Mark, I remember this car well, I helped with the original build and drove it quite a bit before it was sold to John Tharpe, I don't remember all the details of it's demise but losing the 4 speed probably put a few nails in the coffin.
I always liked Appliance Plating wheels after I first saw them on Dick Moroso corvette back in 1964 I ordered a set through Performance Automotive the next day for my 1951 Chevrolet Coupe. Jimbo
I would like to have had that car than any of my Willys. I remember riding shotgun in those cars when they where new. Pat
The name of the Pontiac driver was Don Gay, not Dan Gay. Hot Rod Magazine shows the winner of A/S was disqualified. Anyone know the story behind that disqualification or was that a misprint in the list of class winners at Indy in 1964.
The North Wind 1962 409was DQ'd for the lack of front bumper brackets and Gay's Pontiac was DQ'd for about 1 inch to short mufflers as far as I remember unless I'm a year off. Big difference between being stock then and stock today !
Well today is a very special day for me and the ole "Carrot Cart". Fifty years ago today we won class at the Springnationals in Dallas. It was my first national event and was like a dream come true for a little no name 21 year old racer from Alabama. Those were truly great years. Now it is fun to remember and enjoy going to nostalgia events. It was fun and an honor a few years ago to go York and meet some of the land of NED folks that were my heroes back in the day. Was really looking forward to seeing everyone at Tri Five but maybe next year. Will try to post some photos Don "Carrot Cart" Kirkland
Happy anniversary Don! It would appear we have a 57 Chevy friend in common...Tom Ordway. Scott Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Don, I have not heard from you for a while. S Still driving down to Alabama to your other home every once in a while. Jimbo
Hi my name is Gerry Berry and i bought the Crockagator and all of the related parts from Dempsey Hardy in Ft. Lauderdale,in 1972 for $1,000.00 for everything,i raced the car at Miami Hollywood park,the engine was a 232 cubic inch Studebaker V8,with a single 2bbl carb,the trans was a 3 speed standard Studebaker that had it,s synchros tricked out and some other mods,the cylinder heads had a 3 angle valve job and were shaved a little bit,these guys would check piston ring drag with a fish scale,don,t laugh it works,the car would run consistent low 15s and high 14s if the air was right,don,t forget thats on a 232 cubic inch motor and a single 2 barrel carb,i sold the Stude when i moved North and i sure wish i had it today.Gerald Berry,Springfield on the HAMB.
Does anyone have the rules for the jr stock class ? Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2006u57wp7sqpxt/AACM-ODeOoOU2bqgK-e-UxAGa?preview=1965_Drag_Rules.pdf Have fun!
According to this comment E F G & H stock classed were considered jr stock Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
From my 1960's memory anyway....maybe off a little in some cases. And as mentioned ..look at NHRA rule book of that era..... Late 60's. We raced mostly at all kinds of mid west tracks, big and some small town tracks, Most tracks had about the same stock Eliminator breakdowns, but some tracks varied, to make a show out of it, depending on how many were in the classes there on a particular day. Most tracks also had the overall Stock Eliminator that had the top 1 or 2 cars in S/S,. Top stock, and Jr Stock had a special run off using natl. class records handicap races....for the big dollars...$50-$100 . Back in the day I did most of my racing in the mid to late 60's. in Jr stock Eliminator (for the big dollars... $25 to $50 ) were typically in the upper, mid and lower classifications that included ...in general terms.... classes from about C stock (including manual and automatic trans cars) ...on down to the 6 and 4 cyl. "stock" cars.. Which included all the 55-56-57 chevys, (all body styles and HP's) 283, 327 and 396 Chevys, 390 and smaller Fords, 383, 440 and smaller HP Moopars, Olds, Hudson, etc etc. Included pretty much all the wagons, sedans deliveries etc, Top Stock: The A/S, B/S, etc, -- and similar cars ended up in top stock. And a few small block cars... the 327/350HP 66-67 Chevt II (Jenkins) 409's, big block Mopar cars, 400hp+ Fords, etc. At most tracks there was a S/S eliminator too..(with most of the factory type sponsored cars) It was great fun, and competitive, ....later trashed by NHRA in the early 1970's
NHRA SUCKS ! I used to work for NHRA for 3 years in Div. 1 and 22 1/2 years with IHRA as a tech man in charge of stock. S/S, and Pro Stock. IHRA was much better but it was sold and turned into a bracket racing ASSasoiation ! They suck also !
Photo of Carrot Cart in backyard with engine out and ready to go into "storage" under a shed in country. Probably late 1971. Got married in this house to first wife. When minister asked if anyone knew of a reason this couple should not get married, my buddies listened to see if the ole "Cart" would come down the driveway to answer
For what its worth thats correct. Gay won 63 A/S Nats, 64 A/S Winters...then awarded the trophy for A/S 64 Nats but later DQ’d. Hence no listing.
NHRA hasn't changed. A good friend set a record in there 7 second Ford. NHRA said they had the wrong screws in the carb throttle plates. Holley rep. even came and said they where the right ones. NHRA said nope, disqualified.