Seen in the Pomona pits - Page 2

Chuck Norton · 02-04-2009, 10:41 AM

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.

Chuck Norton · 02-04-2009, 10:44 AM

PS - Tony's evaluation is very likely more accurate than mine. I'm still trying to snap back from the flu!

c

mannymen · 02-04-2009, 10:57 AM

All you FORD fans don't get to worked up over these Mustangs that will maybe run 10.20's to 10.30's. I hope I'm wrong with all of the hype from this site as well as other sites. Same goes for the challenger.

I will only be impressed if the SS/EA can run one under being a FACTORY car as the rumors say they are putting out nearly 700hp.

Floyd Staggs · 02-04-2009, 05:25 PM

John was driving the Ritchey car last weekend at Fontucky.

BBF67 · 02-04-2009, 05:28 PM

[QUOTE=Chuck Norton;104142]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!

Chuck is correct. Les Ritchey was one of the best engine tuners in the country. He was also a tough competitor driving Fords in the 50's and 60's. His cars were standouts in S/S and A/FX. His death while racing his A/FX Mustang was a tragedy.

http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=6365

thomas sheehan · 02-04-2009, 07:43 PM

Here's a pic from CARS magazine in 1966.......... (les ritchey)

Here's a pic of randy ritcheys mustang........ (not sure who took it)

This looks like randy ritchey's car but the name on the door looks like "lucy something"...

Here's hubert platt in his early year cobra jet...

02-04-2009, 10:41 AM	#1
Chuck Norton Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Covina, CA Posts: 474 Likes: 110 Liked 89 Times in 19 Posts	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.

02-04-2009, 10:44 AM	#2
Chuck Norton Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Covina, CA Posts: 474 Likes: 110 Liked 89 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Seen in the Pomona pits PS - Tony's evaluation is very likely more accurate than mine. I'm still trying to snap back from the flu! c

02-04-2009, 10:57 AM	#3
mannymen Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 728 Likes: 5 Liked 13 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Seen in the Pomona pits All you FORD fans don't get to worked up over these Mustangs that will maybe run 10.20's to 10.30's. I hope I'm wrong with all of the hype from this site as well as other sites. Same goes for the challenger. I will only be impressed if the SS/EA can run one under being a FACTORY car as the rumors say they are putting out nearly 700hp. __________________ N/A

02-04-2009, 05:25 PM	#4
Floyd Staggs VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cucamonga, CA Posts: 1,522 Likes: 157 Liked 229 Times in 99 Posts	Re: Seen in the Pomona pits John was driving the Ritchey car last weekend at Fontucky. __________________ Floyd Staggs 787 SST

02-04-2009, 05:28 PM	#5
BBF67 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 89 Likes: 0 Liked 8 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Seen in the Pomona pits [QUOTE=Chuck Norton;104142]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! Chuck is correct. Les Ritchey was one of the best engine tuners in the country. He was also a tough competitor driving Fords in the 50's and 60's. His cars were standouts in S/S and A/FX. His death while racing his A/FX Mustang was a tragedy. http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=6365

02-04-2009, 07:43 PM	#6
thomas sheehan Photographer Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,717 Likes: 24 Liked 75 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Seen in the Pomona pits Here's a pic from CARS magazine in 1966.......... (les ritchey) Here's a pic of randy ritcheys mustang........ (not sure who took it) This looks like randy ritchey's car but the name on the door looks like "lucy something"... Here's hubert platt in his early year cobra jet... __________________ Tom Sheehan SS GT/NA 1046