Re: Manhattan Speed Parts '1968 Hemi Dart'
 

Could this of been a publicity race / magazine shoot for the Bill Mitchell Camaro camp?


Liteweight

Re: Manhattan Speed Parts '1968 Hemi Dart'
 

Daryl,


'Speed and Supercar Magazine'

They did a lot of articles with Motion Performance.

Primarily test runs at West Hampton Drag Strip {Suffolk County Raceway} where they had a good relationship with the Track Owner > Earl Grandell.

This photo shoot was in the December 1968 issue of
'Speed and Supercar', but usually the photo's were taken about
4 months before the publication date.

http://109.imagebam.com/download/gg0...Speed_Dart.jpg

Re: Manhattan Speed Parts '1968 Hemi Dart'
 

Paul
What track is that photo from? West Hampton?

liteweight

Re: Manhattan Speed Parts '1968 Hemi Dart'
 

Daryl,

There were '3' Drag Strips out on Long Island back then.
__________________________________________________

New York National Speedway {AHRA}
Center Moriches, Long Island, New York

New York National had '4-Lanes', and yellow-gold painted
guard rails on each side of the track.

The bleachers {on each side of the track} were also painted
with yellow-gold seat benches.

New York National Speedway was famous for their big red 'Announcer/Timing Tower'.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...evy/syc018.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...y/syc016-1.jpg






-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Westhampton Drag Strip {NHRA}
Old Country Road
Westhampton, Long Island, New York

Note; Changed name to Suffolk County Raceway {1969 thru 1973}

Most of the 'Test Racing' was done on Saturday @ 12.00 Noon.

A large water tower sat off to the right side of the drag strip.

The guard rails {on each side of the track {were painted white}
but the surface was worn and dirty.

The Telephone Poles were along the left side of the Track,
and had speakers and lights on them.

The Starter-Box at the Line was a white.

A white concession stand was to the left of the starting line,
of course outside the fenced area.


http://digital.quaysidepub.com/motor...air-iv-231.jpg




http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ORNeD86KOA...9+at+track.jpg


http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/r...ld/file002.jpg

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Islip Speedway {1/8 Mile Track}
Islip, New York

Islip Speedway had both a Circle Track and short 1/8 Mile
Dragstrip.

The Dragstrip was located adjacent to the Circle Track.

When you went down the Drag Strip, you went past the back
of the large Circle Track Grandstands which were along the
right side lane and the concession stands that were along the left
side lane.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...ily/Clip_7.gif


Starting Line




http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...5/img033-1.jpg

Re: Manhattan Speed Parts '1968 Hemi Dart'
 

Part I
The Manhattan, New York {LO23} Hemi Dart

As per Al Ripolla,

Pete M***** was a Mopar Street Racer from North Manhattan,
New York in 1966 and 1967.

He had a 1966 Dodge Charger {Dark Blue} with a 426 Street Hemi, that he bought new from the Dodge Dealership off West Fordham Road in the Bronx, New York.

Pete and Al were part of the Manhattan Street Racers club, that had several cars.

They had bought Speed Parts from;
* Bronx Speed Shop
* Flip's Speed Parts
* Manhattan Speed Parts

In 1966, Pete raced the 'street driven' Charger in 'A/Stock' at New York National Speedway, and out at Westhampton Drag Strip.

Al said it ran around 13.20's with;
* Hooker Headers
* 4.10 Gears
* A long-arm handle Hurst Shifter
* 7" Slicks.

Al said that Pete won about {8 to 10} Class Trophies
while running in A/Stock in 1966.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As per Al Ripolla,

In 1967, Pete only ran the Charger occassionally at the Drag Strip, as it was not that competitive {because it was too heavy} for Class.

* New York National Speedway {AHRA} > Formula 1 - A/Stock
* Westhampton Drag Strip {NHRA} > Super Stock - SS/C

Pete didn't want to make it a Track-only car, as he liked to
drive the Charger on the street.

In December 1967, Pete M***** was looking to swap {trade-in} the heavy 1966 Charger for a lighter and new model year
1968 B-Body '426 Steet Hemi'.

But he wanted to wait for the New York Auto Show {March 30
thru April 7} before making a deal.

Re: Manhattan Speed Parts '1968 Hemi Dart'
 

Part II

The Manhattan, New York - LO23 Dart

As per Al Ripolla,

Pete M***** was planning on attending the New York Auto Show
held at the New York Coliseum {March 30 thru April 7}.

He was planning on buying a new 1968 Dodge Super Bee with
a 426 Street Hemi.

A Super Bee {426 Street Hemi} was supposed to be on display
in the Dodge booth.

It was part of the 'Scat Pack Display', and Pete M***** had put
a pre-order in to get the Display Car from the New York Auto Show.

http://www.chicagoautoshow.com/asset...on/1968_15.jpg

Re: Manhattan Speed Parts '1968 Hemi Dart'
 

Paul

You have my full attention here. .............................................

liteweight

Re: Manhattan Speed Parts '1968 Hemi Dart'
 

Paul,

First of all, great detective work; Sherlock Holmes would be proud of you. :) I like the way you are keeping everyone in suspense by giving us the whole story in stages vs. one shot via a generic: "Hey Liteweight, I've finally found the name of the owner of the Manhattan Speed Parts Dart!", or something similarly unexciting (although that in itself would be cause for great excitement).

And the plot thickens... :)

Pete

Re: Manhattan Speed Parts '1968 Hemi Dart'
 

PETE!!!!! Welcome back from your hiatous. I echo your comments on Paul's detective work. Without him being there in the midst of the "action" & without his vast knowledge (And memory base), I'm sure I'd still be at the point of only knowing I got a similar dent on my car compared to a picture. And let's not forget his DESIRE to take the vast amount of time to do this.
Like you & MANY others I am patiently awaiting the outcome of this. BUT, NO ONE is more anticipated than me on this one. And it is killing me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think that now is the time to say, that my quest to find the COMPLETE ownership trail of this car WILL NOT end, even after we find out who this mysterious Pete M**** is. There is still alot of unaccounted for owners between that time period & the first KNOWN owner Lou Vignona that needs to be known. Above all is the Charlie Castaldo relationship. I just can't fiqure why this particular car just kinda fell off the planet for that time period.

liteweight

ps..... Hey Pete........... Are YOU that mysterious Pete M***** ????????...Jus askin'

Re: Manhattan Speed Parts '1968 Hemi Dart'
 

Part III

The Manhattan - LO23 Dart

According to Al Ripolla,

At the 1968 New York Auto Show {March 30 thru April 7} at the
New York Coliseum.

Pete M***** was upset about the 'new' 1968 Super Bee 426 Street Hemi on dislay, because he was told that he wasn't going to get it,
because it had been promised to some other 'preferred customer'.

Al said Pete flipped out, because he was under the impression that
he would get the Super Bee after the Show.

Pete didn't want to wait for another car.

Somebody at Dodge and a Chrysler Representative, approached Pete to calm him down.

Al said it was Bernie Mullins, the Public Relations Manager for Dodge,
and some other 'high honcho' called Crawford.

This is where Pete M***** was offered the opportunity to check
out a 'new' Super Stock Dodge Dart.

As per Al Ripolla >

At first, Pete wasn't really all that interested in a Hemi Dart, because he wanted the Super Bee.

But the Dodge Rep told Pete that they had a 'new' Super Stock Dart 'under wraps' at the Chrysler Service Center Garage on West 57th Street.