I am looking for some help fellas. This is a long story that I will try to keep short. I am looking for a Ken Cox built funny car that raced in the 70's and early 80''s Southern California. The car was "Bracket Fever" raced by John Lodwick and Mike Cotter. John Lodwick would have been my father in law but passed when my now wife was 3 years old. If anyone has any info please help. I am trying to locate this car for two reasons. It would be nice to have a piece of her family's history and I wouldn't mind getting the family back in to racing. I found a picture of the car at www.draglist.com Any would help. Thank you
You link is to the homepage of the site. Maybe you could link to the actual picture to help out in the search. r
I think that is one of those sites that always kicks back to the home page when you try to post a link to a specific page. Had that happen a few times. The name "Bracket Fever" sounds like it may have been running in one of the faster bracket racing classes. I've seen some obsolete for fuel class cars running in the brackets with gas engines around here in the past. A Vega Funny car might pop some memories though. Good looking car that looks like it may have run an unblown engine. It would help guys a lot to know what strips the car ran at or at least some of them. Guys who either raced at or spectated at one of those strips might remember the car. As far as finding it as it was, remember that funny cars probably got changed around year to year and owner to owner a lot more than other classes. That car could have a completely different body on it now and be racing every week at a local track and you wouldn't recognize it.
I'm pretty sure the car ran mainly at Pomona. Yeah I understand it''s common to sell or rebody a funny car. This is a long shot for sure but I have to try.
I also think it's a great looking car. If the car ends up totaled or it is not found, I may try to replicate the paint on a non funny car chassis. There is a local guy here who used to photograph for Car Craft or Hot Rod, I can't remember which. He is a wealth of knowledge and is on the H.A.M.B...Don Green
^^^^Nah, that's a Ford P/U Truck in the background^^^^. Farm Truck has a 2 tone, white and red paint job on it's Chevrolet body. Old Funny Cars, Bracket Racers they become. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
When the chassis is safety certified, do all of the prior certs get recorded? In other words, if the car is currently certified could it be looked up through the sanctioning body? The original chassis builder might be a place to start.
SFI cert program did not start till the early/mid 90's and they dont ask for history on the forms. Ken Cox passed away many years ago and all assets were liquidated. I do own the jig table it was made on, Ken realized it was more profitable to make parts for others then to build cars and chassies
Thanks guys for all of the interest and info. It is much appreciated. The great thing is that my wife and her side of the family have no clue that Im looking for it. I will put up a picture of the altered they used to run as well. Same color but the name was "Bracket Rat". Both are incredible looking cars.
Dick, thank you for the kind thoughts. I will go a little more in to this story. Family and the history is very important to my wife. I found that when we met, her father was the last male that would carry on the Lodwick name sake. He had no boys before he passed. I asked her grandmother if I could take the last name when we got married. I took her last name because I could not trace my family history but to my grandmother. I now have two boys that will carry on the Lodwick name. Another driving force to find this car and pass it on as it should. So thank you all for the fine words and good wishes.
Well I have some news....I guess bad news is better than no news. I was able to get in contact with Mike Cotters son. I was told that the enclosed trailer that the Vega was in was stolen. I guess the car would most likely get parted out and cut up. I guess its on to replicate the car now. Thank you for all your help.
Given the number of eyes here, it is likely to show up. Like your idea none the less! (Reg Bernier found the former 'Country Girl' Mopar body, languishing under a tree in Maine. He dragged it home, called John Knox, and after cleaning/repair was done? Gave it to him. John's wife Rodelyn drove. Their son Brian builds hemis for Unltd tractor pull chassies.) Best of luck!
Thanks pitman. The car and trailer were stolen in the 90's. A re-body would have been the easy was to keep it racing as they didn't have serial numbers or vin #
I owned one of this era and body style funny cars. Was told it was an old Ken Veney car, but never did any search to be sure. Sold the car and delivered it to Tijuana in '78 or '79. I lost all my pictures in the Yarnell Hill Fire in 2013 so I won't be able to show you pictures of the car I owned for you to verify anything unique or something that might ring a bell from the car you are looking for. Hell, I can't even remember who I bought it from.
This car ran up till the early 90s by Mike Cotter. Unfortunately I have only seen this car in the two online pictures I have found. I do appreciate your help though. The funny this is as I was looking around more today, I found a new picture on line. A southern California photographer had it on line. I can and will order prints of it.
Bob Johnson who lives in Lancaster, CA. is and was a longtime NHRA photographer may have some pictures you can purchase also.
good luck in your search. sure would be great to find the original, but a copy would help fill the hole.
The Jalopy Journal
