Funny car

[Steve_Hoog]

This a good 8 or 7 second ride? I would go nuts to ride it down the track!!!!!

[396L35]

Steve, I dont want to burst your bubble about going fast, I myself like fast cars, but this is a real beast of a car. There is no front end on the car except two wheels and some steering linkage. Its kinda squirrly if you ask me. I cant even imagine trying to control this car going over 100mph down the track. If you think you can handle it, then you have bigger balls then I do. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/[/img]

[Steve_Hoog]

I don't know, might make me pee my pants.

But it makes my heart beat fast to think about it.

[moparts]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't know, might make me pee my pants.



[/ QUOTE ]

Just starting one of these beasts up can do that...Ask Tom what happened the first time he got to hear his fire up....or what happened the first time he got to make a pass. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif[/img]


Sitting in the seat and having 1500 hp roar to life between your legs is quite a feeling. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[Steve_Hoog]

I would rather ride this blown Rat than a 8 second Chevelle on NOS.

Most up the people I have grown up racing with, the point that seperates the men from the boys has been about 9.00.

I haven't had my chance yet to find out what I'm made of.

[Belair62]

LOL...you may be right Joe !!! After they got thru eating and brainstorming in it I'm sure there are empty beer bottles and burger wrappers still in it !

[Charley Lillard]

Real Funny Car

[sixtiesmuscle]

That picture was taken just after John said "Charley, I don't have to go to the bathroom anymore".

[sYc]

As rude as the steering my look, it actually works quite well. Bruce Larsen's '68 has the same set up as mine, and the JK car, and he makes sub 5 sec. 1/8 mile passes. He will carry the front end past the 60' light, and I have seen him still a little sideways as he crossed the 1/8 stripe. According to Bruce, and others, the majority of the problems back in the day were front tire related. The tires would seperate from the rim at speed. Bruce tried several different makes, and finally found one that would work. He approached NHRA about having a spec tire rule, but NHRA did not want to step on some toes (tire companies). Thus, the drag racing world continued to have problems with front tire seperation, including the lose of Dick Harrell in a tire related incident.

As per driving a FC, may have been the most nervous I have ever been. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] I have been racing steel bodied cars for ever, but this was totally different. But, I can not wait to do it again. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/[/img]

[JoeC]

There was a great story in one of the old magazines about a guy who ran a FC in the 60s. To me it gives a little view of what it took to win in the big time in a 60s-70s Funny Car.
I donít remember his name but call him Driver X and as I remember the story it was something like this. He was an amateur running on a shoestring budget and due to other peopleís red lights and blow ups he makes it to the final round of a big race despite being low qualifier. The guy in the other lane was none other then Jungle Jim. When X staged he didnít know what was shaking more - him or his nitro burning big block Chevy. The Jungle jumps out ahead with tires smoking but hooking up and swerving down the track in a series of ìSî turns so bad that he must have covered a half mile instead of a quarter mile. Xís FC was pulling pretty strong and he passed Jungle only to have Jungle pass him back at the big end. X couldnít see much from inside his car but he figured he won because Jungle must have crossed over the centerline at least three times. X lost and found out later after talking to people and seeing pictures that Jungle was completely out of shape the whole run all over the place even getting one wheel off the track and throwing up a huge rooster tail of dirt into the stands. Jungle Jim never crossed the centerline and never lifted for a micro-second.
X thought that Jungle was one sick puppy for never lifting and winning that race after running down the track like an ape on fire. X had been thinking of going pro but knew he could never drive FC at the suicidal level that Jungle Jim had demonstrated on that run. The next year X saw Jungle Jim and talked with him about that wild race where Jungle beat him and won the show. X called Jungle crazy for never lifting. Jungle Jim said, ìI ante crazy, I was more afraid to lift off then to stay in it! The last time I lifted on a run like that the blower blew up in my face. ì [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]