Kenny Hirata, Phil Hobbs & Bobby Vodnik
Kenny Hirata, Phil Hobbs, and Bobby Vodnik; while these three distinguished themselves as individual racers over the years, they are one of the groups that became more recognized as a team than as individuals. Kenny’s first car was a 1942 Mercury with a highly modified flathead V-8 that he used for street racing in the beginning. Phil entered the car ownership ranks with a flathead powered 1932 Ford five window coupe, followed by a long wheelbase modified roadster with 180-degree Nordin flathead, then his first dragster using the same engine on nitro. Bobby had to be different, he attended his first drag race in 1958 and immediately had the racing bug. His first ride was in a carbureted small block Chevy powered B/Gas dragster owned by his friend Dale Davies. In the meantime, Kenny had rid himself of the Mercury and built himself a 1932 Ford roadster into which he installed his Merc flathead V-8 and was racing when he entered the Army in 1950. Upon his discharge in 1952, Kenny purchased a 1932 three window Ford coupe, still using a Merc flathead for power. After a short stint with the flathead Kenny switch to an Oldsmobile engine for power backed by what is considered by most as the first successful adaption of an automatic transmission in the class range. Next came a much lighter Model A roadster with the Olds motor for power and with a modified two speed hydra-matic transmission and making the switch from gas to nitro. In 1958 Kenny stepped up to the dragster ranks and in 1961 he and Phil started their careers as a team competing with a 6-71 supercharged 458 cubic inch Hemi Chrysler on gas in a Chassis Research dragster. Meanwhile in 1960 after competing in the Davies B/Gas dragster, Bobby joined forces with his uncle Jim DeVos and Larry Reimer to campaign and unblown Chrysler powered B/Gas dragster they constructed themselves. By the end of the 1960 season the trio decided to switch their Chrysler into a Chassis Research chassis to start the 1961 season. In July 1961 Joe Bush of Speed Sport Automotive made a deal with them to install his blown fuel Chrysler Hemi in the car and promptly set a new track record at Oswego, Illinois at 8.82 second’s and 180 MPH. It mid 1962 Bobby had the opportunity to drive Lyle Fisher’s Speed Sport dragster followed by several other recognized top rank cars including Chris Karamesines “Chizler”, Dick Belfatti’s AA/Fuel dragster to name a couple.
Unfortunately, in 1963 Kenny, Phil, and Don Maynard, the Greeks partner, were on their way to Phoenix with plans to go on to Pomona to run the NHRA Winternationals; then go to the March Meet at Bakersfield with they were involved in an accident. Both Kenny and Phil were seriously injured in the accident (Don was fatally injured) leaving them both unable to drive in competition. So, after their release from the hospital Kenny and Phil rebuilt the car and brought Bobby into the team as the driver and returned to the gas dragster wars.
With Vodnik at the wheel, the team won its first national event when he captured the Top Eliminator Award at the 1963 NHRA US Nationals in Indianapolis by defeating Don Garlits in the final round. They continued their winning ways at the 1965 NHRA US Nationals and in 1966 by capturing the AA/Gas dragster class at the US Fuel and Gas Championships in Bakersfield, California with Phil driving. The Hirata & Hobbs team made the transition to a rear engine AA/Fuel dragster for the 1973 season and continued as strong competitors until they hung it up at the end of the 1973 season. Phil went on to attend to his business Crossfire V-8 Hot Rod Consulting. Kenny was more active in Lowell Body Shop which he founded in 1956. He also built and tuned the engines in his sons injected nitro dragster. Bobby stayed busy as a mold maker for Panduit Corporation.
In 1996 the “retired” Kenny purchased an AA/Fuel dragster chassis which he and his son, Dave, campaigned. He was named NHRA Division 3 Mechanic of the Year and was awarded NHRA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Bobby continued to have a successful driving career through 1966 when he officially retired from competition.