fords FIRST forced induction stocker !

[art leong]

[QUOTE=Rory McNeil;145754]

Originally Posted by Bob Mulry

Hi Jack,

There was a guy out here in California by the name of Larry Walker who ran a 1957 with the Paxton blower.

NHRA gave him a lot of grief, so he named it Legal-Cheater.

That was back in the late 60's or early 70's and that car flew

Bob, Larry Walkers old 57 Ford has been up here in Western Canada since the early 70`s, but was repainted black, and last run about 1974 or 75. The pics I have of the car at Mission Raceway show it was in G/SA at that time. It`s been "napping" for the past almost 35 years! The same guy has owned it since he bought it from Walker, and the car was recently repainted to the "Legal Cheater" configuration and hopefully will be out at some local "oldies" races next season.
By the way, I have an old Car Craft article on Walkers Ford from "back in the day", where he told of having to take a NHRA Tech person for a pass, with a boost gauge hooked up, to ensure that the boost was not higher than factory spec. Maybe if NHRA still checked ,(& mandated) such things, this whole kerfuffle with the new "Cobra Jet" Mustangs, and years of #1 qualifying Turbo 4 cyl. MoPars would not be the issue it has become, eh?

That's a great idea. Couple that with flowbench testing every N/A car and I'm all for it.

[bill dedman]

Parham and Payne's car (at least, the one I photographed at the '67 Tulsa World Finals) was a Failrlane 500, 4-door hardtop and was the national record holder that year. They were listed as being from Skiatook, OK, a Tulsa suburb to the north...

There was also a blue, '57 Thunderbird at that same race with a blown 312 running C/SA. I watched him leave from an idle, on the 7" tires of the day, and run a 13 flat, in qualifying. Don't remember the MPH... or, where he was from; Ohio, maybe...

Bob Rice has pictures of both of those cars, I believe. If he sees this, maybe he'll post them for us. There MAY be a picture of the T-Bird's engine among those... not sure.

I think that Paxton had not yet bought the McCulloch supercharger business, yet, in 1957.... could be wrong.

[Pat Cook]

Probably Gordon Payne (Ford Engineer) he used to come out to the Ford Arizona Proving Ground quite often, really good guy.

[bill dedman]

Those blown 312's were killer-fast, but a '57 Pontiac won the top Stock class at the Nationals that year; ran 94mph and change, on street tires with the air cleaner on and no dump tubes; through the mufflers.


317 HP 347 solid-lifter, Tri-Power, 3-speed, stick car; John Zink from Tulsa, I believe.

I've always wondered why a Ford didn't win that.... forced induction, and all....

[Fred Holdorf]

Larry Walker (F/S-F/SA)business coupe, George Catlin (retractable hartop), Parham & Payne (two door wagon & 4 Dr hardtop), Marcel D'Avignon (4 door wagon & he bought my Fairlane post 2 door), Fred Holdorf (J/SA Fairlane 2 door), and a T-Bird I don't remember his name. These were the few of the group who ran blower Ford's in the 60's and 70's. I only wish I still had mine. Car came from Tony Janes, engine pieced together from all over the US. Lots of fun, lots of headaches. I haven't talked to Larry in many years but would like to thank him for the help he gave me back then. Fred

[Tom P]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

but a '57 Pontiac won the top Stock class at the Nationals that year; ran 94mph and change, on street tires with the air cleaner on and no dump tubes; through the mufflers.

317 HP 347 solid-lifter, Tri-Power, 3-speed, stick car; John Zink from Tulsa, I believe.

Would that be JD Zink (or some relation) the Comp racer with the A/ND?

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Tom P

Would that be JD Zink (or some relation) the Comp racer with the A/ND?

Think it was Jack Zink (from here in Tulsa) that won Indy with an old Offy. 1955 or so? He also ran some dirt track stuff.

[Eddie Rezac]

I believe Bill Nelson, out of Tucson, Az. ran this combo in a wagon.
Eddie Rezac

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Pat Cook

Probably Gordon Payne (Ford Engineer) he used to come out to the Ford Arizona Proving Ground quite often, really good guy.

Yep, that is Gordon. His partner, Bill Parham, is still around here. His son has a race car now. Talked to Bill at the Tulsa track a few weeks ago. Both great guys. Bill says Gordon still has the first one, a black 2rd hard top, and he is restoring it.

[Bob Rice]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

Parham and Payne's car (at least, the one I photographed at the '67 Tulsa World Finals) was a Failrlane 500, 4-door hardtop and was the national record holder that year. They were listed as being from Skiatook, OK, a Tulsa suburb to the north...

There was also a blue, '57 Thunderbird at that same race with a blown 312 running C/SA. I watched him leave from an idle, on the 7" tires of the day, and run a 13 flat, in qualifying. Don't remember the MPH... or, where he was from; Ohio, maybe...

Bob Rice has pictures of both of those cars, I believe. If he sees this, maybe he'll post them for us. There MAY be a picture of the T-Bird's engine among those... not sure.

I think that Paxton had not yet bought the McCulloch supercharger business, yet, in 1957.... could be wrong.

Here you are Mr. Bill.