Firebird-NHRA AZ Nationals pics and commentary....

[markjohnson]

Love the shots of John Calvert's famous '68 Cobra Jet Mustang "It's Automatic" AND his new '64 Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt will be one to watch this year! I don't really keep up with NHRA that much anymore but it's something else how radical and "spaceship looking" the Pro Stocks and Funny Cars have become. The Pro Stock cars look like a rubber mold from an upside down bath tub and the Funny Cars look like the rear spoilers have been increased and the rear axle shoved so far forward in the body that you can only see the rear half of the rear tires! I've always loved the Funny's though and you gotta admit, it takes some serious cajones to sit in one of them with that engine firing if front of you, having that body lowered down around you like a coffin, and aim that thing down a 1/4 mile with another one right alongside of you! On the other hand, the performance of today's Pro Stocks going 6.60's, naturally aspirated with carburetors on GASOLINE are faster than the Blown, Nitro Funny Cars of the early Seventies. Now that's progress! Thanks for posting Bruce.