Feature Team: JEFF CAMERON
1948 Austin
A life-long fan of the Gasser era of drag racing, Jeff Cameron’s first race car was a 1948 Anglia that he bought as a kid in 1984. After swapping in a 454 big-block Chevy out of his '70 SS Chevelle, the Anglia laid down 11.15-second passes at Amarillo Dragway. The responsibilities of life forced Jeff to sell the Anglia, but the itch to get back in the driver's seat eventually prevailed. As such, he picked up a '48 Austin a few years back, and immediately dropped in a 582 cubic inch big-block Chevy along with a Powerglide transmission. The stout combo was good for 8.52-second passes at 152 mph in naturally aspirated trim. He ran the car hard for several years at various nostalgia drag racing events, but when it came time to freshen up the motor, he figured it was the perfect opportunity to step things up in a big way.
With plans to compete in the SHRA’s Nostalgia Eliminator 2 class (5.00 index), Jeff completely revamped the entire car with an all-new chrome-moly chassis by LaFitte fabrication. New carbon fiber tubs and panels have dropped curb weight down from 2,600- to 2,189 pounds. In search of more power, Jeff converted the big-block to alcohol injection with a pair of twin 4500 throttle-bodies and a Ron's EFI system. The rest of the combo features a Dart block, Brodix BB-3 Xtra aluminum cylinder heads, forged 14.0:1 pistons, a Comp 281/301-at-.050 camshaft, T&D shaft-mount rockers, a custom LaFitte sheetmetal intake manifold, and custom 2.375-inch headers. A custom one-off fuel cell from Rick's Fuel Systems keeps the alcohol flowing. The potent Rat motor is tied to a Hughes 6,200-stall converter and a Sullivan Motorsports Powerglide.
Hooking it all to the pavement is a custom four-link suspension that anchors a Strange 9-inch rearend fitted with 40-spline axles and 4.30:1 gears. Billet Specialties wheels wrapped in 32x14-inch Goodyear slicks put the custom chrome-moly wheelie bars to good use. Still early in the testing phase, the new combination has managed 8.40s at 159 mph on the quarter-mile, and 5.40s at 130 mph in the eighth-mile. As the Austin’s 1.17-second 60-foot times and impressive trap speeds indicate, there’s plenty of hook in the chassis, and 7-second quarter-mile passes should be a reality once some cool fall weather rolls in.
Although Jeff is thrilled to finally be back in the driver’s seat, he’s just as excited about Dooley and Sons’ new partnership with the Be An Angel Foundation. Jeff and his wife, Mary, welcomed twins Meg and Jake into the world in 2005. The micro-preemies were born four months premature, and while Jake tragically passed after 16 days, his spirit lives on in his twin-sister, Meg. Now 10 years of age, Meg faces more challenges in a single day than most people do in their entire life, but she’s always willing to transcend every obstacle that comes her way with eagerness and a positive attitude. Thanks to Be An Angel, Meg has had the opportunity to ride a horse, float in a canoe, and fly down a zip line. In an effort to give something back to the organization, the Dooley and Sons race team will proudly display the Be An Angel logo on its race cars.
Starting in the fall of 2015, Dooley and Sons will field a half-scale Jr. Dragster to compete in local 7.90 index classes. The Cameron family are no strangers to adapting to unexpected challenges, and their new Jr. Dragster program serves as yet another example of transforming misfortune into opportunity. “When Mary was pregnant, I was the typical race dad. I was super pumped about having twins, and had dreams of both of them racing Jr. Dragsters,” Jeff recalls. “As Meg got older, I realized that her chances of getting behind the wheel weren’t very likely. However, my interest in Jr. Dragsters never went away, and we decided to give one of our family friends the chance to drive one. Brady Huckfelt isn’t your typical 14-year-old. He’s very responsible and an all-around great kid. He’s developed an interest in hot rods from hanging out at the shop, and he’s super excited about going racing. Start them young, and who knows, maybe he’ll be the next Tony Schumacher.”
Just like the 1948 Austin, the Dooley and Sons Jr. Dragster will wear the Be An Angel logo as well. Although Jake Cameron never had the chance to blast down the track in a Jr. Dragster, his memory—along with the generosity of the entire Cameron family—now provides that same opportunity to others. Through their tenacity and spirit, Meg and Jake continue to serve as an inspiration for everyone.
1948 Austin
Driver: Jeff Cameron
Hometown: Magnolia, TX
Crew: Keith Payton, Brady Huckfelt, Dooley Cameron, Tom Cameron, Mary Cameron, Meg Cameron, Eli Cameron
Special Thanks: Dooley Cameron, Be An Angel Foundation
Chassis: LaFitte Fabrication
Body Style: 1948 Austin
Engine: 582ci big-block Chevy
Trans: Sullivan Motorsports Powerglide
Rearend; Strange 9-inch
Fuel System: Rick’s Fuel Tanks
2006 Half-Scale Jr. Dragster
Driver: Brady Huckfelt
Hometown: Magnolia, TX
Crew: Meg Cameron, Eli Cameron, Rylee Payton, Carson Huckfelt, Tanner Huckfelt, Gavin Chambliss, Ashlee Mayo
Chassis: Half-Scale
Body Style: Jr. Dragster
Engine: 25ci Chris McGee billet
Trans: Centrifugal clutch
Rearend; HSD
Fuel System: Mikuni
