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History of Hanna Motorsports

1966The first professional race car for Al and Ellen Hanna was the 1966 Ford Fairlane running in the Super Stock B class.
1967The first nitro funny car for the Hanna’s was the ‘Phantom ‘Cuda’. The car ran in the low 9’s to high 8’s @ 150 MPH.
1968 The ‘Phantom Charger’ was added in 1968. This was the first tube-chassied nitro funny car for the Hanna’s. Mid-8’s @ 160+ MPH.
1969The 1969 ‘Yankee Peddler’ was built for the Hanna’s by Rollie Lindblad. Al drove and Bill Flynn was the tuner and Al’s partner in the project. The east’s first true flip top - ran mid-low 7’s @ 200 MPH.
1970The first ‘Eastern Raider’. This was the 2nd year of the Dodge Charger built by Lindblad. Al drove and tuned.
1971A new ‘Eastern Raider’ Pinto was built. This was a Lindblad chassis and featured an injected nitro motor. This machine ran in the 7’s as well. Featured in ‘East Coast’ Nitro F/C Circuit.
1972 Added partner Joe Mundet for 1972. Converted the 1971 chassis to blower. Debuted at NHRA - Indy - #12 qualifier - 6.60’s @ 220 MPH.
1973 More Hanna/Mundet Pinto’s. First year as part of Revell All Star Team. Toured entire nation.
1974 First ‘Eastern Raider’ Mustang. Next Revell Team Car. This car was a feature in ‘Cream’ Magazine with rock groups.
1975 Hanna Pinto. Brought back prior Pinto for match racing. Mundet moved on. Match raced throughout east.
1976 ‘Eastern Raider’ Pinto and Mustang. Toured as member of ‘Coke Cavalcade of Stars’. Ran 66 events across nation and Canada.
1977 'Eastern Raider' top fuel dragster was driven by Bob Beaulieu in 1977.
1977 ‘Eastern Raider’ Mustang. New Partner - Gary Richards. One of the fastest and quickest match race cars in the nation. 6.40’s @ 240 MPH.
1978 - 1979 Next car - ‘Eastern Raider’ Dodge. Gary Richards and Al Hanna ran half the season and split. Strong match race season. New company is formed - Pro-Race, Inc. Al and Ellen Hanna are principles. Purchased former ‘Eastern Raider’ Mustang for match racing and ordered new Mustang for 1980 season.
1980 New ‘Eastern Raider’ Mustang. Beautiful car. Best Appearing - NHRA Gatornationals. Again, a fiercely competitive match racecar running low 6’s @ 240 MPH++.
1981 New Jet Funny Car Arrives. Time to learn about jet engines and fuel systems. This is quite an educational challenge.
1982 - 1985 New Jet FC. Ford EXP - Licensed late 1982 - minimum match races with jet FC. Few match races with Nitro Mustang FC.
1986 New look to Jet FC. Match races increase to over 40 appearances in one season. Running mid 6’s @ 240 MPH.
1987 - 1989 ‘New ‘Eastern Raider’ Thunderbird. Lot of work aerodynamically and weight wise. Performance picking up - running low 6’s @ 250 MPH. Car is truly beautiful.
1989 ‘Eastern Raider’ Top Fuel Dragster. Partner - Don Marshall - - Mike Kase Chassis - Ran several events - Best et - 5.15@ 280 MPH. Car sold to Kenny Koretsky.
1990 New Sponsorship - ADAP - New body - ‘Eastern Raider’ Thunderbird. Aerodynamic to the max - light weight - running in the 5’s @ 270 MPH.
1991 Invented - through research - Extended Bell Mouth for Jet Funny Cars. First 5.70 in Jet Funny Car history.
1992 New body for Jet FC - Auto Palace Stores sponsored ‘Eastern Raider’ Pontiac Firebird. Winniest Jet FC. 5’60’s @ 280 MPH ++.
1993 New car built - Bob Jenkins Chassis - Center-driver location - First in Jet FC history. Car is recognized as highest tech in jet fc history. Featured on ‘NHRA Today’ - Machine Design Magazine - and more.
Eastern Raider 1994 'Eastern Raider' center driver location jet funny car. Considered sports' highest tech funny car.
First Strike 1994 New Paint scheme for Firebird - Rich Hanna starts driving - Car called ‘First Strike’ Firebird. Rick’s Auto Body sponsors Rich’s car. Rich is instant performer - winner of many fc events - 5’6’s @ 280 MPH.
Eastern Raider and First Strike 1995 Father and son in action.
Eastern Raider and First Strike 1996 New Body - Rich’s ‘First Strike’. Car continues to match race across the region.
Eastern Raider and First Strike 1997 New England Dragway has been home for many Hanna family battles.
Eastern Raider 1997 Pro-Race adds third car - ‘Eastern Raider’ Jet dragster. This car runs in the low 5’s @ 300 MPH.
Queen of Diamonds 1998 Dragster receives new driver and new name - The "Queen of Diamonds". A sponsorship agreement is formed with Bicycle Playing Cards. The car runs a best of 5.08 at nearly 307 MPH.
First Strike 1998 Pro-Race dba’s Hanna Motorsports and fields three cars for season.
Eastern Raider 1998 Al Hanna makes another run in the wild center-drive 'Eastern Raider.'
First Strike 1999 Current World Speed Record Holder Rich Hanna's 290 MPH First Strike Firebird.
2000 75 race dates with three car team sponsored by AJK Engineering.
2001 Rich Hanna sets new World Speed and ET Record for Jet Funny Cars - 5.42 @ 295.08 MPH.
2001 Queen of Diamonds
2002 Hanna Motorsports debuts "Top Secret" with new driver - Ken Hall. AJK Engineering and East Coast Aerotech sponsorship continues with 82 race dates for team.
2003 New driver for the "Queen of Diamonds" debuts at the IHRA "Jet Warz" event in May. Team runs 75 race date schedule.
2004 The three drivers for Hanna Motorsports now referred to as the "Young Lions" take the team to Puerto Rico for a match race series at Thanksgiving through the New Year. The holiday events are a huge success and Hanna Motorsports will make it an annual stop on their schedule.
2005 BIC Lighter is signed as title sponsor for the "Queen of Diamonds" jet dragster. BIC introduces an 8 lighter series featuring all three Hanna Motorsports Jet Cars and drivers.
2006 Team debuts second generation "Top Secret". BIC Lighter renews sponsorship and adds the Funny Cars to the program. Lighter sales flourish.
2007
2008 Jill Canuso named new BIC Lighter "Queen of Diamonds" Driver by Hanna Motorsports
2009
2010
2011
2011
2012 Both BIC Lighter and GOJO Industries renew sponsorship of Hanna Motorsports Jets for 2012.