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Michael Race Cars
Story and Photos by Connell Miller
In the last few years, there golden age, with only a few still tubing used for exhaust pipes,
have been some new young guns active until recent years. and were typically stick or oxy-
seeking a “life among the pipes” acetylene welded on the garage
by breaking into the business of Along with the chassis designs, floor. This was the rudimentary
building race car chassis. It’s the materials and construction “jig” for many of the early
good, too, as many of the pioneers methods these builders used fabricators, who would use a tape
of that particular industry have drastically changed and improved measure or string to insure the
either passed on or at least retired over the decades. Before the sides were equal and the rear
and closed up shop. Kent Fuller, mandated 4130 chrome-moly and end housing was parallel to the
Jaimie Sarte, Charles “Boogie” TIG welding of today, early cars centerline of the spindles. True
Scott, Jim Davis, Woody Gilmore, were usually jigs made out of wood 4x4’s or
Don Long, Paul Peyton, Ed Mabry, constructed 2x6’s soon came into play until
Roy Fjastad, Frank Huszar and of “muffler- finally, rectangular tubing or heavy
Henry “Moose” Schroeder are moly,” the I-beams became the norm, many
just a few of the names that same with fixtures attached to accurately
built chassis and sometimes
complete cars during
drag racing’s infancy and
up through the sport’s
A stickler for detail, Jessi
looks back and critically eyes
the cowl during its final fit.
Fall 2018 Nitro Madness Magazine 21
