Coudn't agree more, I don't watch NASCAR now because it is all cookie cutter cars...especially since TOYOTA is on the scene...all it takes is a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$.......they talk about heritage but all they care about is money. I have no respect for any drivers now because they are all just money whores, like all other sports.
This topic is not about comparing racing in different eras. It is about the history of Holman & Moody. Fireball Roberts getting serviced in a H-M '57 Ford. You can see Ralph Moody to the right center.
What a great thread!!! Junior Johnson is my early Nascar Hero. He used H/M prepped cars and engines even after he retired from driving. I have plans to build a tribute '65 Galaxie numbered and letter like his. Since it will be a few years before I can get to this one, I built one in 1/24 scale. The second pic is also 1/24 scale,But not my work(just inspiration)
that looks like the late jerry sims' [ luke 57 ] model - or possibly his brother jackie's [ gator ] . this IS a great thread ! i wish more folks would come over and add to it . jack
Bill Woodul was in charge of the cylinder head department at Crane Cams in the late 60's and early 70's. He opened a bicycle shop nearby, and became involved heavily in that venue. His skills and innovations led to offers from a number of the factories, and he closed his shop to work for a number of the teams. His standards and work ethic really elevated the term "bicycle mechanic" to a true professional level. He travelled worldwide for a number of manufacturers, eventually settling down back in the USA. He trained a number of the Olympic team members, elevating the quality of the American cyclists. Very talented fellow that we lost too early. Regards, Chase
A few years ago, maybe more than a few ... on a visit with Phil Bonner he told me that the genius behind the drag cars the H-M built was John Wanderer. Wanderer can be seen with Phil in a few of the construction photos of the '65 Daddy Warbucks car at the H-M shops. Joel
I REALLY like this shot, not many of a Starliner with a wheel in the air. If you've got more from that session please share. Like this thread a lot too, I'm convinced now that my Star needs an HM decal before it goes out in public again.
This one's for you Starliner352. Joe Weatherly taking the checkered flag at Darlington in a 1960 Holman & Moody Sunliner.
below are 2 of my favorite pix of pops . the first shows him in victory lane after winning the 1956 southern 500 . the second shows him in his '57 ford convertible at daytona . both of these pix - especially the first - say RACE DRIVER ! to me : a cromwell helmet , aviator sun glasses , ans a "pure" t-shirt ! these pix were taken before holman moody was formed , but both were involved with the team at the time . incidentally - the helmet that mr. turner is wearing ? that's the same one that , had there been a helmet bag for it....and there wasn't....it could not have been carried by misters earnhardt and gordon , et al ! jack
Thanks for that info Chase. His name is engraved on many of the tools that came with the toolbox.Any idea if he was involved with Holman Moody Stroppe before his stint at Crane? It may never happen,but I'd love to find a picture of Bill with the Snap On box or at work at HMS or Crane so his history could follow these mementos. Jeff Lynn
We have discussed the fact that Pete DePaolo owned the team that would become Holman & Moody. He was only involved in NASCAR for less than 3 full seasons but had 21 victories by some of the best Stock Car drivers in history including Moody, Marvin Panch, Joe Weatherly, Bill Amick, Curtis Turner, Fireball Roberts and Buck Baker. But did you know DePaolo was also a great driver in the 1920s? He was one of the entrants at the first Charlotte Speedway boardtrack race in 1924 (the middle color image). A year later in 1925 he won the Indianapolis 500. And 10 years later he won Indy again as a team owner. His first trip to Charlotte was to race but he would come back many years later. It was he and others like him that created the interest in racing that we all have loved at one time or another.
My high school auto shop teacher got a "KING COBRA" fiberglass nose from holman-moody and installed it on his Ranchero GT. The class project was a 1970 shelby gt-500 that he bought from them. I never went on any of the shopping trips but wished that I could have. Mike
Here is Fred Lorenzen's 1966 Holman Galaxie fully restored with the great help from C5HM. The car originated in Dearborn, Michigan as factory Ford Galaxie with a 427 cu motor, painted white, no interior and no weather stripping. This was 1 of 5 1966 Galaxie's sent to Holman Moody to be turned into race cars for the 1966 race season. The car was given chassis number C6HM-10073 by Holman & Moody and was assigned to factory team driver Fred Lorenzen. Ford’s ‘Golden Boy’ of stockcar racing. The first race the car saw action was on February 25, 1966 at the 100 mile qualifier for the Daytona 500 and finished 5th. This was Grand National Race number 3 of the 1966 season. The next race was February 27, 1966 the Daytona 500 which Fred started 9th and finished 4th in a rain shortened race. The next race was Grand nation race number 6 at Rockingham, NC. This was the "Peach Blossom 500" on March 13, 1966, 500 miles on a 1 mile paved track. Fred started 10th and finished 26th. The following race was March 20, 1966 at Bristol, TN. This was the "Southeastern 500", 250 miles on a half-mile paved track. Fred started 2nd and finished 22nd. The last race the car is believed to have raced as Holman Moody car was the "Atlanta 500" in Hampton, GA on March 27, 1966, 500 miles on a 1.5 mile paved track. Fred started 3rd and finished 2nd. Ford had began the boycott and pulled out of racing in April of 1966. The car was retired and parked out back of Holman Moody’s shop with the other used race cars for almost a year then purchased by Emory Fretheim on March 17<SUP>th, 1967. Emory went down to Holman Moody's shop in March 1967 because they where advertising race cars for sale. When he got there most everyone that drove for them was sitting around the parts counter. AJ Foyt, Cal Yarbrough, Dick Hutcherson, David Pearson. He had to push his way to the counter there was so many people. He told the parts man he was looking to buy a car. They told him to go out back and pick one out. He picked the 1966 Fred Lorenzen car which was one of five in the lot. He paid 4,000.00 for the car and another 1,840.00 for a new 427 Medium riser complete, carb to pan. Emory still had the original Bill of sale from Holman Moody and the Manufacture’s Statement of Origin to a Motor Vehicle from Holman Moody to Emory which was acquired by Jeff. Emory towed the car back to Decorah, IA (1,600 miles) with a barrowed Red 1966 Ford camper special with a two wheel Dolly. Once he got the car back to Decorah he started to prepare the car for Dirt track duty and in the process he drilled a hole in one of the roll bars and about 10 gallons of fuel spilled onto the ground and ran down the street towards a ditch where a farmer was burning of his ditch! He said he almost blew the whole town up. I guess they put a few more gallons of fuel in the roll cage. He painted the car gold and left the interior light blue as Fred used. His number was #69. His first race was an IMCA scheduled event called the Pelican 200 in Shreveport, LA fairgrounds in April 1967. The car was primarily used for dirt track duty in 1967 and 68’ at the bigger county fair races held each summer in Iowa. Information on those tracks is still being gathered. The car was then acquired by Jack Vincent Sr. in the fall of 1968 to support his son Jack "Bug's" Vincent Jr. racing hobby. The car was used for dirt track duty from 1969 thou 1973 at Boone, Des Moines, Webster City, Cedar Rapids, Oskaloosa, Algona, and Stuart, IA raceways with various 427 medium risers, low risers and tunnel port Holman Moody motors which Jack SR. bought and had flown into Ankeny, IA. The car was re-bodied in May 1971 as a 71' Torino. A new Tunnel port motor was acquired through Dick Hutcherson. The motor was purchased from Darrel Waltrip, which was a qualifying motor he used in his Mercury Montego. This was all done in preparation for the upcoming Iowa 300 that was on July 12th 1971. It was a major race on the IMCA event schedule. It was a 300-lapper held each July on the half-mile dirt track at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, IA. Racers, like Ron Hutcherson, Ramo Stott, Ernie Derry and Elmo Langley attended. Ernie Derr won the race over Ron Hutcherson. The car was used for dirt track duty though 1973. The car was repainted and ready for use in 1974 but never raced again. When found in 2003 the firewall of the Galaxie was left intact along with the Holman Moody tag C6HM-10073. The Torino has been sitting in Nevada, IA until acquired by Jeff Ray in June of 2003. The car was acquired by a tip from a Co-worker Tom Dumbaugh. Tom Being a Chevy Guy is a neighbor of Jason Vincent. (Jack Vincent's son) The race car was in his backyard. Tom was building an Enduro car and needed a roll cage. He asked Jason if he could cut a roll cage out of one of the race cars he had in the backyard. Jason said yes, go ahead. Tom Made one cut in the roll cage and started to notice some unique items on the car. The dash had HM casted in the instrument cluster and there was big oil cooler and remote oil filter housing that had HM casted in the housing. The transmission was also still in the car. The big find was the original Holman Moody Vin tag C6HM10073. Tom stopped cutting and asked Jason about the car. Jason told him, Yes indeed it was an old Grand National car from the 60's. Jason says years ago he was going to give it away to a guy in California. The guy could not verify the vin number and never showed up. Jeff and Tom went over the next night to check the car out. It turns out Jason was still in the giving mood. Jeff took the car home the next day with an agreement that he kept Jason informed with the progress of the restoration of the car. Jason and Jeff spend some time in his dad's old race shop finding the front sway bar assembly, rear oil coolers and even some old brake pads that were still in usable condition. These parts were also donated to the restoration. Jeff stopped in one morning to give an update on the car and Jack Vincent handed him the Holman Moody switch plate. The biggest cost of acquiring the car was the motor. Jack still had the 427 tunnel port motor that he acquired from Darrell Waltrip through Dick Hutcherson. The Motor was complete from carb to pan with a single dominator intake and carb. for 5,000.00. The motor was a qualifying motor built by Holman Moody engine builder Wandell Wilson. The restoration began in the fall of 2003. Jeff and good friend Kelly Milligan had taken the car to Kelly's shop for restoration. We started by stripping of the Torino Body which we knew wasn't right. The brake pads, wheels bearings, hubs were salvaged and cleaned for reuse. The only thing that had to purchase was the wheel cylinders. When Jeff wasn't at Kelly's working on the car he was calling Lee Holman and searching the internet for photo's and stories. Jeff says he never had any luck with Lee Holman because he was busy moving into his new shop. He also contacted Kim Haynes which told him he probably didn't have anything of value but wanted to buy the car. That didn't happen. Jeff was able to find an article on the Carlisle web site about John Craft's 65' Fred Lorenzen Daytona 500 car. John and Jeff have been in touch over the last 7 years by phone and e-mail. John as sent old pictures from archives and measurements from his car to help in the restoration. The biggest part of the restoration was finding a good donor car and frame. The frame was in need of repair from the screw jacks back and the front end need the bumper mounts. Jeff and Kelly spent the winter of 2003 and 2004 welding and prefabricating the frame. Kelly and long time co-worker was a welder Fabricator for 20 plus years and has done all the welding on the car. Jeff a CADD drafter drew templates for parts. They utilized the full fab shop where they work. The company also donated materials. After the frame was completed it needed to be sandblasted and painted. Jeff asked the shop Forman if he could use the sandblast booth. He was Okayed, but needed an experienced blaster to do the work. This was Dennis Moore anther co-worker and long time modified dirt track racer. He agreed to do it on Saturday morning. He spent three hours of his time for a case of beer (17.98). What a deal. Jeff took the frame to his house and painted the frame himself in his garage. The suspension parts where all detailed out and ready to hang, except the rearend which still need to be found. Turns out that another friend, Kelly's Brother-in-law/ co-worker Dale Willis was getting out of modified racing and still had a 9 inch Grand National rear end. It was purchased it for 300.00. After disassembling it to inspect the bearings and replace seals the hubs where found to be stamped Holman Moody. Jeff talked to Dale again about the rear end and Dale had purchased the reared from Jack Vincent. Jack also confirmed it was one his rear ends that was purchased from Holman Moody. The chassis was rolling by the fall of 2004. In the fall of 2004 Jeff started the restoration of the body. The car was stripped to bare metal and primed in an out building a Kelly's shop. The body was suspended from the rafters and the frame was rolled under the body and lowered to the frame. A new quarter was put on the driver’s side and new metal was pieced in on the passenger side. The interior need some sheet metal door panels and new package tray made out of aluminum Leather-net., which is hard to find in the proper sizes. John sent Jeff a sample of it. Kelly looked at it and said it looks like the refrigerators in the break room. Jeff went to a used appliance store that day and found a freezer and refrigerator with the same metal. They were both broke and ready for recycle. Jeff asked how much and the reply was and strange look and why do want a broken freezer? Jeff explained what he was doing and they said they are yours. Another denotation and a night with saw-zaw they had the material for the interior. Jeff completed the exterior body work and finished painted the wheels and interior. The exterior paint was applied by another friend Kevin Zimmerline from Adair, IA. The car was complete except motor and tranny in October 2005. The motor was rebuilt by John Hauf from Stuart, IA a friend of Kevin Zimmerline. The motor and tranny finally installed and running, the car was transported to Bill Ryver signs. Bill hand lettered the whole car except for the fender decals. The decals where found from various sources or reproduced at a local print shop. Mike Wimmer of P.S. Auto glass provided the windshield which had to be trimmed down in order to use a gasket from a 63’ Galaxie. This combination was to help with changing the glass when broken. This whole saga began with Jeff wanting a 1969 Big block Mustang Mach 1 to go along with his small block Mach 1 and his wife wanting him to build a modified race car for her to race. How ever this opportunity came along that you don't pass up. Jeff said we can get into some vintage racing and car shows together. Since then the value of the car has gone up and this is the only 1966 Galaxie out of 3 known to have been built out the five cars originally sent to Holman Moody that exist. Two of the cars are believed never built. The car was also authenticated by Ralph Moody before he passed away. </SUP>
This car was reported for many years going back into the seventies as being an ex-Holman Moody GN car. It was run as a late model by Don Rounds at the now defunct Lakeville, MA dirt 1/2 mile. Don Rounds was a winning racer from the New England area since the 1950's. Here's the link to the site where I found this shot. I have seen other pictures in various regional publications since that time. I think Rounds is still around ... it'd be interesting to learn more about the car. Joel http://www.racingthroughtime.com/ARCHIVES/AUG09/8-12-09.htm
As I recall ... didn't Lorenzen win the World 600 in '63? I seem to recall a photo of him spinning, or turning the car around over the grass after the win on his way back to the pits/victory circle ... may have been the first NASCAR GN donut! hahaha! Joel
depaolo was also the nephew of ralph depalma - winner of the 1915 indy 500 and considered one of the greatest drivers of all time . pete rode with him , as riding mechanic , early in his career . pete's indy win , in '25 , was also the first to average more than 100 mph. and if i remember correctly - and i may not , as my memory "ain't what it used to be" - pete was originally scheduled to drive on the ill-fated indy ford team in 1935 , but decided [ again , IIRC ] to retire from indy racing before the race .
Yes, Lorenzen won. Johnson's "Mystery Engine" 427 powered Chevy was the fastest that day but with only a few laps to go and leading Johnson's car had a minor failure that cost him the race.
great photo , dog . if that pic was taken after the race , it would be one of the very few times his car looked that good after coming off the track !! incidentally , i hate your avitar !! [ insert smiley face here.....i can't find those darn emoticons].
Agreed, but I just can't get interested in the new NASCAR. Seems a sham, since the "SC" stands for "Stock Car". Really wish they'd return to production based chassis, but that's not likely. As we road racers say, "If I wanted to watch brightly colored, like-shapes go around in a circle, I'd flush Skittles down the toilet." Frank - thanks much for the Sunliner shot.
For those of you who don't know Curtis Turner's business was not racing but logging. He would use that twin engine plane parked beside the '56 Schwam Ford race car to fly over forests to look at the timber for sale and then make an offer on it. Does anyone know what happened to cause the crash that took his life?
frank , the cause of the crash remains a mystery , tho there are several theories . the passenger that was killed along with curtis was a golf pro [ can't remember his name ] . it was believed that he was giving curtis golf tips in exchange for flying lessons from pops . the golfer had a history of heart problems , and it's thought that he may have had a heart attack while taking off at the controls . this theory is bolstered by the fact [ IIRC ] that curtis was found outside the plane while the golfer was still belted inside the plane . it was also said [ again , IIRC ] that curtis had had some sort of ignition problem with one of the engines in the days prior to the crash . a witness on the ground said that the engine was sputtering just before the crash . i don't believe anything concrete was found in the autopsies that were performed on the two men or the engines , however , other than that [ IIRC - once again ! ] , they did find a LOAD of alcohol in curtis' blood - no surprise there . so the "official" cause of the crash "may" have been ruled "pilot error" . jack
Jack, your memory, like mine, is partially right. DePaolo won the '25 Indy 500 in a Duesenberg owned by Fred Duesenburg. He won the series championship in '25 and I believe one or two more times. He started his own team in '27 and drove until a bad crash in '34 that left him in a coma for over a week. He fully recovered but never drove again. He hired Kelly Petillo to drive in the '35 season, using Offy power. Together, they won Indy in '35. It was Offenhauser's first Indy win but as history records there would be many,many more. Thanks for the Curtis plane crash followup. I am amazed at the knowledge some of you have. I know as a reader it is appreciated.
Ray '69, I just love a good car discovery story. I wonder how many fell under the torch without being discovered? A friend of mine picked up a '67 Fairlane GN car in the early '90's that was supposed to be a Lorenzen car. Built in 67 and rebodied in '69 as the story went. It was bought by a couple guys from Wooster, Ohio after it's GN career and they turned it into a dirt tracker. The first race they punched the front of the car in and whacked the radiator. They were pissed, the partnership fell apart and the car went into a barn until my buddy bought it to pick the 427 out of it. It was said that it still had an H & M 427 in it and lots of H & M parts on it. He had it only a week or two and sold it complete, which was real unusual for him. He parted everything out no matter what it was. I never saw the car (too busy and couldn't make it down there) and he would never tell me what he paid or what he got for it other than he "did real well" on it. I have no idea if any of the above is factual, it's the story that was told to me, and, as I've said, I'm a sucker for a good car story. Kevin
The Jalopy Journal
