March 6th, 1988: Rockingham, NC: 23 lead changes among 9 drivers, 7 cautions for 40 laps. Pole Winner: Bill Elliott at 146.612 mph.
But when the dust had settled Neil Bonnett, (started 30th, Pontiac, race avg at 120.159,) had edged Lake Speed by less than a second. Here’s my build of my friend Neil’s winning ride. Can you tell me what is the glaring error on this model is?
Hi mitchum,[:)]
I’ll take a wild stab at it and say that I don’t see any exhaust pipe.
Jim[4:-)]
Good guess but it’s the tires. Neil ran on the then new Hoosiers but I didn’t have any dry transfers when I built the car and was stuck with the kit Goodyears. They were running both the exhaust pipes out the right side then to get the car lower on the left side. The minimum ride height was measured from the lowest point on the car which was usually the exhaust so they could lower the car and still meet the minimum clearances on the left side.
As Johnny Carson used to say “I…didn’t…know…that”.[D)] I’ll file that in the Nascar trivia section of my brain.
Seriously tho, that is one Great Build.[bow][bow] Started a Monogram Kyle Petty Pontiac a long, long time ago but it got sidelined for one reason or another.[BH] Might just pull it out of the closet, dust it off, and work on it again. That gives me an idea.[:-,] I’m in the 50’s GB with a '53 Chevy. Doesn’t start till April 16th. What do you think about a '53 Chevy Nascar? Know anyone who drove one? I should know, but, at my age the first thing that goes is…is…is…I forgot. Sort of followed Nascar back in the 50’s and 60’s but have long forgotten all those little details that would help in the build. I now watch it once in a while when I get a chance, but that’s not as often as I’d like.
Jim[4:-)]
There may have been a Chevy of that vintage but I can’t think of one off hand. I can check the race results for those years but I’m not sure about getting any pics, especially color, of it.
The Chevy just wasn’t a “weapon of choice” in those years of almost completely “Stock” stock car racers because they only had six cylinder engines and even the old flathead Ford, not to mention the Hudsons and Oldsmobiles, had’em covered as far as horsepower went. That all changed in '55 though.
Maybe a later time frame '53 dirt track car with one of those bored out GMC school bus six cylinders? I think I can find you some color reference for those. Cut out fenders and some hand lettered graphics would really stand out from the usual “cookie cutter” custom and show car builds. Thanks for the nice comments on my little Pontiac.
Hi mitchum,[:)] Your recollection is outstanding.[bow] Reading it brought back seeing pictures of those times with the Olds and Hudsons. I didn’t follow Nascar as closely as you as I was into Drag Racing at that time. Raced a red '53 Chevy convertible. Ran basicly “Stock” with just a few modifications. Blueprinted the engine and installed an “outside oil line”. The oil returns had a very bad habit of clogging up just at the wrong time. Also installed a '53 cab tranny that had oversize heavy duty gears after blowing up the original at the starting line the week before. Won a couple of trophies but usually ended up in the middle of the class. That’s why I had 4-'53 Chevys in my stash and decided to build one for the GB. Was going to build a copy of my car but decided to make it a street rod. A dirt track car sounds like a great idea. If you could find those references, that would be fantastic. It would make a great car for the GB.
Jim[4:-)]
Fox, here’s a pic of my friend’s vintage racer he runs locally in the historic events. It’ll give you an idea of how things were back then. Some ran stock bumpers with some 3" or 4" channel iron mounted behind it for strength. The nerf bars are also a matter of personal and agressive tastes. The passenger side window would sometimes be enlarged to aid in the entry and exit of driver and the rear window (backlight) would sometimes be enlarged to help the access of spare tires and tool boxes that would be carried inside the racer that was trailered or flat towed. Far cry from the enclosed trailer/machine shop that is the norm today. We may have not been “bucks up” but I remember it being a lot more fun back then.
mitchum, you are the greatest.[bow][bow][bow] The pic gives me all kinds of ideas. Even the rusty trailer looks great. I’m going to have to check all my parts boxes. I have a trailer that looks just like that. Used it in a contest once in the '60’s with a matching pick-up and a AA/Fuel on the trailer. Hope I saved it.
Thanks for all the great info and the picture. I really appreciate it.[#toast]