Category for 1st Gen. Drag Raced Camaros??

[janobyte]

still have it. Bill Jr. really seemed to spearhead it being family friendly. Quite time, play ground, put a cap on drinking/rowdiness in the stands. O tolerance for ANY drinking and driving. Catch you taking a sip then making a pass, banded. Not the case years ago. Tried chasing points a few years ago, but my boy was heavy into high school sports, really no time. Saturday points racing really makes for a relaxing weekend. T-n-T Friday night, dial in Saturday morning, run in the evening. But, I really love the "gasser event index racing" We run D/G (10.5), not tearing the car up, leave on the same light, no chasing down or being chased. Simple mechanical throttle stop. Not , the Z, Anglia.

I have videos of the Z running in the early 90's, VHS, got to have it transferred.

[X33RS]

Neat, I try to go as much as I can not only to have some fun but show support.  Sadly tracks are drying up.
  I attend all the nostalgia events and PSCA.  I used to run UMTR fairly regular and a car club my father belonged to since the 70's put on a really nice muscle car race twice a year that was fun, used to run the 1959 rule book heads up with a flagman, good times.  Eventually opened to the tree and bracket racing to draw more people.  I only race slow stuff anymore and have fun with it.  The car I enjoyed racing needs a roll bar to be legal so it's primarily a street car now, I won't put a bar in it and I don't have the time to build and enjoy a dedicated race car.

[janobyte]

Have not made it to, but would love watch  a UMTR event. BS'd with a few guys wearing the sticker at some events while in staging. Seems like a good group of guys. Gene Schwartz's 52 is something to see. I think he runs those events also. Ran him at Thompson...he killed me at the tree!

Ok folks, where are the stories/pics?

Super Crush is just one of the old war horse Camaro's still running strong around here. Orange Crush is owned by the guy I sold my El Camino to, and I think Mighty Mouse is still out there. Was a white 68 NHRA record holder I have not seen in years, I think the guy sold it for a Viper, not sure. And an original paint, Ash Gold 68 SS just went at an estate auction for around 14K nearby. Small block in the car now, and interior over run by rodents I heard. Did see the car on the road 2 years ago, then it disappeared. Lil' Nicks speed shop(long gone) used to have one in blue with a 355, and Rick's Speed shop had the Wave Maker.

[X33RS]

Ha, Mighty Mouse I'd guess is a popular name.  I knew someone that ran a maroon 69 called Mighty Mouse for years and years, with a 377/4-speed combo, back halved, nice wheelies, fun to watch.  Right around the late 80's that car disappeared.

[janobyte]

What would be the chances of a new category in "model specific discussions" with the title of DRAG RACED CAMAROS, period 1st gens raced in the NHRA, AHRA, etc.  I refer to the historic Strickler, Jenkins, Wenzel, Beeler, Harrell, Gibb, etc.  How many 67, 68, 69 Z/28's and COPO's, etc. were dealer or individually campaigned for drag racing that are not known by all?  How many?  Who were they?  Are they ALL known?  Dealer Advertisements?, etc.

I just thought it would be very nice to have a category similar to the Trans AM Camaros for drag raced camaros!  If the spot was made for it, could it be an ongoing project?

Thanks,
Bryan

Sorry to get of on a tangent, but as you can tell, I agree.

[BillOhio]

jano I thought you have ran your z, what did it run? I think the daughter of the guy who had mine said it was 12.98 with open exhaust.  Would be weird to see it in these pictures

[ZLP955]

I wish I had some pictures to post of mine back in the day, but sadly I only have the one used as my avatar.

[Bryan302]

Here's another avenue of approach.  If anyone has there own family photo's taken at that National event you may have attended in 1967 - 72 or so, post them.  You never know how rare those photo's may be! 

Bryan

[janobyte]

jano I thought you have ran your z, what did it run? I think the daughter of the guy who had mine said it was 12.98 with open exhaust.  Would be weird to see it in these pictures

About right Bill, Jerry was high 12's (4:88's) in the white Z. I took the 302 out of it place of a 400 (90's)   Did not want to risk damage to it. My Dad' best with the 302 was 13.05/107 that was Buzzard Fest at NRP, pic with the...uggg...big L60's facing the fence. Still have the time slip of all things, so that's what I go with. Working it harder and slicks probably would have shaved some time..but I do recall severe tire bounce (prior to adding traction aides)and his constant complaints of "point bounce"  Keep it a secret, but at 14, on back roads, I got to launch and pull 2nd with the car, so have always had a good seat of the pants fill with the Z. Never made it to the track in this form, but late 80's ladder bars, ProRam 2 intake and Mallory ignition was added. Car ran very hard and revved to the sky, my best un-official time against a 442 on Rt. 58, cut me slack here, I was young. After I got out of the Air Force, acquired the car from Dad, put a 400 in it.

[BillOhio]

I was browsing facebook last night and ran across this. no mention of Jerry.

[69Z28-RS]

This thread prompted me to go looking for a photo of a '67 Camaro that was ran by Jack Cooley (of Louisiana) during those days; prior to the '67 Camaro, Jack ran a lightweight 409 '62 Chevy.   Jack is now in his 80's (he was still living a couple of years ago when I spoke to him on the phone), and is in the Drag Racing Hall of Fame, along with the racer he sold the Camaro to in 1971 (Paul Vanderley).  In the summer of '71 I purchased the 302 engine from that '67 and put it in a Henry J.  In the Camaro running 'stock class', Jack ran it to 11.67 sec quarter times (on a then-11.71 national record).   Dropped the clutch at 10,300 rpm off the line and shifted it at 9800 rpms! 

[69Z28-RS]

To put you young fellas into the 'mood' of the times for '60's-early '70's drag racing, this youtube video might help...   there's even a few hots (shots?) of Linda Vaughn in her Hurst T shirt..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSOkeVfwwc8

[BillOhio]

I am young enough to not remember these cars racing and my dad would think its vehicle abuse, but I know linda lol

[janobyte]

I was browsing facebook last night and ran across this. no mention of Jerry.

The white 68 Z is his untouched original. Ran high 12's through the exhaust on E70-15's. 4:88 gears. It's on YouTube.
 I called him a few years back when I wasn't sure the direction I wanted to go with my car, if any. Day 2 was suggested.

BTY, mild head work went a long way with these 302's. Very stout bottom end and block. At most I/we hit a few events, little weekend warrior stuff, but enjoyed gabbing. Another Z owner I remember approached me, we talked some. He was turning somewhere mid-high 11's:head work/gears. I've seen mine enough, how about some of those king of the hill 427 cars in action! Hard to believe Dad was only early 30's in those old pics.

Should be ready to make a few passes next summer...like to see it officially beat that 13.05 time with the 302 in it, pulling gears.(not going to cheat with a full manual/brake 350 auto I got, but tempted) Also ngt 7 grand shift points, so we'll see.

[janobyte]

I think we're around the same age Bill, sounds like different background with the cars. My Dad appreciates, but is not into this stock, resto stuff at all. His take is leave the 302 on the stand, put the 413 and auto in the Z, lets build a BBC for the Anglia. Got him excited about taking the Camaro to Chicago when it's done though...open headers of course. OMG, the look on his face when he came in my shop and thought the original exhaust was going to eventually go back on it. " It's your car, do what you want with it"

All my Dad's friends where industrial mechanics . I rode in some really Bad #$@ cars as a kid. Those guys were mostly into gassers and street rods. The Anglia was different and why he jumped all over it in 89, and has been built from the ground up, twice.