Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

I noticed you dont see alot of 68-72 nova super stockers.. .is there a problem with combinations or something?? I am looking at buying a roller super stock nova and eventually would like to fix a legal combination for it but I cant remember seeing many nova superstockers.. just stockers??

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

Wheelbase? Cold air hood available-no. Aerodynamics compared to comparable camaro. Camaro more resale?

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

No hood clearance, at least for the big blocks anyway.

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

24 9223 SS/EA Terry Taylor, Lumberton NC, '69 Nova 6.520 6.90 -0.380
this is one of the only ones ive seen...missy phillips and terry taylor drive it in d-9 and d-2 ihra...i think its a 396 cub motor not sure about the hp ratings on the motor...car can run stock and super stock if they want it too...also is a beautiful car...

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

I would say it's because the Nova was never really considered a muscle car. The hood thing is another good point. I honestly think the Nova is a much better working car because of the rear overhang. If I had my choice I would rather have the nova. The Taylor/Phillips car is a legal stocker.
Chip

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

I do remember one in particular, Steve Taylor's SS/CA 'Natural High' from 20 years ago. It was always a crowd favorite here in Carolina. Just a few weeks ago at a bracket race in Kinston NC I saw the car again for the first time in at least 10 years, still had the same paint from the late '80's. There was a black nova small block stick car SS that raced in Jacksonville NC back then too.

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

There used to be a blue 69/70ish Nova that ran SS/JA at IHRA events back in the mid 80's You did not really see many "flat hood" superstockers at IHRA events back then. Don Jackson

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

That might have been Auston Pusey.
Bob Rice

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

Bob it may have been. I do remember Auston running a IHRA production car that was always on the top of the qualifying sheet. Don Jackson

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

Steve Berlau in Div. V (NHRA), raced a '69 Nova in SS/HA (with Alison Berlau behind the wheel), back in 2007, and by himself in earlier (y2k) years. I don't remember for sure, but I think his mill was a 350, but it could've been a 396??? Hey Hawk, do you recall what that engine in Steve's car was???

I'm sure he still has the car, but with this wonderful economy being as it is, he may be taking some time off for budget reasons???

By the way, Keith Lynch (now of Ohio), who used to live in West Valley City, Ut., campaigned one of those Nova's also (back in the 80's), before he went to the Old's Cutlass/Buick Regal/Chevy Monte Carlo type SS'er of his 90's efforts (as I recall)....

Maybe it's because of these new GT class type car bodies that caused those who used to caimpaign the Nova bodies (plus the hood advantages that others spoke of here), to flee from them??? I miss 'em too!

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

Gary don't forget about Dave Baumhefners Nova in division 5 as well. Dave's was I believe a 71' 350 270HP? Can't remember for sure. That car hasn't been around since about 2000. I think your correct about Steve's being a 350 as well. Keith did have great success driving them as well. He also ran his B/SA Nova in superstock a couple times as well.

Rick Ryan

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

Can't remember what year the Nova was maybe a 70, but it was called NovaCane and had a needle drawn through the name. Ran in div2. Think the car was out of the Miami area, pretty quick.....Any body remember this car?????

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

Yes, it was Ken & Pop Andrews white '69 255 HP.

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

Another div 5 car was AL kuehl's Nova , if i remember correctly he won Topeka with it , Al post on here once in a while, maybe he will give some insight.

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

You got me Rick...I did forget, but sure enjoyed watching Dave's Nova too...I thought those cars made great SS'ers, and if I could afford one, that would be a Chevy body I'd want to have for a second race car! Since there were so many Camaros around, I often rooted for the Nova's to win any time they had to race each other....those were the days.....

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

I realize this is a bit dated, but at the 1977 US Nationals, John Dawley Jr. was SS/L Class Championship with a '68 small block Nova.

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

Al, far be it for me to say, but I always thought that since the 68-72 Novas had the extra rear over-hang (plus the shorter front overhang), that they'd be more desireable for traction purposes than the Camaros of that vintage---besides, the swoopy style from the roof to the trunk I thought gave them the aero edge over the more boxy look of the Camaro...they'd sure get my vote, and since I owned/raced Pontiac's version of that car (the Ventura), to my first and only (so far) divisional championship (1981 Div. V Street), I have fond memories of that car/body style...I wish I would've kept that car, and made a stocker out of it--it possibly could've been something between an L/SA, and a N/SA with the Pontiac 350V8, Turbo 350 auto, and 2bbl carb???

As someone else mentioned in an earlier post, I think the addition of the GT classes, and the modern day FI cars became the beginning of the end of them in SS...but why not the Camaros too??? Perhaps there's 350-427 reasons they're still popular....especially the BA & CA ones???

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

Just saw Steve Koppiens Nova...I rest my case as to why I think they're better SS'ers than Camaros---narrower body, the hatchback look, and the same suspension/chassis type (leaf sprung rear, with the uni-body chassis, that had subframe connectors attached to handle the rigors of racing--especially part-time on two wheels...as Bob Frey would say, WAY UP THERE ON THE "COOL O METER", or "COOLOMETER"!!!

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

Hi Al,

Sorry it took so long to reply back to your post of mid-April, but with me not having the funds to race this year, I've been a bit lax in checking this site out...however, the one race I was able to enjoy so far this year was around the same time (April 13th), as your last two posts, so that helped...

I'm sure I saw the photo of your car, and it's right up there on the Coolometer as those others we both spoke of here in this thread are/were!!! :) I hope to see a photo of that Pontiac Ventura S/S car you spoke of, because that would surely let me know the potential my former Ventura had...

Did you notice that Steve Berlau had his 68 Nova SS/GA car last month in Denver at the LODRS 5-3 race? In spite of the fact that he hasn't been racing much (at least on this level recently), he still qualified 13th (out of 27 total cars), with a 1.050 under 10.65 on the altitude adjusted 11.70 index...that's pretty cool don't you think???

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

Paul Berg in Div 2 used to mess around with a friends 68 327/325 Nova. Never seriously run as a stocker but its the only one Ive ever seen. Its a 327/350 motor only with a Q-jet on it, back in the 7 inch tire days. I think it might have a lot of potential if its still around. It had Grasspower on the side if my memory is correct. Paul runs his brothers I/S 81 Camaro now after a 35 year vacation from racing. Sorry I guess its called a Chevy 11 back then and its rated at 300 hp now

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

Al

Your car was sweet, and belated congrats on that win you garnered out there from back then :) ! I saw your car with the kind of slicks I relate with Super Stock Eliminator, then I go to Auto Imagery and see Bill's '74 Ventura (GTO?), both in Stock trim, and in Super Stock. Wow what a difference changing from one to the other makes---the earlier photos of his car as a stocker show him with an 11.61 on his windshield/side glass, but as a SS car, he's shown with an 11.08 dial-in on photo #95 of 102!!! Moreover, he had some decent wheelstands as a stocker, but those stocker sized slicks with super stock power...wow, he darn near needs wheelie bars on that thing!!!

Thus more reason's why I wish I would've kept my '73 Ventura, but I'd have had to spend a lot of time & money on body work, because mine had dents, and scratches (if not chipped paint), all around it. It definitely was no looker (like your car was and Bill's is), but it got me my first divisional championship so it couldn't be all bad??? That car and/or my '76 Vega I wish I had back, because the challenge of running them would be big, and not many people are racing Pontiac 350 V8's (espcially with a 2bbl carb), compared to all of the other engines out there...let alone a 140c.i. 2bbl 4cyl Turbo 250 Vega??? However, those two cars were my two winningest cars to date!!! Thanks for your insight, and Bills Ventura bringing back some good memories of mine...pictures of my car were found, but since it wasn't a Stock/Super Stocker, that's why you don't see it on this thread....

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

Al,

I sure can relate to you on the credit card thing, which (in conjunction with my companies excess competition for business here in Phoenix) is part of the reason I've been idled from racing my Cavalier so-far this year...some changes are in the works, and if they come to fruition, then 2010 will be my re-emergence back in the stocker wars with my Z24!!! However, if I was to build/buy another car for stock/super stock/bracket racing someday it'll most likely be either a 60's era Mopar product, or perhaps an AMC. It's something about racing a car and/or engine combination that's against the norm that I seem to attract to. That said, I don't know of anyone racing a 2bbl 350 Pontiac V8 engine in stock (especially in a Ventura body), do you???

I checked out the weight break/hp factors for the '73 Ventura's with the above engine combo, and it'll be interesting to see what classes it can run in, and just how much competition those classes have???

Re: Why dont you see 68-72 nova super stock cars?
 

Al,

Don't get me wrong, a 2bbl 350 Pontiac V8 would be a different enough combo for me, it's just that over the years I've been leaning Mopars way. However, until my finances improve as well, I'm not even racing my fwd Z24 anywhere. Since I know that our financial challenges will eventually pass, I'll be looking forward to someday returning up there to your state and racing again at Brainerd, where we can bench race over those combos while downing some bbq, brats, and buds??? I've only had my Cavalier up to that track once (the 2005 Division V E.T. Finals), however it ran more consistent at that track (regardless of the time of day a run was made), than at any other track I've ever had that car on!!! Therefore, I'm looking forward to going up there someday to run the nationals, and maybe the divisional earlier in the year too???