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Hot Rods Who was the best at speed shifting?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by belair, Sep 28, 2016.

  1. Yep, that's the Gene Schwartz I'm talking about. Thanks for posting that pic.
    We were both in Euclid High School together. Euclid, Ohio.
    I believe Gene still lives in the same house his parents owned, back in the '50's.
    You can see the "Ron Hutter Performance Engines" advertising near the radiator.
    Gene ran a 288 inch Chevy, but don't know what he is using in the Nostalgic Gasser runs.
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2016
    chopper99 likes this.
  2. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 13,464

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    I was as good as any back in the day and hope to get a chance again soon.
     
    C. John Stutzer likes this.


  3. Gene Schwartz still pulling the wheels, in his late 60's, just 6 years ago.
    He's still far behind 80 plus year old, top fuel Chris Karamesines.
    Beats the hell out of a rocking chair in an assisted care facility.:D
    Note the slight "custom touch", with his '51 / '52 Buick taillights.
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2016
  4. My dad, Denny Knight. Division 5 in the late 60s culminating with his Factory ride from Dr Olds for the 1970 season. He was known for his shifting. Held one end of the National Record for his class in 70. I have been with him when it is not so serious and he still is like a machine.
     
    falcongeorge, belair and saltflats like this.
  5. spikeshotrods
    Joined: Dec 25, 2006
    Posts: 373

    spikeshotrods
    Member

  6. chopper99 likes this.
  7. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,392

    sunbeam
    Member

    They didn't call Herb McCandless Mr 4 speed for nothing.
     
    falcongeorge likes this.
  8. G V Gordon
    Joined: Oct 29, 2002
    Posts: 5,723

    G V Gordon
    Member
    from Enid OK

    I'm going to throw Hayden Proffitt into the conversation, He could row a 4spd prety well.
     
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2016
  9. Gotgas
    Joined: Jul 22, 2004
    Posts: 7,244

    Gotgas
    Member
    from DFW USA

    At some point it's all just conjecture. So let's watch one of the better ones out there. :)

     
  10. Agreed!
     
  11. Dick Lobach
    Joined: May 10, 2015
    Posts: 64

    Dick Lobach
    Member
    from Emmaus Pa

    Back in the 50s, we would put the column shift on per 49 fords on the left side. All you had to do to shift was to pull the shift lever straight down, fast shift. It was also good for driving with your arm around your girl, that was before bucket seats.
     
    bobg1951chevy and saltflats like this.
  12. He was very good as well. Dad pitted next to Sox and Martin a time or two, he always said Ronnie was GOOD.
     
  13. Dan Timberlake
    Joined: Apr 28, 2010
    Posts: 1,576

    Dan Timberlake
    Member

    chopper99 likes this.
  14. You may be looking at two different cars.
    In the 2010 video, Gene is using his '52 Bel Air 2 dr hardtop.
    In 2012, one of his videos is with his '52 Fleetline 2 dr sedan (fastback).
     
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  15. 1gearhead
    Joined: Aug 4, 2005
    Posts: 464

    1gearhead
    Member

    Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins hands down!!!!
     
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  16. stillrunners
    Joined: Aug 27, 2009
    Posts: 10,576

    stillrunners
    Member
    from dallas

    so somebody thru "tube chassis's" against Ronnie - dang he was in trouble.....guess most would go automatic like most did.... just sure he was rowing longer than most in SS/D....
     
  17. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,339

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    He was. Sox & Martin never enjoyed the kind of dominance again that they did in '70/'71, just look at the historical record. Along with the tube chassis small-block cars came the NHRA weight breaks, and that was the end of the hemi cakewalk in pro stock.
    Sox was rowing gears long before there even was such a thing as SS/D, FWIW. So was Strickler, Landy, Butch Leal and so on.
    Gotta wonder why Jenkins had Strickler driving the 409 and Z-11 cars...;)
     
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  18. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,339

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    Jenkins won 6 out of 8 NHRA National event Pro-Stock titles in '72, the first year for tube chassis small-block sub-compacts. The Lenco wasn't legal till '73. Jenkins won 2 in '70, NONE in '71. The historical record is pretty clear as to what turned the tide against the mopars in general, and Ronnie Sox specifically.
     
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  19. czuch
    Joined: Sep 23, 2008
    Posts: 2,688

    czuch
    Member
    from vail az

    Roland Gravel,,,,,that name just screams car guy.
     
    falcongeorge likes this.
  20. My mom grew up across the street from Ronnie Sox and his family a long time ago, they knew each other pretty well until they moved. I remember her telling me that he had a dog named Hemi.
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2016
  21. stillrunners
    Joined: Aug 27, 2009
    Posts: 10,576

    stillrunners
    Member
    from dallas

    thanks FG....I was off a little as I thought about the post......the Lenco and going further off topic.....
     
  22. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,339

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    When they brought the Lenco into Pro Stock, Jenkins famously said "A monkey could drive one of these things."
     
  23. wicarnut
    Joined: Oct 29, 2009
    Posts: 9,196

    wicarnut
    Member

    All the pro's back in the day of shifters were good, they did not miss shifts, I had some 3 & 4 speeds back in the day(64/70) the 4 speeds were easy, compared to the old 3 speeds w/ slider 1st gear, used to weld synchro ring/remachine on the GM so it would not pop off, then the shifter fork would fail. I did not miss shifts, not that hard IMO. I did buy Hurst shifters and they were the best, again IMO. Had a neighbor in 60's w/ SS Chev Impala 409/425Hp, 4 speed, that man could not get it, when $$$ race was on line, his wife, all of 5' and 100#, did the driving/shifting and Never missed a shift and rarely got beat for a few years until the Hemi cars came onto the scene.
     
    falcongeorge likes this.
  24. Mike VV
    Joined: Sep 28, 2010
    Posts: 3,329

    Mike VV
    Member
    from SoCal

    Paul Althouse (spl?) was one of the best in the Socal area. He owned Paul's Automotive a hand full of miles east from Blairs Automotive.
    He could shift with the best of'em back in the 60's - 70's..

    Mike
     
  25. partssaloon
    Joined: Jan 28, 2009
    Posts: 777

    partssaloon
    Member

    Steve Bovan in the Blair's Speed Shop 56 Chevy
     
  26. henryj1951
    Joined: Sep 23, 2012
    Posts: 2,304

    henryj1951
    Member
    from USA

    A monkey can drive one of these things down a straight track
     
  27. chevy57dude
    Joined: Dec 10, 2007
    Posts: 9,549

    chevy57dude
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Thanks all for posting the info up for those of us who wish we had been around then.
    Vid of Ronnie Sox.
     
    belair and slowmotion like this.
  28. LOL I have always said that about drivers in general. :D
     
    falcongeorge likes this.
  29. BadgeZ28
    Joined: Oct 28, 2009
    Posts: 1,191

    BadgeZ28
    Member
    from Oregon

    Big difference between a clutch shift and no clutch shifting transmissions. My money would be on Sox in the clutch shifting days.
     

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