[Paul Ceasrine]

Originally Posted by Liteweight

Congrats on that Jim. good on ya!!. Keep us posted on availability.

Time to start up the Hemi Dart pic of the day again. The season's here, so's the fever. never seen this pic before. Anyone know the car?

liteweight

hemidartdave. so hows that ol hemi sounding?

Jim O'Connor

Started off in Chicago Illinois as a 'Chevy' man, and ran a 1962 Chevrolet Impala 409.

Jim ended up being the 'High Performance' Parts Manager at 'Nickey Chevrolet' in
Chicago from 1964 thru 1966.

Surprisingly, Jim also performed driving chores for Lenny Krause of
Grand-Spaulding Dodge in Chicago in 1965 and 1966.

Jim drove the 'Fuel Injected' 1965 Dodge Coronet 'Funny Car' for Mr. Norm's.

In late-1966, Jim then moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan to become a
Service Manager for a Pontiac Dealership.

In early-1967, Dale Berger {Grandson of Bill Berger} of 'Berger Chevrolet' in Grand Rapids, Michigan made an offer for Jim, to come join Berger Chevrolet in their new home at
2525 28th Street, and to run the 'new; High Performance Parts Department.

At the time, Berger Chevrolet was the #1 Chevrolet Dealer in Western Michigan.

Jim also campaigned a 1967 Corvette for 'Berger Chevrolet', called 'The Carouser'.
It was Berger Chevrolet's 'first' Race Car that they ever sponsored.

But, Jim's stay at Berger Chevrolet was 'short lived'.

In mid-1967, Jim moved again.

This time it was to 'Azzarello's Chevrolet' in Lowell, Michigan.

Jim then campaigned a 'new' 1967 Camaro SS 396 {396/375 HP} in
Sper Stock {SS/C}.

The 'Royal Plum' painted Camaro routinely ran 11.90's @ 117 MPH,
and was a dominant force in Super Stock at;
* US 131 Dragway ~ {Martin, Michigan}
* Milan Dragway ~ {Milan, Michigan}
* Great Lakes Dragway {Union Grove, Wisconsin}

But, in April 1968 >

Mopar 'came-a-knocking', and offered Jim a deal on a 1968 LO23
Dodge Dart 'Race Hemi' {Automatic} to run in SS/BA, as well as to become
a Service Manager at 'Earle Ike Dodge' in Inglewood, California.

Jim liked the 'deal', and went to the West Coast.