Used to walk by this on my way to school and back 3rd or 4th grade, my brother and I spent hours looking at this car, cool stuff! Dan
Oh, boy, this is where I've lived since 1969. My funny car addiction started with this magazine, the first mag that I subscribed to, and featured MT's all-conquering Mach I.
And this is one of my favorites. The Vander Woude family moved to the KC area around '70 and their shop was about a mile from my home in Hickman Mills, MO. Dick Harrell's first KC shop was basically across the street. Great times for an adolescent.
I am a huge Flying Dutchman fan, and 24 years ago was the clutch monkey on Don's (Al's son) Avenger funny car. Spent about every Saturday at the FD shop in Shawnee, KS building the new car and chatting up Al (and the family) about stories and memories. I've posted a lot of shots of the '64 Plymouth's and LWB Dart on the main HAMB site, but the flopper cars were mostly OT. Here's the car that followed the LWB Dart:
I have hundreds of photos of Al Vander Woude and Dick Harrell, but I'll try to weave them in here and there. Haulers were part of the scene as well. Here's Tommy Smith's "Super Swinger" Dart all holed up.
Inspired by Jim Lytle and "Big Al," here's Tex Collins and your basic Allison-powered Mustang from the 'Funny Car Pictorial #2" magazine.
Back then you could look and tell your Camaro from your Mustang or Charger. Now, except for the decals, they all pretty much look the same. I miss those days….
The Jalopy Journal
