Here is Bill Stroppe looking over the finished product, probably for the last time before it was delivered to Mr. William Ford. Ford's brother Henry was running Ford Motor Company at the time. I too am curious as to whether the car survives. Mr. Ford has and the current owner of the NFL Detroit Lions is 87.
Isettajohn I saw this car at the old Holman-Moody shop when I was up there several years ago. It was in the process of being restored so at least 10 years or so ago it still existed
Never heard of that conversion, pretty interesting. Surprised to see they left the battery under the hood with the extra weight of the "Y", do you know what might have been done to front suspension?
I just realized I have this 4door falcon confused with the Challenger III version, a 2 door. I see that the four door wasn't sectioned like the CIII, from earlier posts. Man that thing must have really been a sleeper!
Interestingly enough, Dearborn Steel Tubing did the same thing sometime in 1960-61. I believe theirs was a 2 door sedan, with a 312. I've seen photos of it somewhere, just not sure where. I'll have to do some digging, I may have the photo(s) somewhere. Dave
DST also put a 352 in a '60 Comet station wagon. Pretty cool and the grandfather to the '64 Thunderbolt.....
Yes there was, Stronger coil springs, Monroe Shocks and and a custom made 7/8 front stabilizer bar was used. But the stock front brakes and 13 inch wheels were used.
A couple more interesting things about this build. As mentioned before a 9 inch Ford rear axle housing replaced the Falcon housing. 10 inch drum brakes were used on the rear but the axles and drums were reworked to the stock Falcon 4 bolt pattern so the spare tire could be used. A slightly wider stock 13 inch rim was used on the rear. The rear axle ratio was 3.10. One would assume the stock 312 Y-block would suffice in this build. Not so. Stroppe had his ace engine builder Vern Houle blueprint the engine after a .060 overbore, milled heads and a Racer Brown cam installation. After being presented to Mr. Ford, who was vice president of styling at Ford Motor Company, he was so pleased with it that it became his daily driver around Detroit.
Yes they were. In fact, a special box end wrench was made to get to the problem plugs and was mounted permanantly under the hood with a wing nut.
Bet that thing surprised a few people. The small brakes are scary though, those cars didn't stop too well with the little six. Add a couple hundred pounds to the front, Yikes!
A real R car in 1965 with 11000 miles. And it was mine. Ck out traction bars to the rear to pull down instead of push up fwd.
This is one of the earliest Holman-Moody ads I have found. The company was formed in '57 and this ad was published in the Chester S.C. Drag Strip 1st INTERNATIONAL DRAG RACE souvenir program in November '57.
Happen to come across the starting feild for the 1967 Orange Bowl Regatta held at Miami Marine Stadium . I guess the 427 Ford was popular for power in those flatbottom race boats and I counted like 8 that used the H/M 427 engine. So I guess you could get a Marine 427 from Holman + Moody bolt it in a Rayson-Craft and go racing. Man those were the days. <TABLE width="100%"><CAPTION>[SIZE=+2]STARTING FIELD[/SIZE] </CAPTION><TBODY><TR><TD>No.</TD><TD>BOAT NAME</TD><TD>ST</TD><TD>DRIVER</TD><TD>HULL-ENGINE</TD><TD>OWNER</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SS-003[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Getaloadathat"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]CA[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Lloyd Marschall[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Howard-427 H/M Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Joe Lambert[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]013[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Lively One"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]MI[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]J.Loynes-Mack Stevens[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Stevens-427 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]James Loynes[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]D-3[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Scarlet Lady"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Jim Stough[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Mandella-427 H/M Ford [/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Jim Stough[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]4[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Slander"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]J.Wooldridge-Stan Irwin[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Mona Bilt-426 Chrysler[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Wm. Bourne[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]6[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Phfft"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]CA[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rudy Ramos-Butch Peterson[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-427 Ford Cobra[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rudy Ramos[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]7[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Tiny Tim"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]CA[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Mike Wallace-Bill Cooper[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-427 H/M Ford [/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Tim Wallace[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]12[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Slo Poke"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]CA[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Ned Damon-Dick Freek[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Aqua Craft-427 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Ned Damon[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]15[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Hol-A-Weener"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]OK[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Bruce Albro-Frank Albro[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-427 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]F. B. Albro[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]19 [/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Sandpiper"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]IL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Russ Eriinger-Butch Pace[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-427 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Impala Sales[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]21[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Miss Valvoline"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]CA[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Peter Rothschild-Skip Volk[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Aqua Craft-427 H/M Ford [/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Aqua Craft Powerine.[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]24[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Smok'em"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]TX[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]John Strader-John Kalb[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Glastron-427 Chevrolet[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Mecom Racing Team[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SS-26[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Restless II"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]NC[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Jimmy Gaskins[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-427 H/M Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]james Gaskins[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]K-28[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Fish Peddler"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Mike Gordon-Jack Wilcox [/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-427 H/M Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Mike Gordon[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]31[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Inferno"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]TX[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Richard Hatteberg-Boots Hansen[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Mandella-427 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Paul "Red" Adair[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]U-45[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Miss Colt 45"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]NJ[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Mike Thomas-Charles Dunn, Jr.[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Patterson-427 Chevrolet[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Mike Thomas[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SK-52[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"The Good Guys"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Bruce Moeriins-Donald Moerlins[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-392 Chrysler [/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Bruce Moerlins[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]53[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Big Kahuna"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Phillip Sciarroni[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-430 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Phillip Sciarroni[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SS-56[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Volk's Wagon"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]CA[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Brent Berge-Allan Mitchell[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Aqua Craft-427 H/M Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Skip Yolk[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SS-58[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Draggin By"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]TN[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Allen Crowe-Herbie De Loach[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-427 Chevrolet[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Allen Crowe[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]60[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Miss Quicky"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]CA[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Ron Larson[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-427 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Edwin L. Bradfield[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]61[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Southern Comfort"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]TN[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]George Crook-Rob Cheek[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-427 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]George W. Crook[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]62[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Viking Spirit"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]CA[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Bob Nordskog-Jake Smith[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Nordskog-427Nordskog/Chevy[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Robert Nordskog[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]64[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Curtis Craft Special"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Herb James-Herb Reeves[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Curtis Craft-427 Ford [/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Nick Chapman[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SS-67[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"How Bout That"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]CA[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Howard Brown-Lee Epstein[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Howard-426 Hemi Chrysler [/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Howard Custom Boats[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SS-68[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Rebel A'Go Go"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Reb Wickersham[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Howard-427 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Reb Wickersham[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]D-71[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Drumbeat Too"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Patrick Stone[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-426 Chrysler[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Robert J. Drummond[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]U-72[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Southern Gentlemen"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]SC[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]J. D. Hunt, Jr.-Leroy Yarborough[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-427 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]J. D. Hunt, Jr.[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]C-73[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Mr. Rat"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Ronald Lee Lane-John Wanen[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Kellison-400 Chevrolet[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Ronald Lee Lane[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]74[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Li'l Honker"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]TX[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Robert Hammond-Jim Black[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Glastron-427 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Glastron Boat[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]K-77[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Le Sabre"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]TX[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Pete" Conrad-J. Hollis Beard [/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Wesco-443 Buick[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]De Montrond Racing[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SK-92[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Shyster"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Richard Shaw-Chuck Kittel[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-392 Chrysler[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Richard L. Shaw[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]96[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Mr. Rickey's Vapor Trail"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]CT[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rickey De Montrond[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Nescher-500 H/M Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rickey De Montrond[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]98[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Rojo Grande"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]TX[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Gordon Cooper-Red Adair[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Mandella-497 Chevrolet[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Paul "Red" Adair[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]99[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Raw Hide"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]CA[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Lou Brummett[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Mandella-427 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Lou Brummett[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SK-l07[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Mar-Con"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]MI[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Troy Ruttman-Fred Denhard Bright [/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Spico-476 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Tom Cushing[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SK-130[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Blo A Go Go"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]SC[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Stevenson-Bill Smith[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-427 H/M Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Bright Stevenson, Jr.[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]174[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Sloopy"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]TX[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Hugh Halff, Jr.[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Glastron-427 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Hugh Halff, Jr.[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]337[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Flash Fire"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Mark Raymond[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Donzi-409 Chevrolet[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Mark Raymond[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]DU-721[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Go Chris Go"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]SC[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Marion Chavis-Bobby Chavis[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-427 Ford H/M[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Marion Chavis[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SK-880[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"How-Mar"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Howard Hibbert[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Hallett-395 Chrysler[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Howard Hibbert[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD></TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]ALTERNATE BOATS[/SIZE]</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SK-211[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Cynthia"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Lew Koehler-Arthur Sidelinher[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Wickins-426 Chevrolet[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Karl Sundman[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SK-123[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"The Fugitive"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]David Stoller[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Conn Craft-427 Chevrolet[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]David Stoller[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SC-232[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Miss Rayson Craft"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Marvin Friedman-Bruce Hotchkiss[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-350 Chevrolet[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Marvin Friedman[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SK-13[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Ian's Bad Boy"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]WV[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Bill Harris-Mike Horn[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Conn Craft-350 Chevrolet[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Ian M. Harris[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]44[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Schizophrenic"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]TX[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Gordon Culwell[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-427 Ford[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Gordon Culwell [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SK-2[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Mr. TT"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]TX[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Winston Powell-Barry Cummins[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-398 Chevrolet[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]C. D. Threlkeld, Jr.[/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]SK-999[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]"Gallopin' Dandruff"[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]FL[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Dick Stephan, Jr.[/SIZE]</TD><TD>[SIZE=-1]Rayson Craft-426 Ford[/SIZE]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
I see a couple of famous entrants listed. Pete Conrad the astronaut and Troy Ruttman Indy 500 winner. Conrad was racing a Buick powered boat. He was the conduit for Nomex being used for fire suits. In 1967 he told Bill Simpson about NASA using it. regards, Roland
After further review I see that Gordon Cooper was also entered in a boat owned by Red Adair. Adair had two boats entered, one of them named Inferno which was fitting as he was famous for putting out oil well fires. Roland
And former Junior Johnson driver Leroy Yarborough! Edit: May not be the same guy. Johnson's driver was spelled LeeRoy Yarbrough.
Let me see, I kinda got bad eyesite but this is what I read 1St Tiny Tim 2nd Raw-Hide 3rd Yolks Wagon 4th Fish Peddler 5th Lil Honker so that would mean the first 5 to cross the finish line were 427 Fords but sence Raw-Hide took a short cut he was placed at 19th. So that means the top 3 finishers were all powered by Holman+Moody 427 Fords. " NOW THATS HISTORY" <TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width=850 cols=1><CAPTION>[SIZE=+4]The 1967 Orange Bowl Regatta[/SIZE] from March 1967 Boating News </CAPTION><TBODY><TR><TD>BOTH ENDS OF Miami's 1967 Orange Bowl Regatta went pretty much according to past tradition. A California entry won the opening feature, January the 250 Speed Classic-while easterners dominated the concluding events held the following weekend. Like the old Nine Hour Enduro, which it now has replaced on the Orange Bowl Regatta card, the 250 Speed Classic is a showpiece for auto-engined inboards and a natural for the boys out west, Californians practically grow up in the cockpit of an SK-type hull, and are mightily taken by marathon racing. Thus, the 250 and the Nine Hour before it have been rather easy pickin's for the Golden Staters. This year, the 250 perpetual trophy was handed over by '66 winner Bob Nordskog, of Tarzana, to fellow Southern Californians Mike Wallace, 25, of Anaheim, and co-pilot Bill Cooper, 34, Los Angeles. Driving Wallace's Tiny Tim (an Unser-Ford powered 18-foot Rayson Craft which has three past Nine Hour victories to its credit), Mike and Cooper edged out 17 finishers left from the 40 boat starting field to share $3250 in prize money. The win was the fourth marathon in a row won by the Wallace-Cooper combo, which first paired up in February, 1966 to take the Colorado River Nine Hour. Following came first places in the Lake Berryessa (Calif.) Six Hour and the Salton Sea 500-Miler. Taking over on the 56th lap of the 100- lap event, the Tiny Tim team covered the 250 miles in 3 hours/49 mins/31 secs, averaging 65.4-mph. Last year, Nordskog set the course record of 67.069-mph, but the second annual running this year had heavier traffic and a bit less pressure on the leader at the close. There were two boats contending for second place at the end. Physically but unofficially, Lou Brummett was second across the finish line, two laps behind Wallace, driving an Unser-Ford Mandella. However, Brummett was disqualified to 19th position after a disputed referee decision over "cutting across the course" when Brummett's Raw Hide temporarily lost control due to a loose steering connection. Officially awarded second place honors was Brent Berge, Mesa, Arizona, who drove a 17-foot Wickens called Yolk's Wagon, powered by 427 Ford. Into third raced Miamian Mike Gorden in his Rayson Craft Fish Peddler, powered by a Holman/Moody 427 Ford. Bob Hammond saved the day for Texas by nabbing fourth spot in Li'l Honker, another 427 Ford entry and a Glastron hull. Fifth was Nordskog in the Nordskog hull/Nordskog powered Viking Spirit; and sixth was Howard Brown in How Bout That, a Howard Brown hull/426 Hemi Chrysler entry. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Rudy Ramos driving the #6 Phfft went on to win the 1969 Orange Bowl Regatta running a Cammer or Boss 429 provided by Ford This 1968 20' Marathon Rayson Craft "KM 9" was Rudy Ramos' personal race boat for the 69-72 seasons. It was originally named "Better Idea" after the new bottom design. Supposedly, only 11 of these boats were made. Rudy's first race in the boat was the 1969 Orange Bowl 250 Speed Classic in Miami, which Rudy won. The boat was shipped to Miami with no motor. Ford factory race team mechanics met the boat in Miami and installed a Cammer engine, that was under development for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, for the race. After the Race the Ford mechanics removed the motor and took it back to Dearborn. Just a couple of tweeks to the story. The engine in the boat at the Orange Bowl was a Boss 429 with stack injection, not a Cammer. It may posibly have been a 494 CanAm engine, and the injection may have been a timed Bosch unit that was popular in CanAm at the time. In 1969 ford was done with the cammer. In fact they were so done with the Fe program by that time that before Rudy returned from Miami, Ford had Homan and Moody delievered 12-14 Medium riser 427s to Rudy's shop as a reward for winning the Orange Bowl. Ford/Holman Moody told him they had no use for the engines any more. The name "Better Idea" was not due to the boats bottom, it was at Ford's request. That was a sales slogan of Ford's in the 60's. It wasn't the first Ford powered boat with the name. Mike Reagan (Ronnie's boy) used the name on both 18 ft Raysons LPs, and 18 ft Aquacrafts with cammer power earlier.
Frank, I was just watching T/F Harley videos......and Frank Spittle-Harley Davidson of Charlotte "Freight Train" bike.....well.....? Was that you?
It was. I drag raced motorcycles from 1963 (age 19) to 1985. "The Freight Train" was a T/F Harley with two Sportster engines. Harley Davidson of Charlotte was my sponsor. It was the last bike I raced.
Wow! Does everyone else know this? Matbe I'm just late to the party? I have a friend here in Indy who has crewed on some fuel cars and currently builds parts for many of the teams in Brownsburg. I would often see T/F bikes at his shop as well and I have always liked them. Now back to the H/M stuff. Hey, and quit showing up on every drag racing thread I click on!
I have a jacket with the Holman-Moody patch on the front and a Competition Proven patch on the back. They are just like those in the catalog above. I used to have a stack of the gold foil HM birds mentioned in the catalog, I probably have some left if I could find them. I got these in '69 while there getting bearings for our stroker Boss 302. We also had the Competition Proven large fender decals on our dirt car at that time. I was like a kid in a candy shop looking around there.
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