It is cool to read this stuff from people who were his fans.
The history of the Chevy's in T/F started with My dad in 1972 . The E.T. record in 1973 is where he had the biggest impact. Next was Larry Dixon. He was right there. He actually beat my dad in the 5's at Ontario. I remember my Dad saying it was during a session where everyone was breaking into the 5's and he was not in that session. It bummed him out but he was good friends with Larry.
(Little Larry was with my brothers and I at my Dad's induction ceremony last year in the Hall of fame).
Jerry Johansen with Howards Racing Cams was a big help to Larry Dixon and my Dad. I think Jerry is one of the least recognized guys in the sports history. If Jerry had lived he would be in the Alan Johnson, Austin Coil category.
The later 70's is when Shiroma, Mcdaniels and Rodeck came in but my dad was already real sick. The last Chevy in T/F was Jim Head"s crew chief Johnny Davis. I think he ended up with the quickest E.T.
For my dad it was about money. he would say that the hemi guys had more money in the engine than he did in his engine, dragster, truck and trailer. It was true.
I think we all like the underdog. When he set the record it was him against about 50 T/F cars.
His secret was light weight. He did some amazing thing to lighten the car. I think he was one of the first to drill 800 holes in the brake disc. He had a wire for a throttle pedal. He had the dzus fasteners drilled out. He would also remove spinning weight that would absorb power. Instead of adding weight to the crank counterweights he would remove weight. He actually had the camshaft drilled lengthwise from end to end. He also had the flat side of the lobes drilled with half inch holes. The car in Big daddy's museum is the ultimate with all of this stuff.
( this is some top secret stuff) All he needed was me in the car. I was 60 lbs lighter than he was but I was not quite old enough.
Mike
