In the interim the two altereds were abandoned in favor of a fueler named the Beebe Brothers and Sixt. With brother Dave at the helm, Tim and Sixt at the wrenches, the car was an immediate success to the tune of some $30,000 total winnings in 1966. Their new found success led to many out-of-state offers for match races. But meeting these dates was next to impossible as Dave Beebe has a job and a family and could not travel. At Dave's suggestion to "put John in the car," Tim was quick to agree - and that's how Beebe and Mulligan began.
The
first race of any consequence was also the first annual Professional
Dragsters Association Championships at Lions in July of '67.
"Moe" set the track record of 6.70 e.t. and 230 mph
first run out of the box. And in the course of the evening he
whipped the entire field of 64 cars including meet winner Don
Prudhomme in the semi-final round. Sounds strange? Read further.
It seems that in the semi-final
round of top fuel there were four cars: Dave Beebe driving for
Bill Crossley, Jack Ewell, Baney & Prudhomme and Mulligan.
As the round came off. Mulligan whipped Purdhomme soundly, but
as Ewell faced Dave Beebe, there were some strange incidents,
Jack Ewell left too soon and got a red light. Dave Beebe broke
the rear end in his car and crossed the center line, thus automatically
eliminating both cars. |
With a "break"
rule in effect, the car qualified to be re-instated was Prudhomme
by virtue of his low e.t. of the previous round (not having fouled
or crossed the center line). Dig? So the final round was a rematch
of the semi-final in which Prudhomme squeeked by Mulligan. Confused?
You should have been there.
Anyway
this was the beginning of a string of runner-ups that still plague
the Beebe and Mulligan duo. Just to give you an idea . . . they
had top time and low e.t. at the NHRA Springnationals when helper
and chief tire changer McEwen installed the wrong lug nuts on
a new set of wheels and tires. On the run for the money against
Garlits, Mulligan had him covered but had to shut off because
the off-center wheels began to vibrate violently. Runner-up.
At the ADRA World Fuel Championships at Green Valley Raceway,
Mulligan had a half car lead only to hit some oil and have the
car slide sideways out of shape - again runner-up, this time
to the Carroll Brothers. The NHRA World Finals at Tuba saw Mulligan
with a two-car lead over Benny Osborn only to have his clutch
wear out. All in all they were runner up at six major national
meets while setting either low e.t. or top time or both at every
one of them Beebe and Mulligan are undisputed low e.t. record
holders, having run 6.65 at several different race tracks across
the country.
(continued on page 4) |
The RCS hellhousing encloses a Hays clutch
and flywheel. Toe strap on the gas pedal ensures a positive return.
RCS manufactured the 6:1 steering