Fabulous Floppers 1 & 2

Both installments of Diamond P Sports, "Fabulous Floppers".  Parts 1 & 2, chronicling the history of the fast, exciting, dangerous world of NHRA nitro funny car racing.

1985 Winternationals

The opening event of the 1985 NHRA championship drag racing season.  The Winternationals, from the L.A. County Fairplex in Pomona, California. 

1989 Cajun Nationals

From State Capitol Dragway in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, it is the 1989 Cajun Nationals.  In nitro funny car qualifying, driver R.C. Sherman (racing Eric Reed), suffered a monstrous wreck where the nose of his funny car hit first into the wall and caused a massive explosion of the fuel tank.  Sherman, thankfully, walked away unhurt.  The weather is hot and sticky in the bayou country.  Conditions on the drag strip are ever changing.  Check out all the action. 

Looking Back at Modified Eliminator

This class is no longer run in drag racing competition.  But, Modified Eliminator, as part of the Sportsman championship in the NHRA and the IHRA, was a sight to behold, with high revving engines, and wheel stands.  The driver is wired to the "Christmas Tree", (the set of starting lights on the drag strip), and winds the motor as far as it will go, before shooting down the quarter mile, like a guided missile.  In 1981, the class was disbanded and split into Super Stock and Competition Eliminator.  But, the memories remain.

1983 Winston World Finals

More classic drag racing.  This time, it is the curtain closer on the 1983 NHRA season, from Orange County Raceway in Irvine, California, the Winston World Finals.  This event, is historic for many reasons, not the least of which is that it was the last drag race ever held at OCIR.   

In the beginning of this broadcast, funny car driver, Mike Dunn, driving the Hawaiian Punch Special for car owner Roland Leong, suffers his second terrible wreck of the season, with a massive explosion.  Another few of these were seen in drag racing in later years, and it is a violent experience when the supercharger sitting just below the fuel injector, explodes, literally vaporizing the AA nitro funny car in a ball of fire, much like a nuclear device or a stick of dynamite is set off inside the motor.

The fiberglass body disappears, and Mike Dunn, firmly strapped into the racing seat, and roll cage of the car, goes on a wild ride he'd just as soon forget.  Dunn, tumbling down the track, with more flame and parts and pieces of the exploded motor clanging and rattling around as they fall off of the car.  This was Dunn's second horrifying wreck of the 1983 season, having also had a tremendous fire at the 1983 Spring Nationals at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio.  That drag strip is one of if not the shortest on the circuit and Dunn's Hawaiian Punch Special, at that time, too, was in a ball of flame, running through the emergency catch net similar to that found on an aircraft carrier to stop speeding fighter jets, dislodging the body, but fortunately, keeping the fire off of Dunn, who runs away immediately and is probably thinking, "oh my God!  Where am I?" as it looks at the end of the race track like he is the only person out there, like man's first walk on the moon.

Eventually, the NHRA Safety Safari and their paramedics helped Dunn to safety, while at Orange County, thankfully he did get out of the car, and in both cases, he was unhurt.  The racing for the 1983 championship in the nitro classes is also intense.  Enjoy the top fuel and funny car action, as there was no Pro Stock racing, in this particular telecast.  Steve Evans and Dave McLelland call the action.

1975 U.S. Nationals

The granddaddy of all drag races, the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont, Indiana.  This is the 1975 event covered on ABC's Wide World of Sports with commentary from the one and the only, Chris Economaki.  

1991 North Star Nationals

Check out the 1991 running of the NHRA Quaker State Northstar Nationals from the home track of yours truly, believe it or not.  Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota.

1980 Fallnationals

The 1980 running of the NHRA Fall Nationals at Seattle International Raceway, in Kent, Washington. 

1989 Mile High Nationals

We revisit, the 1989 Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Denver, Colorado, and a frightening fire suffered by then rookie Funny Car racer, Don Gay Jr.  A truly scary moment during this particular race weekend.

 An episode of the TV show series, Rescue 911 was made, about Don Gay Jr.'s accident as well, and how the NHRA Safety Safari, and the legend Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, saved his life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyWEVL_2kzk

1981 Winston World Finals

The 1981 running of the NHRA Winston World Finals at Orange County Raceway.  More funny car fires were seen at this particular event, than in any race in recent history, but there was also lots of excitement surrounding the championship battles in Funny Car, Top Fuel, and Pro Stock. 

1992 Winternationals

The 1992 season opener for NHRA championship drag racing, the Winternationals, at the L.A. County Fairplex in Pomona, California.

1990 Mr. Gasket/Hurst Pro Stock Challenge

The 1990 Mr. Gasket/Hurst Pro Stock Challenge, from Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont, Indiana.