A Little History To Introduce Myself

Dibbons · 12-13-2019, 06:00 PM

This is my first post. I was bracket racing 1971-1980 at Fremont Raceway. I began as a teen with my parents new 1971 383 auto Road Runner with 3.23 open differential and the G60-15 Polyglas factory tires. Very low 15's. First time out (mom and sis in the grandstand) I won an "amateur" first class trophy. Beginner's luck? i didn't really know what I was doing, but I guess neither did my competition. Rules stipulated that anyone winning the amateur trophy was bumped up to the regular brackets so the rookies could continue to battle it out among themselves.

After the Road Runner was sold, I purchased my very own first vehicle for $125.00 which was a four-door 1965 Plymouth Valiant 273 auto with a burned exhaust valve. I installed an 8 3l4 sure grip from a wrecking yard '70 Challenger (installed 4.56 gears). I swapped in an A833 four-speed from a '64 Barracuda parts car. Then I built up the 273 at a Community College Auto Technology class I signed up for. Best ET with 10 inch slicks was 12.72 at 108 MPH. I painted it Cadillac Terra Cotta Firemist. The only thing of note bracket racing wise was the time I was awarded a $10.00 bonus at the track on a Sunday for having run two identical ET's back-to-back. That was weird and a surprise cash award-probably enough for a tank of gas back then.

In 1980 I sold the "Valiant Effort" to the Renteria Brothers (Morgan Hill) who got it to run in the 8.00 second bracket. They painted it black and later sold it circa 2000 to Kenny Moorhead.

Presently, I have my own private drag strip about one kilometer behind my house. It was abandoned years ago and is 1/8 mile paved asphalt with a concrete starting line. Anyone can go out there to this remote desert location and run their own vehicle. A local kid that was flagging the cars at the starting line one night was run over and killed by some idiot that made a u-turn after a race and came back and killed 'em by accident.

I am currently restoring three Plymouths: 1965 Barracuda Formula S (with A/C, PS, PB), 1965 Valiant Signet Convertible (no power anything), and a 1972 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus (now Bahama Yellow just like my parents new special order '71 Road Runner back in the day). Thank you.

https://classracer.com/classforum/at...1&d=1576274143

https://classracer.com/classforum/at...1&d=1576274143

https://classracer.com/classforum/at...1&d=1576274811

https://classracer.com/classforum/at...1&d=1576275084

https://classracer.com/classforum/at...1&d=1576276017

Robbie Welch · 12-16-2019, 05:13 PM

Welcome to Classracer. Sounds like you had and have some cool rides. Robbie

cicero819 · 01-04-2020, 11:09 PM

Welcome and nice cars. Join us on Facebook at Bracket Racing end post your information and photos, Thanks

12-13-2019, 06:00 PM	#1
Dibbons Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 5 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 1 Post	A Little History To Introduce Myself This is my first post. I was bracket racing 1971-1980 at Fremont Raceway. I began as a teen with my parents new 1971 383 auto Road Runner with 3.23 open differential and the G60-15 Polyglas factory tires. Very low 15's. First time out (mom and sis in the grandstand) I won an "amateur" first class trophy. Beginner's luck? i didn't really know what I was doing, but I guess neither did my competition. Rules stipulated that anyone winning the amateur trophy was bumped up to the regular brackets so the rookies could continue to battle it out among themselves. After the Road Runner was sold, I purchased my very own first vehicle for $125.00 which was a four-door 1965 Plymouth Valiant 273 auto with a burned exhaust valve. I installed an 8 3l4 sure grip from a wrecking yard '70 Challenger (installed 4.56 gears). I swapped in an A833 four-speed from a '64 Barracuda parts car. Then I built up the 273 at a Community College Auto Technology class I signed up for. Best ET with 10 inch slicks was 12.72 at 108 MPH. I painted it Cadillac Terra Cotta Firemist. The only thing of note bracket racing wise was the time I was awarded a $10.00 bonus at the track on a Sunday for having run two identical ET's back-to-back. That was weird and a surprise cash award-probably enough for a tank of gas back then. In 1980 I sold the "Valiant Effort" to the Renteria Brothers (Morgan Hill) who got it to run in the 8.00 second bracket. They painted it black and later sold it circa 2000 to Kenny Moorhead. Presently, I have my own private drag strip about one kilometer behind my house. It was abandoned years ago and is 1/8 mile paved asphalt with a concrete starting line. Anyone can go out there to this remote desert location and run their own vehicle. A local kid that was flagging the cars at the starting line one night was run over and killed by some idiot that made a u-turn after a race and came back and killed 'em by accident. I am currently restoring three Plymouths: 1965 Barracuda Formula S (with A/C, PS, PB), 1965 Valiant Signet Convertible (no power anything), and a 1972 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus (now Bahama Yellow just like my parents new special order '71 Road Runner back in the day). Thank you. https://classracer.com/classforum/at...1&d=1576274143 https://classracer.com/classforum/at...1&d=1576274143 https://classracer.com/classforum/at...1&d=1576274811 https://classracer.com/classforum/at...1&d=1576275084 https://classracer.com/classforum/at...1&d=1576276017 Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Dibbons; 12-13-2019 at 06:27 PM.

12-16-2019, 05:13 PM	#2
Robbie Welch Live Reporter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Golden Beach Maryland Posts: 1,233 Likes: 53 Liked 262 Times in 124 Posts	Re: A Little History To Introduce Myself Welcome to Classracer. Sounds like you had and have some cool rides. Robbie

01-04-2020, 11:09 PM	#3
cicero819 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Aylmer Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,086 Likes: 31 Liked 68 Times in 29 Posts	Re: A Little History To Introduce Myself Welcome and nice cars. Join us on Facebook at Bracket Racing end post your information and photos, Thanks