The Factory Experimental Cars

[Jimbo17]

This was a great era in drag racing history even though I always thought it was unfair that certain teams got parts the other teams could not get.

I know some will say it has always been done this way but it still sucked that certain teams had all the right high performance parts while other teams were trying to do the best they could do with what they had.

The other thing I never realized that back in the 60's many of the match races were fixed!!!!!!!!!

I had always wondered about this and if it went on but after reading some posts on another forum by drivers who matched raced for a living it appears that it was true.

Promoters told you in advance that if you wanted future bookings with them this is the way it works.

I still enjoyed watching all those match races for years.

Jimbo

[Hemi Moose]

Here's a couple before & after shots of Dick Landy's '65 A/FX Dodge...

[Hemi Moose]

A few more oldies of Bob Harrop's first '65 Dodge Coronet A/FX AWB...

[marfen]

re Harrop's gold car & looking backward; was probably backing up after the burnout thru the gold dust.

[Hemi Moose]

Originally Posted by Jimbo17

This was a great era in drag racing history even though I always thought it was unfair that certain teams got parts the other teams could not get.

I know some will say it has always been done this way but it still sucked that certain teams had all the right high performance parts while other teams were trying to do the best they could do with what they had.

The other thing I never realized that back in the 60's many of the match races were fixed!!!!!!!!!

I had always wondered about this and if it went on but after reading some posts on another forum by drivers who matched raced for a living it appears that it was true.

Promoters told you in advance that if you wanted future bookings with them this is the way it works.

I still enjoyed watching all those match races for years.

Jimbo

Jimbo,
I have heard some rumors about the early days in match racing as well but not quite like you have described it...and post some more photos or stories if you have any from back then.

Here's some early shots of Sox & Martins '65 A/FX Plymouth hardtop...also notice the Chrysler Pentastar on the doors, this was the cars first paint job.

[Jimbo17]

There is a post over on the Jalopy Journal and I must admit I forget the title of it but it was something that the guy kept writing every once and a while.

This guy really seemed to know just what he was talking about and he raced from Maine to Calif. in a funny car.

I believe at the time he lived in Texas and now lives in Florida and is retired.

He raced all of the top guys in funny car and A/FX at one time or another and his account of the way things were done in those days makes for some very interesting reading.

This guy posted for months telling story after story of how the promoters ran the shows and if you wanted to race in their shows you played by the rules or else you did not go on tour.

I loved this era of racing and I could not thing of a better time to be growing up.

I will try and find the tread and post it for to read.

Jimbo Nostalgic Racing Decals

[Hemi Moose]

A few more of Sox & Martin's '65 A/FX Plymouth hardtop called 'Paper Tiger' because it was acid dipped...notice the different hood & injection photos.

[Hemi Moose]

[DMann0825]

one of the photos shows the don grotheer,s rear wheel option---odd [different]chrome deal

[Hemi Moose]

Originally Posted by DMann0825

one of the photos shows the don grotheer,s rear wheel option---odd [different]chrome deal

Actually the Sox & Martin '65 A/FX Plymouth started out with several wheel combo's by looking at the old pics...white rims, black rims, chrome steelies, torque-thrusts, Keystone Klassic's, etc.