Chevrolet Racing, the early years. - Page 2

Rich Biebel · 12-23-2012, 10:36 AM

That Sedgefiled Gulf Station was owned and run by Earl Benson for many many years.

Earl and his brother Bobby.....my good friend in high school......raced various cars.

They lived in Lake Hiawatha NJ and Bobby and I spent lots of time messing with cars and reading Earl's little Hot Rod Magazine collection before we were 17....

They owned a sizable property with a huge garage and other garages.

Their father ran a dairy and food delivery service out of the big garage before he died.

Earl had a Corvette and raced it as a gasser with injection. I can recall him struggling with that injection trying to get the car off the line....

Bobby at one time had a Turbo Corvair and raced it as well....

I passed that station many times and still do as 2 of my good friends live close by.

I don't recall ever seeing that Nova and have no recollection of the Bensons ever racing anything like that......

They basically were just locals like so many back then that went to the drags with a car to race for
trophys....

P.S. The van in the background of the picture is one I probably drove ! I worked at that parts store along with another friend around 1969-1970 for a short while....

Hemi Moose · 12-26-2012, 08:44 PM

Some other racers used the other regular Chevy II / Nova bodies like this one with the motor set back...

12-23-2012, 10:36 AM	#1
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Chevrolet Racing, the early years. That Sedgefiled Gulf Station was owned and run by Earl Benson for many many years. Earl and his brother Bobby.....my good friend in high school......raced various cars. They lived in Lake Hiawatha NJ and Bobby and I spent lots of time messing with cars and reading Earl's little Hot Rod Magazine collection before we were 17.... They owned a sizable property with a huge garage and other garages. Their father ran a dairy and food delivery service out of the big garage before he died. Earl had a Corvette and raced it as a gasser with injection. I can recall him struggling with that injection trying to get the car off the line.... Bobby at one time had a Turbo Corvair and raced it as well.... I passed that station many times and still do as 2 of my good friends live close by. I don't recall ever seeing that Nova and have no recollection of the Bensons ever racing anything like that...... They basically were just locals like so many back then that went to the drags with a car to race for trophys.... P.S. The van in the background of the picture is one I probably drove ! I worked at that parts store along with another friend around 1969-1970 for a short while.... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R Last edited by Rich Biebel; 12-23-2012 at 10:47 AM.

12-26-2012, 08:44 PM	#2
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 12 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Chevrolet Racing, the early years. Some other racers used the other regular Chevy II / Nova bodies like this one with the motor set back...