George "PA" Hoover

In Memoriam

by Jeff Leonard
photo by Jeff Burk
2/25/03

ne of drag racing's most enduring figures has passed from the scene. George "Pa" Hoover died at age 97 after a short illness February 20 at his Maple Grove, Minnesota home. His son, Tom Hoover, was at his side.

The Hoover family of "Pa," "Ma," (George's wife, Ruth) and son Tom campaigned a long succession of nitro race cars, beginning with a Top Fuel dragster in 1966. Pa Hoover was one of several racers/tuners who were instrumental in the early development of the Ford SOHC nitro motor.

The father-son team split briefly in 1970, with Tom switching to the Funny Car match race scene, while George continued with a series of "Ma and Pa" Top Fuel dragsters driven by Ron Colson, Denny Harragh, Vern Anderson, and others. Geroge rejoined Tom's racing efforts in 1973, debuting the first in a long line of Showtime Funny Cars. The effort was a 30-year success story, with Tom scoring many wins on the old AHRA Grand American tour, as well as five NHRA national event wins.

George Hoover continued as a working member of Tom's team through the 1992 season, and traveled with the team through the end of Tom's active racing career in 1999. George was responsible for many innovations, all of which played a major role in helping his son become one of the most recognized names in professional drag racing. He was always ready to loan parts and help any racer who needed assistance, even if that racer was his next opponent.

He was a large influence on the sport and helped put the family feel in drag racing. He will be missed by the drag racing community.