This 1987 IHRA Pro Stock Video Features Rickie Smith and Period Pro Stock Tech!


This 1987 IHRA Pro Stock Video Features Rickie Smith and Period Pro Stock Tech!

Oh 1980s pro stock, those were the days! We seriously love the visual “trueness” that these cars had (outwardly, anyway) to the cars that fans drove into the gate to watch the race in. There’s zero confusion when you look at a 1987 Ford Thunderbird, Chevrolet Camaro, or Pontiac Firebird pro stocker as to what it is. That may not be entirely true, though. Some confusion may arise if you think that these cars were identical to their NHRA counterparts. Remember in 1982 the NHRA instituted the 500ci format for their pro stock category and has stuck with it ever since.

The IHRA on the other hand went into a long lasting “mountain motor” pro stock era which allowed competitors to expand their horizons with regard to cubic inches. In these days, engines that were about 640ci were cartoonishly huge. By the time IHRA discontinued their pro stock program the engines were over 800. Other than the elapsed times, the sights and sounds of the two categories were largely the same. Many racers were crossing over back and forth in those days with engine and gearing changes for each sanctioning body but by ’87 we’re thinking that the era of running both was drying up rapidly as both companies expanded their schedules.

In this video you will see 2016 NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod champion Rickie Smith who was young, hungry and fast back then. Now? Now he’s older hungry and fast. The guy is a living door slammer drag racing legend and he’s still the king of the hill.

The neatest part of this video comes when Bret Kepner does a feature on what pro stock cars are, how they work, and how they go together. Complete with some old school camera trickery, you’ll love it!

Press play below to see this 30 year old video featuring IHRA pro stock


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3 thoughts on “This 1987 IHRA Pro Stock Video Features Rickie Smith and Period Pro Stock Tech!

  1. doug gregory

    I still have a bunch of this stuff I put on VHS from cable back then. A buff Bret Kepner…!!! Old days. Sad how things at the IHRA are now. Last National event I attended with them was at Scribner, NE at the Nebraska Motorplex. Shirley was there. Jack Ostrander had a fireball. Scotty Cannon was being quiet. Roy Hill…. Good stuff out in the corn field.

  2. jerry z

    Holy qwap! Does that car look like a Trans Am? Yes it does!

    Brian, you need to pair up with Brett to announce for a few races.

  3. 75Duster

    Ah yes, back when Pro Stock cars looked like actual cars instead of some wind tunnel blob with stickers on it to look like a street car.
    This also applies with NASCRAP cars.

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