Projects Gene (Moonlighter) Cromer's A/G Willys Resurrection

I would love to be a fly on the wall to hear the storys being told there.

 

They all raced each other but it seams no one ever lost.

 

Butch and David remember the times they out ran Gene, because it was so rare. It was a lot of fun listening to them and others.

 

I can believe that. I had the privilege years ago to sit and listen to K.S. Big John ,Ohio George and a few others talk. They all talked about winning and it seemed like no won lost. Thats the best part about being around Gene and the rest of these original 60's racers. The stories. And if you look back at how they were all friends and helped each other before corporate money and big race teams.

 

When we were down to Gene's shop...Melvin told us that Gene had let Hubert Platt borrow a cammer for a match race and Platt would bring it back blown up...now thats a friend.

 

Melvin worked for Hubert Platt and was fired........several times!! LOL

 

Gene's friend Mike Burts delivering a new drive shaft that he made in his shop for the Moonlighter.

 

It's great that these older craftsman are still around helping each other out doing what they love.

 

Mike Burts is still operating his drive shaft shop in Anderson, SC.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Gene, Ruth, and family, Melvin, Quain Stott and the Moonlighter Nation. Looking forward to that big ol' ford and Gene showing the way thru the lights. Wheels up!

 

2014 was a great year for the Cromers thanks to many new friends and fans. We appreciate all the help to everyone that had a part in getting to go to the meltdown drags and
meeting so many nice people, we had a blast also to David and Sara Gregg for transporting us the first half of the season and to Wayne Alewine for the last half, also to the Meltdown crew. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and
Happy new year
Gene Cromer,

 

Here's wishing you Gene, and the entire Cromer family a very special and merry Christmas tomorrow.

--- Steve ---

 

Highlight of my year was getting to the Meltdown and meeting Gene and watching the Moonlighter run, I was disappointed I never got a copy of the Rodders Journal the car was featured in.............until this morning that is, my wife got me a copy as a Christmas gift, guess what I'll be doing today

 

Merry Christmas to Gene, Ruth, Quain, Melvin and everyone that had a part in bringing the Moonlighter back to life. It has been a thrill to see the car come back together and to see Gene run it again.

 

Here's the latest South East Gassers video from the Finals at Greer Dragway 11-8-14. No fake Gassers here they have to be era correct, Check out our web for rules and driver profiles here.
http://www.southeastgassers.com/

 

OK, here you go.

 

Great video Frank, thanks for letting us be a fly on the wall.
I could listen to those guys for hours.

 

A couple of the guys that were there could talk for hours.

 

Awesome thread! Thanks for taking the time to document your build. Here is that photo touched up a little. Im no expert but I got it a little better.

 

Good Job

Good Job thanks, It's a lot better.

 

Sorry it took so long but I finally got time to fix the first page of this thread where the pic were lost when the Hamb was changed over. I still have a few more thing left to fix, I'll get to them when I get my next break.

 

Updates? Gene and Melvyn are probably thrashing away on the new tunnel port engine and transmission I'm guessing.

--- Steve ---

 

I saw Gene and Melvin Thursday and they are indeed working on the Moonlighter. They fixed some brake problems and are working on a vibration problem.

 

found this shot on another thread, assuming this came after the willys...

 

another, with it's roof...

 

Yes, Gene built the Mustang funny car after he built the Willys. Like the Willys, it ran a Hilborn injected bored and stroked side oiler Ford "FE" engine.He raced both cars and did a lot of match racing with the Mustang. Gene likes to tell the story about letting Melvin drive the Willys for a win where he could race another car for 2nd place so he could get both 1st and 2nd place money. Here's a few pics of the Mustang.

 

Wow.... an 8.79 back in those days was freaking screaming !!!

 

Not for Gene!

 

Damn !!!!

 

If I remember correctly, back in the late '60s-early '70s, mid eights was more often than not associated with the Pro Stock type classes. It looks to me like the Moonlighter could have given some of them "Big Britches" boys a run for their money.