Colson had a successful stint in the Chi-Town Hustler, one of the most popular and famous Funny Cars on the match race circuit. Story by Jim Hill There are only a few drivers who have driven more different types of top-level drag race cars as Illinois’ Ron Colson. Colson grew up in tiny Oregon, Illinois, […]

Quantico, Virginia’s Joe Tucci (in car) readies himself for a push-start in his 454 CID Chrysler Hemi powered AA/Gas Dragster. Tucci’s Lyndwood Welding chassis shows its robust construction. Tucci later replaced the front wheels with a pair of spoked motorcycle rollers.  Story by Jim Hill Joe Tucci And The Leatherneck Missile Joe Tucci’s success at […]

Lyndwood dragsters were simple, sturdy-built cars that handled well and were tough enough to survive the often rough drag strip surfaces of eastern tracks. Story by Jim Hill Much of the performance advancements in drag racing speeds and ET’s can be credited to those uniquely specialized vehicles known as “dragsters”, and the art of designing […]

Dean Moon’s famous Mooneyes dragster featured all-white clad crewmembers in 1961. Model car maker Revell made a plastic kit of this car, which used a Potvin front-mounted blower and a small-block Chevy in a Dragmaster chassis. Story by Jim Hill Next time you’re watching a major drag racing event, in person or on TV, take note of […]

Joe Hrudka (left) turning the wrenches on the Hrudka Brothers’ ’33 Willys panel truck, C/Gas Supercharged, in 1966. The Willys used a blown, small-block Chevy with Hilborn injection and a manually-shifted, four-speed trans. (Todd Wingerter Photo) Story by Jim Hill These stories typically deal with drag racing’s wildly varying personalities rather than with speed equipment businesses. For the […]

Ollie Olsen’s A/Gas Willys prepares for a run in 1962. Olsen leans in the door, giving last minute advice to driver Bob “Rapid” Dwyer. Car retains stock Willys front end and trim with unique black-copper-black paint scheme.  Story by Jim Hill For more than 40 years one of drag racing’s most famous 1940 Willys Gassers […]

Ransom Olds himself designed the iconic Olds “Curved Dash” horseless carriages of the very early 1900’s. These open cars paved the way for safety, comfort and reliability improvements in U.S. autos. Story by Jim Hill Ransom Eli Olds may be the most famous man you never heard of. And even though you may not know […]

“Stormin Norman” Weekly (foreground) is out on Chris “Greek” Karamesines at 1963 NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, CA. The flagman starter is perhaps unwisely looking downtrack from the pair of smoked-in dragsters. Luckily, there were no OSHA laws to comply with 50 years ago! Story by Jim Hill This must begin with an apology to the great Southern […]

Known globally for its enthusiastic trashing of Tokyo, Nick and Joanne Iarussi’s enraged, prehistoric reptile Godzilla is skillfully disguised as an altered-wheelbase ’55 Chevy! There is no better way to begin the end of this story! Story by Jim Hill – Part II The factory 55-57 rear axle was fine for street driving, but suspect for even […]

Charles Carpenter was one of the original racers to recognize the interest in nostalgia drag racing. His ’55 Chevy began racing in mildly modified form, in IHRA Sportsman classes. Next came a series of modifications based on the original ’55 chassis. That led to a full tube chassis with huge-inch big-block power and then into what is now called “Pro/Mod”. […]