Hooley wrecked the "Okie Twister" Henry J today at a nostalgia race at MOKAN Dragway. Many of you have seen the car run at the HAMB Drags over the last 12 years. Hooley is fine with no scrapes or cuts but probably will be a little sore for the next few days. It happened as he was just through the finish line when he pulled the chute. The car is destroyed but he is okay. I helped build the car, and helped him run it through the years, although I have not been around a lot lately. It was quit an adventure. Over a 1,000 passes.
Sad end to such a cool, quick car. That being said, I am so glad he’s ok. Met him a few times over the years and sold him an Olds rear end for a gasser years ago. Like I say, I’m really glad he’s ok after suck a spectacular finish. r Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
My friend Logan in the Orange/white 56 post car sent me pics wallago . Soo sorry but glad he’s ok. Man , that cage held up where it counted. I still appreciate you guys letting the boys now 16 have a seat in the ol twister while at Rogersville few years ago. Now they have a rolling chassis their building. That was a good day we met you guys & was a winning day for the twister & my pal Logan runnered up . Flux
Man, hate to hear that but glad Hooley is ok. That was definitely one of my favorite Henry J's maybe partially since it was also a local car.
We were in the pit area when the announcer said that a car was off the track. Word spread quickly that it was Hooley. We looked at each other with shock, and soon silent prayers were being said asking that he would be okay. To our relief, he was fine. Hooley handled it well. The rest of the day he was just as calm and laid back as ever. I don’t know if I would’ve handled the situation as well as he did. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I think the engine and transmission are okay. That engine is the one Hooley set records with in the Studebaker at Bonneville. It is a very expensive billet engine that was custom built. (I think the long block was $27,000 12 years ago) He has it and the other Bonneville engine which is the 572 cubic inch big block with twin turbo chargers. I do not know what his intensions are but I do not think he plans to sell them any time soon. Hopefully there will be something in the works for them in the future.
I just remembered that the stainless rear bumper was my tubing from the infamous pig at the 2nd HAMB Drags! You welded it up!
That bumper got damaged when there was a incident at the drags, after dark, and someone backed the Okie Twister into the car trailer. I have that bumper and the one that was on the car during its disassembly, during the crash, at my shop. I plan to fix the one you brought here and make a wall hanger of it. The second one I plan to make coffee cups of the ends as that is about all that remains that is useable. It was a great race car. Hooley is working on the Okie Twister II
Hooley is working on the new Okie Twister and I hope it will be racing soon. Here is a shot of the Okie Twisters ugly sister. Hooley and Ken are running it at the Out of Sight Drags in Wisconsin this weekend. Hooley has also started working on preparing the " Just Glad to be Here", 53 Studebaker, for its return at Speedweek 2022. He is a busy man. racing it this weekenat
The Jalopy Journal
