While “Akron” Arlen Vanke may not be a household name, he was known for his hard-running, powerful Plymouths during the early days of drag racing. Vanke built engines, transmissions, rear ends, and constructed cars in his backyard garage. In addition, Vanke drove the ramp truck to and from events – he was a true working man’s drag racer.

Above: Hooker Headers paid tribute to Akron Arlen Vanke’s 1970 NHRA Division Three Championship with an advertisement in the February 1971 Hot Rod Magazine.

Vanke resided in Akron, Ohio, and every time he called the Chrysler offices in Detroit, he would tell the receptionist who he was. The receptionist would relay to her boss, “Arlen Vanke from Akron, Ohio, is on the line.” Over time, he became known by the nickname “Akron” Arlen, a name that found its way to the quarter panels of several of his Plymouths.

Above: In the first year of NHRA Pro Stock Eliminator, Vanke won all five of the Division Three races to earn NHRA’s “Man of the Year” award. (Photographer Unknown)

Vanke had great success with Pontiacs and Plymouths in many classes, including Super Stock and Pro Stock. In 1970, the first year of Pro Stock eliminator, Vanke had a dream year with a Hemi-powered Duster. He won the National Hot Rod Association’s (NHRA) Division Three five-race series championship.

As shown in the February 1971 Hot Rod Magazine Hooker Headers advertisement, Vanke did not just win the championship – he dominated it by winning all five events. His heroics earned him NHRA’s “Man of the Year” honor for 1970.

Above: Vanke did not receive the same lucrative Chrysler contracts that Sox & Martin or Dick Landy did, but he did get assistance and supplemented his earnings by tire testing for Firestone. (Photographer Unknown)

The advertisement stated that Vanke would move to Columbus (Ohio) rather than give up his Hooker Headers. The Hookers were just that good. An interesting note about the race-winning Hooker Headers is that the headers were production headers that anyone could purchase.

It is impressive that production headers were part of a championship-winning team compared to today’s Pro Stock class, where a pair of specialized race headers may drain the 401K savings and still provide only middle-of-the-pack qualifying performance.

Above: Vanke used production Hooker Headers. Any racer or performance enthusiast could pick up a pair of these headers and install them on their Mopar – provided they had a 426 Hemi under the hood. (Photographer Unknown)

Founded in 1962 by Gary Hooker, Hooker Headers started as a one-person business with Hooker constructing highly desirable headers in Southern California. Because of overwhelming demand, Hooker quickly hired a few employees, and his company, located in South Ontario, CA, was officially known as Hooker Headers.

Above: Hooker Headers has you covered. Whether it is a pair of shorty headers for a late-model Dodge (left) or a muscle-car era small- or big-block wedge (right), each header receives the same technical research and design to maximize the engine’s power.  

Hooker’s beliefs were straightforward. He wanted his business to make headers that made substantial, practical power by balancing the pressure waves developed by the intake and exhaust airflow. Hooker’s airflow research allowed his company to make headers that effectively flushed out the burnt gases while creating a low-pressure area to fill the cylinder with a maximum fuel and air charge.

Today, Hooker Headers resides under the Holley umbrella that includes the who’s who of performance companies. Hooker still sells headers, but now the company offers complete exhaust systems, mufflers, X- and H-pipes, engine and transmission mounts, and cross members.

Left: Hooker offers mufflers, complete exhaust kits, engine and transmission mounts, and cross members in addition to its header line. Right: If a red heart-shaped contingency sticker is on the fender of your competitor, it is guaranteed you will be outperformed unless you have one on your fender.  

For years, Hooker’s moniker was “When Only the Best Will Do,” and although that campaign is long gone, the statement still resonates today. Accordingly, to find a pair of headers or a complete exhaust for your Mopar, look no further than Hooker Headers for the maximum performance gain.

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