World’s Fastest Bubble Top, Take 2; Pittman’s new ride taking shape
(1-19-2006) GREENVILLE, SC - When Florida-based businessman Mel Bush debuted his 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air prior to the 2004 racing season, the car was billed as the “World’s Fastest Bubble Top,” a reference to the classic roofline which made this model so popular.
After two years of competition in IHRA Top Sportsman, Bush made the decision to take on the challenge of drag racing’s quickest and fastest doorslammer class, Pro Modified. Since its inception in 1990, “Pro Mod” has become the epitome of diversification, featuring a wide variety of vintage and modern cars and trucks running supercharged or nitrous-injected engine combinations.
Bush and his driver Alan Pittman are now preparing to introduce the latest in a long line of unique vehicles to the Pro Modified ranks when they unveil the ultimate version of the “World’s Fastest Bubble Top” at the IHRA season opener in San Antonio in March.
Pittman, a veteran Pro Modified competitor, is currently wrapping up the fabrication phase of the new car’s build-up at his AP Race Cars shop in Greenville, South Carolina.
The first of the supercharged engines being built for the team by fellow Pro Mod competitor Carl Spiering has arrived, and Pittman and his crew wasted no time installing it between the frame rails of the new hot rod. From here the car will go out for powder coating, body work and painting. By mid-February, if all goes smoothly, the car will be completed and ready for testing. And not a minute too soon, according to Pittman.
“The season is coming on fast, and we need to get this car built and out to the track as soon as we can,” he said. “It’s coming along fine, thanks to the hard work of the whole team here at my shop, but we need everything to happen on schedule now so that we can wrap it up.
“I have to thank my guys, because none of this would have happened without them,” Pittman said. “My regular guys - Chris Smith, Kevin Akeridge, Justin Ware, and Chris Johnson – have really put in the hours necessary to get the car done. Rich Gore has also been helping out a lot in his spare time.”
Bush, who visited Pittman’s shop for the first time since he delivered the car’s body around Thanksgiving, was excited to see the progress that the team had made in bringing the new machine to life. “These guys have done a fantastic job on this car – Alan has created the perfect Pro Mod car in my opinion,” he said.
“We’re in the home stretch with this project now, and the excitement is starting to build,” Bush said. “We’re all anxious to hear this thing fire up for the first time and see it make some tire smoke out on the track. I know we’ll have to tackle the proverbial learning curve at first, but I’m confident we’ll get a handle on the car in short order and provide some serious competition for the top runners in IHRA Pro Modified. It will take a lot of hard work, but it should be a lot of fun at the same time.”
“I really have to thank Mel for his support and his faith in me,” said Pittman. “I also want to thank NGK for signing on to supply us with spark plugs for the upcoming season. Their participation is greatly appreciated.”
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