I found this on DragList and it was compiled by Danny White over 10 years ago. This list is about the geographical names given to cars that gave them their identity. The names were done for several reasons: promotion, patriotism, and self-gratification. The new race cars today for the most part don't carry names, but only that of the race team, owner, or sponsor. The following is a good sampling of the cars named after country, state, city, or regional areas. Danny left off those carrying company names of sponsors because they lack that sprit of originality that used to flourish abundantly in drag racing. What else can be added to this list as of 2009 STATES: ALASKA Alaskan / Bob Lundsford / TAD Alaskan Grizzly / Jamie Bodenstadt / AAFC & AAFA Alaskan / Joe Meinert / TD (Meinert lives in Pennsylvania) Alaskan Second Generation / Jacob Meinert / SP ARKANSAS Arkansas State Police / Louie Wallman / TAFC Arkansas Razorback / Russell Long / AAFC ALABAMA Alabamian / AAFC - drivers: Shirl Greer, Pee Wee Wallace, Paul Smith, Wayne Mahaffey & others Alabama Slammer / Scott Neal / AGas (California-based) Alabama Thunder / Gary Wells / PM Alabama Thunder III / Pete Williams / AG (Modified) THE CAROLINAS Carolina Wildman / Jerry Davis / AAFC & TAFC Carolina Daytona / Johnny Murray / TS Carolina Hooker / Ken Regenthal / PM & TS Carolina Easter Bunny / J. Ed Horton / TF CALIFORNIA California Trucker / Lee Jennings / ND & AD California Rattler / Ray Sylvester / TAFC - drivers: Mike Halstead and Sylvester California Rattler / Ray Stutz /TF California Sun / Nelson Lengle / TF - drivers: Ray Stutz and Bill Carter California Flash / Butch Leal / FC, PS & AFX California Highway Patrol / Dave McDaniel / TAFC California Gold / Ken Mooers / TAFC California Kid - driver Clive Michaell / AAFA (Great Britain) - driver Al Biscay / Jet California Stud / Dave Bowman / AAFC California Chargers / Keeling & Clayton / TF & AAFC - drivers: Rick Ramsey, Neil Leffler & Jake Johnson among others California Hooker / Keith Martin / AAFC California Charger / Mike Thermos / AAFC California Flame / Tom Brown / Jet California Smokey / Joe Douthit / Jet California Woody / Woody Gilmore / AAFD California Wolverine / Al Homen / TF California Cajun / Fred Mooneyham / TF California Deuce / Mark Watson / WS KENTUCKY Kentucky Thunder / Dan Nimmo / AD & TAFC Kentucky Moonshiner / Dale Funk / TF Kentucky Thunder / Bill McCormack /TAD DELAWARE Delaware Destroyer / Danny Bastianelli / TD LOUISIANA Louisiana Swamp Rat / Tommy Van Gossen / AADA OKLAHOMA Oklahoma Landrush / Jerry Jefferson / AAFC The Okie / Joe Githens / AAFC & TAFC - drivers Dale Tuter, Don Roberts & Joe Githens Pokie Okie / Skater George Chambers / TAFC Thunderin' Okie / Bob Alberty / TAFC MISSOURI Missouri Rat / Bob McCosh / TAD Missouri Mule / Lou Cangelose / AAFD MEXICO Mexican Mustang / Peter Russo / AAFC (Australia-based) Mexican Revolution / Johnny Valdez / AAFC (Texas-based) Mexican Jumpin' Bean / Hererra / WS (Texas-based) ARIZONA Arizona Thunder / Mike Hilsabeck / TAFC Arizona Wildcat / Larry Christopher / AAFC - drivers: Christopher, Mike Hamby & Dale Pulde Arizona Flash / Joe Brown / Jet NEVADA Nevada Rattler / Ricky Ruiz / AAFC, AAFA & TAFC GEORGIA Georgia Shaker / Hubert Platt / PS FLORIDA Florida Thief / R.L. Peyton / AAFD IDAHO Idaho Thunder / Dale Harsin / TAFC TEXAS Texas Whips / Carroll Bros. / TF & AFD - drivers: David Pace, David Settles, Richard Tharp, Marshall Love, Joe Bob Dobsen, Kenny Bernstein, Jim Ludden & many others Texas Crude / Ric Crews / BBFC Texas Whiz Kids / Mike Civelli / AAFD - drivers: Ben Griffin, Jim Nix (not Smilin' Jimmy Nix) and others Texican / Don Metz / TAD Texas Gold / Mike Withrow / TAD Texas Wildlife / Jim Farnsworth / TAFC Texas Connection / Kirk Johnson / TAFC Texas Ranger / Richard Langson / AAFA & AAFC (usually Nevada-based) Texas Bandit / Sam Harris & Richard Kiesov / AAFC Texas Super Cougar / Bill Rodgers / AAFC Texas Jet Set / Ancel Horton / Jet Texas Thunder / Hand & O'Brien / Jet - drivers: Ancel Horton, Danny Wright & others Texas Weasel / Prentiss Cunningham / AAFD - drivers: Raymond Beadle, Kenny Bernstein & others Texas Terror / James Cagle / AAFD Texas Rare Bear / Corvair Panel Wagon / Roy Trevino Texan / Eddie Hill / TF Texas Justice / Burl Brown / TAFC Texas Tremor / Jimmy Jones / TAFC Texas Yankee / Chris Berg / AAFC Lonestar Lightning / Hand & O'Brien / Jet - drivers: Tom Brown, Marvin Celsure, Tom Dazevich, Tammy Gatlin, Rocket Rod Phelps, Dick Rosberg, Jerry Segal, Bob Van Sciver, Danny Wright & probably others not listed here ILLINOIS Illinois Thunder / Eric Standerberg / TAD MONTANA Montana Raider / Terry Rice /TAFC Montana Express / John Mitchell / TAD, AFD & TF AD drivers: Ron Capps, Larry Dixon, Jr., Frank Pedregon, Jr., Tony Pedregon & Jim Rizzoli TF drivers: David Busby, Rod Fuller, David Grubnic (AKA Aussie Dave himself), Clayton Harris, Marshall Topping & Andy Woods KANSAS Kansas Badman / Ted Detar / AFC Kansas Twister / Porter Donn / AD & TAFC Kansas City Star / Phillip Brown / SD K.C. Bomber / Dale Wilch / AFD & TF IOWA Iowa Roller / Vern Moats / TAFC Iowa Shaker / Dickie Walters / AFC driver: Hubert Platt MICHIGAN Michigan Mad Man / John Cain / TF Michigan Wolverine / Tom Dunlap / TAFC OHIO Ohio Express / Mike Sage / TAD & BBFC Ohio Highway Patrol / Stan Bowman / AAFC MISSISSIPPI Mississippi Grass / Ricky Klarr & Jim Kimbrough / AEA TENNESSEE Tennessee Shaker / Gary & Steve Litton / AAFC Tennessee Bo-Weevil / Ray Godman / TF, AAFC & AAMR - drivers: Jim McCrutchen, Preston Davis, Larry La Due, Sonny Adkins, Bob Gibson & others Tennessee Thunder / John Livingston / PS COLORADO Colorado Challenger / Dick Custy / AAFC Colorado Gold / Dan Lexa / AAFC OREGON Oregon Pride / Donnie Holm /TAFC Oregonian / Alan DeBoer / AD VIRGINIA Virginia Twister / Kenny Warren / AAFC & AFC - drivers: Warren, Tom Smith, Billy West & Jim Wigglesworth Virginia Gentleman / Rusty Jackson / Q8 car WEST VIRGINIA West Virginia Mouse / Eddie & Mike Smith / PS, Comp & SSAA NEW YORK New York Earthshaker / Bruce Peterson / TAFC New Yorker / Casey Powell / AAFC & TF New Yorker / Clark & Paulin / TF - drivers: Sam Hagen & Jim Kowchefski CANADA Canada Frantic Four / Fred Farndon / TF Canadian Wild Rat / Tom Reid / TF ONTARIO Ontario George / George Gray / AAGS HAWAII Hawaiian / Roland Leong / TF & AAFC TF - drivers: Danny Ongais, Mike Snively, Mike Sorokin, Don Prudhomme, Stan Shiroma & others FC - drivers: Gordie Bonin, Russell Long, Mike Van Sant, Mike Dunn, Jim Dunn, Pat Foster, Rick Johnson, Bobby Rowe, Denny Savage, Johnny West, Jim White, Norm Wilcox & others Hawaiian III / Art Christy / AAFD (based in Great Britain) Hawaiian Eagle / Tom Seydel / Jet & WS REGIONAL PLACE NAMES: NEW ENGLAND New Englander / Rhea Goodrich / TF - drivers: Rit Pustari & Bob Simmons New England Charger / Dave Keddy / AAFC FLORIDA Gold Coast Warrior / Jim Alesio / TAFC Gold Coast Charger / AAFC Gold Coast Flyer / Don Neives / AAFC BAYOUS Bayou Shaker / Jim Robbins / AAFC Bayou Bullet / Larry Cummings / TD - drivers: Larry, Brett & Slate Cummings THE NORTHWEST Yukon Gold /Jerry Verhuel / AAFC - drivers: Mike Miller, Ed McCulloch & Frank Hall Arctic Traveler / Kenny Sitko / TAD Northwest Frantic Four / Lynn Welfringer / AAMR NORTHERN NAMES Northern Lights / Dave McElwain / TAD Northern Thunder / Robert Wilson / TAD Northern Thunder / Hector Pickering / TF Northern Thunder / Bob Davenport / PM Northwind / Jim Albrich / TF - drivers: Jim Barnard, Mel Van Niewhouse, Ed McCulloch, Jeep Hampshire, Ray Thode & others Northern Exposure / Larry Niebrydowski / TS North Racing / Hans Svenson / PS North Race / Ingemar Johansen / Comp Northern Rebel / Rick Burnett / Q8 Northside Boys / Randy Rucker / SD North East Raider / Al Lombardo / AAGS Northern Force / Bob Elliot / AAFC, AFC & Jet North Star Racing / Clay Broadwater / AAFC & TAFC North Coast Flyer / Ken Nelson EASTERN NAMES Eastern Raider / Al Hanna & Joe Mundet / AAFC, TF, AFC & Jets - drivers: Al Hanna, Rich Hanna, Americo Carranca, Toby Ehrmantraut & Dale Pulde (AKA Western Raider) East Coast Low Rider / Mike Ragusa / PM East Coast Raider / Kenny Underwood / AAA Eastwind / Bill Hansen / TF Eastwind / Jim Merringer / TF WESTERN NAMES West Coast Gambler / Vern Hicks / AAFC, BBFC & AAGS driver: Gene Modlin Western Hauler / Carl West / AFC Western Raider / Gary Cochran / TF & AAFC Western Flame / Bruce Abbot / Jet Westwind / Mike Fuller / Nostalgia AAFD driver: Bill Dunlap Western Gambler / Sergio Recio / B/SP West Coast Charger / Paul Savadin / TF SOUTHERN NAMES Southern Star / Jerry Gulley / TAFC Southern Thunder / Bogie Kell & Mike Keenum / TAFC Southern Shaker / Rick Sherrill / AAFC & TAFC Southern Comfort / George Southern / AAFC Southern Wind / Frank Wilson / AD South Street Gang / Fred Slavdovich / PM Southern Rat / Sonny Leonard / PS Southwind / Don Cook / TF Southern Flyer / Clayton Harris OTHER NAMES Indian Country / Elvis Humphrey / AAFC High Plains Drifter / Chris Eckert / AAFC Aussie Raider / Graeme Cowin / AAFC Canuck / Dale Armstrong / AAFC China Syndrome / Al Hofmann / AAFC CITY NAMES: CHICAGO Chicago Fire / Mike Faser / AAFC & AAFA Chicago Fire / Bill Mattio / Jet Chicago Rush / Joe Gouger & Chuck Scherr / TAFC Chicago Patrol / several owners / AAFC - drivers: Tom Anderson, Dale Pulde, Fred Goeske, Gordon Mineo, Ron Colson, Pat Foster & Ed O'Brien Chicago Kid / Kelly Brown / AAFC Chicago Missile / Don Colisano / TF Chi-Town Hustler / Farkonas, Coil & Minick / AAFC - drivers: Ron Colson, Frank Hawley, Russell Long, Jim Liberman, Pat Minick, Wayne Minick, Clare Sanders, Denny Savage & Pete Williams LOS ANGELES L.A. Hooker / Gene Beaver / AAFC - drivers: Dave Condit, Kenny Bernstein, Jim Adolph, Jim White, Dale Pulde & Mart Higginbotham L.A. Hauler / Jim Holtz / TAFC L.A.P.D. Racing / Tony Foti / PM L.A. Challenger / Marv Eldridge / AAFC L.A. Stang / Arnie Frank / WS L.A. Dart / Bill Shrewsberry / WS L.A. Raider / Maurice Fabrietti / Nostalgia AAFD (Australia-based) DETROIT Detroit Tiger / Pancho Rendon /AAFC driver: Tom Prock Detroit Duster / Ernie Petit / WS Motown Shaker / Fred Johnson / TAFC Motown Shaker / Al Bergler / AAFC Motown Missile / Ted Spehar /PS - drivers: Don Carlton, Mike Fons & Dick Oldfield BOSTON Boston Shaker / Kosty Ivanoff / AAFC - drivers: Al Segrini & Ivanoff Boston Strangler / Arnie Karp, Robert Sweet / TAFC Boston Strangler Australia / Ian Brown / TAFC Mr. Boston / Hank Endres / TF Bostonian / Jeff Gorden / AAFC & AFC - drivers: Sammy Miller & Gorden Bostonian / Mike Cutuguno / Jet PHOENIX The Phoenix / Ron Fassl / AAFC & AAFA The Phoenix / Bernie Bicks / WS Phoenix Flyer / Dave Russell / TF OTHER CITY NAMES: Beartown Shaker / AAFC - drivers: Topper Kramer, Rick Johnson, Mike Dunn & Glenn Mikres Snowtown Shaker / Bill Schifsky / AAFC - drivers: Rick Johnson & others Sand Mountain Shaker / Jerry Rhoades / TAFC Seminole Shaker / Ron Rice / TAFC Dallas Express / Ted Isom / TAD Tulsa Oiler / Dick Moritz / AAFC driver: Jim White Houston Hustler / Johnny White / AAFC Warsaw Express / Joe Nowocinski & Tom Taros / TAD & Nostalgia Dragster NAMES IN REFERENCE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: US USA / Al Hofmann / AAFC (Australia-based) USA -1 / Bruce Larson / AAFC, BBFC & PS US Enterprise / Various owners / Jet - drivers: Guy Zelinski, Ancel Horton & Tammy Gatlin US-1 / various owners / Jet - drivers: Lucky Harris, Fred Sibley Jr. & Sr. USA-1 / Hayden Profitt / Rocket - drivers: Hayden & Brad Profitt US-1 / Bob Van Sciver / Jet USA Racing / John Rocca / PM - drivers: Chad Newlee, John Rocca, Mike Harbaugh & John Speelman AMERICA American Taxpayer / Van Ivy / TAD American Flyer / Mike Kosky / TAD American Flyer / Bob Beatty / AAFA American Dream / J.R. Wade / AAFC - drivers: Ray Motes, Larry Gould & Brett Fanning American Dream / Vern Anderson / Rocket American Eagle / John Shoemaker / TAD American Eagle / Al Hofmann / AAFC American Eagle / Elliot Platt / AFC American Eagle / Plueger, Youngblood & Co. / AAFC - drivers: Gary Ritter, Gary Southern American Way / Al Lehman / TF - drivers: Al Lehman, Robert Sanders, Howard Haight & Al Friedman American Way / Bruce Andreas / AFC American Express / Al Segrini / AFC American Express / Clark Blackwell / AFC (not affiliated with Segrini's) American Bandstand / Don Hampton / AAFC American Graffiti / Harlan Thompson / AAFC (Great Britain-based) Americar Racing / Tim Cook / PM (Great Britain-based) American / Don Ewald / TF
Thats cool, its nice to remember when cars had names and all were a little different. Much better than the prof. product we are stuck with now. Brad
Yup. These days, it's the sponsor's name on the entire side of the Funny Car, not the name of the car itself. $$$.
My dad, Dave Babler, also drag raced in the early to late 60's under the name "California Woody". Don't know if that was be4 Woody Gilmore or after. Here are some photos, first picture is the later version. both versions had an all wood veneer shell. My dad's partner, Dick Clark, was a cabinet maker. My dad's the short guy in the doorway of the blue Truck.
Jersey Jimmy / Charlie Seabrook D/A Bantam Roadster I can't believe there were no other New Jersey based cars on the list!
Actually, Lee Titus of Lee's Speed Shop did the engine for my Dad. He was in the Bay Area. My dad worked for Bay Area Mufflers.
Porter Man, Bay Area Muffler was My Grandparents/parents business in Santa Monica California. Yes you dad worked for my parents as well as being a very close family friend. He was my younger brothers godfather. and I have film at my parents house having a great time. I have been doing some research on the Belly tank that they raced at Bonneville and set a record for the engine class. The car was actually at the NHRA museum and I went out to see it last saturday. I am looking to get some pictures of any of the cars he raced top fuel and the bonneville cars. I have one picture of my grandparents and the belly tank that will share as well Funny how we all get into our parents business. I worked at bay area muffler for 10 years and decided to get out, my brother Jack took over the biz and finally sold the property and doing stuff out of his garage and look at you. let me know your thoughts. would love to chat sometime as well Thanx HB