Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone
Charlene Wood...Grandnational winner.
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Yeah, the article mentioned that one, which was in Canada. But, I assume a Wood "Tons-a-Fun" wagon never won a national which was held in the US. ???
Anyhow, there were 3 Pontiac cars/racers which were my first 3 Pontiac heroes. Truman fields, Jack Mullins, & the Tons-a-Fun wagon.
There were many more to follow. One of the names is Mick Leiferman. I think he may still hold the record of 3 RU finishes in a row, at the US Nats. I think Mike McKinney got one of those wins, in the same '68 Bird Truman had won with, in '73. Another Pontiac racer name I remember is Rock Running. Then there was the Sonny Ray '72 GTO Super Stocker. David Rampy later got his 1st big win in that car, at the '83 Cajun Nats.
Then of course, there were the Knafel Pontiac cars, the Royal Pontiac cars, & the H-O Racing Specialties SD455 T/A. Lots of great Pontiac drag cars back in the '60's-'70's, and some even into the '80's. Since then, it's just been the Pontiac faithful who have continued to race Pontiac powered cars. Some of the guys who raced Pontiac back in the old days, switched to something else many years ago. I still see some of those familiar names, along with their kids, & probably grandkids, now racing other brands.
J.B. Clegg still races the '73 SD455 Bird which his father John Clegg raced. J.B. has also raced the old H-O Racing Specialties Bird. John still races, but has switched from Pontiac power.
There were lots of great Pontiac drag cars in the early '60's. But, I was not quite old enuff to be interested, back then. I WAS old enuff, by 1964, and got REAL interested when I began seeing ads for the new '64 GTO. Been a Pontiac fan ever since.
Didn't really begin to find out about all the early Pontiac race cars, 'til I learned how to use a computer(a little), less than 10 years ago.