'51 Mercury "Lead Sled" funny Car

[none]

I'm getting old, I thought I saw pictures of a funny car using a much modified '51 Mercury named Lead Sled.
I can't find it.
Is it a product of too much "fuel additives"?

Lee
Nitroclovers

 

[Nick Name]

It was a pro mod. Johnny Rocca the “Iron Horse”
Jay

 

[The Swegian]

How cool was that car! Complete with the whitewall tires.

 

[dave]

How cool was that car! Complete with the whitewall tires.

I believe that car was eventually wrecked. It was cool though.

 

[Dave]

It was a beautiful car and it was wrecked a few times. Sadly, in one of the crashes it went over the guardrail at Union Grove and killed a photographer. Rocca was OK after the crash. I was working on a T/F crew that weekend and I happened to be the first one to him after the car came to a rest. A very nasty accident. Before anybody asks, yes there is video and I hope it never shows up on the internet. Trust me, you don't want to see it.

Dave

 

[MM]

It was a beautiful car and it was wrecked a few times. Sadly, in one of the crashes it went over the guardrail at Union Grove and killed a photographer. Rocca was OK after the crash. I was working on a T/F crew that weekend and I happened to be the first one to him after the car came to a rest. A very nasty accident. Before anybody asks, yes there is video and I hope it never shows up on the internet. Trust me, you don't want to see it.

Dave

what year was that Dave like '97?

 

[Just Paul]

It was a beautiful car and it was wrecked a few times. Sadly, in one of the crashes it went over the guardrail at Union Grove and killed a photographer. Rocca was OK after the crash. I was working on a T/F crew that weekend and I happened to be the first one to him after the car came to a rest. A very nasty accident. Before anybody asks, yes there is video and I hope it never shows up on the internet. Trust me, you don't want to see it.

Dave

The video was on one of those "caught on camera" TV shows a few times.

 

[Dave]

Mike, the year was 1998.

I can't believe they showed that on TV, Paul. I know there were a few different camera angles of it. I sure hope the video they showed was edited.

Dave

 

[Just Paul]

The one I saw was taken from the stands. If I recall, the photo guy was around the 660 somewhere, and this video must have been taken from about 400 feet. They didn't edit anything.

 

[Turtle]

There was also a Lead Sled Doorslammer here in Australia owned by Wayne Price. It was an immaculate looking car, very detailed. Unfortunantly it was stolen a couple of years ago and the only thing off the car that was ever found was the body shell which had been burnt

 

[Toejam]

That Iron Horse car made a couple of exhibition passes at Pomona around 95-96, ran a 7.10@195 which was pretty standard for Pro mod then. Then in '03 at E-town the last time I saw that car run, Paul Athey was driving it and it hit the sand traps hard causing some heavy damage.

 

[CH3NO2JAY]

I sadly recall the accident at Union Grove. We were up next when it happened and it was a pretty bad accident with bad results. The photographer got destroyed hardcore. The event ended up to be called off after. I do not know the true cause of the accident 100%, but the car flew over the left barrier and hit the photographer head on. I remember a lot of people not even knowing the guy got hit until people ran to hel Rocca out.

People/photgraphers hanging on the guard rails and starting line is still a issue at GLD in my opinion and something should be done.

I recall (if my memory is accurate)the wheel's center section completely separated from the rim and still on the axle. Did that cause, the accident? I have no clue, but it looked like a normal accident until people arrived on the scene and realized what happened.

I already knew racing had it's dangers and I accepted them, but having something like that happen right in front of you is a def. wake up call.

I even recall talking to Rocca briefly before it happened and then out of no where, BAM. After the accident, I believe they took his blood work and all that stuff and the rest is history. It was a cool car, but that was def. a sad sight to see first hand.

This is all speculation, but wasn't it like the photographers first time filming and his GF was present. I was told second hand, the guy ran up to the guard rail after the car took off and then it was a case of bad timing....

 

[Jim]

The car will be on display at the Washington DC Auto Show, Feb 4-8.

 

[Jet]

I recall (if my memory is accurate)the wheel's center section completely separated from the rim and still on the axle. Did that cause, the accident? I have no clue, but it looked like a normal accident until people arrived on the scene and realized what happened.

QUOTE]

I was there also and he was on a qualifying pass and the car went into nasty shake and he didin't lift which probably tore the wheel. No reason not to lift on a pass where it wouldn't have helped anyway. It always seemed that car was one step ahead of Rocca every time I saw him run it.