Could Super Modified been different if?

BlueOval Ralph · 01-13-2011, 09:06 AM

SOME GUY's can really stretch the truth or thier memory just changes with time could be the west coast air?
Again I help Fadely build his car, it was really Ed Bennett myself and LeRoy Hinzmann (Fadelys long tim Partner) they had built 4 other Ford's at that point , a Boss 429 for C/S, a 69 Boss 302 for F/S which was a Ford dollar car which Ford converted to a 1970 Boss at Kar Kraft. This car was converted to AHRA) and later IHRA) They also built a 71 Maverick for Ed Bennett for GT!along with the Boss 429 to GT1 and ran untill 1972. In 1972 we built he first Don Hardy Ford Pinto for C/A it was a 2x3 retangle frame car so it could also run the Gas classes. It won a Div # points Meet and runner up also was 2nd in points in Comp in Div 3 in 1974. In October of 74 he ordered the body in white. Fadely and Hardy came up with the design and the Day after Christmas of 1974 we went to Floydada Tx (Hardy's shop) to get the car. So the car was built before the Winter Nationals of 1975 we Don and Sue Hardy, Arlen and I fly from Hardys shop in Texas to those Winter National to watch and the reason we were at Hardy's was him and i had taken Sue a new linclon Mark down there that Fadely had bought Hardy on A plan, with Fadely calling your dad every night as you say that is not True!
The first NHRA Natioal Event ever one by a Super Modified WAS the 1977 US Nationals. As I remember you guys came to Gainsville in 1978 in GOOD air and still couldn't run with him his 1st round 10.18 was about .15 faster that any other S/M at that event. Also as I remember you guys ran some Div 3 meets in 78 and hung with Wayne County boys. Lets get the FACT's straight here. I have talked to Arlen and he told me it was ok to Post his phone # 734 782 3209 and e-mail affadely@mindspring.com so any one can contact him.

]This is a great discussion. I helped my dad build the first Super Modified Maverick. The first year there was just the one class (A/SM), 3 cars

showed up at Pomona, Vogelin & Maherson won class. Jimmy Stevens was the first Super Mod to win Modified Eliminator, he did it at the 1975 High Desert Spring Regionals at LA County Raceway. We tried to build that car cheap and it was competitive on a budget the first year. The Boss motor had a definite advantage, then the Chevrolet contigent convinced NHRA to split, so B/SM became the Boss Class.

I remember Arlen Fadely calling dad at least a dozen times when he was building his car, he would pick dads brain for hours. We had not really heard of Arlen out west. He would call our house like clockwork, I remember answereing the phone "Jim Stevens Racing", because I knew it would be him. Of course he was calling our house and dad did all his work in our attached 2 car garage!

Arlen built a real fast car, as guys like him and Don Bowles started builing these "high dollar" cars, the class became more expensive. Ultimately, Tires & Valve Springs were good for one race. Had to get a Doug Nash over the toploader.

Dad really relished the opportunity to run heads-up in the IHRA. If I remember correctly, the single carb was 1150. Dad took his NHRA legal car with a borrowed carb down to Amarillo and runner-upped to Ricky, Jack Roush et al. He could not fit as big a tire as in Fowlers' car, but was competitive enough for dad to take a month off and head east to go head to head with Jack & Tricky Ricky the summer of 76.

We borrowed an enclosed trailer and hit the road. Our hopes were dashed within an hour, as a semi-truck & strong cross wind jack-knifed us and destroyed the car just outside Rosamond CA.

The car was not back at the track until the Fallnationals, and went a couple rounds. In 1977 he really got that car hauling again. Ran good enough to win the 77 Cajun Nationals, but in the rain delayed 2 AM final, turned on the red light against the late great Lee Shepard, who happened to have a broken rear-end in the Modified Production Camaro he was driving during his Pro Stock hiatus. I remember Lee had a crash and did not want to get back in that Pro stocker.

Dad was on his way to the Division 7 Championship, the car was flying. As I remember most of the divisionals were running eliminations at night, and when they did that car was tough to beat. A trip to INDY that year resulted in a class elimination loss to Arlen who went on to win the Eliminator. We could not make that thing run in the heat & humidity, but Arlen could. We were dry icing the manifold and had a cool-can as an air-cooler, aside from being on the fringe of the rules, it did not really work!

At any rate, by then the class was already too expensive, it is just too hard regulate these classes. The little things, like the valve spring life and track rentals for testing drove the cost up. We were lucky enough to have a silent sponsor for 77-79, and dad held & reset the SM record more than anybody else from 75-81.

Mike Edwards, Ron Anderson & Jim Ehlen all put together some good running Fords. They were good friends and stayed with us when they came out west. Dad won the 80 Winternationals and retired from drag racing after blowing an engine at the 81 Mile High Nationals. Modified was dead and the Super Modifieds were soon to be "re-defined".[/QUOTE]

BlueOval Ralph · 01-13-2011, 10:03 AM

How did you win this race ? when turned on the red light against the late great Lee Shepard,

Ran good enough to win the 77 Cajun Nationals, but in the rain delayed 2 AM final, turned on the red light against the late great Lee Shepard, who happened to have a broken rear-end in the Modified Production Camaro he was driving during his Pro Stock hiatus

Arlen built a real fast car, as guys like him and Don Bowles started builing these "high dollar" cars,

Boy are you off on this one High $$
Fadely' Body in white was $477.00 form Walt hickey Ford in southgate MI neat thing about Body in white deal was Ford paid shipping and it was shipped from assembly plant which was Kanasas City which was closer to Floydada TX than Flat Rock.
Hardy's bill was just under $1,800.00 for his work.
Fadely bought a wereck Maverick for parts from Jack Roush who had a contact at Rube's Auto Parts in Livonia.

The Boss motor had a definite advantage, then the Chevrolet contigent convinced NHRA to split, so B/SM became the Boss Class

As I remeber Houser's car was as quick as your out WEST and in the east FJ Smiths was faster that yours in 1978

BlueOval Ralph · 01-13-2011, 10:41 AM

How did you win this race ? when turned on the red light against the late great Lee Shepard,

Ran good enough to win the 77 Cajun Nationals, but in the rain delayed 2 AM final, turned on the red light against the late great Lee Shepard, who happened to have a broken rear-end in the Modified Production Camaro he was driving during his Pro Stock hiatus

Arlen built a real fast car, as guys like him and Don Bowles started builing these "high dollar" cars,

Boy are you off on this one High $$
Fadely' Body in white was $477.00 form Walt Hickey Ford in Southgate MI neat thing about Body in white deal was Ford paid shipping and it was shipped from assembly plant which was Kanasas City which was closer to Floydada TX than Flat Rock.
Hardy's bill was just under $1,800.00 for his work.

The Boss motor had a definite advantage, then the Chevrolet contigent convinced NHRA to split, so B/SM became the Boss Class

As I remeber Houser's car was as quick as your out WEST and in the east FJ Smiths was faster that yours in 1978

WestCoastChris · 01-13-2011, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueOval Ralph

How did you win this race ? when turned on the red light against the late great Lee Shepard,

Ran good enough to win the 77 Cajun Nationals, but in the rain delayed 2 AM final, turned on the red light against the late great Lee Shepard, who happened to have a broken rear-end in the Modified Production Camaro he was driving during his Pro Stock hiatus

Arlen built a real fast car, as guys like him and Don Bowles started builing these "high dollar" cars,

Boy are you off on this one High $$
Fadely' Body in white was $477.00 form Walt hickey Ford in southgate MI neat thing about Body in white deal was Ford paid shipping and it was shipped from assembly plant which was Kanasas City which was closer to Floydada TX than Flat Rock.
Hardy's bill was just under $1,800.00 for his work.

The Boss motor had a definite advantage, then the Chevrolet contigent convinced NHRA to split, so B/SM became the Boss Class

As I remeber Houser's car was as quick as your out WEST and in the east FJ Smiths was faster that yours in 1978

Ralph, I did not bad mouth you or Arlen, I just don't see what you have to be so bitter about. If you feel Arlens' car was built on a budget, I will not argue that. I already mentioned that Arlen was fast and outran Jimmy Stevens on numerous occassions. Tell me why you are so bent on badmouthing someone who was willing to help your team out in any way he could.

I am just remembering the good times we had, and to leave Jim Stevens out of the discussion of Super Modified history is just plain wrong. Get out your National Dragsters, Super Stock & Car Craft Mags and check the facts, if you must.

Arlen Fadely is the King of Super Modifieds, he could not have done it without you out Ralph.

also:
"Ran good enough to win" is not the same as "won". He had the fastest car there, his opponent broke in the final, a red-light is driver error.

BlueOval Ralph · 01-13-2011, 11:21 AM

If any body was king I would have to give it to Mike Edwards and Bill Long ater all he was the only S/M racer to be World Camp and win the Quaker State Cup.

And how did he help??

Quote:

Originally Posted by WestCoastChris

Ralph, I did not bad mouth you or Arlen, I just don't see what you have to be so bitter about. If you feel Arlens' car was built on a budget, I will not argue that. I already mentioned that Arlen was fast and outran Jimmy Stevens on numerous occassions. Tell me why you are so bent on badmouthing someone who was willing to help your team out in any way he could.

I am just remembering the good times we had, and to leave Jim Stevens out of the discussion of Super Modified history is just plain wrong. Get out your National Dragsters, Super Stock & Car Craft Mags and check the facts, if you must.

Arlen Fadely is the King of Super Modifieds, he could not have done it with you out Ralph.

WestCoastChris · 01-13-2011, 11:39 AM

[QUOTE=.

And how did he help??[/QUOTE]

Just ask Flat Rock, he'll tell you.

Bill Long & Mike Edwards were able to excel because they bought such a good car. Mike was just a kid back then, but those guys raced real hard and deserved everything they earned.

BlueOval Ralph · 01-13-2011, 12:02 PM

Let me tell you something Bill Long was a very good machinist and engine builder if you have any doubts Call David Nickens and ask him why he hired Bill! Give credit where credit is do! Mike & Bill earned every thing they won! They got a very good car to start with

Quote:

Originally Posted by WestCoastChris

Just ask Flat Rock, he'll tell you.

Bill Long & Mike Edwards were able to excel because they bought such a good car. Mike was just a kid back then, but those guys raced real hard and deserved everything they earned.

Ed Wright · 01-13-2011, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueOval Ralph

Let me tell you something Bill Long was a very good machinist and engine builder if you have any doubts Call david nicken and ask him why he hired Bill! Give credit where credit is do! Mike & Bill earned every thing they won! Yese they got a very good car to start with

That is right! Bill had that car running faster than when they bought it. Hardest working guys I know. Mike still is. Bill has health problems. Still goes when he can. Both guys long time friends. I tell people when Mike started racing he wasn't shaving yet, and my hair was still brown.

BlueOval Ralph · 01-13-2011, 01:27 PM

I did and that's what started this!

He had already built a Maverick in 1971 and had been doing the Boss strokers since 1970 when Moldex modifed 312 Y-block cranks to fit into Boss 302 blocks. He and Leroy had been running single 4 V carbs since the AHRA GT 1 days 1970. maybee you should refresh his memory, I listed his phone number and e-mail address. You should remember that every thing that was done to that car when he was racing it from April of 75 to Ocober 78 was shown in articles in Super Stock Magazine, BTW CarCraft in late 74 did a article titled the Boss of Flat Rock on his thoughts for the first Super Modifed Ford engine he was going to build and did. It is the one with the Grump on the cover in a suit setting behind a desk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WestCoastChris

Just ask Flat Rock, he'll tell you.

Bill Long & Mike Edwards were able to excel because they bought such a good car. Mike was just a kid back then, but those guys raced real hard and deserved everything they earned.

BlueOval Ralph · 01-13-2011, 01:41 PM

I will ask him if he has CRS!

01-13-2011, 09:06 AM	#1
BlueOval Ralph Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 852 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Could Super Modified been different if? SOME GUY's can really stretch the truth or thier memory just changes with time could be the west coast air? Again I help Fadely build his car, it was really Ed Bennett myself and LeRoy Hinzmann (Fadelys long tim Partner) they had built 4 other Ford's at that point , a Boss 429 for C/S, a 69 Boss 302 for F/S which was a Ford dollar car which Ford converted to a 1970 Boss at Kar Kraft. This car was converted to AHRA) and later IHRA) They also built a 71 Maverick for Ed Bennett for GT!along with the Boss 429 to GT1 and ran untill 1972. In 1972 we built he first Don Hardy Ford Pinto for C/A it was a 2x3 retangle frame car so it could also run the Gas classes. It won a Div # points Meet and runner up also was 2nd in points in Comp in Div 3 in 1974. In October of 74 he ordered the body in white. Fadely and Hardy came up with the design and the Day after Christmas of 1974 we went to Floydada Tx (Hardy's shop) to get the car. So the car was built before the Winter Nationals of 1975 we Don and Sue Hardy, Arlen and I fly from Hardys shop in Texas to those Winter National to watch and the reason we were at Hardy's was him and i had taken Sue a new linclon Mark down there that Fadely had bought Hardy on A plan, with Fadely calling your dad every night as you say that is not True! The first NHRA Natioal Event ever one by a Super Modified WAS the 1977 US Nationals. As I remember you guys came to Gainsville in 1978 in GOOD air and still couldn't run with him his 1st round 10.18 was about .15 faster that any other S/M at that event. Also as I remember you guys ran some Div 3 meets in 78 and hung with Wayne County boys. Lets get the FACT's straight here. I have talked to Arlen and he told me it was ok to Post his phone # 734 782 3209 and e-mail affadely@mindspring.com so any one can contact him. ]This is a great discussion. I helped my dad build the first Super Modified Maverick. The first year there was just the one class (A/SM), 3 cars showed up at Pomona, Vogelin & Maherson won class. Jimmy Stevens was the first Super Mod to win Modified Eliminator, he did it at the 1975 High Desert Spring Regionals at LA County Raceway. We tried to build that car cheap and it was competitive on a budget the first year. The Boss motor had a definite advantage, then the Chevrolet contigent convinced NHRA to split, so B/SM became the Boss Class. I remember Arlen Fadely calling dad at least a dozen times when he was building his car, he would pick dads brain for hours. We had not really heard of Arlen out west. He would call our house like clockwork, I remember answereing the phone "Jim Stevens Racing", because I knew it would be him. Of course he was calling our house and dad did all his work in our attached 2 car garage! Arlen built a real fast car, as guys like him and Don Bowles started builing these "high dollar" cars, the class became more expensive. Ultimately, Tires & Valve Springs were good for one race. Had to get a Doug Nash over the toploader. Dad really relished the opportunity to run heads-up in the IHRA. If I remember correctly, the single carb was 1150. Dad took his NHRA legal car with a borrowed carb down to Amarillo and runner-upped to Ricky, Jack Roush et al. He could not fit as big a tire as in Fowlers' car, but was competitive enough for dad to take a month off and head east to go head to head with Jack & Tricky Ricky the summer of 76. We borrowed an enclosed trailer and hit the road. Our hopes were dashed within an hour, as a semi-truck & strong cross wind jack-knifed us and destroyed the car just outside Rosamond CA. The car was not back at the track until the Fallnationals, and went a couple rounds. In 1977 he really got that car hauling again. Ran good enough to win the 77 Cajun Nationals, but in the rain delayed 2 AM final, turned on the red light against the late great Lee Shepard, who happened to have a broken rear-end in the Modified Production Camaro he was driving during his Pro Stock hiatus. I remember Lee had a crash and did not want to get back in that Pro stocker. Dad was on his way to the Division 7 Championship, the car was flying. As I remember most of the divisionals were running eliminations at night, and when they did that car was tough to beat. A trip to INDY that year resulted in a class elimination loss to Arlen who went on to win the Eliminator. We could not make that thing run in the heat & humidity, but Arlen could. We were dry icing the manifold and had a cool-can as an air-cooler, aside from being on the fringe of the rules, it did not really work! At any rate, by then the class was already too expensive, it is just too hard regulate these classes. The little things, like the valve spring life and track rentals for testing drove the cost up. We were lucky enough to have a silent sponsor for 77-79, and dad held & reset the SM record more than anybody else from 75-81. Mike Edwards, Ron Anderson & Jim Ehlen all put together some good running Fords. They were good friends and stayed with us when they came out west. Dad won the 80 Winternationals and retired from drag racing after blowing an engine at the 81 Mile High Nationals. Modified was dead and the Super Modifieds were soon to be "re-defined".[/QUOTE] Last edited by BlueOval Ralph; 01-13-2011 at 10:05 AM.

01-13-2011, 10:03 AM	#2
BlueOval Ralph Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 852 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Could Super Modified been different if? How did you win this race ? when turned on the red light against the late great Lee Shepard, Ran good enough to win the 77 Cajun Nationals, but in the rain delayed 2 AM final, turned on the red light against the late great Lee Shepard, who happened to have a broken rear-end in the Modified Production Camaro he was driving during his Pro Stock hiatus Arlen built a real fast car, as guys like him and Don Bowles started builing these "high dollar" cars, Boy are you off on this one High $$ Fadely' Body in white was $477.00 form Walt hickey Ford in southgate MI neat thing about Body in white deal was Ford paid shipping and it was shipped from assembly plant which was Kanasas City which was closer to Floydada TX than Flat Rock. Hardy's bill was just under $1,800.00 for his work. Fadely bought a wereck Maverick for parts from Jack Roush who had a contact at Rube's Auto Parts in Livonia. The Boss motor had a definite advantage, then the Chevrolet contigent convinced NHRA to split, so B/SM became the Boss Class As I remeber Houser's car was as quick as your out WEST and in the east FJ Smiths was faster that yours in 1978 Last edited by BlueOval Ralph; 01-13-2011 at 10:07 AM.

01-13-2011, 10:41 AM	#3
BlueOval Ralph Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 852 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Could Super Modified been different if? How did you win this race ? when turned on the red light against the late great Lee Shepard, Ran good enough to win the 77 Cajun Nationals, but in the rain delayed 2 AM final, turned on the red light against the late great Lee Shepard, who happened to have a broken rear-end in the Modified Production Camaro he was driving during his Pro Stock hiatus Arlen built a real fast car, as guys like him and Don Bowles started builing these "high dollar" cars, Boy are you off on this one High $$ Fadely' Body in white was $477.00 form Walt Hickey Ford in Southgate MI neat thing about Body in white deal was Ford paid shipping and it was shipped from assembly plant which was Kanasas City which was closer to Floydada TX than Flat Rock. Hardy's bill was just under $1,800.00 for his work. The Boss motor had a definite advantage, then the Chevrolet contigent convinced NHRA to split, so B/SM became the Boss Class As I remeber Houser's car was as quick as your out WEST and in the east FJ Smiths was faster that yours in 1978 Last edited by BlueOval Ralph; 04-28-2011 at 01:35 PM.

01-13-2011, 11:39 AM	#6
WestCoastChris Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 4 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Could Super Modified been different if? [QUOTE=. And how did he help??[/QUOTE] Just ask Flat Rock, he'll tell you. Bill Long & Mike Edwards were able to excel because they bought such a good car. Mike was just a kid back then, but those guys raced real hard and deserved everything they earned.

01-13-2011, 01:41 PM	#10
BlueOval Ralph Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 852 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Could Super Modified been different if? I will ask him if he has CRS!