Page 63 - NM Spring_2021

Dana Hard’s first car, a 1967 Ford Fairlane with a 427 cid engine. The car was named Just e’nuff.
parts down into the cellar. Over the parents purchased a car for him 1967, but once he did, he jumped
winter he overhauled and rebuilt - a 1963 Ford Falcon Futura. He in with both feet. In fact, he aimed
the engine. It was at this point the immediately upended his parent’s for perfect attendance, making the
Dana encountered his first true plans and began to modify the trek to New Hampshire as many
engineering problem - how to get Falcon by souping up the engine as four times a week that season.
the assembled engine out of the and replacing the transmission. In 1968 he began his drag racing
cellar without damaging it. With Hard’s younger brother, Randy, career in earnest behind the wheel
his innate ingenuity, he was able still blames the Falcon for ruining of a fifth-generation Ford Fairlane
to use some wooden planks and any chance their parents might equipped with a 427. Called “Just
a chain fall to pull the engine out purchase a car for him. e’nuff”, the Fairlane earned him a
of the cellar undamaged. That car number of AHRA national records
became a great learning experience, 1966 was also the year that New in both Modified Eliminator and
allowing him to find out what England Dragway opened its Gas classes. In the 1970s Dana
worked and what didn’t. One item gates. Dana didn’t get there until purchased a Pro Stock Mustang II
which didn’t work as hoped was
the camshaft designed for top fuel
dragster engines. With the stock
valve train all it really produced was
bent push rods.

In 1966, Dana graduated high
school and that fall he attended
Wentworth Institute of Technology.
In an effort to get into something
newer and more dependable, his

SPRING 2021 Nitro Madness Magazine 63