Let’s hop in the way back machine and travel 30 years into the past to the final rounds from the 1987 NHRA US Nationals. Bob Glidden was appearing in his 11th straight Indy final round, Kenny Bernstein was in the epic “Batmobile” Buick, Joe Amato was running on kill as one of the greatest top fuel racers ever, and there was a threat of rain hovering around what was then known as Indianapolis Raceway Park. Don Garlits, Steve Evans, and Paul Page bring you the action in the video below.
One of the coolest parts of the video comes when the broadcast crew finds that Kenny Bernstein’s crew discovered a potentially disastrous engine issue 40-minutes into an already rushed service of the car. Because of the varying changes and constant tinkering that Dale Armstrong did with the funny car, they did not keep complete engines in the trailer. Instead there were short blocks and the guys had to get one finish assembled as well as installed into the car along with all else in a matter of minutes. Not only was this the final of the US Nationals for Bernstein, it was also a chance to lock up a championship in a car he would to be allowed to drive again in 1988. The famed “Batmobile” was, aerodynamically the best funny car of all time to that point and it ran like it. The NHRA put the kibosh on the car early but allowed the machine to run in 1987 and they started the ban of it in 1988.
In top fuel the final was interesting as well. Because of the funny car thrash, top fuel ran BEFORE the funny car category which is a rarity on Monday afternoon at Indy. Joe Amato and Dick LaHaie tangled for top honors and the match lived up to expectations.
We love all the top end interviews. Yes, there’s sponsor thank yous but there’s a genuinely overwhelmed feeling washing over the competitors and that’s something that we absolutely love. This rules!
