Roo, to add to your comments I copied a note for my file that I read on this forum regarding that picture-that read as follows: "Speaking of Gene Altizer, here is one from 1968 that many folks do not know about. After running several very successful Anglia A/Gassers, he ran this car for a few short months in 68 before he bought Malcolm Durham's stretched Corvair Funny Car and went funny car circuit racing. Injected Big block Chevy with a B&M Clutchflite in B/Gas." Pretty cool car and I always seem to wonder whatever happened to these cars.
Back in the late 60s and early 70s once was an avid Corvette collector located is Waco Texas that possessed the thirst for speed as well as collecting. He was new to the Central Texas area. He and I met a local Corvette Club meeting and over a few weeks he shared with me his vision and inquired if I might have some suggestions. I had a bit of previous exposure to drag racing and a few connections so asked if he would be willing to trust me in trying to develop his vision. As it turned out he agreed and the team that was assembled in the following mouths turned out to be a fairly successful one. It was decided the team to go active with the NHRA and AHRA in 1971. To tour as many know is taxing and personal staffing was changed so accommodate. Much was leaned when you play with the big boys. We sometimes participated in the modified and occasionally altered but mostly focused of the Gas class. Finally in 1972 we actually held both the A Gas E.T. and B/Gas MPH record for several weeks before the record fell. We had several racers of several types and years but the 68 Corvette proved to be a great car. Include here are just a few of the racers in the camp.
I would love to find the picture of Dick Moroso's corvette that said "Yankee Cheater" on the top of the rear fenders which was lettered by John Kurtzman years ago. I watched John one Saturday morning when he hand lettered the car with gold leaf lettering and he put Performance Automotive on top of the front fenders and the words "Yankee Cheater" on the rear fenders. Jimbo
LB really liked the Clockwork Orange Corvette. I had my black 62 at the 2017 Detroit Autorama when he had his car there as well. I kept going over and looking at the car and talking to the owner. A great looking car. I had told him the car would look better with the hardtop to distract from the cage and he seemed to agree but told me the hardtop was not done yet. If it was me I would consider going with the look of satin black or maybe the color of the coves. Not a fan of satin necessarily but remember when my buddy did it to his 61 in 1969ish and it looked good. He had it done by a guy that made it look like it was a vinyl top. I thought it would look hokey but when I saw it I have to admit I liked it. I have some pics of the car I took but for whatever reason it looked like I had the shakes.
This is not my photo but I have it saved in my files. I know he current owner, he is in the process of putting the car back to original condition....
Well, it's a '53, '54 or '55, do you know what year it is? When you say the owner is putting it back to original condition, do you mean stock configuration? Or as it was when raced?
USA Joe good to hear. Hope he puts it back to one of the drag racing configurations. Doug and Dan the car had a newer front clip (or nose)apparently on the first style rear portion. The car is Rat's Nest as you will see on the hardtop. Here are a couple of pics. I have other pictures of another Rat's Nest version but the front is different so not sure it is the same car. I have it listed in a couple of different owners and so anything USA Joe could add would be helpful. I actually like the car and it did compete in the arena that did it justice IMO.
The grille area almost looks like it sticks out too far for a '56-'57. I had to look at other pictures but the front clip is very modified. Turn signals removed and radius changed. And on a '56-7 the grille is almost flush with the headlights. I knew the side view looked strange.
Dan the larger tire helped with "rollout". The bigger the diameter the tire gave some racers an advantage. Since the tire diameter is larger it helped by allowing more roll with the front tire before going out of the range with the stage beams. The more roll you got the less chance of a red light and you get a running start so to speak. I also liked the look maybe because it brings back good memories. I still like to run bigger front tires.
The Jalopy Journal
