Top Fuel Magnets
Description: Conceived in 1959 by the Smokers Car Club of Bakersfield as sort of an East vs. West challenge, the March Meet (aka United States Fuel and Gas Championships) became much more than that. Held at Famoso Bakersfield Raceway, the event's reputation as the most fierce outlaw drag race brought competitors from coast to coast. Winning the event gave a drag racer immediate caché as the race was that tough to win in its heyday.
Description: Back in the mid '40s, racers and hot rodders Red Wilson and Tony Capana joined forces to start a speed shop in Los Angeles. They called it WILCAP – the first three letters of their last names – and before too long, their shop was well known by gear heads in So Cal and beyond thanks to their innovative products and extensive mail order catalog. In addition to distributing a wide array of speed parts, WILCAP was probably best known for their machining their own line of custom flywheels, transmission adapters, and engine hardware. Eventually, WILCAP was also the place to get nitromethane and alcohol fuels. They made their own custom blends and sold them by the gallon and by the barrel, making getting out to the track that much easier.
Description: Most longtime drag racing fans are familiar with the ultra-swoopy Wonder Wagon Vega that he debuted at the 1973 U.S. Nationals, and some may even remember that the sponsorship program actually began with a completely different team at the end of the 1972 season. The Wonder Wagon was one of the most popular funny cars ever fielded amongst fans, but it’s driver frequently stated that it was the most dangerous too, mainly due to the car’s aerodynamics, or lack thereof. Dangerous or not, the cars and the sponsor was something different, and these bread truck inspired wagons really resonated with race fans.
