Nitro Mania-The WInged Express Fuel Altered

[eatshit311]

Sorry. NHRA. Goddamn smart phones.

[eatshit311]

Why can't they bring back the aa/fa? I Guarantee if NARA did this, it would draw more people to drag racing.

[EmpEntTV]

@eatshit311 at the very least you would think that the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage series would have a class for these great cars but you never seem them at any of these events. Drag racing would certainly benefit by those awesome altereds.

[MrRonnieG]

The best AA/FA race I ever witnessed was in the summer of 1968 at Irwindale. Wild Willie in the Winged Express vs. Sush Matsubara in the big-block Chevy powered Mondello & Matsubara altered. Sush put a monster hole-shot on Willie but Willie drove the shit out of that Chrysler powered altered and caught Matsubara at about 1,200 feet for the win. Willie ran 7.12 to Matsubara's 7:17 with the white-hot nitro flames shooting 10 feet high out of the Zoomies on both cars. Everybody was screaming!

[MrRonnieG]

There isn't a 1,000 foot NHRA fuel run that can equal the excitement of 60's drag racing. My favorite car was the AA/FD Yeakel Plymouth Special (Downey, California) with Tom "Mongoose" McKuen in the seat, Lou Baney running the deal and John Garrison turning the wrench. I remember watching The Goose set the top speed record at Lions (November 1964) with a 214.00 MPH blast. A 392 Chrysler block, GMC 6-71 supercharger and the 2,000 cfm Enderle 3-hole bug-catcher injectors.

[MrRonnieG]

This is EXACTLY how NHRA drag racing, in 2011, should be run. Reduce the capacity on fuel pumps, back off the overdrive on blowers and stop tossing money down the corporate sponsored black hole. Drag racing in the 60's was SO MUCH fun and it could be, again, today. Bring back quarter-mile runs burning down the tires the entire way. You could run 6.30 @ 240 MPH in a top fuel car and it could be competitive, safer, cheaper and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, it could bring back the excitement of yesterday.

[EmpEntTV]

@MrRonnieG ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!! could not agree more. I also vote to make it mandatory to do dry hops.

[MrRonnieG]

From 1964 until I was drafted (Feb 1969) I LIVED at SoCal dragstrips and can well rememeber the man with the beard who drove with one hand on the wheel. By 1968 the AA/FA's were a common scene at Lions, Irwindale and OCIR. I was always a Chevy guy so I pulled for the altereds running the big block Rat Motor (Mondello & Matsubara, etc.) but the Winged Express was bad ass. Surprisingly, as I recall it, those guys only ran a 354 Chrysler block but it was a BAD BAD BAD fuel altered. (BAD)

[EmpEntTV]

@MrRonnieG Ronnie, got to agree with you! There was nothing like going to a Fuel Altered meet at one of the local tracks and seeing the likes of The Winged Express, Burkholder Bros., Blue Blazer, Mike Sullivan, Nanook and the host of other So Cal altereds. It was such a golden era of drag racing that has never been duplicated.

[herbiesnerd]

@MrRonnieG The first nitro breather I ever saw was at OCIR with Sush Matsubara driving the Burgundy colored Pisano Matsubara Funny Car. It ran high 6's. Nothing compares to watching a AA Fuel altered. The single most amazing feat of driving I ever saw go down the 1/4 mile was at OCIR when the Mob did a solo run, pitched it sideways 3 times, on and off the throttle each time with both rear wheels off the ground even, straightened it out then finished the run WFO. Amazing. Sure miss OCIR.

[dieselboy53535]

is it expensive and fun to do this

[manixman111]

As a boy i saw all these cars run at San Gabriel Drag Strip, anybody remember it, the predecessor to Irwindale!!

[djbazzmaster]

0.34  HOO-LEE-SJIT!

[1066gonzo]

I saw Willie slde the car sideways at Indy in MAYBE 1968 or 1969 One of the coolist things I have ever seen at the races.  Willie RIP.

[nitrokrumpt]

this is so Bad ass!! this still run at all????

[EmpEntTV]

@nitrokrumpt Yes, it sill runs today. The car can usually be seen at many of the nostalgia drag racing events on the West Coast. Its worth the price of admission all by itself!

J.R.

[eclampsium]

@EmpEntTV Wow shurely do!!!!

Is that hotWheels miniature, "fuel altered" ? Couse i boght it here in Brazil!

[miragemammaries]

@eclampsium I bought one too, but mine is in 1/18 scale! I've seen the Winged Express run, and it's an absolute beast! Simply awesome.

[eclampsium]

@miragemammaries Wow, shure it´s cool!!!

I´ve only seen it running on videos, but´s probablu something a mix of scaring with excitement! Admirable car!

[miragemammaries]

@eclampsium Probably the best way to describe it, is explosively violent-especially if you've never seen or heard a car that runs on nitromethane before. The best is when you hang out in the pits and they do the warm-up. When they blip the throttle-the sound, the smell, the sting in your nose and eyes-there's nothing like it!

[p51mustange1]

how did willy die

[EmpEntTV]

@p51mustange1 Don't recall, it was nothing related to a racing accident, if I recall it might have been a bout with cancer but can't completely confirm it.

[witchfindergeneral13]

@EmpEntTV  yes it was cancer.

[witchfindergeneral13]

@EmpEntTV yes it was cancer.

[p51mustange1]

how did willy die

[p51mustange1]

wild willy

[EmpEntTV]

@p51mustange1 No, Willy, passed away several years ago, in fact Mousie Marcellus his partner with this car, is said to have Willy's ashes in his possession and takes him to various racing events.

[eclampsium]

@EmpEntTV Well...... that is a bit weird, but shurely a manner to reverence the friend... Someday, all we will find each other on the other side...

[Banjo40]

@EmpEntTV I saw the urn with Willy's ashes sitting in the driver's seat at Indy several years ago. I was fortunate to see Willy at the wheel several times when I was younger. What a ride! Thanks to Mousie and Mike for keeping the legend alive.

[p51mustange1]

is he still alive

[EmpEntTV]

@p51mustange1 is who still alive?

[miragemammaries]

@p51mustange1 Willie Borsch died of cancer in 1991. I remember seeing him in the original Winged Express when I was a kid-he was a real character!

[danf321]

Love it! When I was a kid going to Lion's and Irwindale drag strips, I bought a Revell model of this car. This video brings back many great memories. Thanks.

[Tireshake]

My favorite car of all time . Love it !

[EmpEntTV]

@Tireshake.completely agree, this might be the most iconic nostalgia car in all of drag racing!

EmpEntTV

[NeilLB7]

You'd have to be outta your GD mind to drive this thing!!!!!!!!

[MrRonnieG]

Part II: My favorite Chevy altered was the Mondello-Matsubara car with Sush Matsubara behind the wheel. It was powered by a big-block Chevrolet and, as often as not, they gave Willie (and the other Chrysler altereds) all they could handle. I recall one night @ Irwindale (circa; 1968) when Sush "sneezed" a blower about 50 feet into the air. Back in "the day" the NHRA did not require that supercharges be secured and some blower explosions caused drivers to dodge flying GMC 6-71's!

[MrRonnieG]

I lived at SoCal dragstrips (Lions, Irwindale, OCIR, Fontana and Pomona) from 1964 until I was drafted in 1969. I saw Wild Willy many many many times (you know Willie drove this thing with only one hand). The fuel altered class was as exciting, and as spookly, as any class that existed in the 60's. Short wheelbase, shitloads of horsepower, etc. Unfortunately I was a Chevy guy so Willie was one of the bad guys ~ I rooted for the likes of Pure Heaven & Hell (before they rolled over to Chrysler

[levisnteeshirt]

i'd say you aim that thing and not drive it ,,lol

[cliptwingz]

express itnwordZ tho...

[GeoJ]

I love all Gassers and Awful/Awful's - But hands-down my favorite car of all time is the Winged Express.

Keep hangin' on, Mike ... Willie's smilin' down on ya!

Thanks a million for putting this video up!

[malberts1954]

Mike has balls the size of cantalopes.

[CSXer]

It's nice to see a tire burner intead of a new slip clutch setup!

What's the tank for in front of the motor???

[MyNova78]

@CSXer looks like the gas tank

[joninpgh]

@CSXer Yeah, that's where they put the fuel tank on those.

[DouglasR8]

now that would be a bit of a handfull..... (well thats what the girls must say to the driver.......)

[NeilLB7]

you gotta be outta your GD mind to drive that!!!

[collisioncat99]

Jolly good show!

[TheFactzhurt]

Seen this run a few times, takes a big set to run this beast down.

[whitetrashchevyluvr]

WOW! I want one! CHRYSLER HEMI!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PaulSter]

Man, what a nice guy.

[allumina]

FUEL

ALTEREDS

FOREVER

[foolaltered]

long live the altered roadsters........and thnks for the memories

[meat2dawad]

holy shit thats cool

[Racefreak1976]

Crazy Machine! I wouldn't sit in that thing, even if they paid me a million bucks. Wow! Love the sound.

[cslan4]

I wish he would come to Tulsa, OK he would fit in to the "old time drags" they have here from time to time , that and I love old school fuel altereds !

[32spitzer]

Awesome Ride!

[jasonbc69]

wonder if thats an ol' 92 in that thing. 392's were awesome

[staffy58]

what a car,my all time fav.i have a model of it in my garage and a photo hanging on the wall in the lounge room..would love to see it in australia one day..i live in hope...great stuff!!

[TARBABY71]

Imagine it,,, WSID,,, Willowbank,,, Perth Motorplex,,,, I'd follow the tour,,, LOL

[staffy58]

yeah,what a set of wheels,the most tough looking car in the world..just love it.

[staffy58]

count me in ! lol,would follow that thing anywhere!!! cheers

[JGMagoo]

That has GOT to be the most DANGEROUS looking vehicle I have ever see.

An absolute legend in drag racing!

;o)

[nitrofish59]

I saw Mike and Mouse with the winged express at the first Goodguys race at Pacific raceways a few years ago and Mike layed down a solid 7.11 at well over 200 mph

[louswire]

1/4mi burnout... wow

[dinerdave44]

indeed!

[parkerstreeservice]

Thanks for posting!

[fvilledutchman]

Memories... In my mind, I can still see "Wild Willie" skating down the track at NHRA Nationals with one hand on the steering wheel. Bring back the Fuel Altered class, and NHRA will put more butts in the seats.

[Maraud3r43]

seriously bring back altereds and slingshots

[badasdel]

i seen this car run in niagara falls n.y. when i was a kid, it's great to see it in action again. great job driving MIKE ( willie is watching you )

[huntingfishingjuan]

I agree with ziggassedup , the driver has got to have big balls, and noone had 'em like willie

[shadowhunter388]

HAHAH i bet u guys wont belive me but i swear to god hes my roomate lol i know his driver mik

[saludahead]

Mousey came to Hendersonville a while back, and stayed with my boss Glenn Hyder. Glenn's dad was Gwin "Chief" Hyder who built the Hyder '34 Fuel Coupe from back in the '50's and 60's

Drag racing has grown from a sport to an occupation! The old day when you worked like crazy on your opponent's car in the pits just to get the honor of a "hot run" are gone!

At least Mousey and Mike are keeping some of it alive!

[RIKSSOUNDS]

When I first saw this video it brought tears to my eyes, While growing up I lived 5 houses down from Willie Borch and used run errands fro his wife, I saw this car many times on the trailer and run at LIONS DRAG STRIP. It was always a WOW and thundered Long Beach. Great Job MIKE.

[mrhappy592006]

yes the good old days are gone. i want to say that mike has done a great driving the car my dad would be proud.yes wild willie is my father.all of the borsch children wish to thank mike for all he has done for racing and and repersenting the winged/express.NOBODY but mike could control and drive the car like mike does thank you very much..robert borsch..no.4..

[EmpEntTV]

Robert, it is way cool to have you see this video and post your comments. Your dad was awesome!

J.R.Ybarra Speed Sport TV

[shadowhunter388]

if anyone wants to talk to Mousie or al thats what i call him cause thats his real name im MAKEING a profile for him on youtube and its not fake its real so yeah

[shadowhunter388]

i made one i still have to show him how to make it but his username aafamouse

[staffy58]

iam such a big fan of that car,love to get a t-shirt of it...aussie fan!

[grasscat1977]

you can probably buy one from the winged express website...

[2004LEBUSA]

great car---modern dragracing has lost it's soul

[gumper1986]

Sideways with the tires smoking is the only way to run a fuel altered.

[ziggassedup]

the driver's got'a have big balls

[f4tweet]

I saw Willie go thru the traps at the Hot Rod Championship drags at Riverside in '68 @ 202 mph and tripped the lights with his back tire, one handed.

[OzzInter]

Great to see a piece of history still lives!

I can remember reading about the Winged Express back in the early 70's.

Excellent restoration, keeping it as near to original specifications but incorporating some modern safety updates.

[nitrofish59]

very cool. I was lucky enough to see Mike and Mouse with the Winged Express in Seattle a few years back and at night on a cold track he laided down a 7.11 @ 211 mph. I had to laugh when he said he runs 7.40's to 7.50's

[betrippen]

was that the one they crashed recently?

[yeahnahtru]

Its so cool how its the same specs as it was in the 60s, this things an absolute legend

[dodgechevywheelies]

why because they don't have a big enough budgt to buy tires when the stay in one place doing a burnout

[dodgechevywheelies]

they need to get the tires hotter so they can get the front wheeles off the ground. that would be fun and cool

[SuperSport1000]

they cant get the rear tires hot enough though.

[dodgechevywheelies]

yes prbably

[regi79]

import idiots would crap their pants sitting in that

[SuperSport1000]

no shit. this car could also eat and shit those Jap-crap imports with only 4 cylinders firing.

[tog1957]

Wow are you saying a super lightweight blown injected fuel car would be quicker than a four cylinder road car running on gas? No shit sherlock you have to be the biggest cunt on the whole site, what a fucking prick.

[kmcwhq]

FUCK formula one........this is what BALLS and USA racing is all about.

[lukexr6t]

we need AA/FA in australia,long live the the fuel altereds,

[shadowhunter388]

LOL thats my roomates car mousie. lol

[carlosmurphy4u]

My faverite drag car,...... nice doo rag.

[louswire]

Never get tired of seeing this car GO!

Read somewhere that Willie one-handed it, to steady himself, cause the car threw him around so much. long live AA/FA!

[amersis]

Willie actually one-handed it because he used the other hand to steady the body because it shook and the shaking bothered him!

And by the way, Mike Boyd is a sweetheart... so nice and down to Earth! They are racing at more and more meets too... they just got picked up for the 2008 Winternationals for a couple exhibition passes. And Mousie (Marcellus) still goes to all the races with the car too!

[3bar]

Willie would be proud!

[spunkymandie]

long live AA/FA's

[Zeriouslly]

If God wanted to drive a drag car it'd be this one!!

[lolahavasuaz]

Wow, thought this car was gone........

very nice to see it up and running in the nastalgia drags....

I,m 48yrs young and first saw this car run at O.C.I.R. international, Irvine Ca. 1976?.....

Wild Willy..........

NICE VID....thank you........Lola......out.

[23tchevy]

I have a 9 sec altered, 96" wb. Fun is to say the less about these short wheel base cars. I am humbled when I see these old Fuel Altereds. Thank you!

[topn01]

Just gives me cold chills. I love it.

[Wholelotofshakingoin]

I real piece of history.

[Bluewrench10]

Wild Willie — one hand hanging onto the car, one on that big ol' bus steering wheel. It was great. Looks like it still is.

[3bar]

Wild Willie & "The Wing". It didn't get much better!

[Jaffakan1]

There are few gods amongst the sport of Drag Racing. None other that the wildest of the wild with the madness of Fuel Altered; Wild Willy Borsch and the Wingned Express. Thank you Mike Boyd for giving us goose bumps again!