Best Pontiac Powered Stockers

[oldskool]

Well, we've mentioned all the GTO's, in order, except the last one. For '74, the GTO was an X-body, and had a 350 engine.

But, as drag racers are known to do, some guys decided to see what they could get out of the '74 GTO. So, there have been a few '74's that did very well, including some record holders.

I think I've mentioned this, but the first to run a '74, that I'm aware of, was Rock Running. Think I posted a pic of his Super Sleeper '74 GTO.

Al Vanis won Indy with a Ventura II. It wasn't a real GTO. But, NHRA allows the same engine in a plain '74 Vent. So, for this discussion, there is really no difference. You can even run this engine in a 4-door Vent, or most any 2 or 4-door Lemans.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...px?ENGINE=2088

Bill Rink's '74 GTO is listed as the J/SA class winner at the 2005 US Nats.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop

He qualified #21, with a 1.141 under, 11.609.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop

The quickest '74 GTO Stocker, that I know of, belongs to Brad Koivisto. I'll look it up, but I think he ran some low 11's this year.

So, Rock Running's Super sleeper won class at the US Nats. Al Vanis won Stock at the US Nats, in a '74 Vent, the Duttweiler Automotive '74 GTO was class record holder for 5 years straight, from 1991 thru '95, & Bill Rink won class & was #21 qualifier, at Indy, in '05. That ain't a bad showing for the little 350 powered X-bodies.

Brad Koivisto ran a .939 under 11.211 at this July race, to qualify #6. So, I'd say the '74 Pontiac GTO was competitive in the the mid '70's, the first half of the '90's, the early 2000's, & still is, today.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r=100#indextop

Will be lookin for more info & pics of '74 350 powered Pontiac X-body Stockers. So, anybody with info and/or pics please post that info.

[gsa612]

Danny Ashley had a fast '74 GTO in the early 90's which went to Sweden.Mike Macdonald (Q-jet perf.) also had one which was sold to Richard Desmond from Minn.I'm not sure if Brad K's black car was owned at one time by the Nelson's also from Minn.There was also a guy from Montana Chuck Salerno (sp).The car was blue and called "Git-Go" and was a top q'fier back then...gsa612

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by gsa612

Danny Ashley had a fast '74 GTO in the early 90's which went to Sweden.Mike Macdonald (Q-jet perf.) also had one which was sold to Richard Desmond from Minn.I'm not sure if Brad K's black car was owned at one time by the Nelson's also from Minn.There was also a guy from Montana Chuck Salerno (sp).The car was blue and called "Git-Go" and was a top q'fier back then...gsa612

Hey, that's good info ! Any pics ? Know where I might get some pics ? Any idea how to contact any of these guys.

[gsa612]

Originally Posted by oldskool

Hey, that's good info ! Any pics ? Know where I might get some pics ? Any idea how to contact any of these guys.

Danny is a member here and was a friend of Mike M's.You can try PM'ing him, he may have some old pics.Not sure but Chuck's car may have gone to CA.Also you can try to PM Bill Rink(if he doesn't see this first) he's run his for years in STK and now SS.He may have more info on these cars.And you have pics of Brad's car as he currently runs it...gsa612

[BRINK]

Originally Posted by gsa612

Danny is a member here and was a friend of Mike M's.You can try PM'ing him, he may have some old pics.Not sure but Chuck's car may have gone to CA.Also you can try to PM Bill Rink(if he doesn't see this first) he's run his for years in STK and now SS.He may have more info on these cars.And you have pics of Brad's car as he currently runs it...gsa612

Auto Imagery has all of the pictures of my '74 at the NHRA National events.Go to their web site and type in my name in the box. There's hundreds of shots.

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by BRINK

Auto Imagery has all of the pictures of my '74 at the NHRA National events.Go to their web site and type in my name in the box. There's hundreds of shots.

Yeah, I did that for a few years. But now when I go to that site no box shows up to type a name into. You only have the option of which race you want to see pics of.

Or, maybe they just changed the format or something. It doesn't work for me like it use to.

https://www.autoimagery.com/index

[oldskool]

The next '67 Bird I wanna talk about belongs to Bryan Phillips. As mentioned, it should be exactly the same combo as Randi Lyn runs.

While lookin thru the Indy class winners, I noticed that Bryan got the D/SA class win, in 2012, with a 10.733.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2012#indextop

In the middle of July this year, he qualified #24, with a 10.695, in D/SA, at a West coast Lucas Oil Series race.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2019#indextop

[Dale Hulquist]

Lee Bannister comes to mind, in 1999-2000 he was in 11 finals and won 8 of them in NHRA and IHRA i belive it was a 1972 firebird 455 that was driven by the creator of the Texas Twister "Lee B" himself which many got to experience first hand. Not sure how fast it would run but, rarely lost a hdsup in elimination's and surprised quite a few.

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by Dale Hulquist

Lee Bannister comes to mind, in 1999-2000 he was in 11 finals and won 8 of them in NHRA and IHRA i belive it was a 1972 firebird 455 that was driven by the creator of the Texas Twister "Lee B" himself which many got to experience first hand. Not sure how fast it would run but, rarely lost a hdsup in elimination's and surprised quite a few.

Have never heard those names, but would like more info & pics.

[KRatcliff]

Originally Posted by Dale Hulquist

Lee Bannister comes to mind, in 1999-2000 he was in 11 finals and won 8 of them in NHRA and IHRA i belive it was a 1972 firebird 455 that was driven by the creator of the Texas Twister "Lee B" himself which many got to experience first hand. Not sure how fast it would run but, rarely lost a hdsup in elimination's and surprised quite a few.