Page 67 - NM Spring_2021

“The Hard Guys” red 1969 Mustang Boss 429 funny car.
started him thinking about the blown engines and burned out
possibility of running a nitro funny pocketbooks.
car. Dana had noticed the popularity
that nitro nostalgia funny car By the end of the 2010 season,
competition was enjoying. But he Dana felt that he was ready and showed himself worthy of Hard’s
also knew that he didn’t know much he began work on the red 1969 faith in his abilities when he took
about running a fuel car, so he went Mustang Boss 429 funny car. He the car down the Epping quarter-
to the March Meet in Pomona for began buying up as much used nitro mile at 238 mph on the first full pass
three or four years in a row to soak equipment as he could find. While a at a four-car match race.
up as much knowledge as he could new TFX block goes for more than
from the teams who were already $9,500, good solid used blocks can Since then Dana has gained much
running nitro. be found for less than a third of that recognition for his efforts. The
price. He also knew that he would Hard Guys won three years in a row
What he learned was eye-opening. need experienced help. He called when the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion
“It’s not that running nitro is nitro funny car driver Mike Smith in rolled into New England Dragway.
dangerous, per se, if it’s done right. Boynton Beach, Florida and asked In 2019, he was inducted in the New
But if it’s done wrong, oh my god!” if he might be interested in helping England Hot Rod Hall Of Fame
Dana saw more than one dangerous put together a nostalgia nitro funny sponsored by the Orientals Hot Rod
situation at the starting line at those car. Smith is the son of NHRA Club of Reading, Mass.
March Meets and realized that Division II Hall-of-Famer Paul Smith
careful preparation was important, and had been involved in the sport A VISIT TO CAMCO
and he also realized that many from a young age. Smith agreed RACING ENGINES
teams were, as he puts it, “swinging to come north and help Dana by I recently spent the day with Dana
for the fences”. The result was driving the car. Smith quickly at Camco. I found a man who likes
to talk, is quick to laugh and is

SPRING 2021 Nitro Madness Magazine 67