NASSAU, BAHAMAS  -- It seemed like yesterday when the crew on Terry McMillen's Amalie Oil/UNOH Top Fuel dragster won their second Full Throttle Hardest Working Crew Award of the 2010 season. To show his appreciation for the crew's hard work, McMillen allowed the crew to determine how they wanted to distribute the winnings.

"I felt rather than pay out the winnings in a bonus check, I would see if they wanted to do something more creative with it," McMillen said. "They worked very hard this year, and unfortunately the outcome didn't always reflect the effort my crew put in. I wanted them to enjoy the winnings, and also know how much I appreciated their hard work." It wasn't long before the they came to a consensus, a team vacation.

McMillen agreed a vacation would be great, so frequent cruiser, Chris Cyzak, who works part time on the cylinder heads, took the role of Cruise Coordinator and before you knew it, a vacation was planned. The winnings from the Full Throttle Hardest Working Crew Awards allowed each team member to bring one guest aboard Carnival Cruise Lines, Sensation, for a four night three day cruise to the Bahamas.

Continue reading "Full Throttle vacation readies McMillen's crew for 2011 season" »

By Jim - Posted on January 12, 2011 8:22 PM | Permalink |

If you used to watch for us going down the highway on our way to and from races - you might want to look again.

Here's a sneak peak and the new wrap on our transporter. Thanks to Tammy and the folks at Repros Color in Cleveland / Akron-Canton Ohio. Also a big thanks to Michelle Barkett and Gonzalo Jarmillo for their outstanding work on the art.

By Jim - Posted on March 5, 2010 3:51 PM | Permalink |

By Jim - Posted on February 7, 2010 3:45 PM | Permalink |

Here's a great interview from the Jay Leno garage with Don showing off his mint Hot Wheels Funny Car.

Check out the toy at the beginning - they just don't make cool toys like that anymore do they?

By Jim - Posted on January 22, 2010 1:22 PM | Permalink |

It's one of the more common questions we get asked when we're racing. While we tell everyone that we use about 20 gallons of nitro methane on the warm up and run - it's sometimes hard to understand just how much fuel that is.

Here's a video - showing ONE (1) cylinder - and the amount of fuel that goes into that cylinder over the course of a race. Multiply that by 8 - hold the throttle for about 4 seconds - and well, you've burned a bunch of VPs finest race fuel.

By Jim - Posted on December 21, 2009 12:25 AM | Permalink |

If you've ever thought about stocking up on some gently used racing parts, now might be the time to contact Hoosier Thunder Motorsports.

The guys rounded up some good stuff around the shop and it's your chance to make a good deal. You can check out the sale on RacingJunk.com or contact Terry directly. Here's a list of parts:

Continue reading "Nitro and Alcohol parts for sale" »

By Jim - Posted on December 19, 2008 10:21 PM | Permalink |

It's an election year. If you're like me you've just about heard all of the politics you want to hear. So here's your chance to put politics aside an vote for your favorite IHRA drivers.

You can vote online for:

• IHRA Sportsman of the Year


• Pro Driver of the Year


• Most Improved Pro Driver


• Pro Rookie of the Year


• Crew Chief of the Year


• Sportsman Rookie of the Year


• Sportsman Driver of the Year

Only one vote for each email address, no ballot stuffing please.

I can think of a few guys to pitch for a couple of those awards, but I guess you know my bias. Vote early, vote often.

Our entire crew is looking forward to the 2008 IHRA Banquet. Have you made your reservations yet?

By Jim - Posted on September 27, 2008 12:47 PM | Permalink |

Browsing around YouTube today and ran across this video of the crew photos of both the Noakes and McMillen win.

It was really cool to be a part of this history. A proud moment for our team. Thanks to another great Canadian fan for taking and posting this video.

By Jim - Posted on September 18, 2008 5:54 PM | Permalink |

We've been on a whirl-wind tour since leaving Tulsa, doing the 'wally world' tour. Every time we stop someone wants an autograph. It seems as though Terry is picking up a lot of support... for President!

Vote early... vote often. See you in Epping at the Walmart until Tuesday. Come by and say hi! Now if we could only get Wal-mart to sponsor the car along with Amalie...

By Jim - Posted on August 30, 2008 12:48 PM | Permalink |

Hoosier Thunder MySpace friend, Tina, was in attendance at the Mopar Canadian Naitionals in Grand Bend. She shot this footage of the win.

Thanks Tina.

By Jim - Posted on July 26, 2008 9:57 AM | Permalink |

To commemorate Hoosier Thunder Motorsports' 'goin' country' this season - super friend Cori put together this video showcasing our friends over at CMT's Trick My Truck. As you can see we were all having a 'Big & Rich' time during the Milan Motor City Nationals.

It's not to late - so don't forget to take your chance to become a part of the crew - enter the Trick My Truck sweepstakes and join Terry over at the Trick My Truck Community.

You can also check out McMillen's pages on MySpace and Race Pages too.

Stay in touch. There's no excuse with all these ways on the internet.

By Jim - Posted on June 26, 2008 10:48 PM | Permalink |

What is this? Have they gone country? Who are these people? I thought for a minute they could be the Lone Ranger and maybe Tonto... but didn't the Loan Ranger have a white hat?

Maybe we should check in over at Race Pages to see what these desperadoes have been up to.

By Jim - Posted on April 17, 2008 5:08 PM | Permalink |

WARNING - No sheep were harmed in the playing of this game.

Rhonda sent this out today. I thought it fit drag racers to a "T".

It's like practicing your reaction time. The best part you ask? Well, you are practicing by shooting sheep with a tranquilizer dart.

Kind of fits right? If you get caught counting sheep at the lights in drag racing - the race is over.

Give it a shot and let us know how you do. You'll get 5 chances and it will track your reaction time - give you an average - and rate you based on your average.

Sound easy? Well, let me warn you. That one stinking flea bitten sheep near the bottom keeps acting like he's going to jump. I can't tell you how many times he caused be to foul.

Continue reading "How quick are you?" »

By Jim - Posted on January 2, 2008 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) |

Terry McMillen gathered up his favorite elves -- elf Rhonda, elf Andy, and elf Austin -- to help him spread some holiday cheer to all Hoosier Thunder Motorsports fans.

Enjoy the laugh!

Continue reading "Terry and the Hoosier Thunder crew wish you Happy Holidays!" »

By Jim - Posted on December 14, 2007 5:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) |

As if driving a top fuel car isn't hard enough...

Here's a shot taken about half track by our friend Bob Szelag during Friday qualifying at the Fall Rockingham race. Notes from the tower said, "McMillen shook, pedaled, shook again and shut it off."

Oh... and had the wheels hiked in the air at half track...

By Jim - Posted on November 26, 2007 11:11 PM | Permalink |

ELKHART, Ind. - Terry McMillen, driver of the Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car and the Foley/Lewis Torco Nitro Top Fuel Dragster gets his own space, MySpace that is.

Today marks the official grand opening of McMillen's MySpace page located at http://myspace.com/hoosierthundermotorsports. Special thanks goes out to Cori Wickler who helped put the page together after attending her first drag race at the Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals in Martin, Michigan.

"Being on MySpace was one of those things we had on our 'to-do' list this year," McMillen said. "I can't thank Cori enough for helping to put that together. We look at it as another opportunity to communicate and stay in touch with our friends, family and fans. It's an entirely different demographic that we can now reach through social networking."

"I just needed 'my space'," McMillen joked.

By Jim - Posted on August 21, 2007 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) |

Terry McMillen's Nitro Pit Party heads for Toronto. If you're going that way, be sure to enter to win the FG-50 Freedom Grill that we will be giving away on Saturday, September 8, 2007.

WUTV Fox 29 in Buffalo is partnering with the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam, Freedom Grill and the Ultimate Tailgater to make this one party you'll never forget.

One of the the features that a lot of the winners have been enjoying is the behind the scenes tour they get. Winners will tour 2 nitro teams and have lunch with Terry McMillen. Does it get any better than that?

By Jim - Posted on August 15, 2007 9:38 PM | Permalink |

Cori had a chance to hang out with the crew of the Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car and submitted this cool video for all to enjoy.

Good job and thanks Cori.

By Jim - Posted on August 15, 2007 4:37 PM | Permalink |

ELKHART, Ind. - Terry McMillen and his Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car, powered by Torco Race Fuels will make a special appearance at the Prairie Heights Middle School in LaGrange, Ind. on Friday May 18, 2007 from 9AM to 2PM. The McMillen and InstiGator appearance will highlight the schools "Race Into Reading" program.

While McMillen makes many appearances during the season, the stop at Prairie Heights wouldn't be complete without a stop to Mrs. Hinkle's class to see Heather Mills. Heather is the daughter of Richard and Sara Mills a long time friend of the McMillen family.

Continue reading "McMillen will Race Into Reading at Prairie Heights Middle School" »

By Jim - Posted on May 16, 2007 11:43 AM | Permalink |

Everyone loves the InstiGator -- both the car, and its driver.

Imagine our surprise when we ran across this crazy gator puppet on Amazon.

Ok, so it's not exactly the Amalie Oil Racing Gator, but we think it looks like fun for the whole family.

By Jim - Posted on February 20, 2007 10:11 PM | Permalink |

The perfect gift for the fan of drag racing!

Check out this one-of-a-kind drag racing tree clock...

Continue reading "Drag Racing Tree Alarm Clock" »

By Jim - Posted on December 14, 2006 9:50 AM | Permalink |