TAFC history project...

Discussion in 'Pit Buzz' started by Will Hanna, Nov 17, 2005.

  1. Will Hanna

    Will Hanna We put the 'inside' in Top Alcohol
    Staff Member

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    I've got a project I'm working on, more details on that later, but I was wondering if I could get some help from some of you out there.

    I can remember some of the Top Alky flopper's nicknames from Div. 4 from the 80's, and I was wondering if some of you could help out...

    So here goes the list:

    Shockwave - Ronny Young
    Grim Reeper - Larry Reep
    Sudden Pleasure - Dal Denton
    Time Machine - Stidham Bros.
    Kool Klutch - Brown & Russell
    Texas Tremor - Jimmy Jones
    Bad Moon Rising ??
    Smokey The Bear ??
    Veney's Vega - Ken Veney
    Ace Manzo - Frank Manzo
    Simpson Bros - Nickname?
    Texas Justice - Burl Brown
    Thunderin Okie - Bob Alberty
    Double AA Dale - Dale Armstrong
    Lou Gasparrelli - nickname?
    Vern Moats - nickname?

    What about cars from other parts of the country......any help would be appreciated.
     
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  2. noah

    noah New Member

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    smokey bear = bill wendt
     
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  3. rpmhiperf

    rpmhiperf Blown Alcohol

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    Vern Moats-Hamm's bear (Hamm's Beer)
     
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    Last edited: Nov 17, 2005
  4. Woodchip

    Woodchip Top Alcohol Dragster

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    Div 1
    Arnie Karp's Boston Strangler
    Joe Amato's Gabriel HiJacker Monza
    Herb Rodger's Flyin Glass
    Glen Lazar's Funny farmer
    Ed Parker's Cape Codder
    Div 3
    Lee Zeinert's Darth Vega
     
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    Last edited: Nov 17, 2005
  5. Sportsman

    Sportsman TA/FC

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    Bad Moon Rising = Chuck Phelps
     
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  6. Bob Alberty Jr.

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    Shockwave - Ronny Young
    Grim Reeper - Larry Reep
    Sudden Pleasure - Dal Denton
    Time Machine - Stidham Bros.
    Kool Klutch - Brown & Russell
    Texas Tremor - Jimmy Jones
    Bad Moon Rising Chuck Phelps
    Smokey The Bear Bill Wendt
    Veney's Vega - Ken Veney
    Ace Manzo - Frank Manzo
    Simpson Bros - Nickname?
    Texas Justice - Burl Brown
    Thunderin Okie - Bob Alberty
    Double AA Dale - Dale Armstrong
    Lou Gasparrelli - nickname?
    Vern Moats - nickname?
    Drag-On Vega Frank Cook
    Performance Engines Dennis Pirinio
    Hustler Jay Henshaw
    Mighty Mouse Paul Smith
    White Devil Jack wyatt
    Risky Buisness Paul Albers
    Cherokee Warrior Ray Moats
    War Hawk Richard Smith
    Buck Fever Jon Barrat
    Plumb Broke Tim Williams
    Condor Express Jim Louge
    Road Warrior Jim Mack
    Kansas Twister Porter Donn
    Cooper Family Gary Cooper
    Junior Thompson Junior Thompson
    George Cambra George Cambra

    See If I can dig up a copy of the All American Funny Car Series program,But all of these cars and more all ran in the circuit.
     
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  7. Sportsman

    Sportsman TA/FC

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    #7
  8. Brad L

    Brad L Member

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    West Coast

    The Boogie Man – Wayne Stoeckel
    Evil, Wicked, Mean & Nasty – Harley Griffith
    The Quarter Pounder – Van Gundy & Clark
    The Wanderer – Woz
    Screamer – Richard Day & Chuck Worsham
    Smog Town Hustler – Rick Bailey
    California Gold – Kenny Mooers
    Dream Weaver – John Weaver
    Lou Gasparrelli – Lou Gasparrelli

    Other

    Wheeler Dealer – Fred Mandoline
    Southern Thunder – Bogie Kell
    Wizard – Gary Akers
    Darth Vega, Night Stalker – Lee Zienart
    Capt. Crazy – Frank Harris/Bill Dunlap/Gary Southern
    Iowa Roller – Vern Moats
    U.S. Male – Pat Walsh
    Wild Wilfred – Wilfred Boutilier
    All American – Butch Kernodle
    Poverty Stricken – Peter Gallen
    Apocalypse Now – Fred Hagen
     
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  9. was R4K

    was R4K Member

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    Billy Williams- The Munchkin div 7
     
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  10. DREAMWEAVERFAN

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    Nicknames

    Wut About Div 7? Dream Weaver- John Weaver?
     
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  11. ITS IN MY BLOOD

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    1980`s classics

    clayton harris crazy horse
    buster chandler black thunder
    mike ohearn good vibrations
    gary clark tequila sunrise
    jerry gwynn baby huey
    bob gage walts muffler
    jimmy scott/ gary southern capt. crazy
    don holm oregon pride
    pat cress chicagoan
    larry camenzind bionic bitch
    lin utsey spoiled brat
    tod back big mac attack
    frank cook drag-on warrior
    richard smith north american van lines


    the list goes on n on n on n on.................
     
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  12. Sportsman

    Sportsman TA/FC

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    More Div 7
    Steve McCracken = Sundancer
    Gary Shane = Funny Business
    Greg Daebelliehn = Fast & Forty
    Jim Holtz = LA Hauler
     
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  13. M Tigges

    M Tigges TAFC

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    Div 1

    Len Capone's The Bear
    Joe Petro's Kamikaze
    Dick And Charlie The Bell Boys
    Craig Gleason's Maximum Overdrive
    RONNIE TAYLOR'S HAWG WILD
    SAM LELAND'S Mason dixon raider
    Bill naves Shooting star
    Richard polcaro's Split second
    Dave burch's Second wind
    Larry dobbs Kardiac kids
    Adam Szeler Mad mechanics
    Paul Zogda's Buffalo express
    Bruce peterson's new york earth shaker
    Blair smith's MASS MANIAC
    Dennis brodrosien (spelling?) Scarlet fever
    T/AD
    Aurthur gallant's ALCOHOLIC MOUSE
     
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    Last edited: Nov 18, 2005
  14. nick bell

    nick bell TAFC

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    Thanks mark was hoping i wasnt going to have to do it myself.
     
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  15. Randy G.

    Randy G. Top Alcohol

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    I think "Ace" Manzo was Franks dad, not Frank. Announcers call Frank "Ace". I could be wrong...you could call him and ask.

    I thought Jack Cambra had the Quarter Bender (the story was that he could actually bend a quarter in one hand).

    Two of my early favorites were (and I can't believe it wasn't mentioned):

    The "ALCOHOLIC". Driven by Dale Armstrong and owned by Simone Menzies, I think. I remember them entering a Fuel Funny car race at OCIR and winning it on alcohol. It had one of the first pedal clutches in it and that thing left the starting line like a raped ape. It was the baddest BB/FC on the planet.

    Kazanjian and Lemon (spelling on Cookie's name might be wrong). Tom Lemon drove it. They had a beautiful brown and yellow Camaro bodied BB/FC.

    Then there was "The Drummer" A/F funny car. Beach Boys drummer owned it but I'm not sure on that one. I was too young to know.
     
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  16. nick bell

    nick bell TAFC

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    after carful consultation of my national dragster clippings from 1991 frank has Ace Manzo painted on the side of his funnycar.
     
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  17. Bob Meyer

    Bob Meyer Comp Eliminator

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    Cambra

    Randy; George and Jack were somehow closely related, but with no love lost. Each had an TAFC at the same time, but Jack ran a dragster mostly.
    It was no slight of hand with Jack, I can't honestly saw I saw it happen, but after several beers at Fremont one night, I slowly slipped a quarter from my pocket, then flipped it in the air in front of Jack. He grabbed it in the air, swung his arm behind his back, and just as fast swung it back in front with his hand open, with a quarter bent about 90*. I wished I knew the date or had marked my quarter to be sure, but never the less, I BELIEVE !
     
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  18. Woodchip

    Woodchip Top Alcohol Dragster

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    Your RIGHT thats Franks dad. I believe Ace had funded Franks racing in those days
    I remember Simon Menzies running n2o with that car also. Or maybe it was another car he had? The n20 was mentioned at Englishtown the only time I saw it come east.
    I remember when Kazanjian raced with Billy Williams with a donovan TAD in a Britting engineering chassis. Ran a very unique injecter of the same type used by Clive Skilton when Clive drove Mike Kuhls car one season. The only AA/DA to my knowledge to run a four speed lenco. Shortly later the 4 speeds were outlawed. Some time later Billy ran the same chassis with a KB and roller cam (a first at the time) in Top Fuel and ran 5.60s with it.
    The Drummer owned by John Kinsell who was also a drummer. Driven by Lorry Azevedo who I think also raced either offshore power boats or drag boats. Won Comp at Englishtown one year. I remember it running 7.20s or teens not sure.
     
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    Last edited: Nov 17, 2005
  19. DQUES

    DQUES Member

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    Hendy & Worsham , The Tinker Toy
     
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  20. ITS IN MY BLOOD

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    n/w hitter

    gentleman HANK JOHNSON.........MR.AUTO SUPPLY
     
    #20

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