Bill still races a 65 Chevelle wagon. Here's his qualifying stat from last weekend at the Dutch Classic. P/SA Bill Spanakos, Christiana PA, '65 Chevelle 13.636 13.75
Yep. I heard he broke the good motor and put in his "junk" motor for that event. It went .2 under the index but that still wasn't enough to do good. 68 years young and still at it. Don't we all wish we could have as good a legacy????? Verne
I would like to add the name LaVerne Benner to the Junior Stock racers list. He raced a '55 Chevy wagon in J/S (with some "Grump" help). He raced under the sponsorship of Wood-Oberholtzer (the same as Ronnie Evans). Ronnie worked very closely with him in those days, then LaVerne was a constant wrench/advisor/helper on Ronnie's '62 Wildfire car until he passed from heart issues, thus this tribute on his '62 (which has just run a 9.68 with 409 power) We relish those times when a guy with a full time job working at a gas station or a body shop could still build and race a car----and be successful----if he was smart. The guys with money always had trailers, nice wheels and fancy paint jobs and the latest bolt-ons, but they often got their tails waxed by a guy who never stopped working on his car and figured out one advantage after the other when it only cost him his time and sweat. His reward back then was maybe a $10. trophy. But that's all he needed to keep going. Not to take anything away from the known heros of the sport, but I think it was really those "un-sung" heros who most of us can relate to. It was those "un-sung" heros who actually won most of the races. Sorry for the sentimental ramblings. Verne
Vern, So very well spoken, and I agree with you 100% that it was the low-buck-little-guy that made racing great. I'm miss my 2 Stock Eliminator cars even yet today, but the cost to do it competitively is just crazy now. Glenn
Here's 'The List'so far. It's shown in the 'order it was generated;' I guess we can always 'alphabetize' and/or edit it later. So far it's all 55-57 265/283 Chevs and (4) '56 Pontiacs. Where are those (often successful) 'off the wall' cars and those 'giant-killer' (older) Oldsmobiles? George Cureton (56 Chev) Jere Stahl (57 Chev) Joe Allread (57 Chev) John Barkley (57 Chev) John Dianna (56 Chev) Bob Lambeck (57 Chev) Warren & Register (57 Chev) Matthews & Bender (57 Chev) Jim Waibel (57 Chev) Wayne Walker (57 Chev) Bill ('Spider') Spanakos (55 Chev) John Archambault (57 Chev) Frank Iaconia (57 Chev) Ed Beyer (56 Pont) Ed Hamberger (56 Pont) Gunning Bros. (57 Chev) Jay Wheatley (57 Chev) Wheatley Bros. (55 Chev) Wayne Jesel (56 chev) Carmine Rotundo (55 chev) Cal Method (57 chev) Marv Ripes (57 chev) Bo Laws (57 chev) Steve Perrault (56 Pont) LaVerne Benner (55 Chev) Gary Ledbedder (56 Pont) The Patrick Bros. (57 Chevy) *The 'single car' indicated is the one (generally) most-associated with the owner/driver. PS: Mason Dixon Dragway Hagerstown, MD Nov 1 & 2 Lee Sherman Memorial Stock & SS Race http://www.masondixondragway.com/specials.htm
Don't forget the other Wheatley Bros. car. I bought this one from Jay in 1971 and installed a 327 (bolted to the hydro) and intended to drive it on the street. Never did tag it and later sold it to a friend who installed a blower and repainted it green. Last I heard, it was on the street in the Baltimore area, but that was thirty years ago!
Don't forget the Patrick Brothers! PNP Racing, 283ci 283hp '57 Chevy 210 sport coupe "In-Bomber" 1968 NHRA Nationals H/S champions, 13.23 @ 103.32mph -Dean
"... "Don't forget the other Wheatley Bros. car" OK, I guess that's 'valid' (*two cars listed), because as I 'recall' they were both campaigned at the same time *two different drivers. "Heartbreaker" (the '57 4-sp car) and "Heartbreaker Too" (the '55 Delivery W/Hydro). Thanks 'TMcCrea,' it's done! " ... Don't forget the Patrick Brothers! PNP Racing, 283ci 283hp '57 Chevy 210 sport coupe "In-Bomber" 1968 NHRA Nationals H/S champions, 13.23 @ 103.32mph -Dean" Thanks Dean, it's done! George Cureton (56 Chev) Jere Stahl (57 Chev) Joe Allread (57 Chev) John Barkley (57 Chev) John Dianna (56 Chev) Bob Lambeck (57 Chev) Warren & Register (57 Chev) Matthews & Bender (57 Chev) Jim Waibel (57 Chev) Wayne Walker (57 Chev) Bill ('Spider') Spanakos (55 Chev) John Archambault (57 Chev) Frank Iaconia (57 Chev) Ed Beyer (56 Pont) Ed Hamberger (56 Pont) Gunning Bros. (57 Chev) Jay Wheatley (57 Chev) Wheatley Bros. (55 Chev) Wayne Jesel (56 chev) Carmine Rotundo (55 chev) Cal Method (57 chev) Marv Ripes (57 chev) Bo Laws (57 chev) Steve Perrault (56 Pont) LaVerne Benner (55 Chev) Gary Ledbedder (56 Pont) The Patrick Bros. (57 Chevy) *The 'single car' indicated is the one (generally) most-associated with the owner/driver. ... Steve<!-- / message --><!-- attachments -->
Of course I don't have any pictures, and probably couldn't post them anyway, but anyone remember the "Hostage" wagon? I think it was owned by Doug Mentzer. And great thread, by the way. I would watch the Stockers run and go to the snack bar when the Fuelers ran. Each to his own, I suppose.
hoping someone here in the NJ area might have pictures of Pat Riccardi's 57 Chev. "Pafoo Drag-on" that ran originally as an L/S, but then as an F/MP, and finally as a G/MP?
" ... anyone remember the "Hostage" wagon? I think it was owned by Doug Mentzer" Was it a '57 Chev 2-dr 'Handyman' Wagon 4-speed car?
WoW! that sure is a "Mystery car' Bob! 'Guessin' it's from 'around' 1962-63. Fraid we may need George's help on that one.
Earlier in the thread we were talking about Alex Jarrell. He ran a '56 4 door wagon out of Delaware. You could add him to "The List". I believe TMcCrea had some more information on other cars that ran Alex Jarrell combinations in Jr. Stock.
Here's a 'Mid-Day' 'LIST UPDATE'! George Cureton (56 Chev) Jere Stahl (57 Chev) Joe Allread (57 Chev) John Barkley (57 Chev) John Dianna (56 Chev) Bob Lambeck (57 Chev) Warren & Register (57 Chev) Matthews & Bender (57 Chev) Jim Waibel (57 Chev) Wayne Walker (57 Chev) Bill ('Spider') Spanakos (55 Chev) John Archambault (57 Chev) Frank Iaconia (57 Chev) Ed Beyer (56 Pont) Ed Hamberger (56 Pont) Gunning Bros. (57 Chev) Jay Wheatley (57 Chev) Wheatley Bros. (55 Chev) Wayne Jesel (56 chev) Carmine Rotundo (55 chev) Cal Method (57 chev) Marv Ripes (57 chev) Bo Laws (57 chev) Steve Perrault (56 Pont) LaVerne Benner (55 Chev) Gary Ledbedder (56 Pont) The Patrick Bros. (57 Chevy) Doug Mentzer (57 Chev) Pat Riccardi (57 Chev) Mc Masters & Gunning (57 Chev) Malone, Rodiquez, and Kennedy (57 Chev) Paul Everett/Gordon Tindall (55 Chev) Alex Jarrell (56 Chevy) Tinsley & Culley (56 Chev) Krutz and Calderhead (57 Chev) Tritak & Morgan (62 Dodge) John Burkholder (55 Chev)
That's 'Nice Guy' Ed Beyer ... "Ed's Auto Service." He's on 'The List'! ** Notice how those 'really early' cars had 'super-looong' collector extentions. Well ... they really-did 'know what they were doing' as 'that' header feature produced more low-end. And, 'low-end' was a big consideration at that time. It was a bit *later (*the ForgedTrue piston/Dykes and '.043' rings 'era') that ... high RRRRRs became 'holy grail' of the Junior Stockers.
Here are some other cars that need to go on the list if someone can identify them. The Massey Sunoco car was from the Delaware area and I've seen it featured in some Jenkin's ads from the late 60's.
That is the Krutz and Calderhead 57 sedan delivery. That picture was taken by Bill Holmes. Here's an earlier picture of Krutz and Calderhead taken by George Cureton.
"I think it was owned by Doug Mentzer" Mentzer, that's the name I was trying to remember. I remember the "Mentzer Brothers" and in 1969-1970 they had a '55 sedan running Q/S. My first trip to Indy was in 1969 where I met up with the Hampp's. A bunch of us stayed at a little "Mom & Pop" motel west of downtown. I think Doug Mentzer is sitting in the middle of this photo (hands behind his back). Back left are George Cureton & Elaine, walking twords camera is Dick Jarrell, squatting at right is Alex Jarrell, Charlie Hampp Sr. and Johnny Davis (I think). Lew Smedley was amung us as well.
Great shot McCrea ... nice to see some 'happy times with good people' pics! Here's Paul Mayo's K/SA 455 Ci '72 Olds Vista 'Bruiser'
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