Looks like a shopping center where tech was being done - such as they did in Columbus when the first Springnationals were held there? Were shopping centers used for tech at other races too?
Shopping centers were used at Bowling Green for the 1979 and 1980 "Sports Nationals" I know for sure.
You're right. I forgot that they used the 500 shopping center at Indy 500. I had only remembered the tech being inside the oval track at IRP.
Hey Pete, Any 1968 Dodge Dart GSS 440's in your attic stash. Charlie Allen's 'Saddleback Dodge' Mary Ann Foss 'Go Hummer' before the SS Hemi Dart Ernie Toppings rare Dart convertible 4-speed 440. ???/ PC
MickeyMouse, Your question about Indy 67' B/S (67' Z-28 302/290HP) Camaro (Ben Wenzel; 12.54) C/S (61' Corvette 283/270HP dual-quad) (Carmen Rotunda; 12.86) The Dodge D-Dart (273/275HP) would have been classed in C/S for 67, based upon their weight of #2945 lbs. Nothing special on the Dart GT body, same as the regular Dart GT (just minor deletions; rear seat belts and radio) Yes, the 383/280HP fastback Barracuda (#3202 lbs.) would have been classed one up from the Dart, in D/SA. Ron Tessavona had one that ran easy 13.40's, but he never raced it much, just local stuff. They fit right in the low/mid end of the weight bracket with a 11.43 wt/hp. (D/S; 11.30-11.88). If you tricked it up, it should have been able to run 13.30's. D/SA at Indy 67' 13.52, sounds more than achievable with that car/combo. Surprised no from Mopar one ran one their? PC MM, The 67' 383/280HP Cuda was more of a rush-job by Mopar, to get a big-block engine stuffed into the A-Body. If you read info, you can see there were no in-depth testing. The engine had small-port heads 2.08/1.60 valves, a mild camshaft .430/.443 lift, single coil valve springs, and poor-flowing low-plane intake manifold. The Carter AFB carb was basically the same size as the carb on the 273 Hi-Po, it just had bigger venturi's. The exhaust system had 1 7/8" exhaust pipes (smaller than intermediate 383's), and the exhaust manifolds were restrictive, especially the LH (drivers side unit). Not a great performer, unless you opened up the exhaust system with headers. PC
i hear the wenzel bros won their 2nd NHRA national event stock elim title this past weekend with the same '67 Z28 that won the indy title in '67.....
biscyanes, Nice photo. Those (B/Stock) 67' Z-28's were light-n-quick. When the track conditions were good at the line, those guys loved the heavy flywheels. It seemed like everyone who was running them, were turning 12.60's back then. Put a 'big-time' hurting on the 67' GTX 440's. X-tech, My error. Had enough 440 cars to know, they never made a 440 4-speed in the A-Body from the factory. Geez, they hardly made any 340 4-speed convertibles either. PC 4-speeds.
Speaking of D/S-- My buddy Jerry MacNeish holds the current N.H.R.A. record with a 10.45 @ 126.21. Very impressive for a 302 "stocker". See everybody next week at York. Until next time..... Dave.
MM, Don't know if you remember Jimmy Boyd, out of Motion Performance. Ran a 68' 340 Barracuda coupe in D/SA in 68'. Did a number in that class. Won the Nascar Winternationals. Thats when the 340 was re-rated at 310HP. Article about him in July 68, Rodder & Super/Stock Magazine Also, may have run a 67' 383/280HP in 67', in D/SA. PC
Everybody's Envy, Ed Hamburgers SS/IA 340 Duster.'For 340's Only' Bob Rice, Nice one on Ernie Toppings convertible. A little more weight with the Dart rag-top, smartly bumped into a higher class. MM, Jimmy Boyd ran 13.00's at the 68' Nascar Winternationals in Daytona, with a 68' 340 Cuda Coupe in D/SA. I think that was the last major sponsored race by NASCAR. They also had the 67' Summernationals in August 67' in Niagara, as well as the Championships in November 67'.
can i ask what was the deal with the white stripes on the roofs? did it mean anything was it just a fad at the time.
It certainly was more than a short-lived fad. The style enjoyed much popularity in (especially) Division 1 for about five or six years. They weren't always white (Cureton's were Gold, Mc Master & Gunning Red). And frequently they cascaded down to the hood and trunk lid. The influence of the Ramcharger's 'Candy Striped' SS cars was most-likely a factor. Be interesting to know the first use on a Junior Stocker. Colesy has lots of great roof-stripe-heavy staging-lane images in his extensive archives. Lets see a few of them Bill!
That 13.44 on the Chevy Wagon. That was the K/SA record at one time. 1969? The K/S record at that time was 13.22. Anybody know who held it? P
Look for a set of decals coming soon for this car from Decals by Lucas here is a link it will be updated today http://decalsbylucas.com/
Skip, Good times for 69'. There was a 61' Chevy Impala Hardtop 348/280HP Tri-Carb (from Connecticut) that used to run at Dover once in awhile in 1969. The car could run under the K/S record every time he ran. The car was tattered with Connecticut Dragstrip class winner stickers. It was a good combo, but the cars drive-train took a toll every time he ran. The clutch unit would last only a race or two. Too much torque for the bulk at #3600+ lbs. Maybe the problem was ,that it wasn't a legal 280HP engine. Maybe it was a 348/350HP #FH-code 'Special Super Turbo-Thrust' (# Special High Performance) MM, On the 383 engines in the A-Body. 67' 383/280HP 68' 383/300HP 69' 383/330HP What confuses you on the factoring, is that the 340 was not rated at 275HP (as per the factory), NHRA re-rated it to 310HP. Otherwise the 340 in 1968 would have been classed in G/S, and it would have killed everyone in its way. PC
MM, In 1968, here's the list you wanted, for Plymouth class possibilities D/S 68' 340/275HP Barracuda (Coupe) E/S 68' 340/275HP Barracuda (Fastback) F/S 68' 383/300HP Barracuda (Fastback) G/S 67' 383/280HP Barracuda (Fastback) H/S 67' 383/280HP Barracuda (Convertible) I/S 67' 273/235HP Valiant J/S 67' 273/235HP Barracuda (Fastback) K/S 68' 318/230HP Barracuda (convertible) L/S 68' 318/230HP Satellite M/S 67' 273/180HP Barracuda (Coupe) N/S 67' 273/180HP Barracuda (Fastback) * Note; NHRA rated the 340/275 at 310HP. * Note; The 1967 383/280 HP engine had small port #516 casting heads (2.08/1.60) valves, single-coil valve springs, the #968 casting low-plane/small port/small carb hole intake 1 7/16" x 1 9/16", and a Carter 575cfm AFB. * Note; The 1968 383/300HP engine had big-port #906 casting heads (2.08/1.74) valves, heavier single-coil valve springs, a better intake manifold #301 casting, with larger carb holes 1 7/16" x 1 11/16", and a Carter 625cfm AVS. * Note; Both engines had the same hydraulic camshaft .430/.443 lift, with 252 duration.
From what I was told by a longtime drag racer about twenty years ago, the stripes on the roof treatment helped identify your race car from afar (in the pits or staging lanes), especially with so many similiar-looking 55-57 Chevies during the Junior Stock era. The drag racer? Ben Brinkofski of Brinky's Drag Team. Anyone remember him? Pete
I found this online regarding Ralph Truppi: When I was about 12 years old my brother and I, every day would walk past his shop in Piscataway on the way home from Quibbletown Jr. High.We would stop and look at the race cars from the street. One day Ralph said, " Hey boys come here." He let us sit in the race car. Then I would stop by when ever I could. Seven years later Ralph was in the Rt.22 shop, he helped and taught me how to build a motor for my 69 G Stock Conv. Camaro called Blood Sweat and Gears. I very rearly lost a race. These are the best memories of my life. I'm 52 now. This was the kind of man Ralph Truppi was, more than a legend, he was a man who loved kids. May God always bless the Truppi Family. Fred Romeo Hoatcong, NJ ~~~~~~~~ I can imagine being that kid (and I was back then!) and the big thrill he experienced and the lasting impression it made on him. Pete
I do have a magazine from the late 1960s (which one?) with Charlie Allen's SS/EA Dart featured in it but don't have a scanner. I didn't know Mary Ann Foss (Jackson) had a 440-powered A-body. I remember when Ernest Topping Jr. ran a 440 4-speed in his Dart, in the C/S class. That was about 20 to 25 years ago. I thought it was a legit production car until I was just reminded that no 4-speed 440 A-Body cars (A13 Package) were built. I wonder why? Sticks were available with 383-powered versions; what harm could a 'little' more torque and horsepower do. Pete
My 68 Coronet 500 came with the 440 cam and Exhaust manifolds. Same as the Road Runners. The 500s had a little more trim which gave it more weight.
I took all week off and have been thrashing non stop getting the In-Bomber ready for York next week, will post some pics soon! The engine, clutch, trans and shifter are all in and done. Getting the driveshaft ready today, just waiting on the radiator and trans crossmember which will be in tomorrow. -Dean
Pete, Mopar brass were skeptical about putting a 4-speed in the A-Body cars, as for fear of replacing warranteed parts. They knew anyone buying a 4-speed 440 in an A-Body would be at the track, twisting that Uni-Body like a pretzel. With the automatic, less damage to the drivetrain, less replacement cost to Mopar. straightaxle, I thought the 440 cam, valve springs and exhaust manifolds were only available on the 68' Road Runners and Super Bee's. Thats why they were rated at 335HP, and the other 383's rated at 330HP. My friend had a 68' Sport Satellite 383/330HP, and it did have the milder camshaft, and standard 383 exhaust manifolds. They were no other Big-block engine options available. PC
R/T, Jay's 68' Sport Satellite 383/330HP 4-speed w/3.55 sure-grip posi ran 15.00's, when brand new in 68'. Jay followed that Car Craft/Ronnie Sox article about the 383 up-grade to the 'T'. 4.33 gears, Hooker Headers, 7" slicks, .484 lift/284 duration camshaft, 440 valve springs, double roller timing chain, Edelbrock aluminum DP intake, Holley 780 cfm vacuum secondary carb, and re-curved distributor, and S-W electric fuel pump. The car ran 13.20's. Though it was not legal for F/Stock. With 4.89 gears, I'm sure it would have hit 12.80's. I believe in 1968, you would have to run 12.90's at National Events to be competitive in F/Stock. Probably 13.40's at the local tracks for Class wins. PC
I always heard that the roof stripes on the Ramchargers car was to hide the fact that they had removed bracing from the roof. When the dew would come in at night the roof showed that they had tampered with the factory bracing. Anyone else ever heard this?
The Jalopy Journal
