Page 62 - NM Spring 2018

side of the road, I got to drive the
Moonshot.”

In 1972-1974, Griffin match
raced his funny cars in an injected
circuit. “Showmanship was just as
important as performance when we
were match racing so I would do
my extra-long burnouts to excite
the spectators and encourage the
track owner to book us again in the
future. We had four regular cars
and some extras when needed. We
ran at several different drag strips
in the Southwest including Monroe,
Louisiana and Manhattan, Kansas
and also for Norman ‘Moose’
Pearah at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
In 1972 we went up north and ran
with the UDRA circuit for a month.
That was fun especially for me Aerodynamics! I also was great at keeps up with the sport on TV and
since I won two of the races and leaving first. I learned years ago through social media, with some
we met some nice guys like Fred that my body clock is such that I strong feelings about the current
Mandoline in Chicago. Wish I had can leave early on the last yellow state of the pro categories……
gotten to know more of my fellow instead of waiting for the green
racers but I was so concentrated light, thus giving me a holeshot “Today’s cars are cookie cutter
on tuning, driving and winning I advantage on almost every run. My cars, all so similar. And the
didn’t take the time to socialize like tuning skills also played a part, too.” funny cars are all so ugly and
I should have. unrecognizable as to whose body
When asked if he had ever they are running. Ford, Chevy,
“Speaking of burnouts,” he added, thought about jumping up into the Toyota all look the same, like a herd
“I learned from the BEST! ‘Jungle’ AA/FC class, he shook his head of pregnant turtles. Those huge
Jim Liberman. His three-quarter and said, “I would’ve loved to have
track burnouts that had spectators competed with the ‘Big Boys’ to ugly wings on the back make them
on their feet cheering made a big test my holeshot skills against look even more ridiculous.
impression on me. It brought me a theirs, but the chance of exploding “Nostalgia racing is the best and
lot of match race dates and dollars!” blowers, bad fires, etc. that they go is growing in popularity because
through, and the expense of it all there are a lot of people that agree
Asked about his enviable record kept me where I belonged. I did
behind the wheel in both unblown race a few times against the AA with me! Still 1320 feet and with
nitro classes, Ben is quick to cars, though, winning once at Tulsa 1970s-style cars. They want to see
answer. “As far as the funny cars, I and runner-up at a couple of others.” the ’60s and ’70s cars again like we
put a lot of thought into their stance used to run. Speed is not the issue.
on the track. I ran lower front Today, Ben is retired and spends Watching cars go 210 mph in six
spoilers and higher rear ones than time as a Bitcoin trader. He and seconds is just as exciting - maybe
most guys back then, making lots his wife, Joyce, their Standard even more so since it lasts longer -
of down force. The Mustang bodies Poodle, Jazz, and Bailey the cat live than watching cars finish a race in
had a nice downward slope on the in Frisco, a suburb north of Dallas. less than four seconds at over 300
hood and top to help out with that. He rarely attends the races, but mph and racing only 1000 feet.

62 Nitro Madness Magazine Spring 2018