The HISTORY of Jack Chrisman's 1965 Comet FUNNY CAR
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- Опубліковано 13 жов 2024
- Is the Jack Chrisman Comet the first funny car? It's debatable, and there are many arguments about which cars were the true innovator of the class. I break down the history of the Jack Chrisman car, which is truly the first factory-appearing car to run on nitro methane with an absolute beast of an engine combination...very similar to a front engine dragster of the era. It's a piece of DRAG RACING HISTORY, and the car is still alive and well in East Tennessee. It is completely restored to its early 1965 configuration (blown and injected SOHC engine on nitro), but as you'll see in the video, this car changed a lot in a matter of two years.
In fact, funny car racing (it wasn't even a real class until later in the 1960's) was an ever-evolving group of cars. Most were exhibition cars at heart, but the convergence of tire-smoking exhibition cars and wheelstanding altered wheelbase cars created what we now know as funny cars. The real revolutionary change in funny car racing was the creation of the one-piece fiberglass flip top body, an idea that materialized in 1966 with Mercury's factory-backed creations. That flip top body defined funny cars and that specific trait stands to this day, no matter how many changes have occurred in the AA/FC class over the years.
The restored Sachs and Sons Comet stands as one of the most historic cars in all of drag racing and we go into full detail to tell you about its history, and its restoration by Jim Barillaro in the 1980's. Jim's two sons are now carrying on the legacy of their father, and the legacy of one of the most famous and influential drag cars in the history of the sport. Don't forget to stick around to the end of the video to hear this blown and injected cammer run on a heavy load of nitro methane!
#hotrodhoarders #funnycar #history
It is funny hearing a relatively young man talking so knowledgeably about cars from the year I was born, 1964. Dude you are a real font of knowledge. I am glad you are repackaging all this knowledge and putting it on the internet. It may soon be completely obsolete knowledge, but it will be there. Thank you.
Thank you for the kind words!
I'm a 1965 model year, and I enjoy these videos also. I was fortunate to have a father and uncles that were into drag racing in the '60s and '70s, so I spent many weekends at the track. I was constantly reading all the car magazines, and building all the models of my favorite cars that Revell would make. Seeing the history behind all these lost cars is very enjoyable.
I am trying to think of anyone anywhere who is currently so important to the documentation of hot rod history as Hot Rod Hoarder. I'm drawing blank. Thanks for all your excellent research and videos, HHH!!!!
I'm not aware of any one at any age on any media platform who is doing the quality important work that he is.
I 'm also a 1964 model' 64 was a good year for cars 'gt 40' comets' 250 lm ferrari' thunderbolt's' belvederes' coronets' nova's' impala's biscayne's' barracudas ' all of them beautiful automotive art. I'm primarily a Chrysler fan' but ' those comet's are stunning. Thanks hot rod hoarder .
I was born I'm '51 and grew up following these cars and racers. You brought back some memories. Those were the days.
Saw this car some years ago at Oxford Dragway here in Maine. It was my first exposure to the car, other than seeing it in magazines. Jim ran some exhibition passes with it. Drag racing history live... WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!!
That's awesome...I would've loved to see this thing make a pass!
@@HotRodHoarder It was only a 1/8 mile track and he didn't hammer it but he did put on a show!!!
@@HotRodHoarder ... At 1:17, you gave us a glimpse of the thing I've always associated with Jack. The Sidewinder. I read about it in a magazine article, and always wondered why it didn't become the standard for drag cars. Perhaps you could delve into it for us.
RaceFan1973, I was at Oxford Dragway back then too. I remembered the car from the time that I ran a "57 Ford Custom 2dr sedan gasser in NHRA "back in the day."
As a ten year old kid in 1965, I fell in love with drag racing, and cars like Chrisman's Comets were my favorites. I quit spending money on comic books and started buying every drag racing and hot rod magazine I could. My all time favorite driver/owner was Arnie "The Farmer" Beswick. It would be fantastic if you guys did a feature on Arnie and his cars. I love this channel and always look forward to your videos. Thanks for all you do to tell the stories of the early years of drag racing. Those were the days !!
Thank you for the kind words Lance! Arnie Beswick was another guy who got into funny car racing VERY early. He had some wild creations!
Thank you for all the research you did to tell the story of this car. And some of the history of drag racing. Its great that some of the younger generation is getting to learn about the good ole day's of the sport. Glad I was born in 1958 and got to see a lot of the car's of day's gone by.
This was the best vid you have done so far! for a young buck you are becoming very knowledgeable in the sport that entrapped me at around 1964 and it still has its greasy hands firmly around my heart to this day! I was very fortunate indeed to grow up in this the best era of Drag Racing and Hot Rodding! now at over 70 the best I can do is to make 1/25 scale models of my heroes cars! and as it happens I am currently working on the 65 first red comet!
Thank you for watching Wayne! I wish I could've been around back then, but I'll just do my best to live in the past and tell these old drag racing stories. I love this stuff!
I got a slot car set for X-mas in 1965...the cars were '65 Comet and 65 GTO. I was 9 yrs old. Still building old cars too @ 65. Love this channel !
Love it! Thanks for telling the story of this car. It's one of my favorite drag cars of all time! Still looking for the right '65 Comet body to build one day
Thank you for watching!
Kudos to those with insight tracking down and restoring history of the sport. Those drag race pioneers are forever etched in my memory. Keep the history coming thank you.
Whattt!!! I work in Fremont ca where was this track at. In Fremont
I remember watching these car run when I was in high school. Thrilled with them in the day and thrilled with them now!
That's awesome! Wish I could've seen them run back in the day!
@@HotRodHoarder yup, Irwindale on Wednesday nights & OCIR on the weekends.
It really makes me happy whenever i see or hear about one of these old cars getting rediscovered and rebuilt or preserved in one way or another. Thank you for another awesome video, i really like hearing about the history of these old cars. 👍
Thank You So Much , for telling this story ! I was a teenager at the time and thought these guys were Gods , they will never be forgotten !
Well done, thanks. I was at Fremont when the early car ran. I was running Gas Class stuff. But it was a show !!
What a great history lesson. These 2 cars are bad ass. The sound of the car running at the end, was awesome. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for watching David!
Oh my god! I remember those days! But then, I’m old. Lol. Thanks for the research!
Thanks for watching Rick!
Thank you so very much for the history behind these cars. I met Jack at the Shrine Auditorium in 63'. What a fine gentlemen. I watched him at numberous drag races at the various tracks in Southern Cal.
awesome piece of history car sounds wicked in the video ,my first car was 64 falcon 4speed back in 69 ,i bought a 65 comet cyclone 4 speed in 1998 still owe it today and i get people telling me stories about comets back in the day ,thanks again for the video .
Another awesome video. Thank you for doing this. I am the administrator for the Virginia Street Rods Facebook page and I am going to do a post and try to direct the members to your page. I really love history. I love cars. I especially love drag racing!!!
As a young kid of 16 I worked for Frank Maratta at CT Dragway and used to watch Jim race his 57' Ford Fairlane under the Jim's Speed Emporium banner. Jim always put on a great show. Fast forward to the 1990's and Jim had a model Train hobby store. I stopped in a few times and we reminisced about the CT Dragway days and shared some great stories of those times. Jim and Mike, Keep those Cammers going! Wil Chabotte Jr.
I truly enjoy this vintage stuff, my favorites were the modified production cars, I remember those cars well...kudos to you researching these vintage cars & keeping them alive...God Bless!!
Mr. Hot Rod, i love this video, I have a story here,,, My Mother started working at Ford World Headquarters Building back in 1960, as a secretary, & Ford would sell some experimental cars to people who worked there. My Mother bought a 1966 Mercury Comet Caliente with a 289 High Po Engine in it, 4 barrel carb, automatic, it was a experimental engine at the time, lord knows what was done inside the engine, it was super fast, i bought it from her when i was 16 years old, i would race 289 Mustangs and leave them in the Dust, the Mercury Comet had intermittent windshield wipers, that were a new thing, it had a FM Mono radio in it, that was a new thing in 1966, The engine finally blew up, due to me Racing, At The Old Detroit Dragway, i wish that i still had this car, it was a real charm to drive, this brought back memories of my teen years, thanks for the video, Cousin Figel
I really like your videos. I was a son of a career Marine and spent my high school years 1962-66 in Fallbrook Ca
Couldn’t always get to Carlsbad on Friday nights but loved when I could. Drag master had a shop on Main Street in an old quanset hut. I didn’t realize it until I returned from Vietnam in 1970. Your videos have sparked a dream of building an old school Anglia… a gasser look but street driven I’m trying to decide between a nailhead or 409.
Saw that car in white in 1965 at the Coach Light restaurant at exit 4 of I-83 in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania on a Thursday evening. School classmate Jim Fager did state inspections and tuned cars for York US 30 Dragway around the back in the basement. The team was eating in the dining room said Hello to anyone who recognized them. York Lincoln Mercury was sponsoring them on Saturday evening,. Sunday was probably Cecil County sponsored by McCoy Mercury of Rising Son, Maryland.
I fly into that airport love the place
PS; Thank you to Jim Barillaro and now his sons for their efforts/contributions with the car and with the museum/shop. And having Dad's ashes in the shop is exceptional. All the best to the Jim Barillaro family.
I saw this car run at the "last Super Stock Reunion" in Dinwiddie VA. I believe it was about 1998, 99 or 2000. It was an awesome sight to see.
I remember being mesmerized by this car (the Logghe frame rail version) when it was featured in Hot Rod Magazine. It was much different than anything else and set a new standard for full-bodied cars.
For sure, both of the Comets were revolutionary cars back in the day....I love the flip top car.
Great history of these old cars that us old guys grew up watching.Your knowledge is wonderful. Keep it up and I’ll keep watching.
thanks for telling the story. i love hearing the stories behind all these old cars!
It's just awesome that someone has the passion to do this. Not just for himself but to share with the world. The amount of time spent on the research to put it into perspective with back stories on backstory. Photos, articles etc all spliced in to create a collage of interesting facts. Man!!! He makes it so interesting that I subscribed to this channel a while back and I'm not even a petrol head. I'm hooked now. Even the way he narrates. With intelligent deliberate fact. A pleasure to watch.
My buddy worked for Jim back in the late 80’s, I went to his shop and saw the aluminum “cammer” blocks around the shop with “Barillaro” cast right into them, shelves of blowers, and parts, an impressive sight for an 18 yr old gear head kid at the time… awesome video!!
One of my all time favorites ! Such a great piece of history ! Thank you !
What a great story ! And passion in the telling. Your love of the history is infectious. 🤜🤛
I will never forget seeing Eddie Schartman and Dino don squarer off in their first flip top Comets/Fairlanes. I was gobsmacked and became a funny car nut. the 69 Nationals at Fremont was a life altering event for me. Pit pas and a chance to sit in Charlie Allen’s Dart was a highlight of my life at 15.
Small world as I'm watching this and looking out my window at Jacks Sons home.
California Gear did all my ring and pinions back in the day, and I could not just drop off and pick up. I would spend hours talking to Jacks son and daughter about the days at the drags. They had some great stories to tell.
One of Jacks son lives down the street from me. He used to cut all my rear end gears at his Calif Gear machine shop. We would talk for hours about hanging out at drag strips as kids.
This video is unbelievable!!! You've topped yourself once again. I remember watching the flopper fun as a kid.
Thanks for the tour down memory lane,I was born in 62 and think I may have had the Johnny Lightning version of this car,LOL!Thanks to Mr.Barillaro ,rip,and his sons for saving the historic icons of drag racing!
Wow! What a great story about two great Ford dominators in the Drag Racing world. We rarely saw anything like this up here in Canada and I'm surprised that one of the most famous of these venerable US Funny Cars made it up here somehow. It's a miracle that it made it all the way back to Tennessee. Some of my family came from the USA and I still have an admiration for all you've done to bring the best out of the automotive industry around the world. By the way, you are a great storyteller too. Keep up the great work and God Bless you and your Family. Sincerely, Bob Steele, Maj Ret. Alberta, Canada.
You have brought back many memories. I remember these cars. I was 14 in 1964
From an old racing geezer who was around back then... You are spot on. Christman's first blown Comet was indisputably "patient 0" of the Funny Car world. Once everybody got a look at that car, which was outrageously over-the-top bananas bonkers at the time, the floodgates came flying open and over the next year and a half or so, almost every month's magazine covers showed cars even wilder than the month before's.
Crazy and wondrous days.
Jaaaaaysus! That's one of the sweetest sounds I've ever heard!
Thank you so much for that history, I can remember reading about that car in Hot Rod magazine all those years ago. 2 Thumbs up !
I am compelled to add that this is my favorite video - bar none.
Why? There are a number of iconic cars that I followed in the heyday of drag racing - the 1960's. So much innovation took place then and it was much like the innovation that took place in the 1940's on the dry lakes beds and Bonneville. THIS "funny car" is my favorite drag racing car. And when I say THIS, I mean the line of Comet cars that Jack Nicholson and Ford put together that you detailed in this video. You did a very good job with this video and my memory says you were faithful to the facts. You were also a gentlemen not to detail the nature of Jack's injuries incurred with the rear end accident. Kudos to you for doing this video. It brought back so many warm memories for me.
Thanks for bringing the history of these early funerary back. I remember going to see Jungle Jim Lieberman funny car nova race against the orange Brutus Firebird funny car .It was 1968 , was 11 yrs old .HEHE were racing at Maplegrove in Pa. I was hooked after watching those nitro methane burning cars doing fire burnouts ,which they made illegal a couple years later .
I got chills when he cracked that SOHC motor. Sounds like no other motor out there. One of the best endings to a video. I've got to see this car again.
This whole video had me glued to every word as I try and make some sort of sense of what was going on around me when I was growing up and hanging out at drag strips with my uncle's.
What an awesome video to share for the history of drag racing thank you so much for this
Thank you for making this very comprehensive video on Jack Chrisman ! I have always loved and followed any information on these cars. You did an excellent job revealing the timeline of these cars. I enjoy seeing videos of any of the Drag Racing innovators from days gone by. Keep up the great work and I will be following your channel. Thanks!
I was a seven yr old kid going to the drags with my uncle and I remember these cars , it was a great time . I am 65yrs old and currently putting together an early model 454 chevy and I am looking for a early 60s body to put it in ( GM ) . my reaction times are not as fast as they use to be , I don't drive the way I did 40 yrs ago but the sound of an open exhaust and the lope of a big cam still makes my peter tingle . great video good to see youngsters interested in early racing when it was good .
He used to bring this to the CT dragway reunion years ago, most awesome sounding car ever
Very interesting history lesson,and another very cool hotrod saved.
Yes sir, I love that Jim had the presence of mind to restore the car so early on.
That sound makes that car way better than it already is... Keep the content coming and stay great
Thank you for watching Chris!
I'm a die hard Mopar guy, but man I love the the stories about the old cars....
Seeing this made me go try to find videos of it racing in the day and man,,,the guys who drove this comet in 64-65 had balls off titanium to be brave enough to floor it knowing your gonna be gambling on your skills alone to get to the 330-1/8 because of just how wild and figity the back end looks, until it kinda gets enough traction to now it’s only slightly hazing the tires through the beams , it’s like watching 3000 pounds figure skating at 150 mph for ten seconds
They were wild men, for sure!
Once again, you knocked it out of the park, with another awesome video, my friend. This is information that so few people carry on. This is true drag racing history and you're one of the few that keeps it rolling. And for that I thank you. Don Garlits used to race with my stepfather. So I'm one of the few that really grew up around drag racing, and just really grew attached to the 60s era. And it's nice to know that the the legends are not forgotten.💯💯💯💯💯
About those years i was 15 or so and we saw them race at many So.Cal tracks.. Glad I was around to hang out in the pits and TRY to keep track of the next wild and crazy car coming along.
Very exciting time..
Very nice recap of the history. I was track photographer at Lions and Irwindale in the 60's living in South Gate California. I photographed all of these cars and they where real crowd pleasers. Dan Bott
Thanks for keeping history alive. Kudos also to you for the amount of work you put in to do the reserch and the great presentation you as the story teller provided, very enjoyable to watch👏
Was a kid during the 50s and 60s and as always we remember it a little bit different as we age, however it was truly run what you brought, amazing time for racing!!! 2021
Simply put...Jack Chrisman was a maniac, when maniacal behavior was pretty much the norm in drag racing. The pic of him wearing a little helmet and gas-mask in his chop top Nitro comet is stuff of legend. I always thought he was incredible. Shocked that this ride has survived over 50 years. A fuel powered Ford cammer sporting a blower? Mind-numbing.
GREAT NOSTALGIC WORK!!! I could detect a TN r KY accent. The 64-5 Merc Comet was a gorgeous car.
Sure would liked to have seen and heard this car run the 1/4 just 1x.
Great content and history enjoy watching and learning alot. Stuff going on before I was old enough to know what a car was. Born 1961
Thank you sir!
Oh yeah, what an incredible story on this family/racing history. A great early piece of what I think started the full blown circus of what the NHRA/IHRA is now. Wow thanks. 👍
Thank you for watching Michael!
Love your stories! Born and raised in Downey CA I loved this car and the displays that were in Sachs and Sons. Being raised in a mopar or no car family in the 60's you might be surprised that I feel Chrisman's Comet was the first funny car. Thanks for sharing!!
AHha, My grandfathers got one of these, threw a old school Ford Racing Engine in it, its such a lovely car.
Fascinating history. Thanks for sharing! Raw power right there!🏎
Thank you for the support David!
Two of my favorite old race cars. My father owned cyclones when I was a kid man I love them still
Wow, you learned so much from this era. I lived next to the Winternationals (Pomona Fairgrounds) and remembered most of these 'exhibition cars'. It was a great time to be into the racing scene and at this race week. Walking the pits. Born in 1950
mam oh man bought a tear and a smile. good stuff
O Man that car sounded SO NASTY I could only imagine racing that Beast, loved the video my friend keep them coming, I have a small stack of 65 and some Hot Rod magazines , I’m going to have to see if I can find that car, Thanks 🙏..
I have that magazine from back then . My neighbour was a racer and gave me a stack of hot rod & others. I never threw them away. !
Just bought a 1965 comet, only thing missing is the 427 lol.... Six banger with three in the tree. Just love the 65 body style, sheer beauty looks with luscious lines and well stacked headlights, you fellers know what I mean!!!!!!
Absolutely great Mercury racing history. I wish I could be standing next to this car to feel it vibrate & shake...
Absolutely the peak of coolness in drag racing history.
Excellent piece of work Tim, you should be very proud of this video. I’m a road racer who, as I’ve gotten older has come to enjoy and respect the 50’s and 60’s era of drag racing where the development of the cars/engines/tires was non-stop and barely contained by rules. Just as I love Indy Car of the 50’s-70’s and Can Am, I love the old drag race cars. They share far more than everyone realizes in regard to the freedom of thought that went into their design and creation.
Good job Tommy, The work you do documenting these awesome machines is preserving the details for many for years to come!
Great followup of the first video.
Tremendous video - you are a great story teller.
I hope you will do more on the dawn of the funny car. As a 60’s kid saw many of the early floppers.
Still my favorites!
All the best
Thank you Jon! Those early funny cars were wild! Wish I could've been around to see them back then.
I'm old school and still like old school muscle car alot better than todays Racing! thanks for what you do
Wow to cool to see cars I haven’t seen in decades, some I remember watching race. And a very enjoyable narration. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for working so hard to keep a record of this history, these cars are the ones I grew up with and loved. Keep up the great work. You are the best!!!!
Connecticut Dragway was our home track. I/we remember Jim B very well. We ran a long nose Chevy Vega funny car that we sold to Jim Liberman in 1974. That car is at Don Garlits Museum in Ocala FL.
I love coming home from work and watching your show 👍👍👍👍👍✅✅✅✅✅
Thank you for the continued support Mark!
Watching it warm up i almost could smell what i think was nitro coming from my computer. thanks for the fix.
I remember those back in my day. Thank you for that.
Loved that car as a kid, Sachs & Sons was our car dealer. ❤❤
Another brilliant video and it's exactly what I need after a week of stress moving house.
Cheers, mate 👍
Thank you for watching Phil!
A recreation of the 64 version would be amazing to see, but either way it is great to see both cars still around.
The 1964 car has been recreated and is in the Lions Automobilia Foundation Museum in Southern California. I've heard it's a really great recreation.
Great story once again told by a great story teller! Keep 'em coming.
Mate, I used to look at these cars and their peers in magazines here in Australia in the '60s. It must be fate that your channel came to me. Thanks for the videos...subscribed! ✌
Massive respect to those two guys for sharing their fathers love.
Killer video dude
I've seen both the SOHC and the DOHC FORD engine... being a mech in the Navy 66-70 I was duly impressed....
Cool vid 👌🏼🏁 OldSchool cool.....
thanks for the Video ! I was there on those earlies foot steps of these cars . seen the GT/1 car run in it's 1st year at Aquasco speedway many times along with the Don Nichols fliptop great days of cars and racing .
I remember the lady Dodge brother I want to thank you so much for sharing this video
Congratulations this is your best video . It talks about great cars everybody knows . These are the cars you see in books such as the old Street rodders magazine of how and when dragracing found its roots . The story you tell your never get old because you're talking to a new generation that needs to know these things . Keep up the good work
Great video tommy
Thanks Jesse!
I'm 68 & sorry that I never was able to see them race these magnificent monsters! Listening to that SOHC running at the end,amazing! I can't help but wonder, why did the NHRA ban these engines? Too much sweating by the competition?❤😎👍🏁🏆
It had a pretty big advantage and potential, so I guess NHRA didn't want to fight that battle. Not really sure of the details on that one.
Glad to see a picture of Ronnie Sox’s Comet. Brinsfield Lincoln Mercury later became Brinsfield Datsun. There was a huge picture of the car, (about 10feet wide behind the parts counter at the dealership in Greensboro, NC)
Awesome totally Awesome 👍🇦🇺 thanks for your story
G'day Al
I knew Jim, he brought both cars to Oxford Planes Dragway in Maine. The manager of Oxford Planes called me and invited me to drive over and see these cars run at the track.
Great job on the vid. Actually got a little misty hearing it run. Thanks.
Fantastic video! This brought back my young lad love of drag racing in the late ‘60’s with the A/FX cars. Wonderful background on the early development of Funny Cars. You earned my Subscription 👍
A high school buddy went to the 64 Nationals at Indy. He told me the announcer said that you were about to see the world's only 2 door hardtop B fuel dragster. He said it was really something to see.