybe next year?

How about a Back up Girl Contest? Check! And a $500 to win Burnout Contest open to any supercharged vehicle on the premises. All this plus a Saturday evening dance party featuring a live rock n roll band, a Sunday Car Show featuring Drag Alley and all of the other Dover Eliminators. This event started out as a 1 day event and over the years morphed into a 3 day affair. Friday is tech & test day, Saturday is for test & tune plus exhibition car test passes and Dover eliminators. Sunday is for final eliminations as well as all of the feature cars. By the way, the pit area was packed all the way past the end of the track. I know this because I walked it!

My experience with this event is to go both Saturday and Sunday. That way I can do and see twice as much as I would if I only went on Sunday. The Saturday portion featured spectacular weather. A typical early fall day with bright sunshine, blue skies, and a nice breeze. The day was chock full of eliminations and test passes. Most of the feature cars made 2 passes each except for the alky funnies (they didn’t arrive till the late afternoon). The two non- featured funnies did make test passes though. The best reason to have attended on Saturday this year was because it rained on Sunday!

The Weather Channel said it would rain at 1 PM and it did. There were rumors circulating that first round of eliminations would be held at 3 P M Saturday afternoon, but that didn’t happen. Internet fueled rumors! Sunday’s eliminations were moved up to around noon only to be pushed off to clean up a small oil down in the left lane. So only the first round of N E T O Nostalgia, Supercharged Gassers, East Coast Fuelers, and 2 fuel altereds made passes before drops were felt. Troy Leibi made what looked like a 1000 foot burnout from my vantage point at the top end! He would’ve been a serious contender for the $500. The track manager and Dino were in the tower watching the radar and there would be about a 2 hour window between showers and even if the track was to be dried, with no sun and more showers on the way, Wayne ( track manager) had to make the tough decision to cancel the rest of the event. The place proceeded to empty out quickly. It’s too bad, because it would’ve been a great show. It wasn’t a total loss though because of Saturday’s great action. This is the premiere nostalgia event on the East coast in my opinion. Yes, there are others (and I’ve been to them) and as good as they are, they are not as well rounded as this one. It’s a must attend event and if you can swing it, do the 2 days.

NOSTALGIA DRAG WORLD – By Ted Pappacena

Photos courtesy of Ted Pappacena

EVERY PIECE BELONGS

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 15:25:07 GMT

Drag racing has a unique way of bringing people together. Stepping into the racing facility is kind of like stepping into an amusement park of speed. And just like an amusement park, people from all walks of life come to enjoy the entertainment value presented at the racetrack. For this reason, drag racing has long been able to boast that it is a leader in diversity compared to other motorsports. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a racer, a car aficionado, someone intrigued by the mechanics or the science of the sport, or just someone that is impressed by the spectacle that drag racing presents. Whether people are racing their daily driver or a 300 mph nitro fueled land missile there is something for everyone to feel like they belong and can take part in. Combine all of this with the unprecedented accessibility fans have to the cars and the racers and it is easy to see that there is something for everyone at the dragstrip.

This is part of what makes drag racing so attractive to potential sponsors. Dating back to the beginnings of the sport sponsors have seen value in placing their company logo on the sides of the racing vehicles. Initially, most of the sponsors were automotive related and performance on the track correlated with sales. “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” I believe is how the cliché’ went. Though the cars may be on the track for only a couple of minutes at a time from start up to turn off, there is also the nearly unlimited time of seeing the car in the pits and forming a connection with a team or driver. This has then attracted sponsors outside of the automotive industry. From aftershave companies to fast-food chains to energy drinks and more, businesses have seen the value in being involved in the straight-line sport.

Drag racing also has a way to create a unique awareness about worthwhile causes. Look no further than the recent sponsorships of the Infinite Hero and Make a Wish programs in the NHRA. These programs were lauded not as a way to fund big show funny cars, but instead used the big show funny cars as a tool to bring awareness and support to these worthwhile causes. These are just two examples, but I’m sure you all can think back to additional examples of ways drag racing has been used to raise awareness.

Have you ever had one of those chance encounters that was kind of a right place, right time, and the stars aligned and the pieces fell right where they belonged? Well, that’s what happened at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan during one of their premier events last summer. Let me introduce Kiley and Brian Ramer. Kiley and Brian are from the South Bend, Indiana area and were not involved in motorsports or came from a racing background. Brian had gotten tickets to the somewhat nearby event in Martin and after the Friday evening portion was rained out had an extra ticket and asked his wife, Kiley to join him. Kiley had never been to a race before. Both Kiley and her husband were amazed at the sights, sounds, and smells, but also the accessibility of a drag race. They were very impressed with having the ability to simply walk through the pits and meet the team and their drivers -remember those things I included at the beginning of the article that make drag racing so enticing.

During this first outing and after watching numerous cars race down the track Kiley astutely began to notice the sponsors on the side of the vehicles. What she most particularly noted was that the vast majority of the sponsors were automotive related, whether it was an oil company or tire company each seemed to be directly related to the racing vehicle. It got her thinking what would it take to put her business on the side of the car.

Now here is what makes this partnership so unique. See Kiley doesn’t own a tire store, oil refinery, or even an auto parts store. She and her husband are co-owners of Horizon Behavioral Consulting in South Bend, Indiana. Kiley is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst that has been working in the field for over a decade and when she noticed a gap in the needs of the children she was working with decided to go out on her own. Shortly thereafter she took a chance and Kiley and her husband, Brian, opened Horizon Behavioral Consulting in 2016. Kiley and her team specialize in behavior management and assist children with Autism Spectrum Disorder from the ages of 18 months to 10 years of age. Autism Spectrum Disorder, is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as “a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges.” She and her team work closely with the children and their families to identify the behavioral needs of the children and target those areas. Just like any good crew chief has a baseline tune up and a particular method to tuning a fuel burning motor Kiley and her team have a systematic approach. Kiley and Horizon Behavioral use Applied Behavior Analysis and a naturalistic approach while working hand in hand with families. Again, just like a crew chief reading data after a run the team at Horizon are constantly using data and research to best assist their clients. They then evaluate the data and make adjustments based on their findings. Their first and primary goal is Functional Communication and from there move onto Social and Motor skills.

Now enter Joe Haas and his “American Way” 57 Chevy Funny Car. The veteran nitro wheelman has been in the seat of a number of entries owned by the likes of Justin Grant, Frank Ousely, Tom Motry, and most recently John Lawson. After taking ownership of his own ride, Joe began barnstorming the Midwest in 2021 with his unique fuel coupe. Speaking from firsthand experience Joe and his team have always taken the time to welcome fans, sign autographs, and enhance the spectator experience. Joe doesn’t just do it at the track either. Joe and his wife, Charli, have received awards such as the Good Neighbor of the Year Award and Mentors of the Year from Community and Support Systems for the work they do in their community. So, when the question was posed to Joe, “Hey what would it take to get my sticker on the side of your car?” the conversation and relationship began. The process went smoothly, and Joe and Kiley agreed on a sponsorship that put the sticker on the side of the car. You may be thinking, “Yeah that’s great that a business that helps children and families is being showcased on the side of a 290 mph funny car, but what are they really getting out of it?” In fact, some may even be thinking that a sponsor focused on the Autism Spectrum Disorder would be in direct contradiction with a sport that literally assaults all of your senses let alone a car that registers on the Richter Scale when it leaves the starting line. So, what is the return on investment or as it is often abbreviated, ROI in this case?

This is where the idea has somewhat of unique twist. The return on investment here is more than about dollar signs. The goal of this sponsorship is not necessarily to increase foot traffic at the Horizon Behavioral Consulting facility in South Bend. Return on Investment here is about helping kids and families find the resources that they need. According to the CDC, Autism diagnosis are on the rise, with “1 in 44 children in the United States being diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.” According to 2018 data from the CDC, “1 in 27 boys are identified with Autism” and “1 in 116 girls are identified with Autism.” Utilizing Joe and his “American Way” funny car allows Horizon Behavioral Consulting to get literature and contact information to another demographic that may have someone in their family or know someone in need of such services. So now another question. What good does it do for a family in Iowa at race say in Eddyville to receive a business card from a company located in South Bend, Indiana? And again, that is what makes this relationship unique. Anyone with this information can reach out to Kiley and her team and be connected to resources near them. This can help lead families to a diagnosis and potentially a team of therapists.

Even as early as last year, it is easy to see what makes Joe’s “American Way” funny car a fan favorite. From its patriotic theme to the fact, you are witnessing a nitro burning ’57 Chevy Bel Air plow through the traps at nearly 300 mph, and a driver and team that make connecting with the fans a priority there is a whole lot to be impressed with. And though at first glance this seems to be an unusual pairing, upon further review you can see how these pieces came together. Keep an eye out for Joe and his team at several events this year. So far, they plan to attend the Eddyville Night of Fire, Nitro Chaos at Mo-Kan, the Northern Nationals in Martin, MI, the World Series in Cordova, and the Funny Car Nationals back at Martin. Lastly, if you happen to be in attendance and need information about Autism Spectrum Disorder or know someone who does, stop by the “American Way” trailer and pick up a card.

NOSTLGIA DRAG WORLD

Photos courtesy of Mike Sopko Sr., Mike Sopko Jr., Michael K. Sopko

Does the NHRA Actually Care About Nostalgia Racing

Sat, 28 Jan 2023 15:31:32 GMT

I am going to write this as a stream of consciousness. For nearly a dozen years I had the distinct honor and pleasure of writing a monthly column for Drag Racing Online, owned and operated by Jeff Burk. Jeff and his lovely bride Kay have since retired, and now I will be bugging Al and Rob here at Nostalgia Drag World.

For me, the operative word in that description is “Nostalgia”. Thus, for most of us when the word nostalgia is used in conjunction with drag racing, many of us conjure up thoughts of front motor top fuel dragsters, and funny cars running bodies as per the NHRA Rule Book which states “Limited to 1965 to 1979 American-made bodies. Bodies must resemble the original mass-produced make and model. Corvette roadster and Jeep bodies permitted. Bodies may be made of fiberglass or composite material. Body must lift off as a one-piece unit. (2022 Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Rules Supplement, Page 47.)

Now in the past, many racers have stretched those rules to almost the breaking point. (Honestly, I have no beef with that, it is the race teams’ job to get everything they can within the confine of said rules.) Bend them as far as you can without breaking them.

Back a few years ago Canadian racer Ron Hodgson commissioned Victory Chassis to create a new 1969 Camaro. (I called it a Cam-aero) The car had more in common with modern-day Pro Mods, than nostalgia funny cars.)

Nevertheless, the Gang from Glendora gave the body its blessing, and it was allowed to compete. There was a great deal of hate and discontent with many of the other teams who stated the Victory Body was “not in the spirit of the nostalgia vibe.” A valid point. Nevertheless, during competition the advantages of aerodynamics and the lightweight of the body became apparent. As the season went on many other teams decided to take the road of, if you can’t beat them join them. More and more of the Cam-aero showed up.

This brings me to my point of this opinion article. Once again Hodgson has collaborated with Victory Race Cars, to come up with a 2.0 version of the “Cam-Aero”. We will call it the Firebird Trans-Aero. Once again, the nose and front end resemble a Pro Mod 69 Firebird, aka “The Crow from Street Outlaws.”

Furthermore, like the Cam-aero before it, the new Trans-Aero is going to raise eyebrows and some people’s blood pressure. Once again I don’t have heartburn with either Mr. Hodgson or with Ron at Victory. They are stretching the rules to the utmost, it is the sanctioning body that is supposed to have a clearly defined set of rules and enforce said rules.

This is an image released on social media of the car, and it is a stunner.

(Hodgson Racing/Pacemaker NFC)

My question is in regard to the rear spoiler. The NHRA Rule Book states “SPOILER-Rear spoiler limited to roof height and body width ( modern-type spoilers or spill plates prohibited ). (2022 Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Rules Supplement, Page 48)

This image is a closer look at the rear deck lid.

That rear spoiler is… Modern. In addition, the next line of the rule book states,” Spill plates may not extend forward of the bottom of the rear window or extend past the trailing edge of the rear deck lid. If one looks closely the spill plate does in fact appear to extend past the trailing edge of the rear deck lid.

Sources tell me there are other “enhancements” to the body that might raise the ire of other competitors.

Hodgson and Victory have done their due diligence and stretched the rules.

What they have done is no different than what happened in 1997 when Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Ray Evernham and an engineer named Rex Stump. The car was called the “T-Rex”. What Stump and Evernham did was find every gray area of the rule book and exploited said rules, stretching them to where only fibers were left. The result was at the 1997 Winston All Star race T-Rex was nearly two seconds a lap faster than the rest of the field. However, NASCAR’s President Bill France wasn’t having his show stunk up and outlawed the design of T-Rex the next day. Hendrick pushed the envelope, hard. However, NASCAR felt it was detrimental to the sport, and ruled against the T-Rex.

Thus, getting to the crux of the matter, the question becomes how far this sanctioning body is willing to go, in allowing teams to pummel the “spirit of nostalgia”, and actually enforce the printed rules already in place. Or is the sanctioning body going to turn a blind eye towards these rear aerodynamic enhancements? Many others would ask that same question.

Does the sanctioning body really give a damn about nostalgia, or are they ok with nostalgia transforming into “Big Show Light” or “Big Show Zero Sugar”? Will this latest creation of the Trans Am, spur other teams to also start stretching the boundaries of the rules and starting “an arms race?”

Now, this opinion is based on the basic NHRA Rules. Therefore car(s) that decide to run in otherwise sanctioned or independent events may not have to worry about the body rules that may or may not come into play. Thus, what Victory and Hodgson have created is above board.

Again, I feel race teams are to push the boundaries, it is up to those who make, and supposedly enforce those rules to act. And if those rule-makers fail to act or engage, then why even have rules or a rule book.

The other question I will reiterate is with this development force those teams who don’t have the resources to just fold their tents and do something else thus making the fields smaller? Doing something like sprint car racing, or competitive BBQ rather than run a nostalgia nitro funny car?

We shall see.

Photos courtesy of Brian Losness

Funny Car Chaos Releases 2022 Championship Tour Schedule

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 15:39:26 GMT

Since the fall of 2017, Funny Car racing just hasn’t been the same, thanks to Funny Car Chaos. Twenty-nine events later, over 100 teams from across the country have since participated in the run whatcha’ brung flip-top hootenanny which has revived enthusiasm and participation for Funny Car racers and fans from coast to coast. The 2021 season set the bar by hosting the largest Funny Car race in over 50 years, paying out over $250,000 and setting its highest participation numbers to date. The series will carry that momentum into its fourth Championship season in 2022 with a lot to look forward to.

With no regulation on body style, engine combination or fuel used, Funny Car Chaos events attract a wide variety of floppers in their come one, come all approach. Nitro burners, screw blown alcohol Hemis, and big power Chevrolets are the most popular setups, but the door is open and has attracted unique twin-turbocharged and nitrous assisted combinations. Rumors in the pits indicate we may soon see an injected nitro A/Fuel flopper hit the Chaos scene. The series was created by promoters Chris & Tera Graves to provide a grassroots, affordable and competitive drag racing platform while prioritizing the entertainment value and ground-pounding action that funny cars bring to the sport of drag racing.

“Four years ago, we would have never thought the Chaos would have grown to what it is today. But we are very thankful that it has and have a great support system around us of friends, family, and racers who share the passion and vision we have for this series. What keeps us motivated most of all is the appreciation we see from our fans and racers. There’s lots of smiles and lots of fun in the pits and that’s what drag racing is all about. This has become a venue for people to live their lifelong dream of being a Funny Car racer. It has rejuvenated a fan base of flopper fans. It has brought crowds back to grassroots racetracks. It’s a win-win-win combination and we are very excited about what lies ahead,” says Chris Graves.

All the cars have names. All the drivers have autograph cards. Every ticket is a pit pass. Back up girls, dry hops, long smokey burnouts, all for a ticket price that costs less than $1 per Funny Car on the property. It’s as close to the good ol’ days as you can get, but with a modern twist. One thing is guaranteed, whatever flavor Funny Car you prefer, you will find it at Funny Car Chaos.

Ken Singleton’s “High Risk” alcohol burner from Chickasha, Oklahoma will head to the 2022 season opener with an intimidating target on his back as the three-time consecutive series Champion. Singleton felt the heat from his biggest competition in 2021 from Iowan Kirk Williams, who finished number two in the standings just sixteen points from the top. Daniel Butherus, Jade Cook, and Tom Furches all claimed hard-fought and well-deserved spots in the final top five points standings out of eighty-seven participants. Del Worsham wowed the crowd at the Inaugural Funny Car Chaos Classic at the Texas Motorplex in March, by rocking the series record book with a 3.19 at 275 mph eighth-mile blast. The Motorplex will be the stage to kick off the 2022 racing season as the biggest Funny Car race in the world returns to Ennis, Texas on March 24-26th. This event will qualify 32 cars and has guaranteed payouts topping $55,000+.

It will be a busy spring for Chaos competitors and a new venue will host the second event of the season as the 1st Annual Chaos Cajun Nationals will debut at the historic State Capitol Raceway in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on April 8-9th. The schedule continues with the first of two stops at Alamo City Motorplex in San Antonio on April 29-30th, then heads to Penwell Knights Raceway in Odessa, Texas, on May 20-21st before taking an early summer break and heading to the mid-west.

The summer action starts off with the newest sister-attraction to Funny Car Chaos, Nitro Chaos. It’s the same format, same concept, same rules, but caters to any and all four wheel machines burning nitromethane. June 2-3rd at Eddyville Raceway Park and July 15-16th at Mo-Kan Dragway are the two events you will want to witness in person if you’ve got nitro running through your veins (learn more at www.nitrochaos.com ) .

Funny Car Chaos will also make its highly anticipated debut at Cordova Dragway in Illinois for a non-points exhibition event June 17-18th. The FCC points series resumes July 29-30th at Iowa’s Eddyville Raceway Park in the first of back-to-back events, followed the next weekend by a third annual stop at Kearney Raceway Park in Nebraska on August 5-6th. The points battles will surely be hot at this point as the series will conclude with its final two events where every round will prove critical to the title contenders. Missouri’s Mo-Kan Dragway welcomes the Chaos to headline the Labor Day Classic on September 2-3rd and the 2022 Championship Finals will return to Alamo City Motorplex in San Antonio, Texas on October 7-8th.

Spell Paving Services will return as the title sponsor of the Funny Car Chaos Championship Tour with additional support from Wulff Pumps, Fat Tirez Apparel and Red Line Shirt Club which will guarantee 24 car qualified fields across A-B-C classes at all eight events on tour, also guaranteeing payouts of $35,000+ per event.

2022 Spell Paving Services Funny Car Chaos Championship Schedule:

March 24-26th – Texas Motorplex – Ennis, TX

April 8-9th – State Capitol Raceway – Baton Rouge, LA

April 29-30th – Alamo City Motorplex – San Antonio, TX

May 20-21st – Penwell Knights Raceway – Odessa, TX

*June 17-18th – Cordova Dragway – Cordova, IL

July 29-30th – Eddyville Raceway Park – Eddyville, IA

August 5-6th – Kearney Raceway Park – Kearney, NE

September 2-3rd – Mo-Kan Dragway – Asbury, Missouri

October 7-8th – Alamo City Motorplex – San Antonio, Texas

*Exhibition / Non-Points Event

The Funny Car Chaos series would like to thank Spell Paving Services, Wulff Pumps, Fat Tirez Apparel, Red Line Shirt Club, Mears Mazda Volvo, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AlkyDigger, Rodak’s Custom Coffee, S&W Race Cars, Littlefield Blowers, Taylor Motorsports Products, CP-Carrillo, Best of Texas Barbeque Sauce, Victory Driveline Components, Jake’s Speed Shop, DSR Parts, Laris Motorsports Insurance, KTBF Eyewear, Twisted Shifterz, 360 Steel, High Performance Data LLC, Michael Spitzer, Meyer Enterprises, Drag Daddy’s Garage, Performax Trailers, North Texas Diesel, Tony Lewis Collision & Paint, Pro Things Apparel, Wizard’s Warehouse and FloRacing for their support. Find out more about the Chaos at www.funnycarchaos.com .

The first Saturday morning of 2022

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 15:42:32 GMT

The first Saturday morning of 2022, I walk out in the shop, cranked up the furnace, and looked around. One project next to another….next to another….and over there. It was about 7 am and I sat down at my desk to tend to the morning ritual of checking mail, messages, and minutiae of all variety. A Facebook group popped up on my newsfeed. It was one for early haulers, etc., which I have frequented for a few years. Without pause, I typed a post putting the Jungle truck up for grabs. This is a dance I have went through before… did I really want to do this? Not so much selling, it was time for it to find a new home. I rescued it from certain death back in 2008, sitting in that gravel lot slowly rusting away. I actually found reluctance in listing it, due to tire kickers, dreamers and the myriad of other time-wasters.

I did it anyway.

Within a few minutes, I had the expected inquiries. A few were actually past inhabitants of the driver’s seat, and a former owner. I listed it for what I had in it. All I really wanted to do was not lose on the deal, out of principle or maybe stubborn thrift. I had one message, in which the fella started with his name and phone, followed by, “ I want the truck let me know how you want me to pay if it’s still available.” My reply, in my best early morning sarcasm, “Cash in a brown paper bag.” I looked up this fella on Facebook and started to think to myself, he’s for real. He had credentials and a pretty damn nice collection of the things that fuel our addiction. If he was willing to drive up from Mississippi in questionable weather, he’s too much like me and he’s the next caretaker! I had committed to a local, who had seen the post, to let him come look at it. He inspected it in all its roughness and I could tell, it wasn’t exactly grabbing him… which was fine. Different strokes for different folks.

Maybe the reason I have so much junk laying around this place, is my lack of tolerance for bargain hunters and those with lack of vision, or an ignorance of the significance and historical value of these things we love so much.

Hell, half the people don’t even know who Jungle Jim was. If you get those who had heard of him, you lose about half when you say his real name. Then you have those who think they can get you for half your asking price. They tell you they have a brother in law, cousin or buddy. I don’t care whom, this guy is going to restore it for them for a couple cases of beer and have it back on the streets in a month or two. OR…. the “flippers” who are going to turn around and sell it because some famous guy owned it. The only thing I have ever associated the name Flipper with, was the fish from the television show , when I was a kid. I have never been a big fan of people coming to the shop and looking at things I have squirreled away. They have to tell me about the aforementioned brother in law, cousin, etc. who had one just like it. “It went 9’s in the quarter and would drag the bumper when he got on it.” When I get someone who is interested, knows what they are looking at and doesn’t care to ring their own bell… They win.

But, I digress.

The local guy and his buddy, were good Saturday morning conversation and nice guys. I look forward to running into them again. My refusal to budge on price was firm though. I called the fella from Mississippi, after the local left and told him it was his. He said he was leaving at noon and would be here the next morning at 7am.

What happened next, was almost 12 hours of moving things, finding things I hadn’t seen in years. More than once, I would come across something and utter to myself,” Where the hell did that come from?” I had to move cars, trucks, chassis, tires, wheels, blowers, engines, sign panels, materials,etc. I probably swept half a million square feet of floor, raising a dust cloud that could have been seen from the International Space Station. Any regrets I may have had, they were moot at the end of the day. All that crap I moved, it worked the sentimentality out with the sweat. I decided I had become a hoarder. Most of it is really cool stuff. Still, it’s another damn addiction! Spencer and I arrived at the shop the next morning, around 6:45. Even though I had spent all that time the day before, cleaning, rearranging, etc. I still had to get things moved, just to get it out of the warehouse. When Mr. Jimmy Shaw arrived, it was almost ready to emerge from its home of the last 13 years.

I forgot to mention, Jimmy has one of, if not the baddest Maverick on the planet. Twin Turbo’d ,multipurpose, street legal, 200 plus mph, Greening built early 70’s compact. Oh yeah, Street Machine of the Year that won every award imaginable. He dug in and we started getting it ready to snake through the 100′ maze from the back of my warehouse to the front of the shop. We backed the shop van up to the back of the truck, strapped the two together and about 15 minutes later, viola! A 50 year old, almost 40 foot long behemoth, pulled from it’s place of rest, into the icy January 2nd air. Our next task at hand, get it on the trailer. Now, here is where my reluctance to throw anything away comes in valuable. Winching the truck onto the trailer wasn’t too difficult, at first. The low riding nature of the beast posed a problem. We had to devise a way to get it high enough to clear the various obstacles. Naturally, we grabbed 2×4’s and planks. Those were good for a little movement but still left us short. We had project that required cutting out figures for a local Christmas display. I had hundreds of pieces of off fall, from 45 sheets of plywood. To make a long story not so long. Careful, and not so careful placement, was just enough to achieve our goal. Mission Accomplished! About 2 hours of thrashing in the icy cold morning and we were finished. Jimmy had a new project. I had about 600 square feet free, again. I was also sure, beyond any doubt, it was going to the right home. We bid adieu and pleasantries and it was back to work, getting everything back in the shop…and on with life.

I got a little crap from people about selling it. So what. Reflecting on the last decade or so, I have had more cool stuff than most have had in a lifetime…or two. Instead of looking at it as another project not finished. I tend to look at it as another piece of history that was saved from obscurity and the scrap yard. I have plenty of projects to keep me busy… until I am really old!

In fact…. well… I just bought a…. Stay tuned

NOSTALGIA DRAG WORLD – By Eddie Buck

Gerard Milidantri’s Wicked 1 Anglia

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:49:22 GMT

We caught up with Gerard and The Wicked 1 at Island Dragway in Great Meadows, New Jersey. The Wicked 1 is a 1948 Anglia two-door sedan owned by Gerard Milidantri from Suffern, New York. He’s the general manager of an aerospace company that overhauls turbine engines and, on the weekends, he runs the Anglia at Southeast Gasser events.

The SEGA brings back Drag Racing from the late sixties and the cars must have period-correct parts that you could only buy up until 1967 and no later. Absolutely no modern electronics, automatic transmissions, or electronic fuel injection is allowed in any competing cars. What you will find are open headers and a 4-speed, a perfect combination for wheels up launches.

This Anglia was hand-built in Pennsylvania in the late sixties by a fellow named G.K. Bernard. It was later purchased by SEGA emcee Quain Stott.

The first time Gerard saw the Anglia was at a SEGA event in 2019. It made such an impression that he sold his Corvette and decided to pursue SEGA racing. In 2021 Gerard and Quain struck a deal, and he purchased the Anglia.

The body is a 3-inch chopped steel body with a fiberglass tilt nose, doors, and trunk lid. The body rides on a custom-built boxed frame with a straight axle and leaf springs up front and a 9-inch Ford rear end suspended by 5-inch coil springs. Old school wheelie bars hang out from under the bumper. Rolling stock consists of classic 15×4.5 and 15×10 Ansen slot wheels.

The power is provided by a 378 cubic-inch small-block Chevy fed by two Holley 660 CFM center squirt-style carbs mounted on a vintage Weiand Tunnel Ram. Gerard estimates it’s making approximately 650 horsepower. The fumes exit through custom headers built by Donovan Stott.

The hi-revving small-block is hooked up to a Jerico four-speed manual transmission.

Gerard said he’s had the Anglia sideways, on two wheels, and even hit the wall but he’s having a blast!

Photos by, Mike Salemme 2021

shoptourhardcoredragracing.blogspot.com

Les Jackson’s Lifetime Achievement Honored

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 15:53:49 GMT

At a recent meeting at his American Legion post, long-time NHRA Division Five racer Les Jackson was honored for his lifetime achievement. On hand to present the award to Les, and acknowledge the contribution of his late brother Cal, were Nate Johnson (pictured left) Chief Technical Advisor and Ed Arcuri (presenting the plaque to Jackson) Founding Director of the Rocky Mountain Superchargers.

Guests at the event included many of those who have known and applauded the performance of the “High Heaven” series of .Altereds and Funny Cars including Pikes Peak Hill Climb Champion Frank Peterson and his wife Kaye, Competition Director Ron Burge, Roger Kuyatt, Brent Wildenstein, and chassis builder Larry Parentau.

Also on hand to honor Les was his son Keith who now campaigns the “High Heaven” Funny Car.

Everyone had a great time looking through the many photos that Keith had brought to tell the story of the Jackson Brothers and regaling one another with tales of their exploits and many wins. Of course, the usual rule applied: “the older we get the faster we were.”

Ed Arcuri told the story of attending the Mile High Nationals and asking to buy a “High Heaven” T shirt. Les advised that the NHRA did not allow sales from the racers’ trailers, so Arcuri gave the team a $20 contribution to help with expenses. He related that it made someone on the team happy and they gave him a free T shirt!

Yes, there were a few there who had grown old, but the jokes were old long ago!

SEMA 2022

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 21:40:31 GMT

One of the greatest spectacles on earth for an automotive enthusiast (gear head) is the annual convention held in Las Vegas known worldwide as the SEMA show or just simply SEMA. Every year thousands of automotive aftermarket performance company’s flock to Las Vegas Neveda to show to the world their latest and greatest products and innovations. This show is open to people in the trade only and provides a great one on one platform for manufactures and attendees to do business. This event is so large you need 3 days to properly take it in. I would need a whole magazine to list all there is to see and do at this extravaganza of automotive performance. Please sit back and enjoy a visual tour courtesy of Nostalgia Drag World.

Words and photos by Mike Ruth