Top fuel speed on a budget

[hammond472]

It's official. We aquired Birdwell racing. The Untouchable and the Scorpion will be running the quarter mile again!

The Untouchable made it's way back to California safety and The Scorpion is in transport. We wanted to go fast and figured we would do it with some class so we picked up a defunct 60s jet dragster race team! My son Charlie is pretty darn happy. The cars were built in the early 60s by Romeo Palamides the founder of American Racing.

 

[chargervert]

That's so cool,how insane does one have to be to drive that? My friends are currently building a jet powered funny car,it will have a 71 Plymouth body on it.

 

[ruffcut]

I must have some sanity left because thats way too fast for me! Good Luck and be safe! Ruffcut

 

[khryslerkid]

That's really cool! The Untouchable looks in great shape, is the Scorpion as good?

You have to keep this thread up to date for us.

 

[slimt]

Those are cool. Some thing to catch the Road Runner with.

 

[hammond472]

The Scorpions body panels are off but it's complete. I'm heading out the door to load and transport. I'll post more pictures and reply to posts when I have more time. We have a ton of stuff. History photos, posters, videos, trophies, spares, original trailers. The only thing we don't have is the original support vehicle. We are in the process of tracking it down. If we can't find it we will recreate it. We are bringing the whole race team back to life. I talked with one of the original driver's JD Zink and he is still racing junior fuel! He had hip replacement surgery so he has another driver running his car until he can climb back in. It's an honor just to be a part of of this historic restoration.

 

[slimt]

What engines are in those? Those travelled the US and Canada ?

 

[alfaitalia]

Cool.....does anyone know what sort of power we are talking about here??? Im amazed those tiny wheels/tyres could take the stress. Rocket powered cars have massive (and often solid metal) wheels for a reason!!

 

[hammond472]

The Untouchable has a J47 and the Scorpion has a J35.

 

[Darter6]

Nice ! I hope the sanction bodies (NHRA IHRA) will let you run. Most outdated cars (now cackle cars) require modern safety equipment to run the track and that takes away from the nostalgia of such fine pieces of history.Wish you the best !

 

[JackR]

I’ve seen a few jet engine cars run. You have stones of steel.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Was that made by ACME???