One of the coolest cars in drag racing history not only still exists, it still thunders just like it did when it blew crowds back into their seats at the 1964 NHRA Nationals with a half track burnout. The Sachs and Sons Comet famously operated by Jack Chrisman is now owned by Jim Barillaro of Tennessee and he gets around to nostalgia events and shows all over the country to display, cackle, and even run the car! In this video you’ll hear the blown Ford cammer engine on a good load of nitro do a nice burnout and launch off. The car does not run a world beating number, but it sounds beyond awesome and is quite literally rolling history. This “1965” Comet was a rebodied version of the same car that Chrisman ran in 1964.
Dawn Mazi-Hovsepian shot this video at Oxford Plains Dragway in Maine last summer during their Nostalgia Dragfest Invitational race. This event was a joint effort between the track and the Helger Brothers Speed Shop out of Rhode Island. The Helger Brothers are awesome guys who have a deep respect and love for the history of drag racing and the people who were there to pioneer the sport of today. They currently own and run the King and Marshall front engine fueler along with other pieces. They’re great and they did an awesome job along with the track for this event. This car is honestly the best sounding thing you’ll hear all week. Dawn’s mic picked up the fantastic sound of that cammer belting out a great note on the pop .
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE THE SACHS AND SON COMET MAKE A RUN WITH A CAMMER ON NITRO – JUST LIKE THE OLD DAYS!
i could smell the bleach from the burnout and when funny cars were build in empty bays of gas stations and taken to the track on a flat bed trailer and the crew had matching white t shirts
I was at oxford when it opened in the sixty s. Ran there off and on till 1990. Ran a 68 Camaro right off the street ,just change tires and go. turned a 7.80 at that 1/8 th mile.. Nice place to go bracket racing on a Friday night.Probably saw that Comet run back in the day.Best memory was one night I forgot my helmet at home(Stupid Move ) Grumpy J. let me use one of his !! Afterwards he said keep it and autographed it for me..It was a gold metal flake,,,I still have it….
Totally awesome !!
I respect the fact this is not a cackle car or static show piece. Even if the run was tentative it was loud and made smoke… very cool !!
I love the fact that this beast is not surrounded by 27 crew members. Just 2 old guys who know what they are doing. Get it started, get it to the line and get out of the way. Today’s fiasco for numbers on the starting line has reached rediculous proportions. Crew chief, starting line guy, 2 or 3 tuners, The owner, the owner’s wife, 2 video guys, 2 guys setting wheelie bars, 1 guy to turn on the computer, maybe a couple of tire wipers and of course, the half dozen cling-ons just there because they let them… dumb
Cool! So Glad to see SOMEBODY let Jim take it for a spin! These cars ought to be able to make 1/8 mile passes anywhere they want to. Jim Birraililo owns these out of love for the sport, and the Christman’s. He’s a real deal, and I’m glad to see him out having some fun with it! Damn it sounds good!
Back in the day Jack would light the hides up for the whole quarter mile.
WOW!!!, so great to be able to see (&hear!)such an iconic car …Props to the owner for getting it out and running it!
I love that sound, Kudos to the owner for actually making passes with a piece of History!
Canned dynamite in an iconic body style — doesn’t get any better!
Had the pleasure of being at that event to witness that run. By far that red rod was THE nastiest sounding and smelling car there. Such a joy to see it run……