Now this is some awesomeness from 29 years ago. We’re taking you back to the top fuel eliminator finals at the Keystone Nationals. You’ll see Darrell Gwynn taking on Dick LaHaie in a battle of the beer cars. The race isn’t just cool because of the fact that there are two cool cars and two well known drivers but it is doubly cool because of the fact that Gwynn does (as he always did at the time) a “dry burnout”. Basically this is a long dry hop following the traditional water burnout and it was an integral part of how the Gwynn’s ran their car at the time. Hell, young Darrell says it in so many words at the top end.
Dick LaHaie does not participate in the dry burnout situation choosing rather to start later, complete his burnout, stage and run as traditional. LaHaie was coming off of a 1987 championship season and 1988 did not exactly go according to plan. Niggling problems and issues plagued the year and he was unable to mount a title defense in ’88.
While the race itself many not be too crazy, the dry burnout is awesome and can you imagine how awesome that these would be in today’s world. Unfortunately it’ll never happen unless mandated by the rules. Remember, these cars were mechanically very different from today’s machines and as you’ll see, less violent on the hit.
We love the hell out of this video and we’re excited to be heading to Maple Grove this weekend for the Keystone Nationals.
