know this car?

[Don Ferrette]

Here's a sweet ride from days gone by. Many of you might recognize one of the names on the side.

 

[Robert Pickard]

Truck in back is a old Chevy the other looks like a old Willys from the body style

 

[Glenn Gates]

I do not recall seeing that car run in N. CA Don, but a frequent visitor to the Sacramento track was the "Pure Hell" Fuel altered.

 

[Don Ferrette]

Honestly it's more about the "who" than the "what". Here's a clue......... the guy on the right side of the pic with his hands in his pocket is named Henry.

 

[El Zorro]

A cool picture for sure! Car is a Fiat Topolino. Saw a lot of these running as fuel altered cars back in the 60's. The "Pure Hell" car Glenn mentioned was probably the most famous of those fuel altereds. I would love to see some of the drag cars Henry Velasco was connected to back in the day. He is an icon of drag racing along with Garlits, Prudomme, Kallitta, Grumpy Jenkins, etc. Grumpy was my man. Saw him run the first Pro Stock "Grumpy's Toy" Vega at the 1971 World Finals in Amarillo, Texas. 9,000 RPM's from a small block Chevy back then was REALLY something sweet to hear!

Dick Tyndall

 

[Glenn Gates]

I knew the "who" part right away Don, I know Henry was involved in drag racing and produced the Velasco line of "stroked crankshafts". That picture was taken when I was 15 years old!!!!

Dick, The 'Pure Hell" car ran from the mid 60's thru 1998 with only one mishap that I've heard about. The steering wheel came off in Dale Emory's hands at Fremont and he ended up in a drainage ditch(upside down). He kicked the floorboard out and got out of the car- but the ambulance driver kept trying to pull the helmet off(without undoing the chin strap). I guess one of the DelRio brothers slugged him and got the helmet and water filled mask off of Dale.

 

[henry velasco]

I do not recall seeing that car run in N. CA Don, but a frequent visitor to the Sacramento track was the "Pure Hell" Fuel altered.

Glenn

Our Fiat ran it,s last run at Lions Drag Strip before Rich came out with his Pure Hell

In the two years we ran the care it had lost only two races ever

That car was way ahead of it,s time

 

[Glenn Gates]

Thanks for the reply Henry, Have you any idea who started running the blown fuel altered's first on the west coast?

 

[El Zorro]

I can't imagine driving that car with such a short wheelbase! Had to be a handful to get it down the track. Couldn't weigh much more than 1200-1300 pounds. I'm guessing it could run mid 8's at around 170 MPH? Am I close Henry?

Dick Tyndall

 

[Glenn Gates]

Dick, wouldn't think of putting words in Henrys mouth but a friend ran a 339" Hilborn injected small block on alky at Lodi Ca. on a nice cool New years day. I think he posted a 8.91 Run No blower/ no nitro. His name was Larry Davis. I do not remember if Larry or John Engbretson was driving on that day.

 

[El Zorro]

Anything running that fast back then was a real sight to see! When the big name drivers showed up at the track for match racing that was always exciting. And we thought we were "bad" with our 12 second street cars back then ( late 60's )...........

Dick Tyndall

 

[henry velasco]

I can't imagine driving that car with such a short wheelbase! Had to be a handful to get it down the track. Couldn't weigh much more than 1200-1300 pounds. I'm guessing it could run mid 8's at around 170 MPH? Am I close Henry?

Dick Tyndall

Dick

The car weight was just over 1000 lbs -- it ran 164 mph in the mid 9 secs on gas and 170 mph low 9 sec. on alky 0n a good day it ran 8:90,s -- this was with a 364 cubic inch small block chevy that I had built (yes I made the crank lol)

Glenn

I really don,t know who were the first guys to run alterd but there were a lot back then

 

[Norm Doerr]

Yes I know the car, everyone beat me to the answer. Big Jim drove it?

 

[El Zorro]

Thanks for the info, Henry. And I thought boat racing was dangerous.................

Dick Tyndall

 

[Glenn Gates]

I stand corrected, The Larry Davis Altered Roadster never broke the 9 second barrier. Low 9's were the best the car ran on Alky with Larry at the wheel. My friend John Engbretson drove the same car(on gasoline) but only at Sacramento and Vacaville.

I have heard Larry still has his shop in Carmichael CA. I'll take a camera with me when I visit.

 

[El Zorro]

Always like to see pictures of the fast cars from back in the 60's, etc. Great info, guys..............Thanks!

Dick Tyndall

 

[Bob Morton]

Hey Yinz Guys. Kool stuff, what talent we have in the RC boating community.

Thanx Don for bringing this to are attention. (*¿*)

Nails