In the sport of drag racing few names are more recognizable than Hoover... Pa (George), Ma (Ruth) and Tom. Pictured below George Hoover on the left with Tom and the Dragmaster car in 1963. To quote Tom Hanna, "Can you imagine their resume? 2 words... Family business.

From the early '60 through the late '90's there was hardly a season that the Hoover name wasn't on a race car. It all started with the family with buying a Dragmaster car from Arvy Mack in Summer 1962 which they ran on gas until August 1963, switched to 25% in the 454" gas motor through the Fall of 1963.

Here Tom is on the left in the Dragmaster faced off against Bruce Norman in the Big Wheel Ivo car at Minnesota Dragways in 1963.
Tom Ivo Photo

Pa and Ma then bought a Rod Stuckey car in early 1964 that was fitted with a 392 on Fuel. This is Tom in the Stuckey car in late Spring 1964. Tom went along with the Big Wheel to Cordova where the Big Wheel was match racing the Guzler. Bruce Norman, driver of the Big Wheel, with the cigarette helps to pull Tom onto the push down road.

In the 1964 season the car yielded mediocre results but they did win the AHRA Winter Nationals at Beeline in January of 1965. Hoover defeated Dean Turk in the final.

The Stucky car was replaced in late June of 1965 by an RCE chassied car featuring a B & M Torqmaster. This is the car that was stolen the following Winter and was never recovered. The loss would have put most racers out of business but not the Hoovers. Woody Gilmore (RCE) and Tom Hanna helped them get back running again with what was ultimately dubbed "The Fishbowl" car for 1966. It would prove to be not only the prettiest car the Hoover's ever had but the one best remembered by drag racing puritists.

The car was powered by a 392 hemi for most of its two year stint with Hoover but was converted to a SOHC Ford "hemi" in mid 1967.However, the "Fishbowl Car" proved to be too heavy for the cammer so they got another car for the 1968 season which had a full nose but only a shorty back. Hoover sold the Fishbowl car with the 392 to Denny Darragh at the end of 1967 and Denny ran it in 1968 and 1969 then sold it. And the trail goes cold from there.

That is the cars history in a nutshell... the car that is featured in this recreation by Steve Anderson.

1966 - the Hoover car in process. Tom Hanna did a shorty body first so they could race the weekends, then they would bring it back so he could hammer on it during the week. This car replaced the 1965 B & M Torqmaster car that was stolen. The Hoovers were pretty broke getting back in operation so Hanna agreed to take payments. Every month like clockwork Pop Hoover would have a check in his mailbox for $105.

When the body was finally done the car went to Imperial Customs for paint. It was already somewhat notorious because of the "Fishbowl" deal. A magazine writer and photographer were doing a story on Hanna. He was doing this car at the time. There was an inset in the tail that would get woodgrain. Hanna made the inset by cutting out teardrop shapes on each side and rolling them out a little. The he fitted pieces back in, to make a flat area. The article was done while the teardrops were removed and the writer asked what these were for. Hanna, his usual playful self, said "Hoover is going to put an aquarium there with real fish" or the nearest equivalent. This explanation appeared in the article, hence "Fishbowl Car".

By all accounts this car qualifies for one of the top 10 nicest tail pieces ever done.

Among the unique tail piece, the car also feature almost plush upholstery previously unseen in dragsters.

Tom in the far lane at a UDRA race staged in Moorhead, Minnesota in June 1966. In the near lane, Doug Paton in Ron Johnson's Big Wheel sponsored car.

Tom Hoover at Minnesota Dragway, 1967 with "Papa George" pushing Tom's Woody/Hanna beauty out of the pits.
Photo by Dick Wittnebel

Here is the Fishbowl car at Union Grove, probably Memorial Day weekend 1966.
Photo by Ron Johnson

Tom Hoover the 1967 NHRA Springnationals at Bristol, right before he switched to a Ford cammer.

A very young, lean and hair-on-his-head Tom Hoover after the SOHC Ford replaced the 329 Chrysler. Tom switched this car from the 392 to a Ford Cammer in 1967 and then sold it to Denny Darragh at the end of the year.

Among the competitive Canadian top fuelers owner/drivers, there was one guy from Winnipeg who spent a few years following the circuit in the Midwest. His name was Denny Darragh. He bought Hoovers last Woody/Hanna 392 Chrysler car and replaced the cammer with a 392. Here is the car sans nose at an AHRA meet at Wichita in 1968.
Photo by Ron Johnson

After an extensive search, the original car was deemed "gone". So Steve Anderson started the recreation in 2006 with Tom Hanna is on board. Tom is giving some help with a lot of advice as well as spending some time correcting the details on the life size drawing. Tom Hoover will remain within an arms length of the project the whole way.

 

With the chassis basically done, it was time to start on the complex body. Above the lower nose side panels are in place.

The top of the tail piece before it was attached to the swoopy cockpit part of the body.

01-10-08: After a 2 month project lay-off, Steve is back on track and had Tom Hoover take the seat of his old ride. Hoover gave the resto two tumbs up.