The Backup Pickup

[Brandon]

One of my favorite wheelstanders of all time, besides the Chevado, is the Backup Pickup. As a little kid in grade school, the image of that truck in a hardcovered picture book in the library put my brain into overdrive. It was awesome...

Dave Shuten is currently working on duplicating it, and I think that's great news.

This was the only link I could find online, though to enlarge the pics you have to sign up or something, but I've seen most of them on instagram..

They really should have an exhibition/nostalgia wheel stander class... most of the older cars, who ran crazy speeds for years, do not comply with the current center-steer specifications.


Anyways, take a peek:

www.virginislandpics.com/usvi-bvi/l.php?id=438402174084498790_243051072

[Dennis M]

Thanks for posting Brandon' that is a beauty.

[mrtc4w]

If you can find a copy of the April 1967 Car Model Magazine with a good cover, there is a cut out of the Back Up Pickup. It was designed to fit an Aurora Thunder-Jet Chassis.



Marty
Marysville, OH

[hobbybobby]

Ford Econoline - The Forgotten Wheel Stander

When ya think wheelstanders, you think Hemi Under Glass, Little Red Wagon, or even Chevado.

Seemingly few remember Dick Harding's unique machine, the Back Up Pickup, a Ford Econoline cab-over truck mounted backwards on the frame, that never failed to surprise first-time race-goers.

Remembers reader Michael Moore, “It was hysterical to see the driver's arm hanging out the passenger-side window facing the wrong way.”


Based in Reseda, the truck was a staple of the SoCal youth (ousted in coolness only by Ed Jones' Jolly Rancher stagecoach).

The Back Up Pickup would "back" to the starting line with the cab pointing down-track, then turn around and carry the bed-end wheels high ("back up") past the traps to 120-mph speeds.

The driver was "Hollywood" George Tuers, now known for his Flashback Nomad wheelstander...



George Tuers (M) from Hollywood, California USA

1970 - Category: WHEELIE, Type: WN, Class: Wheelstander, Div: 7

"Back Up Pickup" Owned by Dick Harding from Hollywood, California USA

Crew Chief: George Tuers

'67 Ford Econoline Pickup by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by Supercharged Alcohol 427 Chevrolet with automatic transmission





























Of course the Gemini Cricket that was owned by Frank Monaghan has a cool story behind it too.

After Frank crashed his first A-100 wheelstander also called Gemini Cricket he built a new one which was the backwards one.

I guess he figured if the Backup Pickup worked then so would a backwards A-100.

He only ran it for a short time then converted it back to a regular style wheelstander with the truck facing the right way.

He ran that truck for years and then sold it to Diesel Louie Force (older brother to John Force).

Louie ran the truck for a good number of years and then built a new wheelstander in the late 80's.







And a Remake, the "Backasswards"

[Deleted]

May 25, 2013 17:23:45 GMT -6 hobbybobby said:

Ford Econoline - The Forgotten Wheel Stander

When ya think wheelstanders, you think Hemi Under Glass, Little Red Wagon, or even Chevado.

Seemingly few remember Dick Harding's unique machine, the Back Up Pickup, a Ford Econoline cab-over truck mounted backwards on the frame, that never failed to surprise first-time race-goers.

Remembers reader Michael Moore, “It was hysterical to see the driver's arm hanging out the passenger-side window facing the wrong way.”


Based in Reseda, the truck was a staple of the SoCal youth (ousted in coolness only by Ed Jones' Jolly Rancher stagecoach).

The Back Up Pickup would "back" to the starting line with the cab pointing down-track, then turn around and carry the bed-end wheels high ("back up") past the traps to 120-mph speeds.

The driver was "Hollywood" George Tuers, now known for his Flashback Nomad wheelstander...



George Tuers (M) from Hollywood, California USA

1970 - Category: WHEELIE, Type: WN, Class: Wheelstander, Div: 7

"Back Up Pickup" Owned by Dick Harding from Hollywood, California USA

Crew Chief: George Tuers

'67 Ford Econoline Pickup by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by Supercharged Alcohol 427 Chevrolet with automatic transmission





























Of course the Gemini Cricket that was owned by Frank Monaghan has a cool story behind it too.

After Frank crashed his first A-100 wheelstander also called Gemini Cricket he built a new one which was the backwards one.

I guess he figured if the Backup Pickup worked then so would a backwards A-100.

He only ran it for a short time then converted it back to a regular style wheelstander with the truck facing the right way.

He ran that truck for years and then sold it to Diesel Louie Force (older brother to John Force).

Louie ran the truck for a good number of years and then built a new wheelstander in the late 80's.







And a Remake, the "Backasswards"

[Deleted]

Sorry to report the hollywood george tues passed on this morring at 6:45 am in simi valley california.  George was my best friend and partner in the flashback nomad wheel stander. R.I.P. George