when i lost my grandfather to a heart attack last summer, i felt like i would be forever seperated from the sport he had been racing in since 1956. thank you for talking about these old stories of wild men and monster machines. rest in peace USAF Master Sargeant Robert George Wich, Jr., and may your 41 Ford Business Coupe fly the Homestead tracks again.

I remember watching the Snake and Mongoose go at it at the Spring Nationals in the early 70’s, drag racing will never be that wild again

The voice of drag racing. We are lucky to have you making these videos. Thank you Brian!

I was at the '65 Nats, a year out of high school, and it was incredible. The sights, the sounds, the mind-boggling array of cars. I will never forget it.

I would be so extremely happy to build a blown BBC manual transmission period correct gasser. I love these history of drag racing videos you put together Brian. I am always impressed at the huge strides us hot rodders have been able to develop over the decades. When I was 16 in 1997 a high 9 second low 10 second car was an ultra lightweight race car that had to be towed to and from the track. Now you can buy a car from the dealer, throw on some tires and as long as you can drive you can run those times and faster with a factory backed warranty that can be daily driven. The times the Sick Week and Drag Week competitors are able to run and drive 1500 miles to and from the track just shows how far the ICE has come.The ability of gearheads to cut down and improve ET and trap speeds in only 660' or 1320' is absolutely incredible and never ceases to amaze.

I was introduced to drag racing in 1959 at US 30 Drag Strip at the age of 14. I was hooked. I will never forget the 1965 season. In the spring of 1965 Dyno Don showed up at the track for a match race in a 1965 Comet SOHC A/FX . The car was as built with two carburetors. Later, in the fall he returned to US 30 for another match race but now the car was fitted with a straight axle and the rear axle moved forward and the engine had 8 stack fuel injection on nitro but still with a four speed manual. The engine blew up. That season there were match races almost every weekend and the crowds were huge. The array of altered wheelbase, injected, nitro burning cars was crazy. Yellow rosin dust. Burnouts, dry hops, best two out of three races, betting in the crowds……..it was nuts but it was awesome! I’m glad my friends and I had the experience.

My first exposure to drag racing was 1969. My uncle Jim took me to Lyons Drag Strip and while watching the Mr. T Corvette exploded and my uncle told me to go grab a souvenir! I came back with an almost complete door with the Mr. T still on it!😂

Imagine, sitting in your school's library, putting on archaic plastic cup headphones, plugging them in to the "compact cassette" player, opening the book and listening for the "beep" to turn the page as you watched and listened to the stories of "The Little Red Wagon" and "Hemi Under Glass". This was showbiz and I was hooked. I was in a Canadian suburb, so this might as well have been a transmission from the lunar surface, but I was captivated. So, damn your top speed and blown rods, I was in for the show. Rear wheel steering (brake steer) and looking through the floor boards to navigate had me. Later, there would be "Bob Chandler's Big Foot" and "Mega Saurus," but for now, pulling a wheelie all the way down the strip was the shit. Showbiz!

As one who raced and rode the fences at the two 'San' dragstrips, Fernando and Gabriel, and the big show every Saturday night at Lions, as a kid of 17 I could dream of building a B rail or street roadster. But when the exhibition runs became a thing, I just didn't get it, nor did my wallet. Yes, a Top Fuel car went for twelve grand in 1964 dollars but still, a kid could dream. What was once a SOP hobby run at tracks with dirt, dust, and splintered seating faded from view to be overtaken by the maga-tracks, think OCR or any track with those blaring "Sunday Sunday Sunday - Be There" radio commercials, it all just became different. Having said this, thank you Brian for this fascinating look into those who did, "Think outside the box." As always, good stuff here...

I love the rich history of drag racing, The cars, The men and women who built and raced them that this channel provides:)

Thank you! My dad was involved with a lot! I've got pictures of the '63 and '64 COLOR ME GONE with Don Beebe's street DODGE CHARGER in my driveway.

1965 I got to watch Dyno Don Nicholson and Dick Landy make a couple exibition passes at the newly opened Englishtown Drag Strip. They were indeed a sight to see.

Brian you are doing drag racing and other racing history justice. Thank you so much for all this in depth history. Being born in 1962 and growing up loving anything with a engine in it. This is right up my alley of learning more about our sports history. Keep up the great work and God bless you brother.

I love this so much. Drag racing was so rowdy and chaotic back in the day. Has the best history. You are the man Brian, and putting this history out there will inspire more people to take part in drag racing.

Wow Brian, what a well researched and professionally presented summary of the "Funny Car Circus" Bravo! -Steve Magnante

Nice! Don Beebe worked for my dad, thanks for showing a couple of my dad's cars, COLOR ME GONE AND DART CHARGER. He also had LITTLE RED WAGON for a year, Jay Howell drove both LITTLE RED WAGON and DART CHARGER. Bob Branstner

Thanks for posting. I was fortunate enough to see Art Arfons in his jet powered Green Monster.

LOVE that red '61 Starliner fastback at 3:56 !!!!

I was eleven in 66 but I was fortunate to hang out at Pheonix International Raceway with these Big Brothers. Cranking Crane. The White Night were two cars I remember. Good memories!

Hell yeah great story loved every minute of it. I was born in 69 and I remember the mid 70’s . Drag racing was great!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!

Thanks for a killer episode. The cars of that period had style, not like the shapeless wads today. Drag racing at its best.

Man I Watched This Entire Video Like “Damn I Know This Voice” 😂. Real Talk Though You’re Literally The Voice Of The Sport

i was a kid in San Antonio and my neighbor was Bill Jarrette. One of his AFX was called "the tia jana taxie". Injected hemi on nitro. Got to see the 41 Willys of stone woods and cook, Bill built a candy apple red 41 willys and crashed on its madden pass. Got to see tommy ivos glass trailer also. Not sure what work Bill was doing, but parents moved to Boerne around 1968 and I lost contact. Great stories, love the way you put these videos together. Thanks again.

What an absoltue kick ass presentation. Perfect use of showing images of what you are speaking of and at just the right cadence.

Loved this show ! At 72 years of age this era falls into my greatest drag racing memories. A great follow up to this story would be a show on the Super Stock and Drag Illustrated Funny Car Nationals at New York National Speedway in, I believe, 1966. I was only 14 years old at the time but my dad braved the harrowing trip out on Long Island on the Sunrise Highway to NYNS to watch this amazing event. Every Funny Car on the planet seemed to be there. Still the greatest drag show I have ever seen. And well worth the 6 hour drive home to NJ. Although I’m not sure my dad would have agreed. 😂😂😂

Wow, what a thorough history of these classic quarter mile machines.

Brian I’ve been going to drag races since the mid 70’s thank you for helping to keep this great sport alive.

Thanks for filling in a boring winter between drag racing seasons!

There was so much drama and politics involved in the growth of this sport that few people understand. Excellent episode! Thanks Brian.

I'll comment tomorrow I'm still watching. It's unreal

Great story of history I lived through, if only by browsing the magazine rack in the local dime store. I remember the Funny Car controversy, it stayed alive long after ‘65. Subscribed

I remember these days, single digit age but loved drag racing.... got my Dad to take me to the local drag strip. I still have the smell and roar.... in the 70s continued to go, my Dad still took me until me n friends got DL. OCIR was my strip. Good times. Great video

This is one of the coolest drag racing stories I've ever seen. Please keep up the good work!

I remember those days. It was a great era.

When Brian uploads, I sit my ass down

I started in this wacky business in 1970,,,this was a tad before my time,,,,but , the older I get the more I realize I don't know shit about nothin,,,,really truly enjoy your history lessons... thank you

This is the very best video Iv'e ever seen on the subject of 1960's drag racing. One of my favorite magazines is a 1982 special edition of HOT ROD ,featuring a lot of photos of that era ,some of which were shown in your video .I'll be watching this more than once .Thank you ,from New Zealand.

This is an incredible story about an incredible time in NHRA history, just imagine what it was like driving these crazy high power cars!!

Outstanding history lesson. I grew up at Lion's and saw most of these cars run.

Outstanding story. Lifelong drag racing fan, and I learned a lot about the birth of my favorite class of race cars. Thank you, Brian!

This was spectacular!! thanks again.

Thanks for another in your series of top notch, well researched and impeccably delivered stories! Great job, Brian!! Looking forward to more in 2024!!

Can't believe the amount of research this guy does.

Man, you are that guy… You story telling and video hunting is spot on perfect to me… I used to look for these full bodied monsters back in the day…👍🏾

100% authenticity here, thankyou for your efforts and so much dedication to the science that is drag racing.

Great story!!! I lived near Fremont Dragstrip and saw the first Funny Cars. A magic time in automotive.

Hey Brian, I have messaged you before on Facebook,but never replied here. I absolutely love everything you do, and I stand by what I told you there, you are definitely our generations Dave McClelland and Steve Evan’s. It’s clear just how much you love drag racing, and the NHRA. Thank you for all you do, I think I speak for everyone, that we love it. Thanks, Brian W

That K n G car was crazy!!!!!!!

Drag racing has something special about it. I recall meeting someone in an online racing game once and just going back and forth down a runway trying to tune the better car, making all sorts of adjustments. The competition and the fun of seeing who could get more out of a machine. It's simple and for how competitive it is you rarely get a toxic environment, it's just fun and you are more interested in keeping it fun than being nasty about the timeslip.

Brian, you are the right person to bring this history out to the 21st century young gun crowd who are making their own part of history that will be talked about in awe in the future. There's not a lot of us old guys still around & even less still up to their eyeballs still doing it. The desire to go faster will never die amongst us rev-heads so the evolution will continue🤓.

Content is always GR8 but this vid is a Jewel! Many thanx 👍👍

Wow !! Your finest effort to date. That Chrisman footage as well as the 554 stuff blew my mind. Please keep them coming.

A truly astounding history of one of the greatest drag racing eras. I was 13 years old and remember all these cars but never had enough money for more than 1 Hot Rod magazine a month. Never knew all this amazing backstory . . what amazing memories!

That is one of your best vids yet. As a teen I rode my stingray bike 3 miles to Irwindale drag strip to see Charlie Allen match race Don Gay' GTO. man I was hooked. My brother's room was covered with magazine pics and Pit passes . Thank you for your efforts to tell these stories. This was your best one so far.

MR BRIAN YOUR REPORTING ON HISTORY OF DRAG RACING IS AWESOME THANK YOU

I really appreciate this. Thanks ever so much. You should do another one. Possibly starting in the 67 to 69 era.

Roots !! Way to go Brian! Another superbly constructed and displayed historical presentation. Thanks for what you do!

Absolutely incredible documentary and narration but you love the word "literally." 😂

DAM! more great stuff Brian! as a preteen model builder in the late sixties these were just too cool, made my parents buy 2 models at a time, something with a blown engine and a stocker to cut up, more great memories, thanks

Holy Wow Brian. Another amazing video history lesson. I always had a very basic understanding of how funny cars started. This is over the top. Thank you for all you do.

Helen Sachs is my new hero ❤❤❤❤❤

Very well done and presented !! I could attend this University course all day long. Many , many thanks Professor Lohnes.

My very favorite cars and time ever in the sport Brian! I watched them at New York National on Long Island, something you never forget! Great video again!

Probably one of the best ones you've done so far. Thank you for clearing all the lies out

I saw the white Comet in 1964 in Greenville SC We had brought a car to race and I heard this thing start up and scared the crap outta me because I had my back to it about 15 feet behind me I will never how the car made me feel ,I loved it

Yeah! Brian does it again!

That was a great one! Love hearing all the Drag Racing history! Keep them coming! Have a wonderful week!!

You had to be a special kind of crazy back in the 50's to bolt an aircraft engine on a custom tube frame chassis and then proceed to tweak the power upto 11 and then be prepared to drag race it. Back when men were men but also bloody crazy as heck. Love it

Excellent video Brian and great the history is preserved..Really enjoy your videos thanks Dennis

I had an A/FX WITH AN ART CARR 727 CLUTCH FLIGHT!! I ALSO HAD THE REAR SUSPENSION 10” and a GENUINE SUSPENSION FRONT DROPPED FRONT AXLE. Plymouth Satellite Golden Commando with a blown 416 MAX WEDGE!!! 8.50 at 187.4 MPH!!!😎🙏🏼

Thanks Brian, Loving these videos. Thanks for what You do. Cheers from Australia.

Thank you for your videos. I loved it. After many years I finally understand the significance of transverse leaf spring in a full body drag car, thanks for the history lesson,excellent video!

Here's a funny story. I remember when physics professors said it would be impossible to ever go 200 MPH in a quarter mile nor ever break 8 seconds 😂😂😂

Awesome Brian! Thanks for helping us get through winter. Keep 'em coming!

Your depth of knowledge and ability to take is back to those days of old warms my nitro filled heart. Thanks for another great video

went to see my first 'funny car' at a small town track about1967. It was close up and loud and seemed to be from another planet as it made an exhibition run. It made the stock 426 hemis look like grandma going out for groceries.

Another good one! Thanks Brian.

Excellent job of telling the story of early developments in drag racing.

Thank you sir for your time and energy to create this drag racing history story

Just found your channel Brian and man am I hooked. I only started racing drag bikes, Carlsbad raceway in 85, cuz I was poor, but was glued to the tv from the early 70's watching anything drag racing. Awesome, to the point and informative content makes a 45min video seem like 10min. Hats off, now I must binge prev ep's LOL!!

Fantastic video!!!

Big trip down memory lane with your mention of Art Arfons. I grew up around East Liberty Ohio in the 60s & 70. More than once Art would test cars on Route 619 as it was the nearest decent straight stretch near his Pickle Rd shop. Rumor was Art would call the cops on himself when he was going out for a rip. While nobody knows if that's true, the cops never pulled him up for open pipes and (much) more than 100mph on the part of 619 called Turkeytoot Lake Rd. VROOOM, you could hear him from Portage Lakes to Uniontown.

Your content is phenomenal! Thank you for the detailed technical information as well, it adds so much. You are the new school McClelland, Evans, and Kepner. Keep it going!

This was another good one Brian! Always well-researched...always comprehensive!

My mom paid my uncle to babysit me and my brother, but he always demanded payment up front,. Then after she paid him, it was off to the 1966 Winternationals qualifying at Pomona. As soon as we got to the track (kids were free the day before the finals) he gave us a buck each to buy a hotdog and a coke. That was the last we saw of him till sundown. We went everywhere at that track. Hung around just about every pit where there were other kids. Little did I know how that was really affecting my brain. Seeing these dragster engines in full bodied cars was really insane we thought. I said one day I'm going to do that. Fast forward till today, finishing up on putting a blown dragster engine in a full bodied with full interior 57 chevy bel air hardtop. I know, but I blame my uncle.

I love this stuff, the history. All the way from Australia, we have a rich history too, thanks Brian.

Another well researched, excellent video. Thanks again Brian.

Another great piece of hot rod history.

I'm really diggin' what you're doin' here Brian! MORE! MORE!

You have a gift. Another amazing drag racing history lesson.

Brian you are producing fantastic content! Keep it up !!!

Thanks so much for another true gem, somehow that later footage of the KG 554 coupe has eluded me, made my night loved it. Keep up the great work 👍

Absolutely fantastic history lesson here Brian! You gave the subject the time and research deserved. Enjoyed every one of those 45 minutes............ :)

Dude, this is all such great stuff! You know a lengthy interwiew/ discussion between you and steve mags would friggin break the internet!

Really enjoyed this video. It was a great trip through a now distant past. Those early days of this madness were the greatest. Thank you for this video, well done.

This one is a true "BarnBurner" well kinda. It was the start of barnstorming. I hate that Hubert Platt or Houston Platt wasn't mentioned in this. But I guess they wasn't on that level. But maybe a future article can be done on them. Your killing it for sure. Thanks for the hard work and the video. The world of drag racing has needed these kinda articles for many years.

Another jam-packed vid. Well done!!

Love the stories about drag racing. So many dedicated to the 'Stomp On That Loud Pedal" sport.

These stories are pure gold Brian! Your way of telling this story is right on the money with no opinionated comments, very professional presentation right here!

Excellent presentation. Thank you. Really enjoyed this one. I can only imagine the amount of hours you have into it.