If we were to measure the passing of racing legends in a drumbeat it would sure seem that the cadence is quickening these days. New York based gasser legend Jack Merkel has passed. Merkel rose to prominence outside of his local area when he defeated Ohio George Montgomery at the NHRA Nationals in 1965.

Two notable things about this round victory were the fact that Montgomery had not lost at the Nationals SINCE 1959 and Merkel turned the trick with a 364ci small block Chevy engine in his 1933 Willys. This was a small and uncommon engine to be used in competition in the A/Gas Supercharged class in which he was running. The car was a flyweight and it was quick! While Merkel did not win the Nationals that year (losing to Doug Cook in the next round). Even though he did not win the race, everyone in the media wanted to know the man who stopped Ohio George and who dared do it with a little Chevy engine. Because of that publicity Merkel landed a spot in one of the roving gasser groups and while he did not travel the whole country like many did, he was well known and highly feared in the East.

The major reason that Merkel did not venture out onto the road full time is that he was operating a business at home. Jack Merkel Automotive Racing Engines continues to be a successful operation that is run by his son to this day. Had Jack taken the road life as his passion int he 1960s there is no telling what would have become of the engine building business. Jack’s son Scott is a successful drag racer in his own right having competed in the NMCA for years.

Merkel’s career did not end in 1965. He campaigned the same tall, steel, small block powered Willys for 1966 and then built his coolest car, a ‘glass bodied ’33 Willys that you can see below. Using the latest technology, the best parts, and a blown 427ci big block Chevrolet engine, which was again pretty unique for the class, Merkel had his modern weapon on the track for the 1967 and 1968 seasons. The car went a best of 8.75/160 before he sold it in 1969.

Jack Merkel was not just a hot rodder who “figured stuff out” he was a man who held two engineering degrees and understood how to make reliable and prodigious horsepower. He did things his way with his race cars and he delivered high quality performance engines to his customers for decades.

While Jack Merkel was not a guy who hit race tracks from sea to shining sea, he was well know, highly respected and dare we say feared every time he rolled through the gate of a facility. We can think of no greater compliment to a drag racer than that.

Godspeed Jack, hopefully you’re giving them all they can handle with that small block again at the big strip in the sky.

Check out Jack tuning on the restored version of his car back in 2010!