Mooresville, NC. The passion for hot rods and drag racing is beyond paint and horsepower.

Faulk's Classic Car Repair, Detroit Garage, and The Speed Shop had the opportunity to attend the 5th annual Henry Dana Memorial Car Show at the Trackhouse Motorplex in Mooresville, NC, on October 25, 2025. Melissa Wise, founder of the Henry Dana Foundation, allowed us to unveil the restored Rod Shop Dodge Dart Sport driven by Bob Riffle at her show. The car was revealed to Bob's wife, Lucy Riffle, and his family. Although the weather was cold and cloudy, the reception by Melissa and her staff was warm and inviting. Lucy and her family made us feel like part of their family. It was an emotional day for everyone involved. It will always be a special once-in-a-lifetime event for me. Faulk’s Classic Car Repair, Detroit Garage, and The Speed Shop extend their deepest gratitude to the Henry Dana Foundation, Melissa Wise, and the Riffle Family.

Melissa Wise established the Henry Dana Foundation in honor of her father, "Henry Paul Dana." Her mission is to raise awareness about preventing suicide and mental depression. The foundation aims to educate people on recognizing the signs of depression in individuals, whether they are family members, friends, or strangers.

Melissa Wise and her father's 32 Ford Pickup

Henry Paul Dana was born on December 22nd, 1942, in New York. Henry’s passion for hot rods started at a young age and as a teenager. After graduating from 1 New Dorp High School in 1961, he began to drag race at various raceways in New York and along the East Coast. By 1967, he had become the AHRA national record holder with his 1956 Chevy Wagon.

Henry Dana and his 1956 Chevy Wagon. Photo courtesy of Henry Dana Foundation

In 1969, Henry moved to Florida, where he opened a transmission business in Fort Pierce. Although successful as a transmission builder, his passion for hot rods led him to open Dana’s Hot Rod Shop. He soon became a hot-rod builder. Henry became known as a craftsman who could transform a vehicle with a common appearance into something never seen before, building cars with fewer parts yet much greater precision than his competitors.

Photo Courtesy of Henry Dana Foundation

Nancy, his former wife, painted his builds to a high standard. Henry built a three-window deuce, mainly with a stock body. When it came time for paint, Porsche India Red was considered the ultimate shade of red. However, Nancy was not completely satisfied with the color for the deuce. She started blending a different red paint; it's rumored she matched it to her nail polish. She originally named the color “Electric Red”; later, the paint became known as “Dana Red”. To this day, the vibrant red color remains a secret and is sold only to a few select builders. The paint has also been registered in the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California.

"Dana Red"  Henry Dana Memorial Car Show in Mooresville, North Carolina, October 25, 2025.

In 1995, Henry and his wife, Marie, relocated to Mooresville, North Carolina. NEMCO Motorsports hired him as a fabricator. After two years, he moved on to Penske Racing, where he worked as a fabricator for the #2 Rusty Wallace team for 10 years. He was also the museum curator for Dale Earnhardt Inc. In the fall of 2017, Henry retired from DEI Inc. and relocated to Bloomer, Wisconsin.

Photo courtesy of HEMI32 Jalopy Journal

Unfortunately, we never had the opportunity to meet Henry Dana. Nonetheless, our research into his accomplishments allowed us to appreciate and respect his legacy. Henry passed away on August 6, 2020, at the age of 77, following a prolonged struggle with depression. However, we did have the chance to meet his daughter, Melissa Wise.

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