Controlled??? Insanity - Scott Kennedy by Tim Glover
Controlled??? Insanity
by Tim Glover
Exhibition wheelstander driver Scott Kennedy from Buford, GA is now making his way around the drag racing circuit, thrilling crowds with his Controlled??? Insanity Funny Car, named "because basically there's not a lot of control," said Kennedy.
Kennedy's racing career began in the early 1970s, watching drag racing at Bremerton Raceway in Bremerton, Washington. He later joined his local car club, and met Herman Peterson, another member, who was involved with Top Fuel racing. Shortly after graduating high school and taking a three month trip to Europe, Kennedy teamed up with Herman Petersen and Sam Fitz to help with their Olympia Beer Top Fuel car. What was originally intended to be a few weeks tour turned into a three year deal.
In the early 1970s, there were only eight NHRA national events, so many Top Fuel teams did a lot of match racing, traveling from track to track. Although modern Top Fuel teams currently have seven, eight or even more crewmen, Kennedy didn’t have that luxury in the 1970s. He was the crew. His varied duties included crew chief, clutch man, fuel mixer, cylinder heads, bottom end man and chief bottle washer; he did everything but drive the car. In spite of the obstacles, Kennedy said he was happy that they did so well using the then experimental Donovan block. They also used a Crowerglide transmission; popular with Funny Car racers, but not widely used in Top Fuel dragsters, which usually were direct drive.
During his three year exposure to drag racing, Kennedy began noticing exhibition cars, like the L.A. Dart wheelstander driven by "Wild Bill" Shrewsberry. He then noticed the exhibition drivers had plenty of time to talk to the fans, as between rounds maintenance is usually very simple on these cars. "Wait a minute. You don't have to work on it, AND you get paid! That’s a pretty good deal," thought Kennedy, since at that time he was putting over 100 hours per week into the Fuel car. After the Petersen and Fitz car was parked, he enjoyed a short stint with "240 Gordy" Bonin’s operation. The hook was set for Kennedy back in 1976, although it took a while to realize his dream of owning and driving a wheelstander.
Rising expenses and the loss of the Olympia Beer deal cut Kennedy's Top Fuel career short, but as it turned out, he met his wife Linda at that time, and settled down to raise a family in Washington state. He worked for Safeway for many years, and then took a job with Millstone Whole Bean Coffee. Millstone eventually moved him to his current home in Buford, Georgia. After a few years, they made Kennedy an offer he couldn’t refuse, so he retired from that line of work.
After leaving Millstone, Kennedy began working for Atlanta Street Rods in Commerce, GA. Not too long after, he discovered Superwinch exhibition racer Danny O'Day had an exhibition wheelstander for sale. O'Day had recently finished building a new '34 Ford wheelstander, and still had his old Funny Car in the garage. After deciding one of them had to go, he put them both up for sale, with the intent of keeping the one that didn't sell.
Kennedy had the option of buying the new '34 Ford car, but budget and physical constraints guided him to the Funny Car. The 6'2" Kennedy simply could not fit into the '34, plus it was priced considerably higher.
Kennedy's "new" Funny Car (the former Superwinch car) held the world record for wheelstanders at 8.97 seconds and 152mph when O'Day was the owner. (The record now stands at 8.95 and 157 mph in O'Day's '34 Ford.) Under O'Day’s ownership, the car sported a 522 cubic inch engine, but it now features a more reliable 1340 horsepower 468 World Products short block. The car is powered by methanol, which is directed to the cylinders by a huge racing supercharger.
Kennedy began his wheelstanding career conservatively, taking all of 2003 to learn how to handle the car, and earned his license at end of 2003.
He launches the car, then keeps the loud pedal mashed down for the rest of the run. The car does its magic as soon as it launches, lifting the front end high up in the sky for the remainder of the race course and tripping the finish line beams with the rear tires.
Although the car does have a steering wheel, the main steering is accomplished using a lever connected to individual master brake cylinders, one for each rear wheel. The lever is pushed forward to "turn" left and back to "turn" right.
He likes headwinds, as it makes the car stand up on its rear wheels more easily. Crosswinds, however, are more challenging. If there are crosswinds, Kennedy takes note and then applies brake pressure to the appropriate wheel to "steer" into the wind, thus keeping the car on the straight and narrow. There is a 12 by 14 inch window between the front wheels where he can see down track while the car is pointed skyward.
Kennedy went to 15 events in 2004, and is booked for 18 in 2005. He will be coming to Atlanta Dragway for their popular Night of Fire on June 25, 2005 and will race against Danny O'Day. "He’ll probably beat me, but what the hey. It’s 22 years of experience versus three," added Kennedy.
Kennedy enjoyed the opportunity to display his car at the Fram booth during the 2004 Southern Nationals. Cody from Nitro Sports Marketing (the on site representative for Fram) told him they had never had so many people look at their display car before. "The car is a real conversation piece. There's not much between rounds maintenance, which allows lots of time to talk with fans. Racers even come over, in awe of how the car is built. Danny O'Day built it to keep everything under the body, which makes it look more like a race car," said Kennedy. One of the unique features of Kennedy’s Funny Car is the body lifts up from the back, allowing easy access to the rear mounted engine and transmission.
Unlike some race classes, Kennedy said his engine is built to last several years. Steel rods, aluminum heads, concrete filled block are part of the combination. He does change oil after every 12 runs (17 quarts), and runs the valves. He had a few problems at first with transmissions, but is now using a bulletproof ATI unit, guaranteed not to break under the strain of the1340 applied ponies.
Exhibition racing does take a lot of travel time, and Kennedy mentioned Atlanta Street Rods owner Carlos Sanders has been very good to him, allowing him to keep his schedule flexible to go on the road. In fact, Kennedy left Georgia on a trip to Wisconsin at the end of May for a one-month road trip.
On a personal side, the Kennedys have four children, Margaret, Burke, Leah and soon to be married Erin. They also have five grandchildren to enjoy. One of Kennedy’s claims to fame is that his name is painted on the side panel of the Petersen and Fitz experimental dragster on display at the Garlits Racing Museum in Ocala, Florida. Occasionally daughter Erin teases him about being a museum piece.
Although racing consumes the majority of Kennedy's free time, he still has other passions. He enjoys taking his Harley Davidson Heritage Softail on the road when he travels. Several years ago, he restored a '63 Corvair with daughter Erin, who drove it to High School for a while. He also has an original '52 Anglia, minus the engine and transmission. His current plans for that project are to add a mild V6 engine and automatic transmission.
Life now is radically different for the Kennedy family, with the kids moved out and a new career. Kennedy said he and Linda did all the sports things with kids while they were growing up. "They’re gone, so now we get to play and have a good time," he added. He said Linda is a great PR person, supporting his racing, traveling on the road and even going to the starting line with him, where as a reward, she gets decorated with "tire freckles" (bits of burnt rubber that is slung from the tires during a burnout).
Let’s hope he keeps the shiny side up. Way up, in Kennedy's case.
by Tim Glover
Exhibition wheelstander driver Scott Kennedy from Buford, GA is now making his way around the drag racing circuit, thrilling crowds with his Controlled??? Insanity Funny Car, named "because basically there's not a lot of control," said Kennedy.
Kennedy's racing career began in the early 1970s, watching drag racing at Bremerton Raceway in Bremerton, Washington. He later joined his local car club, and met Herman Peterson, another member, who was involved with Top Fuel racing. Shortly after graduating high school and taking a three month trip to Europe, Kennedy teamed up with Herman Petersen and Sam Fitz to help with their Olympia Beer Top Fuel car. What was originally intended to be a few weeks tour turned into a three year deal.
In the early 1970s, there were only eight NHRA national events, so many Top Fuel teams did a lot of match racing, traveling from track to track. Although modern Top Fuel teams currently have seven, eight or even more crewmen, Kennedy didn’t have that luxury in the 1970s. He was the crew. His varied duties included crew chief, clutch man, fuel mixer, cylinder heads, bottom end man and chief bottle washer; he did everything but drive the car. In spite of the obstacles, Kennedy said he was happy that they did so well using the then experimental Donovan block. They also used a Crowerglide transmission; popular with Funny Car racers, but not widely used in Top Fuel dragsters, which usually were direct drive.
During his three year exposure to drag racing, Kennedy began noticing exhibition cars, like the L.A. Dart wheelstander driven by "Wild Bill" Shrewsberry. He then noticed the exhibition drivers had plenty of time to talk to the fans, as between rounds maintenance is usually very simple on these cars. "Wait a minute. You don't have to work on it, AND you get paid! That’s a pretty good deal," thought Kennedy, since at that time he was putting over 100 hours per week into the Fuel car. After the Petersen and Fitz car was parked, he enjoyed a short stint with "240 Gordy" Bonin’s operation. The hook was set for Kennedy back in 1976, although it took a while to realize his dream of owning and driving a wheelstander.
Rising expenses and the loss of the Olympia Beer deal cut Kennedy's Top Fuel career short, but as it turned out, he met his wife Linda at that time, and settled down to raise a family in Washington state. He worked for Safeway for many years, and then took a job with Millstone Whole Bean Coffee. Millstone eventually moved him to his current home in Buford, Georgia. After a few years, they made Kennedy an offer he couldn’t refuse, so he retired from that line of work.
After leaving Millstone, Kennedy began working for Atlanta Street Rods in Commerce, GA. Not too long after, he discovered Superwinch exhibition racer Danny O'Day had an exhibition wheelstander for sale. O'Day had recently finished building a new '34 Ford wheelstander, and still had his old Funny Car in the garage. After deciding one of them had to go, he put them both up for sale, with the intent of keeping the one that didn't sell.
Kennedy had the option of buying the new '34 Ford car, but budget and physical constraints guided him to the Funny Car. The 6'2" Kennedy simply could not fit into the '34, plus it was priced considerably higher.
Kennedy's "new" Funny Car (the former Superwinch car) held the world record for wheelstanders at 8.97 seconds and 152mph when O'Day was the owner. (The record now stands at 8.95 and 157 mph in O'Day's '34 Ford.) Under O'Day’s ownership, the car sported a 522 cubic inch engine, but it now features a more reliable 1340 horsepower 468 World Products short block. The car is powered by methanol, which is directed to the cylinders by a huge racing supercharger.
Kennedy began his wheelstanding career conservatively, taking all of 2003 to learn how to handle the car, and earned his license at end of 2003.
He launches the car, then keeps the loud pedal mashed down for the rest of the run. The car does its magic as soon as it launches, lifting the front end high up in the sky for the remainder of the race course and tripping the finish line beams with the rear tires.
Although the car does have a steering wheel, the main steering is accomplished using a lever connected to individual master brake cylinders, one for each rear wheel. The lever is pushed forward to "turn" left and back to "turn" right.
He likes headwinds, as it makes the car stand up on its rear wheels more easily. Crosswinds, however, are more challenging. If there are crosswinds, Kennedy takes note and then applies brake pressure to the appropriate wheel to "steer" into the wind, thus keeping the car on the straight and narrow. There is a 12 by 14 inch window between the front wheels where he can see down track while the car is pointed skyward.
Kennedy went to 15 events in 2004, and is booked for 18 in 2005. He will be coming to Atlanta Dragway for their popular Night of Fire on June 25, 2005 and will race against Danny O'Day. "He’ll probably beat me, but what the hey. It’s 22 years of experience versus three," added Kennedy.
Kennedy enjoyed the opportunity to display his car at the Fram booth during the 2004 Southern Nationals. Cody from Nitro Sports Marketing (the on site representative for Fram) told him they had never had so many people look at their display car before. "The car is a real conversation piece. There's not much between rounds maintenance, which allows lots of time to talk with fans. Racers even come over, in awe of how the car is built. Danny O'Day built it to keep everything under the body, which makes it look more like a race car," said Kennedy. One of the unique features of Kennedy’s Funny Car is the body lifts up from the back, allowing easy access to the rear mounted engine and transmission.
Unlike some race classes, Kennedy said his engine is built to last several years. Steel rods, aluminum heads, concrete filled block are part of the combination. He does change oil after every 12 runs (17 quarts), and runs the valves. He had a few problems at first with transmissions, but is now using a bulletproof ATI unit, guaranteed not to break under the strain of the1340 applied ponies.
Exhibition racing does take a lot of travel time, and Kennedy mentioned Atlanta Street Rods owner Carlos Sanders has been very good to him, allowing him to keep his schedule flexible to go on the road. In fact, Kennedy left Georgia on a trip to Wisconsin at the end of May for a one-month road trip.
On a personal side, the Kennedys have four children, Margaret, Burke, Leah and soon to be married Erin. They also have five grandchildren to enjoy. One of Kennedy’s claims to fame is that his name is painted on the side panel of the Petersen and Fitz experimental dragster on display at the Garlits Racing Museum in Ocala, Florida. Occasionally daughter Erin teases him about being a museum piece.
Although racing consumes the majority of Kennedy's free time, he still has other passions. He enjoys taking his Harley Davidson Heritage Softail on the road when he travels. Several years ago, he restored a '63 Corvair with daughter Erin, who drove it to High School for a while. He also has an original '52 Anglia, minus the engine and transmission. His current plans for that project are to add a mild V6 engine and automatic transmission.
Life now is radically different for the Kennedy family, with the kids moved out and a new career. Kennedy said he and Linda did all the sports things with kids while they were growing up. "They’re gone, so now we get to play and have a good time," he added. He said Linda is a great PR person, supporting his racing, traveling on the road and even going to the starting line with him, where as a reward, she gets decorated with "tire freckles" (bits of burnt rubber that is slung from the tires during a burnout).
Let’s hope he keeps the shiny side up. Way up, in Kennedy's case.
posted by David @ 1:16 AM
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