The end of the "Okie Twister"

WZ JUNK · June 14, 2020, 06:56:54 PM

This afternoon during our annual Spring Hot Rod Reunion, at MOKAN Dragway, Hooley crashed and destroyed the "Okie Twister" Henry J gasser. Hooley is okay but I am sure he will be sore tomorrow. I do not know the details but I will post more information over the next day or so. The important thing is that Hooley is okay. I was not there today because of concerns I have about the Corona Virus. Accounts from those that were there indicate that the car is destroyed.

I believe this was the 12th year we raced this car. He told me last year that he had recorded over 1,000 passes with the car. This season he had replaced the injected big block Chevy with the blown small engine that we ran at Bonneville.

Sad day but the best news is that he is okay.

John

idrivejunk · June 14, 2020, 07:39:51 PM

Man o man, this is tragic.

Its only metal. Hope only the car was hurt. And that he isn't banged up too bad because you are right... ya never know until a day or so after.

Might be tough to see now, but something good will come from it. Keep on.

purplepickup · June 14, 2020, 07:40:18 PM

Great news that Hooley is ok. Really sad news about the car though. They brought a lot of pleasure to many people.

WZ JUNK · June 14, 2020, 07:47:34 PM

I visited with Hooley on the phone a few minuets ago. He is fine. No scraps or cuts. He said he bounced around in the cage a lot and thought the car would never stop. It happen just after he went through the finish when he pulled the chute. He did not know what went wrong but it was a really good pass and the chute hit hard.

enjenjo · June 14, 2020, 10:04:39 PM

Man, that sucks. I'm glad Hooley is ok though.

WZ JUNK · June 15, 2020, 07:16:03 AM

I found this shot on the HAMB. I think I can fix that

Crosley.In.AZ · June 15, 2020, 08:00:12 AM

Wow. The car sure is a mess. Glad Hooley came out of that in good shape.

58 Yeoman · June 15, 2020, 08:08:10 AM

Ouch! Glad he's okay.

sirstude · June 15, 2020, 10:46:47 AM

Glad Hooley is ok, too bad about the car.

sirstude · June 15, 2020, 10:59:23 AM

Pictures out on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10223645918797560&type=3

WZ JUNK · June 15, 2020, 12:46:24 PM

The first photo gives us a couple of clues. It appears the car is already turning to the right as the chute is coming out. The car is turned enough that the lettering on the side is not visible and the chute is well out to the left. If things were going better, the chute should have tried to straighten the car. I suspect by the time this photo was taken, recovery was not possible. Hooley says he felt the chute hit really hard but maybe something else was going on too. The car is so badly damaged, I doubt we find out much more.

kb426 · June 15, 2020, 06:29:12 PM

I looked at the fb pics. That won't buff out.

You'd be a glutton for punishment to rebuild it. New chassis and suspension and see what it took to repair the body. Woa!

WZ JUNK · June 15, 2020, 07:45:38 PM

Quote from: "kb426"I looked at the fb pics. That won't buff out. You'd be a glutton for punishment to rebuild it. New chassis and suspension and see what it took to repair the body. Woa!

Here is what it was starting to look like after a lot of work many years ago. The body was in bad shape. I had to relocate the front wheel openings in the new glass front end to accommodate the longer wheelbase. I made the brackets so the front end would slide forward and then hinged up. Lots of bondo but most of it on the shop floor. The paint held up well. I made molds and made the rocker panels from fiberglass. I also made a mold and made the headlight out of fiberglass. It would be difficult for me to do all that today.

jaybee · June 15, 2020, 09:24:16 PM

Oof, really sorry to see that, glad Hooley is OK. That's a mess and would have been one crazy ride.

enjenjo · June 16, 2020, 06:49:07 PM

Who built that chassis?