History of the car

Original owner, Howard Poepping had Hal Canode build the funny car back in the early 80’s.  It was campaigned as a BB/FC as the Rainbow Connection a reference to the popular Muppets show at the time.  Mike Sopko Photo.

Howard smoking the hides.  Mike Sopko Photo.

Howard carries the wheels against Rick Krafft’s Jay’s Potato Chip alcohol funny car entry.  Mike Sopko Photo.

The Arquilla Brothers ran the Trans Am next with its Arias power plant for a few years and passed it along to Denny Salzwimmer.

Dennis Salzwimmer’s Rubber City Connection in early 2000’s.  Purchased from the Arquilla brothers and reinvigorated to race with the newly-formed Great Lakes Nostalgia Funny Car Circuit.  Artwork by Dave Ferrin Motorsports Graphics.  Dave also created the latest paint scheme for the Quarter Pounder.

The drop-dead gorgeous, Hemi-powered, Chris Gerber-piloted, John Kilburg-tuned, Rubber City Connection in the lanes at the 2009 Marion County Nostalgia Funny Car Nationals.  Photo by John Johnson.

“Bullet Bob” & Cathy Floch were the next to own and campaign the Trans Am as the Bullet Bob entry.  They ran with the IHRA Nitro Jam series and won an event in 2010.

Life after nitro: the car has been fully tested and ready for another chapter in its life.

Picked up and getting ready for conversion back to a Big Block Chevy.

All done and ready for racing!