Best Pontiac Powered Stockers

[oldskool]

"...Well, I was quite sure you never bought a High Performance Pontiac Magazine (LOL) but I thought you might have read it down at the Krogers..."

Mark, with all due respect to who you are & what you've accomplished, I see no reason for comments like that one.

I actually have several years of HPP mags. I think I was still a subscriber when they quit.

There was a 20 year period of time, when I was out of racing completely, helping run the family business. Purposely did not go to races, since I knew I couldn't race. If I had gone, all the tracks close to me ran brackets.

Did not subscribe to ND. Did not have time to look thru car mags, on store shelves. There WAS no internet. I 1st learned a little about a computer in 2008. Got my first laptop in 2009. Took a few years to find out there were actually sites where they talked about Pontiacs. But, most were about street cars, bracket cars, or heads-up cars.

Anyhow, I had no way of knowing the Pontiac cars & drivers, that were racing(most many hundreds or thousands of miles from me). But, I'm trying now to gather all the Pontiac Stock/SS info I can, & record it in threads that will be easy for anyone interested to access.

The only way I know to compile this info is to ask racers/fans that were actually there when the cars in question were racing. Hey, I wish all this info was already out there on a single site, beginning back in the mid 50's & coming right on up to present. If that was the case, I'd just spend lots of hours combing thru it & enjoying it.

BUT, that is NOT the case. And, from what I've seen, I'm the only guy on the planet who is seriously trying to get the Pontiac info together. I realize that there are LOTS of guys out there, many of 'em on this site, who know a LOT more than me about Pontiac Stock & SS cars from the past. That's why I keep asking so many questions. Hoping to get a little info here, & a little info there, until it finally amounts to what may become the single most detailed account of Pontiac Stock/SS info anywhere.

I appreciate all the help & info I have received, since beginning this ! Other info has been promised soon.

But, like most anybody else, I don't appreciate negative or sarcastic remarks, or guys reminding me of just how little I know about the subject. At least I AM trying, & have invested quite a few hours in this project. Hoping to gather lots more pics, & details of races & class wins, as well as records set, by Pontiac V8 powered Stock/SS cars.

As always, all help is appreciated.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by oldskool

"...Well, I was quite sure you never bought a High Performance Pontiac Magazine (LOL) but I thought you might have read it down at the Krogers..."

Mark, with all due respect to who you are & what you've accomplished, I see no reason for comments like that one.

Jeez..It was a joke..See the LOL?
You're the guy who said he couldn't afford a 40 dollar book...And who set the deal up so you could get one for free?
Enough already...Onward }

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Jeez..It was a joke..See the LOL?
You're the guy who said he couldn't afford a 40 dollar book...And who set the deal up so you could get one for free?
Enough already...Onward }

Since you mentioned the book, I'm now thru getting all the Pontiac info out of it.

So, I feel like the right thing to do would be to pass it on to someone else who might like to look thru it, but really don't have $40 extra to spend on a book.

Would also like for it to go to someone who'd be willing to then pass it on to someone else.

So, if you or others here would help me locate such a person, I'd appreciate it.

I'll pay shipping to this person, anywhere in the lower 48.

[oldskool]

OK, the car was raced some in '98. In the pic posted, it has a div 2 number. DRC has records
from '98. So, I checked some race results from the East & Southeast.

Sure enuff it pops up at the Gators, in #20 position @ 1 sec under. Carol is listed as the driver. I'm sorry, but I don't know if Carol was Mark's wife, daughter, or ? Somebody please post the correct info.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

It shows up again @ Englishtown. This time it's #8 @ 1.100 under. Dave Ribeiro was right behind, also in a '78 Bird.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

One thing about that race that I thought was real cool, was that Pontiac power swept L/SA, M/SA, N/SA, O/SA, & P/SA !

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

I noticed that the car had a div 3 number, at the 2 races I listed. So, I'll go back & look at some of the div 3 races & see if it turns up.

Didn't see Carol's name listed at later races. Did see Don Holmes, Paul Dilcher, & Bob Michael listed driving '78 Birds. Bob won the M/SA class @ Indy.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

At Reading, Paul Dilcher was #6 & Dave Ribeiro was #12. Dave was then listed with a '77 Bird. One advantage of claiming a '77 is that you have the option of running a Pontiac 350, which some have done.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

Until NHRA gave 'em the big hits, the '77-'78 400 Birds were quite competitive. I suppose non-Pontiac guys would just say they had a soft hp factor.

[oldskool]

"...I built a 78 car so I could use the 78-79 big cam motor with a stick, for J and K/Stock.

I'd like to dig a little deeper into this. I understand the term "big cam", as used here. The cam for the '77-'78 auto trans 180hp 400 limited to .364/.364 lift, @ the valve, with 1.5 rockers. The '78 220hp 400 is allowed .404/.407 lift.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...7&MAKE=Pontiac

Did you ever get to race this, or any other '78-'79 Bird, as a stick car ?

I've been going thru my pics, & my memory. I just can't remember ever seeing a '77-'79 Pontiac stick Bird listed.

So, does anybody here know of one, or more ? If so, please post info & pics, if possible.

Thanks !

As mentioned, I recall lots of stick GTO's, 1st gen Birds, & even a very few early 2nd gens. Just can't recall a '77-'79 stick Bird. Maybe there were some, back in the '80-'90's, that I just never heard of. That's quite possible.

While on the subject of racing a stick. I assume the days of just running a beefed up Muncie or ST-10 & a Hurst shifter, are long gone. Assume the clutch is now used only for the launch, & the missed 2-3 shift is a thing of the past. Exactly what parts are now required to run a 10 or 11 sec Stocker, with a stick, & expect the trans/clutch set-up to survive ?

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp...-transmission/

http://www.davidkeetoploaders.com/jerico.htm

https://www.gforcetransmissions.com/tran_g101.asp

I also need to be reminded again of the exact year when cam duration & valve spring pressure became unlimited. OK, 1985. Got it !

http://classracer.com/classforum/showthread.php?t=26781

Sorry for what, to many here, are very elementary questions. But, if I knew, I wouldn't ask.

[oldskool]

At the Gators, Randi Lyn Shipp was #12 & Michael Brand was #53 on the Q-1 list.

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

They get 3 shots today.

In Q-2, Randi Lyn was still # 12, with a .913 under, 10.637. Michael was #19, with an .851 under, 10.699. Both cars are running D/SA.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

In Q-3, Randi Lyn ended up in #14 position, & Michael in #22 position.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

No Pro cars for this weekend. Lower Sportsman classes will run without spectators.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by oldskool

OK, the car was raced some in '98. In the pic posted, it has a div 2 number. DRC has records
from '98. So, I checked some race results from the East & Southeast.

Sure enuff it pops up at the Gators, in #20 position @ 1 sec under. Carol is listed as the driver. I'm sorry, but I don't know if Carol was Mark's wife, daughter, or ? Somebody please post the correct info.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

It shows up again @ Englishtown. This time it's #8 @ 1.100 under. Dave Ribeiro was right behind, also in a '78 Bird.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

One thing about that race that I thought was real cool, was that Pontiac power swept L/SA, M/SA, N/SA, O/SA, & P/SA !

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

I noticed that the car had a div 3 number, at the 2 races I listed. So, I'll go back & look at some of the div 3 races & see if it turns up.

Didn't see Carol's name listed at later races. Did see Don Holmes, Paul Dilcher, & Bob Michael listed driving '78 Birds. Bob won the M/SA class @ Indy.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

At Reading, Paul Dilcher was #6 & Dave Ribeiro was #12. Dave was then listed with a '77 Bird. One advantage of claiming a '77 is that you have the option of running a Pontiac 350, which some have done.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

Until NHRA gave 'em the big hits, the '77-'78 400 Birds were quite competitive. I suppose non-Pontiac guys would just say they had a soft hp factor.

Don, Carol is my ex-wife.
I built the 78 as a J/Stocker, with a Weber clutch and a Doug Nash trans. It ran on the 11.80 something record right away. It was hard on parts though, and I never could set the record. The 305 Camaros got popular and were very fast. Those cars are in F/stock now, I believe. I knew I couldn't run with them, so I tried running the small cam with the stick... @.366 lift, the lobes we had to use were not big on RPM. Also the amount of weight we had to carry, proved to be a bad stick shift combo.
I built a converter and a lightened T350 for it, and let Carol drive it in 1995.She was an accomplished bracket racer.(former track champion, etc.)
I sold the car in 1998, after Englishtown. Most of the class finals were in 96-97 , which doesn't show up on DRC.

[oldskool]

Great info ! Thanks !

[oldskool]

At the Gators, both Pontiacs survived E-1. Randi Lyn cut a perfect .000 light. Turns out she didn't need a good light that round. Would have been great for a close round tho. Michael cut a .010 light. That ain't too shabby either.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

In E-2, Randi Lyn left a bit too soon. Michael cut a good light, but slowed, for some reason. So, the Pontiacs are out.

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

[Rat Patrol]

Originally Posted by oldskool

For '64, the book has 12 pages of coverage. At the Winter Nats, it says that Don Gay won A/S, with a 12.68. Says that Ramon Lowe entered 2 cars. He won D/SA with his '58 Pontiac & E/SA with his '62 GP. Also mentions that a guy named Larry Spina won the I/SA class, with a Pontiac. Not familiar with that name.

Also says that Don Gay was disqualified, @ Indy, for having "non-original-size mufflers". I've posted a pic of him as class winner. So, I don't know if he was later DQ'd, or what. Don't know if the class trophy was taken away from him, or not. Don't really know how to find out exactly what took place at Indy, in '64. Anybody know ? The book says that 9 Stockers were DQ'd.

Wayne Keeling got I/SA RU, in his daily driver '59 Pontiac. One class winner which was mentioned in the 1964 section was Mary Ann Foss. Mary Ann won D/SA & set a new nat record that year. At the time, it is said that she was the only female that held a nat record. She was driving a '58 Pontiac named "Black Magic". For the '64 Nats, the book says that the car had a 370 engine, with Tri-Power, a Jetaway trans, & 3.90 rear gears. Says she won the class, with a holeshot 14.24 ET, over a similar car, raced buy Dixon & Easley. No pic of either car, that I saw, during the '64 season coverage. I have a pic of a Lowe & Easley '58, but not a Dixon & Easley '58. Maybe that car was driven by Larry "Doc" Dixon, who drove some of the Knafel "Tin Indian" cars. Anybody know ?

Gay WAS DQ’’d as winner of A/S at the 64 Nats.

The results list has no A/S winner.