Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Tim,,
I tried to post a private message. No good.
1967
There was the 67' Coronet (Model 440) W/O Hemi that ran in
SS/BA in 67', then SS/DA in 68'.
That car was part of the Landy 4-car contingent at the 68' Winternationals in SS/DA. Mary Ann Foss drove that car for awhile in early 68', including the 68' Hot Rod Magazine Drags at Riverside in
late-March 68'.
The other 67' car was the 67' Coronet R/T with the 440. I think Mike drove it. It was classed in B/SA, and sometimes competed in SS/EA.
Some articles state that it ran under the B/SA record (AHRA), and did run 12.35's.
Paul

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Tim,
I saw that article that you stated. But Dick Landy didn't compete a
66' Dodge D-Dart (273/275HP in 1966). He was campaigning the
Dart F/C car with the long-nose. Match-racing it across the country.
That article is mis-leading. The car that they prepped and Dyno-tuned
for the article was a 66' white Dart 273/180HP 2-barrel, 4-speed. Black steel wheels. You can see H/S on the window.. The car fit into the H/S class for 1966
(15.60 - 16.99 wt/hp). The 180HP Darts had a weight break of 16.33.
I believe the article was to prove how important dyno-tuning was for
Junior Stockers also. Not sure what the H/S record was in early 1966,
but I think that Dart ran a bunch of 15.10's for the test.. Bone stock, probably way up in the high 17.00's.
The 1966 'Car Craft' article was a D-Dart with Cragar wheels and Prowler cheater-slicks. That car ran a 14.33, as stated in the
article.

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Tim,
To try keep the years in line.
1968,
1) He ran a 1968' Dart 440 in SS/EA at the 68' Winternationals.
Not sure how long Dick Landy kept it, but I think Bob Lambeck campaigned the car for the rest of the year. At the 68' Winternationals, that car won its class, beating a SS/EA 68' Cobra-Jet, and made it to the semi-finals, before losing to Al Joniec in the Rice-Holman SS/E Cobra-Jet.
Not sure if that 68' 440 Dart was a GSS car, a factory-made or a DLI made car?
Dick Landy was not running it after the early-Spring 68'.
2) The 1967' W/O Hemi Coronet 'Model 440', which was campaigned as a SS/B in 67', and at the 1968 AHRA Winternationals, then as a SS/D car at the NHRA Winternationals one week later. They eventually put an automatic in it, and ran in SS/DA with Mary Ann Foss behind the wheel for the spring. Then she got her own SS/BA Hemi Dart in May 'Go Hummer II'
3) The 1968 Coronet R/T 440, driven by brother Mike ran in SS/F at the 68' Winternationals, and then SS/FA after that.
4) The 1968 Dodge Charger R/T Hemi 4-speed. Would have run SS/D despite weighing #3754lbs. (about 80lbs. heavier than the same classed 1967 R/O Plymouths and W/O Coronets, and with fresh-air intake hood scoops). But Dick built the car
for A/MP (68' Winternationals), where the added weight would work to his advantage. There are photos of this car their with #803 on the window, and the small hood scoop on the car.
Later, after the Winternationals, he changed the hood scoop to a larger low-profile one, much like the 65' A-990 Super/Stock cars.
That car was on the cover of the April 1968 Car Craft magazine,
with the bigger hood scoop.
Those were the (4) at the 68' NHRA Winternationals
Paul

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Check out the April 68' issue of Super Stock and Drag Illustrated magazine. Landy's Charger is wheelstanding on the cover, with the big hoodscoop, and in the article inside theres a shot of it running the little scoop. The car is setup for AHRA Superstock.
Theres also an article just before Landy's about the 68' Hemi Cuda factory mule, with some excellent photos of that car.
Danny Durham

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Danny,
Good Hemi Hunting.
An odd-thing. In some early 1968 Dodge Promo's, Dick Landy has
a Charger R/T (SS/D car), with the standard hood.
Then there is the photo at the Winternationals, with #803 on the window, the car is classed in A/MP, and no R/T emblem on the front left hide-away light panel. and the car has the small scoop.
The April 68 SS & DI magazine cover has the Charger (no R/T emblem)
with the larger low-profile scoop. I know the AHRA permitted hood scoops for their S/S class.
They had cars all over the place. I read in one article, that he really didn't want to run the Charger in NHRA SS/D for 68, because of the weight break.

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Tim,
The (2) 67' cars were blue/green base with white tops.
The W/O Hemi Coronet ran SS/B in 67', and through early 68' in SS/D.
I think the posted times were 11.10's, when the national record wasn't effected. Probably the best running of the cars.
That car was at Riverside at the end of March, running SS/DA with Mary Ann Foss on the window.
After that, kind of lost track of the car.
The 67' Coronet R/T with the 440 was a killer in B/SA, primarily in AHRA
events. Posted times 12.50's. It did bounce into SS/EA for the NHRA events, running 12.20's. Something was listed that it ran an 11.99, but I don't know. I think the SS/EA record for late-67 was around 12.20-ish.
Again, seemed to disappear in early 68.
PC

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Paul,,,I don't know how anyone would be able to find the old footage, but I remember that Dick took Keith Jackson of ABC's Wide World of Sports for a ride in the Charger, complete with in car camera. I remember that it was the first time I'd ever seen anyone do powershifting, as I was 15 at the time and didn't have a license, so I hadn't been exposed to that yet, but I recall it impressed me very much. I told all my buddies about the crazy guy with the cigar wailing on that shifter!
The last time I ever saw Dick personally was up here at Seattle around 76'. I got a couple nice shots of the Dart, one of him checking the oil, with the cigar of course, and had a nice talk with him. He was a very pleasant guy.
I recently tried to find his 70' Challenger in 1:18 die cast which I collect, but everyone is currently sold out until one turns up somewhere.
Take care, Paul,,,,,nice thread,,so is the musclecar one.
Danny Durham

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Danny,
Thank you,,,but you must add a car to the 'muslcecar' thread.......
Even if its a 1965 Dodge Polara with a 225 6-cylinder Hyper-Pak!!
On Dick Landy, yes lots of hidden stuff.
Kind of the bridesmaid to Sox & Martin, on the Mopar factory stuff.
His general complaint, the B-Body Dodge's were about a 100lbs. heavier than the Plymouth's, cost him about .15 in ET.
There's a video of him at New York National Speedway, I think the
68' Super/Stock Magazine Nationals (July 68) in SS/B, with the Hemi Dart. It might be on BEEONVIDEO.
I'll check.
Paul

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

I owned his Pepsi Cola Challenger for about a year in the early 70's. It was at the PRI show last year

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Art L,
Sure seems like Mr. Landy had alot of cars out their. I wonder if he kept any of them for any length of time?
In one of the Hot Rod articles, he stated he wasn't even sure of all the
drag race cars he had.

Tim,
On the promo photo's. Yes, confusing. Here's a guide.
He utilized Doug Headers for 1967. The promo photo with the
(2) 68' cars is from December 1967. Both the R/T 440 Coronet and Hemi Charger R/T have Doug's Headers emblems on the fenders.
In January 1968, both those cars had Hooker Header emblems on the fenders. Obviously, Hooker sponsored him for 1968.
PC

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Dick Landy himself was heavier compared to Ronnie Sox and that was significant as the NHRA didnt count the drivers wt. when weighing the cars after each round. Before his passing he was a big healthy robust guy.

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

X-Tech,
I forgot about mass-weight.
Your right, Dick an easy 60-75lbs. heavier than the svelte Ronnie Sox.
Looks like Nutri-System and low-fat Yogurt were a little late for D.L.
Too many hot dogs and burgers with fries, on the road trips.
Bet Dick never said, more 'romaine lettuce'.
PC

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Tim,
On the article, he got the first 68' Hemi Dart at the end of February 68'.
Supposedly via railroad box-freight.
The first one was set-up as an automatic, in match-race trim.
The second one, as a legal SS/B 4-speed.
NHRA didn't approve them for S/S class, until just before the 68'
Springnationals at Englishtown. But several cars were out their
running in S/S in May.
Paul

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Dick liked his Tyrolia Wine to.
I believe he car we bought was his 5th Dodge. I financed it through a bank, and he had Mike put a number (vin) on it. Paid $4500 (I think) for the roller no motor or trans. Rented a trailer in New York a towed it to California to pick up the car. With a slant six plymouth fury.

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Long live the leaning tower of power!

JimR

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Art,
Smart move to head out to California with a 225 Slant-6.
You can't kill those things.
I bet if you put the 6-banger in the Challenger, (as is after the California tow trip)), run SS/X,Y or Z, you probably would have set the record.
Not too many sold cars got the 'secret' motor and transmissions!

Tim,
On the 68' Winternationals. I think the SS/EA record was a soft 12.20 or so, set by either a 67' GTX 440/375HP or 67' Camaro 396/325HP in
late 67'. The 68 GSS 440 Dart ran pretty much 12.00's throughout, but I'll check it for you.
Paul

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Tim,
1968 NHRA Winternationals
Landy won the SS/EA class final with a 12.01 @118.73 over
Gas Ronda with a 12.02 @116.27.
In Super/Stock Eliminator, they met again, in the First round. Landy won
with a 11.91.
The famous photo of the Winternationals by Larry Davis, with the
GSS 440 Dart and SS/E Al Joniec Cobra-Jet Mustang is the
semi-final for S/S Eliminator.
Butch Leal was driving the car, and he ran an 11.81, but red-lighted.
PC

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Tim,
The finals, Al Joniec versus Dave Wren.
I think the Dave Wren car was a 63' steel-nosed Max-wedge Plymouth car. Ram-air hood scoop, 415HP.
Sponsored by '93 Chrysler-Plymouth' out of Missoula. Montana.
Car was the SS/DA National Record holder, but I think was classed in SS/D for the Winternationals.

As for the A/MP stuff. That book states Dick ran a 10.49 in the 'lightened' Charger.

But I think the NHRA B/MP record was 11.33 at that time, and held by Dick Arons in a Motion/Performance backed Camaro.
In no uncertain terms, any of the 'factory-backed' racers were told to stay away from A/MP for the time being, in 1968. I think the
B/MP class winner E.T. at the 68' Indy Nationals was an 11.44.
So my info does sound correct.
PC

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

The Challenger would have had to have some mods to be able to run Superstock. But it would have made a killer street race car at the time.
We were going to run it in B/G with a clutchflite trans.

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Art,
Did your Challenger come with a VIN tag?
From what I've heard, quite a few of them got removed from DLI's inventory of cars.
Did you ever see him at New York National 68'/69'/70'?
PC

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

No tag It was a body-in-white. Mike Landy welded a number on it. I think it was 005.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa12/rt1092/002.jpg

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Paul,
Some time back I was sent an old ad where White Bear Dodge in MN was selling (1968ish) both the 440 and the Hemi 67 cars and the 68 440 Dart of Landy's in his race trim. Apparently they bought all three cars from Landy at the time.
Mark J

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Tim,
The finals, Al Joniec versus Dave Wren.
I think the Dave Wren car was a 63' steel-nosed Max-wedge Plymouth car. Ram-air hood scoop, 415HP.
Sponsored by '93 Chrysler-Plymouth' out of Missoula. Montana.
Car was the SS/DA National Record holder, but I think was classed in SS/D for the Winternationals

Dave's 63 was/is a aluminum max wedge car, He still owns it and bring's it up to Mission Raceway sometimes. It run's 10.90s with a stocker engine in it.

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Art,
Very nice Challenger!!!

Phillip,
I thought the steel-nose Max-Wedge Plymouths's ran in SS/D class, and the aluminum-nose cars ran in SS/C...???
Anyway, an 11.56 @ 120.64 in the 1968 Winternationals S/S Final
is still great,, Win or Lose!

Tim,
The Hemi Darts (or one of them) were at;
1968
March - Hot Rod Magazine Drags (Riverside, California)
June - AHRA Springnationals (Bristol, Tenn)
June - NHRA Springnationals (Englishtown, NJ)
July - Super/Stock Magazine Nationals (New York National Speedway, L.I., NY)
August - Cars Magazine Extravaganza (Cecil County, Maryland)
August - AHRA Nationals (New York National Speedway, L.I., NY)
September - NHRA Nationals (Indiannapolis, Indiana)
October - All-Star Super Stock Meet (Englishtown, NJ)
October - World Finals (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Not sure on the dates for;
* AHRA Grand Nationals (Detroit, Mich)
* AHRA Drag World Super/Stock Championship (Wichita, Kansas)
Paul,,,, (That leaves only a limited amount of time for match-racing)

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Just for your information, Mary Ann Foss is now Mary Ann Jackson and she is the only active driving factory driver to this day. She now runs SC and hasn't missed a beat.

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Nitro Joe,
And did it all start with a 58' Pontiac, in D/SA ??
What ever happened to that 67' W/O Hemi Coronet?
That car sure looked nice with Mary Ann's name on the window.
Late March 1968.
Paul

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

From Midwest Mopars.

Landy Family Reunion
In keeping with a new tradition, the show will reunite another racing legend’s family with their car (2009 reunited Judy Lilly with her first race car). This year will see Dick Landy’s surviving family: his wife Jeannie and his son Richard Jr., reunited with Dick’s 1967 Hemi 4-speed Coronet, now owned by Erik Lindberg. The Coronet is the horse Dick rode to Super Stock stardom after he changed drag racing forever with his mind-blowing altered wheel base cars. Come and be a part of this emotional re-connection.

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Dick was the MAN!
When it came to the innovation of the AWB's, and realizing
the importance of the Match-Race circuit.
Legal or not-legal for NHRA, fans wanted to see these cars.
PC

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

SpinWheel.
The 1967 Drag Racing USA magazine has an article about
Dick Landy's 1967 R/T Street Hemi.
July 1967, centerfold article.
The car 'was' classed in A/Stock, but may have been in AHRA.
The 67' Coronet hardtop R/T Hemi was heavier than you think,,,#3758lbs.That R/T was not a W/O car.
The Plymouth R/O and Dodge W/O cars were not allowed to run in
Stock class. NHRA-legal for SS/B in 1967.
Then into SS/D for 1968
As confusing as it gets, they were in SS/E for a period in 1969, then back into SS/D
PC

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Paul,,,I've gone back and re-read this thread and I'm racking my brain,,but at the risk of sounding stupid, I've got to ask,,what are R/O Plymouths and W/O Coronets? I admit these 2 flew right over my head,,,thanks for the info,,I know you have it.
Danny Durham

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Geerhead,
Not a stupid question. Actually a good one.
In February 1967, Plymouth built 55 Belvedere II's and Dodge built
55 Coronet 'Model 440' cars, equipped with Hemi engines, to run specifically SS/B in 1967.
The 'R' stands for Plymouth Belvedere or Satellite, the 'W' stands for
Dodge Coronet. The 'O' means Super/Stock.
Hence, R/O or W/O.
The 67' cars in actuallity, had Street Hemi engines, but utilized a
special Arlon Vanke-modified stock in-line dual-quad intake, and
re-jetted Carter AFB carbs.
The cars came with a few other 'goodies'. Hood scoop, Super/Stock
leaf springs, etc..
The first major race for these cars was at the 1967 NHRA Springnationals,in June, which was won by
Sox & Martin in the Plymouth R/O car, in SS/B.
In 1968 you would find them in SS/C or SS/D..
Pretty much back then 11.50 E.T's.
Paul

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Danny, The 68 Super Stock Barracudas and Darts were BO for the Cuda and LO for the Dart.

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Danny,
Forgot to mention, the 1967 R/O and W/O cars came in
2-door hardtop style.
Plymouth Belvedere II
Dodge Coronet 'Model 440'.
Though the 2-door post-cars were considered more rigid, the hardtops looked nicer,, as per Chrysler Sales & Marketing.
Paul

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Paul,,,thanks for the info. It was an "inside Chrysler Corp." coding that I wasn't aware of,, not all that different from Chevy's COPO coding for special vehicles.

Jack,,thank you also for your input. Its great to hear from you, ol' buddy. You've got to come out to the track some weekend, although this might not be the one you're looking for as its the annual Chevy show and race event at Bremerton. I'm certainly hoping you'll be out for the Mopar drags later this season.
Take care, fellas.......................Danny Durham

By the way Jack,,, you've got to check out my 1:18 diecast collection some day. I'll give you only one guess what color combination my 70' Hemi Challenger is!

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Geerhead55,
You got me thinking about the 67' R/O.
Has anybody got a clue on whether the 1967 Sox & Martin
car was an R/O Belvedere II. Several articles state that it was an
R/O Belvedere II, but was lettered with 'GTX' on the quarter-panel
so it would stand out, as well as promote the GTX banner.
Or was it a Hemi GTX, but converted to R/O stature?
Any clues???
Sorry Dick Landy, it is your thread..
PC

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

Sox's car was an RO. It was rebadged to look like a GTX to promote the GTX's. At that time the only way you could get the Hemi hood scoop was on the RO's plus his car had a bench seat. . At least that is what Ronnie told me at the York, Penn. nostalgia show about a year before he passed away. Maybe someone else could shead some more light on it.

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

X-Tech,
Thanks, your the man.
Bet you an got A+ in History (History Tech 101).
Thought so on the Sox & Martin 67' car. Saw the article that stated
Buddy Martin did not get it until May 1967, from Gates Motor City.
It did look better with 'GTX' lettered on the side.
'Belvedere II' just wouldn't cut it as a Sales/Marketing stand-point.
That car saved their 'Butt' at the 1968 Springnationals,,,
felt worse for Melvin Yow.....
PC

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

X-Tech,
You are the 'man'.
Bet you got A+ in History,,or at least 'History Tech 101'
Always thought that was a proper R/O car in disguise, and not a GTX.
PC

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

I remember a lot of stuff from many years ago but I cant remember what I did yeaterday.....lol. What was I talking about? CRS has set in.

Re: Dick Landy 'Q & A'
 

X-Tech,
The first thing to go is 'Short Memory Loss',
or is that the 'second' thing to go.
The only thing I can remember is when that first thing went,
I forgot about everything else.
PC