SMALL TIRE! GEAR JAMMING! WHEELS UP! SBC CHEVY TUFF II GASSER! GLORY DAYS BYRON!

Now if this doesn't reckon back to the '60's to early '70's drag racing! Tom Alleman from the little north central town (population 750) of Tonica, Illinois (once home to the U.S. Speed Center) keeps the memories alive with his '64 Chevy II aptly named "TUFF II. The original U.S. Speed Center Chevy II was built and raced by the late Jim Smith. Jim was a co-owner of the speed shop in the 1960s and worked with Tom's father with when Tom was a kid and served as the inspiration for Tom to build a tribute car. This '64 was built by Tom is his shop "Tom's Hot Rod Shop" and features a steel tilt front end that hides the explosive 400ci SBC featuring a dual quad high rise manifold and dual carbs. Inside the mostly stock interior Tom installed a Jerico 4 speed linked to a Ford 9" rearend that plants the power to the 10" wide M/T slicks. With 6900rpm launches this car is a crowd favorite at Byron Dragway. Watch as he takes on fellow Brew City Gassers Mark Davis in his BBC 4 speed '55 Chevy "King Rat", Johnny "Bucket" Scheele in his '61 E100 Econoline pickup "Haulin Ass" and Frederick Krkoch in his '58 GMC pickup at Byron Dragway's Glory Days. #nostalgia#throwback#gasser

[@charlesyoungblood1379]

I remember when Jim Smith and his friend first bought that car, I was able to see it's transformation. I can't remember the other guys name but Jim and I had been friends for some time. Seeing it brings back some great memories. I noticed the owner's last name, would Cooney be your grandfather?

[@Geezer1320]

I love that car!

[@johnclark1525]

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting with Tom at the Meltdown Drags. His Chevy II is a blast to watch. Hard launching car.

[@victoryredcolorado]

Oh yeah, Tom's a cool guy! 👍