Dennis Vos is a hard core BangShifter from the Netherlands, and he recently sent me a video of the Nostalgia Fuel Funny Car that he crews on and then I conned him into writing a story for us. Check it out below.

(Words and Photos By Dennis Vos, Video by RMA’s Amateur Footage)

Being part of a Nostalgia Funny-car team, we travel across Europe to various events. Sometimes we race, but sometimes we give away a real show. With a glimpse to how it all went back in the days to do a race in it’s purest form.

As we are talking about late sixties / early seventies, numerous cars ventured out to disused runways to see what they could do with no track preparation what so ever. Accompanied by a lovely lady to help backing up the track after a long burnout to lay some extra rubber on the track, sometimes three or four times to get the right groove and feeling for the driver. After that it was pedal to the metal and see who’s at the finish line first. The first well known name that pops in mind is “Jungle” Jim Lieberman, this was top notch showmanship. Now it’s done very differently. Prepped track, computers that regulate how much power is released in what time and what part of the track, 4 second passes. Sometimes it’s better, but you just can’t ignore the past.

As the nostalgic scene is still expanding here in Europe with the biggest event (Dragstalgia) held at Santa Pod Raceway, it’s always a good thing to have an opportunity to go back into the days that have gone by. As you walk through the pits, hear those engines come to life in the morning and a mix of nitro and methanol slowly enters your nose you instantly enter a place where being friends at the track is more important than who actually wins or loses. Everyone is helpful to each other and that gives a certain privilege above other motorsports, which is quite addictive for us as spectators

In this video (by RMA’s Amateur Footage) you get a glimpse of what it was back in the day. During NitrOlympX 2015 held at the famous Hockenheim Raceway in Germany, Ramon van der Weurf (from the Netherlands) driving the Wild’r at Heart Funnycar and Lee Gallimore (from the UK) driving the Red Mist Fuel Altered pulled of a nightshow to remember. Both are long time friends, have a healthy dose of humor and above all the racing virus running through their vains, they believe that once in a while you need to stir up the crowd a bit and leave a lasting impression.

The long smokey burnouts, dry hops, dry leaves and dry hops to the startline again, were an absolute trademark from those roarin’ 70’s Floppers and Altereds. Judging by the reaction from the audience they nailed that completely.