The Patents of Smokey Yunick - Engines, Equipment, and A Racing Series?!

Took a class from Smokey Back in the 90’s. One of the greatest out of the box thinkers. RIP Smokey

Last month I took a guided tour with Don at his drag racing museum. He was very proud of having Smokey's machine there and spoke very fondly of his friendship with him.

"NASCAR rules said you couldn't have a bellypan. So we made this big rotisserie to turn the cars upside down and we'd spend a week smoothing the underside of the car with body filler, blending everything in. Not a car went out of my shop that didn't have two hundred pounds of Bondo underneath. We didn't have a bellypan, but we had the next best thing. Course NASCAR found out and made us stop that pretty quick"

Met Smokey and his wife in the Orlando airport one morning. The hat was a dead giveaway to who he was. I introduced myself to him and his wife, and started asking him questions. His wife stopped me short and said that he couldn’t hear me so I needn’t try. Both of them were pleasant and I think he understood where I was coming from. A true innovator. Gone but never forgotten. Thanks for producing this video, Brian. Keep up the great work here and on TV.

In his book Smokey said he took psychedelic drugs in order to mentally solve mechanical problems and imagine a solution. Not LSD but mescaline from cactus. This undoubtedly led to things like the reverse rotation Indy car, The flywheel/bellhousing supercharger on the Fireball Roberts 1962 Pontiac, the hidden dry sump system he outlined in his book, and all the other fringe stuff he tried.

Please never stop uploading to YouTube, Brian. I don't even care what the topic is. Just keep these kickass videos coming please.

In the 70's / 80'a era there was a column in the magazine Popular Science titled " Say Smokey . . . " where readers would post automotive questions

There a big difference between breaking rules and knowing how to read between the lines. Smokey was a master at reading between the lines. When rule books get changed you sir are my hero. As always thanks.

Brian, as a 19yo Embry-Riddle college student I worked across the alley from his Daytona Beach shop, I’d take my brown bag and lunch in the alley sitting on an open trailer parked there watching his genius in action, praying some of it would rub off!

I met Smokey once in Daytona and he was as cool as a cucumber ! Nice guy 👍🏻

Smokey Yunik , was also a WW2 veteran who served in the Army Air Corps as a B-17 pilot who flew over 50 misdions during his 4 years of service .. The man was brilliant, and he was dedicated to making the racing cars more efficient and powerful... Such an interesting person to learn from...

Decades ago I read Smokeys Power Secrets, numerous times along with other engine books. Most of his ideas were totally sound engineering and I used many on my engines. Good low buck engines that stayed together for extended periods

"If you can spot it, you got it..." Thank you for shining some light on Smokey's brilliant, sometimes kooky- ideas. 14:35

Been waiting on an episode for the GOAT

my brother lived in daytona and knew smokey's son.... he got me an autographed power secrets book.... most awsome . just like brian's video's, awsome.

I remember reading about the vapor engine in HOT ROD Magazine as I was graduating High School heading to College to get a degree in Mechanical Engineering. June 1984 issue on the Mototrend App. Thanks for the video as always Brian!

He definitely had a lot of unique ideas. Always fun hearing about racing history.

I just started listening to this one, so forgive me if you covered this: Smokey wrote a crazy, amazing book “The Best Damn Garage In Town”. It’s a riot.

Even Smokey had to follow the Laws of physics.

I used to eat lunch with Cecil Taylor and Bob Blackwell a couple times a week. That's the guy you need to do a Story on. he was a guy that knew Smokey Yunick and stayed at his place when he was in town to visit almost got Smokey with Weld on his 5 axis Mill the fist one made. He started as AJ Foyt's left front tire guy, and had relationships with Sammy Swindle and Gaerte Engines, Don Prudhomme and best friend of AJ Himself, and many more. Our joke always was, There is the Pope, I don't know the Pope, but see the guy next to him, that's Cecil Taylor. Ask Bob Blackwell sometime. Another good one Brian.