"Peter's Cheater" was the identifier for cars raced by Peter Fedun, a Canadian racer and engine builder from, if I remember correctly, the Niagara Falls, Ontario area. He raced in Division 1 primarily so I suspect that the track is either Canadian or in New England.
Wow "Peter's Cheater" that is one I do not remember ever seeing run and I am from the Division 1 area. Jimbo
The '66 Impala 283 combination was very competitive but I think that the picture above was probably taken somewhat later than the cut-off point for this forum. 4-digit permanent driver numbers were not assigned until 1974. I remember Peter's '65 Chevelle wagon, also with a manual transmission at a later time. I have a list of NHRA records from 1971 that shows Pete as a record holder in O/S with Truppi/Kling as a sponsor in a '65 Chevrolet (almost undoubtedly the wagon).
I remember seeing one of those motors sitting on a garage floor. We where walking up the street to the Beaver County Airport in Chippewa, PA. I spotted a 1940-41 Willys pickup first and when I stopped to look there was that complete motor inside the door on the floor
That image of Pete was DEFINATELY taken at Suffolk Virginia's (notorious for the driveline-breaking concrete starting line). I had the good fortune of attending the first (only?) "Little Guy Nationals" there in '71.' Although we just missed qualifying for the 32(?) car field, Billy N. (driving his newly-acquired and repainted "Orange Crate") and I sure had a great time -- we were in very-good company! Alas, our wifes were totally bored! 'Bored' wifes on 'Sam P's' -- borrowed) trailer -- note his car hauler ( in background). Outta gas in the staging lanes -- HOW EMBARRESING!
"In March 1956, an “extra hp” V-8 was released. It also displaced 317 cubic inches, but came with 10.0:1 compression heads; dual four-barrel Rochester carburetors; a special intake manifold; a fuel pump with larger valves; a dual-element Delta-Wing air cleaner; a greater overlap high-output camshaft; revised valve timing; longer-stemmed valves; high-tension valve springs and shields; anti-pump-up hydraulic lifters; and modified electrics. The output of this so-called “NASCAR” engine was 285 hp at 5100 rpm. It was tested for 0-to-60 mph in 11 seconds flat and 16.2 mpg fuel economy. Pontiac experts estimate that 200 cars were equipped with this motor, which was intended primarily for professional stock cars, but found its way into amateur drag racing cars. The potential of the 285 hp engine was not lost on 73- year-old speed ace Ab Jenkins. who took a high-output Chieftain 860 coupe to the Bonneville Salt Flats for a 24- hour world speed record run in which he covered 2,841 miles at an average speed of 118.37 mph. The same car, with drilled-out wheels to make it lighter, then set a 100- mph distance/speed record of 126.02 mph." I've often wondered (since the '70s), what ever became of (one time NHRA Nationals class-winning I/SA 1956 Pontiac 2-door), Gary *Ledbetter's(sp?) group of 227 HP 56 Pontiacs. There were three that I knew of -- the Nationals-winning 2-door, its towing-accident 'replacement' body and a later 2-door HARDTOP, just like mine. Gary's cars were named "ROUGH RIDE" and his ample crew were referred to as the (PA-based) "Duquesne Drag Team' -- AKA "The Beer Boys." Gary was a nice guy/class act and out of 10+ heads-up class matches (all @ 75-80 'Drag O Way") Gary won all but one! The 'word' was that Gary had one of these 285 HP, 317 Cu In engines stashed away, but who knows? Like so many others, he 'disappeared' from the scene after NHRA's early-70s 'purge.' Anyone recall Gary, "ROUGH RIDE," The "Duquesne Drag Team," or "The Beer Boys"?
The Jalopy Journal
