CARSPOTTING: SPREADING THE SEEDS THAT SPROUTED FUNNY CARS

What we know as Funny Cars evolved from an exhibition-only class created to accommodate three particular 1964 Dodge 330 sedans. What differentiated this trio of "factory lightweights" was supercharged horsepower; the same stroker-wedge combination that engine-builder Jim Nelson had perfected in his Dragmaster Company's Top Gas Dragsters. The $250,000 program (about $2.5M today) sputtered to a premature end when the money and motors ran out—but not before fulltime pilots Jimmy Nix and Jim Johnson exposed hobby racers at each stop to the unprecedented noise, speed (documented up to 141 mph) and excitement of blown doorslammers. Some bolted on blowers and began commanding appearance money from promoters who'd been charging them to run for cheap trophies. When and where did you first experience a ground-pounding Funny Car?

Date: Spring, 1964

Location: San Diego Raceway, Ramona, California

Source: Dodge News Bureau/Wallace Family Archive

2023-09-25T19:13:47Z dg43tfdfdgfd