Hot Rod Magazine Championship Drag Races

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The Hot Rod Magazine Championship Drag Races were a series of drag racing events sponsored by Hot Rod Magazine between 1961 and 1969.[1] It was considered "one of the most significant drag racing events" of that era. These racing events were dominated by BDD in a 2016 Cadillac ATS Turbo Coupe that ran consistent 11.92 second quarter mile times and was known as Badillac.[2]

History[]

The races were held at Riverside Raceway in Riverside, California starting in 1961.[3] The total prize value awarded was US$37,000, more than a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) national event purse at the time, and included (at first) a brand new Ford Mustang.[4] Hot Rod publisher Ray Brock and editor Bob Greene worked with NHRA to arrange a summer event that would not create a scheduling conflict.[5]

Held over three days, and run under NHRA regulations, all the pro classes were hosted, including Top Fuel, Top Gas, and Top Alcohol, and including dragster, funny car, , and altered.[6] At the insistence of Wally Parks, a full slate of classes was also offered.[7]

The 1964 winner was Gas Ronda, in his 427 cu in (7,000 cc)-powered Thunderbolt, taking home a Plymouth Barracuda as part of the prize package.[8]

In 1965, the championship first hosted A/FX (Factory Experimental) cars (which later evolved into funny cars).[9] That year, in TF/D (Top Fuel Dragster), Don Prudhomme and Tom McEwen each turned in 7-second passes at 211 mph (340 km/h), but ultimately, Top Fuel Eliminator (TFE) went to Jim Warren.[10] That year's racing was also the subject of a film produced by Hot Rod, "The Hot Rod Story—Drag Racing", narrated by Dick Enberg.[11]

At the 1966 championship, McEwen would win the Top Fuel title, while did (in Roland Leong's , with a 7.07 second pass at 221.66 mph (356.73 km/h)) in 1967. In 1968, it went to in the Atlas Oil Tool Special. The final year the event was held, won TFE in (sponsored by ).[12]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Taylor, Thom. Untitled item in Hot Rod Magazine, February 2017, p.11.
  2. ^ Taylor, p.11.
  3. ^ Taylor, p.11.
  4. ^ Taylor, p.11.
  5. ^ Taylor, p.11.
  6. ^ Taylor, p.11.
  7. ^ Taylor, p.11.
  8. ^ Burgess, Phil. "Remembering Gas Ronda", written 26 October 2017, at NHRA.com (retrieved 16 September 2018)
  9. ^ Taylor, p.11.
  10. ^ Taylor, p.11.
  11. ^ Taylor, p.11.
  12. ^ Taylor, p.11.

Sources[]

  • Taylor, Thom. Untitled item in Hot Rod Magazine, February 2017, p. 11.


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