 Often
times it happens that leaders go about their business
unaware that they are leading.
Oblivious to their
impact on others, they spend their time tirelessly
striving towards a goal, ultimately changing
conventional wisdom, and revolutionizing a sport.
This is what newly
inducted NHRA Division 5 “Hall of Fame” member Jim Lutz
has done in the world of drag racing.
While Jim
Lutz has admittedly made a name for himself on the drag
strip by setting records and winning events, his ability
to collect lifelong friends as well as trophy's is what
puts him in a world of his own.
Following is an
excerpt from a December 1966 Car Craft Magazine article.
For the complete article, click the link found on the
pictures page.
 Noticed
lately that all the "funny cars" you see are either Ford
products, Chevy’s or Mopars? Two gentlemen racers from
Minneapolis, Jim Lutz and Myron Lundberg, spotted this
situation and decided to do something about it,
especially after they flipped their record holding A/G
Anglia.
Jim and Myron voted
that the "funny car" route was the way to go rather than
rebuilding the wrecked Anglia, since they had won about
everything possible with the gasser. Besides, the
challenge of match racing with something different in
the way of a car appealed to the two veteran racers.
They agreed that
since Tony Nancy had proven that the new Oldsmobile
engine has competition potential; why not build up a
unique 442 Olds "funny car." They liked the idea of an
individualistic car that was easily identifiable from
the "pack" and when they approached Holiday Oldsmobile
for a sponsorship, the Minneapolis agency decided to go
along for the ride with Lutz and Lundberg. Now Holiday
Olds just happens to be the agency which sold more 442's
in 1965 than any other Olds dealer, and is going strong
in 442 sales in '66 to boot.
 With
a sponsor behind them, Jim and Myron decided to let
experienced Jack Wheeler do the engine work. While
Wheeler was busy constructing the engine, Jim and Myron
didn't waste any time preparing the car itself. Their
goal was to construct the car as quickly as possible so
they could see some action this summer as the eastern
drag strips close in October due to inclement weather.
Because they were pressed for time, Jim and Myron
decided to use the stock Oldsmobile frame although it
was lightened considerably. An early Olds rear-end was
positioned 17-inches ahead of the location of the stock
rear-end. American mag wheels, Goodyear and a 4-inch
dropped tube axle with '48 Ford spindles, mounting more
American mag and Goodyear racing tires.
When the chassis was
up and rolling around, the all steel 442 Olds body was
slipped over it and the wheel wells were relocated
accordingly to fit the 105 inch wheelbase. The reason
for the heavy body is that fiberglass 442 Olds doors,
fenders, and other body panels were not manufactured at
the time of construction.
All body work was performed by Bill Gefre,
and "Peanuts" of N.E. Auto Body in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, applied the maroon lacquer paint job, with a
shade of ember fire mist. Dark blue Plexiglas windows
were added all around, and a gold leaf lettering job
completed the external appearance.
 As
for the interior, a full padded
roll cage was constructed to protect driver Jim Lutz
from any injury in the event of an upset.
With the car
completed and ready to run, Lutz and Lundberg realized
that they had quite a reputation to live up to, as their
A/G Anglia had nailed down both ends of the NHRA class
record, had won its class at the 1964 NHRA's Nationals,
and had established itself as the overall points champ
in NHRA's Division V.
They wasted no time in showing all
concerned that their new supercharged 442 could carry
on, as the Oldsmobile grabbed both ends of the NHRA's
S/XS class record the third week out! At present the
"442 Much" of Lutz and Lundberg is leading the Division
V points race in hot Super Eliminator competition,
having compiled almost twice the points of their closest
competitor in that bracket.
 Performance
for the Minnesota based "funny car" has been
encouraging, as initial runs on gasoline produced a 9.79
elapsed time and a 148 mph clocking, quite respectable
for a 3000 pound race car.
These marks placed "442 Much"
as one of, if not the, fastest gas burning "funny car"
in the nation. But Jim and Myron weren't satisfied with
the times and decided to give the car a jolt of
nitromethane to increase the performance.
On only 20%
nitro the machine dipped to a 9.22 e.t., and speeds
climbed to the 154 mph mark. The boys feel confident
that the performance will improve when they increase the
blower overdrive to 22% and "bump" the nitro mixture to
35%.
Although the car is a bit hefty by today's "funny
car" standards, it is obvious that the Lutz and Lundberg
"442 Much" is on the right track performance wise. In
addition, the idea they had about building a differently
type of match racer has paid off, as the car has already
achieved nationwide popularity.
Innovation,
leadership, friendship, dedication, sportsmanship, are
only a few of the words fellow racers use to describe
Lutz and his contribution to the sport of drag racing.
 Some
of the many people Lutz has
inspired over the years have taken the time to stop him and explaine
that when they saw him run the Lutz & Lundberg Angelia,
or the "442 Much" car, they fell in love with drag racing.
After decades
spent racing
from coast to coast with the "Lutz & Lundberg" Anglia,
the "442 Much" Oldsmobile, and his most recent car, the
bad ass "Samuelson / Elliott / Lutz" Fiat Topolino , Jim
will now be given the award he has spent a lifetime
earning.
Congratulations to a Jim Lutz on his inclusion into the
NHRA Division 5 "Hall of Fame"
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