Front-engine dragsters were all the rage until Don Garlits introduced the first successful modern-era mid-engine version in 1971. For the professional nitro racer, that car's dominance sent a lot of front-motored rides to the weeds behind the garage. When buddies Jim Orban and Jeff Miller had a chance to pick up the rail that now carries the Time Bandit moniker back in 1977, what they got was a somewhat twisted rolling chassis that was long past its glory days. Today, the team hailed as
"The Pride of Garrettsville, Ohio"
Is one of the benchmark operations on the Midwest nostalgia circuit. So it has been a long time since the young racers were tuning it up and took the car for an accidental ditch jump/wheat field ride in 1977. Undaunted, the 396 Chevy Rat-motivated beast was making laps at Quaker City Dragway soon after its second rebuilding (!)
Steadily getting better, the team took home its first bracket wins in 1983, doing well enough that year to head with the track team to the Division III bracket finals in Indy that fall.
With times down in the 9.50's, the team also became familiar with Norwalk Raceway Park and was racing in select IHRA events as well. By now, the roles have been defined, with Orban spinning the wrenches and Miller standing on the loud pedal. That lasted until family responsibilities led Jeff to make the decision to leave the sport for a time. Jim kept the car and began driving again, spending money to upgrade the chassis and swapping in an injected alcohol driveline. Helped by his wife Diane and some friends, Jim began getting involved in events at Keystone Raceway and others that were hosting races just for front-engine dragsters. It was in this era that the "Time Bandit" name was invented, and Orban proved he had the right stuff by taking several wins in the car.
In late 1997, old friend Jeff Miller and his son showed up at Norwalk's infamous Halloween Classic bracket bash to watch the "Time Bandit" in action. It was once stated that drag racing is as addictive as drugs; Miller let Orban talk him into making one pass (now down in the 8:70's) and Miller was immediately hooked again. The team began to evolve into what it is today, racing at nostalgia events hosted by NHRA and the Goodguys among others.
It was at the NHRA Reunion in Columbus that the injected mill gave up the ghost; this was a hobby team without any major backing, so it looked like the car might get parked for awhile. However, like all of us, Jim had some good friends in racing and made a few phone calls. The result - a blown engine landed between the frame rails soon after and the Time Bandit had turned back the clock to the late 1960's - 7.30's out of the box.
Miller was sitting in the slingshot seat when the boys began tipping the can at the 1999 Indy Goodguys race. They made the fuel field, qualifying in the 7th spot with a six-second/200-mph shot, and took a win over the legendary "Wild Bill" Alexander in the first round before meeting up with Sammy Hale. Since then, the team has been involved in helping grow the Nostalgia Fuel racing throughout the Midwest. The car has a 176" wheelbase, running a 468" big-block Chevrolet engine on 60% fuel. To date, Miller has cranked off a 6.42 at 244.43 best in the car. It is the only car he has ever driven down a drag strip. When he is not doing that, he is a construction supervisor in Cleveland.
Jim Orban remains the car's owner and the crew chief, who is trained as a master machinist and is vice president at Tru-Grinding. The other two primary members are Kevin Pratt, a fuel systems guru who works in the same capacity for the Air Force at Vienna Air Force Base in Youngstown, and Woody Bennett, who does the PR and serves as assistant crew chief. Kevin and Woody are co-owners of Tru-Grinding.
The team is supported by many friends and family members. Speed costs money, and help to run the operation has come from Tru-Grinding Inc., Alcoa, D.A. Motor Sports, Freedom Automotive, Kearney Electric, Competition Fabrications, The Engine Clinic, Dennis Corso Co., Gellner Engineering, Cruisin' Times magazine, and Mr. Gasket.
Realizing how important it is to make an impression on younger folks, the team makes a point to interact with their fans. This includes letting people of all ages get close to the car, sit in the cockpit, and watch the car in action. Like many teams, they admit that without the support of the fans and volunteer crew members, campaigning the car would be very difficult. The car is dedicated to the memory of the late jet driver Jack Dustman.
Nostalgia racing is not a cheap or easy proposition these days; to be good at it requires dedication, expensive hardware, and perhaps some race day luck. The Time Bandit team is a tribute to the past, and a great example of what modern nostalgia fuel racing is all about.
Reprint from article in Nitro Madness Magazine by Geoff Stunkard
