Original hemi dart information

[Paul Ceasrine]

Bill,
Good Hemi hunting!
The Centalanzo Brothers Cuda is still a mystery. I remember a SS/A car, that I think they had for a very short time. Can't close in on the year though. They had the 67' "RO" Hemi Belvedere SS/DA for 68' and 69',
and maybe early 70'. Then a brief interuption. Then into a 71' Cuda
Hemi convertible, with the added weight it fell into SS/E. Too much torque for the weight. "Parts Go Boom" Spent more time on the
trailer or up on the jacks at Dover, than down the track.
Flashback; July 1968. My father and I drove up to Mountain Garage, Highland Falls, NY, to buy a set of 6" wide x 14" Goodyear slicks from
Lou and Tony Centalanzo, for our Cuda. Still mounted on 14" steel rims
(4" bolt pattern), from a 273 Valiant that they used to run. The 67' "RO"
was in the garage (back bay). My first experience actually touching a
Hemi car ...IT BIT ME (The racing bug!)

Paul (OH, 68 Cuda, "Updyke & Thomas". Tyronne, Pa.)

[W J]

Don't let this thread fade into the sunset.......lots of priceless info here....WJ

[Paul Ceasrine]

W J
Will try to kepp it flying.
(Part 1) Northeast 68' Factory Hemi Darts,

1) Bill Flynn, "Yankee Peddler", New Haven, CT. (SS/B) Sponsored by
The New York Dodge Dealers (Yes, New York) Got a sweetheart
sponsorship deal. Ran at sponsored NHRA-events and Match-race
events primarily. Not too much general local scene-stuff. Ran at
68' Super Stock Magazine Nationals (NY National). Ran 10.40 and
qualified #1 in SS/B class. (Eventual winner, Ed Miller, SS/B Cuda
from Syracuse). Ran at Super Stock Magazine Nationals at York, PA
in 69' and 70'. Car may have last run in S/S in 71', at York.

2) Joseph Pateli (Patelli/Patelle). Springfield, Mass. (SS/BA). Car was
black or dark-blue? "Deb's Automotive" was lettered on the front
fenders. Deb's Automotive Machine was owned by Carl Debien. The
machine shop was in Springfield, Mass. Also had speed shop stores
in Connecticut. (Hartford, Milford and Stafford/Rockville). Car ran
an 11.20 @ 125. Possibly at Orange Dragstrip, Fitchburg, Mass.
Which was open until 1970. Or ran it at Connecticut. The Deb's
group also ran at Les Cadres Drag Strip, Quebec, Canada. The Dart
may have been there, also at Lebanon Valley. Question in mind,
this car may have been the Hampden Dodge sponsored car.
Hampden is only 15 minutes outside of Springfield. Some of the
sales reps at Van Norman Tooling, Springfield, Mass. may have had
their hands on this car, back in 69' or 70'.

More to come,

[W J]

Deb's also had a real hot C/MP blk/white '55 Chevy owned/driven by Raloh Ridgeway....a Nat. Record holding multi-Nat event winner......BTW Orange Dragstrip was located at the still-operating Orange Airport, where sport parachuting is still very big----just like it was when we were racing there back in the day....Good info Paul.....keep going! WJ

[Paul Ceasrine]

[quote=Paul Ceasrine;141454]W J
Will try to kepp it flying.
(Part 1) Northeast 68' Factory Hemi Darts,

1) Bill Flynn, "Yankee Peddler", New Haven, CT. (SS/B) Sponsored by
The New York Dodge Dealers (Yes, New York) Got a sweetheart
sponsorship deal. Ran at sponsored NHRA-events and Match-race
events primarily. Not too much general local scene-stuff. Ran at
68' Super Stock Magazine Nationals (NY National). Ran 10.40 and
qualified #1 in SS/B class. (Eventual winner, Ed Miller, SS/B Cuda
from Syracuse). Ran at Super Stock Magazine Nationals at York, PA
in 69' and 70'. Car may have last run in S/S in 71', at York.

2) Joseph Pateli (Patelli/Patelle). Springfield, Mass. (SS/BA). Car was
black or dark-blue? "Deb's Automotive" was lettered on the front
fenders. Deb's Automotive Machine was owned by Carl Debien. The
machine shop was in Springfield, Mass. Also had speed shop stores
in Connecticut. (Hartford, Milford and Stafford/Rockville). Car ran
an 11.20 @ 125. Possibly at Orange Dragstrip, Fitchburg, Mass.
Which was open until 1970. Or ran it at Connecticut. The Deb's
group also ran at Les Cadres Drag Strip, Quebec, Canada. The Dart
may have been there, also at Lebanon Valley. Question in mind,
this car may have been the Hampden Dodge sponsored car.
Hampden Dodge was located on State Street. Some of the
sales reps at Van Norman Tooling, Springfield, Mass. may have had
their hands on this car, back in 69' or 70'.
An old Springfield-Union newspaper stated that Joe Pateli won a
Super Stock Eliminator event, running 11.20's. Sound correct for
late 68'.

More to come,

Paul

[Paul Ceasrine]

OK, W J
Hope the parachute opens. Nose first is always the best way to go.

3) Gene O'Neill, Worcester, Mass. (SS/B)
The hardest one to find info on.
Maybe the Natick Dodge car. Natick Dodge, (Worcester Road),
(Route 9?), Natick. Whats that about 20-minutes west of Boston?
Possible Canadien-connection to car collector Dave McDade.
Don't think this car made it Dover or New York National.

4) Bob Ramstrom, Worcester, Mass. (SS/BA)
Another possible Natick Dodge Mystery.
Possible Mr. Norms' dealership-broker deal.
A little back history. Bob Ramstrom ran an original 65' Dodge S/SA
factory Hemi car (1 of the original 110). Name, "BloodHound"
Sponsored by; Yates Dodge, Park Avenue, Worcester, Mass.

5) Chick Brignolo, "PlayThing", Norton, Mass. (SS/B)
Possibly Connecticut-based at one time. Chassis/Frame specialist.
Possible Mr. Norm's dealership-broker deal.
Ran 11.00 @ 127.03 (1969), New England Dragway
Ran 10.61 @ 126.40 (1969), New England Dragway

Paul, The Hits Will Keep Coming

[Bill Rolik]

OK, I have two more vintage 68 cars in the archives:

First up, look at the car on the ramp truck behind Don McElroy's 74 360 Cuda. It is called the Little Critter. The permanent number looks like 3395. I took this at Indy in 1976.

Bill Rolik

1514 SS

[Bill Rolik]

Last, but certainly not least:

Ron Mancini's SS/A car.

I took this at the Summernationals here in NJ in 1971.

Bill Rolik

1514 SS

[W J]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

OK, W J
Hope the parachute opens. Nose first is always the best way to go.

3) Gene O'Neill, Worcester, Mass. (SS/B)
The hardest one to find info on.
Maybe the Natick Dodge car. Natick Dodge, (Worcester Road),
(Route 9?), Natick. Whats that about 20-minutes west of Boston?
Possible Canadien-connection to car collector Dave McDade.
Don't think this car made it Dover or New York National.

4) Bob Ramstrom, Worcester, Mass. (SS/BA)
Another possible Natick Dodge Mystery.
Possible Mr. Norms' dealership-broker deal.
A little back history. Bob Ramstrom ran an original 65' Dodge S/SA
factory Hemi car (1 of the original 110). Name, "BloodHound"
Sponsored by; Yates Dodge, Park Avenue, Worcester, Mass.

5) Chick Brignolo, "PlayThing", Norton, Mass. (SS/B)
Possibly Connecticut-based at one time. Chassis/Frame specialist.
Possible Mr. Norm's dealership-broker deal.
Ran 11.00 @ 127.03 (1969), New England Dragway
Ran 10.61 @ 126.40 (1969), New England Dragway

Paul, The Hits Will Keep Coming

Paul, hopefully Steve O'Neill (flintstonecharger) will clear things up w/the Bob Ramstrom "Bloodhound" 65 Coronet and the Gene O'Neill "Flintstone Charger" Coronet. Let's await Steve's reply......and Paul, always pack your own chute! I can remember having them stop action at Orange, Ma. dragstrip for a stray jumper to land right on the track! Best wishes. WJ

[flintstonecharger]

Hello Paul,Ramstrom's Dart definately tied to Natick Dodge when new,heard that sponsorship short lived,have pics. of car with Natick Dodge across the doors,car was red and white,later pics. show Natick Dodge covered with masking paper,later had Ramstrom & McCabe across doors.He may have ran car for 2 years?? His 65 A990 car was originally the Bloodhound in 65.In 66 repainted orange and white,renamed Flintstone Charger.Car went to Gene O'Neill and he ran the 65 car from 67-68.Gene bought his Dart late and had help from Bill Flynn to locate car.It it came from a southern Ct. dealer that had an elevator in garage and the Dart was in basement.Car was 4-speed car and broke lots of stuff.Gene told me he would simply floor the car when staged and sidestep the clutch to launch,and this broke parts?? Also launched car early on and car was in reverse,shot the driveshaft right out the back.I met Dave McDade @ Hemi reunion in 08 and between myself,Mark Janacky and Dave we think Gene's old Dart is now owned by McDade,not 100% sure but strong possibility it is the car.Not sure how far Gene travelled with Dart but vague memory of stories from Vermont,Canada,and of course N.E. dragway,Lebanon Valley and Conn. Dragway and of course Orange Ma.Brignolo and Gene O'neill still around but Bob Ramstrom passed about 3 years back.Chick Brignolo still has his Dart and a nice pile of paperwork on car and some vintage pics.Hope info helps,Later,SteveO'Neill

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

OK, W J
Hope the parachute opens. Nose first is always the best way to go.

3) Gene O'Neill, Worcester, Mass. (SS/B)
The hardest one to find info on.
Maybe the Natick Dodge car. Natick Dodge, (Worcester Road),
(Route 9?), Natick. Whats that about 20-minutes west of Boston?
Possible Canadien-connection to car collector Dave McDade.
Don't think this car made it Dover or New York National.

4) Bob Ramstrom, Worcester, Mass. (SS/BA)
Another possible Natick Dodge Mystery.
Possible Mr. Norms' dealership-broker deal.
A little back history. Bob Ramstrom ran an original 65' Dodge S/SA
factory Hemi car (1 of the original 110). Name, "BloodHound"
Sponsored by; Yates Dodge, Park Avenue, Worcester, Mass.

5) Chick Brignolo, "PlayThing", Norton, Mass. (SS/B)
Possibly Connecticut-based at one time. Chassis/Frame specialist.
Possible Mr. Norm's dealership-broker deal.
Ran 11.00 @ 127.03 (1969), New England Dragway
Ran 10.61 @ 126.40 (1969), New England Dragway

Paul, The Hits Will Keep Coming