Re: Seen in the Pomona pits
Tom, I don't know for sure. My casual guesses would be:
1. The Foulger Ford version (has "SS/EA" above the words "Cobra Jet") may be the Jim Waldo car. If so, I would be inclined to believe that it has had a manually shifted transmission swapped in and it may run in A/S. Jim readily admits that he's not the most comfortable guy around when he can't find a clutch pedal to manipulate. The car has the name "Randy Ritchey" lettered on the door. For those who don't remember, Randy's father, Les Ritchey, was one of the early success stories in the Ford A/FX and Super Stock days until his tragic death in the OHC 427 Mustang in about 1966. Les ran a dyno shop, Performance Associates, here in Covina during the early sixties and his logo was seen on many of the heavy hitters in the San Gabriel Valley area in the days of 409's, Max Wedges, and high performance FE Fords. Today, Randy operates a successful business under the same name in San Dimas and did some of the dyno tuning of these cars. Any gear head needing a daily fix of seeing the cream-of-the-crop hot street cars today need only drive by Performance Associates shop and check the machinery that is awaiting service!
2. The "Rice-Holman" car bears the decal of Calvert Racing. I suspect that it will be driven by John Calvert, himself.
3. The "Paul Harvey" car may be the one to be driven by Gary Stinnett. The fact that it has wheelie bars may indicate an automatic transmission. Note the
4. The fourth car would be the Jimmy Ronzello car. It wasn't out of the trailer by the time I came home to nurse a hopefully brief case of stomach flu so I didn't see it on the ground.
I was told that two of the cars received at least some preparation at a chassis shop in the Wichita area (see the lettering on the "Paul Harvey" car) and I know that two were fitted with full cages at Phil Mandella's shop within the last month. The cars were delivered with roll bars but it has apparently become evident that their potential performance called for full cages and related safety equipment.
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