Absolutely wonderful to learn the real history of that very important Dodge DAYTONA. And we all know Ray went out of his way to restore it as close as possible to it's original build. Thanks for this video. Keep 'em coming.
@@gregorygolden1296 He still doesn't hold the fastest car, wasn't a Daytona it was a Ford Torino, driven by bill Elliot. He laped the field three times, the fastest car ever.
@@Albertgermanaro-fs7yf hate to pop your bubble, Bill Elliott drove a Thunderbird. What I was saying is that Daytona Buddy Baker drove was the First NASCAR to Officially go over 200mph. 15 years or so Before Bill's THUNDERBIRD. NOT a TORINO.
@@gregorygolden1296 your right sorry about that, I was working for ford then and for some reason I kept thing it was a Torino, hell they looked simulator. How about that race, I remember watching him lap the field, don't see that happening now days, yeah his speed was about 212 mph, faster than that Daytona ever went.
@@Albertgermanaro-fs7yf All good brother. I am a old racer from back in the day. Short tracks, dirt and pavement. I had a '68 Torino GT fastback with a 390 block with 428 heads. Maaan, I loved that car. It wasn't real quick but it would do 140mph or more. I never did find the top end of that thing. I kept running out of road.... But yea, Awesome Bill had Everybody covered on them Superspeedways. Think he went 2 laps down and came back and unlapped himself twice and went on to win.... All under green laps. Nobody has done that I think before or since. Peace Brother.
@@rcbrproductions8296 I liked the talidayga Ford's ran just as fast as the winged mopars. I don't care how many winged cases they sold to the public they should have beenoutlawed, they are the cars that ruined NASCAR,
@@thatracingshow that may have gone over your head. lol. The old cars and races were a "bring what you brung and hope you brung enough" battle among the big three and their drivers. Today, the cars are niowhere near what the the factory makes and they also are restricted so severely that it's only about drivers. No one has a faster car than anyone else becasue they're limited that much.
My favorite take away from this story is when some people like to denigrate NASCARs, saying what’s stock about them, that the first car to set this record, did in fact start life as a production built fully legal street car, which still maintained it’s roll up door glass and vent windows.
I can remember back in the early 80's being at various shops and the bare door skins and fenders hanging on the walls. Somewhere around here I have pics of Junior Johnson's, DK Ulrich and Hendrick when Bodine first started with him where you can see it.
NASCAR was NASCAR until the CoT. Allowing FWD to RWD conversions was one thing, in my opinion also wrong, but using a nonproduction body just totally destroys the point of the series.
@@bashclassof04 The Chrysler Chelsea proving grounds has a 4.7 mile oval with 3/4 mile straightaways and 36 degree banked turns. MUCH bigger than Talladega and Talladega only has 33deg turns. Current closed course speed record is 241 and change by Gil DeFerran at California Speedway at Fontana (in an indy car obviously), which was 2 miles with 14deg turns.
I had some test pics of DC93 from 1969 when it was used for Transmission testing at the old Huntsville (Alabama) Airport. Chrysler had an Electronics division here & kept DC93 in a garage in Huntsville during the time when it was used for the record 200 mph run at Talladega.
I was at Back Forty there a couple weeks ago! I do not remember the airport being open but do remember driving across it as a kid. In HS we raced at Martin rd. Moved to FL many years ago.
That was a great story you find the best stuff I love this history of way back I think I was 12 years old back in those days and really excited about NASCAR❤
Appreciate that! And I memorize all the things that fill in the blanks before taping lol. I love the parts of racing history that influenced the future. When I do episodes like this it's an educational journey!
Mopar Muscle magazine did an article on this car in the early 90's, the aluminum plate that was in front of the radiator was being used as a back splash at the mechanics wash sink in the shop where it was found in Iowa.
It sure was. I had some pics I was going to put in of it at first. Originally it was supposed to stay the same with the original hand lettering from the day but it got updated eventually unfortunately.
I grew up in Griffith, Indiana. Not far from the Nichels shop... I also remember seeing a Daytona in an old service station outside of town. It was for sale for $10K. of course as a kid in the 70's they might as well said 100K, because there was no way I could come up with 10 grand! We need to invent a time machine!
It was Mopar the big ole 426 second gen Hemi who got over 200 MPH in a 1969 Dodge Daytona wing car. The 426 Hemi did many things back in the 60's and into the 70's
Ive heard lotsa car story's for lotsa years... This one is now the Top of the list... Last year Richard Hammond found Land Rover #1.....different kind of car... Thanks for posting your videos.
that would make sense, old leeroy was quite a character, he was one of the legends that made nascar what it it today, took lots of head injuries and other damage to his body over the years, the man could drive anything. his end is a tragic story that i have always blamed nascar for, making billions and paying pennies to the ones that did the work.
There may have been a tire war, but the reason the driver's boycotted the first race at Talladega was the roughness of the track surface. Many did not run that race. Buddy Baker said it was so rough he was seeing double from the vibrations. To fill the field Bill France drove a car, they let sportsman drivers and cars run, in fact, Richard Childress ran his first cup race that day in a late model sportsman Camaro, green, #13.
Interesting point! I know there were significant tire issues and both Firestone and Goodyear sent in harder compounds to try to fix it which didn't work initially. So I would suspect the harder compounds of those days probably did make the ride a rough one. France himself running is news to me as I've never saw his name listed in starting or finishing results. That is interesting.
It was the weight of the tread at 200 the centrifugal forces basically slung the tread off. The sportsman cars traveling and much reduced speed never had an issue. I believe Childress actually ran the same set of tires as the day before and finished the race on them.
Sportsman Division were older than 4 years, intermediate and full sized, 115" or longer wheelbase, max engine size of 430 CID. Those cars did not run at Talladega in 1969. The Grand American cars were the Camaros, Javelins, Cougars, etc, 3200#, 305 CID, under 115" wheelbase 'pony cars' and they ran Talladega in 1969, on Saturday and then on Sunday in the Grand National race. Worth a mention is that there were no tire issues on race day as both Goodyear and Firestone had reworded their formulas to accommodate the big, 3900# cars.
Perhaps you should have mention that the race track at Talladega was breaking up and the veteran drivers were not gonna take a chance. Don White is part of an elite group of champions from Keokuk Iowa more racing champions than any other city.
I feel it turned out to be a combination of things. The tires always have seemed to get the most attention with the story but I can definitely see a lot of aspects causing concern.
If you can find it, Dave Despain did a documentary on the race for Speed Network that goes in-depth on what happened. ruclips.net/video/A-krDQc1_qE/видео.htmlsi=y6PwoAZrTL5UIP8u
Good news. The dc74 test mule that's in the Talladega museum has been mechanically restored and was on the track at Atlanta motor speedway and at talladega superspeedway this October at the Aero warriors reunion. The International Motorsports heritage preservation team got it up and going.
We well remember his father also Buck, who willingly and knowingly stole that trophy from, Wendell Scott. Who had 3 laps on Baker, who went along and, colluded with NASCAR. U won Wendell. RIP
A 200 lap race went 202 so it definitely told the tale. I admire everything that man went through to race and win. To this day Greased Lightning is still one of my all time favorite movies.
Have a 73 Charger but it was never a race car, trying to get it back on the road, should be fun, someone else put a big block in it with headers and the 80s style traction bars with air shocks on the rear to try and make it a hot rod, trying to decide if it should be set up like an 80s style street car or just get rid of the headers and stuff and just drive it, thanks for the interesting story about the 3rd gen Charger that set the record, good stuff
USAC used to have a great stock car division. I remember going to the Milwaukee Mile for the Governor's Cup 250 and seeing Indy car legends A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Jim Hurtubise racing against USAC champions Don White and Jack Bowsher. But leave it to USAC to F-up a good thing.
I heard that the reason Petty left Chrysler to Ford was they were only furnishings Dodge and not Plymouth the Superbird. In 1970 in order to put Petty back in their stable they gave him the Superbird .
Yeah, the Plymouths was very uncompetitive. The Charger 500 was, and the Daytona was in the works. He wanted to run Dodge, but they told him no, he was a Plymouth driver. So he went to Ford. Or at least thats from Richard, and Dale Inman his second cousin and crew chief.
As I recall, quite a few of those cars got rebodied. There was a huge fuss when Petty's Superbird was discovered rebodied as a later Dodge Charger. They thought it was the Hamilton number 40 Daytona winner. I'm not certain that turned out to be the case, but that's how it was restored.
Thats extremely cool!! And funny as hell that chrysler basically flipped nascar the bird giving them the slow car😅😅😅 out of all theyears of nascar ive watched, nothing has compared to the iconic super bird. Thanks for the cool story!!!
Don white had a gm garage in keokuk ia. My dad was good friends with him. Don bought a hail damaged piper cub he put new fabric on the plane he was tuning the engine with plane tied to a tree with very old hay rope.he had the prop on and the side panels off testing it unde load. The hay rope broke, the plane rolled across the pasture went up in the air50 feet or so and back down nose first. End of story. But he mounted the prop on the ouside of the garage to remind him self to.never buy a plane again.
Never got many autographs from nascar drivers ...but the best I ever got was in 1997;Flemington Speedway NJ .. Craftsman truck 200 Buddy was the TNN tv announcer that day . Richard petty was even there as grand Marshall..did not get that autograph. Buddy signed my ticket stub so perfectly that his signature is nice enough to be on the friggin Constitution. The man had great penmanship. I woulld have got my 1980 BB oldsmobile diecast signed ...if id had brought it ...at last moment i took ron Hornadays NAPA truck...which i did get his autograph as well on the rear deck lid So Sloppy you would think i wrote it . You can still see flemington speedway it is in the base ment of the walmart that sits on top of it now .
That is a great story! Thanks for sharing! There were quite a few drivers from the day who's autograph looked like art. So I know what you mean. The Hornaday story got me laughing. I created the design for Ronnie 3's Napa late model and painted the cars. Used to be up at Ron's house now and then and he would always sign a new postcard that came out and give to me. Now it makes me want to go unpack them and look again lol.
NASCAR needs to make a historic racing series, but no professional teams are allowed to compete. Let us build up old cars and race them, no big money behind it, let us fans compete.
I would love to see that happen again. Humpy's old NASCAR Sportsman Series would have been such a cool series if they had kept them to mile or less tracks. I'd love to see a series that runs early 80's style Busch cars. The old Nova will always be one of my favorites!
The wild thing is to compare the safety components of the cars from then to now as well as the advancement of tires and drivability. It's a night and day difference and those guys back then made it work!
You should do some research and do a video on the 1968 Daytona 500 where Buddy Arrington actually sold his car before the race to the notorious Chicago mobster and stock car champion, Bob Pronger. Prongers name was never credited in the final results, Arrington's was even though he didn't drive it. Pronger is a legend and he disappeared in June of 1971 from a mob hit. His body was never found and no one knows what became of the Arrington car he bought. Pronger also sat on the pole for the 1953 Daytona race on the beach.
If you ever want to interview the actual person who did the majority of the restoration ,let me know (it wasnt ray). There Was 8 years of work done on that car before ray got it
there have been a few stories told about how the france family treated the drivers, most a little sketchy, sure would like to hear more close to how it actually transpired. i was a part of nascar in the 70s and a big fan and follower from the late 50s. so most of us saw or heard what was happening at the time, including richard going drag racing one year. the most chickenshit part was france banning some of the drivers that actually sat at the table with him at that historic meeting when nascar was formed. one of the flocks, turner and the others escape me at the moment. he also took advantage of his competitor that had an organization the same as nascar with almost the same initials, that man had to go to war while france got out of going with some fake problem, while the other guy was fighting for our country france got to work and took over the industry. few today remember the mans name and its hard to find someone that remembers the name of the other series. that other guy got back involved after his military stint and recovered somewhat, i'll bet you know who it is, how about a story on that one day. some of the retired drivers that can't be affected by nascar anymore have written books about all these old stories, i have a few i like to go over when i have dead time.
That is a great idea. I remember some stories of this but would have to do some research to pinpoint names and specifics. Which is half the fun of these episodes for me! I got to spend time with Tim Flock on different occasions in the mid 90's and could that guy ever tell some stories about these days!
You are incorrect on Richard Petty "Not wanting a Dodge Charger." Richard wanted to run the Charger, but Chrysler wanted Petty in a Plymouth. Richard left Chrysler for Ford because of this in 1969. Chrysler desperately wanted Petty back in the fold, so they developed the Plymouth Super Bird for Pettys return in 1970.
That is correct. I would have to go back and watch the episode. I believe my point was that RP had left and wanted the Plymouth to be comparable and that's where the Superbird came from eventually. I script my episodes in my head and typically after watching it say, damn I should have added this or that lol.
My father Don Boone had the the world record ramp to ground jump in a Plymouth satellite that was stolen in Colorado...trying to find some info .we do have photos..newspaper reports. How can we send you you pictures?
I thought it was Bobby Allison was the first one to go over 200 mph he was the last driver to drive that test day and Crysler didn't like Bobby Allison because he built Chevrolets for himself when he wasn't driving the Dodge they stopped testing and did it the next week and that is when Buddy Baker ran the car OVER 200 MPH
There were different drivers who went over 200 in testing but not on a NASCAR track as far as I know. They tested at Chrysler's testing facility and it has been said the car reached over 240 mph.
3.23 Chrysler 8 3/4 rear end and 28.35" tires comes out to 196 MPH at 7500 RPMs. A couple of notes - Race Hemis were built to run 500 miles at 7200 RPMs while test engines might be built to run 100 miles at 7500 RPMs. Tires inflate with heat and speed. Talladega is measured 15' from the outside wall at 2.66 miles but the distance actually travelled in a lap is around 2.61 miles which makes around 196 MPH a "200 MPH Lap".
So Another words after all the engine replacement transmission replacement body part replacements it’s not the original car you’re lucky to maybe have 10% of the original car
There was a time when the cars were built off factory components including the frame and sheet metal. The introduction of unibody cars started changing things in the mid 60's. But at one time they were basically street cars converted. Why the stocker dirt car classes these days running old Camaros, Novas, Mustangs etc will always be my favorites!
Bill ran the Torino in his early days. He set the record in the Thunderbird in 87. My old boss Bill Venturini set the ARCA record of 205 the same year. That was a fast year and a turning point.
Miss leading video title. It was hardly the fastest car in NASCAR. Bill Elliot holds that title. So if the title is a lie one has to assume the the whole video is a lie.
It was considered the fastest car at the time and the story was about the car's unique history more than the speed. Yes Elliott set an unbeatable record in 87, but this story was all centered around the time.
So what do you want to talk about Joe that's not blah blah blah? I just went to your page to see if I could talk about what you're into and there is nothing there. So help me out. Let's see if I can accommodate.
@@thatracingshow You're right, my bad. I didn't finish the video. I started watching nascar in the 60s when ABC wide world of sports aired the races. Buddy Baker was always up front. NASCAR was just starting to take off with all the teams bursting with new ideas to make the cars go faster and the rule book getting thicker. Non other than Smokey Yunick remembers when the rules was just 1 page, and ol Smokey and Bill France locked horns more than anyone. Those were the days. All the best.
No disrespect meant whatsoever, but I'm sorry, you're story simply isn't making any sense pertaining to "the original winged car being STOLEN"..........yet later in the story, you mention another driver who raced that car a lot, including a few runs in Cup racing..........so HOW can "a stolen car turn up" and "no one ever had charges pressed against them".
The car was originally a street model that was stolen after a photoshoot and stripped. After being found, Chrysler decided to convert it to a race car. From there it raced some and was used as a test car before being given to Don White.
Let's remember, that ford tested their SOHC it was so fast that when he came into the pits it was outlawed, or take a 400lb. Weight disadvantage. Think that was right? So much for run what you brung. To compensate, ford they were allowed to run the tunnel port heads on their 427
Not right. The Ford SOHC, Chevy Mystery Motor and Chrysler Hemi were all shelved until and unless they were put into production cars. The SOHC, DOHC Hemi and Chevy Mystery Motor were never put into production vehicles so they were not allowed.
@@Ziggy_Moonglow Chevy dropped out of organized racing, the SOHC Engine was deamed as you say not a production engine, the 426 hemi got the same treatment, but Chrysler put the engine the next year in a production car. So to compensate for ford they were allowed to run the 427 tunnel port heads, what gets me is the 427 tunnel port heads were in a production car the thunderbolts , but Chrysler cried that's those heads required a buldge or scoop on the hood so NASCAR would not allow the engine. If you check out the people who were there when the SOHC was brought out to race it could have been run but with a 400 pound handicap. If you check out a you tube show about the 427 tunnel port heads, you will find out about the SOCH engine being having the 400 lb. handicap and the reasons behind the 426 hemi and the tunnel port heads and the rulelings about those three engines. Back to the fastest car, it was Bill Elliot's Torino that has the record for the fastest lap ever recorded in NASCAR
@@Ziggy_Moonglow there was no dual overhead cam engines, as far as what was run in NASCAR, I point I have is watch what I believe is called monster engines on you tube, they discuss the 426 hemi, the 427 tunnel port , Chevy dropping out of NASCAR and the awesome SOHC 427, and why the SOHC 427, and Chevy getting out of racing , at the same time. I'm not sure but the 427 mystery motor was run independently Chevy wouldn't back any race cars.
i would imagine big bill got his big smart ass kicked several times over the years, ive never heard anyone argue the point that he wasn't a king prick.
Absolutely wonderful to learn the real history of that very important Dodge DAYTONA. And we all know Ray went out of his way to restore it as close as possible to it's original build. Thanks for this video. Keep 'em coming.
Absolutely my friend! Every episode like this I learn something more in my research and love it!
@@gregorygolden1296 He still doesn't hold the fastest car, wasn't a Daytona it was a Ford Torino, driven by bill Elliot. He laped the field three times, the fastest car ever.
@@Albertgermanaro-fs7yf hate to pop your bubble, Bill Elliott drove a Thunderbird. What I was saying is that Daytona Buddy Baker drove was the First NASCAR to Officially go over 200mph. 15 years or so Before Bill's THUNDERBIRD. NOT a TORINO.
@@gregorygolden1296 your right sorry about that, I was working for ford then and for some reason I kept thing it was a Torino, hell they looked simulator. How about that race, I remember watching him lap the field, don't see that happening now days, yeah his speed was about 212 mph, faster than that Daytona ever went.
@@Albertgermanaro-fs7yf All good brother. I am a old racer from back in the day. Short tracks, dirt and pavement. I had a '68 Torino GT fastback with a 390 block with 428 heads. Maaan, I loved that car. It wasn't real quick but it would do 140mph or more. I never did find the top end of that thing. I kept running out of road.... But yea, Awesome Bill had Everybody covered on them Superspeedways. Think he went 2 laps down and came back and unlapped himself twice and went on to win.... All under green laps. Nobody has done that I think before or since. Peace Brother.
Great story, the winged cars are best looking race cars of all time.
The were some sharp looking machines!
@@rcbrproductions8296 I liked the talidayga Ford's ran just as fast as the winged mopars. I don't care how many winged cases they sold to the public they should have beenoutlawed, they are the cars that ruined NASCAR,
It won when Don White was driving it. Don was edging towards the end of his career. He was a legendary driver, equal to any driver in NASCAR.
He definitely is a legend! Winningest USAC stock car driver and that says a lot with the competition he battled!
NASCAR died decades ago once they stopped racing STOCK CARS!
The old cars were some beautiful rides!
@@thatracingshow that may have gone over your head. lol. The old cars and races were a "bring what you brung and hope you brung enough" battle among the big three and their drivers. Today, the cars are niowhere near what the the factory makes and they also are restricted so severely that it's only about drivers. No one has a faster car than anyone else becasue they're limited that much.
Drivers died too
My favorite take away from this story is when some people like to denigrate NASCARs, saying what’s stock about them, that the first car to set this record, did in fact start life as a production built fully legal street car, which still maintained it’s roll up door glass and vent windows.
I can remember back in the early 80's being at various shops and the bare door skins and fenders hanging on the walls. Somewhere around here I have pics of Junior Johnson's, DK Ulrich and Hendrick when Bodine first started with him where you can see it.
NASCAR was NASCAR until the CoT. Allowing FWD to RWD conversions was one thing, in my opinion also wrong, but using a nonproduction body just totally destroys the point of the series.
@@eclipsegst9419What is the CoT?
Edit: nevermind.
@@toxicmasculinity7870 In case anyone wonders, Car of Tomorrow. Aka the spec built chassis that killed the S in NASCAR.
It was mentioned to me from Charlie Glotzbach's son that Charlie had went way over the 200 mark during testing before Buddy Baker climbed in.
I have heard it went over 240 at the Chelsea Proving Grounds. Man I wish that data was available!
Have also heard both of these scenarios as well.
Id thats ture thats faster even the current close course record. @@thatracingshow
@@bashclassof04 The Chrysler Chelsea proving grounds has a 4.7 mile oval with 3/4 mile straightaways and 36 degree banked turns. MUCH bigger than Talladega and Talladega only has 33deg turns. Current closed course speed record is 241 and change by Gil DeFerran at California Speedway at Fontana (in an indy car obviously), which was 2 miles with 14deg turns.
I had some test pics of DC93 from 1969 when it was used for Transmission testing at the old Huntsville (Alabama) Airport. Chrysler had an Electronics division here & kept DC93 in a garage in Huntsville during the time when it was used for the record 200 mph run at Talladega.
Those would be cool to see! The way they had that car set up to collect data is a story in itself. Thanks for sharing!
I was at Back Forty there a couple weeks ago! I do not remember the airport being open but do remember driving across it as a kid. In HS we raced at Martin rd. Moved to FL many years ago.
That was a great story you find the best stuff I love this history of way back I think I was 12 years old back in those days and really excited about NASCAR❤
I appreciate that! There are so many cool stories of old NASCAR and I have many more to come!
@@thatracingshow great I'll be watching for them
Thanks for producing this great stock car story.
Absolutely! I appreciate the comment!
Some of the sport tires available nowadays outclass many of the full race tires of yesteryear. Those guy's had guts.
I couldn't imagine a lot of the drivers of today tugging the wheel on those tires in the old machines lol.
So glad you did your research!!great job and vidio
Appreciate that! And I memorize all the things that fill in the blanks before taping lol. I love the parts of racing history that influenced the future. When I do episodes like this it's an educational journey!
Mopar Muscle magazine did an article on this car in the early 90's, the aluminum plate that was in front of the radiator was being used as a back splash at the mechanics wash sink in the shop where it was found in Iowa.
It sure was. I had some pics I was going to put in of it at first. Originally it was supposed to stay the same with the original hand lettering from the day but it got updated eventually unfortunately.
I grew up in Griffith, Indiana. Not far from the Nichels shop... I also remember seeing a Daytona in an old service station outside of town. It was for sale for $10K. of course as a kid in the 70's they might as well said 100K, because there was no way I could come up with 10 grand! We need to invent a time machine!
That would have been cool to own one! Love hearing things like this so thanks for sharing!
It was Mopar the big ole 426 second gen Hemi who got over 200 MPH in a 1969 Dodge Daytona wing car. The 426 Hemi did many things back in the 60's and into the 70's
Ive heard lotsa car story's for lotsa years... This one is now the Top of the list...
Last year Richard Hammond found Land Rover #1.....different kind of car... Thanks for posting your videos.
I agree
Thank you, I appreciate that!
Bobby Allison said LeeRoy Yarborough was the one who took a swing at Big Bill.....
Truth, it's been debatable from a few lol.
that would make sense, old leeroy was quite a character, he was one of the legends that made nascar what it it today, took lots of head injuries and other damage to his body over the years, the man could drive anything. his end is a tragic story that i have always blamed nascar for, making billions and paying pennies to the ones that did the work.
@@jimmieroan9881 I more than agree. I heard Bobby in a interview say that LeeRoy has the one who popped Bill.
Very cool Mopar wing car history.
There may have been a tire war, but the reason the driver's boycotted the first race at Talladega was the roughness of the track surface. Many did not run that race. Buddy Baker said it was so rough he was seeing double from the vibrations. To fill the field Bill France drove a car, they let sportsman drivers and cars run, in fact, Richard Childress ran his first cup race that day in a late model sportsman Camaro, green, #13.
Interesting point! I know there were significant tire issues and both Firestone and Goodyear sent in harder compounds to try to fix it which didn't work initially. So I would suspect the harder compounds of those days probably did make the ride a rough one.
France himself running is news to me as I've never saw his name listed in starting or finishing results. That is interesting.
It was the weight of the tread at 200 the centrifugal forces basically slung the tread off. The sportsman cars traveling and much reduced speed never had an issue. I believe Childress actually ran the same set of tires as the day before and finished the race on them.
Sportsman Division were older than 4 years, intermediate and full sized, 115" or longer wheelbase, max engine size of 430 CID. Those cars did not run at Talladega in 1969. The Grand American cars were the Camaros, Javelins, Cougars, etc, 3200#, 305 CID, under 115" wheelbase 'pony cars' and they ran Talladega in 1969, on Saturday and then on Sunday in the Grand National race. Worth a mention is that there were no tire issues on race day as both Goodyear and Firestone had reworded their formulas to accommodate the big, 3900# cars.
Perhaps you should have mention that the race track at Talladega was breaking up and the veteran drivers were not gonna take a chance. Don White is part of an elite group of champions from Keokuk Iowa more racing champions than any other city.
I feel it turned out to be a combination of things. The tires always have seemed to get the most attention with the story but I can definitely see a lot of aspects causing concern.
If you can find it, Dave Despain did a documentary on the race for Speed Network that goes in-depth on what happened.
ruclips.net/video/A-krDQc1_qE/видео.htmlsi=y6PwoAZrTL5UIP8u
Don White was from Iowa he had a dealership up there. Him and my dad were friends as we made nascar parts 1977 78
Cool video and i bet not many people managed to fool Big Bill
I think in those days and many that followed he was pretty set in his ways and wasn't swaying lol.
Good news. The dc74 test mule that's in the Talladega museum has been mechanically restored and was on the track at Atlanta motor speedway and at talladega superspeedway this October at the Aero warriors reunion. The International Motorsports heritage preservation team got it up and going.
We well remember his father also Buck, who willingly and knowingly stole that trophy from, Wendell Scott. Who had 3 laps on Baker, who went along and, colluded with NASCAR. U won Wendell. RIP
A 200 lap race went 202 so it definitely told the tale. I admire everything that man went through to race and win. To this day Greased Lightning is still one of my all time favorite movies.
Have a 73 Charger but it was never a race car, trying to get it back on the road, should be fun, someone else put a big block in it with headers and the 80s style traction bars with air shocks on the rear to try and make it a hot rod, trying to decide if it should be set up like an 80s style street car or just get rid of the headers and stuff and just drive it, thanks for the interesting story about the 3rd gen Charger that set the record, good stuff
USAC used to have a great stock car division. I remember going to the Milwaukee Mile for the Governor's Cup 250 and seeing Indy car legends A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Jim Hurtubise racing against USAC champions Don White and Jack Bowsher. But leave it to USAC to F-up a good thing.
I heard that the reason Petty left Chrysler to Ford was they were only furnishings Dodge and not Plymouth the Superbird. In 1970 in order to put Petty back in their stable they gave him the Superbird .
That's pretty much the truth.
Yeah, the Plymouths was very uncompetitive. The Charger 500 was, and the Daytona was in the works. He wanted to run Dodge, but they told him no, he was a Plymouth driver. So he went to Ford. Or at least thats from Richard, and Dale Inman his second cousin and crew chief.
As I recall, quite a few of those cars got rebodied. There was a huge fuss when Petty's Superbird was discovered rebodied as a later Dodge Charger. They thought it was the Hamilton number 40 Daytona winner. I'm not certain that turned out to be the case, but that's how it was restored.
Thats extremely cool!! And funny as hell that chrysler basically flipped nascar the bird giving them the slow car😅😅😅 out of all theyears of nascar ive watched, nothing has compared to the iconic super bird. Thanks for the cool story!!!
Thanks for commenting!
Chrysler being less than honest? A fact everyone knows all too well.
It was just a little deceitful. Not much lol.
I may have seen that car at a car show up close in Ottumwa Iowa in Don White livery. It’s a long time ago, but I remember the color. It’s a maybe …
I love that color scheme!
Don white had a gm garage in keokuk ia. My dad was good friends with him. Don bought a hail damaged piper cub he put new fabric on the plane he was tuning the engine with plane tied to a tree with very old hay rope.he had the prop on and the side panels off testing it unde load. The hay rope broke, the plane rolled across the pasture went up in the air50 feet or so and back down nose first. End of story. But he mounted the prop on the ouside of the garage to remind him self to.never buy a plane again.
That is a great story lol! Thanks for sharing!
🏁 Great vid!!!!!! 🏁
Thank you, I appreciate that!
Never got many autographs from nascar drivers ...but the best I ever got was in 1997;Flemington Speedway NJ ..
Craftsman truck 200
Buddy was the TNN tv announcer that day .
Richard petty was even there as grand Marshall..did not get that autograph.
Buddy signed my ticket stub so perfectly that his signature is nice enough to be on the friggin Constitution.
The man had great penmanship.
I woulld have got my 1980 BB oldsmobile diecast signed ...if id had brought it ...at last moment i took ron Hornadays NAPA truck...which i did get his autograph as well on the rear deck lid
So Sloppy you would think i wrote it .
You can still see flemington speedway it
is in the base ment of the walmart that sits on top of it now .
That is a great story! Thanks for sharing! There were quite a few drivers from the day who's autograph looked like art. So I know what you mean. The Hornaday story got me laughing. I created the design for Ronnie 3's Napa late model and painted the cars. Used to be up at Ron's house now and then and he would always sign a new postcard that came out and give to me. Now it makes me want to go unpack them and look again lol.
NASCAR needs to make a historic racing series, but no professional teams are allowed to compete. Let us build up old cars and race them, no big money behind it, let us fans compete.
I would love to see that happen again. Humpy's old NASCAR Sportsman Series would have been such a cool series if they had kept them to mile or less tracks. I'd love to see a series that runs early 80's style Busch cars. The old Nova will always be one of my favorites!
1970 200 mph ..today 190 is too fast ...nascar is gone forever
The wild thing is to compare the safety components of the cars from then to now as well as the advancement of tires and drivability. It's a night and day difference and those guys back then made it work!
and a drag race is not a 1/4 mile anymore
@@mikecross4350 still not the fastest, check the records, Bill Elliot's Torino holds the record.
@mikecross4350 build fence that will hold them at 250 and they would run 250 . Nascar does not want a car in the stands.
@@jayterry8551bs
I wonder what he did with the original sheet metal? Like to hear the story on that. Anyway. Awesome story.
cool man. I love the history
Thanks, I appreciate that!
Funny how the real car "Dodged" NASCAR's thinking they had "won" and the real car raced in USAC without them knowing. Good story. Thanks
Absolutely! Thanks for commenting!
You should do some research and do a video on the 1968 Daytona 500 where Buddy Arrington actually sold his car before the race to the notorious Chicago mobster and stock car champion, Bob Pronger. Prongers name was never credited in the final results, Arrington's was even though he didn't drive it. Pronger is a legend and he disappeared in June of 1971 from a mob hit. His body was never found and no one knows what became of the Arrington car he bought. Pronger also sat on the pole for the 1953 Daytona race on the beach.
That is interesting! I am going to have to look into that! Arrington's rides were always some of my favorites. Thanks for sharing that!
If you ever want to interview the actual person who did the majority of the restoration ,let me know (it wasnt ray). There Was 8 years of work done on that car before ray got it
I had figured it probably had some other hands on it prior. I might take you up on that in the future!
The guy that stole it has some bragging rights haha
lol, he made NASCAR history without even knowing it!
there have been a few stories told about how the france family treated the drivers, most a little sketchy, sure would like to hear more close to how it actually transpired. i was a part of nascar in the 70s and a big fan and follower from the late 50s. so most of us saw or heard what was happening at the time, including richard going drag racing one year. the most chickenshit part was france banning some of the drivers that actually sat at the table with him at that historic meeting when nascar was formed. one of the flocks, turner and the others escape me at the moment. he also took advantage of his competitor that had an organization the same as nascar with almost the same initials, that man had to go to war while france got out of going with some fake problem, while the other guy was fighting for our country france got to work and took over the industry. few today remember the mans name and its hard to find someone that remembers the name of the other series. that other guy got back involved after his military stint and recovered somewhat, i'll bet you know who it is, how about a story on that one day. some of the retired drivers that can't be affected by nascar anymore have written books about all these old stories, i have a few i like to go over when i have dead time.
That is a great idea. I remember some stories of this but would have to do some research to pinpoint names and specifics. Which is half the fun of these episodes for me!
I got to spend time with Tim Flock on different occasions in the mid 90's and could that guy ever tell some stories about these days!
You are incorrect on Richard Petty "Not wanting a Dodge Charger." Richard wanted to run the Charger, but Chrysler wanted Petty in a Plymouth. Richard left Chrysler for Ford because of this in 1969. Chrysler desperately wanted Petty back in the fold, so they developed the Plymouth Super Bird for Pettys return in 1970.
That is correct. I would have to go back and watch the episode. I believe my point was that RP had left and wanted the Plymouth to be comparable and that's where the Superbird came from eventually. I script my episodes in my head and typically after watching it say, damn I should have added this or that lol.
My father Don Boone had the the world record ramp to ground jump in a Plymouth satellite that was stolen in Colorado...trying to find some info
.we do have photos..newspaper reports. How can we send you you pictures?
When stock cars were stock cars!
We made parts for nascar sold through nickhols engineering, who sold race car chassis and parts for nascar
I thought it was Bobby Allison was the first one to go over 200 mph he was the last driver to drive that test day and Crysler didn't like Bobby Allison because he built Chevrolets for himself when he wasn't driving the Dodge they stopped testing and did it the next week and that is when Buddy Baker ran the car OVER 200 MPH
There were different drivers who went over 200 in testing but not on a NASCAR track as far as I know. They tested at Chrysler's testing facility and it has been said the car reached over 240 mph.
DC74 is now in running condition!
B. A. Claims it? Just ask him!
I trust his word lol!
Ironic it was last raced with #93 ?😮
Good on chrysler for doing that...
Does anyone know how with 4 speed transmission, they got those cars that fast . My understanding they ran fairly low gear's, from 3:31 to 3:50 gears.
3.23 Chrysler 8 3/4 rear end and 28.35" tires comes out to 196 MPH at 7500 RPMs. A couple of notes - Race Hemis were built to run 500 miles at 7200 RPMs while test engines might be built to run 100 miles at 7500 RPMs. Tires inflate with heat and speed. Talladega is measured 15' from the outside wall at 2.66 miles but the distance actually travelled in a lap is around 2.61 miles which makes around 196 MPH a "200 MPH Lap".
Nice comment 👍
After it was stolen, did they put in the original engine? Or did they upgrade to the 426?
It was the 426!
Of it's "stamped dc93"
So Another words after all the engine replacement transmission replacement body part replacements it’s not the original car you’re lucky to maybe have 10% of the original car
There was a time when the cars were built off factory components including the frame and sheet metal. The introduction of unibody cars started changing things in the mid 60's. But at one time they were basically street cars converted. Why the stocker dirt car classes these days running old Camaros, Novas, Mustangs etc will always be my favorites!
And now you know the rest of the story
Stopped watching NASCAR after they outlawed the winged cars.
Dumb question , did anyone compare VIN of the car to owner records?
Good question! To be honest I'm not sure the VIN was still on the car. I have never heard anything about that in my own research.
dang so mopars have been being stolen since he beginning lol
lol!
👍
NASCAR should get Chrysler back in it. And go back to running cars that are on the street. Not the make-believe cars.
I would love to see them back!
Not tbe fasrest NASCAR car, it was bill Elliot s Torino , still holds the speed on a NASCAR tracks. He came frrom 2 lapss down to win.😊😊
1986 was almost 20 years later and it was a Thunderbird, not a Torino.
@@Albertgermanaro-fs7yf if your going to spew facts, get them right... Not a Torino. Thunderbird. You must be a youngster.
@@gregorygolden1296 Bill Elliot's Torino!!
Bill ran the Torino in his early days. He set the record in the Thunderbird in 87. My old boss Bill Venturini set the ARCA record of 205 the same year. That was a fast year and a turning point.
@@thatracingshow your right, a t bird, hell it was the same platform. They talk about the big inch motors being too fast, that was a 351D engine.
Interesting article but this guy is painful to listen to.
Well thanks I guess lol.
The only thing your video is missing is just a very very light background music
It's always a balance lol. I've had complaints when I add music and some like it. Appreciate your input!
Miss leading video title. It was hardly the fastest car in NASCAR. Bill Elliot holds that title. So if the title is a lie one has to assume the the whole video is a lie.
It was considered the fastest car at the time and the story was about the car's unique history more than the speed. Yes Elliott set an unbeatable record in 87, but this story was all centered around the time.
BlaBlaBlaBla
So what do you want to talk about Joe that's not blah blah blah? I just went to your page to see if I could talk about what you're into and there is nothing there. So help me out. Let's see if I can accommodate.
@@thatracingshow You're right, my bad. I didn't finish the video. I started watching nascar in the 60s when ABC wide world of sports aired the races. Buddy Baker was always up front. NASCAR was just starting to take off with all the teams bursting with new ideas to make the cars go faster and the rule book getting thicker. Non other than Smokey Yunick remembers when the rules was just 1 page, and ol Smokey and Bill France locked horns more than anyone. Those were the days. All the best.
No disrespect meant whatsoever, but I'm sorry, you're story simply isn't making any sense pertaining to "the original winged car being STOLEN"..........yet later in the story, you mention another driver who raced that car a lot, including a few runs in Cup racing..........so HOW can "a stolen car turn up" and "no one ever had charges pressed against them".
The car was originally a street model that was stolen after a photoshoot and stripped. After being found, Chrysler decided to convert it to a race car. From there it raced some and was used as a test car before being given to Don White.
@@howabouthetruth2157 wish it went back to running present day engines too.
Let's remember, that ford tested their SOHC it was so fast that when he came into the pits it was outlawed, or take a 400lb. Weight disadvantage. Think that was right? So much for run what you brung. To compensate, ford they were allowed to run the tunnel port heads on their 427
Not right. The Ford SOHC, Chevy Mystery Motor and Chrysler Hemi were all shelved until and unless they were put into production cars. The SOHC, DOHC Hemi and Chevy Mystery Motor were never put into production vehicles so they were not allowed.
@@Ziggy_Moonglow Chevy dropped out of organized racing, the SOHC Engine was deamed as you say not a production engine, the 426 hemi got the same treatment, but Chrysler put the engine the next year in a production car. So to compensate for ford they were allowed to run the 427 tunnel port heads, what gets me is the 427 tunnel port heads were in a production car the thunderbolts , but Chrysler cried that's those heads required a buldge or scoop on the hood so NASCAR would not allow the engine. If you check out the people who were there when the SOHC was brought out to race it could have been run but with a 400 pound handicap. If you check out a you tube show about the 427 tunnel port heads, you will find out about the SOCH engine being having the 400 lb. handicap and the reasons behind the 426 hemi and the tunnel port heads and the rulelings about those three engines. Back to the fastest car, it was Bill Elliot's Torino that has the record for the fastest lap ever recorded in NASCAR
@@Ziggy_Moonglow there was no dual overhead cam engines, as far as what was run in NASCAR, I point I have is watch what I believe is called monster engines on you tube, they discuss the 426 hemi, the 427 tunnel port , Chevy dropping out of NASCAR and the awesome SOHC 427, and why the SOHC 427, and Chevy getting out of racing , at the same time. I'm not sure but the 427 mystery motor was run independently Chevy wouldn't back any race cars.
The 427 SOHC Engine was rated at the factory at over 600 hp.about 150hp more than the426 hemi.
Sounds like NASCAR sucked way back when!
There was definitely a rough patch lol.
73 was the last Nascar race that I watched when cars were cool
The old rides were some great ones!
i would imagine big bill got his big smart ass kicked several times over the years, ive never heard anyone argue the point that he wasn't a king prick.