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”. […]
Gene Schwartz’s original ’52 Chevy Deluxe was destroyed in a racing crash. He built this car to be close to the original, including its manually shifted, four-speed trans. Today Schwartz’s car runs in Nostalgia Gas events, running 10-second ET’s. Gene will be inducted into the ECDT Hall of Fame, Henderson, NC, Oct. 16. 2016 Gene […]
Connie Kalitta’s 1962 Top Gas Dragster carried an Old West style “Wanted” list of drivers he intended to defeat. As he topped each he drew a line through their names, earning him the nickname “The Bounty Hunter”. Kalitta’s ’62 Logghe chassis dragster was faithfully replicated here, and is now a nostalgia event and car show favorite. […]
The official 1960 NHRA-NASCAR Winter Nationals program cover carried both association logos. The reference to “…an added attraction” suggested seven-night drag races were something to do after a day of Daytona 500 Speed Week racing at Daytona International Speedway. Story by Jim Hill Once again it’s Winternationals Week, the time of year when drag racers and […]
Lamar “Bunky” Bobo looks right at home again in his “Hemi Hurricane” ’40 Willys. The car ran as a 9-second, 140 mph A/Gasser in the 60’s until it was parked for a Logghe chassis Barracuda Funny Car. In 2005 Bunky and his son Tony restored the Willys to prior glory. (Dr. Marvin Smith photo) Story […]
