Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Attachments http://www.colesy-juniorstockforum.c...ile.php?id=263

SS/EA Showdown,,,,,,
1970 Indy Nationals,,,,,

MYTH, MYSTERY or MISCONCEPTION

Ray Allen, 1970 Chevelle Malibu Convertible SS454/450HP LS-6
Briggs Chevrolet,,,,,
"Truppi-Kling Competition"

versus

Jack Werst, 1970 Superbird, 426/425HP Street Hemi
Bash Engine
"Philadelphia Region Plymouth Dealers Association"

False claims,,,,,,,that they never raced each other....

Ray Allen won the SS/EA Class at the 1970 Indy Nationals...
But, was eliminated in Super/Stock Eliminator.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

General Specifications:

1970 Chevelle Malibu Convertible SS454/450 HP LS-6
Car Weight; 3734 lbs.,,(with T/H automatic transmission)
Horsepower; NHRA re-factored to 465HP
Car weight/horsepower factor = 8.03

1970 Plymouth Superbird 426/425HP Street Hemi
Car Weight; 3837 lbs.
Horsepower; NHRA re-factored to 465HP
Car weight/horsepower factor = 8.25

NHRA 1970 SS/EA Class = (8.00 - 8.49 wt/hp)

pc

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

SS/EA Class

General Information for 1970

John Tedder won the SS/EA Class at;
* Winternationals
* Gatornationals
* Springnationals

John Tedder ran a 1969 Plymouth GTX Convertible 426 Street Hemi.

Ray Allen set the SS/EA Class record during the year with an 11.33 elapsed time.

Dick Landy re-set the SS/EA Class record with an 11.27 elapsed time,
with his 1970 Charger R/T Street Hemi.

The 5-year rule was in place for the 1970 Super/Stock Class. So the
1964 and earlier Max-Wedge cars could not compete in Super Stock. (SS/EA)

pc

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Paul, I see you're a real historian of the 60's (and early 70's) factory's top offerings.

I was at the Gator's one year in the early 70's and saw the blue '71 Corvette LS6 (can't believe I can't remember his name) in SS/DA class elim. Also a Truppi-Kling car. There was a bunch of Chyrsler engineers there and a bunch of Mopar street hemi entries there. The Corvette pulled away from every Chrysler that he ran and won class. SS/DA was one of the most popular classes back then.

Right after that the Corvette was moved into SS/CA.

Gosh, I wish we could go back to those times. But I guess the new factory entries are where it's at now.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

[QUOTE=Bobby Zlatkin;272542]Paul, I see you're a real historian of the 60's (and early 70's) factory's top offerings.

I was at the Gator's one year in the early 70's and saw the blue '71 Corvette LS6 (can't believe I can't remember his name) in SS/DA class elim. Also a Truppi-Kling car. There was a bunch of Chyrsler engineers there and a bunch of Mopar street hemi entries there. The Corvette pulled away from every Chrysler that he ran and won class. SS/DA was one of the most popular classes back then.

Right after that the Corvette was moved into SS/CA.QUOTE]

I recall Bernie Agaman breaking half shafts a lot and getting bigger tubes each time, same guy?

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

That was Bernie Agaman at the gators in 1976 he broke a half shaft. He was running SS/CA by then that was a fast car.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Yes, Bernie Agaman. I drew a blank on that.

I'm sure that had a lot to do with NHRA finally allowing Corvettes to use solid axles.

We had a customer with a '79 stock Corvette that we installed a crate LS6 into (You used to be able to buy them in the late '80's for around $2,500). Turbo 350 trans, stock torque converter & 3.55 gears. Every couple of weeks he'd bring by his lastest half shaft failure, that he'd twisted like a pretzel, to show us. Of course he drove it like an animal.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Ralph used to dig thru the class guide book looking for combos that sat right on the class weight break.....

The Chevelle was an example......and it had some favorable engine specs..... and I think the LS-6's still do....

I can't recall ever seeing an open chamber head with the CC's they are listed at form the factory.....

( We machined a number of sets for Ralph some years after the Chevelle where I worked)


Those early days of SS racing were great

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

I wonder how long Bernie ran that Corvette? I recall seeing it at the 1975 NHRA World Finals at Ontario Motor Speedway in California, so I know he ran it for a few seasons. It was an impressive piece alright.
Danny Durham

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

So, who drove the superbird since Jack drove a A Cuda at Indy?

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

I know after he sold the vette he ran a monza in pro stock then ran it in comp for sometime. The monza was 79 or 80 if I remember after that I thing he retire may be of on the year was a long time ago. But Rich was right S/S was the best back then glad I was there to see it.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Is anyone else out there,,,,,,,,under the impression that
Chrysler Performance and the Regional Zone Performance Managers
put out misinformation on Jack Werst's 'special' Superbird,,,,,,,,,,
to try and 'psyche out' Ray Allen,,,,,,at the 1970 Indy Nationals.

1970 SS/EA National Record was 11.55 (set by Ray Allen).

Ray Allen won the SS/EA Class at the Indy Nationals (with an 11.37 in the Class Final)

It was reset at the 1970 Supernationals (November in Ontario, California)
by Ray Allen with an 11.33, in defeating Tom Crutchfield in the Super Stock Eliminator Finals.

Dick Landy later ran an 11.27 with his 1970 Charger R./T Street Hemi, to reclaim the
National Record for Mopar.

At the 1971 NHRA Winternationals,,,,,Ray Allen's car had put together several
11.10 runs,,,,,,though he was defeated in Super Stock Eliminator.

In 1970 NHRA Classes

The 1970 Chevelle Malibu SS454/450HP LS-6 convertible with a T/H Automatic
could also run in B/SA.
The 1970 Chevelle Malibu SS454/450HP LS-6 convertible with a 4-speed
could run in SS/D or A/S.

The 1970 Superbird Hemi could run in Super/Stock,,,SS/E or SS/EA
The 1970 Superbird Hemi could also run in Stock,,,,,,,C/S or C/SA
The 1970 Superbird Hemi could also run in M/P,,,,,,,,,,C/MP

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

I do know that Ray Allen beat Lambeck in the finals of Indy class cause we lost to Bob in the semi's with our Nova

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Nitro Joe,,,,,,,

Did Jack Werst get eliminated early with the Superbird,,,,,,,
And John Tedder,,,,with the 69' GTX Hemi convertible,,,,,,,where was he during the class run-offs..........???

SS/EA record of 11.55 at Indy 1970,,,,,,,,,,,,,,'a bit soft'

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Our pictures from 1970 & 71 INDY

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

I believe another Corvette out of the Truppi-Kling barn was driven by Claude Urevig. May have been the same 71.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Claude,s car diff car, Bernie's car went to TN

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

The Werst car was there to put Ray out in class so the Mopars would get the class, that car red lit to keep from going to tare down because it had a bougs engine. This was well documented in a story a couple of years ago.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

I did the lettering for Jack Werst's Nostalgia S/S cars in the 80's and 90's. During that period we struck up a friendship and spoke a number of times about the the racing in the 60's and 70's. Jack recounted the story about the Superbird. It was built to go after the non-Chrysler cars in SS/EA - specifically the Chevys. Jack has specific direction from Chrysler to take out the fast Chevies - but not win class. It had a BIG Hemi in it. And after Ray Allen redlighted in round 1, JAck did the same and quickly loaded the car and left Indy before anyone could lodge a protest. As noted above, the story of Jack and the Superbird has showed up in print within the last 2 years.

Here is link to the story.
http://www.dragracingonline.com/feat...perbird-c.html

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Bob
Didn't Claudes car go to canada?

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Dennis, I believe so...Ollie Stephan has it now (as far as I know, or has one of the two, Bernie or Claude's)) and runs it in SS/BA.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Claude's Corvette is the Ollie Stephan car as far as I know.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Thanks Mike and Mark I thought so.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Great article on Werst and Chrysler! Thanks Mike. Jim

.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Mark is correct

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

I believe that Bernie's car went to Butch Williams and then it went to Brandon Wilkinson in KY? I believe that is it. I think it is the BA car not the AA car.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Yes, I know for a fact it went to Butch Williams, don't know after that. Jim

.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Something isn't 'copacetic',,,,,,,,,,

Ray Allen won the SS/EA Class at the 1970 Indy Nationals,,,,,,,

If he red-lighted,,,,,,,,,,,how did he win the SS/EA Class....

I know articles have been printed,,,,,,,but,,,,,,,,,,????

pc

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/43...600x600Q85.jpg

Ray Allen,,,,,,,,,,,SS/EA Class Winners Circle, 1970 Indy Nationals

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

I believe that when Ray red lighted the Jack Werst Super Bird didnt show for tear down so Ray was awarded the class win after tearing down. The Super Bird was so bogus it would have never passed anyway. Large motor, altered wheelbase, serious amount of weight located in the rear wing struts, and other areas in the rear, etc.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

I don't actually have any memory of who won but I can tell you my memory of Ray as a driver is that he would not have been intimidated in any way by the Chrysler crap that they were up to according to some of what I read here...

Ray was a very good driver and could get in any car and make as good a run as any driver who previously ran the car. He was as COOL as the come.......No doubt about it. If he stayed in the sport he would have done very well IMHO..Ralph also thought Ray was the best driver and thats why he was behind the wheel!

This story seems to really "smack" of how ChryslerCorp would stoop to any means to portray their cars as being dominant.....

Get in your time machine and fast forward from 1970 to 2010-2011

Looks to me like it's now "legal cheating" out there in todays racing.....

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Rich,,,,,,

I'm not saying Ray Allen would have been intimidated,,,,,,,,,

But maybe Chrysler was just trying any means to try to get an edge,,,,,,

One thing that I can't figure out,,,,,
if Ray Allen and Jack Werst were running against each other in
the SS/EA class final,,,,,,,,,,,,
you would think Jack Werst would purposely foul,,,,,,,or run a slow E.T.
or just not show up, claiming a damaged car for the Class Final.

pc

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/a...cars69/agn.jpg

Jack Werst at Atco,,,,,,,,,,,sometime in 1970,,,,,,,,before the Indy Nationals.
A 10.49 run,,,,,,,,,,,,,with the stroked Hemi '512 cubes',,,,,,,,?????

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Chryslers claim, that the 1970 Chevelle Malibu SS454 convertible
did not exist,,,,,,,as a regular production order car........

Or, that 50 were not built,,,,,,,,,

First release date of the 1970 Chevelle Malibu SS454 (LS-6)
December 1969,,,,,,,,but as a 'coupe only'.

Approximately, 3840 coupes were built, as part of 'normal production'.

The hardtop coupe, would qualify for the NHRA Super Stock
SS/D and SS/DA Class, or A/S and A/SA (Stock Class).

Approximately, 95 convertibles with the T-H automatic were built.
The convertible automatics would qualify for NHRA Super Stock
SS/EA Class, or B/SA (Stock Class).

Super Stock and Drag Racing Illustrated printed an article of its
first testing of the car,,,,in FEBRUARY 1970,,,,,,Magazine article was
released for MAY 1970.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

I'm not a GM guy but I heard that there were 17 units built (from old sources) of the1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 convertibles total built...and I don't know when the first production of them were first built, but I am curious if they were legal according to NHRA rules, (50 units)...ooooh, it looks like someones here is stirring the pot a little bit, lol. :D

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

The fact is that anyone in the country could walk in any chevy dealer in the country and order a 1970 LS 6 convertible. As long as you could pay for it.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

the rule was 50 units or showroom available to the general public.

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

What was the price back then $3-4 grand?
Lot of money back then ....(at least for me) making $30 bucks a week @ Rich's drive - in...

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dodgede...n/photostream/

John Tedder's 1969 GTX Hemi convertible was the top SS/EA
car in early 1970,,,,,,,

John won the SS/EA class at the;
70' Winternationals
70' Gatornationals
70' Springnationals

John was also the Super Stock Eliminator Runner-Up at the 70' Gatornationals.

There is a link above to view the 69' GTX convertible.
Car painted blue front with a white back.
The front half of the convertible top was painted black, and the back half white.

pc

Re: Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'
 

Vernon Riley out of Baltimore, Md. ran a red and white SS/E stick shift version back in 1969.