Mopar Blasts From The Past

[Bill Rolik]

Here is the deal on that track, with a bit of history first:

In late 1976, I was sent, along with local welding guru extraordinaire Bill Hayes, to Don Carlton's shop in Lenoir, NC. Prior arrangements had been made with Mike Koran and Ted Spehar at SVI in Michigan to procure a body-in-white Dodge Aspen for local SS/AA racer Ed Lukas, who wanted to go Pro Stock racing with Tim Richards power, and since Richards was the go-to guy for SS Hemi's at the time, it was a natural progression. Carlton, who did not normally do customer work, was fascinated by the project, and agreed to build the car!

We brought the body-in-white to Carlton's shop in the fall of 76, and were told to expect a rolling car for Ed by years end. Work commenced, but then, Carlton called to say that he and Clyde Hodges needed to completely modify their B/A Colt (including a wheelbase stretch) for the upcoming 77 Winternationals, and would not be able to deliver the rolling Aspen by the original deadline. So Lukas, who wanted to get moving on the Aspen on HIS end, said to Carlton "How about we send Hayes and Rolik to work on the Aspen, while you guys continue with the Colt?" Carlton said "Great, let's do it!"

Hayes and I flew down and spent almost two weeks on welding and fabrication. During our stay there, Carlton said "I am going to show you something that will scare the hell out of you". So we jump in his big-*** 73 Fury, with his 3-legged dog in tow, and drive over to Hudson Dragway in Hudson, NC, not too far from Lenoir.

The photo you show from my website (I have many photos from this trip) shows yours truly sitting on a cinder block on the starting line. Notice the "tree" swinging from a horizontal cable across the track!

The track (1.00 admission) was an outlaw facility that saw countless match races with all of the familiar names, and obviously, if you get out of shape here, you have a real problem.

Now here is the "fun" part per Carlton: Notice that the shutdown area basically goes straight up. If that did not stop you, you would hit the trees at the top. If you somehow made it through the trees, you went over the cliff.

The "long and winding return road" was through the trees to the left. How about that at night?

You can't make this up.

Pictured are the Aspen under construction after the body was mounted, and the bare body-in-white sitting in front of the shop and Carlton's "wire" car. At the top of the driveway to the right was a building where Don, Clyde and Don's father did their own fiberglass moulding!

They even took us to a "fish camp", which two knuckleheads from Jersey had never heard of before (fuhgeddaboudit). Now whenever I go south, I make a point to eat "hush puppies".

Bill Rolik

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Bill Rolik

Here is the deal on that track, with a bit of history first:

In late 1976, I was sent, along with local welding guru extraordinaire Bill Hayes, to Don Carlton's shop in Lenoir, NC. Prior arrangements had been made with Mike Koran and Ted Spehar at SVI in Michigan to procure a body-in-white Dodge Aspen for local SS/AA racer Ed Lukas, who wanted to go Pro Stock racing with Tim Richards power, and since Richards was the go-to guy for SS Hemi's at the time, it was a natural progression. Carlton, who did not normally do customer work, was fascinated by the project, and agreed to build the car!

We brought the body-in-white to Carlton's shop in the fall of 76, and were told to expect a rolling car for Ed by years end. Work commenced, but then, Carlton called to say that he and Clyde Hodges needed to completely modify their B/A Colt (including a wheelbase stretch) for the upcoming 77 Winternationals, and would not be able to deliver the rolling Aspen by the original deadline. So Lukas, who wanted to get moving on the Aspen on HIS end, said to Carlton "How about we send Hayes and Rolik to work on the Aspen, while you guys continue with the Colt?" Carlton said "Great, let's do it!"
.
Hayes and I flew down and spent almost two weeks on welding and fabrication. During our stay there, Carlton said "I am going to show you something that will scare the hell out of you". So we jump in his big-*** 73 Fury, with his 3-legged dog in tow, and drive over to Hudson Dragway in Hudson, NC, not too far from Lenoir.

The photo you show from my website (I have many photos from this trip) shows yours truly sitting on a cinder block on the starting line. Notice the "tree" swinging from a horizontal cable across the track!

The track (1.00 admission) was an outlaw facility that saw countless match races with all of the familiar names, and obviously, if you get out of shape here, you have a real problem.

Now here is the "fun" part per Carlton: Notice that the shutdown area basically goes straight up. If that did not stop you, you would hit the trees at the top. If you somehow made it through the trees, you went over the cliff.

The "long and winding return road" was through the trees to the left. How about that at night?

You can't make this up.

Pictured are the Aspen under construction after the body was mounted, and the bare body-in-white sitting in front of the shop and Carlton's "wire" car. At the top of the driveway to the right was a building where Don, Clyde and Don's father did their own fiberglass moulding!

They even took us to a "fish camp", which two knuckleheads from Jersey had never heard of before (fuhgeddaboudit). Now whenever I go south, I make a point to eat "hush puppies".

Bill Rolik

Hi Bill while at Gainesville I was talking to Jack McCormack and "wild" Bill Hancock stopped by. He was looking good, a lot grayer, a little heavier. But the same person. He is currently living in Fla. He, Shep, and Hoover taught us everything we needed to know back then

[Bill Rolik]

Yes, Art, and I especially enjoyed the Performance Seminars that Chrysler (with Shepard as MC) would offer. They were usually held in the Philly area. At that time, it was like having an audience with the Pope. Sadly, I never was able to kiss his ring, but we all got tons of info and had great Q & A sessions.

Bill Rolik

SS 1514

[Clayton Wright]

Bill. Thanks for the pictures and the tunes. Sure brings a tear to an old mans eye. The good old days when drag racing was a lot more fun. Thanks again.
Clayton

[Bill Rolik]

Clayton,

Thanks for the kudos.

As time allows, I may put up some vintage "Brand X" photos as well.

I REALLY want to see some Chevy guys cry.

Bill Rolik

[Dennis P Chapman]

Great pictures Bill love the music.

[Peter426]

Originally Posted by Bill Rolik

Gentlemen,

I reached into my photo archives to extract some photos I shot beginning in 1966 through approximately 1976, primarily at E-Town, Island and Indy, to create a special page called "Vintage Mopar Drag Racing". There is some pretty cool stuff here that I would like to share, and hopefully all you fellow AARP card holders will remember and enjoy!

Thanks, and enjoy the photos, the tunes, and the balance of the site!

Bill Rolik

SS1514

Bill,

Thanks for uploading those pix! To me that was drag racing's best era. I remember watching your yellow and orange SS/IA Plymouth Duster run many times at Raceway Park. That car was my favorite.

Regards,

Pete