It is said that timing is everything.
In the case of the last twin engine top fuel dragster ever built,
that could be an understatement. At the time Don Garlits was
shaking up the sport with his first rear engine car, the team
of Forthmann, Raitt, Butorac and Ditmar were having Frank Huszar
of Race Car Specialties build the latest version of a "Syndicate"
fuel dragster. The previous Syndicate cars were all conventional
1 hemi on nitro deals, but in 1971 they, for what ever reason,
thought 2 hemis on nitro was a better idea. Bless them for their
daring venture but in hindsight, their timing was not everything.
Nonetheless,
the team campaigned the car into the 1972 season when it became
painfully obvious that rear engine cars were and would forever
rule the Kings of the Sport. The behemoth was parked and the
team disbanded. They never went on to build a RED. But in its
short life, the twice engined Syndicate got more than its share
of fan and press attention. There are no available stats on how
quick and fast the car ever ran but even though it was not competitive,
it was an awesome piece and for many reasons needs to be remembered.
"Syndicate"
- AA/FD - nearing completion at RCS in 1971.
"The Syndicate" AA/FD
was a bold undertaking in that they tried to compete with the
new rear engine dragsters by putting two early hemis in what
was a nice car. Nice burnout shot at OCIR in 1971.
Bob McClurg did a feature story
on the car that included this burnout shot in a city parking
lot.
Bob McClurg photo
Bob McClurg photo
Bob McClurg photo
Bob McClurg photo
Bob McClurg photo
The car made the cover
of this Irwindale Program in July of 1971.
Pomona in 1972. This
is one of the last photos taken of the car in action.
