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parts inventory, three years ago three runner-ups at the California friends via cyberspace’s Facebook,
he moved his dragster’s operation Hot Rod Reunion. greeting each other with, “Dang…
to the end space in his building, it’s good to finally meet’cha!”
into what he calls the “race shop” John built the new N/TF car to
(one non-auto-related business, his mainly match race and is a tribute There was another Tulsan at the
wife’s hair salon, sits between the to his old friend from nearby Sand party that few would’ve guessed
two. “I don’t get any rent from that Springs, the two-time NHRA Top as an attendee at an affair by
space,” he laughs). Fuel World Champion, Bennie and for drag racers – Roy Clark.
“the Wizard” Osborn. It shares Recognized around the world as a
The race shop also offers services basically the same engine set-up as first-class guitar and banjo virtuoso
such as nitrous oxide refilling, the A-Fuel car, albeit with a blower as well as decades as co-host with
distributor and magneto set-up and up top. Buck Owens of the popular (and
repair as well as a large inventory still running in syndication) TV
of several grades of racing gasoline, Now, on to the fun! Whether it’s show, “Hee-Haw.” Roy, a long-time
methanol and nitro. The spacious a party like this, the annual “Drag friend of Jon and frequent visitor to
front part is not only home to the Geezer Reunion” in Texas or any his shop, is a gearhead with a large
A-Fueler but Jon’s latest go-fast toy other get-together of drag racers, I car collection and was also drag
as well – the modern front engine consider them must-attend events racing back in the 1970s and 1980s.
“Bennie Osborn Tribute” Nostalgia and this one was no exception. I
Top Fuel dragster that will hit the saw old friends like my high school Later, as the crowd thinned a bit,
strip this summer. It was built classmate, Bob Alberty. Bob raced I had a chance to sit down and ask
per the current N/TF design with unblown fuel dragsters before Jon questions about his success in
the longer wheelbase and higher moving to his popular “Thunderin’ what has traditionally been a very
cockpit seating, but the beautiful Okie” Top Alcohol Funny Car and tough business with no absolute
paint and lettering re-creates what was there with his son, Bob Jr., guarantees of staying power.
“the Wizard” carried on his late who currently races his own Top Expecting a longer answer, he was
‘60s National Championship T/F Dragster. Rick Balentine, crew able to sum it up in only three short
cars. chief on Dick Moritz’ funny cars paragraphs……
and Todd Martin, racer and owner
Brook has also added a lathe, of Tulsa Raceway Park were both “Well, over the years, we’ve
mill, flow bench, Rockwell my subjects for articles in previous been able to develop great
hardness testing machine, clutch issues of Nitro Madness. Paul relationships with the distributors
grinder and other goodies just Schultz, owner and driver of the and manufacturers. We’re large
for his crew’s use, keeping the “Spirit of Tulsa” Nostalgia Top enough now and by scrupulously
A/F and the new N/TF capable Fuel car and Oklahoma City’s maintaining an excellent credit
of putting checkmarks in the win Larry Brown. Yes, that Larry rating, we can buy from distributors
column. The A/Fueler’s body and Brown. The one that famously at the very lowest possible price
chassis was built by Dave Uyehara dumped the engine completely out as well as direct from many of the
and uses a 392 Rodeck aluminum of Bob Dumont’s AA/FD in the manufacturers themselves, just as
block with Alan Johnson heads, lights at the PRA race at Tulsa in a distributer would. This results
Comp cam, Sonny Bryant crank, 1972. The one captured forever in saving money that we can pass
GRP rods and JE pistons with a in the great photograph by Steve along to the customer. We can
Hilborn “shotgun” injector and a Reyes that pops up every so often usually sell an item for the same
normal 98 to 100% nitro in the tank. on Facebook. From 1977 to 1980, price you’ll find with an internet
With a best elapsed time of 5.98 Larry and Jon Brook campaigned store. Some of those will offer free
and speed of 230 mph, the car has the “Okie Smoker,” a late-model shipping, but only if the purchase
wins at Phoenix, the 2017 March hemi-powered Plymouth Arrow is over, say, a hundred dollars.
Meet, twice each at Bowling Green funny car. There were also They’ll usually charge ten or twelve
and Tulsa’s Nitro Nationals, and several I met that had become my Continued on page 75
Spring 2018 Nitro Madness Magazine 73
