Dirt
TREVOR LARKIN
dragsters to use as a cackle car. His father
passed away in 2011, and Larkin continues to
haul the vintage rail to as many exhibitions as
he can, sitting in the driver’s seat of his dad’s
car as it sings along in nostalgic cacophonies
across the country.
“The car has his name on it, we do the push-
starts, I wear his helmet, and we keep it very
period correct – not just for the fans who
remember it, but for the new fans who are just
learning the history of the sport,” says Larkin.
“It’s fun to be one of those historic cars out there.
That’s where I found my niche; my first seat was
in a cackle car.”
Larkin licensed in Super Comp at the Doug
Foley Drag Racing School a couple of years ago,
after it was suggested that if he did so, he would
be prepared if anyone ever needed a driver.
“I got my Super Comp license, and a month later
I was driving a Nostalgia Funny Car. I skipped
five or six classes, and now here I am with my Top
Alcohol license,” says Larkin, who currently drives
for Dick Moseley in the ANRA series behind the
wheel of an admittedly squirrely Topolino altered
he calls “a shopping cart with a bad attitude.”
“I’m constantly finding that next level,” he says.
“I’m always pushing myself and going, OK, what
am I going to do next? [Licensing in TAD] was
a step in the right direction; it’s working towards
that next level of speed.”
One thing is for sure, though: Larkin doesn’t
intend to park his dad’s car anytime soon. He’ll
be cackling right along with the best of them for
many years to come, carrying on his father’s legacy.
“My dad never saw me drive, but every track we
go to, I have so many memories – he’s there,” says
Larkin. “I love preserving the heritage of this sport
and keeping my dad’s name out there. People that
knew my dad sometimes tell me, ‘Oh, he would be
so proud.’ That means a lot. To me, it’s like win-
ning the race.”
DI DI DI
DI DI DI DI
20 | D r a g
I DI l l DI u s DI t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Issue 154