This is what happens when best buddies end up in the final round of s national event. Someone wins and someone loses. The event was the NHRA Supernationals, contested at the now-defunct Ontario Motor Speedway, late in the season of 1971. The two cars had similar paint schemes, both 265 cubic inch motors were built by Val Hedworth in his two-car garage in Rowland Heights, Ca, both had cast iron Powerglide transmissions with converters by Rossi Transmissions in Pomona. Both had cylinder heads prepped by Racing Head Service, Fenton wheels, and Firestone 500 7" cheater slicks. The Berg & Dilcher '55 prevailed on this occasion on the strength of Val's red light start. Hedworth's combination was the 225 horsepower Corvette dual quad 265 while Dilcher's was the single Carter WCFB, 180 horsepower, "Power Pack" version. c
Thanks to everyone who posts the great photos and the stories from the Best days in drag racing. Jimbo
Jim Mayter EDIT: from Gary Glover it should be Hayter. Joe Allread again Ken Gunning Ken Gunning again different car. Jolly Green Giant?
And sadly the stock eliminator that most of us old guys knew died in 1985/86 when NHRA went to any duration and valve spring pressures. I'm glad I had the chance to race in the 7 inch tire jr. stock days and after 1975 when stock used 9 inch tires but with real stock engines. What we have today is closer to Super Stock of the old days. Nothing but lots of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ now.
Bery & Delcher EDIT: From Chuck Norton it is "Berg & Dilcher." vs "Hedworth & Crader" Big John Barkley Bill Morrison Midnight Oil Bill morrison. Photo taken by our Colsey? again
If only I could have figured out how to manipulate these posts, I would have commented that the lettering on the '55 is "Berg & Dilcher." This pairing of the final round of the 1971 Supernationals is from a different angle than the photo of the same race that was posted last week. The '56 wagon is, of course, the "Hedworth & Crader" car. For the record, "Berg" is Keith Berg, formerly the standout campaigner of early Oldsmobiles. Paul "Pappy" Dilcher is still racing, now with a '77 Pontiac Firebird 400. c
Buckshot Buckshot vs Al Cordia Gary Grassi George Cureton before Tokyo Rose George Cureton vs Jack Worrell
Run across this stuff while looking through a magazine last night... Sent from my QTASUN1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
If only the staging lanes still looked like that. At least a lot of you can remember it. Is young guys have to resort to just pictures!!! Sent from my SM-G550T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
A couple more from INDY 1967..... If you wonder whats going on with all these 59' Chevy's look at my avatar.... it was during the final stages the build of my car.... Was about the time Jenkins was building the engine
Some things (almost) never change... 1967 Indy..... (picture courtesy of NHRA) 2015 Route 66 Nationals Perhaps the wheels come up a little higher now??
View attachment 3876856 I had a call the other night from one of Lamars family.He told me the story of how Lamars wife saw this car sitting in front of a Hebron,Oh. water hole, and went home and told her husband about it.He raced back up town and bought the car on the spot,and turned it into this beautiful racer.The first race it went to it was involved in a light fender bender in the pits with Bill Maverick Golden, and had to have some repaint work. Rumors are that it is still in Ohio,and being restored back to race conditions.
Just found this link to the Bruce Morgan '57. It contains some good historical data about the car and driver, pictures of some disturbing modifications that have been added, and an auction announcement. https://azure.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1957-CHEVROLET-BEL-AIR-RACE-CAR-189750
Of course, back in 196?, who would ever have expected a seriously raced '57 Chevy to be worth anything? I especially liked the part where the blurb describes hooking the new Pontiac to the back of the race car and towing it back to California. I remember Bruce bringing the Pontiac to San Gabriel Dragstrip and racing it in the stock classes. Wonder what it would have been worth if it still had the FI motor? c
The Jalopy Journal
