1980’s – Drag Racing 3 : NHRA 1986

One of our longer DVD’s (clocking in at just under 2.5 hours), here we have the best of 1986.
First, the 1986 Winternationals from Pomona CA, one of the most exiting NHRA races of the
1980’s. Next up is an excellent recap of the entire 1986 NHRA season from Diamond P Sports
(the source of this DVD is from an old VHS tape, but quality remains excellent!). Then there
are two segments from the 1986 U.S. All Pro Championships, a tremendous Funny Car race
series from Englishtown, NJ and Maple Grove Raceway, PA. The Funny Car segments are
originally from a video titled “Funny Car Experience”, but we edited that video down (it
originally contained a lot of jet car footage) to just bring you the best of 1986.

1986 NHRA Winternationals – Pomona, CA  (42 min)
One of the greatest races of the 1980’s! Shirley Muldowney returns after a 2-year absence following her horrendous
crash in Montreal Quebec in 1984. Shirley qualifies 2nd, but loses to Big Daddy in the first round. Gary Ormsby debuts
a wild streamliner, and streamliners becomes all the rage for 1986 (Garlits would follow suit at the very next race).
Joe Amato kicks off the season with a 269 mph pass, and everyone wondered who would be the first to break 270 mph
(it would be Garlits). Ed “The Ace” McCulloch has a spectacular explosion that rips the body in half of his Miller
American funny car. This race produced some unlikely winners. In Funny Car, Tim Grose defeats Kenny Bernstein, and
then Grose meets up with John Force in the final round. Force was still looking for his first career win, and after
making 6 final round appearances, and losing them all, this seemed like his best chance. But Tim Grose takes the win,
leaving Force to once again be a bride’s maid. In Pro Stock, Frank Iaconio defeats Warren Johnson, while in Top Fuel,
it’s Darrell Gwynn defeating Don Garlits in a rare final round loss for Big Daddy.

1986 NHRA Review (80 min)
1986 was a year packed with mind-boggling innovation and mind-bending performance. ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits
led the way in both categories when he unveiled his most innovative dragster (Swamp Rat XXX) since his
rear-engined machine of 1971. His streamlining efforts changed the face of Top Fuel for the next couple years,
and tiny front wheels and cockpit bubbles became all the rage. Garlits also stunned the crowd at Englishtown
with his famous ‘blowover’ accident when his dragster performs a frightening backflip halfway down the track.
And after a 2-year hiatus, Shirley Muldowney returns to Top Fuel after her horrific 1984 crash. Kenny Bernstein
became the first Funny Car driver in the 5.4 second zone. Bob Glidden again dominated Pro Stock, but had
the worst crash of his career at the Southern Nationals. He went on to win a then unprecedented seventh NHRA
World Championship. Glidden also became the first Pro Stock driver in the 7.3-second zone, while Warren Johnson
broke the 190 mph barrier. It all helped make the 1986 season one of the most memorable in NHRA history.

1986 U.S. All Pro Funny Car Championship – Englishtown, NJ (11 min)
Fantastic video quality, and tremendous sound! This segment does not cover the entire race, as
this was part of an original 1986 video titled “Funny Car Experience”. Most of this segment
covers Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen and his Coors Corvette Funny Car.

1986 U.S. All Pro Funny Car Championship – Maple Grove, PA (12 min)
Just like the clip above, fantastic video quality and sound, this time from
Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania. This is also an edited piece of the original 1986
video titled “Funny Car Experience”. In this segment, the focus is on Dale Pulde and
his new Miller High Life Buick Somerset Regal. Includes some night time racing!