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oldskool · 02-12-2020, 08:04 AM

Think I've mentioned this here before. But, I wanna bring it up again.

In 1973, at my home track, Stock class cars could not run soft compound slicks or cheater slicks. They had to be the hard compound full tread street tires.

That's what the NHRA rule book said.

"In the 1973 NHRA rule book it states that cars in stock class are required to use street tires with full tread pattern. Any tire wheel combination may be used if it will fit into the original wheel well opening. Tires must not be altered from the tire manufacturer's original design or pattern. "CHEATER SLICKS' WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. "

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...5-jpg.1153558/

But, for 1974, we could run a new DOT cheater slick. It had 2 small grooves. Below are pics of M&H tires, that are still sold today. The tread pattern looks exactly as I remember, on those tires we ran in '74.

Anybody have a 1974 NHRA rulebook, from which you could copy & paste the tire rules, for Stock Elim ?

So, were any of you guys running Stock Elim in '74, even if only at your local track ? If so, did you run any of these tires, or know of others who did ?

I've read that NHRA actually made these tires legal, towards the end of the '73 season, just in time for the US Nats. After thinking this over, I remember that Truman Fields won the US Nats that year, in his '68 Bird. In the final, he & his opponent both set new nat records. I think Truman turned a 12.06.

So, now I'm wondering if both cars were using those DOT cheater slicks then. Anyone here know, for sure ?

On my computer files image, I can see wrinkles in Truman's RR tire. That means the tire was a wrinkle wall drag tire. That tells me that he was running those DOT Cheater slicks.

Sorry I don't have a way to produce a clear larger image. The last pic is of the tire on the Al Vanis, '74 Ventura, US Nats winner. Again, the pic is not clear, but appears to show wrinkles, even tho the car was sitting still in that pic. So, I assume he was also running the M&H DOT cheater slicks.

9"slicks were legal in '75. Does anybody here have more info on those DOT Cheater slicks which NHRA allowed in '74, & possibly the end of the '73 season ?

02-12-2020, 08:04 AM	#3
oldskool VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: The Land of Bayous, Boudin & Crawfish Posts: 1,668 Likes: 223 Liked 747 Times in 362 Posts	Re: Best Pontiac Powered Stockers Think I've mentioned this here before. But, I wanna bring it up again. In 1973, at my home track, Stock class cars could not run soft compound slicks or cheater slicks. They had to be the hard compound full tread street tires. That's what the NHRA rule book said. "In the 1973 NHRA rule book it states that cars in stock class are required to use street tires with full tread pattern. Any tire wheel combination may be used if it will fit into the original wheel well opening. Tires must not be altered from the tire manufacturer's original design or pattern. "CHEATER SLICKS' WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. " https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...5-jpg.1153558/ But, for 1974, we could run a new DOT cheater slick. It had 2 small grooves. Below are pics of M&H tires, that are still sold today. The tread pattern looks exactly as I remember, on those tires we ran in '74. Anybody have a 1974 NHRA rulebook, from which you could copy & paste the tire rules, for Stock Elim ? So, were any of you guys running Stock Elim in '74, even if only at your local track ? If so, did you run any of these tires, or know of others who did ? I've read that NHRA actually made these tires legal, towards the end of the '73 season, just in time for the US Nats. After thinking this over, I remember that Truman Fields won the US Nats that year, in his '68 Bird. In the final, he & his opponent both set new nat records. I think Truman turned a 12.06. So, now I'm wondering if both cars were using those DOT cheater slicks then. Anyone here know, for sure ? On my computer files image, I can see wrinkles in Truman's RR tire. That means the tire was a wrinkle wall drag tire. That tells me that he was running those DOT Cheater slicks. Sorry I don't have a way to produce a clear larger image. The last pic is of the tire on the Al Vanis, '74 Ventura, US Nats winner. Again, the pic is not clear, but appears to show wrinkles, even tho the car was sitting still in that pic. So, I assume he was also running the M&H DOT cheater slicks. 9"slicks were legal in '75. Does anybody here have more info on those DOT Cheater slicks which NHRA allowed in '74, & possibly the end of the '73 season ? Attached Thumbnails Last edited by oldskool; 02-12-2020 at 08:50 AM.