Re: Rossi's SS/FA Challenger
 

[QUOTE=Rod Greene;501859]MIKE PIAZZA, BILL GEORGE,EILEEN HARRELL have lots of Rossi stories. That Challenger had lots of enhancements. Interesting thing is that Paul never won an event. Got lots of ink for wheelies. Larry Harrell won several events in the Aspen. Larry owned the car and Paul supplied parts. We are currently restoring Larry's 6bbl 4 speed Cuda.[/QUOTnngE]
We have raced the Aspen for close to 10 years now. I am racing it
this weekend at the Winternationals. Before RossiHarrell raced it = It
was Hot Rod Magazine Project Car (Project Bracket Bird)
for several years.

Re: Rossi's SS/FA Challenger
 

Anyone have any pictures or information on Rossi's 1964 Westborn sponsored car? It seems like that car won a lot. Does the car still exist? It was always immaculate and fast at the dirty "D" ( Detroit Dragway) back in the day.

Re: Rossi's SS/FA Challenger
 

I had seen About a year ago in Northern Utah a Paul Rossi stocker aspen?I inquired About it and it was going to the guys cousin in Idaho to get redone as a streetcar. lossing it's identity.

Re: Rossi's SS/FA Challenger
 

Only one real Paul Rossi Aspen = the one we currently race.
Paul Rossi was at the Winternationals today in staging
lanes and we chatted with him about the car for a while!

Re: Rossi's SS/FA Challenger
 

By The way, Paul was one of the racers I talked to when I was putting together the New Rules in Super Stock For the GT Classes in the early 80 s. Along with Joe Scott and Dick Henry and I believe I talked to FJ Smith. Darell Zimmerman the NHRA division Director gave the notebook I had to the decision-makers at NHRA. My Car and Dick Henrys were the first cars built under the watchful eye of NHRA Tech Director Dave Danish over the building of My car. Danny Davis build my Trans AM after I got two cars from Pontiac Motor Division and a Oldsmobile from Arlen Fadley. Arlen gave a lot of Oldsmobile cars for the GT classes to racers. FJ was the One who started the front wheel Cars to the rear wheel Conversion. My good friend Keith Lynch was the first one to have a Buick race car. it was the early 80s a few years back lol :)

Re: Rossi's SS/FA Challenger
 

Remember seeing the Aspen in full Rossi livery a few years back at one of your shops while you and Jon were digging out pieces to add to my collection. That car plus the Demon that Etter had his unfortunate accident in stand out but frankly lost count of all the cars!

Re: Rossi's SS/FA Challenger
 

Demon was my old car sold to Bill Riddle crashed by Etter

Re: Rossi's SS/FA Challenger
 

I remember some of the car’s history, it was a beautiful piece. The ole master cylinder rod which hope everyone learned from. Ken sure took a hit plus his more recent health issues, it’s great to see him back campaigning the Shadow. Great driver.

Re: Rossi's SS/FA Challenger
 

This maybe should be brought up again. I have no knowledge of the Etter incident, but I know it happened on occasion to different cars. It was because the m/c pushrod would fall out if the brake pedal was inadvertently lifted a bit.
I don't remember what caused it. Was it something to do with converting to manual brakes?

Re: Rossi's SS/FA Challenger
 

In the old ,manual brake Mopars, the pushrod had a groove in it that a rubber ring snapped into. The piston in the MC had a receiver groove in it that the ring snapped into to retain the pushrod. There was also a bumper, brake switch, etc, the kept the pedal from coming up too far. Power brake cars didn't use this .

Most of that stuff disappears on a race car and the rubber ring is a one time use deal. New ones are difficult to source and they are a pain to get apart.

There are different types of retainers made by many of the race shops to prevent this by capturing the pushrod and keeping it in the MC. I've even fabricated simple devices to do the job. They allow the MC to be removed and reinstalled without having to deal with the rubber ring, while keeping the pushrod in the piston.. I also like to see a redundant bracket or tab of some sort which is a positive stop for the pedal itself.

I've seen a lot of cars torn up over the year because of this. Simple fix to prevent it..