As trite as it may be, the old proverbial rhyme "April showers bring May flowers" speaks volumes for the American Hot Rod Association's growth from seedling to sturdy oak. The AHRA not only came into its own maturity over the course of its 28-year existence, but it was arguably the birthplace for what has developed into today's modern pro drag racing.
Born in 1955 on the backroads and small makeshift tracks of Kansas, the AHRA would grow from a one-race organization into a 10 race national event that was responsible for a significant amount of drag racing history. It was the AHRA that was responsible for introducing a variety of different classes into the drag racing venue from Top Fuel to Funny Cars to a heads-up undisputed Super Stock Eliminator. It was the ranks of AHRA that earned drivers such as Don Garlits & John Force the spotlight, not NHRA. Force took home his first accolade in the closing year of the AHRA, 1984, winning his first Funny Car World Championship. The AHRA further intensified the careers of other drag racing superstars such as Ronnie Sox, Don "The Snake" Prudhome, and Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen among several others. It's without argument that the AHRA played a substantial role in the history of drag racing and the careers of many drag racing legends.
Perhaps one of the brightest stars of the battlements of the AHRA was Bill Hielscher, better known as "Mr. Bardahl". A successful driver & track owner, Bill was a great asset to the successes of the AHRA. In fact, it was his owned and operated Green Valley racetrack in Smithfield, Texas that was the centerpiece of the AHRA. Just as NHRA had Indy and IHRA had Bristol, the AHRA had Green Valley. For 16 years, Hielschers Green Valley track was the host of either the AHRA National Championships or its World Championship events. Just as Bill saw great successes off the track, he was probably even more successful on it.
Bill Hielscher's drag racing career began in 1955 behind the wheel of a 53 Oldsmobile at the early age of 19. 11 years later in 1966, at the age of 30, Bill decided to enter the ranks of professional drag racing in the AHRA. In a deal with his wife Mary, Bill would go racing for one year while his wife supported the family. If he was successful, he would turn pro. With significant support from Bardahl automotive lubricants, Bill campaigned several Chevrolets including Chevelles, Camaros, and Corvettes. Bills most famous car was a Chevy Camaro equipped with a 4-speed dual-quad 427 in which he reaped laurels as the 1967 AHRA Driver of the Year, carrying the glory on to the 68 season winning the 1968 AHRA Manufacturers Points Championship.
In his rather short 6-1/2 years as a pro, the legendary "Mr. Bardahl's" accomplishments have never been equaled or exceeded. Hielscher won 37 major AHRA championship races, nine of them in one year, and has been proclaimed AHRA World Champion seven times. Bill was a force to be reckoned with, known to have turned in quarter mile times of 10.70 seconds doing 131 mile per hour. Mr. Bardahl had another nickname, "Speed King", and likewise had other accomplishments outside of the AHRA. One year, Bill purchased a new Corvette to go road racing, and in his first year he was the undefeated champion for his class. Not only did the Speed King rock and roll through the ranks of road racing, but he also made an excursion to the Bonneville Salt Flats to walk away with a new land speed record, nearly 200 miles per hour for a two-way average. Call him whatever you like, Mr. Bardahl or Speed King, Bill Hielscher was one thing for sure, a champion.
Unfortunately, Bill's journey came to an end on Thursday, November 28, 2002 after battling with a brief illness. Even so, the legendary Mr. Bardahl will live on forever in the sport of drag racing, never to be forgotten. Lane Collectibles has ventured out to further immortalize Bills drag racing legacy in grand 1/18 scale by raising another stable-mate in the very successful Exact Detail pony car series, the 1968 Mr. Bardahl "Super Stock" Camaro.
Lane's Exact Detail Camaros are some of the finest 1/18-scale representations of actual full scale Camaros, along with some very famous drag racing cars, including Bill Hielschers Mr. Bardahl Camaro. Countless hours of research & experienced designers guarantee that the Mr. Bardahl Camaro is going to be one of the nicest drag racing collectibles available, leaving no better way to celebrate the memory of Bill Hielscher. Each Bardahl Camaro has been faithfully replicated with the greatest level of accuracy and attention to detail. Lane Collectibles, a division of Lane Automotive, has access to many full-scale parts and accessories, including several after-market parts common to most drag racing cars. Items from the Lakewood traction bars to the Cragar wheels to the Holley carbs have been authentically scaled from the real thing. Even the dimensions of the rear drag slicks were scaled down from an actual slick in their warehouse. When Lane prints "Exact Detail" on the boxes of their Bardahl Camaros, you know are getting exactly what is printed, a drag racing Camaro with Exact Detail.
The 1/18-scale 1968 Mr. Bardahl Camaro is no exception. From the initial onset, this latest pony car release screams winner, literally. The Mr. Bardahl 68 Camaro comes wrapped in a screaming Daytona Yellow paint application that shines from behind a pattern of black bars & blocks, accented with race day correct graphics. The combination is VERY eye catching. Almost as eye catching as the vibrant livery is the newly cast hood scoop on this drag monster, accurate to the race day original.
While much of the exterior is an original production, the majority of the Mr. Bardahl Camaro is an encore presentation of the many highlights found on previous Camaros in the Exact Detail lineup. Why change a good thing? All of those highlights have been unerringly executed on this latest Camaro, including an amazingly high level of fit & finish. The Mr. Bardahl Camaro is a masterpiece both on the exterior & interior. The interior is finished off with several electroplated chrome accents, legible gauges, detailed folding seats, and detailed knobs & pedals. The 427 big block is fully wired & plumbed with an Edelbrock intake manifold resting under a pair of Holley carbs, breathing through a pair of white painted open headers. The undercarriage is equally detailed with a 12-bolt rear, Lakewood traction bars, and drag slicks out back with front runners leading the way, wrapped around a newly cast set of beautiful Fenton mag wheels. While the opening hood, doors & trunk operate on considerably obsolete dogleg hinges by today's latest standards, they in no way hinder the appeal of this amazing replica of perhaps one of the most significant drag cars in the ranks of the AHRA.
Viewed and approved by Mr. Bardahl himself before his unfortunate departure, the 1/18-scale Exact Detail 1968 Mr. Bardahl Camaro from Lane Collectibles is a familiar yet refreshing drag racing replica and a champion of Bill Hielschers legacy. Limited to only 2,500 copies, the shelf life of the Mr. Bardahl Camaro is sure to be as short lived as Bills professional drag racing career, but equally as successful. Be sure not to miss out on this incredible must have drag racing replica, and order your Mr. Bardahl Camaro now!! You won't be disappointed. In fact, looking back on it all, one would imagine Bill's wife Mary wasn't either.
