78buckshot,
That is extremely cool that you know Connie Kallita. I still vividly remember watching him compete in Top Fuel at the Winternationals against the likes of Jerry Ruth, the "Snake", the "Mongoose", Garlits, Malone, Warren/Coburn/Miller (aka "The Treetop Trio" because they were so tall), etc. Fifty years ago those guys were turning in 1/4 mile performances of about 200 MPH and 8 seconds in Top Fuel. Today that's accomplished with full bodied '57 Chevies.
Kallita's Top Fuel program has survived the shift in drag racing from home built creations including a lot of sportsman classes (gassers, altereds, street roadsters, etc) to corporate sponsored Top Fuel, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. To me that corporate drag racing is plain old BORING. Home built race vehicles are still alive and well on the desert dry lakes of Southern California and on the Bonneville salt flats.
