'Ya know, I have always thought the NTF cars of today had managed to turn the fuel cars of the sixties into butt ugly facsimiles of what they had evolved into by the late sixties and for what reason I still don't quite understand. At this moment I am in the final stages of the restoration of the Candies & Hughes '76 World Champion rear engined Woody car (Richard Tharp driven), which is a real beauty. It occurs to me that in about the same time frame ('70 - present) that the rear engined cars have also become butt ugly facsimiles of their predecessors. I understand and know that changes will come with faster times and lower ETs. All things change, but not all things lose style, grace, and yes, beauty. Airplanes are faster but few are ugly, motorcycles are faster but few are ugly, 18 year old ladies are faster but.... Never mind, I digress! <g>

A couple of weeks ago I saw a photo of the K&O Fast Guys hot rod and it made me remember just how wonderful cars from that era were with Hanna, Nye Frank, Tom Jobe and others beating out graceful, stylish and minimal bodies! Beautiful needle noses with 'bat wings' at the front and minimal, well positioned rear wings: class acts! Aero packages are certainly needed but Jesus, do they need to look like they do? I think not! I'd like to cut Hanna, Youngblood and perhaps Alan Johnson (for a touch of reality) loose on a design for Top Fuel today. It might not 'work' instantly but it sure as hell wouldn't be butt ugly. Myself, Hanna, Youngblood and Jobe (again, for that touch of reality!) might come up with an NTF rig that would 'work' and not make you blow chunks when you looked at it!

Just the ramblings of a crazy old man that's 'Sittin' Low in Idaho'!

Patty Faster