(Photos by Joe Grippo) – Pennsylvania’s Bruce Larson is one of the most accomplished Funny Car racers in the history of drag racing. He was a hitter from the earliest days of the class with his awesome 1966 Chevelle, and eventually won the NHRA Championship in 1989. Throught it all he kept stuff, lots of cool stuff. That “stuff” includes his race cars, parts, and a big barn full of gearhead goodness.
Every year Larson opens up his barn and property for the USA-1 Dragfest. It is a great excuse to get together with a ton of fellow drag racing lovers and take in both Bruce’s collection of stuff and a very bitchin’ car show that is made up of old racers, hot rods, and vintage iron that has seen more than its fair share of action on tracks all over creation.
Intrepid photo contributor Joe Grippo was on the scene and send us a dispatch of more than 200 photos showing everything from the contents of the barn to the car show. We’re busting his photos up into two galleries. Here’s the first which concentrates on the stuff outside of the famed barn. Tomorrow we’ll give you the barn tour!
EVENT GALLERY – 
Bruce is one of the nicest guys in F/C racing from back in the day.
What’s the story behind the “Great American Dream Machine” Vega?
I built as a kid Bruce Larson’s 74 Vega Pro Stock model.
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Joe: excellent pics (as always)…and thanks for snapping that posse of various nasty Mercs!
I still have my Bruce Larson Vega Pro Stock model. I talked to Bruce one year at York, cool guy and seemed to be pretty laid back. Way back when he drove/owned the Costello & Larson Modified Production Shelby Cobra, they could fit that car into two or three different classes and the also held the class records in most of them.
In response to the ”Great American Dream Machine” I grew up in Bellwood,IL. 1 blk. west of the Kukla bros.(twins).,they built and owned it.,w/help from Ronnie Kaplan Engr.,no doubt their best build. Prior to that they had (2) orange malibu’s strip/street.,seems we had somewhat of a rivalry back then.I had a few years age wise and loved to race,they knew that and would drive by rev /eng. etc.,to bust my nards a little,then I would return the favor!!ahhh the old neighborhood…..I heard thru the grapevine 36yrs. ago or so they took the Vega to the East coast and crashed w/injuries…that was it period!!!..Then today I’m cruisin Bangshift & see this.Blows my mind. What a world!!!!! J.T.