Southern California drag racer Don Cook spent a long career owning and driving a variety of race cars, starting with a ’52 Chevy, then Gassers, Dragsters and a Corvette funny car. Cook, a Long Beach native raced locally at legendary Lions Drag Strip, where he spent most weekends.

Cook gained national popularity with the beautiful Damn Yankee in the 1971 season with a new chassis created at Woody Gilmore’s shop by famed chassis builder Pat Foster. Foster was the first to drive the funny car with the famous Stars and Stripes paint job from world renowned Don Kirby. Kenny “Blood did it” Youngblood was brought in to apply the fantastic graphics & lettering on Cook’s masterpiece. Being an instant fan favorite, the flopper became a regular at classic Southern California funny car shows at Orange County and Irwindale drag strips.

Late in 1971 the Ed Pink powered Damn Yankee with Ron O’Donnell in the seat, set both ends of the national record with a 6.41 Elapsed Time at over 228 Miles Per Hour.