Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'

[Rich Biebel]

Hi Dave Colbert......I built a '69 Camaro around 1979. I intended to just bracket race it but was talked into making it a SS/JA by the men at Crow's Head Shop....I soon was working there and did for 10 years. We machined lots of stuff for T/K's and I spoke to Ralph all the time. You might have been there.

The Camaro I built got a cam recommended by Ralph and it was one he said you used with great success. I had a cam reground to those specs. It was a G-K 308......I broke a pile of parts with that cam! Maybe it was because it was a regrind. I tried all kinds of things to stop the breakage but had to get that cam outta there.....I had much better luck with a Cam Dynamics or a Lunati......I never could run with the lead guys but gave it a try.......Best et was 11.18 at 118 around 1981 or 1982. The good cars were dipping into the 10.90's by then...

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

Hi Dave Colbert......I built a '69 Camaro around 1979. I intended to just bracket race it but was talked into making it a SS/JA by the men at Crow's Head Shop....I soon was working there and did for 10 years. We machined lots of stuff for T/K's and I spoke to Ralph all the time. You might have been there.

The Camaro I built got a cam recommended by Ralph and it was one he said you used with great success. I had a cam reground to those specs. It was a G-K 308......I broke a pile of parts with that cam! Maybe it was because it was a regrind. I tried all kinds of things to stop the breakage but had to get that cam outta there.....I had much better luck with a Cam Dynamics or a Lunati......I never could run with the lead guys but gave it a try.......Best et was 11.18 at 118 around 1981 or 1982. The good cars were dipping into the 10.90's by then...

By the early 80's a lot of the fast runners were porting and acid etching the heads. I didnt know about it until around 84-85. We never did that stuff on Jim Morgans 428 CJ but he still managed to get around guys like Warren, Weakland, and some other fast 325 HP Camaros and Mustangs in SS/GA. Had to run it like a small block Chev. with 5.86 gears and 8600 RPM in the traps. Jim would say he shut his eyes the last 300 ft so he didnt have to see the tach.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Intake manifold for Ray Allens/Briggs Chevrolet,,,,,,,
looks to be an aluminum dual-plane high riser,,,,,,GM-brand

Slicks,,,,,,,,went from M & H Racemaster,,,then to Good Year,
Firestones on the front,,,,,,,,,

SS/EA National Record for 1970,
Beginning of the year;
11.61
11.55
11.37
11.33
11.31
11.27
End of year

[Paul Ceasrine]

Tim Richards of Pennyslvania,,,,,,
Karl Gould Chrysler-Plymouth, out of Vestal, New York.

A damn good running SS/EA 1970 Hemi Superbird.

[ss wannabee]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but wasn't Ray the 1970 NHRA Super Stock World Champ...and did he clinch it in that final (against Crutchfield) at Ontario? BTW, that looks like Wenzel's car in the other lane against Charbonneau....

[Ed Wright]

Jim Hale had a gooney bird for awhile. Took a lot of crap over that ugly sucker. lol

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by ss wannabee

Not sure if it's been mentioned but wasn't Ray the 1970 NHRA Super Stock World Champ...and did he clinch it in that final (against Crutchfield) at Ontario? BTW, that looks like Wenzel's car in the other lane against Charbonneau....

Back in 1970 the only way to be world champ was to win the world finals. It wasnt a points deal like today. The points was for Div. champs and positions 1 thru 10 and being qualified to go to the world finals. If I remeber right at one time they only took the top 5 in each division. Yes...Ray Allen won the race and was the world champ because of his win.......NOT because of his points total.

[Bob Pagano]

Terry is correct, if you qualified for the finials you got a certificate with your name scrolled on top and signed by Steve Gibbs and a fee entry to the finials in the mail.

[Hemi Moose]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Tim Richards of Pennyslvania,,,,,,
Karl Gould Chrysler-Plymouth, out of Vestal, New York.
A damn good running SS/EA 1970 Hemi Superbird.

Wasn't there another driver a one point driving this Superbird or did Tim always do the driving chores.