Page 45 - NM Spring 2018
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of racing was a real turn on for time out that summer racing my I/ course, built the “Bad News” A/FX
me, unlike the dirt cars I grew up Stocker at the new, state-of-the-art I bought.
watching that were looking nice Wichita Drag Strip.
before the season’s first race, but Jim - Yeah, I had a great time
pretty rough after that, not to Steve - My first race was 1982 match racing “Bad News” at
mention full of mud! I’ve always with my 1973 Dodge Charger. I special events 25-30 years ago!
entered the trophy class and won.
been a clean freak and loved lots I was hooked and have been an Incidentally, every car I’ve ever
of chrome (laughs). My first drag active racer for 35 years now. I raced I put together myself. In the
race was in 1978 at my home track still own that car today, and while ‘60s few people had money to have
in Union Grove, Wisconsin on it has received many engine and someone build them a car, that’s
why there was so much innovation
Memorial Day weekend for the chassis mods over the years so and rapid growth at the time.
“Olympics of Drag Racing.” It was that it closely emulates a Pro Stock Fortunately, I had the privilege of
then I knew I wanted to build my class car from 1973, it is licensed getting to be around and work on
car to race.
for the street but still capable of low some of the “match bash”-type cars
Jim - The first drag race I ever 10 second passes in the ¼-mile at and top fuel cars from the mid-‘60s
attended was in 1958 at the air base 128 mph. Even at 3800 pounds it until the early ‘70s when all that
here in Wichita. I remember a lot regularly pulls the front wheels up change was taking place. That’s
of new Chevy Impalas and some a good 18 inches at the hit. something you can’t get from any
pretty crudely built dragsters, most NMM - What particular school!
of them with roll bars at least six fabricating or engine building skills NMM - Well, guys, why don’t you
inches below the driver’s helmet! do you each have? tell us about these two beautiful
However, drag racing really came cars we’re featuring here?
to me one Saturday night in the fall Jim - As far as fabricating skills,
of 1961 when riding with a friend in when it comes to building these Steve - My car is a 1964 Dodge
his new ’62 409-horse Impala and cars I only do them exactly like 440 Hardtop that, as I’ve said, I
we got into an impromptu stoplight we did it in the ‘60s, using the old bought from Jim, who built it. It
drag race with a guy in his ’62 methods and tools. That is the has a full-on altered wheelbase
big-engined Ford. I came away only way you can put a car out that with the rear end moved forward
thinking, Oh yeah…this is for me! is a representation of the original 15 inches and the front suspension
ones. Almost all of the A/FX cars moved ahead another 10. There’s
NMM - When did you start out there today are so over-finished a 4-inch drop straight axle with
racing (of any kind) yourselves? with show paint, bead-rolled leaf springs and a Vega steering
aluminum, incorrect suspension, box. The rear wheel wells were
Jim - I started racing karts – fast
karts, not toys – in 1959 when I was wide tires and new-style wheels cut and moved forward to match
13. By the second season I was the that the raw charm of the old cars and these are the original A/FX
A-Super champ and, with my dad is totally lost. fiberglass front fenders with wheel
instructing me, was doing the work Steve - I installed the Chassis wells moved ahead 10 inches. It
on our highly-modified motors as Engineering ladder bars and has a gutted interior covered with
well as helping to make our own coil over shocks as well as sheet aluminum; hand cut and
motor parts with our designs. My the modifications for the six affixed just as it was done in 1965.
No sheared and bead rolled panels
first car I drag raced was a ‘53 Olds cylinder torsion bars in my 1973 here.
2-door Rocket 88 sedan I bought Charger, “Mopar Magic.” Gene
in Bossier City, Louisiana for $165 Vanhandel at “County Line Sales” I have a JW UltraBell and
when I was sixteen. I drove it back in Kaukauna, Wisconsin did my JW Ultra Case PowerGlide
to Wichita for a summer job there other chassis mods, 8-point roll transmission with a JW flexplate
Tune it way up. ngksparkplugs.com
and, after a motor rebuild and bar and 727 transmission with a and Neal Chance torque converter.
some tinkering, won every single Griner trans brake. Jim here, of Continued on next page
Spring 2018 Nitro Madness Magazine 45
