Seeing it in action is exactly as nucking futs as I imagined! Gotta be THEE squirreliest car ever. Why he designed the engines to operate in that manner boggles my mind. But I'm glad he did! The wickedness of images & video of this car at full-tilt really transcends each medium. Never heard of this car, so thank you!!! Very well done.
Not so sure about the squirreliest. Watching the Hurst Hairy Olds running at Riverside International Raceway from the Champion Bridge was a sight to see. I'm old but my memories are still gold.
It was an absolute thrill working with you on this Brian. Can't thank you enough for including credit for the late Steve Manning, one of the greatest starters the Northwest ever had. Looking forward to part 4 when it's found!
Don’t know if this helps Reed Finance had the car for years they are in Ogden Utah I seen the car many times and lots of parts this was in 69 70 the good old days
Anyone who has had a race car knows how to make them run $$$$ and lots of it Wood brothers may have barowed some $$ I don’t know but I sure wish they had cel phones back in the Day . Money makes the world go round
Just finished watching this 3-part series. You did an OUTSTANDING job on this, Brian!! I can't help but wonder, there's a trailer on someone's property in Utah, and it's housing this Toronado....and has for the last 50+ years. We can only hope it's "discovered" one day, and, even if just as a museum piece, it's given back to the world of drag racing. (Love your content, Brian, keep it up!)
Great story & history! Subscribed! The closest thing I ever got to see running in person was Ivo’s 4 engine Buick. It was actually the Wagonmaster at the time. Awesome stuff tho…I still love the odd ball out of the box stuff, and some of these were out of the box, across the street, and giving the box “the finger!!”
Love this story. I've heard of the Hurst Harry Olds, but not of the Terrifying Tornado. Was never a big "Front-Wheel-Drive" fan, but loved the looks of the Tornado. This thing, being a 4-Wheel-Drive monster... Well... Friggin' baddass!
Brian, with all of your contacts in the drag racing world, have you thought about asking around and/or publicizing the search for this amazing car? Would be very cool to see it now. Thanks for all your hard work on this awesome and growing UA-cam channel.
About 30 years ago my friend heard about this car being stored in a semi trailer here in Salt Lake. We drove down to the suspected storage lot and found no trailer. Interesting that it could have been true.
Bravo! On another wonderful story on vintage drag racing. Thank you for setting the record straight and debunking what we all read as the truth for so long.
It's one hell of a story!! Thank you Brian and everybody involved for letting the story be told. I for one sure hope this thing is found and put on display someday!
It used to be called Seattle International Raceway. They would let crowds approach the jet dragsters and get blown off the track. Did that one time. Got sand blasted and nearly burned. The challenge was staying on your feet. Those were the days.
I'm a life long Oldsmobile aficionado, with among others, a 1966 Starfire with an over bored 455 in it. Fun times were had in that car! What an amazing story about the Terrifying Tornado, why would it be so wildly mangled over the years? I'm so glad to have watched your whole series about the car and I'm impressed with John Smyser's sheer stubbornness to stick with such a radical and temperamental setup! Great work and I'm subbed to see more of it! Here's to historical accuracy!
First off, hell of a series, and thank you for debunking all the stories. Second off, we gotta find this thing! I can't believe it's actually still around! There has to be more people keeping hushed up that know of the cars exact location in Utah, especially people that might've even watched your series! Hell, I'd travel just to see it if someone digs it up. Great videos as always, i was definitely caught off guard with a lot of the facts you presented, especially since I've tried to research the car myself.
Brian, I really like how you back up your story with period ads and articles. 1:00. Could you please explain what the “Break/Red Lite/No Rosin” rules mean? I’m guessing it means if your car breaks on the line or during the race, you’re done for the day - can’t fix and try to run again / One false start and you’re done / no sticky stuff on the tires??
That was hands down the best video yet. I remember the car as a kid in the mid 60s but knew nothing about it. Thanks for your hard work in bringing us this story. So somewhere in Utah it remains? Good job on the video find Larry!
Wow. The driveline issues must have been crazy. Not even the same final drive ratio. The rear tires would go from spinning faster, to spinning slower (when he made it to third). I wonder what would have happened if he’d cut his losses and switched to two th425s after the first failures. Cool story, well told!
Absolutely. Solid, rock hard rubber tires and nearly non existent suspension tech. Multiplied issues on issues. That’s kinda what made it fun I’d think (until is wasn’t, in cases like this). Plenty of room for creative car owners, fabricators and engine builders.
@@brianlohnes3079 As you know, TV Tommy Ivo had run a _four_ engined dragster (two driving the front wheels, two driving the rear) -- correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t that car a success, handling-wise?
@@raffriff42 Ivo has said that driving that car was work, and that he couldn't see for most of the strip. Still, I'd say his car was more successful than the Toronado.
I can’t get enough of this channel. I would love to see this car today. Thanks, Brian, for covering this piece of drag racing history I never knew existed until now.
What a fascinating and rather unfortunate story of a racer and a racecar. But now I'm curious why Smyser said the car was cut up. Either way, I hope it gets found, and maybe even recommissioned. One hell of an awesome video series. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to truth.
I know of an Offy powered Indy roadster from the late 50s that said by the team owner to have been crashed in practice and cut up to prevent it from being claimed by his creditors in a subsequent bankruptcy. There's lots of reasons stories get told, it takes someone like Brian Lohnes to sort them out sometimes
I have a VERY short video on 8mm film of this car going over the guard rail at the starting line. About 3 orb 4 seconds of film if I remember right. I would love to share it if I can find it.
Brian, why do people continually tell the "wrong" story about drag cars and their history?? I'm not actually asking you that cause I know you don't know either. But it really SUCKS!!! I thought for sure this car was gone! I was 3 when I supposedly saw this car run at Irwindale. My dad said he took me with him to go to the drags that day at Irwindale. I really hope someone finds this car! What a great piece of drag racing history!! Thanks for another great story Brian. NOW, we have the truth!!!
Brian, this was a great story and truth be told, nobody can narrate like you. That's a talent you possess and it's truly appreciated both here and on TV. Chicago's Route 66 is next and we're looking forward to it. Cheers!
Great job Brian...as usual. One small detail. Last run was at Motor City, not Detroit Dragway. Ahhh, the glorious days of having multiple drag strips! Thanks for all of your hard work, keep it up.
Great story Brian. I remember the picture of the TT on the cover of HOT ROD(?) from back in the day of an overhead shot of that front wheel burn out and have never forgotten it. Thanks for closure(?) of this amazing car.
In the mid '60's we lived a couple blocks north of Alosta (HWY 66) in Glendora, CA. One day I heard the unmistakable sound of nitro being fired up not far away. I was on my ten-speed immediately and on a search for where that sound was coming from. Within two minutes I found it at a small five bay auto repair shop on 66 (it's still there). To my surprise it was the Terrifying Toronado being warmed up by John himself. I was already a huge fan (Pretty sure I'd seen him run at Irwindale once or twice by then), so this was heaven unfolding in front of my eyes. The heaven part didn't work out as though I could spend all day hanging out, he didn't seem too kid friendly and his first priority wasn't there to answer my relentless questioning. I stopped by a few more times and what seemed like two weeks later he and the car were gone. You mentioned crashing through the guardrail at Pomona, I remember him hitting a large tapered plywood pylon at the finish line. Thanks so much for posting these series. They are fantastic. Keep up the great work!
What a story , absolutely wild!! Very well done !! Thanks Professor Lohnes , and to all those who contributed. I hope that it can be found and shown the light of day >
Brian I sincerley love your documentries and setting the record straight. Just a pre-teen adolecent at the time I immersed myself with this sport at the time with magazines and drag influenced newspaper publications of the time. These stories make me remember the cars but, never the behind the scene drama and facts. The part about the politics at Bakersfield with the Hurst Hairy Olds is sombering. I always reveled in pics and models of that car but to be set straight on the reality of the time and corporate money and influence equals "The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same"....Great story snd I anticipated every chapter....I have a pristine collection of all the drag racing mags of time and I know I have pics and stories of all personalities and cars in your docs. I'm going to start digging these up and categorizing them on my computer....dude you amongst a few others are a standout with this era of motorsports, drag racing especially👍👍👍👍👍.....Is Nando Hase still alive?
@@brianlohnes3079 that's good to know....must be in his at least 80's.....you know Brian I recognized Nando's name as soon as I read part one but Johns name didn't for some reason. Will dig through my archives soon to revisit my collection and connect with your docs.....just curious about "Nitro Revival" this year....is it happening?
Great Job Brian, I worked on John's various projects from the mid 60's thru the 1970's. The only way i could racing over the summer vaca was all passing grades and then my dad would drop me off in Glendora and the end of summer it was back to school. What fun those days were!!
Thanks Brian! I appreciate this series alot. Great story..glad you got the truth out! I'm kicking around the idea of building a custom model of the Terrifying Toronado..Thanks again!
Thanks to all that helped, but, a huge thanks to you, Brian, for telling the whole story & setting the record straight. A most interesting & entertaining video and each one of the three installments were golden.
The Toronado was very exciting to watch, especially for a 17 year old kid (me) I was right there directly across the track as he so easily drove over the guard rail at at Irwindale. exciting for sure. If someone could find the car I vote for a place in the museum, there will never be another one lie it and I say thank you to John, I still also remember the article in Caar Craft about the building or the car. - Brian - thank you for you continued stories.
Thank you! what a great tribute to such a guy and era of drag racing, Brian your time invested is well worth it to the entire racing world...to whomever is hiding this car please let the story continue.
Brian, Thanks for the great three part story of the TT. Suggestions: how about debunking the Story the Connie K drove a Fuel Rail out of Mt Clemens, MI to to his house on Gratiot Ave. Or US 25 back in the 1960's
I happen to live a couple hundred yards behind those "evergreen trees" behind the starting line at Pacific Raceways and I love that place! It's really cool to see pics of historic or at least interesting old cars running up there. Sometimes I wish Ida been born in the 50's or 60's rather than in '78. Not that growing up in the 80's was at all bad, exept for the lousy cars (G bodies and square body trucks being the exception) being put out back then.
The following would be a stretch in finding the Toro but it would make for a good stand alone vid. Don Orosco found, and restored the Scarab Hauler that was owned for decades by Michael Shoen ( part of the U haul family ) The hauler was found in Arizona but being that is next to Utah it might be worth a shot as Shoen might have ended up with the car. .
Excellent story. I mentioned in the first video about a twin engine Eldorado at Miami Hollywood speedway. I wonder why the toranado ran 2 different drives instead of 2 transaxles . thanks for the great stories.
Mr Lohnes- as a forensic YT scientist, you are at the very pinnacle! Not bothering to google Mr Smyser, or his service record(if any!), assuming he was at least in Korea, probably motor pool. Having seen the horrors of war(??), he takes 'devil may care' and redefines it! Worst thing is, I am in Boise, and have made the 5hr trip to SLC many times. Alas, and this is a big one, current $$ preclude such trips, but know that as a die hard gear head, if I could, I would! As for the Terrifying Toronado, my thoughts are as follows, as I write this with my old Samsung phone, it is 'synchronized' with my TV. It appears that this idea never entered, or was too complex to resolve. Competing final drive ratios at either end stands my hair(what remains of it!) on end! The direct driven rear against the TH425 front drive was just not a good combo! I'm no mechanical engineer, and John Smyser could 'hot rod' circles around me, however my granddad was a 'millwright' and my older bro IS a mechanical engineer. I've been a gear head since the age of 13, building 'Visible V8s', scale P51s that dropped their bombs, etc. Think 'synchronizing'! Our manual trannys use brass 'synchros' to enhance the meshing of gears spinning at 2 different rates. Great 3 parter, Brian! You never cease to amaze!! PS Slingshot dragsters rule! Can't wait for the next one!!!!
About 30 years ago my friend heard about this car and the story off it being stored in a semi trailer on a storage lot here in Salt Lake. We drove to the supposed location and found no trailer. Interesting that it could have been true.
It’s what that suspension does when it’s loaded up that hard. Through Raising and lowering of the suspension toe goes in/ out considerably. As much as 5 degrees on a stock road vehicle.
I was a 12 year old boy sitting in the pit side stands when that car jumped the guardrail. The old Irwindale track was a great place to be when growing up till the Miller brewery took it over and tore it down. Great memories from that track.
If it ever comes back out I would run the engines on Alky. It won't explode if you have to pedal it. I learned the hard way about explosions when you close the throttle and open it again on a pass. A nitro side effect.
Lavor Wood was from Blackfoot Idaho & died in Ogden in 2013. His only child Debra Lee died in 2001. The address was probably a farm house & that area has since been redeveloped as a housing tract. There is an old drag racer in my area that was an Olds diehard & the go to guy for Olds back in the day. Last time I saw him was about 3 or 4 years ago & he has to be in his 80's now but I know where he lives so he's about to get a visit the next time I go to town.
Brian, I'm confused. At 19.22 you say the last time the "TT" ran was at Detroit Dragway (in Brownstown Charter Township, MI), but the clipping specifies Motor City Dragway (in Mount Clemens, MI). Did it run at both?
Our electronics class at Weber College was completely destroyed by the loudest car I’ve ever heard before or since and we all ran out to see the Terrifying Tornado with both engines running between the buildings! Brings back things like Hemi Under Glass, the Little Red Wagon funny show cars. My father bought a toronado from Wood Motors that same year, I got to drive it into the ‘70s. Great car!
I don't remember what season it was but it was around 1978 when" Big Jim dunn" I believe he was in a double a nitro funnycar ,did a burnout going the reverse direction up the staging Lanes at firebird raceway in Boise Idaho he lost control and the car shot up into grandstandsI believe he killed one or two. I was not at the event .this was about a year before I started drag racing at the age of 14.
I heard about that as we waited for gas in Jordan Valley returning from trip to California! Crazy! The New family (RIP Bill New), must have been terrified at the accident!! I am now 69yrs, and your recall is accurate!
In 1989 I was in salt lake City with my girlfriend on vacation, when I heard on the radio that Bonneville international raceway was having the foxhunt. I can hardly believe it because the following weekend I was racing my car at firebird in Boise in The Fox Hunt I had no idea that there was a fox hunt in saltlake!So we agreed to go fox hunting on Saturday night. When we got to the highway, the parking lot was a mess of spaghetti. My girlfriend was wearing a mini skirt and high heels, and in 1989 she looked really good. The crowd, as soon as we got to the stands, became uncontrollable. And I mean, I said to her in a low voice when I pinched her hand, "don't look at these women, they've described themselves and are acting violent." But it was probably the only place to sit. When we got to the seats, I shouted to two women and two guys, "Hey, how the hell are you?"like I was as much of a brawler as they were. It's time to introduce "rogue Jones in his Jolly Farmer Stagecoach." To my horror, they started booing and throwing beer bottles. I'm a sixth-generation native of Idaho, and I'm very proud of our drag racing legacy, which may have been small but still great.(jollyrancher) "the smell of cinnamon" 😋 I'll tell you about it when it's time for Jet funny cars. They were already there. Sheriff's actions. Two Funny Cars put on a show, and at the top of the track, I looked through binoculars and saw a naked guy standing with his arms outstretched like Jesus Christ between the yellow lines indicating that the trees were turning green. And the crowd went crazy. An announcer appeared and said that the highway was closed. In my life, I've been lucky enough to make the right decisions, whether I step on the gas pedal or take off my motorcycle, stretch out on the ground, and stay alive. In this case, I bent down, took off my girlfriend's high - heeled shoes, grabbed her arm and said, "Come on, we'll go straight down this path," and I picked her up and threw her over the fence. I ran over it and threw it over the opposite fence, and we got to our car. When we left the paddy wagon. It rocked back and forth, lifting the two-axle car off the ground!! And I can confirm that we were one of the three cars that got out before the facility was shut down. Heading back in on the freeway to salt lake from Bonneville every single vehicle coming the opposite direction was a police 🚨. I have never seen such disrespect and I would never go back to Bonneville raceway if they paid me to. Former pit crew of is 7 time Wally winner I know drag strips. Well I did for two seasons I got to tour the United States.99-00 season Rob Youngblood 71 Mach 1 D/S car.
@@brianlohnes3079 first off, great ending to your 3 part series! But, it is true,Jim Dunn killed at least one spectator. I don't think it's from a crash,if I recall, it's from a burnout gone wrong???? You will have to research, but I really doubt you're going to bring up the dirt on him even if it is true????
I really wish I’d been able to witness the 60s and 70s in drag racing, sprint cars/midgets, Indy, trans am, can am, etc... Just a wild fertile world of concepts, fabrication, fuel and balls.
As I dyed in the wool Oldsmobile guy, this story really struck me. Thanks for sharing. It was extremely informative and interesting JT: Florida Dragstrip Riot
Very interesting, as always. I always thought that the backfire valve on a blower prevented it from getting damaged, but apparently not. I wonder what the solution actually was?
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
One of the top automotive channels on the tube. Thank you
I wholeheartedly concur, from the UK
@@mcjdubpower
I too 👍🇦🇺
And the equally legendary Brian Lohnes. Excellent work man.🏁👍🏁
Thank you very much
Seeing it in action is exactly as nucking futs as I imagined! Gotta be THEE squirreliest car ever.
Why he designed the engines to operate in that manner boggles my mind. But I'm glad he did!
The wickedness of images & video of this car at full-tilt really transcends each medium.
Never heard of this car, so thank you!!! Very well done.
Crazy right!?
Not so sure about the squirreliest. Watching the Hurst Hairy Olds running at Riverside International Raceway from the Champion Bridge was a sight to see. I'm old but my memories are still gold.
@@higgs923 It's like each engine had its own mind entirely. Was that H/O 442 set up in a similar way as far as how each engine would accelerate?
@@higgs923 I fully agree with your last sentence, and those memories are the best kind.
I had one it was stock 455 great car till I blew a head gasket and scorched it
It was an absolute thrill working with you on this Brian. Can't thank you enough for including credit for the late Steve Manning, one of the greatest starters the Northwest ever had. Looking forward to part 4 when it's found!
Don’t know if this helps Reed Finance had the car for years they are in Ogden Utah I seen the car many times and lots of parts this was in 69 70 the good old days
That’s a lead right there!!
A finance company?
@@UberLummox repo, for you know what, overdue pmts!
@@revvyhevvy Oh crap!
Anyone who has had a race car knows how to make them run $$$$ and lots of it Wood brothers may have barowed some $$ I don’t know but I sure wish they had cel phones back in the Day . Money makes the world go round
Just finished watching this 3-part series. You did an OUTSTANDING job on this, Brian!! I can't help but wonder, there's a trailer on someone's property in Utah, and it's housing this Toronado....and has for the last 50+ years. We can only hope it's "discovered" one day, and, even if just as a museum piece, it's given back to the world of drag racing. (Love your content, Brian, keep it up!)
Finally, I've been waiting for this. Thanks Brian for all the automotive knowledge you've given.
Thanks for watching it!!
Brian. You're the greatest drag racing historian of your generation.
@@jimiscnc3750 a sincere thank you!!
Great story & history! Subscribed! The closest thing I ever got to see running in person was Ivo’s 4 engine Buick. It was actually the Wagonmaster at the time. Awesome stuff tho…I still love the odd ball out of the box stuff, and some of these were out of the box, across the street, and giving the box “the finger!!”
16:25 - Ah, Bee Line Dragway. I was there many times in the 60's. Great memories.
Great story of the Terrifying Toronado, Brian.
Wow! Thanks for watching!!
@@brianlohnes3079 tell us something about the Lawman Mustang
Mel Larson's ring a bell?
Love this story. I've heard of the Hurst Harry Olds, but not of the Terrifying Tornado. Was never a big "Front-Wheel-Drive" fan, but loved the looks of the Tornado. This thing, being a 4-Wheel-Drive monster... Well... Friggin' baddass!
It’s the pure definition of a “one-off”!
Sure hope to see "Part 4: Found the Car!" soon. Thx for all the videos. Awesome job!
Brian, with all of your contacts in the drag racing world, have you thought about asking around and/or publicizing the search for this amazing car? Would be very cool to see it now.
Thanks for all your hard work on this awesome and growing UA-cam channel.
Uh, I think he just did that.
They found and restored Mondellos V.O. Twister, so surely this can be found as well! Thank you so much for this series!
What a story! So glad to learn of this car. I sure hope it's found one day soon and shown once again. Thank you Brian for correcting its history.
Brian you are equally interesting wether you are teaching drag racing history or hosting live racing....keep it up bro!!!
Appreciate your words!
Excellent! Finally! As an experienced nitro sniffer and clutch adjuster - and olds enthusiast, this is fantastic.
About 30 years ago my friend heard about this car being stored in a semi trailer here in Salt Lake. We drove down to the suspected storage lot and found no trailer. Interesting that it could have been true.
Wow, an amazing series! Well done!
Bravo! On another wonderful story on vintage drag racing. Thank you for setting the record straight and debunking what we all read as the truth for so long.
It's one hell of a story!! Thank you Brian and everybody involved for letting the story be told. I for one sure hope this thing is found and put on display someday!
Excellent story
Makes me want to build a model car replica for sure❤
It used to be called Seattle International Raceway.
They would let crowds approach the jet dragsters and get blown off the track.
Did that one time. Got sand blasted and nearly burned. The challenge was staying on your feet.
Those were the days.
I'm a life long Oldsmobile aficionado, with among others, a 1966 Starfire with an over bored 455 in it. Fun times were had in that car!
What an amazing story about the Terrifying Tornado, why would it be so wildly mangled over the years? I'm so glad to have watched your whole series about the car and I'm impressed with John Smyser's sheer stubbornness to stick with such a radical and temperamental setup! Great work and I'm subbed to see more of it! Here's to historical accuracy!
First off, hell of a series, and thank you for debunking all the stories. Second off, we gotta find this thing! I can't believe it's actually still around!
There has to be more people keeping hushed up that know of the cars exact location in Utah, especially people that might've even watched your series! Hell, I'd travel just to see it if someone digs it up.
Great videos as always, i was definitely caught off guard with a lot of the facts you presented, especially since I've tried to research the car myself.
Brian, I really like how you back up your story with period ads and articles. 1:00. Could you please explain what the “Break/Red Lite/No Rosin” rules mean? I’m guessing it means if your car breaks on the line or during the race, you’re done for the day - can’t fix and try to run again / One false start and you’re done / no sticky stuff on the tires??
That was hands down the best video yet. I remember the car as a kid in the mid 60s but knew nothing about it. Thanks for your hard work in bringing us this story. So somewhere in Utah it remains?
Good job on the video find Larry!
Wow. The driveline issues must have been crazy. Not even the same final drive ratio. The rear tires would go from spinning faster, to spinning slower (when he made it to third). I wonder what would have happened if he’d cut his losses and switched to two th425s after the first failures. Cool story, well told!
That would make any car unpredictable and want to spin out.
The Hurst hairy olds had that setup and wrecked multiple times as well. Just too much power for tue rudimentary tech of the day
Absolutely. Solid, rock hard rubber tires and nearly non existent suspension tech. Multiplied issues on issues. That’s kinda what made it fun I’d think (until is wasn’t, in cases like this). Plenty of room for creative car owners, fabricators and engine builders.
@@brianlohnes3079 As you know, TV Tommy Ivo had run a _four_ engined dragster (two driving the front wheels, two driving the rear) -- correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t that car a success, handling-wise?
@@raffriff42 Ivo has said that driving that car was work, and that he couldn't see for most of the strip. Still, I'd say his car was more successful than the Toronado.
I can’t get enough of this channel. I would love to see this car today. Thanks, Brian, for covering this piece of drag racing history I never knew existed until now.
What a fascinating and rather unfortunate story of a racer and a racecar. But now I'm curious why Smyser said the car was cut up.
Either way, I hope it gets found, and maybe even recommissioned.
One hell of an awesome video series. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to truth.
I know of an Offy powered Indy roadster from the late 50s that said by the team owner to have been crashed in practice and cut up to prevent it from being claimed by his creditors in a subsequent bankruptcy. There's lots of reasons stories get told, it takes someone like Brian Lohnes to sort them out sometimes
I have a VERY short video on 8mm film of this car going over the guard rail at the starting line. About 3 orb 4 seconds of film if I remember right. I would love to share it if I can find it.
Brian, why do people continually tell the "wrong" story about drag cars and their history?? I'm not actually asking you that cause I know you don't know either. But it really SUCKS!!! I thought for sure this car was gone! I was 3 when I supposedly saw this car run at Irwindale. My dad said he took me with him to go to the drags that day at Irwindale. I really hope someone finds this car! What a great piece of drag racing history!! Thanks for another great story Brian. NOW, we have the truth!!!
that was a hell of a conclusion, now i want to see it too
HEY BRIAN...your videos are "THE BEST" every time!!!
Brian, this was a great story and truth be told, nobody can narrate like you. That's a talent you possess and it's truly appreciated both here and on TV. Chicago's Route 66 is next and we're looking forward to it. Cheers!
Great job Brian...as usual. One small detail. Last run was at Motor City, not Detroit Dragway. Ahhh, the glorious days of having multiple drag strips! Thanks for all of your hard work, keep it up.
Great story Brian. I remember the picture of the TT on the cover of HOT ROD(?) from back in the day of an overhead shot of that front wheel burn out and have never forgotten it. Thanks for closure(?) of this amazing car.
In the mid '60's we lived a couple blocks north of Alosta (HWY 66) in Glendora, CA. One day I heard the unmistakable sound of nitro being fired up not far away. I was on my ten-speed immediately and on a search for where that sound was coming from. Within two minutes I found it at a small five bay auto repair shop on 66 (it's still there). To my surprise it was the Terrifying Toronado being warmed up by John himself. I was already a huge fan (Pretty sure I'd seen him run at Irwindale once or twice by then), so this was heaven unfolding in front of my eyes. The heaven part didn't work out as though I could spend all day hanging out, he didn't seem too kid friendly and his first priority wasn't there to answer my relentless questioning. I stopped by a few more times and what seemed like two weeks later he and the car were gone.
You mentioned crashing through the guardrail at Pomona, I remember him hitting a large tapered plywood pylon at the finish line.
Thanks so much for posting these series. They are fantastic. Keep up the great work!
Thank you, Brian, for your truthful and thoughtful recounting of this piece of drag racing history. Bravo!
What a story , absolutely wild!! Very well done !! Thanks Professor Lohnes , and to all those who contributed. I hope that it can be found and shown the light of day >
You are the REAL life motorsports and History equivalemt of Indiana Jones! Thanks Brian!
Great story Brian! I hope the car surfaces again with credit to you bringing awareness of it!
Brian I sincerley love your documentries and setting the record straight. Just a pre-teen adolecent at the time I immersed myself with this sport at the time with magazines and drag influenced newspaper publications of the time. These stories make me remember the cars but, never the behind the scene drama and facts. The part about the politics at Bakersfield with the Hurst Hairy Olds is sombering. I always reveled in pics and models of that car but to be set straight on the reality of the time and corporate money and influence equals "The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same"....Great story snd I anticipated every chapter....I have a pristine collection of all the drag racing mags of time and I know I have pics and stories of all personalities and cars in your docs. I'm going to start digging these up and categorizing them on my computer....dude you amongst a few others are a standout with this era of motorsports, drag racing especially👍👍👍👍👍.....Is Nando Hase still alive?
Nando is still alive and contributed to these videos by answering a series of questions I had regarding some dates and locations!
@@brianlohnes3079 that's good to know....must be in his at least 80's.....you know Brian I recognized Nando's name as soon as I read part one but Johns name didn't for some reason. Will dig through my archives soon to revisit my collection and connect with your docs.....just curious about "Nitro Revival" this year....is it happening?
Great Job Brian, I worked on John's various projects from the mid 60's thru the 1970's. The only way i could racing over the summer vaca was all passing grades and then my dad would drop me off in Glendora and the end of summer it was back to school. What fun those days were!!
Thanks Brian! I appreciate this series alot. Great story..glad you got the truth out! I'm kicking around the idea of building a custom model of the Terrifying Toronado..Thanks again!
Thanks to all that helped, but, a huge thanks to you, Brian, for telling the whole story & setting the record straight. A most interesting & entertaining video and each one of the three installments were golden.
The Toronado was very exciting to watch, especially for a 17 year old kid (me) I was right there directly across the track as he so easily drove over the guard rail at at Irwindale. exciting for sure. If someone could find the car I vote for a place in the museum, there will never be another one lie it and I say thank you to John, I still also remember the article in Caar Craft about the building or the car. - Brian - thank you for you continued stories.
Thank you! what a great tribute to such a guy and era of drag racing, Brian your time invested is well worth it to the entire racing world...to whomever is hiding this car please let the story continue.
This was a super cool 3 parter. Yes, we have to find the TT. Thanks Brian!
Brian,
Thanks for the great three part story of the TT.
Suggestions: how about debunking the Story the Connie K drove a Fuel Rail out of Mt Clemens, MI to to his house on Gratiot Ave. Or US 25 back in the 1960's
All of your videos are really great. Thanks for sharing your research.
Another great story, keep them coming!!!!!
Great job Brian 👍
like usual I hung on every word & paused on every photo !
Part 3 didn't disappoint. Great job
I love the research you do. Keep it up. And, YES!! Find that car!!
Great research and presentation. You are correct, someone needs to restore that car.
Great detective work. This has been a cool series to watch, thank you
This was a great series, thanks Brian! I thought I knew a bit about this, nope I knew nothing..!!
Amazing series on a greatly interesting car. Thank you for your in depth research
Brian, you constantly turn out great material, absolutely LOVED this 3 parter! Thanks
Thanks. Great work. I own a 1966 Toronado, with only 1 front engine.
I love these stories on these unique cars. You should do a video about TV Tommy Ivo!!
Any plans on putting all 3 parts in 1 video?
Would love that, Brian!
I am going to create a playlist with the three episodes to stand alone in.
@@brianlohnes3079 alrighty
@@brianlohnes3079Perfect!
I happen to live a couple hundred yards behind those "evergreen trees" behind the starting line at Pacific Raceways and I love that place! It's really cool to see pics of historic or at least interesting old cars running up there. Sometimes I wish Ida been born in the 50's or 60's rather than in '78. Not that growing up in the 80's was at all bad, exept for the lousy cars (G bodies and square body trucks being the exception) being put out back then.
The following would be a stretch in finding the Toro but it would make for a good stand alone vid. Don Orosco found, and restored the Scarab Hauler that was owned for decades by Michael Shoen ( part of the U haul family ) The hauler was found in Arizona but being that is next to Utah it might be worth a shot as Shoen might have ended up with the car. .
Excellent story. I mentioned in the first video about a twin engine Eldorado at Miami Hollywood speedway. I wonder why the toranado ran 2 different drives instead of 2 transaxles . thanks for the great stories.
That was worth waiting for all three parts! I hope the carns up. The address listed on the ad should be checked first.
thank you for your work and this video. well done
Mr Lohnes- as a forensic YT scientist, you are at the very pinnacle!
Not bothering to google Mr Smyser, or his service record(if any!), assuming he was at least in Korea, probably motor pool. Having seen the horrors of war(??), he takes 'devil may care' and redefines it! Worst thing is, I am in Boise, and have made the 5hr trip to SLC many times. Alas, and this is a big one, current $$ preclude such trips, but know that as a die hard gear head, if I could, I would!
As for the Terrifying Toronado, my thoughts are as follows, as I write this with my old Samsung phone, it is 'synchronized' with my TV. It appears that this idea never entered, or was too complex to resolve.
Competing final drive ratios at either end stands my hair(what remains of it!) on end!
The direct driven rear against the TH425 front drive was just not a good combo! I'm no mechanical engineer, and John Smyser could 'hot rod' circles around me, however my granddad was a 'millwright' and my
older bro IS a mechanical engineer. I've been a gear head since the age of 13, building 'Visible V8s', scale P51s that dropped their bombs, etc.
Think 'synchronizing'!
Our manual trannys use brass 'synchros' to enhance the meshing of gears spinning at 2 different rates.
Great 3 parter, Brian!
You never cease to amaze!!
PS Slingshot dragsters rule!
Can't wait for the next one!!!!
Amazing memories and stories. Thank you so much for the kind words and for watching!
@@brianlohnes3079 LOL, the blokes fruit bat crazy🤣
About 30 years ago my friend heard about this car and the story off it being stored in a semi trailer on a storage lot here in Salt Lake. We drove to the supposed location and found no trailer. Interesting that it could have been true.
Luv ya work. at 1:30 is that really toeing in that much ?
It’s what that suspension does when it’s loaded up that hard.
Through Raising and lowering of the suspension toe goes in/ out considerably.
As much as 5 degrees on a stock road vehicle.
@@fastinradfordable i thought torque will push a toe out situation?
Great story as always!
Great vid!!! 🤜🤛 🏁
Jeez... that thing looked like a handful. He barely took off and it was all over the place. Smyser was a brave man indeed.
This monstrosity needs to come back into the light, it’s a piece of funny car history and would be awesome to see again
Thank you. This was fascinating
hats off for your outstanding research on this car and driver
Excellent presentation. Thank you. I really enjoyed this series.
Great job, very enjoyable and educational.
Great job! I looked forward and enjoyed each episode. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing this Brian
Great detailed series on this "Mad" machine. 👍
I was a 12 year old boy sitting in the pit side stands when that car jumped the guardrail. The old Irwindale track was a great place to be when growing up till the Miller brewery took it over and tore it down. Great memories from that track.
Superb stuff as always Brian, keep up the good work fella.
Awesome story as per usual 😊can’t wait to see what’s next
If it ever comes back out I would run the engines on Alky. It won't explode if you have to pedal it. I learned the hard way about explosions when you close the throttle and open it again on a pass. A nitro side effect.
Thanks Brian, love your channel, u have a great voice.
Good stuff Brian. Like button energized.
all the garbage on youtube this content more than makes up for it. top stuff.
Lavor Wood was from Blackfoot Idaho & died in Ogden in 2013. His only child Debra Lee died in 2001. The address was probably a farm house & that area has since been redeveloped as a housing tract. There is an old drag racer in my area that was an Olds diehard & the go to guy for Olds back in the day. Last time I saw him was about 3 or 4 years ago & he has to be in his 80's now but I know where he lives so he's about to get a visit the next time I go to town.
Good luck! I hope you find out some useful information.
Brian, I'm confused. At 19.22 you say the last time the "TT" ran was at Detroit Dragway (in Brownstown Charter Township, MI), but the clipping specifies Motor City Dragway (in Mount Clemens, MI). Did it run at both?
Fantastic story! Thanks Brian
Our electronics class at Weber College was completely destroyed by the loudest car I’ve ever heard before or since and we all ran out to see the Terrifying Tornado with both engines running between the buildings! Brings back things like Hemi Under Glass, the Little Red Wagon funny show cars. My father bought a toronado from Wood Motors that same year, I got to drive it into the ‘70s. Great car!
I don't remember what season it was but it was around 1978 when" Big Jim dunn" I believe he was in a double a nitro funnycar ,did a burnout going the reverse direction up the staging Lanes at firebird raceway in Boise Idaho he lost control and the car shot up into grandstandsI believe he killed one or two. I was not at the event .this was about a year before I started drag racing at the age of 14.
I heard about that as we waited for gas in Jordan Valley returning from trip to California! Crazy!
The New family (RIP
Bill New), must have been terrified at the accident!! I am now 69yrs, and your recall is accurate!
Have never heard of this one!
Sounds crazy!
In 1989 I was in salt lake City with my girlfriend on vacation, when I heard on the radio that Bonneville international raceway was having the foxhunt. I can hardly believe it because the following weekend I was racing my car at firebird in Boise in The Fox Hunt I had no idea that there was a fox hunt in saltlake!So we agreed to go fox hunting on Saturday night. When we got to the highway, the parking lot was a mess of spaghetti. My girlfriend was wearing a mini skirt and high heels, and in 1989 she looked really good. The crowd, as soon as we got to the stands, became uncontrollable. And I mean, I said to her in a low voice when I pinched her hand, "don't look at these women, they've described themselves and are acting violent." But it was probably the only place to sit. When we got to the seats, I shouted to two women and two guys, "Hey, how the hell are you?"like I was as much of a brawler as they were. It's time to introduce "rogue Jones in his Jolly Farmer Stagecoach." To my horror, they started booing and throwing beer bottles. I'm a sixth-generation native of Idaho, and I'm very proud of our drag racing legacy, which may have been small but still great.(jollyrancher) "the smell of cinnamon" 😋 I'll tell you about it when it's time for Jet funny cars. They were already there. Sheriff's actions. Two Funny Cars put on a show, and at the top of the track, I looked through binoculars and saw a naked guy standing with his arms outstretched like Jesus Christ between the yellow lines indicating that the trees were turning green. And the crowd went crazy. An announcer appeared and said that the highway was closed. In my life, I've been lucky enough to make the right decisions, whether I step on the gas pedal or take off my motorcycle, stretch out on the ground, and stay alive. In this case, I bent down, took off my girlfriend's high - heeled shoes, grabbed her arm and said, "Come on, we'll go straight down this path," and I picked her up and threw her over the fence. I ran over it and threw it over the opposite fence, and we got to our car. When we left the paddy wagon. It rocked back and forth, lifting the two-axle car off the ground!! And I can confirm that we were one of the three cars that got out before the facility was shut down. Heading back in on the freeway to salt lake from Bonneville every single vehicle coming the opposite direction was a police 🚨. I have never seen such disrespect and I would never go back to Bonneville raceway if they paid me to. Former pit crew of is 7 time Wally winner I know drag strips. Well I did for two seasons I got to tour the United States.99-00 season Rob Youngblood 71 Mach 1 D/S car.
@@brianlohnes3079 first off, great ending to your 3 part series! But, it is true,Jim Dunn killed at least one spectator. I don't think it's from a crash,if I recall, it's from a burnout gone wrong???? You will have to research, but I really doubt you're going to bring up the dirt on him even if it is true????
Fantasic story loved all 3 parts!
Simply fantastic reprort. Thank you.
I really wish I’d been able to witness the 60s and 70s in drag racing, sprint cars/midgets, Indy, trans am, can am, etc... Just a wild fertile world of concepts, fabrication, fuel and balls.
As I dyed in the wool Oldsmobile guy, this story really struck me.
Thanks for sharing. It was extremely informative and interesting
JT: Florida Dragstrip Riot
Appreciate you saying that and watching!
Very interesting, as always. I always thought that the backfire valve on a blower prevented it from getting damaged, but apparently not. I wonder what the solution actually was?
Do you have any films from Epping, Nh dragstrip?
Thanks
A story well done Brian!