Original hemi dart information

[Bill Rolik]

OK.

You talked me into it.

I will throw the Bowtie guys another "bone".

Here is what was called "The Grump Group".

With myself at 20 years old, and seeing this act for the first time, that rig looked like it was 100 feet long.

SS/C and B/G for The Grump. SS/C for Dave Strickler.

Just to the right of the two gentlemen behind the B/G car, you can see Stein's original 63 black Max Wedge.



Bill Rolik

SS 1514

[Bill Rolik]

Here is one more shot of the McJury car.

Nice white wheels, which were more popular at the time than you might think. An extra pair of Keystones actually cost MONEY.



Bill Rolik

SS 1514

[Bill Rolik]

Finally, another photo of the Castaldo car about ready to make it happen. At The Patch, it is always better go now before the dew rolls in.

In front of the Dart is Lou Cuviello's Special Delivery 1 Sedan Delivery.

Enjoy!



Bill Rolik

SS 1514

[flintstonecharger]

Hello,was joe Pateli's car ever connected with Hamden Dodge Hemi Dart?? Bob Ramstrom, Worcester Mass. also had Hemi Dart he bought new from Mr. Norms once sponsored by Natick Dodge.Brignolo bought his car at same time when Ramstrom bought his,was told they went together to pick up both cars,what a shopping experience that must have been!I think Ed Miller may still have Ramstrom's car with 71 updated nose and tail end,,Brignolo still has his car! Pretty sure Gene O'Neill's car now owned by canadien collector Dave Mcdade,not 100% sure but very possible.I would side with the Vignogna crew on IDing Darryl's Dart regardless of the floor repair issue,there are lots of metal magicians out there that can stitch/hammerweld and finish of repairs undetectable,I am sure Tim Hennessy remembers what repairs were needed during restoration,check with him?

[Paul Ceasrine]

Bill,
Good Hemi hunting!
The Centalanzo Brothers Cuda is still a mystery. I remember a SS/A car, that I think they had for a very short time. Can't close in on the year though. They had the 67' "RO" Hemi Belvedere SS/DA for 68' and 69',
and maybe early 70'. Then a brief interuption. Then into a 71' Cuda
Hemi convertible, with the added weight it fell into SS/E. Too much torque for the weight. "Parts Go Boom" Spent more time on the
trailer or up on the jacks at Dover, than down the track.
Flashback; July 1968. My father and I drove up to Mountain Garage, Highland Falls, NY, to buy a set of 6" wide x 14" Goodyear slicks from
Lou and Tony Centalanzo, for our Cuda. Still mounted on 14" steel rims
(4" bolt pattern), from a 273 Valiant that they used to run. The 67' "RO"
was in the garage (back bay). My first experience actually touching a
Hemi car ...IT BIT ME (The racing bug!)

Paul (OH, 68 Cuda, "Updyke & Thomas". Tyronne, Pa.)

[W J]

Don't let this thread fade into the sunset.......lots of priceless info here....WJ

[Paul Ceasrine]

W J
Will try to kepp it flying.
(Part 1) Northeast 68' Factory Hemi Darts,

1) Bill Flynn, "Yankee Peddler", New Haven, CT. (SS/B) Sponsored by
The New York Dodge Dealers (Yes, New York) Got a sweetheart
sponsorship deal. Ran at sponsored NHRA-events and Match-race
events primarily. Not too much general local scene-stuff. Ran at
68' Super Stock Magazine Nationals (NY National). Ran 10.40 and
qualified #1 in SS/B class. (Eventual winner, Ed Miller, SS/B Cuda
from Syracuse). Ran at Super Stock Magazine Nationals at York, PA
in 69' and 70'. Car may have last run in S/S in 71', at York.

2) Joseph Pateli (Patelli/Patelle). Springfield, Mass. (SS/BA). Car was
black or dark-blue? "Deb's Automotive" was lettered on the front
fenders. Deb's Automotive Machine was owned by Carl Debien. The
machine shop was in Springfield, Mass. Also had speed shop stores
in Connecticut. (Hartford, Milford and Stafford/Rockville). Car ran
an 11.20 @ 125. Possibly at Orange Dragstrip, Fitchburg, Mass.
Which was open until 1970. Or ran it at Connecticut. The Deb's
group also ran at Les Cadres Drag Strip, Quebec, Canada. The Dart
may have been there, also at Lebanon Valley. Question in mind,
this car may have been the Hampden Dodge sponsored car.
Hampden is only 15 minutes outside of Springfield. Some of the
sales reps at Van Norman Tooling, Springfield, Mass. may have had
their hands on this car, back in 69' or 70'.

More to come,

[W J]

Deb's also had a real hot C/MP blk/white '55 Chevy owned/driven by Raloh Ridgeway....a Nat. Record holding multi-Nat event winner......BTW Orange Dragstrip was located at the still-operating Orange Airport, where sport parachuting is still very big----just like it was when we were racing there back in the day....Good info Paul.....keep going! WJ

[Paul Ceasrine]

[quote=Paul Ceasrine;141454]W J
Will try to kepp it flying.
(Part 1) Northeast 68' Factory Hemi Darts,

1) Bill Flynn, "Yankee Peddler", New Haven, CT. (SS/B) Sponsored by
The New York Dodge Dealers (Yes, New York) Got a sweetheart
sponsorship deal. Ran at sponsored NHRA-events and Match-race
events primarily. Not too much general local scene-stuff. Ran at
68' Super Stock Magazine Nationals (NY National). Ran 10.40 and
qualified #1 in SS/B class. (Eventual winner, Ed Miller, SS/B Cuda
from Syracuse). Ran at Super Stock Magazine Nationals at York, PA
in 69' and 70'. Car may have last run in S/S in 71', at York.

2) Joseph Pateli (Patelli/Patelle). Springfield, Mass. (SS/BA). Car was
black or dark-blue? "Deb's Automotive" was lettered on the front
fenders. Deb's Automotive Machine was owned by Carl Debien. The
machine shop was in Springfield, Mass. Also had speed shop stores
in Connecticut. (Hartford, Milford and Stafford/Rockville). Car ran
an 11.20 @ 125. Possibly at Orange Dragstrip, Fitchburg, Mass.
Which was open until 1970. Or ran it at Connecticut. The Deb's
group also ran at Les Cadres Drag Strip, Quebec, Canada. The Dart
may have been there, also at Lebanon Valley. Question in mind,
this car may have been the Hampden Dodge sponsored car.
Hampden Dodge was located on State Street. Some of the
sales reps at Van Norman Tooling, Springfield, Mass. may have had
their hands on this car, back in 69' or 70'.
An old Springfield-Union newspaper stated that Joe Pateli won a
Super Stock Eliminator event, running 11.20's. Sound correct for
late 68'.

More to come,

Paul

[Paul Ceasrine]

OK, W J
Hope the parachute opens. Nose first is always the best way to go.

3) Gene O'Neill, Worcester, Mass. (SS/B)
The hardest one to find info on.
Maybe the Natick Dodge car. Natick Dodge, (Worcester Road),
(Route 9?), Natick. Whats that about 20-minutes west of Boston?
Possible Canadien-connection to car collector Dave McDade.
Don't think this car made it Dover or New York National.

4) Bob Ramstrom, Worcester, Mass. (SS/BA)
Another possible Natick Dodge Mystery.
Possible Mr. Norms' dealership-broker deal.
A little back history. Bob Ramstrom ran an original 65' Dodge S/SA
factory Hemi car (1 of the original 110). Name, "BloodHound"
Sponsored by; Yates Dodge, Park Avenue, Worcester, Mass.

5) Chick Brignolo, "PlayThing", Norton, Mass. (SS/B)
Possibly Connecticut-based at one time. Chassis/Frame specialist.
Possible Mr. Norm's dealership-broker deal.
Ran 11.00 @ 127.03 (1969), New England Dragway
Ran 10.61 @ 126.40 (1969), New England Dragway

Paul, The Hits Will Keep Coming