1967 – Super Stock regains some sanity..(..and Grumpy finally gets there in a Chevy!)

1967
Winternationals	WINNER	LOSER	CAR	MOTOR	ET/MPH
Super Stock Eliminator	Eddie Vasquez	Ed Miller – 65 Plymouth RO1 A990- 426cui/425hp 2x4V crossram Race Hemi – Plymouth Rock II –  (SS/A) 11.18 @ 123mph	Chevy II – Too Costly – (SS/C) (838)	327cui/350hp 4V	12.74 @ 106.25
Super Stock A Stick – SS/A	Ed Miller	Bob Brown – Plymouth RO1 A990 426cui/425hp 2x4V crossram Race Hemi 12.82 @ 109.35	65 Plymouth RO1 A990- Plymouth Rock II	426cui/425hp 2x4V crossram Race Hemi	11.66 @ 123.28
Super Stock A Auto- SS/AA	Joe Smith	Lyn Balek/Tom Crutchfield – 65 Dodge WO1 A990 – 426cui/425hp 2x4V crossram Race Hemi – The original Satisfaction 11.95 @ 123.96	65 Plymouth RO1 A990 – (Fenner  Tubbs)	426cui/425hp 2x4V crossram Race Hemi	11.27 @ 108.56
SS/B	Don Grotheer	Arlen Vanke – 67 Plymouth GTX – 426cui/425hp Street Hemi, 2×4 inline  – (116) Red-light	67 Plymouth GTX – Cable  Car  – (723)	426cui/425hp Street Hemi, 2×4 inline	11.88 @ 94.84
SS/BA	Richard Charbonneau	Jim Clark – 64  LW Plymouth – 426cui/425hp Maxwedge 2x4V crossram Stge III  – Determination 12.16 @ 116.27	66 Plymouth Belvedere II – (Downtown)	426cui/425hp Street Hemi 2x4v in-line	11.91 @ 119.68
SS/C	Eddie Vasquez	Bill Jenkins – 66 Chevy II – 327cui/350hp 4V  –  Grumpy’s Toy II (766) – Red light	66 Chevy II-Too Costly – (838)	327cui/350hp 4V	12.72 @ 107.91
SS/CA	Arlen Vanke	Jack Freese – 63 Plymouth MaxwedgeII (Lo comp).  426cui/415hp 2x4V crossram  12.19 @ 117.64	63 LW Plymouth  Savoy –  Ole Brownie	426cui/415hp Maxwedge II (Lo comp) 2x4V cross ram	11.92 @ 117.64
SS/D	Wally Booth	Wes Evans – Chevrolet 13.11 @ 79.64	66 Chevelle- (Dynamic Speed Centre) – (700)	L78 396cui/375hp 4V	11.91 @ 119.94
SS/DA	NO ENTRIES
SS/E	Ron Garey	Valknoff & Lombardo – Chevrolet 14.06 @ 105.88	67 Olds 442 – White Power  – (Chesrown Oldsmobile)	400cui/360hp 3x2V Tri Carb W30 Ram Air	12.36 @ 114.06
SS/EA	Dave Kempton	Frank Grossi – Pontiac  13.95 @ 79.92	62 Plymouth Fury – Shaker	383cui/343hp 2x4V in-line	13.03 @ 108.43
Jr Stock Eliminator	Douglas & Forys	Keith Berg– 50 Oldsmobile 88 – 303cui/135hp – Old Action – (MS)  (772) 16.37 @ 78.60	60 Pontiac Wagon – (G/SA) (771)	389cui/318hp 3x2V tri-power	14.42 @ 95.94
A/S	Bill Izykowski  DQ’d in error -See Driver notes	Wiley Cossey – 66 Chev Biscayne – L72 427cui/425hp 4V Mk IV Semi Hemi – (Casler Tires) –  Declared winner however opponent DQ overturned.	66 Chev Biscayne – Kicks –  (813)	L72 427cui/425hp 4V Mk IV Semi Hemi	DQ’d – See Driver notes  12.31 @ 113.92
A/SA	NO ENTRIES
Spring Nationals – Bristol	WINNER	LOSER	WINNERS CAR	MOTOR	ET/MPH
Super Stock Eliminator	Ronnie Sox	Ron Mancini – 63 LW Plymouth 426cui /425hp MaxWedge (Hi Comp) cross ram – ZoomO- (SS/BA)	67 Plymouth GTX (SS/B) – The Boss – (835)	426cui/425hp 2x4V in line RO23 cold air hood	11.34 @ 123.45
Super Stock A Stick – SS/A	John Hagen		65 Plymouth RO1 A990-	426cui/425hp 2x4V crossram Race Hemi	11.15 @ 123.28
Super Stock A Auto – SS/AA	Paul Richardson		65 Dodge A990 WO1 – Hustlin Hemi – (997)	426cui/425hp 2x4V crossram Race Hemi	11.58 @ 121.29
SS/B	Ronnie Sox		67 Plymouth GTX – (835)	426cui/425hp 2x4V in-line RO23 cold air hood	11.50 @ 121.95
SS/BA	Ron Mancini		63 LW Plymouth Savoy – ZoomO	426cui /425hp (Hi comp) MaxWedge II 2x4v cross ram	11.94 @ 113.06
SS/C	Bill Jenkins	Barrie Poole- 67 Mercury Comet Wagon – 427cui/410hp 4V- W Code  – The Collector II – (742)	67 Camaro – Grumpy’s Toy III – (777)	L78 396cui/375hp 4v	11.77 @ 111.80
SS/CA	Arlen Vanke		63 LW Plymouth Savoy  – Ole Brownie	426cui/415hp (Lo comp) 2x4V cross ram Maxwedge II	12.03 @ 116.42
SS/D	Wally Booth		66 Chevelle –  (Dynamic Speed Centre)	L78 396cui/375hp 4v	11.80 @ 119.36
SS/DA	Tommy Clise		62 Plymouth Savoy 2dr sed.	413/410hp 2x4V crossram lo comp	12.65 @ 112.07
SS/E	Mike Fredericks		67 Plymouth GTX – (Aikey Chrysler – Vanke team) –	440cui/375hp 4V	12.70 @ 109.35
SS/EA	Dick Arons		67 Camaro – (Dynamic Speed Center )	L35 396cui/325hp 4V	12.23 @ 114.35
Jr Stock Eliminator	Jay Hamilton	George Cureton – Tokyo Rose – 56 Chevy Delivery – 265cui/225Hp 4V -(I/SA) – (818)	58 Pontiac Bonneville – (E/SA) (782)	370cui/330hp TriPower	13.85 @ 101.69
A/S	Otis ‘Red’ Rigsby		66 Chevelle –The Red Car – (830)	L78 396 cui/375hp 4V	20.27 @ 51.6
A/SA	Ray McClelland/Ben Wolf		62 Pontiac Catalina – Weidner Pontiac (888)	421cui/405hp 2x4V Super Duty	12.98 @ 110.42
Indy Nationals
	WINNER	LOSER	WINNERS CAR	MOTOR	ET/MPH
Super Stock Eliminator	Bill Jenkins	Bob Brown  – 65 Plymouth RO1 426cui/425hp 2x4V crossram Race Hemi-(Green & Brown)(SS/A)	67 Chevrolet Camaro (SS/C) – Grumpy’s Toy III – (777)	L78 396cui/375hp 4V	11.55 @ 115.97
Super Stock A Stick SS/A	Bob Brown	John Hagen – 426cui/425hp 2x4V crossram Race Hemi –   11.10 @ 123.45	65 Plymouth RO1 A990 – (Green & Brown)	426cui/425hp 2x4V crossram Race Hemi	11.01 @ 123
Super Stock A Auto – SS/AA	DQ	Leonard Hughes	65 Plymouth RO1 A990-(Moonshot)	426cui/425hp 2x4V crossram Race Hemi	11.61
SS/B	Herb McCandless (R.L.Sullivan car)	Ed Terry – 66 Fairlane Lightweight – 427cui /425hp 2x4V R code (754) – DQ’d – see Driver notes	Plymouth Belvedere RO23 – The Hillbilly – (772)	426cui/425hp 2x4V inline RO23 Street Hemi	11.33 @ 123.65
SS/BA	Tom Myl	Arlen Vanke – 67 Plymouth GTX (RO23 cold air) – 426cui/425hp 2x4V inline Street Hemi – (Aikey Chrysler) (1310) 11.82	67 Plymouth Belvedere RO23 – (Pete Myl Garage)  (839)	426cui/425hp 2x4V inline RO23 Street Hemi	11.64 @ 121.29
SS/C	Bill Jenkins	Solo Run	67 Camaro – Grumpy’s Toy III – (777)	L78 396cui/375hp 4V	14.79 @ 109.22
SS/CA	Ron Mancini	Gale Fink – 63 Plymouth – 426cui /415hp MaxWedge II (Lo Comp) 2x4v cross ram – (Fink Used Cars.) 11.99	63 Plymouth Savoy – ZoomO–	426cui /415hp MaxWedge II (Lo Comp) 2x4v cross ram	11.72 @ 103.56
SS/D	Wally Booth	Chuck Goodner – 67 Chevelle – L78 396cui/375hp 4v 23.25	66 Chevelle – (Dynamic Speed Center)	L78 396cui/375hp 4v	12.02 @ 87.97
SS/DA	Tommy Clise	Newt Thomas – 63 Plymouth wagon – 413cui/410hp 4V 12.26 @ 114.64	62 Plymouth Belvedere	383cui/343hp 2x4V in-line	12.26 @ 111.80
SS/E	Bill Shrewsberry	Gary Ostrich  – 67 Plymouth GTX – 440cui/375hp 4V 12.29 @ 110.70	67 Plymouth GTX – (Sox & Martin)  – (718)	440cui/375hp 4V	11.95 @ 112.21
SS/EA	DQ	Dick Arons	67 Camaro-(Dynamic Speed Center)-  (880)	L35 396cui/325hp 4V	12.87 @ 108.85
Jr Stock Eliminator	Ben Wenzel	Gunning Bros. 57 Chev Delivery – 283cui /245hp 2V – Jolly Green Giant – (G/S) (951)	Z28 67 Chev Camaro  (B/S) (751)	302cui/290hp 4V	12.33 @ 113.92
A/S	Michael Hoover	John James – 66 Chev Biscayne – L72 427cui/425hp 4V Mk IV Semi Hemi –  Semi Hemi	66 Chevrolet Biscayne-  Chevy’s Revenge – (100)	L72 427cui/425hp 4V Mk IV Semi Hemi	12.01 @ 107.18
A/SA	Bill Morgan and Pete Tritak	David McKenna – 63 Plymouth Wagon-426cui/415hp (Lo comp) 2x4V cross ram Maxwedge II – Ward (756)	63 Plymouth – War Wagon – (890)	426cui/415hp (Lo comp) 2x4V cross ram Maxwedge II	12.53 @ 103.21
World Finals Tulsa, Oak.	WINNER	LOSER	WINNERS CAR	MOTOR	ET/MPH
SuperStock Eliminator	Ed Miller	Dick Arons Camaro L35 396cui/325hp  4V– (SS/EA)	65 Plymouth RO1 A990 – Plymouth Rock II – (SS/A)	426cui/425hp 2x4V crossram Race Hemi	11.19
Jr Stock Eliminator	George Cureton	Wally Nisson – 56 Chev – 265cui/225hp   2x4V (Plaza Shell) (H/S) (725) –  Red light	58 Chev Delivery  – Tokyo Rose –  (G/SA)- (818)	265cui/225Hp 2x4V	13.85

WINTERNATIONALS – Pomona, CA – February 5 – Many of the ‘new’ cars were still not available – 67 ‘O23’ Mopars and 67 LW Fairlanes were absent.

There were no ‘established’ records in SS…but they used the 66 S/S record for SS/A.

Lower classes set records with their best run of the day …..so the Top Stock winner Vasquez took full advantage…set the bar artificially slow ..and ran right on the record of 12.72 all day…..his car was capable of a 12.1 ET with the Jenkins motor he’d bought after the class run offs. 

Ron Garey after returning from the Winter Nationals. The ‘T’ sticker indicates a class winner. -pic courtesy Tweed Vorhees

Vasquez…a ‘forgotten’ winner.

Jenkins fouls out 1st round at the Winters on a red light- sold his motor to Vasquez and the ‘little guy’ had his moment in the sun…The last time we’d see Grumpy in the the Chevy II.

SPRINGNATIONALS –  Bristol, TN – June 11 – Saw the appearance of the Chev 396 , 350, 327 and 302 cui Camaros, 7 factory backed 427/425 SS/B Fairlanes…and the 67 ‘O23’ 426/425 SS/B Street Hemi Mopars.  The SS/A 65 Race Hemi Mopars were still in it…but their numbers were declining to the Altered Wheel Base classes.

All 7 factory Fairlanes were lack-lustre – heads and intakes were blamed – but the most notable event was the red-lighting of the 67 Fords…all were out of Top Stock by the end of the first round! (Mopar would do the same in 68 at the WinterNats).  

Sox won Top Stock in hIs SS/B  ‘GTX’ car (Not his RO23) over Ron Mancini’s 63 Maxwedge.

 

Ken Gunning – R/up Stock Eliminator – SpringNationals

INDY NATIONALS – Indianapolis, IN –  September 4 – 30 cars were lined up for Top Stock.  The meet was marred by the death of Funny Car driver Delmar (Del) Heinelt, who’s Mustang funny car collided with the barrier at 164 mph. 

Indy Nationals results

Indy Nationals results

Ron Mancini’s 63 Plymouth started the season in SS/BA with his Hi Comp 425 HP Lightweight 63 car…..ended at Indy in SS/CA running the Low Comp 415HP Lightweight combo.  He trailered the new SS/CA Camaros.

Bill Jenkins (SS/C) 396 Camaro gets the handicap over Bob Brown (SS/AA) Mopar at Indy.  Jenkins held on to win his 2nd NHRA SS Eliminations crown, his first in a Chev. Ironically, Jenkins won in 65 in a Plymouth identical to Brown’s.

WORLD FINALS – Tulsa, OK – October 29 – Attempts were made by the NHRA to eliminate ‘sand-bagging’ after the Vasquez embarrassment.   A change in how the class record was established was made, and the field reduced from 30 to 16 cars in Top Stock eliminations. Prevailing winds and recent track preparation impeded the times of the faster SS cars.

Ed Miller waits…to win the world championship.

“In an effort to make the track better for the racers, the NHRA or the track operator had “scraped” the track. We’re not talking about scraping like we see on modern tracks but rather they actually heated the asphalt with torches and skimmed the top layer of it off! This was done to make the surface better but it turned the place into a kind of a nightmare with loose stones and lots of tire spin (more than usual)”- (Courtesy Bangshift videos) .

At the green in a misting rain, Ed Miller (left of pic) kept the Race Hemi Plymouth straight and hooked to take home the World Championship, over Dick Arons/ Jenkins team Camaro. Sweet victory after the Jenkins’ part in Miller’s Winternats loss.

Dick Arons- 67 World Champ runner up – running his 396cui/325hp Camaro in SS/EA.

CAR AND DRIVER NOTES

Btwn 65-67, NHRA had a rule banning cars under 8.0lbs per CID (Not to be confused with lb/hp factoring) from SS/A. Its purpose  was to maintain some ‘stock’ integrity.

The following cars were booted from SS/A- 

64 426/425hp LW Plymouth A864 Race Hemi sedan and hardtop – (500hp)- 3234/426=7.59lbs

64 427/425hp Fairlane Thunderbolt (500hp) – 3203/427= 7.50 lbs

Also

– 63 Plymouth/Dodge 415hp Lo Comp Maxwedge cars started running alloy noses and were accepted into SS/C.

– A ‘One off’ FE 427 Comet wagon was accepted into SS/C.

– L78 396/375hp Camaro entered for first year.

– Unaccountably, cold air and flat hood Street Hemis both ran in SS/B, assessed as making the same HP.

– Ford Fairlane 427/410hp 4V WCode & 427/425hp R code – Where do we start?  The 4V and 8V came in two combos – Flat hood and ‘Glass’ hood.  NHRA re-factored the ‘steel’ 8V to 460HP…….The ‘’cold air” cars…4V to 420 HP, 8V to 470HP – So we had 410, 420, 460 and 470hp cars, all wearing similar skin! 

FACTORING

Re-Factored hp in brackets.

Pwr/Weight factor listed

SS/A 0-6.99

• 65 426/425hp 8V Race Hemi LW (Milled steel, cold air) Hemi Dodge/Plymouth, (500hp) – 6.82 – 3410

SS/B. 7.0-7.69

• 67 427/425hp 8V, med riser glass Fairlane 500 2dr sed (470HP) – 7.02 – 3300
• 67 427/425hp 8V, med riser glass Fairlane 500 2dr sed (470HP) – 7.02 – 3300
• 67 427/425hp 8V, med riser steel Fairlane Club 2dr sed (460HP) – 7.17- 3300
• 67 427/425hp 8V, med riser glass Fairlane 500 2dr H/top (470HP) – 7.19 – 3380
• 67 427/425hp 8V med riser Mercury Comet 202 (460HP) – 7.19 – 3308
• 67 427/425hp 8V, med riser steel Fairlane 500 2dr H/top (460HP) – 7.43- 3420
• 64 427/425hp 8V Hi riser Galaxie 500 ‘Lightweight’ (Cold air) (500hp) 7.50 – 3749
• 67 427/425hp 8V  med riser Mercury Comet GT (F’glass hood) (460hp) –  7.53 – 3464
• 63 426/425hp 8V Alloy Maxwedge Plym Savoy 2dr sed. (Cold air)- 7.54 – 3204
• 62 413/420hp 8V Steel Maxwedge Plymouth Savoy – 7.58. – 3184
• 66/67 426/425hp 8V in line Street Hemi Plym Belv I 2dr sed(480hp) 7.58 – 3638
• 63 426/425hp 8V Alloy Maxwedge Dodge 330 2dr sed (Cold air)- 7.60 – 3230
• 63 426/425hp 8V Alloy Maxwedge Dodge 330 Wagon 6p (Cold air)- 7.60 – 3489
• 64 426/425hp 8V Alloy Maxwedge 2dr Plym Savoy sed (Cold air) – 7.61 – 3234
• 66/67 426/425hp 8V in-line St Hemi Dodge Coronet Deluxe 2dr sed (480HP) – 7.63 – 3663
• 66/67 426/425hp 8V in-line St Hemi Plym Belv Htop (480hp) – 7.65 – 3672
• 67 426/425hp 8V in-line St Hemi Plym Belv Htop RO23 (Cold air) (480hp) – 7.65 – 3672
• 64 426/425hp 8V Alloy Maxwedge 2dr Dodge 440 (Cold air) Htop – 7.67 – 3259
• 66/67 426/425hp 8V in-line St Hemi Coronet 400 H/top (Flat hood) (480hp) – 7.68 – 3676
• 67 426/425hp 8V in-line St Hemi Coronet  H/top WO23 (Cold air) (480hp) – 7.68 – 3676 

SS/C 7.70-8.69

• 63 426/415hp 8V Alloy Maxwedge Plym Savoy 2dr sed  (Cold air)- 7.73 – 3207
• 65 427/425hp 8V med riser Ford Custom 2dr sedan (460hp) – 7.74- 3560
• 67 426/425hp 8V inline St Hemi Plym GTX H/top (flat hood) (480HP)-7.75 – 3722
• 63 426/415hp 8V Alloy Maxwedge Dodge 330 2dr sed (Cold air)- 7.79 – 3232
• 63 426/415hp 8V Alloy Maxwedge Dodge 330 2dr sed (Cold air)- 7.79 – 3232
• 64 426/425hp 8V Steel Maxwedge 2dr Plym Savoy sed – 7.79 – 3310
• 62 413/420hp 8V Steel Maxwedge Dodge Dart – 7.80 – 3276
• 67 427/ 410hp 4V med riser, glass Fairlane 500 2dr sed (420HP) 7.80 – 3280
• 67 426/425hp 8V inline St Hemi Dodge Coronet R/T,Flat hood, (480HP)- 7.83 – 3758
• 63 426/425hp 8V Steel Maxwedge Plymouth Savoy 2dr sedan- 7.84 – 3333
• 63 426/425hp 8V Steel Maxwedge Dodge 330 2dr sedan- 7.90 –  3357
• 63 426/425hp 8V Steel Maxwedge Dodge 330 Wagon 6p – 7.90- 3357
• 63 427/430hp 8V Chev Impala LW Z11 – 7.90 (Not legal – build #s) -3397
• 65 427/425hp 8V med riser Ford Galaxie 2dr H/top  (460hp) – 7.91- 3638
• 67 427/410hp 4V med riser steel Fairlane  Club 2 dr sed – 8.0 – 3280
• 67 427/ 410hp 4V med riser glass Fairlane 500 2dr H/top (420HP) – 8.0 – 3360
• 64 426/425hp 8V Steel Maxwedge 2dr Plym Belv sedans – 8.01 – 3404
• 64 426/425hp 8V Steel Maxwedge 2dr Plym Belv Htop – 8.01 – 3404
• 63 426/415hp 8V Steel Maxwedge PlymSavoy 2dr sedan – 8.03 – 3332
• 67 427/410hp 4V med riser Mercury Comet 202  – 8.04  – 3300
• 67 427/425hp 8V, med riser steel Fairlane 500 2dr Vert (460HP) – 8.06- 3708
• 64 426/425hp 8V Steel Maxwedge 2dr Dodge 330 sedans – 8.07 – 3349
• 66/67 327/350hp 4V 2ds Chevy II 100 – 8.07 – 2824
• 63 426/415hp 8V Steel Maxwedge Dodge 330 2dr sedan- 8.09 – 3357
• 67 427/410hp 4V med riser steel Fairlane 500 2dr sed- 8.09 – 3320
• 66/67 427/425hp  8V med riser Galaxie custom (460hp) – 8.09 – 3720
• 64 426/425hp 8V Steel Maxwedge 2dr Dodge 440 Htop – 8.11 3259
• 66/67 426/425hp 8V Street Hemi Dodge Charger 2dr fastback (480hp) – 8.13 – 3904
• 65 427/425hp 8V med riser Ford LTD 2dr H/top (460hp)-  8.15- 3749
• 64 426/415hp 8V Steel Maxwedge 2dr Plym Savoy sedans – 8.18 – 3332
• 64 426/415hp 8V Steel Maxwedge 2dr Plym Belv Htop – 8.20 – 3403
• 63 426/425hp 8V Alloy Maxwedge Plym Belv Wagon  (Cold air) 6p – 8.20 – 3485
• 66/67 327/350hp 4V Nova L79 Hardtop – 8.22 –  2877
• 65 427/425hp 8V med riser Ford Galaxie  XL 2dr h/top (460hp)-  8.23 – 3786
• 67 427/425hp 8V, med riser steel Fairlane 6p wagon  (460HP) – 8.24 – 3792
• 65 427/425hp 8V med riser Ford LTD 4dr H/top (460hp) – 8.24 – 3831
• 66/67 427 /425hp 8V med riser Galaxie H/top (460hp) – 8.25 – 3796
• 64 426/415hp 8V Steel Maxwedge 2dr Dodge 330 sedans – 8.27 – 3432
• 67 427/410hp 4V  med riser Mercury Comet GT -8.29 – 3400
• 67 427/410hp 4V med riser steel Fairlane 500 2dr H/Top – 8.29 – 3400
• 64 426/415hp 8V Steel Maxwedge 2dr Plym Belv sedans – 8.30 – 3445
• 64 426/415hp 8V Steel Maxwedge 2dr Dodge 440 Htop – 8.31 – 3448
• 65 427/425hp 8V med riser Ford LTD 4dr H/top (460hp) – 8.35 – 3841
• 63 426/425hp 8V Alloy Maxwedge Plym Belv Wagon 9p  (Cold air)- 8.35 – 3548
• 65 427/425hp 8V Lo riser Ford Custom 2dr sedan – 8.38 – 3561
• 65 427/425hp 8V med riser Ford Custom 2dr sedan (460hp) – 8.38 – 3897
• 67 396/375hp 4V L78 Camaro Coupe stick – 8.42 – 3161
• 63 426/425hp 8V Steel Maxwedge Plymouth Belv Wagon 6p – 8.49 – 3608
• 66/67 427/425hp 8V med Ford LTD – 2dr H/top (460hp)  – 8.49 – 3906
• 63 426/425hp 8V Steel Maxwedge Dodge 330 Wagon 6p – 8.51 3574
• 65 427/425hp 8V Lo riser Ford Galaxie  2h/top – 8.56 3638
• 66/67 427/425hp 8V med riser LTD 4dr H/top(460hp) – 8.59 –  3952
• 63 426/425hp 8V Steel Maxwedge Plymouth Belv Wagon 9p – 8.64 – 3672
• 66/67 427/425hp 8V med riser Ford Galaxie 500 Convert (460hp) – 8.65 – 3979

SS/D 8.7 – 9.49

• 63 426/415hp 8V Steel Maxwedge Plymouth Belv Wagon 6p – 8.70 – 3610
• 63 426/415hp 8V Steel Maxwedge Dodge 330 Wagon 6p – 8.71 – 3754
• 62 413/410hp 8V in-line Steel Maxwedge Dodge 330 Wagon 9p – 8.75 – 3587
• 66/67  327/350hp 4V Chevy II wagon – 8.75- 3062
• 66 427/425hp 4V Chev Biscayne – 8.76 – 3723
• 67 427/410hp 4V med riser steel Fairlane 500 2dr Vert (420HP) – 8.78 – 3688
• 62 409/409hp 8V Chev Biscayne 2dr sedan – 8.79 – 3595
• 62 409/409hp 8V Chev Belair 2dr bubbletop – 8.81 – 3603
• 65 427/425hp 8V Lo riser Gal LTD 2ht – 8.82- 3748
• 63 426/415hp 8V Steel Maxwedge Plymouth Belv Wagon 9p – 8.85 – 3672
• 67 396/375hp 4V Chevelle SS stick – 8.90 – 3337
• 65 427/425hp 8V Lo riser Ford Galaxie  XL 2dr h/top –  8.91 – 3786
• 65 396/375hp 4V Z16 Chevy Malibu stick – 8.93- 3350
• 67 427/410hp 4V med riser steel Fairlane 6p Wagon (420HP) -8.98 – 3772
• 66 396/375hp 4V Chevelle stick – 8.99 – 3372
• 63 427/425hp 8V lo riser Steel Galaxie 2ht – 9.02 – 3833
• 66/67 427/410hp 4V med riser Galaxie 2dr Custom- 9.03 – 3702
• 63 427/425hp 8V lo riserFord Galaxie Custom 2d sedan-8v – 9.03 – 3837
• 65 427/425hp 8V Lo riser LTD 4h/top – 9.04 – 3842
• 62 421/405hp 6V Pontiac Super Duty LW – 9.05 (No 63s – Build #s) – 3665
• 62 406/405hp 6v Ford Galaxie 2dr sedan- 9.07 –  3673
• 67 396/375hp 4V L78 Camaro vert stick -9.12 – 3422
• 65 409/409hp 4V Chevrolet Biscayne – 9.14- 3740
• 67 400/325hp 4V Pontiac Firebird RA1 (Ram air) (360HP) – 9.17- 3300
• 67 427/410hp 4V med riser steel Fairlane 4d6p Wagon -9.2 – 3772
• 66/67 427/410hp 4V med riser Galaxie 2dr H/top- 9.21 – 3776
• 65 409/400hp L31 Chevrolet Biscayne – 9.35 – 3740
• 66 396/360hp 4V Chevelle stick – 9.36 – 3372
• 64 427/425hp 8V lo riser Custom 2dr sed -9.41 -3999
• 64 427/425hp 8V lo riser Custom 500 2dr sed 9.44- 4016
• 67 396/375hp 4V Chevelle SS Vert – 9.45 – 3545
• 63 427/410hp 4V  lo riser Galaxie HT – 9.48 3886
• 66/67 427/410hp 4V med riser Gal LTD – 2dr H/top – 9.48 – 3886
• 64 427/425hp 8V lo riser Galaxie 500 2dr sed – 9.50- 4038

SS/E 9.5-up

• 63 406/405hp 3x2V Galaxie – 9.51 – 3851
• 63 427/410hp 4V lo riser Galaxie – 9.52 – 3903
• 64 427/425hp 8V lo riser Galaxie 500 2dr H/top – 9.52- 4046
• 67 400/360hp 4V Pontiac GTO RA1 ( Ram Air) – 9.52 – 3425
• 62 383/343hp 8V in line Plym Belvedere – 9.54 – 3272
• 66 389/360hp 3x2V GTO RA1 (Ram air) – 9.57 – 3444
• 67 400/360hp 4V  Oldsmobile 442 W30 (Ram air)- 9.59 – 3452
• 66 400/360hp 3x2V  Oldsmobile 442 W30 (Ram air)- 9.59 – 3452
• 66/67 427/410hp 4V med riser Ford LTD 4dr H/top – 9.59 – 3932
• 67 390/320hp 4V Mustang Coupe – 9.60 – 3075
• 67 440/375hp 4V Plymouth GTX H/Top – 9.61- 3604
• 64 427/425hp 8V  lo riser Galaxie 500 XL 2dr H/top – 9.61- 4084
• 62 383/343hp  8V in line Dodge Polara 2dr sed – 9.66 – 3087
• 67 390/320hp 4V Mustang 2dr F/back – 9.7- 3104
• 67 396/325hp 4V L35 FHC Camaro, – 9.73 – 3161
• 64 427/410hp 4V lo riser Gal Custom 2dr sed – 9.75-3999
• 64 427/410hp 4V hi riser Gal Custom 2dr sed – 9.75-3999
• 64 427/410hp 4V lo riser Gal Custom 500 2dr sed- 9.79 – 4016
• 64 427/410hp 4V lo riser Galaxie 500 2dr sed – 9.85 – 4038
• 64 427/410hp 4V hi riser Galaxie 500 2dr sed – 9.85- 4038
• 64 427/410hp 4V lo riser Galaxie 500 2dr H/top – 9.87- 4046
• 66 390/335hp 4V med riser Mercury Comet GT – 9.89 – 3313
• 67 440/375hp 4V  Dodge Charger 2dr f/back  -9.94 – 3728
• 64 427/410hp 4V lo riser Galaxie 500 XL 2dr H/top -9.96 – 4084
• 67 350/295hp 4V Camaro FHC stick – 10.13 – 2991
• 66 390/335hp 4V Mercury Comet GT Hardtop – 10.14 – 3400
• 67 302/290hp 4V Z28 FHC Camaro – 10.19 – 2955
• 62 361/ 305hp 4V Fury/Belv/Savoy/Dart/330/440 – 10.35 – 3156
• 62 361/305hp 4V Plymouth Belvedere – 10.36 – 3159
• 66 396/325hp 4V Chevelle SS – 10.38 – 3372
• 67 396/325hp 4V L35 Camaro Vert- 10.52- 3422
• 62 389/363hp 3x2V Pontiac Catalina – 10.60 – 3847
• 65 289/271hp 4V HiPo Mustang – 10.60 – 2872
• 60 389/363hp 3x2V Pontiac – 10.60 – 3848
• 65 383/330hp 4V Plymouth Satellite – 10.62 – 3504
• 66 390/335hp 4V Mercury Comet Convertible- 10.9 – 3651
• 67 383/280hp 4V Plymouth Barracuda Notchback – 11.13- 3119

After the trailer mishap totalled out the red ‘Grumpy’s Toy’ unibody Chevy II, this white V8 4 speed 327 became ‘Grumpy’s Toy 2’…for the Winter Nationals.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

BILL IZYKOWSKI – Bill won A/Stock class at the Winters, however a tech assistant measuring valve spring heights confused the intake and exhaust measurement, Bill was incorrectly DQ’d and Wiley Cossey certified as winner.  Bill appealed but by the time the error was discovered, he was told it was too late to reverse the decision. Wiley Cossey would not relinquish the certification. 

 ED TERRY – Was another hard luck story of the Indy Nats.  Terry just tipped out Herb McCandless in the RO23 Plymouth ‘Hillbilly’ in SS/B, but was then DQ’d. There are two backstories –

1 –Just before Indy ’67 Ford produced the tunnel wedge 2×4 intake, special SK heads, and a pair of 652 Holleys AC and AD for the 427 Fairlanes and installed some of them on cars at the Nationals at Paul Harvey Ford.  Most of the Fairlanes were ’67s but Terry’s was a ’66 NOT retrimmed as a ’67, evidently Ford listed the new parts with NHRA as legal on the ’67 cars, not on Terry’s ’66 so he was DQd.

2-There an interview with Ed Terry explaining the win and he was disqualified because the pistons he used that were legal were not registered the time of the race. Ed appealed NHRA decision and his win was reinstated almost a year later. This is all from one of Eds last live interviews.

With Ford forgetting to lodge tech papers to the NHRA for the modifications to the 66 LW Fairlane….the win went to McCandless. 

Ed Terry in the 66 Ford LW vs McCandless in the Plymouth RO23.

DRIVERS

‘AKRON’ ARLEN VANKE – Arlen Vanke rarely did anything by halves – whether it was with Ford, Pontiac or Chrysler.

For 1967, Vanke campaigned five Mopars, a 1963 Max Wedge powered Plymouth Savoy , a 440 GTX in SS/DA, and two 67 Street Hemi Plymouth GTXs and an actual RO23.

In the stick 67 car, he came r/up after red-lighting with the flat hood at Pomona. He ran both Belvederes with the O23 Scoop at Bristol and Indy.

Along with r/up in SS/B at Pomona, Vanke won class titles at both the Winters and Spring Nationals in the 63 car….and was runner up to Tom Myl in SS/BA in his 67 GTX auto car at Indy.

Tom and Arlen were good friends……Guess who built Tom Myl’s engine? You guessed it…..Arlen Vanke!

Arlon Vanke in one of his FOUR 67 Plymouths at the Spring Nationals – this one is the RO23 SS/B car.

ED MILLER & KIP GUNTHER- Miller came out of the Army and started out racing a 63 Maxwedge car. In late 65 he partnered up with the late Kip Guenther to buy a ‘1of 100’ 65 Plymouth RO1 Race Hemi lightweight..the most radical SuperStocker of the time. By 67 Miller had two National class titles  – and won two more in 67 along with the World Championship.

The Miller and Guenther World champ Plymouth – ‘Plymouth Rock II’ – Kip Guenther driving.

BILL JENKINS – Meanwhile , without GMs direct help, Grumpy’s decision to back weight over HP finally paid off on the biggest stage – But with power to weight being the focus, Jenkins focus on traction and his ‘Traction Action’ bars to overcome the woeful monoleaf springs of the Camaro was a genuine stroke of genius.  And for once, Jere Stahl in his super-consistent street Hemi car wasn’t there to rain on his parade.

Jenkins won the Winters SS/C class run off in his 2nd Chevy II.

With the Camaro soon on offer, Grumpy’s Toy 2 didn’t have a long future.

GENERAL MOTORS

CHEVROLET –

Thanks to some consistent running by a relative unknown in Eddie Vasquez…..and the persistence of Bill ‘Grumpy’ Jenkins, Chev fans finally had something to really cheer about.  In NHRA, it had been 3 years since a Chev product had won a Top Stock eliminator…or a S/S class win.   In 67 they  finally broke through for two eliminator title wins. 

Wiley Cossey had a very succesful 1966 – but 67 became harder with the 427cui/425hp Chevrolets increasing in number. By 68 he was driving a Mopar.

At the US Nationals, Jenkins in the ‘new for 67’ Camaro running a 396cui 375HP motor.  The Camaro 396 was a late addition to the Camaro line and was available as both a standard and high perf versions.  The HP 396 featured a solid lifter cam, free breathing heads and higher compression…it was a genuine competition motor and fitted SS/C perfectly.

The un-heralded GM 427cui/425hp ‘Semi Hemi’ which came standard in the Chev Biscaynes proved a tough trick to beat in B/ Stock and Stock Eliminator

HOWEVER – To keep perspective……the respective mph produced by the Chrysler Race 426 Hemi vs the GM 396 should remove any perceptions that the Chevy motor was anywhere near the ball park with peak HP  – such is the strangeness of handicap racing.  

Ben Wenzel flew the Camaro flag high – beating up on the more traditional older Junior Stockers throughout 1967 with his Z28 302.

OLDSMOBILE – The 442 W30 qualified for E Stock or SS/E, and on HP,  looked outclassed against the new 440cui Chryslers. However, Ron Garey proved otherwise at the Winters, winning SS/EA. Meanwhile, he and Tweed Vorhees campaigned another W30 in  B/Stock.

PONTIAC – The 67 GTO and Firebird came with a new 400cui  motor and both the RamAir 1 and RamAir 2 options. Both cars shared the same powerplant , but the Firebird RA1 was rated 46HP less and the Firebird RA2 at xHP less than the RA2 GTO.  

NHRA re-factored both Firebirds to the GTOs rating.

Pontiacs new ‘pony car’, the Firebird, was released with the 400cui/330hp engine with ‘Ram Air’ (Re-factored to 360hp like the GTO, but ran one class faster)

The GeeTO exhibition car. 

FORD –

In part, Ford’s concentration on the FX classes had distracted the company from SuperStock competition since the end of 64 – but this focus did help the company in its Race engine development. Ford did another ‘run’ of 427 wedge Fairlanes, totalling 229 cars identical in trim to the 60 1966 cars.  They competed in SuperStock Class B (8V) and C (4V) with the cold air scoop fiberglass hoods.

However, a review of the results lists for 67 reveals very little Ford ‘presence’ in SS or Stock at the National NHRA meets overall, but that would change for 1968. 

Ford Classes 1967

• SS/B ……. 1966 Fairlane 500 and Fairlane ‘Sedan’ …427/425 HP 8V
• SS/B ……. 1967 Fairlane 500 ……………………………..427/425 HP 8V
• SS/C ……..1967 Fairlane …………………………………..427/410 HP 4V
• A/Stock…..1967 Fairlane 500 & Sedan (Steel hood)..427/410 HP 4V

Bobby Spears 67 Lightweight 427 Fairlane ran in SS/B with dual quads, SS/C with a 4V & A/Stock with the single 4V and flat hood.

MERCURY

’THE COLLECTOR’ – In 1967, Barrie Poole had a different idea – he fielded his first Sandy Elliott-sponsored machine in the form of a 1966 Comet Cyclone convertible dubbed The Collector. The heavier 390 vert Comet fit in the middle of C/Stock Automatic class., but the weight was over the rear tires, making the car highly competitive.

66 390/335hp 4V Mercury Cyclone GT Convertible- 3652lbs with a 10.9 wt/hp factor.

* Hydraulic-lifter camshaft, with .481/.490 lift and 270*/290* duration.
* Dual-rate 265 lb. valve springs.
* 10.5 – 1 compression ratio pistons.
* #C60E-R Cylinder heads, with intermediate size valves (2.037″ Intake / 1.56″ Exhaust)
* A high-flow / dual-throat, medium-riser cast iron intake manifold.
* A Holley Model #4150 600 CFM carburetor (1 9/16″ x 1 9/16″) & cold-air induction.

‘THE COLLECTOR II’

Later in the year, Barrie Poole and Sandy Elliot dragged a 6 cyl wagon off the lot and fitted a 427FE. Again the idea was enhanced traction but this time the objective was Super Stock.

Originally a 289 car, the Elliot race team dropped a 427 in this 67 wagon. They ran the Comet wagon at the 67 Spring Nats at Bristol, runner up to Jenkins in SS/C. Went to the 68 Winters and it broke. The car was generally considered to be unreliable.  Questions were also raised about its ‘eligibility’ due to its non-original engine.

CHRYSLER

RO1/WO1 – Mopar continued to rule the SS/A and SS/AA classes with its A990 65 Race Hemi.  1965 WO1/RO1 A990 factory lightweight cars won SS/A and SS/AA at all four National meets.  

RO23/WO23 –New for 67 was the RO23 Plymouth Belvedere and WO23 Dodge Coronets – 53 of each.

 Despite Sox & Martin signwriting, these were not nor should they be referred to as ‘GTX’ or ‘Coronet R/T’, they ran Belvedere/Coronet 440 bench seat trim, blue printed ‘Street Hemi’  motors and ‘Vanked’ intakes….modified by Arlen Vanke. 

Originally intended for the A/Stock class, the NHRA called ‘foul ball’ , so the ‘O23’ cars found themselves in SS/B in NHRA  in 67.

 O23 cars were by definition hardtops and 300lbs heavier than their 65 ‘Race Hemi’ older brothers, but still gave the LW 427 Fairlanes grief. 

Tom Myl, SS/BA winner with his Plymouth RO23 street hemi – 11.64 @ 121mph

Williams and Butler’s ‘The Hillbilly’….. Herb McCandless drove it….the eventual Winner SS/B Indy Nats after Ed Terry’s disqual.

66 and 67 ‘Street Hemi’ GTX & R/T – Private and professional ‘GTX & R/T ’ racers found they could run in the  A/Stock OR SS/B. The ‘Stockers’ complained early on….but the NHRA permitted both the ‘showroom’ 1966 and ‘new’  Production 1967  ‘GTX/RT’ to run in A/S on 7” tires with no cold air.

Note – A Street Hemi without the Cold Air and intake modifications was 3 MPH slower than the SS/B 023 cars. 

Arlon Vanke’s street Hemi GTX. He finished the year in SS/BA..with O23 scoop fitted.

CLASSES

SUPER STOCK ELIMINATOR – NHRA created a separate division named SuperStock Eliminator (SS).

For the new SuperStock division there were ten classes, five stick (SS/A-SS/E) and five automatic (SS/AA-SS/EA) based on a factored weight/HP rating. 

Minimum 50 factory production units.  

SuperStock rules in 1967: 

1.) any flat tappet camshaft, no rollers

2) intake manifolds could be changed but stock carburetors were required.

3) Free choice of tire size, headers and special ignition.

All other engine components were subject to the same rules as the Stock classes. Pistons, crankshafts, valves, rods etc had to remain stock. 

In addition there were no traction compounds allowed in 1967, much less applied to the starting line and no water box.

Jenkins SS/C 396 cui Camaro sits while the Sox, SS/E , heavier, similar powered 440 Belvedere launches. Jenkins pushed through this Eliminator to defeat an SS/A Mopar in Top Stock.

STOCK ELIMINATOR– Minimum of 100 units.  

Limited to 7″ treaded tires, factory cams and manifolds ( B/Stock down). Rear suspension modifications were not allowed but could be enhanced only with lift bars etc.

 A/S – A/Stock and below competed in ‘Stock Eliminator’ – which most still called ‘Junior Stock’. A/Stockers were no longer allowed the ‘any cam’ deal..marking a clear line between SuperStock and Stock.

George Cureton had a great season in 67 – Ended up World Champ; Stock Eliminator – or ‘Junior Stock’

However time waits for no man, and the weight and HP of these older ‘Jr Stockers’ saw them slowly slip down the class weight breaks.  Meanwhile big-motored Fairlanes, Biscaynes, Novas, Mustangs, Camaros and Cougars added much needed variety.

Danny Edwards – Spring Nats B/SA – 62 Dodge 383/343hp –  12.72 @ 102.63 def Peter Chesson, 67 Fairlane 427/425 med riser steel hood

RULES

The 8lb rule – Between  65-67, NHRA had a rule banning cars under 8.0lbs per CID (Not to be confused with lb/hp factoring) from S/S or SS/A. Its purpose  was to maintain some ‘stock’ integrity.

The following cars were booted from SS/A-

• 64 426/425hp LW Plymouth A864 Race Hemi – (500hp)- 6.4
• 3234/426=7.59lbs
• 64 427/425hp Fairlane Thunderbolt (500hp) – 6.406
• 3203/427= 7.50 lbs

Banzai starts – Chevy drivers started to use the ‘Neutral drop” as a start line technique – basically raising RPM in neutral then dropping the trans into ‘L” – The 2 speed GM Turbos could take the punishment…but the aluminium cased 3 speed Torqueflites started exploding like the Battle of Midway…NHRA banned the practice.

Sandbagging was rife! – This meant that cars would stand on the brakes to avoid breaking out over the existing class record – then smash the records if they made the final.  – As a result of sandbagging…some trap speeds were as low as 76 mph!

Bill Jenkins chatting with George Hurst. Hurst Corporations sponsorship was invaluable to the NHRA in the mid-late 60’s.