Fast Freaks: The Crazy Story Of 1960s Three Wheeled Nitro Burning Dragsters

It looks weird, it looks scary, and it looks bad, right? What if we told you that looks can be deceiving and there were two three-wheeled dragsters in the early 1960s that competed and actually won. Kenny Ellis was the man with the first one and the Cook and Jahns dragsyer (shown here) rasied the bar.
No, it doesn't look like anything we would ever want to drive but with a blown small block Chevy on fuel, Ellis went over 180mph and with a small blown hemi on nitro Jeff Jahns went over 190!
Told through research and historic photos, here's a look back and two forgotten freaks from drag racing's colorful past.

[@7thphaseinc]

Hey there. Kenny Ellis was a friend of my dad's, Paul Leon. Kenny was a hell of an aluminum fabricator and he could gas weld light aluminum like a wizard. He built a roof for my single seat VW off road race car, he formed basically the first aluminum fan shroud, using a 911 alternator and fan for the same off road car. Approx. late 1972. I still kick myself in the ass for not going to his shop and working as a flunky and learning that skill from a master. ~George Leon. Kenny was a super nice guy.

[@moeandco.]

What a wild time to be alive. Please don’t stop telling these stories. 🤘

[@brianlohnes3079]

I won’t!

[@Acceleronics]

4:33 I remember that cover photo! Yes, I'm that old.

[@jameseastwood4984]

Hello from the UK, I've never built a dragester, I'm a classic car restorer but I love these stories of old amature builds. Great content and delievery as always Brian, I thoroughly enjoy it.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thank you!

[@Markcigar1]

Being wild and crazy innovative in the NHRA top fuel ranks TODAY means painting you car in wild colors😳

[@TheAsdffaaa]

exept they're going 300mph in 1/8 mile, which was unheard of in the nintees. And gained a good extra 3000hp in past 20 years or so. But yea, i'd rather time travel to sixties without any hesitation :D

[@HotRodHoarder]

Scary stuff! Excellent history lesson...I've always been curious about the drag racing oddities you've been covering. Thanks for digging up the details and delivering it in an entertaining manner!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thank you Tommy! Respect!!

[@mattskustomkreations]

Hey Tommy, so cool to see you here. Brian, this channel is awesome! Best wishes

[@joshuagibson2520]

Thomas out here in the wild!

[@TillrockART]

Great story! I love these deep dives into creative people and their wild rides!

[@Adam-nv9zo]

Your channel is absolutely amazing. I've been into drag racing my whole life, and I still learn something new from almost every video you produce. Well done and thank you.

[@RebekahsZ]

Brian Lohnes-you are the BEST! A real master of your craft. Thanks for all you give to our sport. It’s better for you.

[@brianlohnes3079]

A true and sincere thank you. That’s the highest compliment I could ever hope to receive.

[@oldrustycars]

When I was in charge of Pinewood Derby for my son's Cub Scouts pack, I was always asked if three wheels were legal. They were, but I had seen what a failure it was. The car scrubbed the guide walls all the way down the track, and barely made the bottom of the hill. Still, a few tried, and failed.

[@GreenJeep1998]

We’re they 3 wheelers like this, or reverse with 1 rear instead?

[@oldrustycars]

@@GreenJeep1998 2 wheels in back, one wheel in front, the other front wheel raised so it didn't touch the track. The rumor was less rolling resistance. It didn't work. Been going on for years, failing for years

[@GreenJeep1998]

@@oldrustycars I used to work for a hobby shop and had heard about that “trick” from customers, never heard of it working either. Seem to remember hearing about playing g with camber and to in ways to minimize rolling resistance too, never found out how well that played out either. My favorite was the troop that had a “Dad’s” Class, the only restriction that class had was that they could only use gravity to propel their cars down the track…….Kinda sounded more like an “Outlaw” class to me😄

[@johnclark1525]

Another interesting story about drag racing history!

[@mikerhoads7010]

Gary cook who was cook bros racing which was a BMX bicycle company in the 80s was my neighbor! I grew up with his son and used to drive a go kart Gary had built back in the day! He had spoke of this dragster and I’ve seen a few photos but this was way more info I had ever gotten about it! Thank you Brian you do a hell of a job!

[@brianlohnes3079]

What an amazing connection!!!

[@42lookc]

Dropping onto slicks turning 150MPH?! There's more MAN sitting in that trike than all the guys watching him from the grandstands put together.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Agree!

[@joshuagibson2520]

Just another reminder to all that not giving a single fuck is as free as you'll ever be. I love these wild west days of cars and drag racing.

[@joshuagibson2520]

5:17 !!!

[@ebinmaine]

Boy that second one is something else !! I can hardly process the thought of having my rear wheels spinning at 150 MPH and.... just dropping them...

[@brianlohnes3079]

Insane, right!?

[@ebinmaine]

@@brianlohnes3079 more so than myself and that's tough to imagine. 🤪

[@billrandell4641]

I've told unbelievers about that sidewinder all my life..everybody has always accused me of lying about it!!!..It had several hairy launches, where one tire would come down first and it took off into the sky..I clearly remember having a model car kit of this exact 3-wheeler!!!...I was about 9-10 years old (73 now)...I am so glad to finally be vindicated about this monster of a drag car!!👍👍👍😊😊🗽🇺🇸

[@popeyeman69]

This is why your channel is on my favorite list Brian! Always an amazing story in the history of Drag Racing!

[@rogerholloway8498]

How did I live thru that and wonderful age and still never even see the magazines! Cool stuff!

[@bazil7330]

I found this channel a few days ago, I love these old stories and you do a great job , thank you for posting them, i have subbed,

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thank you!

[@eddieb8100]

Very cool stuff, however I must admit ...I'm 60 , a gearhead and a racer and I did not know these cars existed.

[@ovalwingnut]

ShOcK & AWE. I have NEVER seen or heard of these Tri-Rockets in my life. Not even a hint. And I'm a child of the 60's.. I must have been napping. Thanks so much for pulling the curtain back. p.s. Chain drives & no crash barriers between the track and the spectators? Wild man.. WILD :)

[@brianlohnes3079]

Insanity!

[@t39racer]

Thanks Brian, for another cool story!

[@JackWebb713]

Did not know this was a thing. I love oddities in racing. Like Mr. Unswitchable GTO I believe? Great research.

[@scottbarker5930]

Watching the launch on the start line would be thrilling..

[@ghostdawg247]

Awesome videos. Its always a good day when I see you upload. Been killin it over the past week and a half with all this content 🙌

[@brianlohnes3079]

Glad you are digging it!!

[@Mike_Collins392]

I remember reading in the late 1980's that Don Garlits was working on a car to set a 1/4 mile speed record. It was a 3 wheeled dragster and would be using a Donovan engine. It was like a month later racers added a second mag ( and dual plug heads , etc. ) and gained like 50 mph overnight. I never heard anything after that regarding Don's project.

[@84notch1]

Your channel is amazing, keep up the awesome stories!!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Appreciate it and thank you for watching!

[@berserkfuryyy6798]

Found you a couple of days ago, and I love your channel! Much love from Alabama!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Sincerely appreciate that!

[@vehdynam]

Now that is interesting , and unusual ! I can't say I would be a fan of these, looks scary. Thanks Brian , and keep them coming, always appreciated.

[@adammiller6606]

Your my favorited drag racing announcer. Thanks Brian. Woo!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thank you!!

[@davidmarvosh5354]

Never thought I'd see vids like this. I'm the end of a drag racing generation of the 60's. Not much on the shelf in those days. We had to engineer everything ourselves. These three wheel dragsters are just an example of the oddities of the day. My racing partner was a tinsmith and one of the most innovative persons I've ever known. Some of his stuff was a 54 Olds Ninety Eight with twin Corvair Turbos, a Rambler American with a 300 inch ford 6 and 2-3 into one megaphone headers, one in front of the front wheel and one behind. Still one of the neatest sounding engines I've ever heard. Then he had a 55 Chevy with only one traction bar that went rearward. He thought it would transfer more weight to the rear axle. Unfortunately we could never test the theory because we couldn't afford to build a engine with enough horsepower. Unfortunately we never documented any of this because everyone else was doing equally odd things. All in the memory now!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Fantastic!!

[@bobroberts2371]

Given modern dragsters ( at least below top fuel ) have gone to a narrow track, they are not far off from a 3 wheel car. And don't forget the road racing Nissan Delta Wing in open and closed cockpit.

[@waynemetevia7983]

Never knew anything about this. I can see why a three wheeled dragster would be scary. I don't understand why they are banned. Especially when you consider the fact that drag bikes that go well over 200 m.p.h. have been around for a long time. Three wheels are banned, but two is alright?

[@brianlohnes3079]

A two wheeled motorcycle with a full range of steering is a far more controllable thing than a trike with a few degrees of steering left and right. Three wheels cars like the Reliant Robin turn over at the drop of a hat. The fear is that as these went ever faster, they would suffer the same fate.

[@mattskustomkreations]

Yeah@@brianlohnes3079 I could understand the fears that officials had of these rigs rolling to one side and then abruptly and uncontrollably steering right into the other guy's lane or to the side walls and then possibly up and over into the stands, since they are essentially dart shaped. That front wheel protection bar angled up would be perfect to help get up an over things.

[@geoffreypiltz271]

@@brianlohnes3079 Reliants DO NOT turn over at the drop of a hat. If they did they wouldn't have one of the cheapest insurance rates ever.

[@The55nomad]

Great stuff. Thank you.

[@mcraceworks]

Cool history

[@proracer382d]

Awesome stuff as always my friend.

[@toomanyhobbies2011]

Awesome! Thank you.

[@frankdragottasfranktv7675]

Another awesome Video Brian. Thank You!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Appreciate you diggin’ it!

[@RandallSoong-pp7ih]

I had no idea. Freaking crazy!

[@gassermann]

Great stories thanks for doing them.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thank you for watching!

[@flflash4717]

As always Awesome stuff Brian! Please keep this series up!

[@ClassicIronAddict]

Keep it up! I love your automotive narratives!! You’re destined for a great following!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thank you!

[@mikecurtis2585]

Wow always some interesting history! Love seeing these videos!!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thank you for watching!

[@76-UVB]

Launching the car off casters must have put a tremendous amount of strain on the drivetrain of that car. The solutions that racers find to solve their particular set of problems is endlessly fascinating

[@cmsracing]

Back then the track was not treated, and the slicks were kind of hard, so they just spun and did not hook up.

[@GreenJeep1998]

Looked like it was a double chain drive off the engine to the axle, kinda go cart like.

[@saddletramp6935]

Didn't that guy from Michigan launch his chevy powered motorcycle that way?

[@colossae3241]

I'm new to this sports, nice to learn a lot about it. Can you make a video about evolution and history of top fuel dragster. Love how it's become from front engine to rear engine.( And More)

[@brianlohnes3079]

Certainly on my list!

[@colossae3241]

@@brianlohnes3079 thanks for the reply sir😭

[@shawng7902]

180mph!!! In that 110" open cockpit tricycle dragster!! Uhhh that is beyond the insane of the day. even with front engine dragsters the size of lawn mowers.

[@ccrider00]

How dumb + crazy can you be, apparently-------- Must have a death wish!!! 😱☠👹😫🤜👽🤛👊👾❗🥳

[@Benlucky13]

part of me wishes they just bolted 2 small front tires together like a dually and kept the front the same, just to be *technically* within the rules with 4 wheels while still keeping the style of 3

[@brianlohnes3079]

That would have been awesome

[@andrewjensen7413]

That second Car Is Batshit Crazy you would have to be Totally Insane to Run that at 180 mph anytime.

[@jrod132002]

Thumbs up!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thank you!

[@andrewthompson7793]

That's just inspiring 😂 love it

[@brianlohnes3079]

Crazy stuff! Thank you for watching it

[@CarsandCats]

more more more!!!

[@deanwitherow9789]

@ 5:29 photo shows an exposed ring gear, brave man !

[@brianlohnes3079]

Well yeah, the thing was chain driven!

[@genelappe]

Amazing

[@pixelnazgul]

The idea existed long before human even had car

[@TDCflyer]

If those guys were out there to piss off the establishment - when the rules dictated 4 wheels, didn't any one try to build the two front wheels in an in-line configuration?

[@ScoutSniper3124]

The spinning wheel caster drop should be re-explored. It'd make for some interesting runs.

[@allareasindex7984]

I love oddball approaches! No clutch? No problem! Hahahaha

[@brianlohnes3079]

It was literally the Wild West back then!

[@anthonycarty9433]

The Michigan madman , E J Potter had a similar no clutch setup with his chevy powered drag bike . Spin up the back wheel , drop it off the stand and yeeeeee haaa !

[@pmhullentertainment2068]

You are forgetting about Don Garlett's, three-wheeler that broke the 300-mile barrier in the late 80's. Dude,

[@brianlohnes3079]

Ummmmm what!?

[@joshgreen2164]

Got it spun up and dropped it!😲😲😲😲

[@187Overkillah]

What a crazy concept, turning your wheels in the air and letting it drop…. Considering these tinkered and tailored „amateur“ builds (comparing their knowledge in comparison to todays) driving 190mph within 400 meters is just absolutely crazy

[@brianlohnes3079]

Wild stuff all around!

[@timothybyrom5560]

Meters?

[@brianlohnes3079]

@@timothybyrom5560 - a quarter mile is 440 meters so it makes some sense.

[@timothybyrom5560]

Yeah I know, but meters are left of me. I use freedoms units in my measurements.🤟😎🤟 Rock on Nigel.

[@nzsaltflatsracer8054]

2:22 The Hemi version seems to be a whole new car, it has a fat top rail whereas the earlier version had a fat lower rail. ps I just watched it again & the first version has same size upper & lower rails so most likely three different frames were built.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Awesome eye!!

[@nzsaltflatsracer8054]

@@brianlohnes3079 Something else I found interesting is the off center front wheel 2:34 presumably to counter engine torque & make it go straight. These were the good old days when innovation was allowed in drag racing & is still alive & well at SCTA. Keep them coming M8!😎

[@CharlesAAnnen-rh4mk]

Ahh! Nrian you validated an assumption i developed while living on the Big Island The island of Hawaii is home to one of the worlds largest cattle ranches the Parker Ranch. Kalitta Air transports year old steer in a boarded up 747 to Japan where they will be raised as Kobo Beef.

[@theschultz-ster]

Again, I was born in the wrong point in time! I wish this was in my life time!

[@jlh55]

Not much in driver protection. They were crazy to get in those and make a pass

[@futten3230]

is there any way we could send images of cars as suggestions for you to make a video about?

[@brianlohnes3079]

You can follow me on @instagram and message me there?

[@futten3230]

@@brianlohnes3079 my friend DM'd you a pic of a car thats pretty much a hammock with an engine on it do you know this car already? ive had that picture stored for sooo many years and know nothing about that car

[@iowa_don]

5:10 - I wonder who he is "flipping the bird" at in the photo.

[@brianlohnes3079]

My guess is the grim reaper!

[@ccrider00]

Dangerous at speed, a quick change in direction at speed could end you over turning it ! Why!⁉️

[@19723020]

Throw a couple paddle tires on there, and they would be great fun in the snow.

[@ScottWM54]

So, was that really the first rear engine dragster(3 wheels)? I'm saying that set up of rear engine.....

[@brianlohnes3079]

It was the first rear engine 3 wheeled dragster, yes, but not the first sidewinder rear engine car. They were around in the 1950s

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

Because Fuel cars weren't crazy enough the way they already were, hahaha! Pure lunacy. The sack on these guys...

[@LaLaLand.Germany]

Wow, if these could be ran still I´d go for it! Chain driven dragster trike- won´t get simpler and lighter than this. I´d take maybe a Hayabusa engine (some like that) and have some undies ready at the finish (just in case). The 50/60´s shure were a wild time, they truely had the need for speed and knew their stuff. I guess it´s because of the war. Enough young men were around who been there and each came back kinda case hardend. And after some time as civillian they got bored so they took to racing but money´s short so how could one possibly go very fast for very little. That´s my theory why and how these rockets came to be. Now: everybody imagine one of these with horses worth of 7k right behind You. Start up, drop and away in a fog bank (I like that!). Wow.

[@benbrown2119]

So this is why 3 wheeled vehicles are banned from NHRA competition. I'd seen the rule, but didn't know why

[@brianlohnes3079]

And now you know!

[@agentk8263]

Brian,,,NO,,NO times 1000...but are you sure????..lol

[@brianlohnes3079]

Haha YES!

[@pixelnazgul]

Non production (GTO) cars in drag don't make sense. Because there's no limit to how crazy you can be

[@the.real.mutantroosta]

i didnt know there was, but i was pretty sure there would have been at some point, i mean, come on, if its got an engine and tyres some yank has drag raced it

[@harrypenn611]

Fantastic , don't know of anything like that in the UK just boring four wheel drag😂

[@brianlohnes3079]

Hahaah - hey you guys had The Metronome!

[@lesliesmith9155]

Poor sod still I'm an engineer and I know what he is doing god bless him ps I'm a rr griffin man but love to see a man with the nuts to do it the brits and the yanks have got it it comes out (in under war time conditions) we love a beef but at the end of the day if it kicks off we come (as one unit) thay carnt touch us 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@DaddyRobotX15]

i must interject that, the contraption seen at 00:27 minutes of this will be in the nightmare i have tonight after learning of it's existence. Its utterly terrifying 😮 im pretty sure if that 🤡 clown in the book/movie ,"It" had a drag trike , it'd look like that thing

[@tbas8741]

whats wrong with 3 wheelers and why were they banned. As the 4 wheel dragsters with bike wheel on front have little more control & safety.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Hey, i didn’t ban ‘em! Ask the long deceased NHRA tech officials from the 1960s

[@WAYUPDUDE1382]

First!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Low ET!

[@user-fd7vt5zx7q]

Holy sh#@#$%.... How did he keep it going down the lane with the wheels spinning so much??? Gyroscopic action???