My B-Body 49 years ago

[Mike Gaines]

Here is a pix of me in my B-Body. Picture was taken in 1967.
Just wanted to share the old days...the "beginning" of the Funny Car Revolution.
I built this car in the back room of my speed shop during the winter of 1966.
15" altered wheelbase/tube front axle/26" engine setback/426 Max Wedge/Crane Roller Cam/Vertex Magneto/about 2700lbs/Hilborn Fuel Injection on Nitromethane.
I match raced the car almost every other weekend during the summers of 1967 and 1968. Usually a best 2 out of 3 deal. Average payout for a Match Race was $300 to win and $250 if lost....good money back then..for example at my Speed Shop I sold a Holley 3310 DP for $49.95 / Hurst 4 Speed Shifter was $49.95, etc.
Great Times back then.
Your Pal. Mike

 

[Homstead]

Those pics are so cool! Thanks for sharing them with us!

 

[khryslerkid]

I love those shots from back when! Thanks!

 

[69clone]

What I'd give to have been alive back then. Awesome car my friend.

 

[Budnicks]

Cool old shots Mike...

I remember those type cars running, all over the west coast
when I was like 7-8 y/o 1967-ish, going with my step dad Bob...

I loved the AWB cars & AFX cars...

 

[Canyon707]

Mike, whats not to love.
Interesting enough last week at the Sonoma Nationals they had on display some of the old style funny cars and dragsters. What a cool display and a most all were early model hemi's. I sat and talked to a few of the old time owners of the cars which are now so illegal to the current NHRA standards they are not allowed on the race track. They did put on a crackle show for the crowd though. They lined up about ten of the drag cars and fired them off for the crowd. It was pretty cool to hear the old motors all at the same time. I remember back in the day when the snake said he thought it was possible to hit 200mph with the right dragster body. Wow that evening they hit 330 mph in 1000 feet. The funny cars did the same mph just not as quick.

 

[khryslerkid]

Doing it on one wheel!

 

[Mike67]

I remember back in the day when the snake said he thought it was possible to hit 200mph with the right dragster body.

I think I still have my t shirt from when Mike Dunn was campaigning the JP1 ( Joe Pissano) FC and was the first to break 270 in 88..iirc, fell just short of 300 w/ a 297 in 92 here in Houston...seems like eons ago...

 

[super-bee_ski]

Cool Big Mike!
Very cool
I truly tried to visit you at FAMOSO last year BUT the torrential rain storm shut down the 58 West in Tehachapi
So, the road was closed for 7 days
This fall I will be there....

 

[Mike Gaines]

Cool Big Mike!
Very cool
I truly tried to visit you at FAMOSO last year BUT the torrential rain storm shut down the 58 West in Tehachapi
So, the road was closed for 7 days
This fall I will be there....

Bee-Ski...I have already pre-entered the California Hot Rod Reunion Race in October this year.
I will be racing in the AFX Nostalgia Group.
See you there !!

 

[Mike Gaines]

More Pixs from 1967/1968...I was a certifiable hopeless drag racer when I was 25 years old...that's for sure.
I think I was the grand daddy of all wedge efforts. 100% of my competition had already upgraded to "HEMI" motors but since I didn't have the money I had to make the most out of my 426 Max Wedge based Motor. I got the most out of that darn motor that it would give me. No stroker rotating assemblies, no Indy or Edelbrock Heads...just my good old Max Wedge rotating assembly and Max Wedge Iron Heads. Just put in a Crane Roller Cam (which was in fact available in 1967) and bolt on a set of Hilborn Injectors...load it up with about 75% Nitromethane and 25% Alcohol and let her rip. Yes, those were the days.
Your Mopar Pal, Mike

 

[Mike67]

A lot cool history there Mike, awesome pics!

 

[Dennis H]

October 21-23,2016. On my calendar. Would like to meet you Mike. You are our Legendary American Heritage in the flesh.

 

[HawkRod]

These pictures are SUPER COOL. Thanks for sharing them AND the stories that go with them! Much appreciated!

Hawk