Made in the USA – Top Alcohol Funny Car

Don “The Snake” Prudhomme’s last funny car provided the basis for the Banks powered “Made In The U.S.A.” Top Alcohol Funny Car. Initial testing was run on gasoline and at the time it became the fastest gas class car running. NHRA eventually banned turbocharging in the Alcohol Funny Car category, ending this program.

The team of Banks, Leslie, and McLaughlin developed this twin-turbocharged Funny Car. Targeting the Top Alcohol class in NHRA, the funny car featured a Gale Banks 500 ci aluminum big block engine with Pontiac Big Chief cylinder heads. It was equipped with a Banks designed dual-Dominator blow-through carburetor configuration and a Banks designed custom variable geometry turbine – both firsts of their kind. At a nominal 1,800 hp the funny car was the quickest gas burning drag race car at the time.

Project Photo Gallery

Warming the tires

Made In The USA

Funny car Made In The USA

Funny car turbo vgt

Red, White, Blue, and Blown... Twice!

Red, White, Blue, and Blown... Twice! p2

Hot Rod Magazine p190 May 1989

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MADE IN THE USA Top Alcohol Funny Car

Gale Banks’ MADE IN THE USA top alcohol funny car featured groundbreaking variable volute turbo technology, which was later adopted by the industry. Despite its record-breaking performance, the car was banned from NHRA competition due to its alleged “unfair advantage.”

When it Comes to Racers...We Roll Our Own!

A friend asked for a race car sponsorship recently, but we usually don’t do that. When it comes to race cars, trucks or boats…it’s more fun to build and race our own! And, that way, if we do it wrong, win a race or set a record, it’s our own doing. When it comes to fuel, ...