Either way, Alcohol Funny Car has been a fundamental part of the UDRA circuit package for nearly 30 years. In 1972 for example, UDRA featured the blown alcohol circuit cars racing injected nitro Funny Cars with the blower contingent represented by Marlis Williams in the Williams & Bohl Vega, Ron Boggs' AMX, Joe Gazzana's "Bold One" Camaro, and Ron Ellis' "Trick Truck" Vega panel. They were represented in a Sept. 1, 1972 National Dragster article as "blown Alky Funny Cars," a significant pre-dating of NHRA's debut with the cars. NHRA had run an occasional BB/FC in Competition Eliminator at roughly that time, but didn't really jump in like UDRA had until they introduced Pro Comp (which contained BB/FC) almost a year later in October at its 1973 NHRA Supernationals. It is likely UDRA was the main kick-start for what has proven to be a very durable class.

It was also in 1970 that UDRA got its Pro Stock program rolling. That same year NHRA had debuted the Pro Stock class in name at its year-opening Winternationals event in Pomona, drawing over 40 of these heads up Super Stockers-type cars for a 32-car eliminator.

Barry Wiggins photo.
The late Joe Satmary, a UDRA circuit champ, is seen wheeling his 427-454-cid type cast iron Chevy-powered Pro Stock to the win at the Union Grove 1973 "Olympics of Drag Racing."

UDRA started in the spring with its Pro Stock circuit and among the earlier participants were five-time NHRA Pro Stock champ Warren Johnson, Wayne Gapp and Winston Cup car owner Jack Roush, and Joe Satmary. Their cars ran respectably, but in the next two years it became obvious that they couldn't run with either the NHRA, AHRA, or IHRA cars. Those associations were loaded down with the Bill Jenkins', Sox & Martins, Don Nicholsons, and Don Carltons and ran far more impressively than UDRA circuit racers.

Current UDRA president Jack Thomas recalled that 1973 marked a watershed year for UDRA's Pro Stock program.

"We had good racers and the circuits did well," Thomas recalled. "However, I'd be the first to admit that our cars couldn't run as quick. Part of that reason, though, was that we didn't have as many quality tracks like NHRA with its Indys and Gainesvilles. Ronnie Sox might've been able to beat our guys, but he wouldn't have run great numbers at tracks like Alton (Ill.) or Oswego (Ill.) either.

"In the latter half of 1972, we let a few of our guys take some of the weight out of the cars and slide a little on the cubic inches to put on a better show for the fans. By 1973, the unlimited Pro Stock approach had evolved from that.

"In NHRA or IHRA then, and I'm not saying I'm an expert on these groups, but they had their Pro Stock guys run 350 or so cubic inches and IHRA about the same. We decided that it was in our interest to let 'em 'run what 'ya brung,' so to speak. We had 427-powered Vegas and Pintos, and 426-powered Dodge Colts and these cars immediately dropped in the elapsed time area and picked up in the mile per hour zone."

Dennis Scott photo.
The Mr. Norm "mini" 1973 Dodge Colt was powered by a destroked, sleeved 426-cid Hemi that measured out to an altered 362 inches. Later the Chicagoans ran the unlimited Pro Stocker with the 426. By the way, the driver is the famed Funny Car pioneer, Gary Dyer.

Thomas and Nichols both recall that an interested observer to these unlimited goings on was Ted Jones, a major executive in the IHRA organization. According to Nichols, Jones had attended a few UDRA events and began championing the cause of big-inch or, as they were known then, "mountain motor" Pro Stocks.

After running rules somewhat similar to NHRA's for the first four years of its existence, IHRA went to the "mountain motor" set up in 1976 and immediately began outrunning NHRA's Pro Stocks by as much as three tenths and nearly 7 to 8-mph. NHRA stayed with its more conservative approach until the end of the 1981 season, but in 1982 they, too, went "mountain motor."

And all of this can be traced back to UDRA.

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In 2000, UDRA has scheduled 14 events at various locations across the country, the most recent being at U.S. 131 Dragway in Martin, Michigan on May 20. Winning Pro Stock was Tom Sherbourn in a 1999 Dodge Avenger with a very IHRA-like time of 6.77, 207. J.C. Foster bagged Alcohol Funny Car with a 6.35, 219 shot and Alcohol Dragster went to T.J. Zizzo with a 6.10, 229.

"At this show, we ran all the Pro Stocks, establishing a quick eight for the eliminator," said Thomas. "In the alcohol classes, we have an all-run first round and then bring back the quickest four for two rounds. This makes it less expensive for everybody and we even give the No. 9 Pro Stock car his tow money. We present a good show for the fans, showcase cars they don't always see, and try and save the racer a few bucks. Make it right as we can for everybody"

Which sums up UDRA's efforts in general for its 36 years.

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