The Story of The Terrifying Toronado: Wronged By History - Part 1

This is the first of a three part series telling the entire incredible history of the Terrifying Toronado, one of the most infamous drag racing cars ever made. This twin engine 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado was ill-handling, was ill-mannered, was on fire a lot, and has actually been maligned with shoddy reporting and bad story telling.
Part one tells the story of the man who built the car. Not a crackpot but a legitimate top fuel heavy hitter that saw the writing on the wall and the money to be made in 1966 Funny Car racing. John Smyser was among the best drag racers in the nation when it came to running heads up on nitro. To understand how this car came to exist you needs to know his background first.
This is part 1

[@charleshanson5587]

Grant Industries built twin engine Toronados and sold a few. I saw one at Seattle International Raceway, in the 1970's. It looked completely stock from the outside. After it beat a 12 second Nova,I went to the pits to check it out. One engine under the hood, and one in the trunk. Since I had read about them,I was glad to actually see one.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Coming in episode 2 🙂

[@betrevryday1]

That was local legend John Gorman’s 1966 Toronado . He built that twin engine white Olds Toro you saw at SIR completely at his auto repair shop in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle. John Gormans Auto Repair even built and sponsored an Indy 500 car in the 70’s among other interesting cars. I lived 10 blocks away and often saw the twin engine toro driven on errands and such.

[@jonathangehman4005]

Man, you are CRUSHING IT with these videos. Hurry up with parts 2 and 3

[@strykerentllc]

Doesn't get any better than your historical coverage, Brian. It's nothing short of remarkable with the level of detail you put into research prior to release of a video presentation. Looking forward to parts two and three as well as future videos. Four wide at Z-Max will definitely be another treat and then on to our local stretch of rubber covered concrete--Route 66. Cheers!

[@parentsbasement7734]

This channel needs to blow up. Brians research is great deep diving the stories which can't be easy with drag racing because everyone knows drag racers can bend a story almost better than anglers, thanks for all the great stories and hard work.

[@benjamincresswell3713]

Also Too he has a good announcer type of voice. It's easy to get lost in his narrative. Kind of the way Chris Economaki used to sound. ben/ michigan

[@sharkinstx]

Brian, I’m really looking forward to Parts 2 and 3!

[@YippeeKiYayMrFalcon]

Brian, I just want to thank you for all of your continued in-depth content regarding drag racing history. So much of this history is locked up inside of old car magazines with yellowed pages and you're really bringing it alive again to the current generation, and in a very in-depth way. It's really honoring to the previous generation and all of these hot rod pioneers, many of who are no longer with us. Really great stuff! Your passion for drag racing history really shines through. Thank you!!!

[@user-ul5et8eq7p]

Outstanding Brian. Well done, and great facts and documentation as well. Mando Hasse and John Smyser have a very fascinating history,and it's pretty much lost to history with the exception of a few pictures and and great news clips that have been preserved. I am currently restoring Nando Hasse s second Dragster from 1966, the Rader Wheels 2. I keep in contact with Nando and visit from time to time. He still remembers all the drag racing events and the people involved. He was very close to Mole Serokin before his terrible accident in 1967. He still has a great relationship with Adam Serokin to this day. It would be something if you could interview Nando soon , as he's 86 and time is catching up. Thanks again for all you do for the sport of drag racing Brian , and keep up the good work.

[@shamil808]

Never heard of the Terrifying Toronado. Looking forward to part two. 🧑🏻‍🎓

[@picman2009]

I was just gonna say that. 😅 Never heard of it but holy sh**! One crazy animal.

[@ronolde5494]

I saw one run years àgo at motor city dràgway it was called Hurst Hairy Oldsmobile

[@markvoldness6925]

I have a 1/24 scale model kit of the hairy olds.

[@frankdragottasfranktv7675]

This is Absolutely Awesome Brian! Thanks so much! I can't wait to hear and see the next two!

[@kevinhuber8723]

This was super enjoyable! Thanks for taking the time to post.

[@horsepowerheaven256]

I've been on KZbin a long time and have never subscribed to a channel. Until now. Your old-school style is totally addicting. I've learned so much from your videos. Thank you very much, for I know how much time and effort goes into work like this.

[@vehdynam]

Well researched and narrated. I anxiously await part 2. Many thanks.

[@BuddyCorp]

Your work output is incredible. Detailed and in depth breakdowns of niche aspects of drag racing seemingly every other week.

[@chesspiece81]

Brian, thank you so much for your uploads

[@Commander-McBragg]

The vintage footage is amazing! You do great work.

[@rayleehylton8427]

Thanks for another great video, another car/team I'd never heard of. Looking forward to part 2.

[@nummerfinfeable]

Simply brilliant Brian. Many thanks from UK.

[@alxf66]

These are top-shelf videos. Every last one of them, a clinic on research, presentation, and audience engagement. Can't wait for the next chapter!

[@williambarger8506]

I reallly enjoy watching your vids. I grew up drag racing with my dad in the 70's, and I saw a lot of these guys race. You do such a good job. Thank you.

[@mikecurtis2585]

These videos are great! Love hearing about all the Drag racing history! Always fun!!!

[@garyking1705]

Outstanding Brian....JUST OUTSTANDING

[@danskipper2475]

Great work as always, many thanks😁

[@saturnfivehynrgrc581]

Good stuff Brian. My favorite time period for drag racing is that early/mid 60"s. What a time it must have been in southern CA. Look forward to the future content.

[@briantomcollins]

3 parter... i like it. This is a fantastic channel. Love the sometimes obscure history of hot rodding and drag racing. Even the odd heavy machinery vids are cool. Great stuff. 👌

[@jakespeed63]

Fantastic History!!😎👍🏁🏆 Thanks for all you do

[@Zman700T]

Brian, I just love your vids and presentations. Very informative!

[@gafrers]

Looking forward to the other parts. Interesting as always

[@michaelgautreaux3168]

Perfect! Have always loved this car both stock & Hot Rod! Many thanx Brian 👍👍

[@cjespers]

Wow! What an interesting story. Looking forward to the rest! Well done. Thanks for your efforts bringing all in info together for us gearheads.

[@mgbchuck6527]

lookin' forward to pt.2/pt.3. Never saw the Toronado run (parents had a '66 one), did see the Hurst Hairy Olds though. Keep'm coming Brian

[@user-bb8mb3ky4n]

Awesome car !

[@proracer382d]

Awesome stuff as always my friend

[@peaceeagle1618]

Wow! Brian you knocked it out of the park on this one. Kudos!

[@garylucier6817]

Brian, thank you for bringing back this old (currently again active in the sport for a 2nd time in life), drag racer's sights and sounds and 8 dozen names that did not survive the wild 60's even into the 70's (when I was old enough to move from a child of a huge fan to an actual racer), save for a few names like Prudohomme, McCuen, and Kallitta), from my childhood days attending Top Fuel races throughout SoCal! Many names and winners from the beginning days of fuel racing are rarely heard, seen, and spoken of, and all of those people were pioneers of the sport.

[@Pablo668]

That was awesome. Looking forward to the next episode.

[@justacoupleofkids320]

Love your background stories related to auto racing vehicles and personalities. Reminds me of Paul Harvey’s Rest of the Story series. Keep ‘em coming.

[@cavemangarage]

Fantastic video and story thank you again Brian for a wonderful page out of History I look forward to the next two videos please don't make us wait very long LOL

[@bradley-eblesisor]

Buddy, I know 2 things in the middle of 2024. 1. KZbin is cool. 2. Creators like you make it awesome! Thanks! 👍👍

[@localcrew]

Never heard of this car - but now I’m fully invested in the outcome!

[@MADmidway]

I grew up in Amarillo! I've been to that drag way many times, but it seems during it's twilight years. I didn't realize how much of big deal it was back in the day. Awesome video!

[@mwhitelaw8569]

That's funny you mentioning KFS They tried to hire my dad away from PSA back in the day. My pop was the lead welder in the turbine shop for 18 years. Many of his methods changed alot of repair procedures all over the world. Love your obsession Brian

[@frankjones4094]

Really looking forward to the rest of this great story.

[@halseyknox]

Dick Lechien is pronounced La-sheen, his son Ron was a short lived motocross superstar in the 80's. Dick created and marketed Maxima oils and lubricants which Ron now runs in Santee, Ca. Dick was a local AA/FD legend in So. Cal back in the 60's......love listening to your excellent history lessons in the early days of drag racing👍👍👍

[@erica8664]

Please keep turning out these great vids.

[@edminas3159]

Thank you so much Brian. I am so appreciative of your dedication to the truth

[@koolkid95chrysler53]

Just 2 minutes in and im already hooked. great job!

[@patrickshaw8595]

Ima' slow learner - took until four min. in. But I watched it on 8X speed so I win !

[@BelowAmbient]

ive always loved this car, i remember how happy reading the hot rod article on it, then finding the 1/24 scale model kit and meticulously detailing and painting everything on it

[@AbramSari]

Wow! Great research and really great story telling. I was a teen in the 70’s and would read Hot Rod and Car Craft from cover to cover every month. You have reminded me why I enjoyed that so much back then. Thank you.

[@terrygarvin1392]

Your research and presentation are unbelievably interesting. Can't wait for parts 2 and 3. In the meantime it looks like there's plenty more to follow up on. My NHRA racing is much more fun knowing how informed the announcer is.

[@jasonbirch1182]

I still don't get how you only have 31,000 subs. Best stories on the tube.

[@JeffreyPerrault-hk6xe]

Thanks for bringing back some memories Brian.I recognized Riverside.I used to live in Sunnymead right across the street from Riverside raceway.I loved to hang out there as a kid.I snuck in so many times that eventually they ended up just letting me in.😅

[@mouthend]

Interesting story ... will be waiting for parts 2 and 3 ! A breath of fresh air to watch these well researched and told videos on car history .. thanks Brian. Oh and also of interest was to see Gary Gabelich's name among all those legends too as I only knew him from Blue Flame.

[@paulegan1296]

I had a chance to buy a 1/18 GMP diecast Terrifying Toronado in the early 2000s..pricy, but not out of reach. I am kicking my ass now for not doing it. As usual, great great autox journalism and narration!

[@ejgrant5191]

Brian you are ONE AWESOME GUY! Thanks for setting the record straight. History being re-told can be warped over time. We oftened joked in racing "Good Luck" was when dedication, hard work meets opprotunity. There were many "back yard tuners" who were a force to be recogned with @ the races. I also heard Denny Millani's name mentioned he was a force to be recogned with in Top Fuel driving the Gotelli Speed Shop TF Dragster. My old friend worked with Denny @ Hewlitt Packard in Palo Alto....Denny sold him a set of heads for his 63 340HP 327 Vette and swapping those heads put him right @ the NHRA national record for the class in his "daily driver" Vette when he put, 4.56 gears and "Bruce's Tire" recapped sticky tires on it....Great times👍

[@P_RO_]

Just so many complaining here who can't read that this is part one, which of course will be about the background of the main story yet to come. The background of many stories is as interesting as the story itself and I definitely enjoyed it. You won't find any other YT channel giving this depth on obscure little-known drag racing history if you find anything on the subject at all so kwitcherbitchin. This channel rocks 😎

[@TurboDog73TX]

An awesome vid as usual. Being well before My time, I'd never even heard of The "Terrible Toranado" but what a cliffhanger of a story!

[@wendycordray2254]

Terrifying Tornado NOT terrible Tornado

[@scottr9900]

Love the podcast. Been listening for years. Be fun to have you and Freiburger do some in-depth.

[@leesherman100]

Love your vids. Keep'em coming. Thanks

[@betrevryday1]

Thanks Brian for these videos from an era I love. In Seattle there was another twin engine 66 Toronado too built by John Gorman . He’d drag race it too at Seattle International Raceway and used as his daily driver in the 1970’s . His son Jim who worked with his father John at the family operated auto repair shop might be able share some details about one of the other twin engine Toro’s . Beautifully engineered It was quite the local legend back then .

[@mcjdubpower]

Another fantastic vid 😊

[@BG-gr7fh]

Nice work Brian, keep it up! I'm wondering if the Doug Robinson mentioned in the articles is the same Doug Robinson of the BMR #66 Bonneville Fuel Roadster ?

[@theschultz-ster]

One last video before bed. Thanks Brian.

[@theschultz-ster]

Just watched the whole thing and realized at the end you didn't even talk about the Toronado! I was hooked@

[@Guns_N_Gears]

Amazing story, and amazing reporting on the story!!

[@BobHoehn218]

Excellent job with the research and building the foundation for Part 2. Can't wait!

[@merekchertkow2665]

Great story Bryan,,,, thanks for remembering them…John Smyser lived for drag racing & Nando😅 were a couple of my best friends back in the day,,just talked to Nando several months ago… I drove two of John’s dragster in mid 1963/early 64… also I drove from Pomona to Jim Davis Shop in Walnut Creek Ca. who built this chassis to pick up the chassis for Nando… to really great guys.

[@wendycordray2254]

I would like to talk to you if that's possible. John is my father and Nando is my uncle.

[@joshuagibson2520]

I am heading out fishing for the day, but I'll be watching this first before I leave!

[@LANDSEAAIRCANADA]

Excellent great on all levels Thank you

[@wm9904]

Looking forward to the next parts

[@bvonsvideos]

Cant wait for part 2😊

[@RandysFiftySevenChevy]

I think I built a model of the hairy olds back in the day. The glorious days of drag racing that is gone forever. I grew up in that environment and still do somewhat with my old gasser.

[@RamPMonyPers]

Thank you for doing justice to the 'infamous' Toronado and its creator. I often felt most people had failed to understand his talent.

[@wendycordray2254]

Thank you for the kind words about my father. God bless you

[@charlieromeo7663]

Another example of video excellence! Well done, Brian. Just curious, was that a young Steve Evans in one of the reports? Also, where was Garlits during those races? Did he simply choose to not travel that far or what? Seems odd he didn’t participate. Keep up the great work, looking forward to parts 2 and 3!

[@tomp1612]

Thar was great, hope part 2 is soon, the edge of this seat is uncomfortable and I can't hold my breath much longer. Good stuff on John and Nando Haase. They certainly were heavy hitters.

[@martyroberson2091]

Awesomeness Brian

[@johnnoipswich7239]

It's so refreshing to watch a video made by someone who clearly knows what they're doing. Someone who does their research, fact checks.

[@TalkingGIJoe]

Toronado... quite possbly one of the best cars to ever come out of Detroit... right there next to the Riviera...

[@markgeary5897]

Brian these stories are brilliant.How about picking a random issue of National Dragster from back in the day and adding some of your expert knowledge,stories behind the scenes etc?.UK fan #1

[@rdefabri]

Great story!!

[@brianmcadow4054]

That was fantastic !

[@roberthill2219]

PART TWO PLEASE!!!

[@kevinbontrager2920]

Fantastic photos

[@rosewhite---]

That Barracuda was a really classy design! Bring it back Chrysler or whatever your name is these days!

[@user-bb8mb3ky4n]

The fastback ! Pure American elegance !

[@allareasindex7984]

Liquified, powderfied, or pillified… Brian, I love your writing.

[@Tricknologyinc]

Would love to see you cover The Surfers! That was such a sad ending!

[@dadyo63]

Nice work

[@colinbrassington3192]

Looking forward to parts 2 and 3. And only partly because like you say, what I know about the car is probably wrong.

[@AtZero138]

First Job.1993/95. Browning Oldsmobile.. i heard about the car.. working with Old Hot Rod kids.. it was great hearing about Loins and Orange County etc.. One of the salesmen who was the President of the Oldsmobile Toronado Club.. He drove one of them every day to work.. 6 different one's... Seeing them.. 1st time for me.. he mentioned this story..

[@benjamincresswell3713]

Hey, I never heard of the Terrifying Toronado. I wonder if the Hurst Hairy 66 Oldsmobile was a copy-cat. It was two supercharged engines and 4 wheel drive. It boasted 2,400 hp. ben/ michigan PS I subbed.

[@daviddavid5880]

One of the coolest, scariest hot rods of all time.

[@mchristr]

Imagine being born post-WWII and growing up in SoCal as a drag racing fan. There were drag strips from Long Beach out to Riverside. Racing everywhere, all the time.

[@teleandtwin65]

Another great video. Looking forward to parts 2 and 3.

[@RandallSoong-pp7ih]

Awesome!

[@sharkinstx]

I was hoping that Part 2 was going to be posted today. When is that coming?

[@CarsandCats]

My Dad raced at Santa Maria Dragstrip back in 1959. I still have one of his trophies that says "Santa Maria Dragons" on it.

[@IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT]

Hey Brian, after the 3-part Toronado story is finished, are you planning on uploading a video of this story, but all 3 parts in 1 video?

[@TheRoguelement]

I was a young kid during the Trnados fame I even built the Model to the 10th degree detailing it out the whole way ..for static model competition

[@garylucier6817]

I remember John Smyser, and that Toronado, I was just a kid, but My step dad loved that car, and knew that man.

[@numlockkilla]

How does Brian not have at least 500k subs.

[@jonspence6782]

Thank you

[@JSki-kb8vf]

I'm going to start watching your stuff from different computers to drive up the hit count...it's that good...

[@benjamincresswell3713]

Does that work? Whenever I stop a video but look for it on a different device it knows where I left off. One thing I do do (gotta watch those do do's) is play a vid over and over and over while I do other things on different tabs. (google chrome) ben/ michigan

[@user-is3bp6ii4n]

Cool!😎👍

[@UberLummox]

Intriguing. That Toranado is a new one on me. VERY much looking 4ward to it. And @20:06 I'm at least 95% sure the lettering on that rail is by Ed 'Big Daddy Rat Fink' Roth hisseff!