What is the correct description of a 60's Jr. stocker.

Paul Ceasrine · 07-06-2010, 03:38 PM

Ed,
I know we were all called "Stockers" no matter where you were classed, from A/S to X/S.
But someone 'coined the phrase' "Junior Stocker".
At the 1962' NHRA Winternationals the term was first used, to describe a division of stock eliminator.
Clay Allen an old automobile writer of a Detroit paper, stated that some California drag strip (possibly Famoso) used the phrase to describe stockers that. "he stated," the track had 4 staging lanes, and after the first group of 'Top' stockers (A thru D) went through, the announcer called for the next group, E,F,G and H classes, and used the phrase "Okay, next up will be you Junior Stockers.
It was around 1961 or so. At that point, E/Stock had a weight bracket of 14.00+ (wt/hp). Not really the performance-minded vehicles.
The new 'hot ticket' in 1962 was the Chevrolet Impala SS 327/300HP, which fell into the 1962 NHRA class of C/Stock. In 1963, the phrase was more commonly used, and the new E/Stock (11.89-12.49 wt/hp bracket) seemed to be a starting point, and the base for the 1962 327/300HP Chevrolet. It was a big seller for Chevrolet, and the car was commonly found in every showroom across America. Basically, anyone could purchase one, an everyday driver and Junior Stock drag race car, without doing anything major to the car.
It sounds about right. Just a general term for middle stockers, or general everyday daily-driver cars turned into racers, with some mild old hot rodder tricks.
Remember too, in 1962 stock classes only went up to L/Stock, and only up to G/SA in automatic. And with the addition of the 327 engine to Chevrolet, along with the old staple 283 'dual-quads' nothing would be the same.
The 327 engine did 'strike a little fear' into other Junior Stockers, with the Impala SS, with HP options of 250HP and 300HP, and the deadly Vette with the 340HP and 360HP 'Fuelie".
PC

Ed Wright · 07-06-2010, 04:33 PM

Paul, it seemed to me it depends on who's doing the calling. Some magazine writer? Some anouncer? I don't think there is any "official" parameters to go by. Ask ten people and get close to ten answers.

Dwight Southerland · 07-06-2010, 05:27 PM

The 1964 NHRA Rule Book has a picture of Mike Schmitt's '64 Galaxie AA/SA listed as "Junior Stock Eliminator" for the previous season. He is listed as one of the "World Champions-1964". Gas Ronda is shown as "Top Stock Eliminator" with his Thunderbolt.

The back page of the 1966 NHRA Rule Book is a section titled "NHRA Eliminator Procedure" that lists "JR. STOCK Eliminator will consist of all class winners from B/S through O/S and B/SA through J/SA." (That's all the classes.)

The 1967 NHRA Rule Book lists only Super Stock Eliminator and Stock Eliminator. That is the first year for multiple Super Stock classes.

X-TECH MAN · 07-06-2010, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

The 1964 NHRA Rule Book has a picture of Mike Schmitt's '64 Galaxie AA/SA listed as "Junior Stock Eliminator" for the previous season. He is listed as one of the "World Champions-1964". Gas Ronda is shown as "Top Stock Eliminator" with his Thunderbolt.

The back page of the 1966 NHRA Rule Book is a section titled "NHRA Eliminator Procedure" that lists "JR. STOCK Eliminator will consist of all class winners from B/S through O/S and B/SA through J/SA." (That's all the classes.)

The 1967 NHRA Rule Book lists only Super Stock Eliminator and Stock Eliminator. That is the first year for multiple Super Stock classes.

Whats in a "Name" . With all of the short shifting , sliding the brakes and tires, pulled back timing, under rated HP factors and dumping at around 1000 ft to save your combo it should be called Bracket One or S/Pro......I bet that will "tune up" some on here.....LOL.

Ed Wright · 07-06-2010, 07:45 PM

I'm evidently too wet behind the ears to have been commenting on this, as 1967 was my first year traveling to WCS races. 1968 was my first national event, Pomona. Sorry, I'll shut up.

Dwight Southerland · 07-06-2010, 09:28 PM

Not so, Ed. You probably remember a bunch more than most of us. I think the confusion comes from there being no formal definition. The way NHRA used it in the early '60s is different than what I remember on the East coast and mid-South in the late '60s. I remember the name "Jr. Stock" referring to lower class cars that were not factory hot rods and were more affordable than new(er) high horsepower cars.

Paul Ceasrine · 07-07-2010, 08:46 AM

X-Tech,
Your probably right. It's just a name. Not really a technical answer.
10 people would give 10 different answers.
And each year, with new cars produced, Junior Stock would change, along with the NHRA weight breaks and HP re-factoring

.
The 1966 NHRA rule book at least stated something,
B/Stock thru O/Stock, and B/SA thru G/SA. "Jr. Stock Eliminator".
A True Junior Stocker "Assembly line produced and showroom sales available"
In 1967 (3 of the 4) of the Stock Eliminator National Event Champions were older cars (Jr. Stockers)
Winternationals * 60 Pontiac G/SA
Springnationals * 58' Pontiac E/SA
Wolrd Finals * 56 Chevy Wagon
pc

07-06-2010, 03:38 PM	#1
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: What is the correct description of a 60's Jr. stocker. Ed, I know we were all called "Stockers" no matter where you were classed, from A/S to X/S. But someone 'coined the phrase' "Junior Stocker". At the 1962' NHRA Winternationals the term was first used, to describe a division of stock eliminator. Clay Allen an old automobile writer of a Detroit paper, stated that some California drag strip (possibly Famoso) used the phrase to describe stockers that. "he stated," the track had 4 staging lanes, and after the first group of 'Top' stockers (A thru D) went through, the announcer called for the next group, E,F,G and H classes, and used the phrase "Okay, next up will be you Junior Stockers. It was around 1961 or so. At that point, E/Stock had a weight bracket of 14.00+ (wt/hp). Not really the performance-minded vehicles. The new 'hot ticket' in 1962 was the Chevrolet Impala SS 327/300HP, which fell into the 1962 NHRA class of C/Stock. In 1963, the phrase was more commonly used, and the new E/Stock (11.89-12.49 wt/hp bracket) seemed to be a starting point, and the base for the 1962 327/300HP Chevrolet. It was a big seller for Chevrolet, and the car was commonly found in every showroom across America. Basically, anyone could purchase one, an everyday driver and Junior Stock drag race car, without doing anything major to the car. It sounds about right. Just a general term for middle stockers, or general everyday daily-driver cars turned into racers, with some mild old hot rodder tricks. Remember too, in 1962 stock classes only went up to L/Stock, and only up to G/SA in automatic. And with the addition of the 327 engine to Chevrolet, along with the old staple 283 'dual-quads' nothing would be the same. The 327 engine did 'strike a little fear' into other Junior Stockers, with the Impala SS, with HP options of 250HP and 300HP, and the deadly Vette with the 340HP and 360HP 'Fuelie". PC Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 07-06-2010 at 04:44 PM.

07-06-2010, 04:33 PM	#2
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: What is the correct description of a 60's Jr. stocker. Paul, it seemed to me it depends on who's doing the calling. Some magazine writer? Some anouncer? I don't think there is any "official" parameters to go by. Ask ten people and get close to ten answers. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

07-06-2010, 05:27 PM	#3
Dwight Southerland VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arkansas - In the middle of everything. Posts: 2,001 Likes: 64 Liked 780 Times in 194 Posts	Re: What is the correct description of a 60's Jr. stocker. The 1964 NHRA Rule Book has a picture of Mike Schmitt's '64 Galaxie AA/SA listed as "Junior Stock Eliminator" for the previous season. He is listed as one of the "World Champions-1964". Gas Ronda is shown as "Top Stock Eliminator" with his Thunderbolt. The back page of the 1966 NHRA Rule Book is a section titled "NHRA Eliminator Procedure" that lists "JR. STOCK Eliminator will consist of all class winners from B/S through O/S and B/SA through J/SA." (That's all the classes.) The 1967 NHRA Rule Book lists only Super Stock Eliminator and Stock Eliminator. That is the first year for multiple Super Stock classes. Last edited by Dwight Southerland; 07-06-2010 at 05:32 PM. Reason: Additional info.

07-06-2010, 07:45 PM	#5
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: What is the correct description of a 60's Jr. stocker. I'm evidently too wet behind the ears to have been commenting on this, as 1967 was my first year traveling to WCS races. 1968 was my first national event, Pomona. Sorry, I'll shut up. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

07-06-2010, 09:28 PM	#6
Dwight Southerland VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arkansas - In the middle of everything. Posts: 2,001 Likes: 64 Liked 780 Times in 194 Posts	Re: What is the correct description of a 60's Jr. stocker. Not so, Ed. You probably remember a bunch more than most of us. I think the confusion comes from there being no formal definition. The way NHRA used it in the early '60s is different than what I remember on the East coast and mid-South in the late '60s. I remember the name "Jr. Stock" referring to lower class cars that were not factory hot rods and were more affordable than new(er) high horsepower cars.

07-07-2010, 08:46 AM	#7
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: What is the correct description of a 60's Jr. stocker. X-Tech, Your probably right. It's just a name. Not really a technical answer. 10 people would give 10 different answers. And each year, with new cars produced, Junior Stock would change, along with the NHRA weight breaks and HP re-factoring. The 1966 NHRA rule book at least stated something, B/Stock thru O/Stock, and B/SA thru G/SA. "Jr. Stock Eliminator". A True Junior Stocker "Assembly line produced and showroom sales available" In 1967 (3 of the 4) of the Stock Eliminator National Event Champions were older cars (Jr. Stockers) Winternationals * 60 Pontiac G/SA Springnationals * 58' Pontiac E/SA Wolrd Finals * 56 Chevy Wagon pc Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 07-07-2010 at 08:57 AM.