THE BIRD IS THE WORD

Text and photos by Dan Ricks

Text and photos by Dan Ricks

Words and images by Dan Ricks

Words and images by Dan Ricks

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 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.

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 .

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

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.