Who has raced the same car the longest time
Who out there has raced the same car for the longest time? Even if the car started in Stock and then moved to Super/Stock. Not everyone gets a new camaro, then a new Grand Am, then a new Cobalt etc. Who out there just could not part ways with his/her baby? Even if the person now campaigns the car in nostalgia. Or, like in my case still has the car but has retired it from racing. The older cars are really cool. How many times have you heard someone say "I wish I still had that car"? That's what I would be saying, but I do still have mine! Even though it was a S/G car....Sorry.
Lets see the then and now photos! |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
My friend John Langdon out of divison 6 in Idaho, a lurker on
this board, has raced the same 1970 340 Barracuda stocker for the last 25+ years. And yes he is brother to Chad (super comp/ super gas/stock) and uncle to Shawn (Top Fuel). |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Ben Wenzel, 1967 Camaro Z-28. Forty-two years and counting in Stock.
Jerry |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Ted Harbit comes to mind.
Although NHRA legislated his 1951 Studebaker out of competition, (too old for Stock Eliminator,) he'd been racing it for several years before Ben bought that Camaro... But, Ben's been running that same car in NHRA CLASS competition continuously, I believe, while Ted was forced to change formats; eventually ended up last year, on his head, with two turbos and probably 800+ horsepower (my guess)... I'd say that was "racing," wouldn't you?? Especially, for a guy in his mid-70s.... :) |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
We may have a winner...Ben Wenzel with the stay power. Nice job John Langdon as well. How about some photos boys?
You other guys need to post even if you can't match these two....It'll still be cool! |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Been racing the same '64 plymouth since 1977 but didn't race when the Army sent me to Germany twice.
Think I'll be buried in it. JimR |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Does it have the aluminum front end? Can I have it (be a shame to waste that rare part to the corrosive nature of plain old dirt!!!)???
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
I would guess Dave and Ben Wenzel would be the winner, or close to it.
On a related topic, how many out there/on here are racing cars that they are one-owner cars of, and/or cars that are being raced that have been racecars pretty much their whole life? A few that come to mind (to the best of my knowledge, I could be wrong on a few, and I apoligize if I'm wrong): -Bill Davis, current SS/D record holder, has owned his Camaro since new, and only saw the street for a brief period of time before being turned into a SS/G Camaro and raced in the early 1970's, after a pair of big block stick Chevelles. -I believe Bill Davis, and his then-partner the late Ricky Metz, had a B/S '69 Camaro that is now Doc Watson's SS/DM Camaro. -I thought I read once that Red LeBlanc is a one-owner of his current SS/G Mustang. -Maybe Ken Montgomery's Triple Nickle SS/B '65 Plymouth? Any other good stories to share? |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
'65 Mustang dad bought new in Dec '65 started racing it in '74, '89 Mustang I bought new in Oct '89? Surprised I haven't been approached by classic car journalists yet.
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Everett Hill In the old Mustang has to be close to the longest time.
Hammer |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
My father-in-law, John Bender, has been racing his '67 Plymouth in Stock and Brackets and in Stock again since his then-girlfriend, and now wife, Peggy, bought it new.
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
A couple of NorthWest MoPars I can think of have been around "forever".
Dave Wren still has the aluminum nose 63 Max Wedge Plymouth that he was runner up at the 68 Winternationals with. BC racer Jim Isherwood has been running his SS/EA 67 WO23 "Super Stock Package" Plymouth Hemi Belvedere since 1978 or 79. I believe that it has been a drag car all its life. Also, although he sold it a few years back, Buck Kinneys orange 71/72 Chevelle convertible was racing in Super Stock when I first started racing in the mid 70`s, and looked virtually identical the entire time, it was sold at Barrett-Jackson 2 or 3 years ago. |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
My money is on Div. 4 Super Stocker James Lee and his 55 chevy. I remember seeing him and Ed Wright racing in Tulsa back in 1973 when I was in high school and I'm 54 now.
Sorry Ed. haha |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
I`ve been racing my Buick Skyhawk since I received it as a graduation present from my parents in `84.
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Bob Cupp??
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
How about Ken Montgomery's 65 Ply SS/B Hemi car, he has raced since new. Also Leon Miranian's SS/BA Corvette. He started racing that car in 1975? I can't think of any racer that set more records, lost them and reset them in one car than Leon. The old set up was for everything from SS/FA to SS/DA. Sooner or later, he may very well set a record in SS/BA. By the way, Leon's racing started back in 1959.
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
1971
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...acecars003.jpg How it looks now after I painted it in 2004 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...428cj/34-1.jpg Engine is out getting ready to race in the SSSSA this year. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...428cj/61-5.jpg |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
I have to reply to Mike Bassin post, Now we have a idea how old Leon is LOL, anyway i think my SS/CA car has some history to it, i bought it from John Armstrong in 04 and he build it as a SS car in 74, has and still does hold as many records as Sony Records has. LOL and it is a real Z/28 with Title and yes it is priceless, Brian
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Truman Fields come to mind. He's been running that same car for a LONG time.
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
How about Jerry Stein and his 63 Max Wedge "Teacher's Pet"?
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
I still have my original Cobra Jet car that my brother and I bought in 1972.
http://classracer.com/classforum/pic...830353&thumb=1 |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
We can't forget Dave Lebrun and his national event winning / record holding 69 Camaro . I may be wrong , but I believe he has raced this car since it was new .
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
We bought the 1971 Cuda 383 in late 1979 and started racing it in 1980 as bracket car. All the time working to make it a legal stocker, three years later on a cold night at Nashville it ran the 1/8 mile index. After 30 years its still my favorite physics problem.
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Mike Pearson and I put his 68 camero together in1978,ran C/SM at the 78 gators,no help from mom or dad, I was 19 mike 18 ,BEST DAYS EVER,ran Div.2 races from 78 to 2009 still going SS/HA....... J SLANE
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Out here in Div 7 Bill Blakeney SS/HA , Juan Mendoza SS/AA since the early 70's Bill originally ran Modified Elim with his.
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Even though it's been parked for 20+ years. I purchased my 1966 Chevy II in Nov-Dec of 1978. I wish I never would've cut it? Sadly, 30 years ago, it just another old car and there were still plenty of them out there. I often heard my father tell stories of a couple old cars he had, that he wished he have kept. Well, I guess I kept one of mine!
Robert Swartz |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Bob Harrison " Snoopy " nova , Tex Miller mustang come to mind
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
How about Larry Jewell 67 vette I thing he bought that car new and still racing it. Didn't Leon buy his vette new also.
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Larry Jewel bought his '67 Corvette new, took his wife on their honeymoon with
it, been racing it ever since. Joe Greek, P/S, #1222 |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Here are some other, possible one owner cars and/or cars that have been racecars (almost) all their life:
Larry Mohar's '69 Camaro Harry Huntzberry's '69 Camaro Gary/Wayne Ewing '69 Camaro. Dad thought he saw it at 1970 Indy as a Stocker Ray Paquet '67 Fairlane (and maybe the T-bolt too?) Pat Gerek '67 Fairlane. Bought from Jim Van Cleve, who got it from Bill Ireland? Harry/Larry Golliday '69 AMX Joe Comella '68 Hemi Dart George Baptiste '68 Hemi Cuda Gene Daugherty '67 Camaro Gene McBean '69 Mustang, bought from Tom DeCamp, bought from Jeff Velde? Mike Wither's '69 AMX, bought from Ray Wino, bought from ?? If anyone can fill in the blanks, correct any false info, add a story, etc, feel free. |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
I think Jim Parsons and his '66 L79 Nova take the cake. He bought it off the showroom floor in '66 and is still racing it.
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Put my 1971 Buick GS together in the fall ,winter of 1975.Ran it down the track at US 30 dragstrip in march of 76.Loaded it up and went to the Gatornationals in 76.My first NHRA event.Ran the index of 12.50 the first weekend.that was back when stockers ran all out under the index.Didnt stand a chance against those Pintos!!!!
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
My wife's 72 buick GS has been in the family since 73. Grandma bought it brand new, mom & dad a few years later and bracket raced it off and on until making it a stocker in 1984.
Bobby Stevens |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Mike Carr has plenty of cars listed that have been out there racing a long time. Still, Ken Montgomery's Hemi Belvedere was purchased new in '65 and raced continually all these years. His auto repair shop that he and his son Ken Jr. run takes more of his time of recent years and he hasn't been out much in the Div. 1 races as he once did. He does run the York U.S. 30 Reunion race every July at Beaver Spring in Pa. My best guess is this car has been raced at every year since '65. Another cool car though not a stock / super stocker is the '55 Chevy owned and driven by George Walleigh who has raced this car every year at Maple Grove since way into the early sixties. Looks like a super stocker, flat hood, very stock appearing, low 10 sec. / 130 mph car. A great car and fine driver, still going strong.
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
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Bill Ireland sold his car to JVC. Ray P's 67 Fairlane, I'll find out that info from dad............ Stephen Johnson #2162 Horace Johnson #2167 SS/D 427 Ford Fairlane NHRA-IHRA RecordHolder Ex-Jim Van Cleve |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Dont forget Donnie Beeler, I think he told me he has had "Goldie" since 1970.
Wade |
Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
I believe Casey Miles bought his Z28 Camaro new and still races it In stock eliminator
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
Jerry Stein Since 63-64 still has 2 cars in the garage
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Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time
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Don (Rosebud) Rhode of Port Clinton, Ohio has raced his original 68 Z28 Camaro since he bought it new from Foster Chevrolet in 1968. It is a multiple National and Divisional event winner and is still being raced in IHRA Superstock. Look for him soon in NHRA.
As for Gene McBean's 69 Mustang - he did buy it from DeCamp, but it was not Velde's car. My husband, Larry Buckingham, bought Velde's car when he went Pro Stock racing. It was the old "Nitro 9" car and it was a 68 stick car. He sold it in the early 80's and it recently resurfaced at at collector car auction a couple years ago. That was the only time he ever raced a Ford, but between the horsepower rating and being close friends with Larry Morgan and Joe Buchanan that might change real soon. Have you driven a Ford lately? |
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