Wow ... how did I miss this thread? Thanks for taking the time to post all the pics and sharing your Dad's stories ... waay cool stuff!
Ebert, hope you don't mind, but I grabbed that uncut 5W pic for my screen saver. Wife says "Thats really cool"! Thanks again for posting these incredible pics! Dennis
Saved this page for days till I could have time to see all the pictures that you posted.....Great trip to the past Thanks, Skot
I know this is an old post, but I am just now seeing it. I am from Muncie and just want to say thanks for posting the pics. I also would like to know if you have any pics of my dad's willys. It is a '37 sedan, was black and ran c gas I think. It would also be cool if you have any pics of the Stoltz Valesquez (sp.) when my uncle owned and ran it under the Buffin name. I also grew up with the grand kids of "Big" John Hellis. thanks again, Pugsley
Pugsley, You are more than welcome-my treat, brother! For for not responding sooner, but I have not gone back to my thread for awhile! Here is what I have of the Stoltz & Valsquez Willys...also my avatar! John Hellis was/is an institution at Muncie Dragway....wish they would honor guys like him, Ted Harbit, etc who MADE Muncie what it is!!!! Best, E
Two chops, Again, sorry for the late response...thanks for posting this update on Mr. Hines awesome ride!!!! Thanks! Ebert
Awesome pics! About a year ago, I sold a car to a guy in Marion Indiana. During one of our phone conversations, he told me he used to be a drag racer, and ran a '40 Willys Coupe. He then went on to tell me that in '67, he sold his Willys, and got one of the new Super Stock Hemi barracudas. Not that I didn't believe him, but as there was only about 50 of those cars made, I was slightly skeptical. While I was talking to him, I googled his name, I was stunned at what I was reading, he wasn't kidding when he said he "used to do some drag racing". I was talking to Nelson Stoltz, driver of the Stoltz & Velasquez Willys. Since that first conversation, Ive probably wasted 10 hours of his time on the phone picking his brain. He's about the nicest guy you'll ever talk to. He was a wealth of knowledge not only on the Gassers, but also on the Super Stock Barracudas which was a huge help as I was in the process of restoring one. He bought his Willys back, and its safe in his garage again. He says he'll probably never run it again, but he just likes having it home. He's still in awe that theres pictures of his cars on the internet. He can't grasp the idea that theres guys out here today still talking about what he did 50 years ago! I always feel bad asking a million questions to him, but its one of the few chances you'll ever get to talk to someone who was in the thick of it all. He told me how they were required by class rules to run front brakes, but he didn't want the extra drag slowing the car down. He said he put small screws in the ends of the front brake lines, and it looked like the brakes were functional. When I asked how he got the car stopped at the end of the track, he said "Hell, ya just let the engine pull it down!" When I asked about the roll cage, he said "Cage? theres no cage, just an old piece of gas pipe we heated with a torch, and bent around a telephone poll to make a hoop" That was an era when men were men!
This is the first time I have seen this post and I just want to say this : This is the true American Hot Rodding at its best !!! My father raced a 55 chevy gasser at Avilla Indiana, Kettlersville ,Ohio, Van Wert, Ohio and maybe Muncie too. I wish I had some pictures like these. Thanks a million Ebert for posting them.
The Jalopy Journal
