Couple things re: CREIGHTON Hunter and car. He dropped the car to the ground (launched) by moving a lever with his right elbow as I recall.
And
Only time yrs truly saw the car is when it appeared at Morrow Field to challenge the Gene's Brake Shop dragster of "Mr Flathead" John Bradley (whose memorial service is Friday morning at 10:30 at the VA cemetery near March Field).
Anyway, Hunter promptly SPANKED Bradley!
Johnny B, who had something like a 36 race win streak going, hauled down to Santa Ana the next day, and got the same treatment!