Racing comes full circle with Pat Austin

Рет қаралды 8,304

8 жыл бұрын

Pat Austin had an outstanding driving career in the Top Alcohol Funny Car ranks that lasted from 1985 to 2002 along with a memorable stint in Top Fuel. His 75 career wins rank him No. 10 on the all-time win list, and he is the only driver to double-up in Professional and Sportsman categories, which he did twice with wins in Topeka in 1991 and Phoenix in 1992.
70 of Austin’s 75 wins occurred in the Top Alcohol Funny Car class. He is a four-time national champion with championship seasons in four-out-of-five seasons between 1987 and 1991. He also collected seven Division 6 crowns and was voted No. 13 on NHRA’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 2001.
Since his driving career ended, the Tacoma, Wash., native had been running his Austin’s Pro Max Performance Center locations and been highly involved in son Drew’s athletics. It came full circle when Drew, an accomplished high school quarterback, wanted to trade his football pads for a firesuit after watching the A/Fuel category at the California Hot Rod Reunion.
The Austin clan reunited at the race track with brothers Pat and Mike working on a front-engine, injected nitro dragster with motors built by father Walt. Drew has proven to be a natural behind the wheel much like his father. The full story on Pat’s career and how he got back into racing is captured in the Readers Choice issue of National Dragster (May 6).
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Пікірлер: 13

@scarter176 6 жыл бұрын

Great Video Pat! 1993 TAFC Carter Resources Steve Carter

@vwdarrin 8 жыл бұрын

i worked for Randy Anderson in the 90s every time we raced Pat Austin we tried to make the car perfect . i can still remember racing in Ohio both cars were completely sideways in the traps you could read the sides of both cars. two of best competitors in the sport

@hankschrader149 8 жыл бұрын

🖒

@OCIR7135 8 жыл бұрын

Had a lot of fun racing with Pat, Mike and Walt. At Mission in 1999 in the semi final we swallowed a blower belt through the front of the crank seal area and couldn't get the hub off because it was welded to the crank. We were supposed to race Pat in the final. When they finished servicing their car after the semi's the DD said to bring them up for the final. We needed about 10 more minutes to get ready but were out of time. Pat and Walt pulled their funny car up behind my trailer and parked it. When the DD came by and said we've got to roll right now Pat and Walt said they weren't going anywhere until they (we) were ready. It was a very interesting final, but I will never forget the sportsmanship they portrayed that afternoon as they waited for us to finish.

@redracer1985 8 жыл бұрын

my all time favorite in Top Alcohol Funny Car, especially from the years he had the Castrol GTX car in the TA/FC class

@kev4fun12 8 жыл бұрын

One of the all time biggest ass kickers to ever race nhra. Pat Awesome...nuff said.! A great

@coollasice4175 8 жыл бұрын

+kev4fun12 I can remember the event in which he had already won the TAFC race, and then he was in the finals for TF when he backfired the blower doing his burnout and couldn't make the run.

@hankschrader149 8 жыл бұрын

agreed!

@hankschrader149 8 жыл бұрын

This guy was a terror on the race track! I can't say he was the 'Northwest Terror' cause that title belongs to Herm Petersen. What a great guy! Have seen him and talked to him multiple times at his local shops here in Pierce County.