It is funny how the cosmos works. At exactly 5:30pm Eastern Standard Time on this date 17 years ago, Jay Blake was involved in an industrial accident that took his sight, his sense of smell, his sense of taste, and seemingly his ability to make a living as a mechanic away from him. Fast forward to today and Blake, along with his entire Permatex/Follow A Dream racing team has proudly unveiled the first fifth generation Camato funny car body to be see in NHRA competition. Their alcohol funny car is competing at the NHRA Division one points race at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania this weekend and the car looks spectacular. The whole crew has been thrashing on the machine at their Cape Cod based race shop to make sure it was ready for this weekend. This thing is a looker, if we don’t say so ourselves.
Running an updated version of their familiar Permatex livery, the team is one of the hardest runners in the always tough, NHRA Division One area and over the years has faced down the likes of Bob Newberry, Frank Manzo, Paul Gill, Bob Tasca III, and others on the drag racing trail. Typically hitting events in the eastern half of the country, it is not uncommon to find them anywhere on the eastern seaboard or even as far west as Texas on any given weekend during the racing season. This new car should certainly get them some attention as they have beaten everyone, even the nitro teams in the funny car ranks to the punch by debuting their body this weekend. Formerly, the team used an Impala body which is what most of the Chevy alcohol teams still use. As is always the case with updated flopper bodies, lighter weight and better aerodynamics are the advantages with the new piece. Todd Veney has served as the teams driver for the last several season and he continues that role in 2014.
The team finished 9th in the national points last season and look to build on that this year. Jay Blake is the crew chief on the car and that is not something he simply calls himself. Blake, without the aid of his eyes, can service every portion of this car by feel. We’re not kidding, we have seen him do it. Jay performs the maintenance on the car when it is home and at the races, he’s in the thick of things wrenching on stuff, performing service between rounds, and working with Tommy Howell on perfecting the tune up. It is a very inspirational story and we’re super glad that Maura shared these photos with us!
Here’s a few more photos to give you the full look at the new 5th generation Camaro Follow A Dream/Permatex funny car!
Gorgeous
Mankind has not invented any drug that one could ingest in any quantity that would result in perceiving that thing as a “Camaro.”
Best wishes to the team, but really, the only thing remotely “Camaro” about that colorful blob of carbon fiber are some surrealistic decals. One might as well label a Picasso or a Jackson Pollock a “Camaro” . . . .
And the NHRA wonders why fans can no longer identify with their on-track product and are staying away in droves . . . .
Couldn’t have said it better myself. NASCAR’s the same way. So, they rattle the ground, go 300+. They suck. I’d rather watch a ’70’s funny run 6 flat and look like the car they started out as. THAT;s why it was so exciting back then. The flavor has been lost…
You should see it up close. It has louvers in front of the rear wheels, flaired wheel wells, cowl hood, and a rear end angled just like the regular Camaro. After all it is a funny car not a stock car. GM, 5 Star and Murphy McKinney really made this look good.
Ditto why?
GO GET ‘EM ! Congrats on the new car! I can’t wait to see it in person ! You are running this car at NED …right?
At least the Pro Mod and Pro Stock guys put SOME edges on the fronts of their “Camaros”. Fess up, this is just a re-painted Impala body….
This new body does not share a single dimension with the Impala body and very few from the Monte Carlo.
THAT THING IS A SPACE SHIP. GREAT COLORS! HOWEVER, A POINT WELL MADE ON THE GOOD OLD DAYS WITH BUTCH LEAL (CLAIFORNIA FLASH) AND THE FIRST FUNNY CARS. THEY WERE STILL CARS NOT TOP FUELERS WITH A SHELL.
Looks like every other funny car with new decals. NHRA just doesn’t get it. Lost interest in NASCAR years ago because they all look the same and because of restricter plates. TV coverage needs to be about more than the top 3 pro classes. Support your local racers and tracks.
Camaro where? I agree with a previous comment
the best drag racing in the world is Bakersfield and the March MEET
these are events with real cars…….
Many of us celebrated Bernstein’s futuristic “Batmobile” Buick flopper in the 80’s.
If we had only known it would cause the demise of funny bodies that even sort of look like a real car.
I’ve been asking NHRA and wondering when this day would happen!Every week for the past 3 years I’ve been asking them “Will we ever see the new Camaro on a Funny Car.My prayers have been answered.God Bless You Todd Veney for making my dreams come true.I don’t care if it doesn’t quite look like a production Camaro.It still resembles one,so I’m extatic about it.Good Luck with it Todd and now I have a reason to watch Lucas Oil Drag Racing.Maybe they will finally get some in Top Fuel F/C now.
To all of you bad mouthing Jays car, as I’m not good with being delicate with words, all I can think of is UP YOURS
Camaro or not, you´ve gotta love the looks of this new TAFC body! Looks great in the permatex colors. Good luck Todd and the rest of the team!!
JBz/Sweden