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Nitro Funny Cars Return To KCIR !
It has been 20 years or more since historic Kansas City International Raceway has hosted those mind-blowing five-second, 250-mph, nitromethane-burning hot rods known by a variety of names such as Nitro Coupes, Floppers or, most correctly, AA/Funny Cars.
Not since Kansas City was the home for the fabled American Hot Rod Association and KCIR was the home track for that sanctioning body back in the 1970's and '80s have nitro cars shaken the ground and filled the air with nitro fumes.
That will all change this October 3-5 when the Muscle Car Reunion and Nostalgia Drags at KCIR will host the first annual DragRacingOnline.com AA/Funny Car Invitational.
Among the first teams to accept an invitation was the 'Telstar' AA/FC driven by Doc Halladay and tuned by Jerry Newman. The Halladay team won one of the last AHRA Funny Car championships in 1986.
Others who have been invited and accepted include Danny Miller's Maverick and John Dunn's Nova.
In addition to the racing portion of the Muscle Car Reunion and Nostalgia Drags, another AHRA racer, the legendary Roland Leong, will be cackling one of his original Hawaiian AA/FC with Larry Reyes in the cockpit. The one and only 'Big Daddy' Don Garlits will also exhibit.
For more information concerning the event or the nitro funny car race contact John Troxel, promoter of the Muscle Car Reunion and Nostalgia Drags, at 573-664-3272 or Jeff Burk, editor of DragRacingOnline.com, at 636-272-6301. |
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Drag Racing
Magazine Online
Featured Story
Nostalgia racing finally returned to Gateway International Raceway after a long absence and by almost every measurement the race was a very successful event. The aptly named Muscle Car Reunion, put on by John Troxel and his partners, attracted almost 300 pre-1974 racecars from as far away as Buffalo, New York, for three days of bench racing and actual drag racing.
Read More.... |
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LOCAL BACKSTOPPERS CHARITY TO BENEFIT
FROM MUSCLE CAR SHOW AND RACE AT GATEWAY TRACK
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When the Muscle Car Reunion and Nostalgia Drags event comes to the quarter-mile drag strip at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois, on May 31-June 1 the St. Louis-based charity organization BackStoppers will receive a portion of the receipts of every ticket sold.
Started in 1959, the BackStoppers provides needed support and financial assistance to the spouses and children of all local and county police officers, firefighters, publicly-funded paramedics, EMT's and volunteer fire protection unit members who have lost their lives performing their duty. Deaths from natural causes, illnesses or injuries are outside the organization's scope. The BackStoppers provides assistance to counties served by Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop C and Illinois State Police District 11.
One of the Muscle Car Reunion and Nostalgia Drags organizers, John Troxel, said of the local charity, "Our group is proud to be associated with a fine organization like the BackStoppers, who do so much for those who serve and protect our communities."
Two of drag racing's legends will be in attendance at this event, although they will not be racing. "Big Daddy" Don Garlits will display one of his "Swamp Rat" Top Fuel dragsters, and both he and legendary fuel Funny Car owner and tuner Roland "The Hawaiian" Leong will sign autographs and chat with the fans.
The Nostalgia Funny Car Circuit and the "Geezer Gassers" will be featured as well as a Nostalgia Super Stock Eliminator. All pre-1974 cars are welcome.
A swap meet and car show will be part of the program plus a full schedule of nostalgia eliminator classes. For more information on classes, schedules, cost and lodging call 573-644-3272 or 573-644-3273.
For more information on Backstoppers go to www.backstoppers.org. Gateway International Raceway (www.gatewayraceway.com) is located at 700 Raceway Blvd., Madison, IL 62060. |
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Tom Clary and Helen Gibb scheduled to appear at
Gateway International Raceway with an original Fred Gibb Car |
Fred Gibb Chevrolet, which was located in LaHarpe, Illinois, was owned and operated by Fred Gibb and wife Helen, and had a major influence on drag racing history, and performance cars in general.
Fred was not really into racing until 1967 when his star salesman Herb Fox ordered a 1967 Z28 and started racing it, a 1967 Camaro with a little known option at the time called RPO 'Z-28'. Known as “Lil Hoss", this is the car that brought Gibb Chevrolet into racing. It didn't take long before the bug bit Fred, and he got involved in a way that was soon to make history. Fred was a large believer in what wins on Sunday sells on Monday.
In 1968 Fred arranged with Chevrolet to get 50 COPO Nova's with 396-375HP engines, the first factory built Chevrolets to be equipped with a solid lifter engine and automatic transmission. Because of the success of these “special” Novas, on and off the track, Fred took things another step forward in 1969, as he became instrumental in the development of the ZL-1 Camaro, which featured an all aluminum 427 engine, rated by the factory at 430HP, but actually well over 500HP. Only 69 ZL-1 Camaros were built, due in large part to price, listing for over $7200,00. The first ZL-1 Camaro built arrived at Fred Gibb Chevrolet on December 31, 1968, and was immediately prepped for drag racing. With the Fred Gibb logo on the side, this car did quite well, winning an AHRA World Championship in 1971.
Unfortunately Fred Gibb is no longer with us, but his legacy lives on, not only in the cars he built, but though his wife Helen, and daughters Nancy and Connie. |
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