Awesome Tommy Ivo Video: 1966 Fuel and Gas Championships – Huge Tire Smoking Wheelie and Run – Original Footage!


Awesome Tommy Ivo Video: 1966 Fuel and Gas Championships – Huge Tire Smoking Wheelie and Run – Original Footage!

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Tom Ivo needs no introduction to the BangShift readership. He’s one of the great drag racers of all time, one of the great story tellers of all time, and one of the most under appreciated parts of the sport’s formative years. Make no mistake, Tom Ivo could build, fix, and drive a Top Fuel Dragster, Funny Car or Jet Car as good or better than nearly anyone else in the world.

Yes, it was true that during the earlier years of his career he had more bucks than the average guy due to his success as a child actor in Hollywood, but by the time he and the sport hit full stride, virtually all the big names were on an even plane. Ivo made his money as a match racer mostly. He didn’t spend a lot of time chasing national events or points, or anything like that. In many respects he was the anti-Garlits or Prudhomme, men who existed for competition and victory. Ivo existed for the show and the spectacle of the sport during the period that he gained the greatest name recognition.

This video comes before that time. The year is 1966 and the place is Famoso Raceway, known simply as “Bakersfield” to drag racing fans.

Ivo is lined up next to legendary driver “Jungle” Larry Faust in his green “Poison” dragster. He smashes the throttle and then….


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