Book Review: Funny Car Fever – The Birth of Drag Racing’s Wildest Class By Steve Reyes

Book Review: Funny Car Fever – The Birth of Drag Racing’s Wildest Class
By Steve Reyes


Another great book from the legendary photographer Steve Reyes is now available - Funny Car Fever – The Birth of Drag Racing’s Wildest Class by Steve Reyes (published by Car Tech Inc.)! Amazing photos and captions from one of the best-ever drag racing photographers will leave you wanting more!

The photos are from the early years (pre-funny cars) to nearly the modern era. Along with the photos, Steve has written captions (or stories) for the photos that are informative (in several different ways!), humorous and often surprising. Steve leaves you feeling like an insider with his knowledge of what was happening at the time. Most of the best known cars and drivers are in this book…. and you’ll see photos of some cars that you probably haven’t heard of or seen before.

Funny Car Fever – The Birth of Drag Racing’s Wildest Class by Steve Reyes is a 9” x 9” softbound 192 page book filled with approximately 350 spectacular photos ( 200 color) of funny cars. Wild smokey burnouts, cars on fire, header flames, wheelstands, etc.! Rear-engine, four wheel drive, you name it and it’s probably here.

The chapters included are:
1- Match Race Madness: Stock, Super Stock, and A/FX
2- Growing Pains: Exhibition, S/XS, and Competition Eliminator
3- The Funny Car Class: An Evolution
4- The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: The End of an Era
5- Life on the Road

Order this book now - you’ll be glad you did! I’m hoping that Steve Reyes and Car Tech will produce another book soon. If they do, I’ll be first in line to get a copy!

David Dilbeck
Editor, GeorgiaDragRacing.com

Purchasing Information:
You can order Funny Car Fever – The Birth of Drag Racing’s Wildest Class by Steve Reyes here or you may also order direct from CarTech at 1-800-551-4754 or visit http://www.cartechbooks.com/ . If you order direct from CarTech, a $4.95 shipping and handling fee is added to each order.

I'd like to thank Marie Norton at CarTech, Inc. for supplying my review copy of Funny Car Fever – The Birth of Drag Racing’s Wildest Class.

Please check the other GeorgiaDragRacing.com book reviews for other great Car Tech books!

KUHMO STREET WARRIORZ AT ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY JULY 20, 2007

KUHMO STREET WARRIORZ AT ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY JULY 20, 2007

Location: AMS Infield
Parking: FREE in Earnhardt Parking lot.
Show Entrance: Gate 15 for spectators
Infield Tunnel for show participants
Gate Times: Gates open at 4:00 p.m.
Admission Prices: Tickets are available the day of the show only at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Spectator = $15
Show Participant = $20
$5 discount coupons available at participating Metro PCS or Godfather Customs locations.

Attractions: A huge party full of street legal racing down Atlanta Motor Speedway’s eighth-mile pit road that's open to anyone with a car, truck or bike. Plus, check out the Smoky Burnout contest, Loudest Stereo contest, Ugliest Car contest, Extreme Sport Demos, Bikini contest, Live Music and a DJ!

Camping: Available through the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 770-946-4211. No infield camping allowed.

Show Info: http://www.streetwarriorz.com/
www.myspace.com/streetwarriorz



AMS Media Contacts: Marcy Scott
Trey Sanders

HIGGS, REYNOLDS, THOMPSON AND LUCKY RUTLEDGE ENJOY ATLANTA DRAGWAY WINS

RACE DATE: July 14, 2007
FROM: Tim Glover
EVENT: Summit Snap-On event at Atlanta Dragway in 2007

HIGGS, REYNOLDS, THOMPSON AND LUCKY RUTLEDGE ENJOY ATLANTA DRAGWAY WINS

(Commerce, GA - July 14) The rains many thought would visit Atlanta Dragway did arrive, but fortunately the timing was immaculate; about two minutes after the last final round was completed.

Prior to the main event, a Run for the Money race was held, where competitors tried to run as close as possible to their dial-in time. Another Rutledge, Joey (younger brother of Pro standout Jacob Rutledge), stepped up to claim the No Electronics purse with his '90 Mustang, which posted a 14.521 on a 14.52 dial. Todd Moulton won the Electronics allowed class with his '02 Miller dragster, carding a 5.241 on a 5.24 dial. Both earned the first round potential bye run, in addition to the purse.

Super Pro winner Dan Higgs of Acworth, GA began racing in 1991 with a Footbrake class S-10 pickup, but has since graduated to a much more powerful '92 rear engine dragster. In the final, Higgs kept the pedal to the metal, and was rewarded with a dead-on 5.469 second pass at 124.37mph (5.46 dial). Higgs insisted he was just lucky, but a perfect .000 light in round five
earned a free pass to the seventh round final, and his .019 second package in the final didn't exactly give opponent Clay Fancher's Loganville, GA based '98 Horton dragster much room to work with. Fancher actually had a slightly better react (.005 to Higg's .010), but thinking he was catching Higgs, he "pedaled" the car a few times, slowing seven mph to a 5.35 at 123.06mph (5.32 dial). After the event Higgs reminded Fancher with a smile, "It's better to give than receive." Thomas Bell ('05 Undercover dragster - Toccoa, GA) was the lone semi-finalist.

Jacob "Lucky" Rutledge from Hoschton, GA won yet another Atlanta Dragway Pro race with his trusty Buddy's Tire / Nan Harman-Dempsey backed '79 Capri; this time against the "Mayor of Hickory Flat", Dickey Forrester. En route to the final, Rutledge's machine ran super consistently, with five of his nine passes (counting time trials) coming in at 7.46 seconds, three at 7.47 seconds and one off the throttle 7.49 during the day. For the final, Rutledge turned in a 7.476 at 93.94mph (7.46 dial). Forrester's '67 Camaro was close to its number, running a slight breakout 6.411 at 106.69mph (6.42 dial), but his -.061 red light determined the winner. After congratulating Rutledge for the win, Forrester added with a smile, "There isn't any skill
involved when you go that bad red." Woody Bryant ('82 Camaro - Bowman, GA) was the single semi-final finisher.

Sportsman winner Scott Reynolds of Cartersville, GA began his bracket racing career in 1989 at the Atlanta Dragway Night of Fire, and figured out quickly he was hooked for life. Reynolds began in slow cars, moved up to fast cars, and also races currently in the Motorcycle class. For tonight's action, he went full circle back to the slow side, borrowing his mom's bone stock '92 Crown Victoria. After six rounds of action, the only other competitor remaining was Harold Wilson ('74 Nova SS - Winder, GA). Reynolds reacted with a .030 second time, which became a big advantage after Wilson was late with a .117. At the win stripe, Reynolds tapped the brakes, slowing the car a bit to 18.01 at 78.04mph (17.96 dial). Wilson crossed the finish line a moment later with a 13.62 at 97.57mph (13.59 target). Cumming, GA racer Mel Abney ('67 Camaro) finished his day as a semi-finalist.

The Southeastern Super Gas Association made a stop at Atlanta Dragway, bringing some of their best racers. Their format is based on a 9.90 second index, with a Pro start. Todd Thompson brought his '69 Camaro all the way from Naples, FL to earn more points, and he did just that, winning the event in style. His final round pass was nearly perfect, with a .003 second react, and a 9.902 second elapsed time at 142.09mph). His final round opponent was Ricky Purcell ('97 Firebird - Jesup, GA). Purcell actually ran very close, with a .023 react, and a slight breakout 9.898 at 147.02mph, for the runner up spot. Arnold Reed, who lives in nearby Loganville, GA, campaigns his '27 DWC Auto Parts Group Ford roadster all over the Southeast, and finished today's event at the semi-finalist level. The other semi-final finisher was Gene Abbot ('38 Chevy - Melrose, FL).
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SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Dan Higgs '92 dragster Acworth, GA 5.469 124.37 (5.46)
R/U: Clay Fancher '98 Horton dragster Loganville, GA 5.35 123.06 (5.32)
Semi: Thomas Bell '05 Undercover Toccoa, GA
Semi:
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PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Hoschton, GA 7.476 93.94 (7.46)
R/U: Dickey Forrester '67 Camaro Hickory Flat, GA (foul)
6.411 106.69 (6.42)
Semi: Woody Bryant '82 Camaro Bowman, GA
Semi:
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SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Scott Reynolds '92 Crown Victoria Cartersville, GA 18.01 78.04 (17.96)
R/U: Harold Wilson '74 Nova Winder, GA 13.62 97.57 (13.59)
Semi: Mel Abney '67 Camaro Cumming, GA
Semi:
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SUPER GAS CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Todd Thompson '69 Camaro Naples, FL 9.902 142.09 (9.90)
R/U: Ricky Purcell '97 Firebird Jesup, GA 9.898 147.02 (9.90)
Semi: Arnold Reed '27 Ford roadster Loganville, GA
Semi: Gene Abbott '38 Chevy Melrose, FL
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Sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2007 events may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to http://www.atlantadragway.com/ .