(Photos by Dave Nutting) – When Bruce Larson and John Worm announced that Worm’s shop would be building a tribute 1968 USA-1 Camaro for Larson to match race and pound on across the country, we like everyone else were excited. After we learned that the machine would be at the 2013 NHRA New England Hot Rod Reunion, we were super pumped to witness its greatness in person. Larson was in a multi-day wrestling match with the car and on this particular pass actually managed to get it completely airborne. You’ll literally see this car with all four wheels off the ground! This was not the only time that the car cranked off a massive wheelie or got out of shape. In essence, it was acting like an old school funny car is supposed to act!
Dave Nutting captured this awesome sequence and as you can see by the last photo in the chain, Larson was all up in his business when it was all said and done. An additional note is that this was the first drag race with nitro powered vehicles that Dave had ever photographed and we think he did a great job. It was cool to look down from the tower and see him get a snoot full of the good stuff and experience the physical after effects of nitro exposure. Long story short, he had a blast and did a great job. Look for his stuff to be rolling at you all week long.
Larson’s Camaro is really something to see. John Worm did a spectacular job capturing the right look, proportions, rake, and even style of chassis that Bruce had in his actual 1968 Camaro flopper (the original car, complete with its Dana 60 rear end was at the event…Bruce brought it!). Lastly, Larson was the winner of the 1968 New England Fall Funny Car Nationals, which was a 32 car match race held at New England Dragway each year with most of the biggest names in the country getting after one another. Larson recreated his win by driving the car back up the track with the ‘chutes out on Saturday evening. It was awesome.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE BRUCE LARSON LITERALLY FLY A FUNNY CAR!
Lets see the Frantic Ford shots please
very nice car like to see vidieo
Back in 78 my Pop was friends with Chris Gantz of K&G Speed Associates, and he got them to bring The Frantic Ford to my Vo-Tech school for open house here in N.J., Dodger Glen was the driver. I got to sit in the car, that was so cool.. In fact Radar the machinist for K&G cut his last crankshaft before retiring, for my Pop for a 383 stroker he built for a guy.. The car ended up winning some national events, the car belonged to Lee Zane or a relative of his, but I do know it was one of the Zanes lol.
That was a reply for Billy Dee.. Back to the USA 1, that car is just plain bad ass
Bruce kissed the wall with the right side of his Camaro while the Frantic Ford blew the body off of their car in a true reminiscent style race of early Funnycars! Both cars and drivers put on a great show!
In 1966 I was at Connecticut Dragway to watch Bruce run his Bill Thomas built injected Chevelle against Bill Flynn’s Barracuda in a match race. Bruce did a burn-out, backed up and, while still rolling backwards, put the car in 1st, winged it and popped the clutch, The result was a 45 deg wheelstand and the slicks about 6″ off the track. Good show, but a wonder he didn’t snap something in the drive train!
very nice car sharp
This is what Nostalgia Funny Cars need to look like and perform like. I am sick of the current version of Nostalgia cars, which in my opinion are nothing more than modern A/FC on nitro. The stretched bodies and modern chassis need to go.
how true, Larsons Camauo looks and acts old school
Simply incredible sequence….those first-timers have all the luck! BTW, speaking of nostalgia, Jungle Pam is watching in the background, right next to the tower in blue shirt and jeans. JJ would have loved this event!
Looks like the track is wet! Awesome sequence, wish there was video!
Very Nice