History Drag cars in motion.......picture thread.

Don Westerdale / Early Ramchargers

 

I don’t recall seeing the Ramchargers field a dragster with a coil over front end. Anyone know the history?

 

Found this for a little of the history:

Ramchargers also began fielding a Top Fuel car in 1964 with a car built by Knapp, with Don Westerdale driving. Westerdale was not a Ramchargers member (and, in fact, worked at Ford) but had driven some of Knapp’s earlier cars and was someone Knapp trusted at the wheel. The dragster, powered by the new 426 Hemi, did not have the distinctive Ramchargers candy stripes, probably because it had just a short body, which was painted Chrysler Orange.

 

Yet again, the power of the HAMB! Thanks.

 

Wow, now that’s a flyweight! Not positive but that looks like it’s running a 215 aluminum Olds. I’m not seeing a header on it, maybe just a bad photo???

 

Does resemble Dave McCelland. But I think not as this appears to be during Lion's time as an AHRA sanctioned track. Wally would have frowned on his attendance. I wonder if this picture was taken during the infamous March 7-8, 1970 AHRA Grand American event that resulted in terrible injuries for Don Garlits and spectator Tim Ditt. Obviously not the finals as it is the wrong lane, etc.

 

Awh….. nothing like taste and smell of burning oil/nitro in the morning.

 

The "Pulsator II" AA/FD running on straight nitro. That's all we ever used for fuel. The car was owned and built by Nye Frank, Bob Muravez (who drove under the name Floyd Lippencott Jr.) and me. The engines are both 327" Small Block Chevy's stroked out to 364" (the 350" SB engines had not been introduced by Chevrolet yet).

 

Thanks for the history, that had to be a wild ride.

 

Jim Bucher at Tri-City Dragway Saginaw, Michigan.

 

Ivo built this online twin car but never ran it. The NHRA had lifted the fuel ban and Tom went with a 392 instead, selling this car to Ron Pellegrini.