GTO Stockers

[Travis Miller]

B/SA '67 GTO

[Buick6]

I remember the Knafel Pontiac "Tin Indian" cars very well. I grew up a short distance away from that dealership in Akron, Ohio. Bill Abraham was tragically killed while on his way to the Indy 500 with his wife and 2 children in May 1972. He lost control of his car on a curve and slid into a guardrail sideways. The guardrail went through the drivers door and exited the right rear passenger door. His wife and children survived the crash. He was the manager of Firestone's drag racing tire division at the time. Bill was only 30 years old.

[mopar68]

Originally Posted by Buick6

I remember the Knafel Pontiac "Tin Indian" cars very well. I grew up a short distance away from that dealership in Akron, Ohio. Bill Abraham was tragically killed while on his way to the Indy 500 with his wife and 2 children in May 1972. He lost control of his car on a curve and slid into a guardrail sideways. The guardrail went through the drivers door and exited the rear passenger door. His wife and children survived the crash. He was the manager of Firestone's drag racing tire division at the time. He was only 30 years old.

Man, what a tragic story. In 1971 Bill drove Arlen Vanke's B/MP 1971 'Cuda (the one on the left in this photo).



Pete

[Rick Brown]

Thanks Mopar68 for posting the photo of "The Raven" Black 1964 GTO. This car was driven by Tom Kerr from East Palestine, Ohio and co-owned by Bill McCormick and GlennCusick. Tom is still involved heavily in the NHRA scene still having his own Stock Eliminator Camaro while in Ohio but spends most of the time with the Jimmy DeFrank camp as you may have seen in many of the recent articles in National Dragster. This was a later photo evidently after the car was sold as it shows the opposing car as later model GTO, Tom had the car in 64 & 65 and had the prominent "Jenkins Competition" decal on the rear quarter running B/S. In 1966 Tom also drove a new Chevelle B/S also prepared by the Grump while Bill had the Nova. In the early 70's Tom spent a few years as a prominent "Super Crew" member on the Pro Car for "Da Grump". This is where I got my start in Drag Racing in 1964! Thanks to Tom and the "Alley Motion" stable. Any more photos found would be appreciated of either car! THANKS CLASS RACER!

[mopar68]

Originally Posted by Rick Brown

Thanks Mopar68 for posting the photo of "The Raven" Black 1964 GTO. This car was driven by Tom Kerr from East Palestine, Ohio and co-owned by Bill McCormick and GlennCusick. Tom is still involved heavily in the NHRA scene still having his own Stock Eliminator Camaro while in Ohio but spends most of the time with the Jimmy DeFrank camp as you may have seen in many of the recent articles in National Dragster. This was a later photo evidently after the car was sold as it shows the opposing car as later model GTO, Tom had the car in 64 & 65 and had the prominent "Jenkins Competition" decal on the rear quarter running B/S. In 1966 Tom also drove a new Chevelle B/S also prepared by the Grump while Bill had the Nova. In the early 70's Tom spent a few years as a prominent "Super Crew" member on the Pro Car for "Da Grump". This is where I got my start in Drag Racing in 1964! Thanks to Tom and the "Alley Motion" stable. Any more photos found would be appreciated of either car! THANKS CLASS RACER!

Thank you for sharing the history. I always enjoying hearing the story(s) behind the picture. I don't think I have any more photos of this car in my Bill Truby photo collection. But I'll take a look.

Regards,

Pete

[mopar68]

[mopar68]