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