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

Does your father have any photos from back in the day?

 

yeah. What do you need?

 

....any shots of a blue '57 Chevy called "InBomber"? ...also do you guys make anything for 289's? Thanks,
-Dean

 

Well, I would have certainly preferred that the car that was crushed were just a 442, and not a 990 Hemi super stock, but unfortunatly, it was indeed the 990 car that was crushed. If you haven't looked closely at a '63-'65 Mopar super stocker with all the lightweight components, you should take the time. They were absolute jewels in how well they were built, in contrast to the piece of junk '68 hemi darts and cudas built by Hurst. A 442 doesn't compare. Heck, my Mom's stock '67 440 GTX beat every 442, GS Buick, and GTO; for that matter, that ever lined up against it.

 

Maybe some early Dyno Don shots? Chevy or Mercury is fine... I'm pretty sure we all would be interested in seeing anything you are willing to post. Do you have any '61-'65 Ford SS/AFX shots?

Thanks,

 

Yeah i'll look around today.

 

Great, thanks!

 

I am not trying to rain on anyone's parade here, but to keep the record straight, I thought that the Z-11 driven by Dave Strickler was owned by Bill Grumpy Jenkins. I just happened to remember that I had a Super Chevy article ( March 1984 ), that describes Grumpy buying his Z-11 back again in 1983. I believe that Dave was the full time driver of the car.
Bob

 

You are very wrong sir!! The car was owned by Dave Strickler with sponsorship help from Aamon R. Smith Chevrolet. Bill Jenkins was a paid engine builder/tuner at that time. Dave ended up marrying (Suzie) the daughter of the owner of the dealership later on but the sponsorship came first in 1961. As far as I know Bill Jenkins never owned any of the cars Dave drove until 1969 when he drove Bill's Camaro on occasion. For some reason magazines have printed this bad information about Jenkins owning the cars that Dave drove over the years. I guess it may be because Dave isn't around to correct them. I'm friends with the Strickler family and have verified the ownership of the cars with them.

Bill Jenkins did own the Z-11 in 1984 though. He owned it for quite sometime in the '80s.

 

You are correct ( as you know) re: the Strickler/Jenkins Combo

Dave's 63 was somewhat unique.

Remember when Bill was called "Jiggs" ?

 

Wally,
What do you mean by unique? Were there differances between it and your ex-Platt Z-11? I know Dave's was the first one built. Was it differant than the rest? Do you know what ever happened to your Z-11 ?

Yes I've read about Bill being called Jiggs. That was before he earned the nickname "Grumpy". Bill and Dave met at the old Lancaster Dragway. Bill was a tech inspector. I think Dave was racing a '59 Chevy.

Thanks

 

A couple unique things about Ol Reliable IV could be the aluminum inner fender wells ('62) that Bill installed and the white painted frame. Some say Bill did that to make it easier to check for cracks, but I've heard from a man in Malvern that the tech inspectors were so pre-occupied with the white frame that they didn't notice "other" things...

 

If we see each other in York..I'll show you something cool about Dave's car.

I think ALL of the Z-11's are accounted for..It is reported that my car is in Ohio...The man who reportedly has it..Denies it.
They were magnificent cars....Z-11's.

( I'd love to just see it, if it is truly still alive )

 

That sounds like a plan. I'll be at York with Dave's son, Mike. I'm sure we both will be interested in what you have to show us!!

Hopefully your Z-11 will surface one day. I never understood why someone would sit on a car like that and not share it with those who are interested. The Kenny Warren T-bolt is rumored to be in Virginia rotting to the ground. The owner won't sell but yet it just sits there. I just don't understand it ???

 

See you in York..
I Always love seeing Susan and son Mike.
Mike reminds me so much of his Dad. ( I know..But, He is so similar in his style, etc.)
All who knew Dave..Miss Him.

 

The Strickler's are great people. Mike looks just like his dad and is a racer too, 4 speed all the way! He keeps the Strickler racing legacy alive.

 

Your Fairlane makes me think of Nate Cohen..great guy, great Racer..miss him too.
( had a heck of a business later..Nazy Crate , as you probably well know)

BTW/
Susan has a great family..both boys.

 

I've never met Nate but have always admired his cars. (Fairlanes and 427s just go together !) I know Randy Delisio recently restored his T-bolt to as raced condition. It turned out very nice.

Have you ever tried to track down your '65 Comet (exS&M)? I've been told it is in Oklahoma.

 

It's in Chattanooga Tn.
in good hands....

 

My apologies to the Stricklers, and I am super pissed at Super Chevy for getting it wrong.
I had been going through some of my old mags, and happened to have read the article about Jenkins and the car just a few days before seeing this thread.
I was surprised to see that there was a difference between what the article quoting Jenkins stated and what was posted on the thread.
The quote from the article discussing Jenkin's former cars was, " --- all except for the fellow who purchased his '63 Z-11 427 Impala years ago." I hope you can see that it was easy to misinterpret who really owned the car.

I loved reading about these cars and the drivers back in the early 60's, and have never lost interest in those special cars and the excitement these guys brought to the sport.
Bob
55 big block Cameo (mine for the last 39 years)
65 Caliente conv
67 big block Caliente conv
67 Merc one ton
76 GMC 454
and others

 

Are you sure the car Mr. Erwin has is the same car?

 

No problem, its not the only article that got it wrong. Grumpy did own the car but well after they were done racing it, not in the begining though. I saw Grump make a pass in the car in 1988 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on pit road. It was part of the Frank Spittle SS/AFX reunion. It was unrestored then and he showed it no mercy!!!

 

I will look forward to that Wally. I plan to be there.
Verne

 

I remember Nate Cohen ( Nazy Crate, play on words for Crazy Nate) They had his all original champagne colored '63 Galaxy 427 fast-back at the Englishtown swap meet for sale after he passed on. It was,I believe, in the late 80s and they wanted around $5,000 - $6,000. fo it. I think it went to one of the New England states.

 

ttt

 

I remember being at Atco N.J. when Nate Cohen hit a small deer just after going thru the traps. There wasn't much left of the dear, and the Fairlane (66 or 67?) had it's right front fender just about ripped off, with wheel, and some suspension damage. He had kept control of the car, unbelievable as it may seem, and was ok. Scarry! Frank

 

What's the earliest documented drag strip appearance of a '61 409?

 

WGuy, in the recent press release for the York US 30 show they speak of Dave Strickler's '61 rolling chassis to make an appearance. Is this the car you are involved with? I've been told the Grump has made a phone call in reference to the car recently...

 

Verne,

Probably somewhere up in Detroit area at one of the strips but it may have logically been under the radar at that time. The most well known history says that Dyno Don and Frank Sanders at the '61 NHRA Winternationals in Pomona ... but I doubt that was really the very first time.

Joel

 

Yes, I'm involved in small ways with the car. It is not the real car; it is a tribute car. It will be done in the OS/S configuration. The Grump has the engine now for the dyno and has already modified the carbs just as he did on the originals. Susie is aware of the project and is excited about it. She may be able to offer some more photos to help get the details right. To have those key people involved in the project is the most exciting and satisfying part.

Verne