Stock Auto Trans Rule Change History ?

[Rory McNeil]

On that 65 2 door sedan, between the Tempest grill, missing headlights, and funny looking front bumper, I have to assume that the AHRA tech department was much more relaxed than NHRA and Farmer were.

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by Rory McNeil

On that 65 2 door sedan, between the Tempest grill, missing headlights, and funny looking front bumper, I have to assume that the AHRA tech department was much more relaxed than NHRA and Farmer were.

Yeah, as I mentioned, the non-GTO front is the reason I haven't used the pic much, & never even looked close enuff to see the AHRA record holder words.

Here's one POSSIBLE explanation. It has B/SA on it. That doesn't look to be the way AHRA marked it's Stockers. So, I figure the car set the AHRA record while being raced by a previous owner.

Or, could be the same owner & driver, but was being run at a local NHRA track, when this pic was made. I suppose it's also possible that there had been some sort of front end damage & the non-GTO parts were a quick, temporary fix, 'til the correct parts were acquired. Mere speculation on my part, since all I have to go on is what you see in the pic.

Anybody know the car, the driver, or the dealer ? Built by the Agee bros. Driven by Dick Agee. Dealer was Thompson Pontiac. Engine balanced by C & H Automotive. Have no idea what city or state either business was in.

Just Googled Thompson Pontiac. Got a current GM dealer in Springfield, MO. Don't know if it's the same family business, or not. Says this business has been family owned since 1919. Sent an inquiry message about the car. Am interested to see if there is anyone there old enuff to remember the car.

[Mark Yacavone]

No, but Formula 3 would be 2 bbl. I believe. Maybe the record or standard was soft enough that this car was competitive over there.
I can't imagine any 2 speed being very fast with 1965 type converters.
I've seen 2 speed Buick Stockers but they had the switch pitch converters. Pontiac didn't use it.

[Mark Yacavone]

BTW, I think the 326 HO with a 3 speed would be a player if they took off about 30 hp.
It's an 11 to 1 motor.
They were very fast on the street in pure stock form with a 4 speed.

[Stan Weiss]

Could a only find 1 reference. I hope it is the same person / car.


Dick Agee drove the Thompson GTO to a national record.
Agee's official elapsed time in the 1965 GTO was 13.30 seconds


Stan

[Stan Weiss]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

No, but Formula 3 would be 2 bbl. I believe. Maybe the record or standard was soft enough that this car was competitive over there.
I can't imagine any 2 speed being very fast with 1965 type converters.
I've seen 2 speed Buick Stockers but they had the switch pitch converters. Pontiac didn't use it.

Mark,
You seem to know the AHRA rules. The car in the picture does not have the original front bumper. How can it run stock?

Stan

[oldskool]

"Formula 3 would be 2 bbl. I believe..."

Yeah, but the '65 Goat just has B/SA on it. ASSUMING that was for when that car ran at an NHRA track. Don't know.

"...Dick Agee drove the Thompson GTO to a national record.
Agee's official elapsed time in the 1965 GTO was 13.30 seconds..."

So, when & where did this happen ? Is the class listed ?

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

BTW, I think the 326 HO with a 3 speed would be a player if they took off about 30 hp.
It's an 11 to 1 motor.
They were very fast on the street in pure stock form with a 4 speed.

IF I were going to build a Pontiac Stocker, I'd go with one that came with a Q-jet. They just seem to provide plenty of gas for whatever engine you're running. Have run good on 301 Stockers on up to 428 powered 8 sec GT Super Stockers.

But, I reckin AFB's & 2-barrels have also won lots of races. The '66 GTO 335hp AFB engine has only a 300hp factor. So, maybe it would be more competitive than the Tri-Power engine, @ 60hp less. I'm assuming that the Tri-Power would NOT make 60 more hp.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...0&MAKE=Pontiac

Don't think I'm gonna try to hold my breath 'til somebody builds a 2-speed Pontiac Stocker, converted to 3-speed. If somebody did, it would be like you said about the 326. Would need a big hp factor reduction. For this, don't know what combo would be the best to build. Seems that the '66 Tri-Power GTO did the best of the 389 GTO's. Don't know how low the hp factor would have to be, to make it competitive. It's 360 now. Would need to be a lot lower than that.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...3&MAKE=Pontiac

Norman Warling & Bob Michael run pretty good with their '62 Tri-Power 389 Stockers. But their hp factor is only 275hp. Lotta difference in that & 360hp, for the '66 GTO.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...5&MAKE=Pontiac

I suppose that if I had to choose a 2-speed to 3-speed conversion Pontiac to build, without doing any more research, I'd choose the '68 Firebird 350HO. The hp factor is only 305hp, & it uses a Q-jet. And Adam Strang ran some 10.80's with his 4-speed 350HO, in E/S. Not the best Pontiac combo, but far from the worst.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...8&MAKE=Pontiac

[ken robinson]

Beginning of the 2009 season was the 3 tenths index hit 2010 was the any trans change .

[Stan Weiss]

Originally Posted by oldskool

I suppose that if I had to choose a 2-speed to 3-speed conversion Pontiac to build, without doing any more research, I'd choose the '68 Firebird 350HO. The hp factor is only 305hp, & it uses a Q-jet. And Adam Strang ran some 10.80's with his 4-speed 350HO, in E/S. Not the best Pontiac combo, but far from the worst.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...8&MAKE=Pontiac

So what do you thing that combination would run with the auto (E/SA)?


Driver Position Car No. Class Index ET Ov/Un
11 Rick Kolber 7341 E/SA 11.90 11.018 -0.882


From Vegas today. Don't know what brand / manufacture Rick is running. But if that Pontiac combination could run 11.00 or under it would be pretty good.


Stan