Gasser legend "Big John" Mazmanian dies
7/23/2006

http://www.nhra.com/2006/images/news/july/mazmanian.jpg
John Mazmanian,
1926-2006
Supercharged gasser icon “Big John” Mazmanian, whose candy-red Willys coupe became synonymous with the wild and wooly racecars of the mid 1960s, died July 21. He was 80.
Mazmanian was a lifelong hot rodder, completing his first projects, a '30 Model A coupe and a chopped '39 Mercury, while still a high school student.
Although he’s forever be remembered for his candy red Willys, capably shoed by Bones Balough, in the gasser wars against the likes of Stone-Woods-Cook and others, Mazmanian began his drag racing career behind the wheel of a '57 Ford Fairlane – his daily driver – before graduating to a fuel-injected ’61 Corvette that he ultimately campaigned in NHRA’s C/Stock class.
http://www.nhra.com/2006/images/news/july/maz1.jpg http://www.nhra.com/2006/images/news/july/maz2.jpg
Mazmanian eventually turned the wheel over to his nephew, Rich Siroonian, who drove it to class honors at the Winternationals.

The famed ’41 Willys followed.

I'll never forget witnessing the Mazmanian and Stone, Woods and Cook match races at the local drag strips. Mazmanian always Had the Best looking candy Apple red Willy's..In the Early 60's Mazmanian had a Blown 61 Candy Apple Red Corvette they brought to our High School that I will never forget. Rich Siroonian was also the Driver of that car. RIP "Big John"
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/7007/bjmvette1webip7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Big Johns Corvette Before and after
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/5050/bigjohnmazmaniancmsp62corvettecy7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/1954/gasserbjm1zh2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY! I remember those ads for US 30 Dragstrip back in the 60's. Brings back many fond memories. RIP Big John.

I have an old record album of the Bakersfield U.S. Fuel and Gas Championships (1963 I think) and there's a recording of his B/MP Corvette making a pass - one of the baddest sounds I've ever heard in a recording.

http://dalesplace.com/images/gallery/misc/mazmanian.jpg

I'm pretty certain this photo is a recreation or restoration of his 61, not sure which.

Love those Gasser's, even though I missed them in their heyday. I did catch the S-W-C Willys running against K.S. Pittman's Willys in exibition in '90. Awesome show. They had driven 12 hours from Sacramento, pulled the cars off the trailer, and right down the track.

Godspeed to Big John, and prayers for his family.

My brother and I used to watch his funny car's match race at Irwindale. His cars were always a class act. http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/2434/bigjohnfchz5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Another legend of Racing goes to the Big Track. God must be setting up a great match race!

Peace Big John

Loved those gassers, Big John was one of the best..RIP John