Quote:
Originally Posted by John W. 1711
I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Bud Shellenberger. He won Stock at Indy, back in 65. He drove a 64 Galaxie in B/S. In 65 he ran out of King Ford, then Norris Ford, in Baltimore. His 70 Torino, and 71 Mustang have been restored. Bud is 87. I took a couple of photos with Bud. I hope to go back and photograph some of his memorabilia. He signed a photo, I have, of tech at the 65 US Nationals. It is also signed by Ken Montgomery, and Tom Sneden. Great guys.
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I’ve been searching long and hard for any history of the 429SCJ in the original NHRA era, ie 1970-71.
Going through Petersen, I think I found something.
There’s a picture here:
https://archive.petersen.org/pages/p...php?ref=417808
Of what is dressed as a Norris Ford 1970 Cobra, running in F/S=9.50 class at the 1971 NHRA SuperStock Nationals.
I was excited enough to have even found one of these cars RUNNING at an NHRA National.
I quickly did the math, and given the car’s NHRA weight of 3834 lb, well, 3834/375hp=10.22.
So why does the car have F/S (=9.50 class) on the windshield? Seems by 1971 that NHRA had already factored the 429SCJ to 400hp, so 3834/400=9.59 which now fits the class?
More searching:
The text of this ebay ad says Shellenberger won “his class” at the 1970 NHRA Indy Nationals.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-NHR...-/203006827609
The picture looks like the same car. So did Shellenberger and that 1970 Cobra 429SCJ win F/S=9.50 at the 1970 Indy Nationals? Well no, Ogles in a 68 Camaro won F/S. (Tom Kaasch posted the results I forgot just where). Nobody is listed as the winner for G/S=10.00 class, which is where the car fits without factoring, ie 3834/375=10.22.
Was the 429SCJ factored at 375hp in 1970, which would explain why it won, and then jacked up a class to 400hp in 1971? And, if Shellenberger won class (G/S I assume) in 1970, why doesn’t the win sheet list it?
The 429SCJ was in fact underrated at 375hp, not as badly underrated as the 428CJ at “335hp” LOL, but still underrated. So it seems this engine should have won more, but on searching the 1970-71 era as I’ve been doing for a couple years now, these are the first examples I’ve found.
Anybody know what class Shellenberger won at the 1970 Indy Nationals in the Norris 70 Cobra?
