The Frantic Four
Chance meetings of dedicated enthusiasts that resulted in a successful team effort abound in the annuals of drag racing. The history of the “Frantic Four” is no exception, but the group successes reflect virtually unmatched enthusiasm, perseverance, and commitment to what was then a fledgling sport. In this context the late 1950’s when each of the team members took an interest in quarter-mile competition. An overview reveals a shared eagerness to be a part of that which was destined to become a national automotive sport.
Dennis Holding attended his first drag race at Pomona in 1956. Soon after that fortuitous visit, Dennis joined the Pomona Valley Timing Association, operators of the now famous drag strip. Dennis served in a variety of ways and occasionally entered his 1951 Chevy sedan in competition. Jim Fox at the time was competing in a 1956 Ford pickup at the Pomona track; in 1958 he stepped up to a 364 cubic inch Cadillac powered gas dragster. About a year later Fox purchased a rear engine roadster, fitted it with a 331 cubic inch Chrysler, and campaigned the entry in 1959 and 1960.
It was in 1961 that Fox and Holding teamed up with Bill Adair to campaign the first of what was to be a series of dragsters. The ttio’s effort in the first year gained the number nine spot on the coveted Drag News “Top Ten” list; soon after Chuck Branham took the driver seat. A year later Branham suffered fatal burns driving another car. The shocking development resulted in Fox and Holding taking time off, and building engines for other competitors.
Meanwhile, Norma Weekly and Ron Rivero, in typical fashion of the era, were street racing, but they, too, discovered the Pomona drag strip; both competed with their Pontiac street cars. In 1960 Weekly and Rivero teamed up to campaign a Bantam coupe with Bob Sidebotham driving; the team eventually graduated into the nitro burning class. The coupe was an enjoyable and satisfying venture, but the newly formed team soon moved up to a 392 Chrysler powered K-88 nitro dragster, followed by a Rod Peppmuller dragster using the same 392 Chrysler. It was in 1963 Weekly and Rivero had their dragster book for a match race to attempt the Drag News number three position, but they needed help. Fox and Holding had a fresh engine (but no car), so the foursome put together a one-time deal. They lost the contest to Don Garlits, but the occassion turned into a three-year partnership. The team was aptly named the “frantic four”.
1963 was a banner period for the new team with Norm Weekly driving, resulting in impressive win/loss record: the “Four” one six of nine fuel races held at Pomona. Many wins were chalked up at Fontana including a rare defeat on Don Prudhomme in a challenging contest. The “Frantic Four” also campaigned the OCMP owned 392 Chrysler car and held spots on the Drag News “Standard 1320 Top Ten” list with both entries during 1963. Their victories from San Diego to Seattle resulted in widespread publicity, including magazine covers (Car Craft, Hot Rod, and Drag Racing), and appearance in the “Beach Blanket Bingo” movie and on a Dick Dale record album cover. Ron Rivero was drafted into military service in 1963, but the three remaining team members continued to race at every opportunity under the “Frantic Four” banner.
The publicity attracted the attention of Eastern track operators, resulting in the “Frantic Four” touring the US throughout 1964. They match raced the likes of Don Garlits, Tommy Ivo, Chris Karamesines, Connie Kalitta, and a host of local favorites. They set the track record and fastest speed recorded at an NHRA event in 1964: The Airline Auto sponsored entry in the Nationals achieved a speed of 202.24 MPH with second lowest elapsed time.
In 1965 the threesome again and toured nationally with a two-car operation, another first for the Pomona California based team. Backed by Chrysler, the “Frantic Four”, along with the “Ramchargers” and Don Garlits, campaigned the new 426 Hemi, driven by Norm Weekly. The second car was a Fox & Holding owned Woody Gilmore car powered by their 354 Chrysler and driven by Ron Goodsell on the East Coast.
At the end of the 1965 season, Eeekly and Holding left the team. From 1967 to 1971 Norm drove the “Beachcomber” dragster and Chicago based funny cars with John Hogan as tuner, driving a funny car owned by “the Greek”, Karamesines, and the Mr. Norm Dodge, as well as driving for Doug’s Headers and the “Frantic Ford”. Holding began his successful career as one of the first manufacturer’s rep for the emerging speed equipment industry.
In the spring of 1966, Rivero and Fox sold the dragster to K&G Speech Shop but remained a part of the new team: Ron driving, Jim wrenching. In 1964 K&G switch to the Frantic Ford Mustang funny car; Jim continued as the crew chief, and with Ron as the driver they were crowned Drag Racing Fuel Champion in 1967; won the 1968 US Fuel & Gas Championships at Bakersfield California; and Jim Fox was named P.A. Sturtevant Mechanic of the Year in 1967. It was in 1970 that Ron retired; Jim bought the entire operation and continued to racing with different drivers until he retired in 1977.
The “Frantic Four” team, both as a group and as individuals, achieved many first. Among the more notable they were the first two car team in 1964, and maintain the earliest two-car pro operation in 1965. The “Frantic Four” remain on the Drag News “Top Ten Fuel Dragster” list longer than any other team and in 1966 at the Hawaii land speed record at 226.55 MPH. The various achievements earned extensive publicity in magazines and newspapers nationwide.