Back
Home
Up
Next

Drag Racing Story of the Day!

1981 AHRA Grandnationals - BB/Funny Car

By Rick Howard

Dick Malone defeated Ken Veney in the final in a major upset. Photo by Rick Howard
Dick Malone defeated Ken Veney in the final in a major upset. Photo by Rick Howard

It looked as if Ken Veney had the first spot locked up in BB/FC. But, just like in Pro Comp, a last minute charge demoted the fans local favorite to No. 2. Lee Zeinert's "Darth Vega" stepped up with a 6.74/205, which stood up all weekend as Low ET of the Meet. Veney had to be content with a 6.75/210. The "Assassin" 'Vette of Mascol & Malone, with Dick Malone at the controls, was third with a 6.83/205. George Cambra, making a bit of a jaunt from Hawaii, was fourth with a 6.86/208. Talk about your burnouts. Cambra looks like Double A! Herb Rodger's "Flyin' Glass" Trans Am was fifth, recording a 7.00/200. Dave Sebring, piloting Harry Rydbom and Art Guiher's '81 Mustang was sixth at 7.01/205. Norm Day and his "Magnum Force" was seventh at 7.13/196. And "Diamond Jim" Crownhart sat on the bump with a 7.19/187.

Alcohol Funny Car action was kicked off Sunday when Dick Malone defeated Norm Day, 7.01/201 to 7.47/189. Ken Veney (no time given...trivia question #2) got by Dave Sebring's losing 6.76/209. Lee Zeinert and George Cambra advanced to the semi-finals with wins over Herb Rodgers and Jim Crownhart (no times given...trivia question #3), respectively.

In the semis, Malone upset No. 1 qualifier Zeinert - both running identical 6.93s. Malone's 6.93/(no speed given) beat a 6.93/203. In the other semi-final pairing, Veney ended Cambra's day, 6.74/205 to 6.86/208.

Veney had his final round competitor covered by several tenths and inexplicably red-lighted, throwing away a 6.75/207, and handing the win and the bucks to Malone, who carded a winning 7.07/196.

Rick Howard
Rickie.Howard2@wpafb.af.mil

Thanks to Don Garlits for the use of his personal copies of the AHRA Drag World issue covering this race. Text above was in part from this magazine/newspaper, editor unknown. However, I've made corrections to spelling, ETs, and speeds as needed. RH

 




Home  Drag Lists  Forum  Blog  Links  Stories  Pictures  Racing Junk  Movies  Store  Help  More 

Drag Photos  Drag Blog  Facebook  Twitter  60s Funny Cars  70s Funny Cars  80s Funny Cars  Gasser Madness  Drag Times

Google

 
Web draglist.com

Copyright 1996-2022 by Bilden Enterprises. All rights reserved.