Being employed by one of the coolest car magazines has its perks. I mean, c'mon ... I get paid to hit national car shows to photograph and write about the coolest cars in the world. It just doesn't get any better than that. Well, actually it might.
When the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association released their 2005 event schedule, there was one show I immediately circled in big, black sharpie: The 8th Goodguys Nitro Nationals held at the famous Pomona quarter-mile. This is vintage drag racing at it's finest. We're talkin' nitro-burning nostalgia Funny Cars and Top Fuel front-engine dragsters under the lights at the famous Pomona Fairplex. There isn't much more a fan of the "old-school drags" could want. In fact, for those of us old enough to remember the night racing drags at the many SoCal tracks like Lions, Irwindale, or OCIR, this one was reminiscent of those same glory days, minus the between-race-beer-induced bleacher brawls.
Recently the Goodguys VRA added nostalgia Funny Cars as part of the racing program. Without a doubt this is the wisest decision since the NHRA relaxed the nitro ban in 1963. It's exciting to see and identify the body styles of these throwback Funny Cars of the '60s and '70s as they cackle to life for a low 6-second pass down the Pomona quarter-mile. In this class even the casual drag racing fan can tell the difference between a Mustang and a 'Cuda. Unlike the Funny Cars of today's 300-mph-plus monsters in which the Monte Carlo and the Mustang bodies look so similar, the only noticeable difference is the style of the painted head and taillights.
This race even brought out Ron Capps, one of the NHRA's most popular Funny Car drivers, to pilot Jeff Gaynor's vintage 'Cuda Funny Car. Capps went on to a tire-smoking first-round defeat, compliments of Larry Petit in his beautiful, not to mention fast 1971 Mustang.
Also on hand for the event was Mousie Marcellus and his Mike Boyd-driven Winged Express Fuel Altered, which made exciting exhibition passes on Friday and Saturday under the lights. We have to hand it to Mousie as he's been carrying the Fuel Altered torch all across the United States the past few years by booking the car at any event that will have them. The Winged Express is a show highlight not to be missed.
With the 2005 Nitro Nationals in the bag, it will soon be time to look forward to next year's Goodguys racing schedule. Right off the top, the March Meet at Famoso and the Nitro Nationals in Pomona are penciled in on my calendar. As soon as the 2006 Goodguys' schedule is released, I'm sure to be bustin' out the Sharpie and circling a few more nostalgia drag racing dates.
Rob Markworth from Fullerton, CA, made the trek north on the 57 to show his awesome Model A. |
Ron Capps goes through the burnout process during qualifying. |
Mike Johnson's '55 has all the makings of a cool nostalgia drag car. If it weren't for his full-faced helmet and the aluminum bleachers in the background, we'd think we were stuck way in the '60s. |
We've never met a Willys we didn't like, especially this '41 owned by Edward Kohnman. |
This beautiful '65 Buick owned by Bill Speer is powered by a 425hp Nailhead 400. We would still like it even with 350 hp. |
Here is another example of the varitey of cars at any given Goodguys drag racing event. |
Front-engine dragsters, fuel... |
...or not, are a show of force throughout the weekend at Pomona and all Goodguys' drag racing events. |
Mike Savage ran into a fuel leak problem during his burnout on the first qualifying session on Friday. |
Push wagon or show car? Doesn't matter either way--it's still very cool. |
Ron Capps and Dale Pulde warm up Jeff Gaynor's nostalgia Funny Car before Saturday's qualifying. |
Funny Car pilot Larry Petit qualified in the second position and eventually went on to win the trophy on Sunday. |
Jeff Utterback lights 'em up during Saturday's night qualifying session. |
Back-up girls are all the rage these days at the nostalgia drags, just ask Pammy Utterback. She did a fine job of getting husband Jeff in the groove during qualifying on Friday. |
Last year's Goodguys' Funny Car champion Randy Walls wasn't able to make the elimination rounds on Sunday as his engine blew in spectacular fashion during the second qualifying session Friday evening. |
Straight axle cars were big in the early days of drag racing. It's no wonder they're a fan favorite at the Goodguys events. |
Speaking of straight axles. DRO West Coast editor Darr Hawthorne takes some time off to get a little drag racing in. Hey, it's called job research! |
Mike Boyd takes the Winged Express for a litte Friday night cruise down Parker Avenue. |
Old Chevys never die, they just develop into forced air-induced drag racers. |
Fiats made great drag cars in the '60s, and still do today. |
One of the cool things about the nostalgia drags is the variety of cars and styles. Just check out this Model A sedan delivery. |
Brian Bauer mentioned that he hasn't made any major modifications or changes to his Ford since he first rebuilt it in the early '70s. We like it Brian. Don't change a thing. |
It's a mad thrash on Saturday night to get ready for Sunday's eliminations. |
Mike Boyd and the Winged Express closed the show on Saturday night. |