Fuel Altered Files, Part 2

Text by Danny White

The Winged Express of "Wild" Willie Borsch and Al Marcellus arguably is the most famous fuel altered of all time. The car was first built by Phil Johnson in 1961 as a blown gas AA/A, but was transformed into an AA/FA in 1963 and raced into the 1970 season with several repairs between. Marcellus and Borsch understood the principals of down force and added the large adjustable spoiler that made this car so easy to identify. Borsch won many races with the car and thrilled many fans across the country with his one hand driving style. Borsch and Marcellus were part of the USA Fuel Altered Tour from 68 to71 that brought fuel altereds to the masses. The best Borsch ran in the original car was a 7.11 in 1969 and 202.70 in 1968. It was one the first fuel altereds to run 200 M.P.H. before being destroyed in a crash. Marcellus runs the Winged Express to this day. For more information about the Winged Express AA/FA go to www.wingedexpress.com or (Photo by L&M Photo, courtesy of Bob Plumer and Drag Racing Memories)

This is the first official Rat Trap AA/FA run by Don Green. Green formed the Rat Trap team after the split of the Pippens & Green team after the 67 season. Don used his engine and a chassis from Ron Boswell. Boswell did not last a year, dropping out of the partnership in mid-68. Green continued to run the car on his own. Chuck Burch ran a 7.72, 187.10 in the ungainly car in 1968 and it was also driven by George “the Stoneage Man” Hutcheson. The Rat Trap won the Drag News Championships held at Lions Drag Strip. This version was raced only during the 1968 season before being replaced by a new Rat Trap. For more information about the Rat Trap go to www.rattrapracing com and (Photo by L&M Photo, courtesy of Bob Plumer and Drag Racing Memories)

The Mental Cruelty machine was not raced very long at the climax of the great So-Cal AA/FA shows of the late 60’s and early 70’s. Owner and driver Dave Bowman, who had been racing a dragster previously, raced it from 1969 to 1971. Bowman’s Bantam had one of the wildest paint jobs on a fuel altered. Dave had the famed painter Molly paint the car in the psychedelic scheme seen here. Bowman ran the car both with Chevy Rat power and a 392 Chrysler Hemi. Dave ran a good 7.29, 180.10 in 1970 with colorful Bantam. That time came undoubtedly with the Hemi. Bowman left the fuel altered ranks like many others to race funny cars, in his case, the California Stud series of machines. (Photo by Mike Ditty)

The Burkholder's Outcast AA/FA was known for it unique 27 Ford Touring body, its unique one of a kind injector with the organ pipe stacks, and of course, its outstanding appearance. This is the fourth car the Burkholder Bros. built. It was originally run in the AA/A class on Gas. Then we changed to Fuel during the AA/FA match race days. 15% nitro was all we could pass thru the gas injector system but still eventually ran 200 MPH. Car was based on a owner Harry Burkholder built chassis with the Old's engine from thier previous AA/A. The body by brother Pete was a one off 23 T touring. Was ranked as the worlds fastest Old's powered car.  Hairy, Pete, and Ken were from Northern California and worked at the well known Tognotti’s Speed Shop. Hairy drove the car as did Top Fuel racer Jim Herbert. Burkholder won a Combo Eliminator event (an early version of Pro Comp) at Sacramento. Harry ran a good 7.21, 206 in the car in 1970 with a Chrysler. The Burkholder’s replaced the car after the 1970 season. (Additional text by Hairy Burkholder; Photo by Leland Norene, courtesy of Hairy Burkholder )

Dexter and his sons Randy and Brad Bradford joined the So-Cal AA/FA wars with this Logghe Bros. built Fiat in 1966. The team ran the car they bought from Lee LeBaron first as an A/FA with Randy at the wheel. In 1968 the team added a blower to the potent little Fiat. In 69 the Fiat got its distinct paint job by the famed Molly and the team also joined the US Fuel Altered tour. Randy Bradford had his driving career interrupted while he went to Vietnam and Frank Harris took over the driving in 1969. After his return Randy ran a 7.21 at 206.42 best in 1970. The team bought a funny car to replace the Fiat, but never ran it, choosing to retire instead. The Bradfords now race a new version of the famed Fiat. For more information about the Bradford racing team go to www.bradfordsfiat.com. (Photo by L&M Photo, courtesy of Bob Plumer and Drag Racing Memories)

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Bob Vorian had raced altereds and roadsters in California before moving to Texas. Vorian and Bobby Dean Bohannan teamed to race the All American AA/FA in 1971. While the car looked like a standard Chrysler Hemi powered Austin AA/FA, it wasn’t. That was no Chrysler, but a Ford with an extremely rare pair of M/T Hemi heads. The team was part of the Texas Roadster Circuit that formed after NHRA axed the AA/FA class. The All American ran there and took the occasional trip west to race the other fuel altereds of the time. The team raced this car until it was replaced by a new All American in the mid 70’s. For more information about the All American AA/FA, check out the following page www.angelfire.com/tx/fuelcarfan/outlaws/voirin.html. (Photo from the Bob Vorian collection)

This is Glen Hyder’s best known race car; the turtle deck 23 Ford T that was shoed by several drivers. Chuck Burch, Tom Koulan, and Randy Bradford all drove the distinct altered with the Scott Slot injector. The car was a middle of the road performer in the So-Cal AA/FA wars. Hyder also built a funny car to replace his altered. To learn more about Glen Hyder go to www.georgiadragracing.com/articles/burlingtonglenhydersr.html. (Photo by L&M Photo, courtesy of Bob Plumer and Drag Racing Memories)

Travis Bouchey got into altered racing in 2004 when he bought the former Kent Bassett Fiat from Bobby Lee Marriott. Bouchey joined the Outlaw Fuel Altered circuit, running on alcohol with the car he called the Fasty McNasty. In 2005 Travis made the big jump up to nitro going through a year of broken and burnt parts. In 2007 things began to turn around as Bouchey broke into the elusive three second zone on the eighth mile. As of 2009 Travis has taken the flamed Fiat to best times of 3.77 at 205 at North Star Dragway. For more information about the Fasty McNasty AA/FA team go to www.fastymcnasty.com. (Photo by Gena White)

Mike Sullivan is one of the legends of fuel altered racing, bar none! Sullivan has been around the altered scene all the way back to the 60’s.The Hansen Race Cars built machine that bears his name was built in 2007. Mike has partnered with Steve Haight and Mike Boyd, who capably pilots the car. The Mike Sullivan 23T is one of quickest and fastest of the current transformer AA/FA’s.  Boyd ran an awesome 5.43, 273 at the Chuy’s event at Bakersfield in 2008. To find out more about the team go to www.mikesullivanracing. (Photo by Auto Imagery and www.autoimagery.com)

Pure Heaven lives in 2009! Jeff Bennett and his son Chris have built a new Pure Heaven AA/FA with the permission of Leon Fitzgerald. (Jeff is engaged to marry Leon’s daughter). In 2008, the team built a nostalgia funny car with the Pure Heaven banner. This year they dropped an Austin Bantam body on the car and dubbed it the Pure Heaven V. Chris Bennett has run 6.25 at 221 so far. For more information about the Pure Heaven AA/FA, go to www.pureheavenracing.com. (Photo by Gary Brown)