Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

"...Well, I was quite sure you never bought a High Performance Pontiac Magazine (LOL) but I thought you might have read it down at the Krogers..."

Mark, with all due respect to who you are & what you've accomplished, I see no reason for comments like that one.

I actually have several years of HPP mags. I think I was still a subscriber when they quit.

There was a 20 year period of time, when I was out of racing completely, helping run the family business. Purposely did not go to races, since I knew I couldn't race. If I had gone, all the tracks close to me ran brackets.

Did not subscribe to ND. Did not have time to look thru car mags, on store shelves. There WAS no internet. I 1st learned a little about a computer in 2008. Got my first laptop in 2009. Took a few years to find out there were actually sites where they talked about Pontiacs. But, most were about street cars, bracket cars, or heads-up cars.

Anyhow, I had no way of knowing the Pontiac cars & drivers, that were racing(most many hundreds or thousands of miles from me). But, I'm trying now to gather all the Pontiac Stock/SS info I can, & record it in threads that will be easy for anyone interested to access.

The only way I know to compile this info is to ask racers/fans that were actually there when the cars in question were racing. Hey, I wish all this info was already out there on a single site, beginning back in the mid 50's & coming right on up to present. If that was the case, I'd just spend lots of hours combing thru it & enjoying it.

BUT, that is NOT the case. And, from what I've seen, I'm the only guy on the planet who is seriously trying to get the Pontiac info together. I realize that there are LOTS of guys out there, many of 'em on this site, who know a LOT more than me about Pontiac Stock & SS cars from the past. That's why I keep asking so many questions. Hoping to get a little info here, & a little info there, until it finally amounts to what may become the single most detailed account of Pontiac Stock/SS info anywhere.

I appreciate all the help & info I have received, since beginning this ! Other info has been promised soon.

But, like most anybody else, I don't appreciate negative or sarcastic remarks, or guys reminding me of just how little I know about the subject. At least I AM trying, & have invested quite a few hours in this project. Hoping to gather lots more pics, & details of races & class wins, as well as records set, by Pontiac V8 powered Stock/SS cars.

As always, all help is appreciated. :)

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Jeez..It was a joke..See the LOL?
You're the guy who said he couldn't afford a 40 dollar book...And who set the deal up so you could get one for free?
Enough already...Onward }

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Since you mentioned the book, I'm now thru getting all the Pontiac info out of it.

So, I feel like the right thing to do would be to pass it on to someone else who might like to look thru it, but really don't have $40 extra to spend on a book.

Would also like for it to go to someone who'd be willing to then pass it on to someone else.

So, if you or others here would help me locate such a person, I'd appreciate it. :)

I'll pay shipping to this person, anywhere in the lower 48.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

OK, the car was raced some in '98. In the pic posted, it has a div 2 number. DRC has records
from '98. So, I checked some race results from the East & Southeast.

Sure enuff it pops up at the Gators, in #20 position @ 1 sec under. Carol is listed as the driver. I'm sorry, but I don't know if Carol was Mark's wife, daughter, or ? Somebody please post the correct info.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

It shows up again @ Englishtown. This time it's #8 @ 1.100 under. Dave Ribeiro was right behind, also in a '78 Bird.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

One thing about that race that I thought was real cool, was that Pontiac power swept L/SA, M/SA, N/SA, O/SA, & P/SA ! :cool:

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

I noticed that the car had a div 3 number, at the 2 races I listed. So, I'll go back & look at some of the div 3 races & see if it turns up.

Didn't see Carol's name listed at later races. Did see Don Holmes, Paul Dilcher, & Bob Michael listed driving '78 Birds. Bob won the M/SA class @ Indy.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

At Reading, Paul Dilcher was #6 & Dave Ribeiro was #12. Dave was then listed with a '77 Bird. One advantage of claiming a '77 is that you have the option of running a Pontiac 350, which some have done.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

Until NHRA gave 'em the big hits, the '77-'78 400 Birds were quite competitive. I suppose non-Pontiac guys would just say they had a soft hp factor.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

"...I built a 78 car so I could use the 78-79 big cam motor with a stick, for J and K/Stock.

I'd like to dig a little deeper into this. I understand the term "big cam", as used here. The cam for the '77-'78 auto trans 180hp 400 limited to .364/.364 lift, @ the valve, with 1.5 rockers. The '78 220hp 400 is allowed .404/.407 lift.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...7&MAKE=Pontiac

Did you ever get to race this, or any other '78-'79 Bird, as a stick car ?

I've been going thru my pics, & my memory. I just can't remember ever seeing a '77-'79 Pontiac stick Bird listed.

So, does anybody here know of one, or more ? If so, please post info & pics, if possible.

Thanks !

As mentioned, I recall lots of stick GTO's, 1st gen Birds, & even a very few early 2nd gens. Just can't recall a '77-'79 stick Bird. Maybe there were some, back in the '80-'90's, that I just never heard of. That's quite possible.

While on the subject of racing a stick. I assume the days of just running a beefed up Muncie or ST-10 & a Hurst shifter, are long gone. Assume the clutch is now used only for the launch, & the missed 2-3 shift is a thing of the past. Exactly what parts are now required to run a 10 or 11 sec Stocker, with a stick, & expect the trans/clutch set-up to survive ?

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp...-transmission/

http://www.davidkeetoploaders.com/jerico.htm

https://www.gforcetransmissions.com/tran_g101.asp

I also need to be reminded again of the exact year when cam duration & valve spring pressure became unlimited. OK, 1985. Got it !

http://classracer.com/classforum/showthread.php?t=26781

Sorry for what, to many here, are very elementary questions. But, if I knew, I wouldn't ask.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

At the Gators, Randi Lyn Shipp was #12 & Michael Brand was #53 on the Q-1 list.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...UMMIT#indextop

They get 3 shots today.

In Q-2, Randi Lyn was still # 12, with a .913 under, 10.637. Michael was #19, with an .851 under, 10.699. Both cars are running D/SA.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

In Q-3, Randi Lyn ended up in #14 position, & Michael in #22 position.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

No Pro cars for this weekend. Lower Sportsman classes will run without spectators.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Don, Carol is my ex-wife.
I built the 78 as a J/Stocker, with a Weber clutch and a Doug Nash trans. It ran on the 11.80 something record right away. It was hard on parts though, and I never could set the record. The 305 Camaros got popular and were very fast. Those cars are in F/stock now, I believe. I knew I couldn't run with them, so I tried running the small cam with the stick... @.366 lift, the lobes we had to use were not big on RPM. Also the amount of weight we had to carry, proved to be a bad stick shift combo.
I built a converter and a lightened T350 for it, and let Carol drive it in 1995.She was an accomplished bracket racer.(former track champion, etc.)
I sold the car in 1998, after Englishtown. Most of the class finals were in 96-97 , which doesn't show up on DRC.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Great info ! Thanks ! :)

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

At the Gators, both Pontiacs survived E-1. Randi Lyn cut a perfect .000 light. Turns out she didn't need a good light that round. Would have been great for a close round tho. Michael cut a .010 light. That ain't too shabby either. :)

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

In E-2, Randi Lyn left a bit too soon. Michael cut a good light, but slowed, for some reason. So, the Pontiacs are out. :(

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...UMMIT#indextop

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Gay WAS DQ’’d as winner of A/S at the 64 Nats.

The results list has no A/S winner.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

There is also a serious question in whether the 63 FX winner was Bill Shrewsberry or Bob Spar. It is commonly attributed to Shrewsberry....but this clipping appears to be informed.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

A very young, very skinny Don Gay learning how to win from some older guy named Hayden....

Gay’s father owned the Gay Pontiac dealership - Bought Don a 421 SD 62 Cat - asked Hayden Proffit to teach him how to drive.

The kid had talent- at 16 Don won A/S 63 Nats, the A/S at the 64 Winternats.

He took the trophy at the 64 Nats, but was later DQ’d for ‘non stock’ mufflers.

He went on to race funny cars.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Need help with an ID on this car.

It's obviously a Firebird Formula, somewhere from 1970 thru 1973.

Appears to be running F/SA.

The perm number looks to be either 7700 or 1100.

Anybody know the owner, at that time ?

Anybody know what year model was being claimed ?

Anybody know what engine it was running ?

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Larry Maxwell
A quick search in DRC confirms that.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Thanks Mark !

Looks like Barbara & Larry both drove that Bird. Her # was 7701. Sometimes listed as a '72, sometimes '73. Would like to know the history of that car, both before & after Larry had it.

That search has already turned up lots of Pontiac info, & stuff I need to ask questions about.

(1) Found Carol Yacavone driving an '80 Bird. Assume it was a 301T ? Some of you guys always know who built 'em & everybody who's owned 'em. So, what's the story on this Bird ?

(2) This list shows Scott Burton in a '73 Bird.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=15141

Have seen it listed as a '71, '72, & '73. So, is this the same car that eventually became the car that Brad Burton has raced ? If so, did Scott build his '70 B/SA Bird, or buy it from someone else ? Would just like to know the history of both Burton Birds.

(3) There were three '67 Birds on that list. Bryan Phillips still has his. The only other active '67 (that I know of) belongs to Randi Lyn Shipp. So, was one of those '67's the car she has now ? If so, is the other one still racing in Stock, somewhere ? The driver names are Steve Glenn & Rod Keeney ?
I can do a search on their names. Have spent many hours searching, on just this one thread. But I love to get info from those who were there & knew the cars/owners/drivers.

Couldn't help but notice that Bob Mulry was #1 @ more than 1.5 sec under. What an awesome Bird that was !

That 301T Bird wasn't too shabby either, @ 1.298 under.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

We raced Neil Smedley's Nat'l event winning 301T a few times in '02

Rod Keeney's car is the white 67 that Randi Lyn drives now.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Thanks again for the info, Mark !

May have asked before, but I noticed that you won the Summer Nats, in '86. What were you driving ?

http://www.nhra.net/50th/results.asp?mYear=1986

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Bill Shurla's car 82 Escort, stick shift

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Need more help.

May have asked, but don't remember getting an answer or pics.

Have read that for '72, Pontiac provided Truman Fields with a '72 Bird, for Stock, & a '72 GTO, for Super Stock.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/drcs...vmBycTUc-zE0ac

Have pics of the GTO, but have found no info or pics of the '72 Bird Stocker(that I can remember).

So, does anybody here have info or pics of this car ?

Did Truman actually drive the '72 Bird Stocker, in competition ?

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

More questions.

The below attachment is supposed to be nat records from 1979. M/S & N/S were both held by '74 Venturas.

The M/S car is shown as King-Carter-Hutchison & Buris, from Plainfield, Ind. Don't know the driver's name.

The N/S car is shown as Raymond Simmons, from West Helena, Ark. I assume Raymond was the driver.

Since somebody here usually knows the history of most any car mentioned, will someone who knows either or both these cars, please post all the info/history/pics you can, including former & later owners, etc.

Thanks !

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

The King (can’t think of his first name) 74 gto was sold to Kevin Thomas (from Washington, In) who had the car for a year or two, then sold it to Mike McDonald (from, at that time, Francisco, In) who had it for a number of years and was then sold overseas. I have been accused of picking the car up .7 one Sunday afternoon in Bowlingreen, Ky.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Buddy King.....

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Need a positive ID, and any other info ya'll may have about this '68 GTO. It appears to have a div 1 number, which I can't positively ID, even with a magnifying glass. I see several possibilities that it COULD be.

So, some of you div 1 guys, help please.

The only 2 '68 GTO Stockers I'm aware of, in recent times, belonged to Tim Gillespie & Adam Strang.

I posted this pic, earlier in the thread, but don't remember asking any questions about it.

As always, thanks for any & all help with info on this car.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

This is the car:
37 1333 F/SA Bob Attridge, Mumford NY, '68 GTO 12.117 12.15 -0.033

Only see it running IHRA national events. This was from Toronto in 2006.

Here's the original photo:
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCP...r2006#indextop

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Is this the GTO your talking about ? I purchased it from Buddy King who is a friend of mine I towed it to Alabama and set the record with it but that's been some time ago wish I still had it.
Jerry
Retired 3490 3492 STK SS SST

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Thanks for that info ! I suppose that explains why I haven't run across it.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

Bob had some Pontiac company at this race. Paul Dilcher was #1. Bill Rink was #5. And Lee Bannister was #22. Looks like Bob tried to clock in just under his index. I suppose that's all it takes, if you can avoid a heads-up run.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1999#indextop

Dilcher #1 again.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2000#indextop

Dilcher slipped to #2.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2001#indextop

Dilcher slips another notch, to #3. Sal Biondo is #9. Bob drops into the 11 sec zone.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop

Was just curious, so I checked out this race form Norwalk. Rink & Dilcher were there. But Truman Fields had the highest qualified Pontiac powered car. And Don Turk was listed with a '68 GTO. Didn't know he raced one. Anybody what happened to it after Don raced it ?

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop

Hey, Bob turned the wick up a bit & ran an 11.68.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop

At the '05 Norwalk race, Truman was #3. Don Himes also came up from Fla, with his '77 GP, to grab the #21 spot, & Bob turned another 11.68.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop

Since IHRA has dropped Stock, do you know what is being done with Bob's GTO now ? Wondering if it has been running any NHRA races, since 2006, or if there are any plans to do so ?

Or, switched to bracket racing ?

Same owner as in 2006 ?

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

OK, so did Mike McDonald ever own/race it ?

Was it indeed sold overseas ?

OR, maybe Buddy had two '74 GTO's ?

Jerry, do you know if the GTO you had is still in this country ?

Do you know the names of those who owned it after you ?

I obviously don't have a clue.

And how about Raymond Simmons, from West Helena, Ark. ? Anybody know him and/or what happened to his car ?

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

I don't think Mike ever owned this GTO and as far as I know it stayed in this country, I had it back in the seventies.




Jerry
Retired 3490 3492 STK SS SST

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Jerry, was this car ever raced by Marty Berkshire or Frank Carson ? Who did you sell it to ? Thanks...l

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

MJ I think I did sell it to Marty Berkshire, Im getting to old to remember that far back LOL
hope everything is well with you and your family MJ.



Jerry
Retired 3490 3492 STK SS SST

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Was just lookin thru my computer files & doin some reorganizing, when I ran across this. I've probably already posted it, in this thread.

BUT, I think it's good enuff to post it again. It's the NHRA Stock record holder list, for 2009. There are several Pontiac V8 powered cars on the list.

(1) Adam Strang - F/S - 10.79 - '68 Bird

(2) Leo Glasbrenner - F/SA - 10.69 - '68 Bird

(3) Bob Mulry - K/SA - 11.38 - '74 Bird

(4) Bill Edgeworth - L/SA - 11.51 - '77 Bird

(5) Donald Sarrett - O/SA - 12.15 - '81 Bird ( I'm assuming a 301T engine. )

(6) Chris Denton - P/SA - 12.17 - '80 Bird

http://sportsman.nhra.com/content/ab...rticleid=34588

Will somebody please post pics of the #5 & #6 cars.

At this div 7 race, in '07, Chris Denton is #1 qualifier, @ 1.433 under.

http://sportsman.nhra.com/apcm/APCMv...8865&print=yes

Chris was the highest Pontiac powered qualifier at the AZ nat event, in both '06 & '08.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Again, may have posted.

If so, here it is again. An article about Dave Ribeiro's record holder Bird.

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/hppp...tiac-firebird/

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

The 10.79 run was set in the fall of 2008 at the Dutch Classic (Maple Grove) with the Firebird. Set the record in F/S at 10.97 with the GTO in the spring of 2005 also at Maple Grove.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Yeah, I was just lookin back at some DRC records & realized that you had already started racing the Bird.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop

When I saw '68 Pontiac & F/S, I just immediately thought of the GTO.

I think at this point I'm supposed to say "My Bad". :o

I fixed it ! :)

Out of the dozens of pics I have of your Bird, I only found one where it's marked F/S. Got plenty marked E/S & D/S.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

No problem,I had to look through my stuff to get the dates right,it's been a while. My buddy and I still laugh about setting the record in 2008. A lot of records were set that year,if I remember right there were two teardown sessions, when I was in the barn the nhra staff had a grill going and had ordered pizza for take out. My buddy who loves to eat saw all that food and thought he was going to get a nice feast while he helped me teardown. He was sadly mistaken! Good times,though.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Need more info, as usual.

The '68 Bird that Bob Aceves raced, ran strong, qualifying near the top, at lots of races.

The last race he shows up, according to my records, was in March of 2018.

So, was the car retired, sold, or ? :confused:

Don't wanna be nosey. But I'm always curious when a strong Pontiac Stocker quits showing up on my radar.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

58 and 59 pontiac was the best

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

Bobby had some issues he had to resolve. He'll be back soon.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

OK, here's a few.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers
 

In doing some research, I recently ran across John Schloe's '69 Firebird. He's been racing it for quite a while, & it has run very strong, being near the top of many qualifying lists. He was #4 on this 2014 Q-list, with a 10.54, in D/SA.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2014#indextop

It's the only '69 Bird Stocker I know of still in competition.

But, sometimes last year, I remember that Bruce Noland was supposed to have one ready for this season. And, IIRC, there was a possibility that he might eventually make it look like a T/A clone.

With all the problems the virus caused, I was wondering what the current status of that '69 Bird is. Is it ready to race ? Does it have the T/A trim ? What is now the expected debut race for it ?

Has anybody else here seen it, besides Bruce, who might give us a progress report ? If it's OK, would someone who has access please post some pics & provide all the info possible ?

Hey, again, I really don't wanna be nosey. BUT, this seems to me to be the perfect thread for info on a new '69 Bird Stocker.

As always, thanks for any & all pics & info !

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2010#indextop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7lK...=youtu.be&hd=1