John Wiebe
Two-time AHRA Top Fuel World Champion John Wiebe was among the Midwest’s most successful and most popular professional drag racers. Wiebe’s relatively brief career was born in 1963, at the wheel of a supercharged ’34 Ford. A subsequent engine transplant inota “T” roadster and John’s first AHRA record, but the youngster quickly soured on handicapped sportsman competition. Within months of making the leap to top fuel in 1964, this part-time racer lasted his way into Mikey Thompson’s prestigious 200 Mile-Per-Hour Club. Two major AHRA victories in 1968 helped convince “Kansas John” to turn pro. In 1970, he earned the AHRA World Championship and the Mike Sorokin Award. in October 1971, he teamed with Ed Donovan to introduce drag racing’s first all-aluminum powerplant. Though still campaigning and “obsolete” front engine chassis, Wiebe debuted the Donovan 417 by lowering Ontario Motorsport Speedways ET record to 6.53 seconds during the NHRA Supernationals. Donovan’s engine and Wiebe’s dragster, often remembered as the last competitive slingshot, are both on display today at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing. John Wiebe went on to win the 1973 NHRA Springnationals, the 1974 PRA National Challenge, and the 1975 AHRA World Championship before retiring in 1978.