Sure the fuel altereds were scintillating at the recent Sydney Dragway Nostalgia Drags, but at the other end of the spectrum Vintage Gas is proving equally as entertaining for the Nostalgia faithful.
With bad-ass attitude stances, straight front axles, exposed fuel tanks, metal flake and cool car names such as “Knuckle Duster”, “Green Fing” and “Funderbolt” – an all but lost tradition in drag racing – the Vintage Gas brigade have been skidding up a storm in the Nostalgia scene for a while now, and their numbers are growing.
They may not be the quickest on track – though the supercharged machines are now pushing into the eights – they are all about the show with 300ft burnouts and twisted up wheelstanding launches.
Vintage Gas is great fun to watch, and look back when drag racing was too cool – we would love to see a Vintage Gas Nationals.
Ash Hayley’s ’55 Chev “Haywire” over-revs the little 283ci small block to the biggest skids of the event.
Bridger Frankland’s chopped FB loves the torque launches from the 427ci powerplant.
Aptly named “X-Rated” XR of Casey Johnson brings some Aussie Ford muscle to the class.
“Funderbolt” steered by Damien Kemp has been a main-stayer in the class for years and now punches out 8-second ETs.
Ezio Cacciotti’s “Green Fing” Plymouth is a classic.
Lep Robertson has resurrected his Austin with true Robertson family style.
The Valiant Hardtop “Cheap Trick” of Mal Phillips powered by a 350 Chev is a green-eyed monster.
Only a Holden six-banger on board for Ryan O’Hara’s “The Convict” – yeah that is a Vauxhall Victor.
440ci of blown Chrysler fury in Shaun Pask’s AP5 “Knuckle Duster” wagon.
Action footage from Madman Productions.
