The Mighty King Camaro

By David Ray
Photo thanks to Bob Plumer

The mighty King Camaro -- 500 inches of rat spelled: LOUD! Photo from the Drag Racing Memories Collection of Bob Plumer

The Chevy-powered King Camaro of Dan Geare, Dean LaPole, and Fred Totten was rumored to be the loudest funny car of the era. Mike Burkhart use to tell the story about being at the Mfg.'s meet at Orange County, I think 1970. Different cars were in the process of warming up. 

At one point the "Big John Mazmanian" car and Don Schumacher's "Stardust" Cuda both started their motors at about the same time. Both cars, being high dollar, late model stroker engines from KB or Pink, were very loud, especially when both were running. A minute later the King Camaro started on the next row over. It was so loud you couldn't hear the other two!