Wonderland Rabitt Dodge Charger bracket funny car

doolie · 08-05-2012, 01:51 AM

Does anyone remember the name of the owner/driver of this car? It ran in NJ and likely PA in the 80s and possibly in the Seventies.

JERRYC · 08-05-2012, 12:17 PM

I think the car was owned by Dave Shapiro who lived in northern New Jersey. I was said at the time it was the former Eastern Raider funny car. If you need, I may be able to look at some old pubs and get more specific.

Billy Nees · 08-05-2012, 04:36 PM

That would be correct. Dave is still around. He runs a lot of the $$$ races at Atco.

doolie · 08-05-2012, 09:27 PM

Does he still run the same dodge charger?

Billy Nees · 08-06-2012, 05:57 PM

No. He hasn't had the Charger in years.

Mike Schwartz · 08-27-2012, 03:12 AM

From http://classicfunnycarboard.com/CFB/...c=2263.10;wap2

"Hey Big, I think that pic of the Virginia Charger helped solve a mystery I have always had.
Back in '80-'82 Dave Shapiro ran a Charger funny car with a 440 wedge in it. He called it Wonderland Rabbit. It was runner-up at 1980 Bracket Finals and won S/Pro title at 1981 Finals.I believe it is the ONLY funny car to have won a divisional bracket title ANYWHERE.

Several years ago I asked Dave about the car.He said it was the Virginian.That confused me because I thought Pee Wee Wallace had Cudas.
Looking at your picture,the chassis is almost identical to Dave's.I can't say for sure but it looks pretty close.The body also looks very close. Particularly the rear deck and molded in spoiler.Maybe Dave meant Virginia Charger?

If this car is the same ,I am sad to report you will never find it in a barn or something. The guy who bought it off Dave got fed up with trying to make it a Super Comp car and cut up the body with a Sawz All.

As for the chassis,who knows? "

08-05-2012, 01:51 AM	#1
doolie Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 23 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Wonderland Rabitt Dodge Charger bracket funny car Does anyone remember the name of the owner/driver of this car? It ran in NJ and likely PA in the 80s and possibly in the Seventies.

08-05-2012, 12:17 PM	#2
JERRYC Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Newark, DE Posts: 3 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wonderland Rabitt Dodge Charger bracket funny car I think the car was owned by Dave Shapiro who lived in northern New Jersey. I was said at the time it was the former Eastern Raider funny car. If you need, I may be able to look at some old pubs and get more specific.

08-05-2012, 04:36 PM	#3
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,223 Likes: 3,096 Liked 6,788 Times in 1,524 Posts	Re: Wonderland Rabitt Dodge Charger bracket funny car That would be correct. Dave is still around. He runs a lot of the $$$ races at Atco. __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS World's greatest Under-Achiever!

08-05-2012, 09:27 PM	#4
doolie Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 23 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wonderland Rabitt Dodge Charger bracket funny car Does he still run the same dodge charger?

08-06-2012, 05:57 PM	#5
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,223 Likes: 3,096 Liked 6,788 Times in 1,524 Posts	Re: Wonderland Rabitt Dodge Charger bracket funny car No. He hasn't had the Charger in years. __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS World's greatest Under-Achiever!

08-27-2012, 03:12 AM	#6
Mike Schwartz Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 496 Likes: 98 Liked 189 Times in 64 Posts	Re: Wonderland Rabitt Dodge Charger bracket funny car From http://classicfunnycarboard.com/CFB/...c=2263.10;wap2 "Hey Big, I think that pic of the Virginia Charger helped solve a mystery I have always had. Back in '80-'82 Dave Shapiro ran a Charger funny car with a 440 wedge in it. He called it Wonderland Rabbit. It was runner-up at 1980 Bracket Finals and won S/Pro title at 1981 Finals.I believe it is the ONLY funny car to have won a divisional bracket title ANYWHERE. Several years ago I asked Dave about the car.He said it was the Virginian.That confused me because I thought Pee Wee Wallace had Cudas. Looking at your picture,the chassis is almost identical to Dave's.I can't say for sure but it looks pretty close.The body also looks very close. Particularly the rear deck and molded in spoiler.Maybe Dave meant Virginia Charger? If this car is the same ,I am sad to report you will never find it in a barn or something. The guy who bought it off Dave got fed up with trying to make it a Super Comp car and cut up the body with a Sawz All. As for the chassis,who knows? "