Ed Jones' racing career started the year after
he graduated from high school in Malad, Idaho. He bought
a new Camaro and headed to Las Vegas to college. He had
always had a love of fast cars and decided to try drag
racing. He won his first race - and that was what
started everything.
 After
returning to Idaho, Ed married his high school sweetheart,
Wendy. They spent many weekends at the race track
winning several races. By the time they had two children,
Stacey and Todd, he decided it was costing too much and parked
the car for two years. With his love of cars and having
a hard time staying away from the race tracks, he had the
bright idea of getting an exhibition wheelstander. Ed
and Wendy used all of their savings, borrowed some money and
bought a wheelstanding stagecoach in 1976. They raced
this car for many years and then added a wheelstanding
firetruck in 1987
. Both
vehicles are authentic reproductions, one a 1875 concord
Stagecoach and the other a 1931 Chevy Fire engine. The old
stagecoaches were pulled by four-legged horses. They
have been replaced by 1300 plus horsepower with a supercharged
427 c.i. Chevrolet V-8 engine. This type of muscle can
push the 2800 pound stagecoach to over 120 mph in 10.9
seconds, when "The Outlaw" wants to show some speed.
Wheelstanding the entire length of a drag strip, the 3,000
pound fire truck is truly unique. The fiberglass and
aluminum body is detailed with hose reel, ladders, siren,
bell, fire extinguishers and all the goodies that make a real
fire truck. Underneath, Jones has built a custom chasses
fitted with a 1300 horsepower, supercharged 427 c.i. Chevrolet
engine.
Once Jones lifts the front wheels off the ground, two real
wheel hand brakes guide the cars down the strip as titanium
skid bars make sparks fly. Headers shoot 20 ft. flames
containing a secret ingredient, which enables fans to smell
Jelly Belly Candies.
Ed is one of about eleven wheelstanders licensed by the
National Hot Rod Association in America to run on NHRA
approved strips. Getting this license is difficult, since each
applicant must prove his car is professionally prepared and
the driver can provide a show safely, that is worthy of NHRA
licensing.
Ed and Wendy have shared 36 years of marriage and many
memories. They and their 2 children have been to many
car shows, air shows and drag strips throughout the entire
United States as well as Canada, Japan and Germany. They
have made many friends at tracks around the country and can be
seen in the pits talking to the fans, answering questions and
handing out samples of Jelly Belly Candies where ever they
perform. Now that their children are married with
families, Ed and Wendy do most of the traveling alone but hope
to start taking some of the 5 grandchildren with them on a few
trips.
Jones has many great accomplishments. In 1988 he was
featured on the international television show
"Spectacular World of Guinness Records", as he set
the Guinness world record for the longest wheelstand on a
dragstrip. The record still stands at 2,298 feet.
He has also accomplished running a dragstrip "Drag City
Raceway" for 8 years. Ed has been on the Malad
Volunteer Fire Department for 28 years and is very active in
city functions in his home town of Malad, Idaho. He now
owns a used vehicle dealership and a windshield business.
If you ask Ed what he thinks about the past 30 years of
wheelstanding, he says, "I have it all. I have been
doing what I love and I have a close family that has supported
me all the way in following my dream. I hope others will
be inspired to follow their dreams."
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