CLASS RACER FORUM - View Single Post - 1969 New York Match Race 'Hemi Dart vs. '427 Camaro'

Paul Ceasrine · 03-02-2013, 12:30 PM

Jeff = Inquiring Mind

Part 1

A lot of misinformation about this race, and mis-stated facts.. The original article is loaded with
wrong dates.

But after digging,

The Mutt Brothers (John Lyles 'money man') bought this car in the of the Summer of 1969,
(approximately, August 1969) not 1968 that has been stated in previous articles.

The Hemi Dart was owned by (Bryan Higgins and Ernie Krieg)) of S & K Speed Shop, located in
Lindenhurst, Long Island. They were one of the original list of 68' LO23 Super Stock purchasers of
the 4-Speed. In 1969, they decided to go the way of a 69' AMX Super Stocker, and eventually sold
the Hemi Dart in the 'Summer of 1969' to John Lyles.

Though an exact $ amount was hard to find, it appears that $6500 'cash' was good enough to make
the purchase fair to both parties.

John Lyles, with the help of 'J & B Automotive' (Benny Durham and Jessie Johnson) located on Beford Avenue
in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brookly - helped 'tweak' the Dart to still compete in SS/B during the
second-half of the 1969 racing Season out on Long Island.

Ronald Lyles (Mutt Brother) was the driver of the 4-Speed Slick-Shift Hemi. The Dart was run at New York
National Speedway (AHRA Track) and West Hampton Drag Strip (NHRA Track) out on Long Island.

The Hemi Dart had run some very good times out at West Hampton Drag Strip in 1969 (10.90's) - while
winning '3' Super Stock Eliminator Events, as well as '2' 'Runner-Ups'. The SS/B National Record
was 10.59 for SS/B at the time. The Dart was also involved in 'two' West Hampton Drag Strip sponsored
Match-Race Events with a 'Grumpy Jenkins' prepared Camaro.

But, the Hemi Dart was occassionally found at the JFK Airport extension at 150th Street and Conduit
Boulevard on 'selected weekend nights'.

On the 'street', the 'skinny' was that Ron Lyles was undefeated in 'Heads Up' {$500 A-Go-Go} races.

The word - nobody could beat the Hemi with Ron Lyles smashing the gears in the 4-Speed.

But, a few 'reliable observers' to these Street Races, witnessed the 'Hemi Dart' getting beat by a
65' GTO 'Gasser' from the Bronx, in a 'Heads Up' race.

And also, a 'red' 68' 427 L-88 'street driven' Corvette from Yonkers (sic; Yonkers Auto Body) that
ran (11.10's) - 'nipped' the Hemi Dart in a $1000 Race, but the Corvette was spotted 2-Car lengths.

03-02-2013, 12:30 PM	#4
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1969 New York Match Race 'Hemi Dart vs. '427 Camaro' Jeff = Inquiring Mind Part 1 A lot of misinformation about this race, and mis-stated facts.. The original article is loaded with wrong dates. But after digging, The Mutt Brothers (John Lyles 'money man') bought this car in the of the Summer of 1969, (approximately, August 1969) not 1968 that has been stated in previous articles. The Hemi Dart was owned by (Bryan Higgins and Ernie Krieg)) of S & K Speed Shop, located in Lindenhurst, Long Island. They were one of the original list of 68' LO23 Super Stock purchasers of the 4-Speed. In 1969, they decided to go the way of a 69' AMX Super Stocker, and eventually sold the Hemi Dart in the 'Summer of 1969' to John Lyles. Though an exact $ amount was hard to find, it appears that $6500 'cash' was good enough to make the purchase fair to both parties. John Lyles, with the help of 'J & B Automotive' (Benny Durham and Jessie Johnson) located on Beford Avenue in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brookly - helped 'tweak' the Dart to still compete in SS/B during the second-half of the 1969 racing Season out on Long Island. Ronald Lyles (Mutt Brother) was the driver of the 4-Speed Slick-Shift Hemi. The Dart was run at New York National Speedway (AHRA Track) and West Hampton Drag Strip (NHRA Track) out on Long Island. The Hemi Dart had run some very good times out at West Hampton Drag Strip in 1969 (10.90's) - while winning '3' Super Stock Eliminator Events, as well as '2' 'Runner-Ups'. The SS/B National Record was 10.59 for SS/B at the time. The Dart was also involved in 'two' West Hampton Drag Strip sponsored Match-Race Events with a 'Grumpy Jenkins' prepared Camaro. But, the Hemi Dart was occassionally found at the JFK Airport extension at 150th Street and Conduit Boulevard on 'selected weekend nights'. On the 'street', the 'skinny' was that Ron Lyles was undefeated in 'Heads Up' {$500 A-Go-Go} races. The word - nobody could beat the Hemi with Ron Lyles smashing the gears in the 4-Speed. But, a few 'reliable observers' to these Street Races, witnessed the 'Hemi Dart' getting beat by a 65' GTO 'Gasser' from the Bronx, in a 'Heads Up' race. And also, a 'red' 68' 427 L-88 'street driven' Corvette from Yonkers (sic; Yonkers Auto Body) that ran (11.10's) - 'nipped' the Hemi Dart in a $1000 Race, but the Corvette was spotted 2-Car lengths. Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 01-10-2015 at 12:36 PM.