1970’s Pat Minick Chi-Town Hustler Shirt

Minick got his start in the 1950s, driving Chrysler products; he first partnered with John Farkonas in the 1960s.   Minick first drove Farkonas’ 1956 Chrysler 300, and in 1962, they raced in Super Stock taking wins in 31 of 33 events.  They attracted sponsorship from “Mr. Norm” Kraus’ Car Dealership, Grand Spaulding Dodge, in 1964, naming their new car Hustler.  They followed this with an altered-wheelbase blown nitro-burning 1965  Plymouth.   The team got clutch work done at Chicago’s E&R Automotive, where hemi-running fellow Super Stock racer Austin Coil was also a customer.   Needing a good tuner, while Coil needed money to keep racing, the trio joined forces in winter 1966.

In 1967, they decided to move from Super Stock to Funny Car, building the first Chi-Town Hustler, a tube-chassis 1967 Barracuda “in the garage of Farkonas’ mother”.

Minick would only remain at the wheel of Chi-Town Hustler until 1971.

This shirt is from Pat’s personal collection.