Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

That's when Glidden got mad and showed up in a Plymouth Arrow.

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

The Hemi was the first engine to be penalized with weight.

Mopar basically pulled their cars from Pro Stock because of it for a while.

Big Block cars were the basis for Pro Stock....

A/MP cars that match raced and they set some basic rules at the beginning.

Jenkins dreamed up the Vega small block combo and pretty much started the various small block, light weight cars overtaking the Big block cars.

Engine mods got out of hand and radical head modifications by everyone got out of hand.....


Weight to cube was used but with wheelbase lengths added to the mix.

Bob Glidden could make pretty much any combination he touched out run everyone else but R-M was a close second once they dreamed up the small cube BB combo........I saw some heads done in that era for those engines.....Both Big and small block......Iron and aluminum....

500 cube engines was an attempt to level the playing field.....It did.

Various people were accused of cheating using NOS......and oxygenated fuel was also being used.

I saw heads from that era......and also some of them being used in Competition eliminator engines......

Welding and modifying cast iron heads got real creative.....and even blocks....

It was far more interesting than today and that is no doubt....

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

Thanks for the refresher, Rich
It was a glorious time..
No such thing as aftermarket heads
Some things don`t change for Mopars, I guess...
I remember a Comp guy had a trailer explosion, that was supposed to be caused by a fuel "additive" (I think it was called Propalene oxide) and a Pro Stock team had a similar incident in the pits (but with Nitrous oxide), that resulted in a suspension.
Mike

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

The canted valve Ford Cleveland head had a 1/2 lb. per cubic inch penalty in Comp. Modified and Pro Stock.

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

oops

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

I was at the last Molson GrandNationals in Montreal. What a crazy place it was to race at. Same race Shirley went over the guard rail.Bob Glidden had his Ford Fairmont there. Not one piece of sheet metal lined up right. The saying on the back was "She ain't pretty but she sure can cook". He was right there. I would watch Grumpy start the Vega up I think it was. While idling he would put his finger on the carburetor vents. Shake his head and pull the carburetors back off and into the trailer they went. They would do big burn outs and numerous dry hops. Pull the wheels off the ground on every shift and they were the same car you owned or could buy.
It was my favorite class. Plenty of personality to go around.

Paul

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

Saw some really great racing in my many years in the sport as both a racer, crew guy and just a spectator...


Early Pro Stock was fantastic as well as Modified Eliminator....

I have a button from Indy 1985 I think it was...…

" I saw the first Pro Stock Challenge"......and I was there...…

I also saw many Pro Stock Match races and circuit races and they were worth the price of admission by themselves.....

Dick Landy on the back bumper out to about 3rd gear in his Challenger was one I will never forget...…..Jenkins sitting there cigar hanging out wondering what the heck he just saw...….They were supposed to race and Landy just pulled up and made that run ignoring Jenkins.....

Sox and Martin, the first real professional looking team I ever saw......Very impressive at the time...…

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

I remember Conn. Dragway Match races. Jenkins, Dyno, Rickie Smith, Ronnie Manchester, Pat Musi, Don Campanello....

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

Think Bo has added a lot to the current P/S scene but seeing the handwriting on the wall apparently he’s stepping away to Factory Stock and other formats....

https://dragillustrated.com/butner-t...d-out-of-nhra/

Re: When P/S was interesting.
 

Not correct Comp and Modified had .20 of a pound added in May of 1978 not 1/2 pound.