Who has raced the same car the longest time

Wade Mahaffey · 12-31-2009, 10:50 PM

Who out there has raced the same car for the longest time? Even if the car started in Stock and then moved to Super/Stock. Not everyone gets a new camaro, then a new Grand Am, then a new Cobalt etc. Who out there just could not part ways with his/her baby? Even if the person now campaigns the car in nostalgia. Or, like in my case still has the car but has retired it from racing. The older cars are really cool. How many times have you heard someone say "I wish I still had that car"? That's what I would be saying, but I do still have mine! Even though it was a S/G car....Sorry.
Lets see the then and now photos!

Philip Saran · 12-31-2009, 11:30 PM

My friend John Langdon out of divison 6 in Idaho, a lurker on
this board, has raced the same 1970 340 Barracuda stocker for
the last 25+ years. And yes he is brother to Chad (super comp/
super gas/stock) and uncle to Shawn (Top Fuel).

JRyan · 12-31-2009, 11:39 PM

Ben Wenzel, 1967 Camaro Z-28. Forty-two years and counting in Stock.

Jerry

bill dedman · 12-31-2009, 11:46 PM

Ted Harbit comes to mind.

Although NHRA legislated his 1951 Studebaker out of competition, (too old for Stock Eliminator,) he'd been racing it for several years before Ben bought that Camaro...

But, Ben's been running that same car in NHRA CLASS competition continuously, I believe, while Ted was forced to change formats; eventually ended up last year, on his head, with two turbos and probably 800+ horsepower (my guess)...

I'd say that was "racing," wouldn't you??

Especially, for a guy in his mid-70s....

Wade Mahaffey · 12-31-2009, 11:49 PM

We may have a winner...Ben Wenzel with the stay power. Nice job John Langdon as well. How about some photos boys?

You other guys need to post even if you can't match these two....It'll still be cool!

treessavoy · 01-01-2010, 12:09 AM

Been racing the same '64 plymouth since 1977 but didn't race when the Army sent me to Germany twice.

Think I'll be buried in it.

JimR

bill dedman · 01-01-2010, 12:31 AM

Does it have the aluminum front end? Can I have it (be a shame to waste that rare part to the corrosive nature of plain old dirt!!!)???

Mike Carr · 01-01-2010, 12:49 AM

I would guess Dave and Ben Wenzel would be the winner, or close to it.

On a related topic, how many out there/on here are racing cars that they are one-owner cars of, and/or cars that are being raced that have been racecars pretty much their whole life?

A few that come to mind (to the best of my knowledge, I could be wrong on a few, and I apoligize if I'm wrong):
-Bill Davis, current SS/D record holder, has owned his Camaro since new, and only saw the street for a brief period of time before being turned into a SS/G Camaro and raced in the early 1970's, after a pair of big block stick Chevelles.
-I believe Bill Davis, and his then-partner the late Ricky Metz, had a B/S '69 Camaro that is now Doc Watson's SS/DM Camaro.
-I thought I read once that Red LeBlanc is a one-owner of his current SS/G Mustang.
-Maybe Ken Montgomery's Triple Nickle SS/B '65 Plymouth?

Any other good stories to share?

Gary Smith · 01-01-2010, 01:25 AM

'65 Mustang dad bought new in Dec '65 started racing it in '74, '89 Mustang I bought new in Oct '89? Surprised I haven't been approached by classic car journalists yet.

John Leichtamer Jr · 01-01-2010, 02:00 AM

Everett Hill In the old Mustang has to be close to the longest time.

Hammer

12-31-2009, 10:50 PM	#1
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Who has raced the same car the longest time Who out there has raced the same car for the longest time? Even if the car started in Stock and then moved to Super/Stock. Not everyone gets a new camaro, then a new Grand Am, then a new Cobalt etc. Who out there just could not part ways with his/her baby? Even if the person now campaigns the car in nostalgia. Or, like in my case still has the car but has retired it from racing. The older cars are really cool. How many times have you heard someone say "I wish I still had that car"? That's what I would be saying, but I do still have mine! Even though it was a S/G car....Sorry. Lets see the then and now photos! Last edited by Wade Mahaffey; 12-31-2009 at 10:52 PM.

12-31-2009, 11:30 PM	#2
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 721 Likes: 158 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time My friend John Langdon out of divison 6 in Idaho, a lurker on this board, has raced the same 1970 340 Barracuda stocker for the last 25+ years. And yes he is brother to Chad (super comp/ super gas/stock) and uncle to Shawn (Top Fuel). __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado

12-31-2009, 11:39 PM	#3
JRyan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aberdeen SD Posts: 642 Likes: 28 Liked 104 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time Ben Wenzel, 1967 Camaro Z-28. Forty-two years and counting in Stock. Jerry

12-31-2009, 11:46 PM	#4
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time Ted Harbit comes to mind. Although NHRA legislated his 1951 Studebaker out of competition, (too old for Stock Eliminator,) he'd been racing it for several years before Ben bought that Camaro... But, Ben's been running that same car in NHRA CLASS competition continuously, I believe, while Ted was forced to change formats; eventually ended up last year, on his head, with two turbos and probably 800+ horsepower (my guess)... I'd say that was "racing," wouldn't you?? Especially, for a guy in his mid-70s.... __________________ Bill

12-31-2009, 11:49 PM	#5
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time We may have a winner...Ben Wenzel with the stay power. Nice job John Langdon as well. How about some photos boys? You other guys need to post even if you can't match these two....It'll still be cool!

01-01-2010, 12:09 AM	#6
treessavoy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,103 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time Been racing the same '64 plymouth since 1977 but didn't race when the Army sent me to Germany twice. Think I'll be buried in it. JimR __________________ Jim Rountree

01-01-2010, 12:31 AM	#7
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time Does it have the aluminum front end? Can I have it (be a shame to waste that rare part to the corrosive nature of plain old dirt!!!)??? __________________ Bill

01-01-2010, 12:49 AM	#8
Mike Carr VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Enon Valley PA Posts: 1,650 Likes: 234 Liked 80 Times in 34 Posts	Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time I would guess Dave and Ben Wenzel would be the winner, or close to it. On a related topic, how many out there/on here are racing cars that they are one-owner cars of, and/or cars that are being raced that have been racecars pretty much their whole life? A few that come to mind (to the best of my knowledge, I could be wrong on a few, and I apoligize if I'm wrong): -Bill Davis, current SS/D record holder, has owned his Camaro since new, and only saw the street for a brief period of time before being turned into a SS/G Camaro and raced in the early 1970's, after a pair of big block stick Chevelles. -I believe Bill Davis, and his then-partner the late Ricky Metz, had a B/S '69 Camaro that is now Doc Watson's SS/DM Camaro. -I thought I read once that Red LeBlanc is a one-owner of his current SS/G Mustang. -Maybe Ken Montgomery's Triple Nickle SS/B '65 Plymouth? Any other good stories to share? __________________ Mike Carr, Tri-State S/SS Association President Looking for 2015 S/SS Race Sponsors Contact me if interested buffdaddy_1302@hotmail.com (724) 510-5912

01-01-2010, 01:25 AM	#9
Gary Smith Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 807 Likes: 7 Liked 75 Times in 24 Posts	Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time '65 Mustang dad bought new in Dec '65 started racing it in '74, '89 Mustang I bought new in Oct '89? Surprised I haven't been approached by classic car journalists yet. __________________ Gary Smith "another broke racer spectating" Last edited by Gary Smith; 01-01-2010 at 01:28 AM.

01-01-2010, 02:00 AM	#10
John Leichtamer Jr Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Orange City Fl Posts: 764 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Who has raced the same car the longest time Everett Hill In the old Mustang has to be close to the longest time. Hammer