Dick Brannan’s racing career has to be one of the most interesting in Ford history. From his early years in the 1950s as a teenager in South Bend, Indiana where he started with a 1932 Ford Street Rod he built while in High School, to the third floor of the Ford Division Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, his competitive spirit was there from the start.  He started with a production 1962 Ford Galaxie powered by the new Tri-Power 406 engine with a manual four speed transmission.  The car consistantly won Super Stock class locally but was he always being challenged to take on well known outside the South Bend area.  Then one Friday in late April, 1962, Dick and his crew of volunteer friends decided to visit the large and well known Detroit Dragway 200 miles away in Detroit, Michigan just to watch some of the big names run.  Since the planned visit would be just for observation, the decision was made not to take the Galaxie. Like in all racing, this decision was viewed as sort of a copout by several around town and in some ways it was true. But since Dick was king around northern Indiana, going to a large city full of experienced automotive engineers and trying to compete just didn’t seem smart.  By the time Jerry Hammes, Romy Hammes' son heard about the plan to go all the way to Detroit he just assumed that the car was also going and he said if possible he would maybe come along. To save face, a tow car and tow bar was readied, the car prepared, and away they went. Upon arrival, they found that 62 cars had been entered into Super Stock class and they could hardly believe it since the South Bend track rarely had more than 10 to 12 Super Stock cars competing each Sunday. With pressure all the way into the red, Dick continued to win round after round taking out one big name after another including two cars owned by the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn. The last round was the quintessential match that no one could have imagined when Dave Strickler from York, Pennsylvania driving his famous 409 Chevrolet Bel Air pulled to the starting line to race against the Romy Hammes Ford. Though no one thought it possible, Dick Brannan pulled out ahead by about a front fender and won by just inches at the end. The crowd went crazy as Ford fans were jumping over fences, waving, congratulating and thanking him as he made his way down the return road. Once back near the pits a track official stepped out and directed him to take the car over to the inspection area. Track owner Gil Cohen was there waiting and simply said: "We have never had a Ford win around here and so your car is under protest which means that for you to be awarded the win, a full inspection is required by the tech crew starting with the car being weighed, fuel checked, bore and stroke checked, camshaft checked, cylinder heads, valve size and carburetors checked and rear tire width no more than seven inches. If you are not willing to accept and go though the inspection or if the car is found to be illegal after being inspected, you and your car will be banned from this track and probably a few others. I have decided that if you agree to go through the inspection and found to be NHRA legal, I will double your prize money. What would you like to do?" Dick said he would stay and be inspected. At 1:40 AM on Sunday morning with most of the fans still present, the Galaxie was declared 100% NHRA legal and the very race that he almost did not enter was the career beginning for one of the most famous of all Ford drivers during the 20^th century. The period also launched one of the longest lasting and most recognized Ford Dealer name ever painted on the side of a race car. "Romy Hammes, the home of the World's Fastest Fords."