Legendary "TV Tommy" Ivo

Earlier this year I embarked on a journey that took me West (for a change). It was a great opportunity to attend the first race of the year at Pomona, NHRA's Winternationals. And while at it, a visit to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is a must I thought. So I did. We had a blast (including storm of the century in LA) and memories to last a lifetime. Needless to say I had a great time at the museum, for I care a lot for history. While there we had the opportunity to meet and chat with Mr. Tommy Ivo a.k.a. "TV Tommy". He was very nice to us and it was a memorable moment. Of course I didn't know who he was so when I got back from our world tour I quickly looked him up on the internet. And boy was I both impressed and angry at the same time. Had I known who he was I would have asked him so much more.

Even though I will barely scratch the surface of the meaning of this personality to the sport of drag racing, I will share with you some of my findings.

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Tommy was taught to tap dance at an early age (some say he was tap dancing before he learned how to run) and so he became quite a sensation at local talent shows and this at an early age. Circumstances brought the family to Burbank, California, and the proximity to Hollywood meant it was easy for him to step into show biz at the age of seven. Tommy went on to appear in more than 200 TV shows. He even appeared the James Dean's legendary movie "Rebel Without a Cause." By the time he was 16 he had saved enough money to buy a brand-spanking new 1952 Buick Roadmaster. And so began a long time affinity with the brand. Tommy was a practical man, but above all showman (hey he was in TV biz after all). He figured if one was good, then two must be better. So he built himself the first twin engined 

drag race car (as far as I know). He slotted in another Buick alongside the first in a W-16 configuration. One engine was blown and the other injected. Tommy went on to become the first to run the quarter mile in under 9 seconds and the first to go 170 mph and this on pump gas. The car was a hit with the fans. 

Tommy's twin engined car

A legend in his own right, Don "the Snake" Prudhomme bought his first drag race car from Tommy while he worked at his fathers' "Van Nuys Body Works".
But back to Tommy. One never to be contend, Tommy again figured, "if they liked two engines, they'll love four!" So, again he went to the drawing board, designed and built his spectacular 4-engined dragster, arguably the first and most successful drag racing exhibition car of all time. And in 1960 TV Tommy became the first drag racer to tour the country with a nationwide, season-long tour. Also, appearance money made him drag racing's first touring professional. Remember, this is more that 50 years ago. And since Ivo was a TV personality and an actor, drag racing was introduced to media not available before. The performance and appearance of the dazzling red and chrome showpiece impressed crowds nationwide.
One can only imagine how the sport would have turned out if it weren't for TV Tommy.

Tommy and his "Showboat"

4 engines, 1.856 c.i, 2.000 hp.
NHRA Museum

Spectators only saw smoke, but
Tommy could see nothing at all!



July 23, 1961 at San Fernando
Drag Strip, young Tommy left.




I often wonder about our own drag racing history on Curacao. If only we could get the pioneers to open up we would learn a lot. Hopefully somebody has already documented much of this, for we have been racing a very long time, I believe since the seventies.

Pictures and information on Tommy courtesy of Speedhunters.com and Tony Thacker, Exec Director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, California.