Eddie and Ercie

1999

Career-best speed/E.T. – 4.520 seconds at 323.74 MPH – which was the #1 qualifier and track record at Topeka, Kansas on 10/2/99. A concussion from a huge engine fireball (caused by failed engine block) injured Eddie’s spine during qualifying – Ennis, Texas. At his next race, a second engine block failure (brand new one on its first run) caused another huge engine fireball and subsequently compressed a vertebra in Eddie’s back. He missed the final race of his career – the only NHRA race he ever sat out due to injury - and made his last ride at a racetrack, leaving there in an ambulance. At the end of his driving career, he had made over 460 four-second runs.

1998

Runner-up in Big Bud Shootout.

1997

Survived horrendous finish line crash at Sears Point, California, while setting a track record and qualifying #1. Broke three toes, burned shoulder. NHRA rule adopted that season now allows a driver to substitute another car in the event of a crash during qualifying, dubbed “Eddie Hill Rule”.

1994

Eddie was the subject of a documentary on Hill’s life - shot in Wichita Falls, Texas.

1993

– NHRA Top Fuel World Champion (oldest driver to win NHRA Top Fuel World Championship at age 57) – Tied record for most wins in NHRA in a single season – 6 wins (plus one runner-up) – Eddie was chosen as “Person of Year” by Racers for Christ – Eddie was chosen by media as a member of Auto Racing All American Team – Eddie and Ercie serve as Grand Marshal and Official Starter of Detroit Gasket 200 Busch Grand National event - Detroit, Michigan – Inducted into 300 MPH Club – ran 300.80 MPH – Topeka, Kansas – Car Craft Magazine “Driver of the Year” – Competed in first career road race in Fast Masters Series for Racing Legends - Indianapolis - finished 9th of 50 drivers

1992

Became the oldest driver to win an NHRA national event – Gainesville, Florida; won Gainesville; runner-up six times; #1 qualifier at Indy, Memphis, Phoenix.

1989

Survived a spectacular finish line blow-over at 236.51 MPH in Pomona, California. Really bent the world’s first four-second car, which was rebuilt by manufacturer Dave Uyehara and is now on display at Eddie Hill's Fun Cycles.

1988

– Became corporately sponsored by Super Shops and Pennzoil, with help from Dallas businessman Bill Bishop. – Eddie’s first ever custom built dragster chassis built by Dave Uyehara – Won first NHRA event – 3/88 – Gainesville, Florida. Also won NHRA events at Phoenix, Atlanta, and Houston – Had the first four-second run in history – 4/9/88 - 4.990 E.T., 288.55 MPH – Texas Motorplex, Ennis, Texas (“First in the Fours” in IHRA) – set IHRA E.T. and speed records. This car is on display here at Eddie Hill's Fun Cycles. – Set NHRA E.T. record at 4.990 E.T. – 10/9/88 – Houston, Texas – IHRA “Person of the Year”; – Ercie was voted “Person of the Year” by Racers for Christ; – Featured in Car Craft Magazine as “Person of the Year”; – Featured in Hot Rod Magazine as “Person of the Year”; – Eddie and Ercie became charter members of Cragar Four Second Club

1987

– First NHRA speed record – 283.28 MPH – Second NHRA speed record – 285.53 MPH – Third NHRA speed record – 285.98 MPH – Eddie was the first racer to concurrently hold land and water speed records

1986

First final round appearance at an NHRA national event – Denver, Colorado

1985

Returned to top fuel asphalt racing

Eddie and Ercie's Boat Racing Highlights 1984-1974

Eddie Hill's Fun Cycles

1983

Blown fuel hydro racing – won 5 yearly championships in ADBA, 7 in SDBA, 4 in NDBA, and 2 in World Series of Dragboat Racing. Owned SDBA record at 220.76 MPH and Canadian water speed record at 223.32 MPH.

1982

Phoenix - crashed at 217 MPH while winning World Series of Dragboat Racing – took a year to recover from seven broken bones, concussion, etc. Last dragboat ride. Eddie retired with 101 runs over 200 MPH and NDBA speed record at 229.00 MPH as recorded in Guinness Book of World Records for 10 years as world’s fastest propeller-driven boat. The 229mph boat is now on display here at Eddie Hill's Fun Cycles.

1977

Unblown fuel dragboat NDBA record – 170.45 MPH – Bakersfield, California. World’s fastest unblown fuel dragboat (boat and engine now owned by the Hills’ friend, Danny Griner, in Burkburnett, Texas).

1974

Unblown gas dragboat SDBA record.

Eddie's Motorcycle Racing 1966-1974

Eddie Hill's Fun Cycles

In order to promote Eddie Hill’s Fun Cycles, Eddie turned his attention to racing motorcycles. He competed in:
– short track
– road racing
– hare scrambles
– cross country
– drag racing
– half-mile and mile dirt tracks
– indoor short track racing

Eddie won over 100 trophies and advanced to second-year professional in the Junior Class.

Eddie's Asphalt Drag Racing Career 1947 - 1966

Eddie Hill's Fun Cycles

1978

Inducted into NHRA Hall of Fame

1966

World’s longest dragster - Chrysler Hemi fuel dragster – 7.67 E.T., 205 MPH

1963

Used the first-ever wing on a dragster

1962

First gasser over 200 MPH - twin-engine Pontiac blown gasser – 202.70 MPH – Hobbs, New Mexico

1960

First NHRA record – 8.84 E.T. – blown gas dragster (First in the Eights) – world’s quickest blown gasser - Invented burnout to clean and warm tires instead of crew wiping them with shop towels

1959

Won AHRA championship – Great Bend, Kansas
– Made first paid professional appearance – Inyokern, California
– World’s fastest unblown gasser – ran over 160 MPH

1956

Won first dragster trophy - Karnack, Texas

1947

Won first the racing trophy on Cushman motor scooter – Shreveport, Louisiana

Eddie was inducted into the following five Halls of Fame:

1978

National Hot Rod Association

2000

International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, Ocala, Florida

Eddie Hill's Fun Cycles

2002

Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, Novi, Michigan

2007

Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame

Eddie Hill's Fun Cycles

2008

Southern Drag Boat Association Hall of Fame