History Jack Bayer Z-11

I recently purchased the remains of the Jack Bayer 1963 Z-11 Impala. As I’m beginning my research before I start a restoration I’m looking for pics, do***ents, correspondence, artifacts , family members, friends, business ***ociates etc to aid in my quest. Please contact me directly @

Salsburyrocketman@yahoo.com

Thanks in advance

 

Jack was the man in the 60’s and forward!

 

Pictures of the car now?

 

Just a thought, check out George Kl***'s website. Warning, it can be addictive and time consuming, Good Luck!!

 

Do you have a link to his site?

 

http://georgekl***.net/ss.html

 

Yes, just saw a photo on the site. It’s in the Super/Stock section, scroll down to the 1963 part. There’s also an A/FX section, have Fun!!

 

Here're some remembrances of Jack Bayer and Bill Bader (probably aren't of any consequence of your search) . . .

I bought a 1961 Corvair from Bill Bader Chevrolet on Foothill Blvd. in Fontana. Bayer was the tune-up man at the dealership at that time. He tuned my Monza good enuf to beat a 54 Ford V-8 and got my first ticket.

In 1962 and/or '63, Bayer frequently piloted a twin-engined Chevy dragster at Fontana. It was supposedly built on the NHRA champion's Money Olds of Phoenix's ch***is. Squirrely from its inception -- it was a handful. Once its E.T. was so high they qualified for Middle Eliminator at Fontana which led to the strip banning dual-engine dragsters from that category.

Bill Bader sold that Fontana dealership in the middle '60s and bought Jack Coyle Chevrolet in San Bernardino, renaming it Crest Chevrolet.

 

[ This pic just came to my attn on the 348-409.com website where I started a thread in the Z-11 Forum.

 

Terrific, look at that bad boy squat down and haul!

 

How about some pictures of the car currently? Does it still have all of the aluminum?

 

I have all of the aluminum front and back except the hood and fan shroud. Z-11 engine top half, cam and misc bits. Bottom end was grenaded in the sixties. Had a 425 hp short block under it. If interested follow us on 348-409.com. Z-11 forum -> Bayer Z-11 thread

 

I spent several hours today with a previous owner of the Bayer Z-11. Filled in some of the timeline He gave me a couple of items that were found in the car including several names and phone numbers.

 

Monaco Blue from 1963 Chevy factory

Hello,

My friend and I tried to get his dad to buy a 63 Impala in the fall of 1962. We had heard rumors of a fast big motor Impala showing up at the drags and going super fast. Later on, we found out it was a new 427 z-11 Impala and it was fast. The old dad wanted a new 63 Chevy and we even went with him to look at several Impala sedans sitting in several local Long Beach Chevy dealers.

It was a hard sell and one dealer said he knew of the 427 powered Impala that was getting a great rep for power and at the drag racing scene. But, weeks later, a nice greenish 2 door 63 Impala was sitting in his driveway looking nice and very cool. I about fell out of my 58 Impala as I turned the corner and saw the 63 Impala nice and shiny. A z-11 hopefully? It was as nice as a new 63 Impala could get. Bucket seats, console, matching upholstery and a v8 motor with A/C. Awwww not a z-11…

Jnaki

Here is a list of z-11 Chevy cars from that late 62-63 time period:


Don Fezzell's Green Z-11 was one of the 2 Z-11's sold at Don Steve's Chevrolet in 1963 (the other Z-11 sold to Richard Sironian and soon to Tom Sturm). Don's green Z-11 was soon dealer traded to Enoch Chevrolet in Southgate CA.

Bob Bruder Chevrolet was in Hollywood and this Z-11 was ordered by Artis Bowls. Never heard anything about that car being raced at all. Total of 11 Z-11's were delivered to Los Angeles new. The California Z-11 Chevy's sold new in 1963:

Hayden Proffitt- Cone Chevrolet -Fullerton CA (Ember red car red interior)

Terry Prince (originally ordered by Mike Mclusky)- Service Chevrolet - Pasadena CA (Ember red car red interior)

H.L. & Shirley Shahan-3 way Chevrolet-Bakersfield CA (Ember red car white roof and red interior)only do***ented factory 2-tone Z-11

Butch (Larry)Leal- Del Munson Chevrolet-Pixley CA (Monaco blue car blue interior)

NOTE:
Is this Jack Bayer the same as the owner/racer of the Bayer-Frietas twin chevy FED that raced in so cal during the 60s?



Jack Bayer-Bill Bader Chevrolet-Fontana CA (Monaco blue car blue interior)


Lloyd Porter (ordered by Ron Jantze)-Ernie Porter Chevrolet-Pasadena CA (Monaco blue car blue interior)

Tom Sturm (ordered by Richard Sironian)-Don Steves Chevrolet-La Habra CA (White car blue interior)

Richard Shroeder (Ordered by Lee Ellis)-Don Steve's Chevrolet-La Habra CA raced later under Enoch Chevrolet in Southgate CA (Ivy Green car green interior)

Artis Bowles-Bob Bruder Chevrolet-Hollywood CA-(White Car May Have Had Red Or Black Interior)
Dealer ordered Z-11 Impala by fleet sales - Clippinger Chevrolet Covina CA later sold to Ron Campbell (raced under Oscar Gregory Chevrolet)-(Satin Silver car with black interior)

Mike Lenke (ordered by Tino Rigano)-Ed Priester Chevrolet-Oceanside CA (Tuxedo black car red interior)

Note2 :

The new 63 Impala was not a z-11, but it served its intended purpose cruising around in the hot summer with the A/C blasting. None of our teenage cars had A/C ! YRMV

 

El Monte must have been a hotbed of racing activity in the 60’s, with the likes of Mickey Thompson, @Dean Lowe, Jack Bayer and others.

 

One of the best tin benders that ever lived, Don Borth, was just a couple blocks from our shop. I used to stop by and peek in his shop when he was skinning Mickey's Challenger.

 

Jim, wasn’t that the dragster that Hayden Proffit drove?

 

Yes, I believe so. But it was known as the Bayer & (Frank) Freitas(sp?) car.

(What the hell, this was all 60 years ago -- I'm doin' my best.)

 

Didn't they run a 37 Chevy, blown g***er also ?

 

Guys I can appreciate your conversation but can we not hijack this thread. It’s getting off topic. Thank you.

 

I thought it might keep this thread near the top, sorry!

 

back to this question posted twice already...
"How about some pictures of the car currently?"

 

There is no car, only parts.

 

So here are several new photos that have showed up. Presumably the second owner which makes this 1965- (?). Winternationals at Pomona. Car is relettered with “Ranger ll”
Dyno Tuned by Jack Bayer changed to Engine by Jack Bayer. Note the Ramcharger scoop now on the hood. Car has changed cl***es and running B/MP. Does anyone recognize the car in this configuration and may know who the owner was? All I know is he is referred to as “Barstow rich kid” on another forum. If the starting line pic is during eliminations then there surely is a record of who the owner was. Where would I look for all the cl*** compe***ors and not just the winners?

 

@TD-4834

Hello,

Just in case your (?) for the date was off by one year, here is the 1964 version for those Winternationals cl***es. Sometimes the paper copies are just terrible in the copied digital form. Sometimes they look as if printed yesterday. Go figure.. But, I also found the 1965 edition information, too. Remember, this is for the So Cal Pomona Winternationals. There was another competing group with their own Winternationals from Arizona
February 14 1964 Pomona:

1964 stock record holders:

Now, here is the 1965 version from the Winternationals:
1965 record holders

Stock Eliminator 1965


Junior stock eliminator 1965


Jnaki

Hopefully, unless you were with NHRA back then and have access to all of the records, full entry sheets and lists are almost impossible to find.

All copies came from the local Westcoast Drag News versions from February 1964 and February 1965. YRMV

 

Thank you for the Pomona record info. It’s an interesting read. But I’m thinking I need info for the B/Modified Production cl***. Not just the winners as I’m ***uming that Ranger II didn’t make it to the final round. I was hoping that the elimination sheets might be available. They look like a family tree in reverse. lol.

I guess I can try to find contact info for NHRA and see where that leads me.

 

@TD-4834


Hello,
Just in case it was the Winternationals from the Arizona compe***ion location, I looked up those two years, February 1964 and Feb 1965. It was the same style of list of cl***es and compe***ors winning rounds. No Jack Bayer. I was going to say Jack Bayer would have been in Pomona since he was a So Cal local. But, there were some prominent So Cal locals racing and being involved in the Arizona "Winternationals."

Jnaki

Good Luck in your continued search... The place in Pomona might have a person who would know of such a file in the archives or possibly on display.

https://nhramuseum.org/contact/