A990 Super Stockers

[Hemi Moose]

Originally Posted by Geerhead55

Not sure who's driving the Melrose Missile in the bottom picture, but it looks like a young Cecil Yother. I'm not up on the "Missle" story, but when did Tom Grove leave and Cecil came in? What were the circumstances behind the change? Is that around the time Tom switched to the Fords?
I've ran into Cecil a few times in recent years at swap meets up here in the NW, but haven't bothered him for the story as hes always walking around with his wife and I don't want to pester him too badly. Hes been kind enough to autograph some magazines and the Missile die cast I have,, a very nice gentleman.
Anyone know the Melrose Missile history and story?
Danny Durham

Danny, here's a quote from a recent Mopar article...

Starting one of the busiest days ever in NHRA history, this is Tommy Grove and the A/FX Melrose Missile at the 1965 Winternationals. Rain forced the entire event to be run on Sunday only, with hundreds of qualifying and elimination runs made on that one day. This was one of four two-percent modified cars that Chrysler built for this event alone; they were all converted to full altered wheelbase cars after their appearance here. Grove announced that he was moving to Ford at the end of this day as well, and therefore did not become one of the chosen to help create the funny car legend that year. Cecil Yother became the new driver when the car reappeared on the West Coast later in the spring after its metamorphosis.