...love those old USAC/NASCAR race cars. that was when cars were CARS and the guys driving them didn't have power steering and cool suits (hell, they didn't have suits at all..!). I love the story of Marvin Panch. He crashed badly at a race and busted up his hands so badly the doctors said he'd never race again. They said, "Marvin, you can't drive anymore but we're going to have to set your hands in one position. Which position do you want?". Marvin replied, "... set 'em so I can hold a steering wheel..."
64ragtop said
Nov 2, 2012
...isn't that a great shot of the grid before the race? A '58 Ford on pole. Probably running a Y-block 312 or an early version FE like a 332 or something. The closest I ever got to races like that in '58 was Pinecrest Speedway on Hwy #7. I remember a guy who raced there named Ross Howes - had a gorgeous red '57 Chevy. This was about '63 or so I think so he was probably running a 327. He used to keep the car at a shop on Keele St, just south of Maple and I used to see it all the time (we lived in Newmarket then King City..). Back then you could still see guys racing '48 Ford coupes. Man I miss those days...
MC said
Nov 2, 2012
My favourite era of stock car racing when they were real cars raced by real drivers!
Check out Fireball's bare arm resting on the door. Just out for a Sunday drive!
64ragtop said
Nov 2, 2012
...some great Pontiac race car pics there...Fireball Roberts was an amazing driver...notice they don't have names like "Fireball" any more..?
No doubt the greatest era for NASCAR stock car racing. The cars were real and those incredible drivers were real. Not like the fluffy "Hollywood" crap we have today. The drivers all look and sound alike today. They are covered in sponsor crap and switch baseball caps two dozen times during any given interview to maximize the adverts. The cars all look alike and basicly are alike. I can not tell a Chevy from a Ford from a Dodge and do not care anyway. I look at the great cars and the great drivers of the past and it sadens me that i missed it all. I have a very extensive collection of the NASCAR sactioned events from 1955 to 1976 on video and never get tired of looking at those old wonderful stock car races of the past. I look at drag racing the same way, the past is the best and the present bores me to death, unless of course it is nostalgic drag racing. You have to respect and look in awe those great drivers of the past because they really drove from the seat of their pants then. The cars were obviously no where near as safe as the cars today but they drove them all out with real guts and determination. Drivers like Joe Weatherly, Buck Baker, Curtis Turner, David Pearson, Herb Thomas, the Flock brothers, Junior Johnson, Cale Yarborough, Fireball Roberts and many others drove for passion first and money second. Sadly many of these great driver are gone now, some like Fireball Roberts and Joe Weatherly died racing. When i think of how sad and boring todays NASCAR racing is i just think of those long ago glory years and it puts a real smile on my face. Cheers. George.
Canadian Poncho said
Nov 4, 2012
Did I ever mention Marvin Panch called me up when I was selling my 1960 Catalina? He was interested in buying it to convert to a replica of his Daytona winning car. We couldn't agree on a price. He was a neat guy to talk to. He had since found a car and had the replica built:
4SPEED427 said
Nov 4, 2012
Wow, how cool is that???!!! That would be pretty good bragging rights to sell your car to him to build a clone!
427carl said
Nov 4, 2012
Given the rigors of stock car racing and the constant evolution and discarding of old race cars, its a wonder this 1958 Pontiac Chieftainfor sale on Hemmings.com, now restored to USAC specs, survived the decades. Even more impressive is the sellers claim that its fully documented. From the sellers description:
Original USAC race car. Raced nationally two years. Fully documented, no expense spared restoration completed 2012. Streetable or vintage race drum brakes. Award winner at National Pontiac Owners Club meet 7/12. Pace car at Milwaukee Mile 6/12 ASA event. Absolutely correct in all details; verified by original owner. Top ten qualifier at Milwaukee during 1958 season. Driven by Dick Rathman at Langhorne. Correct 370 ci engine with one-off roller camshaft, Venolia pistons and aluminum flywheel including dual-point distributor, new 3.90 rear gear. Drive, race or show. This is the real deal. The only 1958 Pontiac raced in USAC. 1962 Firestone race tires included for display.
Delta Tango said
Nov 4, 2012
long stroke wrote:
No doubt the greatest era for NASCAR stock car racing. The cars were real and those incredible drivers were real. Not like the fluffy "Hollywood" crap we have today. The drivers all look and sound alike today. They are covered in sponsor crap and switch baseball caps two dozen times during any given interview to maximize the adverts. The cars all look alike and basicly are alike. I can not tell a Chevy from a Ford from a Dodge and do not care anyway. I look at the great cars and the great drivers of the past and it sadens me that i missed it all. I have a very extensive collection of the NASCAR sactioned events from 1955 to 1976 on video and never get tired of looking at those old wonderful stock car races of the past. I look at drag racing the same way, the past is the best and the present bores me to death, unless of course it is nostalgic drag racing. You have to respect and look in awe those great drivers of the past because they really drove from the seat of their pants then. The cars were obviously no where near as safe as the cars today but they drove them all out with real guts and determination. Drivers like Joe Weatherly, Buck Baker, Curtis Turner, David Pearson, Herb Thomas, the Flock brothers, Junior Johnson, Cale Yarborough, Fireball Roberts and many others drove for passion first and money second. Sadly many of these great driver are gone now, some like Fireball Roberts and Joe Weatherly died racing. When i think of how sad and boring todays NASCAR racing is i just think of those long ago glory years and it puts a real smile on my face. Cheers. George.
I couldn't agree more on all of the above.
Let's not forget one of my all time favorite "old school" driver/owners and that was Dave Marcus. Another driver is Hershall McGriff who is still racing, and he has got to be itching 80!
64ragtop said
Nov 4, 2012
...all this is great stuff. I would've loved to have talked to Marvin Panch. Another story: In 1995 I'd been on a business trip to Halifax of all places and was heading out on a Sunday afternoon flight back to Toronto. I'd checked in early and was sitting in the passenger waiting lounge and heard this voice talking to the gate hostess. I immediately knew the voice. It was Buddy Baker. He was using Halifax as a connecting point to go from a race he'd worked TV colour on at Dover to get to some other race which I can't remember now. Long story short, we ended up sitting in the waiting lounge talking for about half an hour. He was the nicest, friendliest guy you could ever meet, without a hint of arrogance or lack of desire to talk to a race fan. He even complemented me on my general and NASCAR race history knowledge, me being a Canadian and all. But I'll never forget his total lack of self-importance or arrogance. I wonder if I could sit down in an airport lounge today and talk to Jimmy Johnson or Tony Stewart that way? (...bit of a moot point...I obviously couldn't unless I was able to somehow wangle a ticket onto their private jet, chopper or multi-million $$ hauler/bus...). I even remember talking to Richard Petty and A. J. Foyt at the one and only (and amazing) REAL stock car race that was ever held at Mosport in around '73 I think. \Does anyone remember the one and only Kawartha 250 that was held there? - sanctioned by USAC. My buddy Wayne, who had a beautiful little '31 Ford coupe was able to buy a pair of slightly-used Good Year Bluestreaks off the back of Petty's car after the race. We put 'em in the trunk of my car, took 'em home and he put them on the back of his '31...they sure were fun to "light up"!!
...this is a great example of a very rare race car...
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/11/01/hemmings-find-of-the-day-1958-pontiac-chieftain/#.UJMf6rsiRz8.email
Very Interesting car, thanks for finding it.
...love those old USAC/NASCAR race cars. that was when cars were CARS and the guys driving them didn't have power steering and cool suits (hell, they didn't have suits at all..!). I love the story of Marvin Panch. He crashed badly at a race and busted up his hands so badly the doctors said he'd never race again. They said, "Marvin, you can't drive anymore but we're going to have to set your hands in one position. Which position do you want?". Marvin replied, "... set 'em so I can hold a steering wheel..."
...isn't that a great shot of the grid before the race? A '58 Ford on pole. Probably running a Y-block 312 or an early version FE like a 332 or something. The closest I ever got to races like that in '58 was Pinecrest Speedway on Hwy #7. I remember a guy who raced there named Ross Howes - had a gorgeous red '57 Chevy. This was about '63 or so I think so he was probably running a 327. He used to keep the car at a shop on Keele St, just south of Maple and I used to see it all the time (we lived in Newmarket then King City..). Back then you could still see guys racing '48 Ford coupes. Man I miss those days...
My favourite era of stock car racing when they were real cars raced by real drivers!
Check out Fireball's bare arm resting on the door. Just out for a Sunday drive!
...some great Pontiac race car pics there...Fireball Roberts was an amazing driver...notice they don't have names like "Fireball" any more..?
No doubt the greatest era for NASCAR stock car racing. The cars were real and those incredible drivers were real. Not like the fluffy "Hollywood" crap we have today. The drivers all look and sound alike today. They are covered in sponsor crap and switch baseball caps two dozen times during any given interview to maximize the adverts. The cars all look alike and basicly are alike. I can not tell a Chevy from a Ford from a Dodge and do not care anyway. I look at the great cars and the great drivers of the past and it sadens me that i missed it all. I have a very extensive collection of the NASCAR sactioned events from 1955 to 1976 on video and never get tired of looking at those old wonderful stock car races of the past. I look at drag racing the same way, the past is the best and the present bores me to death, unless of course it is nostalgic drag racing. You have to respect and look in awe those great drivers of the past because they really drove from the seat of their pants then. The cars were obviously no where near as safe as the cars today but they drove them all out with real guts and determination. Drivers like Joe Weatherly, Buck Baker, Curtis Turner, David Pearson, Herb Thomas, the Flock brothers, Junior Johnson, Cale Yarborough, Fireball Roberts and many others drove for passion first and money second. Sadly many of these great driver are gone now, some like Fireball Roberts and Joe Weatherly died racing. When i think of how sad and boring todays NASCAR racing is i just think of those long ago glory years and it puts a real smile on my face. Cheers. George.
Did I ever mention Marvin Panch called me up when I was selling my 1960 Catalina? He was interested in buying it to convert to a replica of his Daytona winning car. We couldn't agree on a price. He was a neat guy to talk to. He had since found a car and had the replica built:
Given the rigors of stock car racing and the constant evolution and discarding of old race cars, its a wonder this 1958 Pontiac Chieftainfor sale on Hemmings.com, now restored to USAC specs, survived the decades. Even more impressive is the sellers claim that its fully documented. From the sellers description:
I couldn't agree more on all of the above.
Let's not forget one of my all time favorite "old school" driver/owners and that was Dave Marcus. Another driver is Hershall McGriff who is still racing, and he has got to be itching 80!
...all this is great stuff. I would've loved to have talked to Marvin Panch. Another story: In 1995 I'd been on a business trip to Halifax of all places and was heading out on a Sunday afternoon flight back to Toronto. I'd checked in early and was sitting in the passenger waiting lounge and heard this voice talking to the gate hostess. I immediately knew the voice. It was Buddy Baker. He was using Halifax as a connecting point to go from a race he'd worked TV colour on at Dover to get to some other race which I can't remember now. Long story short, we ended up sitting in the waiting lounge talking for about half an hour. He was the nicest, friendliest guy you could ever meet, without a hint of arrogance or lack of desire to talk to a race fan. He even complemented me on my general and NASCAR race history knowledge, me being a Canadian and all. But I'll never forget his total lack of self-importance or arrogance. I wonder if I could sit down in an airport lounge today and talk to Jimmy Johnson or Tony Stewart that way? (...bit of a moot point...I obviously couldn't unless I was able to somehow wangle a ticket onto their private jet, chopper or multi-million $$ hauler/bus...). I even remember talking to Richard Petty and A. J. Foyt at the one and only (and amazing) REAL stock car race that was ever held at Mosport in around '73 I think. \Does anyone remember the one and only Kawartha 250 that was held there? - sanctioned by USAC. My buddy Wayne, who had a beautiful little '31 Ford coupe was able to buy a pair of slightly-used Good Year Bluestreaks off the back of Petty's car after the race. We put 'em in the trunk of my car, took 'em home and he put them on the back of his '31...they sure were fun to "light up"!!