Dana Hard’s name is no stranger to the pages of BangShift. We hang out at his machine shop, Custom Auto Machine in Weymouth, Massachusetts (because he tolerates us) and we’ve showed you the build and progress of his Hard Guys Mustang nostalgia nitro funny car. What we haven’t done is updated you about the first year that the car turned its tires in anger on the match race circuit up here in the New England area. Hard wisely teamed up with Mike Smith, a guy who has literally been in the nitro business for his entire life to shoe the car and work on the setup. We say wisely because many, many people have entered the world of nitro drag racing only to see their bank accounts, race cars, personal lives, and common sense self-immolate in a swirl of smoke, fumes, and fire. The Hard Guys machine suffered no such fate. Starting with a conservative base line tune, the guys worked their way down through the six second zone until they clipped the 5s and then started to really throw some logs onto the fire.

There’s nothing cheap or budget-minded about racing with nitromethane, but Hard’s been pretty crafty and thoughtful in terms of getting his operation up and running. The vast majority of the hard parts that comprise the blown, nitro hemi engines are used pieces from NHRA “big show” teams purchased at a substantial discount. As tradesman are wont to do Hard worked some deals with local guys for the amazing paint and he muscled his brother for the lettering and graphics. Ok, muscled is a little strong, he just made thinly veiled threats.

Of all the things he did, having Mike Smith come on as the driver and lead tuner was (in our opinion) his best call. Mike’s dad Paul is known as one of the great bucks down crew chiefs of all time and pop taught the trade to both Mike and his brother John. Long story short, not one engine bit the dust in 2012 for The Hard Guys team. Sure they nicked pistons and used up consumable stuff like oil, the expensive nitro fuel, and clutch discs, but obscene carnage was not part of the program, a fact that Hard is all to happy to acknowledge.

Always on the lookout for good deals and solid parts on the second hand market, Hard has amassed a few more sets of components for spare shortblocks and he’s already gearing up for the 2013 season. Now that they have a solid year of running under their belt, The Hard Guys squad is planning on getting some more road miles under their collective belts in 2013. In the video below you can see that the car is capable of running hard and clean, besting two great opponents during a match race at New England Dragway. The first car to be felled by the Mustang is the Jake Crimmins owned and driven “Craaaazy Jake” 1979 Mustang. Smith rolls down into the top of the five second zone on that pass. The second lap is a solid run down into the 5.80s and more importantly, ahead of nationally known hitter Peter Gallen and his Poverty Stricken Vega bodied flopper. We’re going to try an angle ourselves onto the crew of this beastie once of twice in 2013 if Hard and the guys need help. We’ve passed oil pan washing 101, so we’re ready for the next step!

Press play below to see killer video of The Hard Guys Mustang nostalgia nitro funny car, the hottest new addition to the East Coast nostalgia nitro scene!