Drag racing has lost a legend.
Ron Colson, a veteran fuel Funny Car racer, died on March 19, 2021. He was 80.
Colson grew up in Oregon, Illinois, where he developed his automotive skills working in his father Leo’s automotive garage. This early exposure led Colson toward drag racing.
Colson’s storied career began in the late 1950s, working his way up the ladder through Top Gas and into Top Fuel, where he won the 1969 United Drag Racers Association Top Dragster series championship.
As a fuel Funny Car driver, Colson raced all three major sanctioning bodies at the time, NHRA, AHRA, and IHRA. He won two IHRA events en route to securing the 1974 series championship behind the wheel of the legendary Chi-Town Hustler. Colson also reached the final round three times in NHRA competition as the driver of Roland Leong’s Hawaiian Funny Car, winning twice, including the final race of his career at the 1980 World Finals.
When Colson’s days of driving were over, he served the drag racing community as a board member of the UDRA and held numerous positions in drag racing, including the role of IHRA Media Relations director.
Colson was instrumental in the preparation of drag strips through his Track Planning Associates firm, which specialized in the initial planning, construction, and improvements of new and existing facilities.
Colson was a man who immersed himself in drag racing throughout his career and afterward, making many friends along the way.
In the end, Colson’s obituary said it best.
“Being the eternal optimist, Ron just loved life. He loved people and people loved Ron. He will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.”
RON COLSON’S LAST RACE
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