(Editor’s note: Today is “big game” Sunday and undoubtedly we’ll see some awesome performances. That made me think of the most awesome performance I have ever captured on a drag strip and this was it, from the 2013 NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion. We’re re-running this today because we miss being at the drag strip!) Of all the wheelstands that I have seen or will ever see, this one will always be close to the top of my greatest hits list. The driver of the “Fool’s Gold” competition coupe had to have wondered why he was looking at the sky almost instantly after hitting the throttle. When I took these photos, I was up on the scaffold with Chad and we were chatting about how cool the car you’ll see below is. Our conversation came to a screeching halt when the following series of events went down.
The driver hit the throttle, the wheelie bar folded up like a napkin and the photo sequence below shows you the rest of the story. The only thing that prevented the car from going over backwards and landing upside down was the parachute pack. You’ll see at least 3-4 photos of the thing with all four tires off literally skidding along on the parachute. There was enough grip between the parachute pack and the track to force the front end back down again. The car landed with a mighty smash and hit so hard that it lost a front wheel, the frame rails are spaghetti, and the driver may still be looking for some Charmin to sit on. He got out of the car fine and seemed to be 100% after all this madness happened.
There’s the rest of the story. I am not sure I will ever catch another set of photos like this one. Truly unbelievable!
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THIS WILD SEQUENCE!
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That was wild… Please put the video of that up on your FB page.
HELL YEAH!
okay some get me a beer and some mac tool i need to fix it . PLEASE any 1 know where the bathroom is i got to go.
Damn you Fool’s Gold…I saw this beauty live on Saturday and let out a really loud “WOOOOOAAAAA!!!!!!” that my wife heard. She came running in to catch me watching the CHRR instead of doing the work I told her I was doing.
Damn messed it up a bit ouchy
Thank you Bangshift for the great photos. I am the owner/driver of “Fool’s Gold”. What happened was we had a brand new set of Hoosiers that really hooked up to the track. There was no tire slip so everything transferred to the wheelie bar which let go. I don’t think I moved forward but a foot before it climbed the ring gear. No Charmin was needed and I feel great! Not even sore. We will fan another chassis and be back out. See you at the March Meet!
What a way to end the racing season.
Tires seem to be working good! 😉
That one made me laugh!!
My son, Garret Crisp, was in line right behind you. We are so glad you were okay…very scary, but you did a great job of keeping it in control. See you at the March Meets!
Thank you Karen. See you March!
Excellent
WOW – I’m sure that got James attention !
As bad as it looks it could have ended a lot worse.
Great to see him get out of car unharmed and even better to read that he will rebuild and be back at March Meet.
Great looking car!
Glad you are ok…Cars can be fixed….
Well if that isn’t a good advertizement for Hoosiers I don’t know what would be. “Stick like gorilla glue”
The reaction of the woman in front of the pick up truck in the background says it all. ‘Oh no, Oh NO, OH NO!!!!! I can’t watch!’
Moments later…… ‘Whew!’ I think I’ll just go visit the bathroom. Back soon.
James,
Glad your ok. Must have been a wild ride. Thanks for showing us what the bottom of your ride looks like.
I wanna see the time slip. Looks like the front wheel made the 1/8th mile! 🙂
Glad to hear you’re OK James, can’t wait to see it on video…
Great Camera work. B A N G S H I F T TTFMF
That was just insane to watch that live.
To add a little insult to injury I was in the pits when the car was returned to it’s pit on the back of a flatbed tow truck. The truck driver took off the tie down straps and the car promptly rolled off the back of the truck while it was still 4 feet in the air. It sure didn’t help the chassis that was already tweeked from the wheelstand.
WOW, Pucker factor five…………..
Hey!! Great photo sequence. It got better as it went along. The front wheel exiting gave the whole thing a sort of ‘Keystone Cop’ feel. It think it would look great sped up and in black and white with some insane piano music in the background. 😉
More Old B.S. Later
Badco
From October of last year, and you still haven’t posted the video? NOBODY had a video camera?