A mentor, talented driver and exceptional marketer are the words some of those who knew John Collins used to describe the Funny Car legend.
Collins passed away on July 14, 2017, following a battle with cancer.
Collins, while he raced other divisions, was well known for his stereo-sponsored Funny Cars, first with Pioneer and then JVC. During this era, he was instrumental in getting the NHRA to accept foreign bodied entries.
“I always considered John Collins a racer, but also a racer’s friend,” said 16-time Funny Car champion John Force. “He was very close to my family. Beaver brothers and Condit is where I met him. I know he drove Top Fuel and did a lot of great things, but my memory of John Collins was driving the Pioneer Stereo Datsun Funny Car.”
Collins’ beautiful colorful Funny Cars evoke many memories, but it was his involuntary participation in a two-car crash with Ed “The Ace” McCullough at the 1984 NHRA Cajun Nationals which continues to be a popular topic of conversation.
“John Collins was fearless, and a couple things about him stand out,” Force continued. “I remember a crash at Baton Rouge where he rolled end over end. But he came right back to the starting line, preaching the gospel, talking about what had taken place.
Pro Mod racer Keith Haney heard the stories from Collins himself. Collins served as his team’s operations manager from 2004 – 2015.
Haney isn’t shy about speaking of the impact Collins had on his life.
“Words cannot describe adequately the knowledge of drag racing he brought to the game,” Haney said. “He knew anybody and anyone who was someone in drag racing. He was like a dad to me. He was truly a mentor in every sense of the word.”
Veteran journalist Jon Asher remembered Collins as a good drag racing and even better face for a sponsor.
“I was introduced to the marketing director for JVC, who was sponsoring Collins at the time, and casually mentioned how it was too bad his car wasn’t running a little better,” Asher recalled. “The guy looked at me and gave the perfect answer. We’d like for him to run better too, but in the board room with the Japanese executives and in our corporate meetings, he’s a superstar. He says and does all the right things. He knows how to conduct himself in a very structured Japanese society.
“He answers honestly, and does a marvelous job for us.”
Collins knew marketing and promotions many times outweighed the performance on the track and went the extra mile to provide those who marketed through him the best bang for their buck.
“Clearly John was ahead of the curve during this era, when it came to using drag racing as a marketing tool,” Asher continued. “He was very dedicated as a drag racer.”
Ironically, it was the so-called underperforming JVC car which netted Collins his lone national event victory at the 1985 NHRA Fallnationals in Phoenix, Az.
In another case of irony, it was Force with whom Collins beat in the final round.
“John will always be loved, and he’ll be missed,” said Force. “I’m losing my friends, and this is a very sad day. Love you, John Collins and family.”
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