History Stock-S/S-F/X 1959-1966

I don't know about the car, but 40+ years later that building still exists. It's an antique store. Lots of big dealerships around it now.

 

The car is MIA as far as I know. A replica of it in it's "after Bonner" paint scheme is owned by Jacky Jones. If you look on the Double H website that was mentioned here awhile back there are shots of this car as the "Bad News" post Bonner version.

I'm looking for any Frank Vego Ford or Al Means Ford memorbilia if anyone knows of any. I am interested in anything from these dealerships but I am really looking for trunk badges and license plate frames in any condition.

 

Btt

 

Funny thing ... I recently came across a color, long distance picture of "Pop'S" T-Bolt running another car somewhere on the net. It was either on the Drag Cars In Motion Thread, The Thunderbolts thread or on someone's picture pages. The track looked like US 30 in Indiana. I recall a very odd multi-color striped T-Bolt in a US 30 shot too. I wonder if they were the same car.
Joel

 

That Big Red #3 car sure is an odd one. That is the only shot I ever saw of the car. Never saw it run although I did see the other two Big Red cars from that time run often. I'll get a couple of Big Red shots of mine up soon.
Joel

 

Verne, Mark, group ... So how does this shot and estimated time frame fit in with the car becoming an oval track car? Neat shot. Like to hear more about it.
Joel

 

Here's two shots that I found on the net of Phil Bonner related '62 Fords. Photographer and dates unknown to me but they are certainly modern shots. The white car is Ed Lavender's ex-Bonner car and the other is the Jackie Jones replica car.
Joel

 

The Jones replica/facsimilie car. Lavender's car, the white one,since has had a teardrop hood added.
Joel

 

Joel,
Have you ever seen this car in person? I have not but would like to. I've heard this may be a clone/tribute car but don't know for sure. I also heard it has recently been sold.

 

Jody,
I've never seen it in person. I have seen video of it running and there was a feature on it in one of the muscle car magazines from the early 1990's. The feature was not 100% clear but I think it is a re-creation.
My friend Danny Gouveia who ran/runs the Carolina Thunder 409 said the car was a very strong early N/SS car.
Joel

 

I found that shot very interesting too. As the story goes, Al sold the car to another drag racer who never paid for the car, but he did run it a bit, although it supposedly never ran as good anymore. Al took it back then sold it to someone else who truned it into a roundy car. I guess #2 owned it long enough to repaint/reletter it. My account of it's history is from Ronnie Evans who was told that story by Joe himself. I have no way of knowing for sure, but I see no reason to doubt the story.

Verne

 

what's with the 'H'/FX?? never heard that before...

 

Trying to figure that one out too. This photo really is interesting. Hope we can learn some more about this one.
Joel

 

The first of two of the Big Red car at the '67 S/S Nationals. The only year that the meet was held at Cecil Co.,MD. This meet was one of the best.
A NASCAR Grand Stock U/S car, Big Red had as many of them did an adjustable wheelbase. The rear axle could be slid forward for running in one of the Eliminators. In certain U/S classes there were wheelbase limitations but once in (I think Heads-Up Elim.) the car could run with an AWB. Rather than have large cut out openings, Big Red's rear could be adjusted forward into the rear fenders. Dave Koffell's car with Gale Mortimer driving in the other lane.
Joel

 

Big Red launching from another angle. This car was always a favorite of mine. It was a worked over A990 car to fit the NASCAR rules. The car had a Clutchflite trans and really lifted the front on takeoff.
Joel

 

Cecil Co., MD mid May 1964. NHRA Regional meet and class runoffs for S/S ... Bill Lawton in the TASCA T-Bolt vs Al Joniec in the Al Swenson "Peanuts" T-Bolt. Lawton won the class that day.
Joel

 

Seaton's Shaker at Houston Dragway. These two Seaton shots came to me from Jay Howell and I don't know who took the shots. They are pro photog shots though.
Joel

 

Seaton's Shaker at Houston again. A great head-on shot.
Joel

 

While Don Nicholson had moved to Atlanta, GA his long time wrench, Earl Wade was still in CA. Pictured here Wade is driving Mike Lenke's Z-11 '63 Chevy.
Joel

 

Backing up from Earl Wade in a Z-11 in '63 ... this clipping from National Dragster announced that Dyno Don Nicholson was heading South to Nalley Chevrolet in Atlanta, GA. in the Spring of 1962. My apologies for the distortion in the scan.
Joel

 

seaton shaker with gene snow at green valley...

 

another...

 

Joel,
As usual you are posting some great stuff !!

 

Great stuff Joel,you seem to have a better grasp of the history on these cars them some of the people that have wrote books on the subject.

 

I believe the Dave's Chevron 62 Plymouth in the near lane got a serious hatchet job and became the Half Breed,Mike Ditty Photo.

 

Yes, it's very strange. Obviously something was done to the car to move it to FX, but the "H" is confusing. Perhaps it was converted to a small block and by cube to weight, they had to "invent" an "H" class. ?

 

Joel, have you heard from Jay lately? I hope he's doing well. He's from my neck of the woods (metro Detroit) and I did a piece on him a few years back for a local publication.

As you know, he's built and driven a lot of famous race cars, and is quite the 'unsung hero' of the sport. The Prock & Howell Willys is just the tip of the iceberg for Jay. The first driver of the Little Red Wagon and builder of dozens of funnycars, etc., on his own and for the Logghe Bros. deserves a big spot in the history books if you ask me.

Bill

 

Seaton's Shaker '65 Chevelle is one of my favorite race cars of all time. It's actually the inspiration for own '65 Chevelle that will soon be turned into an altered wheelbase car.

 

Thanks Dean, and Jody,
I appreciate the thought Dean but 'tis not the case. For one thing one never knows all or even most of the stuff about these great years in auto racing. I hope we all share our perspective and knowledge on this thread.
Joel