MANSFIELD — The Hurst Hemi Under Glass car has been a star in the drag racing and car aficionado world since its creation in 1965.
Mansfield resident Bob Riggle was at its helm for 51 years, making it the longest running car in the drag racing circuit’s history.
The vehicle features a 3,435-pound, all-steel body with it’s cast-iron, 426-cubic inch Hemi e ngine laid under glass, was quite a sight for auto-fans in the 60’s and 70’s — landing it in many magazines, newspapers, and television broadcasts.
The car, famous for standing on its hind wheels as it drives, found its ability by accident.
“When the car was built, it was supposed to be an AFX — a factory experimental car. Basically, it was to drag race other cars in that class,” Riggle said.
The car gets its ability to stand up as it begins moving by the amount of force and its weight distribution.
“The first time I drove the car. George Hurst and Jack Duffy came to judge my driving. The first couple of times I tried it, it shot to the left and then to the right. I had to adjust myself, come out in second gear and bring up the torque. As soon as the wheelie bars hit, add more to the gas again. I went about 1,100 feet down the race track.
In 1965, Riggle won the driving position at Hurst in Madison Heights, Michigan.
Riggle said he has since driven on every drag racing track in the United States and showcased the vehicle in Mexico City, and England numerous times. Riggle lived in Mansfield for 41 years before moving to Chino Valley, Arizona. Nine years ago, Riggle and his wife returned to his hometown.
On June 29, Riggle and his car made their appearance on Jay Leno’s Garage.
The former host of The Tonight Show and Riggle were friends for nearly a decade. In grade school, Leno got in trouble for reading a magazine about Riggle, his auto idol.
“He told me his teacher ripped the magazine up, and that it was my fault,” Riggle said laughing. “I told him, ‘shouldn’t have brought that magazine to school.”
When Leno finally met Riggle at a drag racing event, Leno approached Riggle for an autograph.
“That’ll be $1,” Riggle remembered joking.
Leno handed him a dollar and Riggle signed a photo of himself.
“Now can I have your autograph?” Riggle asked.
“Sure, it costs $1” quipped Leno.
Riggle said riding in the Hemi Under Glass was on Leno’s bucket list.
Leno was in the car once before, during a taping of the Tonight Show. Riggle and his car made a short appearance where Leno spoofed driving the car.
In the episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, things quickly turned from hilarity to seriousness.
“When I got there (to shoot the footage for the episode) I am used to being on the drag strip, which is usually 50-yards; they didn’t rent that. They rented the oval track. In the middle it had what looked like a soup bowl,” Riggle said.
“It was rough and everything. (The car) got to bouncing so bad, and I had no control of it. We (he and Leno) started heading toward a wall. I said, ‘I’ve got to spin it out. I’m not going to run into that wall.’ So I did spin it out and started to roll.”
The damages to the car were an estimated $25,000 to $30,000. But the cost may have been a necessary evil; there were no injuries to either Riggle or Leno. Footage of the crash is being used for the Jay Leno’s Garage promo.
“It pretty much saved us from running into that and possibly getting killed.”
Riggle builds cars and is rebuilding his Hemi Under Glass as well as finishing up projects for friends.
He said he had to tear up the body of the car that appeared on Jay Leno’s Garage, but saved the half Leno sat in. They will both autograph the car and sell it on Ebay, he said. Riggle suggested later in the year there would be a follow-up show featuring him on Leno’s show.
Of his 51-year career, which he stepped away from earlier this year, Riggle said he had been blessed with the best job in the world.
“I’ve had a long career,” he said. “I can’t fathom 50 years have gone by this fast. I have nothing to be ashamed of.”
