It is said that timing is everything.
In the case of the last twin engine top fuel dragster ever built,
that could be an understatement. At the time Don Garlits was
shaking up the sport with his first rear engine car, the team
of Forthmann, Raitt, Butorac and Ditmar were having Frank Huszar
of Race Car Specialties build the latest version of a "Syndicate"
fuel dragster. The previous Syndicate cars were all conventional
1 hemi on nitro deals, but in 1971 they, for what ever reason,
thought 2 hemis on nitro was a better idea. Bless them for their
daring venture but in hindsight, their timing was not everything.
Nonetheless, the team campaigned
the car into the 1972 season when it became painfully obvious
that rear engine cars were and would forever rule the Kings of
the Sport. The behemoth was parked and the team disbanded. They
never went on to build a RED. But in its short life, the twice
engined Syndicate got more than its share of fan and press attention.
There are no available stats on how quick and fast the car ever
ran but even though it was not competitive, it was an awesome
piece and for many reasons needs to be remembered.
