Party Crashers: How Five Wild Stock Bodied Cars On Nitro Made History At The 1965 US Nationals 

The voice of drag racing. We are lucky to have you making these videos. Thank you Brian!

when i lost my grandfather to a heart attack last summer, i felt like i would be forever seperated from the sport he had been racing in since 1956. thank you for talking about these old stories of wild men and monster machines. rest in peace USAF Master Sargeant Robert George Wich, Jr., and may your 41 Ford Business Coupe fly the Homestead tracks again.

I remember watching the Snake and Mongoose go at it at the Spring Nationals in the early 70’s, drag racing will never be that wild again

I was introduced to drag racing in 1959 at US 30 Drag Strip at the age of 14. I was hooked. I will never forget the 1965 season. In the spring of 1965 Dyno Don showed up at the track for a match race in a 1965 Comet SOHC A/FX . The car was as built with two carburetors. Later, in the fall he returned to US 30 for another match race but now the car was fitted with a straight axle and the rear axle moved forward and the engine had 8 stack fuel injection on nitro but still with a four speed manual. The engine blew up. That season there were match races almost every weekend and the crowds were huge. The array of altered wheelbase, injected, nitro burning cars was crazy. Yellow rosin dust. Burnouts, dry hops, best two out of three races, betting in the crowds……..it was nuts but it was awesome! I’m glad my friends and I had the experience.

I was at the '65 Nats, a year out of high school, and it was incredible. The sights, the sounds, the mind-boggling array of cars. I will never forget it.

I love the rich history of drag racing, The cars, The men and women who built and raced them that this channel provides:)

Brian you are doing drag racing and other racing history justice. Thank you so much for all this in depth history. Being born in 1962 and growing up loving anything with a engine in it. This is right up my alley of learning more about our sports history. Keep up the great work and God bless you brother.

As a young teenager during this period I read every car magazine I could get my hands on and this gave me a life long appreciation of motorsports ! Thanks for bringing this back Brian excellent content

I love this so much. Drag racing was so rowdy and chaotic back in the day. Has the best history. You are the man Brian, and putting this history out there will inspire more people to take part in drag racing.

I remember these days, single digit age but loved drag racing.... got my Dad to take me to the local drag strip. I still have the smell and roar.... in the 70s continued to go, my Dad still took me until me n friends got DL. OCIR was my strip. Good times. Great video

Thank you! My dad was involved with a lot! I've got pictures of the '63 and '64 COLOR ME GONE with Don Beebe's street DODGE CHARGER in my driveway.

Nice! Don Beebe worked for my dad, thanks for showing a couple of my dad's cars, COLOR ME GONE AND DART CHARGER. He also had LITTLE RED WAGON for a year, Jay Howell drove both LITTLE RED WAGON and DART CHARGER. Bob Branstner

My first exposure to drag racing was 1969. My uncle Jim took me to Lyons Drag Strip and while watching the Mr. T Corvette exploded and my uncle told me to go grab a souvenir! I came back with an almost complete door with the Mr. T still on it!😂

As one who raced and rode the fences at the two 'San' dragstrips, Fernando and Gabriel, and the big show every Saturday night at Lions, as a kid of 17 I could dream of building a B rail or street roadster. But when the exhibition runs became a thing, I just didn't get it, nor did my wallet. Yes, a Top Fuel car went for twelve grand in 1964 dollars but still, a kid could dream. What was once a SOP hobby run at tracks with dirt, dust, and splintered seating faded from view to be overtaken by the maga-tracks, think OCR or any track with those blaring "Sunday Sunday Sunday - Be There" radio commercials, it all just became different. Having said this, thank you Brian for this fascinating look into those who did, "Think outside the box." As always, good stuff here...

What an absoltue kick ass presentation. Perfect use of showing images of what you are speaking of and at just the right cadence.

i was a kid in San Antonio and my neighbor was Bill Jarrette. One of his AFX was called "the tia jana taxie". Injected hemi on nitro. Got to see the 41 Willys of stone woods and cook, Bill built a candy apple red 41 willys and crashed on its madden pass. Got to see tommy ivos glass trailer also. Not sure what work Bill was doing, but parents moved to Boerne around 1968 and I lost contact. Great stories, love the way you put these videos together. Thanks again.

Loved this show ! At 72 years of age this era falls into my greatest drag racing memories. A great follow up to this story would be a show on the Super Stock and Drag Illustrated Funny Car Nationals at New York National Speedway in, I believe, 1966. I was only 14 years old at the time but my dad braved the harrowing trip out on Long Island on the Sunrise Highway to NYNS to watch this amazing event. Every Funny Car on the planet seemed to be there. Still the greatest drag show I have ever seen. And well worth the 6 hour drive home to NJ. Although I’m not sure my dad would have agreed. 😂😂😂

I would be so extremely happy to build a blown BBC manual transmission period correct gasser. I love these history of drag racing videos you put together Brian. I am always impressed at the huge strides us hot rodders have been able to develop over the decades. When I was 16 in 1997 a high 9 second low 10 second car was an ultra lightweight race car that had to be towed to and from the track. Now you can buy a car from the dealer, throw on some tires and as long as you can drive you can run those times and faster with a factory backed warranty that can be daily driven. The times the Sick Week and Drag Week competitors are able to run and drive 1500 miles to and from the track just shows how far the ICE has come.The ability of gearheads to cut down and improve ET and trap speeds in only 660' or 1320' is absolutely incredible and never ceases to amaze.

Imagine, sitting in your school's library, putting on archaic plastic cup headphones, plugging them in to the "compact cassette" player, opening the book and listening for the "beep" to turn the page as you watched and listened to the stories of "The Little Red Wagon" and "Hemi Under Glass". This was showbiz and I was hooked. I was in a Canadian suburb, so this might as well have been a transmission from the lunar surface, but I was captivated. So, damn your top speed and blown rods, I was in for the show. Rear wheel steering (brake steer) and looking through the floor boards to navigate had me. Later, there would be "Bob Chandler's Big Foot" and "Mega Saurus," but for now, pulling a wheelie all the way down the strip was the shit. Showbiz!

This is the very best video Iv'e ever seen on the subject of 1960's drag racing. One of my favorite magazines is a 1982 special edition of HOT ROD ,featuring a lot of photos of that era ,some of which were shown in your video .I'll be watching this more than once .Thank you ,from New Zealand.

Great story of history I lived through, if only by browsing the magazine rack in the local dime store. I remember the Funny Car controversy, it stayed alive long after ‘65. Subscribed

Thanks for another in your series of top notch, well researched and impeccably delivered stories! Great job, Brian!! Looking forward to more in 2024!!

I was eleven in 66 but I was fortunate to hang out at Pheonix International Raceway with these Big Brothers. Cranking Crane. The White Night were two cars I remember. Good memories!

Thanks for posting. I was fortunate enough to see Art Arfons in his jet powered Green Monster.

Hell yeah great story loved every minute of it. I was born in 69 and I remember the mid 70’s . Drag racing was great!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!

There was so much drama and politics involved in the growth of this sport that few people understand. Excellent episode! Thanks Brian.

Hey Brian, I have messaged you before on Facebook,but never replied here. I absolutely love everything you do, and I stand by what I told you there, you are definitely our generations Dave McClelland and Steve Evan’s. It’s clear just how much you love drag racing, and the NHRA. Thank you for all you do, I think I speak for everyone, that we love it. Thanks, Brian W

Thanks for a killer episode. The cars of that period had style, not like the shapeless wads today. Drag racing at its best.

Man, you are that guy… You story telling and video hunting is spot on perfect to me… I used to look for these full bodied monsters back in the day…👍🏾

LOVE that red '61 Starliner fastback at 3:56 !!!!

1965 I got to watch Dyno Don Nicholson and Dick Landy make a couple exibition passes at the newly opened Englishtown Drag Strip. They were indeed a sight to see.

Wow, what a thorough history of these classic quarter mile machines.

Thanks for filling in a boring winter between drag racing seasons!

Brian I’ve been going to drag races since the mid 70’s thank you for helping to keep this great sport alive.

That is one of your best vids yet. As a teen I rode my stingray bike 3 miles to Irwindale drag strip to see Charlie Allen match race Don Gay' GTO. man I was hooked. My brother's room was covered with magazine pics and Pit passes . Thank you for your efforts to tell these stories. This was your best one so far.

Brian, you are the right person to bring this history out to the 21st century young gun crowd who are making their own part of history that will be talked about in awe in the future. There's not a lot of us old guys still around & even less still up to their eyeballs still doing it. The desire to go faster will never die amongst us rev-heads so the evolution will continue🤓.

I'll comment tomorrow I'm still watching. It's unreal

I started in this wacky business in 1970,,,this was a tad before my time,,,,but , the older I get the more I realize I don't know shit about nothin,,,,really truly enjoy your history lessons... thank you

Content is always GR8 but this vid is a Jewel! Many thanx 👍👍

Outstanding story. Lifelong drag racing fan, and I learned a lot about the birth of my favorite class of race cars. Thank you, Brian!

This was spectacular!! thanks again.

What a fabulous piece of history that you give us. I'll keep listening. Thank you Brian.

100% authenticity here, thankyou for your efforts and so much dedication to the science that is drag racing.

great video, those 64 Comets set a record that held over 50 yrs, 100 plus MPH for 100,000 miles, Had a column shift 6 cyl one in the 80's and seemed to carry some of that heritage in its attitude when driven.

Roots !! Way to go Brian! Another superbly constructed and displayed historical presentation. Thanks for what you do!

I really appreciate this. Thanks ever so much. You should do another one. Possibly starting in the 67 to 69 era.

MR BRIAN YOUR REPORTING ON HISTORY OF DRAG RACING IS AWESOME THANK YOU

This is an incredible story about an incredible time in NHRA history, just imagine what it was like driving these crazy high power cars!!

DAM! more great stuff Brian! as a preteen model builder in the late sixties these were just too cool, made my parents buy 2 models at a time, something with a blown engine and a stocker to cut up, more great memories, thanks

Love your content!!!!!! Post more if you can!!!

I remember those days. It was a great era.

Well, being virtually covered in tire particulates from AA/FD cars at Fremont Dragstrip will never be duplicated!!! How could I have ever been so lucky????

Great story!!! I lived near Fremont Dragstrip and saw the first Funny Cars. A magic time in automotive.

My very favorite cars and time ever in the sport Brian! I watched them at New York National on Long Island, something you never forget! Great video again!

Holy Wow Brian. Another amazing video history lesson. I always had a very basic understanding of how funny cars started. This is over the top. Thank you for all you do.

Very well done and presented !! I could attend this University course all day long. Many , many thanks Professor Lohnes.

That was a great one! Love hearing all the Drag Racing history! Keep them coming! Have a wonderful week!!

A truly astounding history of one of the greatest drag racing eras. I was 13 years old and remember all these cars but never had enough money for more than 1 Hot Rod magazine a month. Never knew all this amazing backstory . . what amazing memories!

Excellent video Brian and great the history is preserved..Really enjoy your videos thanks Dennis

When Brian uploads, I sit my ass down

Thanks Brian, Loving these videos. Thanks for what You do. Cheers from Australia.

That K n G car was crazy!!!!!!!

Awesome Brian! Thanks for helping us get through winter. Keep 'em coming!

Another good one! Thanks Brian.

Another well researched, excellent video. Thanks again Brian.

Your content is phenomenal! Thank you for the detailed technical information as well, it adds so much. You are the new school McClelland, Evans, and Kepner. Keep it going!

Brian you are producing fantastic content! Keep it up !!!

Can't believe the amount of research this guy does.

Drag racing has something special about it. I recall meeting someone in an online racing game once and just going back and forth down a runway trying to tune the better car, making all sorts of adjustments. The competition and the fun of seeing who could get more out of a machine. It's simple and for how competitive it is you rarely get a toxic environment, it's just fun and you are more interested in keeping it fun than being nasty about the timeslip.

This was another good one Brian! Always well-researched...always comprehensive!

Outstanding history lesson. I grew up at Lion's and saw most of these cars run.

Truly one of the best channels out here in regards to drag racing history. Brings back memories of me, with my nose pushed through a chain link fence at US 30, Oswego, et al. ❤👍

Another jam-packed vid. Well done!!

Fantastic video!!!

Your depth of knowledge and ability to take is back to those days of old warms my nitro filled heart. Thanks for another great video

Helen Sachs is my new hero ❤❤❤❤❤

Thank you for your videos. I loved it. After many years I finally understand the significance of transverse leaf spring in a full body drag car, thanks for the history lesson,excellent video!

You have a gift. Another amazing drag racing history lesson.

Thanks so much for another true gem, somehow that later footage of the KG 554 coupe has eluded me, made my night loved it. Keep up the great work 👍

Just found your channel Brian and man am I hooked. I only started racing drag bikes, Carlsbad raceway in 85, cuz I was poor, but was glued to the tv from the early 70's watching anything drag racing. Awesome, to the point and informative content makes a 45min video seem like 10min. Hats off, now I must binge prev ep's LOL!!

I did not get to Green Valley as often as I should have. I recall a handful of these machines before being sent to VN. Thanks so much for this excellent assembly of historical info.

Thanks, great story, great images

Excellent presentation. Thank you. Really enjoyed this one. I can only imagine the amount of hours you have into it.

Have previously watched your chassis fastener video. Great information like always

Great history and video ! Thank you Brian. ❤

Dude, this is all such great stuff! You know a lengthy interwiew/ discussion between you and steve mags would friggin break the internet!

Great article thanks for posting.

I love this stuff, the history. All the way from Australia, we have a rich history too, thanks Brian.

I'm really diggin' what you're doin' here Brian! MORE! MORE!

Absolutely fantastic history lesson here Brian! You gave the subject the time and research deserved. Enjoyed every one of those 45 minutes............ :)

Another great piece of hot rod history.

This one is a true "BarnBurner" well kinda. It was the start of barnstorming. I hate that Hubert Platt or Houston Platt wasn't mentioned in this. But I guess they wasn't on that level. But maybe a future article can be done on them. Your killing it for sure. Thanks for the hard work and the video. The world of drag racing has needed these kinda articles for many years.

I love every film you put out Brian, great work.

I had an A/FX WITH AN ART CARR 727 CLUTCH FLIGHT!! I ALSO HAD THE REAR SUSPENSION 10” and a GENUINE SUSPENSION FRONT DROPPED FRONT AXLE. Plymouth Satellite Golden Commando with a blown 416 MAX WEDGE!!! 8.50 at 187.4 MPH!!!😎🙏🏼

Really enjoyed this, thanks Brian !!

Loved the story!!

Amazing history lesson as always

When I was around 7 years old my family went to Dragway 42, my introduction to drag racing. Anyway, there was a car that stood out- PANDEMONIUM, we have home movies of it, smoked the tires all the way down the strip. Your video is the only other time I've seen it, thanks.

Just brilliant - really enjoyed this.

,,,,Thanks Brian..........Your talents are a blessing to the world of Drag Racing........from the days of All Access ; I have been a fan........