Legendary Ford racer “Dyno Don” Nicholson passed away on Tuesday January 24th. He was 78 and had been diagnosed with Alzheimers several years ago.
Nicholson earned his “Dyno” nickname as one of the first to utilize the benefits of a chassis dyno. His racing career spanned nearly 50 years, and involved nearly as many forms of racing, from circle track to dry-lakes racing, and most notably his effors in Stock, Factory Experimental, Funny Car, and Pro Stock drag racing.
Dyno Don became a Ford racing icon in 1963 when GM pulled out of racing and Mercury picked 
up his sponsorship. He debuted the 427 SOHC powered Comet Cyclone to 10 second ET’s at over 125 mph. The Cyclone would receive wheel base alterations and eventually a revolutionary “flip-top” design that would propel the car deep into the 8’s at 175 mph. In 1968 Nicholson appeared in the new Mercury Cougar. The “Eliminator 2″ would also mark Dyno Don’s first foray into supercharging the 427 SOHC. The 1000 horsepower cat would set a class record at 7.37 at 190 mph.
While the Al Turner and Dyno Don “flip top” design would become the reason for NHRA’s Funny Car classification, Don ultimately felt the cars were too far removed from the concept of a stock car. Feeling the need to get the fans back into cars they could relate too, he went back to racing door slammers in heads up competition. What would eventually become NHRA’s Pro Stock classification saw Nicholson pilot Mustangs, Mavericks and even a Cleveland powered Pinto.
Dyno Don was a winner and a true pioneer of Ford Muscle cars. He’s in the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, and #18 on NHRA’s 50 top drivers list.
More about Dyno Don:
http://www.nhra.com/50th/top50/D_Nicholson18.html
Dyno Don did a great Donald Duck impersonation. After my son was born, Dyno Don came to visit my uncle and kept my son laughing with his Donald voice. A sweet and wonderful man who always had a smile.
By A Friend. July 16th, 2009 at 11:46 pmDon was my hero saw him race at Detroit. He was the reason that I bought my new 65 Comet Caleinti.I sold it in 1984 I bought another in 2005 it is twin turboed 6 speed 750 hp at the wheels on our Dyno I’m known as dyno John in our area. I was saddened to hear of his passing
By John Chandler. February 22nd, 2009 at 6:05 pmI spoke to Ronnie Sox before he passed on at the York US30 Reunion. I told him I like Sox and Martin but was a Ford guy so my favorite was Dyno Don. He laughed and said Don Nicholson was his favorite too.
By Ronnie Sox comment. September 18th, 2008 at 10:57 amAs long as my buddy and myself have been into drag racing Dyno Don was an idle. We found out he was going to be at moroso motorsport raceway with his new pro stock yellow olds ,,being our home track we were the first in line when thay opend.we hung around most of the day after winning his lastround the car broke A wheel ybar just before the final round. asking over the pa for a tig welder no one spoke up so we drove it into town weled it and got back put the car back together just in time to see bruce allen make the final run just as don was pulling under the tower .well we got A hand shake with A thankyou this is one thing ill never forget.
By Bruce Beebe. August 29th, 2008 at 5:56 pmI was at Pomona(can’t remember Winternationals or FInals) about 10-12 years ago on a Sunday. First round elimations were completed and I noticed Dyno’s Rig driving up to enter the pits. Less than an hour later he’s making a exhibition run in his new ‘62 Chevy Pro Stock Car. In typical fashion he rips off a flawless 7. 15-7.25 second 180mph plus run which was only off of current PS times by maybe a .10th of a second.. This is just one of the many memories I have of Don that stand out about what a perfectionist he truly was. He will be missed.
By Greg. July 17th, 2008 at 11:02 amsaw him beat butch leal at lyons in i think 1971. butch was amost un stoppable at the time. the dyno man beat him. it was a match race and the dyno man was almost un beatable in match racing. it was so cool to see him pull up at the track with that old ford ramp truck and everybody else had big doller transporters.all the other ford pro stockers had the boss 429 and could not fall out of a tree [ ed terry he he] don made as much HP with the cammer as the best hemis out their. what a treet for a 23 year old ford nut me.
By john whalin. June 14th, 2008 at 9:16 amwatched him beat butch leal around 1971 in a match race at lyons drag strip. at this time butch leal was at the top of the heep. i think dyno came to the track with his old beater ford ramp triuck as a tow viechle. of corse butch had all the factory bling. it was a great day for a 23 year old ford nut.
By john whalin. June 14th, 2008 at 9:04 amlater in life i was a chet herbert cams and the dyno man came in the front door. jesus christ would not have got more attention. they just loved him.
Sorry.. That was Jack Gray a salesman at Bob ford’
By Hillbilly HANK. April 23rd, 2008 at 2:46 pmIn Dearborn =Michigan The dealership May have had a differant Name in 1960 . Bietler worked for FoMoCo
Then, And His Brother Hit something with His 60 Ford.
One Fast Ford gone.
I’m 62 Now and I worked selling Hot Dogs etc. at Detroit
By Hillbilly HANK. April 23rd, 2008 at 2:26 pmDragway, Saw all the great Car of the 60’s Run ,
Started with Bill’s 60 Ford S/S raced for Don Gary of Bob’s Ford Dearborn, 352/360HP we went 150 MPH on Southfield ROAD. NOT A X-WAY THEN. In 1960 . I HAVE A B/FX 64 COMET Now. AZ Car No rust ever.
331 roller 5/speed rear 9″ford 513. White, Glass parts.
K-Code 289 COMET. Will be a 2009 Autorama I hope. . I raced my 62 Chev SS Conv.- H/S at Detroit. won all the time. I liked his 62 Chev. One of the Best Then.
Fun. In City Then and Woodward Racing/?
Many years ago, about summer of 1969 I met Dyno Don at a match race in Indianapolis. All the greats were there. Dyno, Dandy Dick Landy, Bill Grumpy Jenkins, and Ronnie Sox with his (as they tried to tell us) legal SSB Baracuda. What a day. We were guests in the pits with Paul Harvey Ford’s AAMod Prod Cammer powered 65 Mustang. Don actuly broke one of those 31 splin axles in the bullet proof ford 9in. in the Stang. That was after pulling the wheels in some Awsome starts. That was all those years ago, and I remember it as one of the best times I ever had in watching or participating in Drag Racing. Grumpy is the only one left now. Thanks Don, Ronnie, and Dandy, thanks for a wonderful memory.
By Ken Harris. April 17th, 2008 at 10:14 amgosh it just shows ya how much i miss driving an 18 wheeler. i didnt even know mr Nicholson had passed in 06 and here it is 08. ive been at home fighting cancer ( and winning ) so i have had some spare time so i thought id look up some of my heros and see where they are now. i know where mr Don is now. god bless and thank you to the family for sharing him with us the fans!
By Ricky Blailock. March 27th, 2008 at 10:03 amDyno was, in my opinion, the greatest Ford drag racer of all time. He was my hero as a youth and I am foreever greatful that I met him at Dragway 42 in West Salem, OH while attending a match race. He was a fine human being and a great ambassador to the sport. I felt as if I was gut punched when I read of his passing.
By Ed Eaken. March 21st, 2008 at 7:56 pmWestley Campbell my Email is valleranch@tm.net Jim
By Jim. February 14th, 2008 at 7:55 pmThis is for Westley Campbell. I knew your dad when he was with Pete Gates after Pete bought Don’s 65 Comet. And also for some time after that. Don used to come to Petes house when they would be in town to run at Detroit Dragway. Feel free to write me if you have any ? Jim
By Jim. February 14th, 2008 at 7:47 pmWow, it’s so nice to know that the rest of the world knew what a great man your Daddy was. I miss him everyday. And all your posts halps ease my pain. I know you all know what a geat racer he was but let me say that his abilities as a engine builder and race car driver didn’t even touch his ability to be a great Dad and Grandfather! I love hearing all your stories. Feel free to email myself and my family at Dynodon1@aol.com.
By Cindy Nicholson. July 31st, 2007 at 6:59 amI remember seeing Don at the Ford drags at 75-80 around 1985. he tore up the strip in a 4 speed mustang, and it was insane. I didn’t realize exactly who he was. He was walking around like I was, just going about his business.
By Jack. July 19th, 2007 at 10:52 amI then had a replica mid 60s racing jacket embriodered to look just like Dyno Don’s team jacket. I fooled a lot of people with it. It looked EXACTLY like his. I wore it to the Super Stock reunion at York around 2003. As I walked in (the entrance lead to the concession area) Dyno Don came out of nowhere. He saw the jacket, and came over to see it. I was speechless. He asked where I got it. I told him, and a small crowd gathered. I looked him up a little later, and had him autograoh it, and I had him wear it so I could take some pictures. I think he was enjoying it as much as me.
He is, and will always be my favorite celebrity, and hero. Bar none !!
My father James Campbell or Jimbo to most of his friends was Dyno Don’s mechanic for some years before I was born and although my dad died when I was very young the stories of him and Dyno Don still to this day are told at my family reunions. I know from those of my family that where there that Don and my father had a special friendship and it makes me sad to know that he passed without me ever getting a chance to meet him.
Don, I never knew you but your a true friend to this family and you will forever be know to us as such. Thanks for being a friend to my father. I hope you find each other up there.
By Westley Campbell. July 15th, 2007 at 9:17 amI used to watch dyno Don at detroit dragway years ago,when he was racing his 65 comet cyclone. He was the reason I bought my first new car a 1965 Comet. He WILL be missed.
By Mike king. June 1st, 2007 at 6:24 amI met Don only once while waiting in line to register at the winter nationals in Pomona, CA. Ironically, in 2005 I purchased an engine block from one of his cars that was a very rare aluminum boss 494 that had been damaged. However, with a lot of work, Engine Systems of Georgia has saved it, and it is destined to go in a 1936 all steel Willys A/gaser. The final piece of the engine have just been completed (Algon injection and Moroso dry sump) and shipped to Georgia. The engine is due to be dynoed in June 2007. However, the car is probaby about two to three years off, but look for it. Dyno Don will not be forgotten.
By Roger Mialocq. May 26th, 2007 at 9:36 amIt will be hard for anyone to approach the level of class that “Dyno” exhibited so consistently throughout his storied career. His gentle demeanor and acceptance of fans from all walks of life really set him apart from the rest.
“Dyno” even helped the late great Lee Hunter with his Pro Stock endeavors (Pinto, Mustang II, Fairmont). That showed his devotion to both the sport and other sportsmen.
Rest In Peace “Dyno”
-Chad
By Chad Decatur. May 4th, 2007 at 5:28 pmA special tribute to Don is coming!
By Rick Aleman. March 18th, 2007 at 7:43 amDyno Don and his Eliminator Cougar are some of my first drag racing memories. The man was a winner!
By Paul Lopresti Jr. March 6th, 2007 at 3:06 pmI was his next door neighbor in Atlanta back in the 60’s. He used to give us a bunch of decals that we would take to school and sell for a nickel. He was always so nice to us pesky little kids and always let us hang around and watch him work on cars. He was the last of the real men that did it all for the love of the sport and not the money and fame. I will miss him but have many wonderful memories to cherish.
By Hal Davis. February 10th, 2007 at 8:39 pmHal Davis hald@mindspring.com
I was lucky enough to see Dyno Don in ‘61 & ‘62 at Pamona when he raced 409 Chevys and I remember when he won at the 62 Winternationals. You could walk up to him and talk to him like you knew him all your life. The last time I saw him was in early 64 at the Lions Club track in Long Beach. He war racing a Comet wagon then. Matter of fact he won B/FX at the Winter-nationals in 62 with a Chevy II (327). He had it into the 12.30s even then. Whenever I think of drag racing I remember him first and most. A great guy.
By Merle Menso. January 13th, 2007 at 1:59 pmI first saw Dyno Don in action in 1959 at Lions Drag Strip in Long Beach when I was 16. I had just graduated from my ‘49 Merc with dual Stromberg 97’s to the ‘59 Chevy Impala 4-door hardtop which was delivered to my Dad and I with one of first 335 HP/348 cid engines . Complete with 3-2 barrel carbs and a solid lifter cam and the first T-10 floor shift manual four speed trannies produced in a sedan by GM.
Dyno Don won the Super Stock drag race class every week, nobody could touch him. We ran on “cheater slick” recap tires and they started the races with a flag!
Don dyno-tuned our Impala at C.S. Mead and later Service Chevrolet in Pasadena. A very gentle and humble guy who invited us kids to eat lunch with he and his buddies. Mickey Thompson dropped by to speak with Don on one occasion during our dyno tune
I lined up next to him in a practice run before eliminations at Irwindale in 1959 and he had to start in 2nd gear as his 1st gear was apparently damaged. I was a nervous kid and was actually ahead of him until about the half way mark when he came by like I was standing still. Great memories.
THanks Don, RIP.
By Bud Green. December 31st, 2006 at 7:48 pmDYNO Don’s 1962 bell air racecar has been stolen if you have any info about it please write back. the guy’s name is GREG DAVIS he is the guy that took it
By JOE LARZALERE. November 22nd, 2006 at 10:00 pmDYNO DON was my great uncle i saw him race when i was lil that was the best time of my life. i remember after each race i was able to sit in the passenger side of his racecar and head back to the rv. thank you all that supported him.
I LOVE YOU
uncle don
By Joe Larzalere. November 21st, 2006 at 8:57 pm“Dyno Don will be missed. Asa child my mom and dad would drive the family to greatlakes and U, S, 30 dragstrip just to see him race, We are a Japanese family and I remember Mrs. Nicholson would have my mom sit with her in their Lincoln at US 30 while my dad and I would wr=tch Don race. We watched from his comets thru his mustangs to his mavrics, saw afew of his olds we will miss him
By larry nakatsuka. November 13th, 2006 at 5:58 pmWe were at Capitol raceway watching a match race with Dyno and Ronnie Sox. My little nephew Eric leaned over Dynos Maverick and knocked Dyno’s tools down into the engine compartment. Everyone gasped at what had happened but Dyno simply gave a friendly pat on Eric’s head. Ten minutes later Dyno beat the great Ronnie Sox with a new track record!!!It’s something I’ll never forget. A great racer and even greater person!!
By larry davis. October 23rd, 2006 at 7:00 pmAs a kid I used to sneak under the fence at Detroit dragway to watch the pro stock match races. Seems like it always came down to Ronnie Sox against Dyno Don in the finale with Nicholson usually prevailing. I bet they are putting on quite a show up there now!
By raisin27. June 30th, 2006 at 1:50 amI met Dyno Don in the late 1970’s. He was matc racing in Marion SD. We got his autograph and shook his hand. Thanks fo the good memories.
By Durward Ratzlaff. March 27th, 2006 at 11:03 amI first met Don Nicholson many years ago at the first Super Stock Nationals at York US30 Dragway in York Pa. Great man and a great driver/showman…rip Don
By Michael O’Conner. March 16th, 2006 at 1:27 pmLike others here have said, Don Nicholson was my Hero. I’m not a Ford man never was, but I was always a Don Nicholson fan. I knew him back when he was running 409’s and of course his famous Z-11. He was always there to offer friendly advice, once he knew you. He was a straight-up guy and will be greatly missed.
By Joe P.. March 2nd, 2006 at 8:17 amDyno Don was my Drag Racing “Hero” during the 60s, 70s, and 80s. My wife and I would always “hang out” around Don’s pit area at the Summernationals, in Englishtown. He was a lot of fun to watch and talk to. He was always a “gentleman” in victory or defeat, unlike that “sour grape” Grumpy Jenkins.
I remember his Pro Stock victory at the Summernationals in 1971 like it was yesterday. He “flipped” a coin with Mike Fons (Rod Shop Challenger) to determine lane choice. Don won the coin toss and the race. He was like a “kid” in victory lane. They said his Maverick (with SOHC) could not beat the HEMIs. Well he proved them all wrong. I even remember the “caption heading” in National Dragster the next week when they reviewed the race results, it read ” Dyno Don’s Dynasty be begin?” Wow……..
Rest in peace Don…….You were the BEST………..I will never forget you or the memories…………..
Walt DeLotto
By Walt DeLotto , Crystal Lake, Il.. February 4th, 2006 at 10:35 amCrystal Lake, Illinois
Don was one of the greats in S/S,A/FX and Pro Stock!! He gave us Ford fans something to cheer about! RIP Don.
By Steve E.. February 2nd, 2006 at 10:32 amdon dynoed my 60 chev every week from 1960 -1962
By tony margott. January 28th, 2006 at 10:45 pmwe raced together and had lots of laughs..earl wade to.
don taught me how to read the fontana clock, what a blessing that was…i will truly miss him…he was what drag racing is all about…plain and simple…RIP Don,
I love ya
tony
Man he will be missed.. He was the Man back at Detroit Dragway.. Most of the guys I hung out with rooted for Sox & Martin or Grumpy, but Dyno Don was there for us Ford guys..
By Keith B. January 27th, 2006 at 5:32 amI’ve seen car tests using him as the driver. He could wring the heck out of a car getting way more impressive times than the average driver.
By 19mach69. January 27th, 2006 at 1:00 am“Dyno” Don was a personal hero of mine. He will be missed by many.
By “Dyno” Tom Hawley. January 26th, 2006 at 11:10 pm