History going full circle [Photos added]

Bob Halter was one and Jonny Slawson another.

 

I thought I posted these however they ain,t there This is a engine my brother and I built in 1973-74 in a six cylinder 23 T body altered. what you see that is orange is 292 Chevy and what is blue Was 2 302 Boss Ford Heads fabed to go on the Chevy.

 

Guys This is the last dragster I built and if you can get on Utube and search Holly Hot Rod Reunion 2016 427 SOHC Ford Warmup it should come up. I did not do the body and paint but built the rear end, chassis, sterring and front axle as well as all the mountings and brackets. If you can bring it up it sounds pretty snappy. 3 man team, me the builder, the chassis owner and the engine owner. The engine was left over from the early 70,s Funny Car days.

 

An old friend stopped by and we started talking about some of the memorable times for us and as I looked at a 3 dollar trophy with 2 spark plugs and a piston on it memories came back , summer of 1961 George Field Il. We went to the drags and my brother or I made a pass and our 31 A competion coupe ( B/C) class ran like like crap. Me being snot nosed kid my 51 Olds needed plugs and I robbed the race car and put my shitty ones in it and forget about it. Took a couple runs to sort this out so pulled the plugs out of the 51 and put them back in the racer. I made a pass and we were back to normal. Meantime a duce with a 331 Ford in it pulled in and made a pass and I realized this was going to be a close one. My turn to drive in elimations and I cut a good flag and we shot out side by side. As I took off in 2nd gear spinning those 7 inch Bruce slicks and in the corner of my eye I could see he was right beside me but he took off in low and as soon as he pushed the clutch in to snag second gear I shot out 1-2 cars on him and held it. Thats when I picked up the 3 dollar trophy with 2 plugs on it. Damn those were good old days that us old farts dream of.

 

Still going through old stuff and came onto a very faded photo of my Flathead dragster on the trailer ,only problem was the chassis from the engine forward was tore all to hell. Just finished the car and first outing we were going to Harrisburg Il. and when we got there the strip was under water so we continued to Marion Il. unloaded and warmed and went to the line and made a pass and right beyond the finish line (1/8 mile) the strip was as ruff as a cob vision was just a blur and back at the pits I told my buddies I should load up and head home, when we saw another Flathead dragster come in. No heading home now. In eliminations I drew the R lane and I beat the guy by how much I do not know, I,m on the brakes a little as I,m trying to get through the ruff spot and I catch a glimpse of him in my left eye. He was out of control and had went off the strip on the left and then crossed over and his R. slick caught my L front tire and to the bean field we headed. I,m on the break leaving 2 nice black marks on the strip and my Bell helment beating the shit out of the roll bar when he turned me loose ans I jumped a terrace ditch and in 2 feet stopped in the mud.Neck a little stiff and bruised from the belts otherwise all right. I rebuilt chassis from engine forward and ran it several months and we put a 394 Olds in it. A piece of that chassis still hangs out in the shop. Told you so, I should have loaded up and went home.

 

There are always some embarresing times in this journey such as, some friends sheared 5 axle studs and lost a wheel on the starting line, another friend with a AA/Fuel altered did a 180 wheelie on the line and looked at the world from another angle. My time was when we went to a locked rear end and put a pair of gummy slicks on. the engine had enough power to to make one wheel light and in about 2 cars distance I was off the strip at 30 mph or so. The green beside the strip looked well kept however water had washed little trenchs in it and it was VERY rough and beat the shit out of me. My fault for staging to close to the edge of the strip. That,s my story and I,m sticking to it.

 

Time to update things a little. Buying speed is not cheap and I,m learning restoration on our 1967 E altered chassis and engine is not cheap. I have the 292 Chevy .060 over block, the Speedomotive pistons and a good crank and the Crane Zip 600 cam. New rods and wrist pins came yesterday and going to make Tefylon buttons for the pistons.Got to get my son and grand son to handle the block and crank for me, then I,l be on my own for awhile. Waiting on a ring, bearing, and gasket kit to come. Hunted our B17 bomber seat with the 1964 upolstery on it. Those bomber pilots must not have had a very broad behind ( thinking back mine was not as big in 1965) cause that seat is not very wide. Will update as money becomes available and progress is made and mashed thumb heals.

 

1. Poor photo however this was taken at Chandler Indiana late 60,s I helped build this chassis, engine a 454 Hemi on 95 percent Nitro. It was owened by John Jones and Paul Stevens. It was scary as shit to watch and I cannot think what driving was like.

 

This is the last chassis I built. I did not do the paint or engine but built the rolling car. Engine is 427 cammer and on 80 percent it sounds pretty healthy

 

Great Stuff @christmas tree...So you are resurrecting the 'T' bodied altered you call the 65. Are you going to run the 292 Boss headed engine in it? I guess you machined and spliced that together. You guys are amazing. It is interesting you starting a thread on safety as you grew up around much of the hobby/sport and probably faced the changes from many directions. A very diverse bunch the Hamb is...priceless.

 

The Boss Headed engine is out in the shop and I start it every so often. It smokes bad on one cylinder as the wall is split and cannot be sleeved as the block is full of Tuff Block. Will run a 292 plus .060 as the pistons and block and cam and mag is out in the shop, left over from the old days It has been a wonderful trip however many of my old racing buddies have passed on, 3 of them in racing accidents

 

We're all aging can't stop it. Lady Luck has been with you here and there...shes a Great Gal. Sorry about your pals. As you have eluded racing has many elements of danger and then theres pulling out of the driveway... Look forward to your continued style of go fast...and thanks for the stories and keep on getting all them pics up to compliment them...Please if you have share some pics of the A Coupe and any growing up Street based Hotrod activity you can find. You guys experienced some of the prime Hamb periods 50s/60s...We can't get enough of it....Thanks @christmas tree

 

Have not posted for 3 yrs due to health , however the Lord has not claimed me yet If you will check Utube and search The Cammer 3 videos will come up of the last dragster rolling chassis I built .Holly carb did a documentary on it and all 3 videos explain it all. Check it out and enjoy. Christmas Tree (Larry Mccoy)

 

Hi Larry...glad to see you back on...healing thoughts your way on the health front. I'll see about sharing the links here...I know I found 1 of 3 as your names on it...






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Hey Larry, great to see you back on the HAMB! Always enjoy reading your posts.
I'll be checking out your Youtube videos.
Jim

 

Xmas Tree here. In 3-4 weeks I will post on utube a video with some 1955 World Series of Drag Racing at Lawrenceville Ill., some Old Terre Haute strip,, . and New Terre Haute Indiana strip. Check it out and see Gramps or Dad doing there thing. 1955 to mid 1980,s. Some high quality and some not so good., but we got it.

 

Hi Larry, I'll be watching for it.
Jim