This is pure, absolute, 100% drag racing history bliss. You are about to see the 12-minute showcase of the Ford Drag Team, circa 1970. This is such a cool piece because it covers the efforts of Ford at the tail end of the Total Performance era. Remember, it would be at the tail end of 1970 that the whole performance war that Ford had waged against the world in every motorsports imaginable would end immediately. The company switched their gears and dollars into investing in emission control technology and fuel economy technology with a decade of performance purgatory looming. But, all this being said, like an engine that runs its best right before exploding, the Ford Drag Team in 1970 was stacked with talent.
We get to see the racers in the super stock ranks, the fuel racers, and coolest of all, the competitors in the then brand new NHRA pro stock class running the first ever NHRA pro stock race, the 1970 Winternationals. The sound and the fury here are amazing. Power shifting drivers, screaming Cobra Jet and SOHC engines, the front engine fuel dragsters were peaking in their performance, no one knowing that a year later Garlits would show up and lead a new revolution in the sport. This is, for many people as good as it ever got in drag racing.
The SOHC engine was the last real competitor to the hemi in the fuel ranks. No, they were not near as reliable, no they were not near as simple, no they are not remembered that fondly but guys did do some damage with them. Connie Kalitta at the behest of Ford ran a Boss 429 program for a time and that was a disaster. The SOHC engines, however temperamental were fast when they were right.
This is so good in every element. Cruising down the highway in the haulers, power shifting at the strip, interviews with drivers. Perfection!
I needed that!
I hope Mike Finnegan doesn’t see this video. He will totally lose it over the parade of vintage ramp trucks at the beginning of the video!
OMG – I think I had an eargasm at 4:25!! A power shifted 8000 RPM 427 SOC Pro Stocker! I am still trying to catch my breath. If I was a smoker I would have fired one up after that.
Thanks Brian, that made my day!!
You gotta love a competitive ProStocker with steel wheels, stock steering wheel and crank up windows. That is a great film.
What a great 12 minutes, every one of these guys and cars, icons in a bygone era. Thank you Bangshift!
..COOL Old School Racers…. !