Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers

oldskool · 12-31-2019, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Jones

Sal originally built that car in a tiny one car garage in Bridgeport, Ct. Did the chassis himself. He was a sharp dude, who put together a Chevy powered Top Fuel dragster for himself, before the Super Stocker.
MJ

Are you talkin about Sal Biondo, OR ?

Mike Jones · 12-31-2019, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldskool

Are you talkin about Sal Biondo, OR ?

Sal Piacentini. Some guy named Phillip Monteith was his friend and might have had some influence on the project

oldskool · 12-31-2019, 01:58 PM

OK, from what I've recently found online, The Ken Shawver '78 SS Bird may have been the most competitive Pontiac SS Bird, over a long period of time.

Don't know how many wins it had. But it won class at Indy, many times. Monte Howard was the driver for some of those years.

I mentioned some of this earlier. But I think this car deserves a closer look. Maybe some of you guys can post about races you know that the car won.

So, Ken made the Indy field in '98, '99, & 2000. But he was in the lower half of the field. Didn't see him on the list in '01. But, in '02, he'd apparently come up with more power. He was #38, @ 1.014 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop

In '03 he was 1.089 under for spot #14.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2003#indextop

In '04, he was #25 @ 1.102 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop

He was also the SS/LA winner.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop

AND, how 'bout this. In '05, he was #1 qualifier at Indy ! Let that sink in ! A 1978 Pontiac powered Firebird was the #1 qualifier at Indy. WOW !

He was 1.254 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop

And of course, he won his class.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop

In '06 he was #4 @ 1.192 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop

Won SS/KA, again.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop

In '07, Monte Howard was driving. he was #29 @ 1.118 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2007#indextop

Got the SS/KA win.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2007#indextop

In '08, Monte was #24 @ 1.100 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop

In '09 he was #92 @ 1.075 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2009#indextop

In both '08 & '09 there were 2 quicker cars in his class. But here's a quote fro this year's 1st round loss:

"Big, long wheelstand for Howard. Hodge runs him down on the big end."

In 2010, he was #95, @ only .765 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2010#indextop

But he won SS/KA.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2010#indextop

In 2011, he was #98 @ .718 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2011#indextop

In 2012, he was #103 @ .794 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2012#indextop

So, over a 15 year period, the car made the field at almost every US Nats, had 5 class wins, and was #1 qualifier once.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2012#indextop

Until this thread, I'd never even heard of this car. Now, it MAY end up being on the top of my list, as the #1 hall of fame SS Pontiac. Hey, I'm glad I came !

Of course, there are other cars to consider. But if this car won lots of races & qualified near the top of lots of qualifying lists, it may be #1. Peter Biondo was a very good driver, & won lots of races. But, the Shawver/Howard car ran for a long time. May still be running. Don't know. Also don't know if it qualified at Indy before 1998.

So, I'd like you guys to help me dig up all the info you can on this car. Lets try to give it the recognition it deserves.

The pic below is what I have for Monte Howard. If this is not the car I've been talkin about in this post, somebody let me know.

coolcanman · 12-31-2019, 03:45 PM

Same car Jack Good has it now still running div3

oldskool · 12-31-2019, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolcanman

Same car Jack Good has it now still running div3

Thanks !

jmcarter · 01-01-2020, 07:42 PM

They have posted on of the NHRA Live features on sportsman racers and Art’s 68 GTO is the latest one. Have never seen the car in person and it’s amazing, cool story as well. Go to the NHRA Facebook page...

Mark Yacavone · 01-01-2020, 09:42 PM

Dare I mention Kathy's Clown II and Larry Nelson's T 1000 sport compacts?
Might have to change the thread title ;-)

oldskool · 01-02-2020, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmcarter

They have posted on of the NHRA Live features on sportsman racers and Art’s 68 GTO is the latest one. Have never seen the car in person and it’s amazing, cool story as well. Go to the NHRA Facebook page...

THANKS for sharing that !

Since I started with a '69 GTO, this is one of the coolest videos I've ever seen !

I've posted it to my FB page.

Here's a link for those who wanna watch it.

https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/att...__tn__=%2ANK-R

oldskool · 01-02-2020, 05:50 PM

OK, I said I'd try to dig up some more info on the Ken Shawver '78 T/A. Since we found from the Indy files that the performance really improved in '02, I decided to start there.

1st race I pulled up was the nat event near Chicago. And, there he was, at #28 on the Q-list @ .789 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop

How 'bout the Pontiac Excitement Nats ? !!!

Ken was #32 @ .689 under. Peter Biondo was #41. I assume he was in the Hatari 4th gen, when it still had a 400. And Sal Biondo was listed #35, in a '91 GT car . I assume it also had Pontiac power, or did it ?

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop

At the Craftsman Nats, he was #24 @ .913 under. Peter Biondo was #28 @ .881 under, & was RU at the race. At the time, it said Peter had won 19 nat events. Don't know how many were with Pontiac power, or in what classes.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop

Ken had his new found power for this race. He was #16 @ 1.055 under. Peter Biondo was #65 @ .868 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2003#indextop

At the '04 Pontiac Excitment nats, he was #11 @ 1.040 under. Peter Biondo was #33 @ .853 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop

Also noticed that there were 6 Pontiac Stockers at this race, & Sal Biondo was RU.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop

Peter Biondo got RU in SS.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop

That's all I could find for Ken in '04.

oldskool · 01-03-2020, 12:45 PM

I began lookin for Ken, in 2005, at the Pontiac Performance Nats. No SS.

But I took a peak at Stock.

Don Holmes was #1 @ -1.210. Fitting, I thought, because of the event name.

Paul Dilcher was #8 @ -1.044. Kyle Riley was #13 @ -1.001. Dave Edwards was #15 @ - .962. Tim Gillespie was #23 @ - .888. Sal Biondo was #30 @ - .843.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop

At the Carquest Nats, Ken was #10 @ - .968. Peter Biondo was #47 @ - .552.

At the Jeg's Sports Nats, Ken was #10 @ -1.072. Peter Biondo was #61 @ - .897.

Peter won.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop

At the '06 Carquest Nats, Ken was #2 @ - 1.098. Peter was #18 @ -.938. Bobby Rashid is listed with a '68 Bird. But it's running GT/CA, so I assume it has a BBC engine

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop

This is a good time to say this. And I'll probably repeat it occasionally. For most of the GT cars, I have no way of knowing what engine they have. So, if you guys see a Pontiac powered GT car that I leave out, please post that info. I need all the help I can get, especially with names & cars I'm not familiar with.

01-01-2020, 09:42 PM	#7
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,807 Likes: 2,897 Liked 5,109 Times in 1,947 Posts	Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers Dare I mention Kathy's Clown II and Larry Nelson's T 1000 sport compacts? Might have to change the thread title ;-) __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

12-31-2019, 01:58 PM	#3
oldskool VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: The Land of Bayous, Boudin & Crawfish Posts: 1,668 Likes: 223 Liked 747 Times in 362 Posts	Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers OK, from what I've recently found online, The Ken Shawver '78 SS Bird may have been the most competitive Pontiac SS Bird, over a long period of time. Don't know how many wins it had. But it won class at Indy, many times. Monte Howard was the driver for some of those years. I mentioned some of this earlier. But I think this car deserves a closer look. Maybe some of you guys can post about races you know that the car won. So, Ken made the Indy field in '98, '99, & 2000. But he was in the lower half of the field. Didn't see him on the list in '01. But, in '02, he'd apparently come up with more power. He was #38, @ 1.014 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop In '03 he was 1.089 under for spot #14. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2003#indextop In '04, he was #25 @ 1.102 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop He was also the SS/LA winner. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop AND, how 'bout this. In '05, he was #1 qualifier at Indy ! Let that sink in ! A 1978 Pontiac powered Firebird was the #1 qualifier at Indy. WOW ! He was 1.254 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop And of course, he won his class. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop In '06 he was #4 @ 1.192 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop Won SS/KA, again. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop In '07, Monte Howard was driving. he was #29 @ 1.118 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2007#indextop Got the SS/KA win. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2007#indextop In '08, Monte was #24 @ 1.100 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop In '09 he was #92 @ 1.075 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2009#indextop In both '08 & '09 there were 2 quicker cars in his class. But here's a quote fro this year's 1st round loss: "Big, long wheelstand for Howard. Hodge runs him down on the big end." In 2010, he was #95, @ only .765 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2010#indextop But he won SS/KA. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2010#indextop In 2011, he was #98 @ .718 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2011#indextop In 2012, he was #103 @ .794 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2012#indextop So, over a 15 year period, the car made the field at almost every US Nats, had 5 class wins, and was #1 qualifier once. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2012#indextop Until this thread, I'd never even heard of this car. Now, it MAY end up being on the top of my list, as the #1 hall of fame SS Pontiac. Hey, I'm glad I came ! Of course, there are other cars to consider. But if this car won lots of races & qualified near the top of lots of qualifying lists, it may be #1. Peter Biondo was a very good driver, & won lots of races. But, the Shawver/Howard car ran for a long time. May still be running. Don't know. Also don't know if it qualified at Indy before 1998. So, I'd like you guys to help me dig up all the info you can on this car. Lets try to give it the recognition it deserves. The pic below is what I have for Monte Howard. If this is not the car I've been talkin about in this post, somebody let me know. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by oldskool; 12-31-2019 at 02:01 PM.

12-31-2019, 03:45 PM	#4
coolcanman Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 34 Likes: 1 Liked 20 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers Same car Jack Good has it now still running div3

01-01-2020, 07:42 PM	#6
jmcarter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Richmond Hill GA (and Port Ludlow WA) Posts: 4,293 Likes: 2,364 Liked 3,165 Times in 969 Posts	Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers They have posted on of the NHRA Live features on sportsman racers and Art’s 68 GTO is the latest one. Have never seen the car in person and it’s amazing, cool story as well. Go to the NHRA Facebook page... __________________ Jim Carter 2340 Super Stock 2340 SST/2340 Stock Set another place at the table

01-02-2020, 05:50 PM	#9
oldskool VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: The Land of Bayous, Boudin & Crawfish Posts: 1,668 Likes: 223 Liked 747 Times in 362 Posts	Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers OK, I said I'd try to dig up some more info on the Ken Shawver '78 T/A. Since we found from the Indy files that the performance really improved in '02, I decided to start there. 1st race I pulled up was the nat event near Chicago. And, there he was, at #28 on the Q-list @ .789 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop How 'bout the Pontiac Excitement Nats ? !!! Ken was #32 @ .689 under. Peter Biondo was #41. I assume he was in the Hatari 4th gen, when it still had a 400. And Sal Biondo was listed #35, in a '91 GT car . I assume it also had Pontiac power, or did it ? https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop At the Craftsman Nats, he was #24 @ .913 under. Peter Biondo was #28 @ .881 under, & was RU at the race. At the time, it said Peter had won 19 nat events. Don't know how many were with Pontiac power, or in what classes. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2002#indextop Ken had his new found power for this race. He was #16 @ 1.055 under. Peter Biondo was #65 @ .868 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2003#indextop At the '04 Pontiac Excitment nats, he was #11 @ 1.040 under. Peter Biondo was #33 @ .853 under. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop Also noticed that there were 6 Pontiac Stockers at this race, & Sal Biondo was RU. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop Peter Biondo got RU in SS. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop That's all I could find for Ken in '04. Last edited by oldskool; 01-03-2020 at 11:30 AM.

01-03-2020, 12:45 PM	#10
oldskool VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: The Land of Bayous, Boudin & Crawfish Posts: 1,668 Likes: 223 Liked 747 Times in 362 Posts	Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers I began lookin for Ken, in 2005, at the Pontiac Performance Nats. No SS. But I took a peak at Stock. Don Holmes was #1 @ -1.210. Fitting, I thought, because of the event name. Paul Dilcher was #8 @ -1.044. Kyle Riley was #13 @ -1.001. Dave Edwards was #15 @ - .962. Tim Gillespie was #23 @ - .888. Sal Biondo was #30 @ - .843. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop At the Carquest Nats, Ken was #10 @ - .968. Peter Biondo was #47 @ - .552. At the Jeg's Sports Nats, Ken was #10 @ -1.072. Peter Biondo was #61 @ - .897. Peter won. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop At the '06 Carquest Nats, Ken was #2 @ - 1.098. Peter was #18 @ -.938. Bobby Rashid is listed with a '68 Bird. But it's running GT/CA, so I assume it has a BBC engine https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2006#indextop This is a good time to say this. And I'll probably repeat it occasionally. For most of the GT cars, I have no way of knowing what engine they have. So, if you guys see a Pontiac powered GT car that I leave out, please post that info. I need all the help I can get, especially with names & cars I'm not familiar with. Last edited by oldskool; 01-03-2020 at 11:05 PM.