US Nats ? For You Older Guys

[Rich Biebel]

Al Vanis is his name and he raced this area for years and years . He won the Etown national event in Stock a number of years ago too I believe. Haven’t seen him racing for a while but he did race area tracks in Pro bracket for years in various cars. Was often at Island Dragway or Englishtown.

[G Schenck]

Originally Posted by Chuck Norton

The most recent "cup trophy" that I have is dated 1974. The oldest "Wally" on the shelf is dated 1975. I would suspect that those dates would be pretty much put dates on the defining period.

c

Also I believe the divisionals Wallys started in 1984 or 85.

Greg

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

Al Vanis is his name and he raced this area for years and years . He won the Etown national event in Stock a number of years ago too I believe. Haven’t seen him racing for a while but he did race area tracks in Pro bracket for years in various cars. Was often at Island Dragway or Englishtown.

Thanks for that info !

I think I MAY have all this figured out.

I posted a pic of Dave Pruden's '69 GTO, in the US Nats winners circle, on a Pontiac FB page. He had a trophy which was not a Wally. Here's what he said about that pic.

"...That’s for E/S class win at the 1973 US Nats. My first time there..."

So, I'm thinkin that the pic of Rock Running in the winners circle is for his class win in '74. And, the pic of the Al Vantis car going down the track was not from the final round. Rock Running just happened to be his opponent on that particular run, when the pic was made.

That's the best I can do.

Below is the pic of Dave Pruden in the winners circle, with his E/S class trophy.

[oldskool]

I'm obviously not familiar with all those who raced competitive Pontiac Stock/SS cars thru the years. But I know some of the names.

I found that Sonny Ray won SS at the Cajun Nats in '79 & '82, & David Rampy won his 1st Wally, in that same car, at the '83 Cajuns.

http://www.nhra.net/50th/results.asp?mYear=1979

http://www.nhra.net/50th/results.asp?mYear=1982

http://www.nhra.net/50th/results.asp?mYear=1983

The Cajun Nats were held in my home state. We went in '78. Got a good close-up pic of Sonny & his '72 GTO.

[L Peterson6261]

Originally Posted by oldskool

I just ran across 3 pics. The first 2 are of Rock Running's '74 GTO. It shows that he won a trophy, but not a Wally.

The 3rd pic shows Al Vanis as the US Nats Stock winner. In that pic, Rock Running's car is in the far lane. So, was Rock Running RU at that race ? If so, that was an all Pontiac Ventura US Nats final. Does anybody know what year that race was ?

Is there an online list of US Nats winners from back in the '70's & 80's ?

The year Al won was 1974 and it was not an all Pontiac final... I was the runner-up in my 1966 Chevrolet Impala Wagon running in R/SA. I red lite long time ago

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by L Peterson6261

The year Al won was 1974 and it was not an all Pontiac final... I was the runner-up in my 1966 Chevrolet Impala Wagon running in R/SA. I red lite long time ago

Thanks for that info !

I think I finally have all the facts straight now.

Al Vanis won the race, and beat Rock Running in an earlier round, NOT the final. The pic of Rock in the winners circle is for his class win.

[pauldilcher]

Chuck. Have 1971 national. Big really. 1972 class cup

[Chuck Norton]

Originally Posted by pauldilcher

Chuck. Have 1971 national. Big really. 1972 class cup

Remember it clearly!

[BobbyDeArmond]

Does anyone remember when the Wally was called an Oscar? If so, when did that name change take place?

Bobby DeArmond

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by BobbyDeArmond

Does anyone remember when the Wally was called an Oscar? If so, when did that name change take place?

Bobby DeArmond

Bobby, I'm going to guess it was in the early 80's. I don't know who started it.
Tony Feil used to call them "tire rollers".
I don't believe that's supposed to look like Wally Parks
Most likely , it's P.T. Barnum ;-)