US Nats ? For You Older Guys

[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 ?

[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

[oldskool]

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

Only problem with that is that you can clearly see that there were pics of a Wally on both sides of the winners circle sign. Was the Wally only for pro cars, that year ?

This site says the Wally was 1st given in 1969.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wally

Also, if that 3rd pic is from the same race as the 2nd pic, then the Stock winner did get a Wally that year. So, wouldn't that make Rock Running the RU that year ?

What type of trophy did the class winners get back then ?

Quote from post #1: "...Is there an online list of US Nats winners from back in the '70's & 80's ?"

Does anybody know of any way to find out who won Stock & SS back during those years ???

The only other 2 winners I know of, from the '70's, are Truman Fields in '73, and Mike McKinney, in the same car, a few years later. McKinney was in an all Pontiac final, with Mick Leiferman. I've read that Leiferman was RU 3 years in a row.

"… Mick Leiferman probably holds the record for Indy frustration? He reached the Stock final three straight years (1975, 1976, 1977) and finished as runner-up all three times..."

[Mark Yacavone]

http://www.nhra.net/50th/years.html?year=2000

Probably find a few more Pontiacs here..

[vic guilmino]

i got a trophy in 1973 and a wally in 1975

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

http://www.nhra.net/50th/years.html?year=2000

Probably find a few more Pontiacs here..

That's exactly what I needed ! Thanks !

That Mike McKinney win, Mick Leiferman RU, was in '77.

http://www.nhra.net/50th/results.asp?mYear=1977

Rock Running was RU in '81. But I haven't found the Al Vanis win.

http://www.nhra.net/50th/results.asp?mYear=1981

One of my favorite Pontiac wins was Jack Mullins' SS win against the factory Mopar driven by "Miss Mighty Mopar", Judy Lilly, in '75. That was also the year Mick Leiferman got the 1st of his 3 consecutive Stock RU finishes.

http://www.nhra.net/50th/results.asp?mYear=1975

Only other Pontiac win I've noticed was Jim Wangers Stock win in '60.

http://www.nhra.net/50th/results.asp?mYear=1960

Well, that is unless you count the Top Dragster win by Jack Chrisman, in '62.

http://www.nhra.net/50th/results.asp?mYear=1962

Maybe the '74 winner listed as Vanisyl, is just a different spelling of Vanis, which is the way it was listed in the pic I posted. But, Rock Running is not listed as the RU. Maybe that pic was not the final. That would explain it.

http://www.nhra.net/50th/results.asp?mYear=1974

Maybe the Rock Running pic, in the Indy winners circle, was for his RU finish in '81, not '74. .

http://www.nhra.net/50th/results.asp?mYear=1981

[Chuck Norton]

Is it possible that the winner in 1974 was Al Vanis and that the name was misspelled "Al Vanisyl?" Larry Peterson, the runner-up, probably remembers it.

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by Chuck Norton

Is it possible that the winner in 1974 was Al Vanis and that the name was misspelled "Al Vanisyl?" Larry Peterson, the runner-up, probably remembers it.

Yeah, that's what it looks like to me.

"...Maybe the '74 winner listed as Vanisyl, is just a different spelling of Vanis, which is the way it was listed in the pic I posted. But, Rock Running is not listed as the RU. Maybe that pic was not the final. That would explain it..."

Hey, that means that Pontiac power had back-to-back US Nats Stock wins in '73 & '74. I love it !

[Larry Merk]

Originally Posted by Chuck Norton

Is it possible that the winner in 1974 was Al Vanis and that the name was misspelled "Al Vanisyl?" Larry Peterson, the runner-up, probably remembers it.

I scrolled through several years of the list and the letters "yl" are randomly appended to the names of numerous winners and runners-up. Is that another NHRA enhancement?

[Chuck Norton]

Originally Posted by Larry Merk

I scrolled through several years of the list and the letters "yl" are randomly appended to the names of numerous winners and runners-up. Is that another NHRA enhancement?

Larry, we gotta watch out for those "randomly appended" entries. Seldom see them outside the courtroom or legislative halls and when they show up there it usually means something just got shoved where the sun don't shine.