Shop Tour - Hardcore Drag Racing

  T.V. Tommy Ivo was one of the original Mouseketeers, when he wasn't acting he was Drag Racing . He raced this 76' Charger bodied Funny Car for the 1976-77 season . Years later it it was found in terrible condition. When all the parts were found it was rebuilt and painted by two-time Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon. It's also the original body, because only a handful were made in 76'. The Charger features a Murff McKinney chassis with an all aluminum Keith Black 426 CI supercharged Hemi  engine. It Burns over five gallons of  nitro-methane in the quarter-mile. The body features a race day paint scheme in the Red,White & Blue  Rod Shop livery. All exterior sponsorship logos are painted on just like they were on 1976.                                                                                                                Here is a shot of T.V Tommy getting ready for a run in the Charger.                                                                          

      These are some of the sights and sounds from Island Dragway located in Great Meadows ,New Jersey     It was a hot afternoon at the 61st Funny Car Throwdown presented by The North East Timing Organization (NETO), it was well over 90 degrees , and the cars were just as hot ! There were over 16 vintage Nitro & Alcohol  Funny Cars and plenty of vintage Drag Cars to enjoy between rounds . There was everything  from classic 1950's front engine Dragsters to Altered wheel base cars , and 8.90-9.90 Door Cars . Do to the intense sun shining that day filming the racing action was  difficult but we did capture some great pit action.  We shot some great photos and captured the true essence of grass roots racing . Island Dragway is one of two quarter mile tracks still operating in New Jersey , it's about 50 miles west from the George Washington bridge .  The Dazed & Confused 69 Camaro Funny Car is owned by Neil  Murley from Weymouth,Mass. The power plant is an all aluminum 5