Who had the most successful Modified Production car?

[ss wannabee]

Depends on if you're talking about the Modified Production classes ONLY (A/MP thru H/MP)...or Modified Eliminator as a whole....If MP class...I would have to say the "Checkmate" Camaro(s) although certainly Blevins,Caudle,Kopp, and Cotton are certainly up there too....If you mean Modified Eliminator...then some of those guys again...although Garley, and also the Opel...ring a bell....

My "ol school" sentimental favorite is Ralph Ridgeway's '55 Chev C/MP-D/MP....many-time record holder/class winner, and a few Nat. events as well.

Invented the "tunnel-ram" intake manifold in the mid/late '60's as an alternative to the then popular crossram setups...any racers out there remember this time frame?

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by ss wannabee

Depends on if you're talking about the Modified Production classes ONLY (A/MP thru H/MP)

Invented the "tunnel-ram" intake manifold in the mid/late '60's as an alternative to the then popular crossram setups...any racers out there remember this time frame?

Many would debate you about that manifold statement. People around here ( Div 4) would likely tell you different. Butch Lake and Carroll Caudle had the first two I ever saw, can't remember which was first. Butch Lake, I think. Hard to say who in the U.S. Did it first. Vic Edelbrock took Carroll's home with him after the World Finals to use for prototype work the winter before they released their first version. They sent him one before Pomona. There is more to this, but would take up too much room here.

[MEMORIES]

removed.

[ss wannabee]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Many would debate you about that manifold statement. People around here ( Div 4) would likely tell you different. Butch Lake and Carroll Caudle had the first two I ever saw, can't remember which was first. Butch Lake, I think. Hard to say who in the U.S. Did it first. Vic Edelbrock took Carroll's home with him after the World Finals to use for prototype work the winter before they released their first version. They sent him one before Pomona. There is more to this, but would take up too much room here.

Ed, I knew that point would "stir" a little controversy but NOT trying to do that here. This I what I was told years ago....he took a Corvette FI manifold...modified the plenum to accept 2 carbs, and tested as such. The result was a piece called the "Ridgerunner Ram." He put it into production I believe...not sure how many intakes were built or if the pieces incorporated the FI manifolds. Probably popular in East Coast area? It's possible that other racers all over the country were trying their own versions in that time frame before Edelbrock, or maybe Ridgeway....But the argument could probably be put to rest today! Take a look at the induction system on that '48/'49 Dodge or Plymouth? Altered-class car from the Ramchargers that ran the Nationals at Detroit about 1959/1960....the one with the "zoomies" out the fenders. You can find photos on the 'Net....see what I mean?

[Ed Wright]

Don't know what that Dodge manifold has to do with Ridgeway.
Anyway, I don't know how anybody can say who had the first Corvette FI manifold converted to a tunnel ram. Many used early model, cut the top off. And add a new lid. Butch Lake did that. Carroll bought a new one for a 1965, which had a bolt on lid. He sent it to Joe Mondello for porting, and made a bolt on lid. I think maybe Lake had the first one around here. Who knows if he or Ridgeway did their's first. People on the right coast are going to think Ridgeway's was first. The only place you could maybe ever see all of them in one place back then would be Indy, but not everybody could or did go to Indy. Money was tighter back then. No Internet to connect everybody back then. I do know who lost their manifold to R&D at Edelbrock.

[ss wannabee]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Don't know what that Dodge manifold has to do with Ridgeway.
Anyway, I don't know how anybody can say who had the first Corvette FI manifold converted to a tunnel ram. Many used early model, cut the top off. And add a new lid. Butch Lake did that. Carroll bought a new one for a 1965, which had a bolt on lid. He sent it to Joe Mondello for porting, and made a bolt on lid. I think maybe Lake had the first one around here. Who knows if he or Ridgeway did their's first. People on the right coast are going to think Ridgeway's was first. The only place you could maybe ever see all of them in one place back then would be Indy, but not everybody could or did go to Indy. Money was tighter back then. No Internet to connect everybody back then. I do know who lost their manifold to R&D at Edelbrock.

Ed...I've got to run to work....your points here are valid. I was in early teens in that time frame going to ONE local drag race a year. YOU were out there....competing...and saw the stuff....The point on the Ramcharger altered...is doesn't THAT look like a crude TUNNEL RAM intake....note time frame. I guess it could be said that Edelbrock was the FIRST to MASS-PRODUCE these.....

[Dwight Southerland]

IIRC Ridgeway actually marketed his first, so you could say he had the first commercially available. Edelbrock had the name recognition and national marketing exposure so they quickly became the source for them. Who knows the first homemade ram type manifold for the SBC. The Ramchargers were the first to heavily pursue the ram wave theory in intake and exhaust for drag racing application.

[Ed Wright]

I don't believe anybody mentioned Dick Moroso (called his Vette Spastic Plastic) and Bob Callahan.