Last Year of Modified? Question

[Greg Barsamian]

Originally Posted by Superfan1

Anyone have any pics of the Baldwin Chevrolet / Motion Performance Camaro driven by Dennis Ferrara in A/MP, and B/MP? That was one of my favorite Modified Eliminator cars.
Bill Seabrooks - superfan1

That car was purchased by Les Lucier & Jim Reid. A gentleman in Nebraska restored it and brought it to Barret Jackson 2 years ago, It didnt bring anything close to what he had in the restoration. Last I heard they were in litigation against BJ.

Those of you that recognise Ryan Ondrejko's 62 Corvette, that is the very car that went "heads-up" for the A/MP record in 1972. Joel Rosen & Dennis Ferrera made the trek to Lebanon Valley & ran away with the record that year. The Corvette was Owned by Vince Barletta, built & maintained by Wes Nester from Worcester Mass. The 62 was called The "Plastic Rat" It featured an all-Aluminum ZL-1 engine built by Jim Reid at Reid's Automotive. The car was always a "hit" with the M/P crowd at the Valley back in those days! Yanking the wheels 2 to 3 feet on every launch!
We stole err borrowed a carrage from the Mammouth Mart one night to make a set of wheelie bars for it so the damb thing wouldn't flip over.

The Baldwin Motion Performance Camaro was "trick" to say the least. Bill Lorenzo & Ed Sarkiaian from SS & DI did a detailed story on that Camaro when Reid & Lussier campained it. They set many records in M/P with that car as well.

Jim Reid Sr & Jim Jr still build & maintain the engines for the 62, currently campained by John & Ryan Ondrejko in Division 1 S/G. They recently won the 2008 NHRA D-1 National Open series championship, and last fall Ryan took "Vinny's Vette" to the winners circle at the 2008 IHRA North American Nationals at New England dragway in Super rod.
The Barletta family still own the car.

Bob Don you were sponsored by the "Speed Shack" in Norwood, where "We push Speed"
( I still have the licence plate frame you gave me)
Negrini is now out in D-7 planning on driving them crazy with his Johns Racecraft Firebird in SS/CM

BTW I still own "The Wild Armenian"
Greg

[Adger Smith]

Just a note to let you know how huge Modified was as a spectator draw... In 1977 I was running The I -20 track in Tyler TX. I had an ALL Corvette Modified & Gas race. It was a 16 car qualified field & paid some decent money(by round) for the times. There were 22 cars trying for the 16 spots & it was a was a Who's Who of Div 4 racing. I think there were a couple of other Divisions represented, too. I advertised the race on all my mail outs & billboards the year. (about 6 mo's of ads) It packed the place. We had a near capacity crowd. I learned later that there were people camped at the local KOA waiting for the race. Some great racing & the spectators loved it. Just like the monthly Modified meets we had in conjunction with Hallsville. I wish my head injuries from my racing accident hadn't taken away so many of the details of that time. I bet there are others that remember that race. I can only remember a few of the guys there & can't remember who won... So sad...My memories gone just like Modified.

[Jimmy Smith]

Hello Adger and can the Blue Oval or anyone know the where abouts of C.J.Batten? I saw a inquiry about him on another site and I remember the name and know he was a Ford Guru but did not know him personaly. This thread brought back a lot of memories. When I ran the Greenville Ms. Track we would have Don Peek, Mansell & Minga, Buddy Bennett, Willis Ragsdale ,Sanford (Sleepyhead) Bolan,With a Hemi and 4 speed in a Street Roadster and a host of other guys that were semi local. That was fun. Later J.Smith 4621 racing

[FED 387]

Batten was /is in the Detroit area hooked up with diamond Pistons and did have Batten Heads not sure if they are still in businees tho-Comp 387

[Jimmy Smith]

Thanks 387, I will pass this on. Later J.Smith 4621 racing

[Bob Rice]

Jimmy,
Here's a picture of Billy at Suffolk, VA, 1979.
Bob Rice

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by FED 387

Batten was /is in the Detroit area hooked up with diamond Pistons and did have Batten Heads not sure if they are still in businees tho-Comp 387

CJ Batten ceased producing the Oldsmobile Batten heads and intakes, as well as other Oldsmobile stuff, about 5 years or more ago. He was selling some of the stuff on ebay a while back. I saw him the last year he had a booth at the PRI Show a few years back. Maybe 8 years or so ago.

[W J]

Originally Posted by Greg Barsamian

That car was purchased by Les Lucier & Jim Reid. A gentleman in Nebraska restored it and brought it to Barret Jackson 2 years ago, It didnt bring anything close to what he had in the restoration. Last I heard they were in litigation against BJ.

Those of you that recognise Ryan Ondrejko's 62 Corvette, that is the very car that went "heads-up" for the A/MP record in 1972. Joel Rosen & Dennis Ferrera made the trek to Lebanon Valley & ran away with the record that year. The Corvette was Owned by Vince Barletta, built & maintained by Wes Nester from Worcester Mass. The 62 was called The "Plastic Rat" It featured an all-Aluminum ZL-1 engine built by Jim Reid at Reid's Automotive. The car was always a "hit" with the M/P crowd at the Valley back in those days! Yanking the wheels 2 to 3 feet on every launch!
We stole err borrowed a carrage from the Mammouth Mart one night to make a set of wheelie bars for it so the damb thing wouldn't flip over.

The Baldwin Motion Performance Camaro was "trick" to say the least. Bill Lorenzo & Ed Sarkiaian from SS & DI did a detailed story on that Camaro when Reid & Lussier campained it. They set many records in M/P with that car as well.

Jim Reid Sr & Jim Jr still build & maintain the engines for the 62, currently campained by John & Ryan Ondrejko in Division 1 S/G. They recently won the 2008 NHRA D-1 National Open series championship, and last fall Ryan took "Vinny's Vette" to the winners circle at the 2008 IHRA North American Nationals at New England dragway in Super rod.
The Barletta family still own the car.

Bob Don you were sponsored by the "Speed Shack" in Norwood, where "We push Speed"
( I still have the licence plate frame you gave me)
Negrini is now out in D-7 planning on driving them crazy with his Johns Racecraft Firebird in SS/CM

BTW I still own "The Wild Armenian"
Greg

Going back even farther w/Ryan's '62 Corvette: Originally, a 4 sp/fuelie, it was bought new by Brent Erickson, then of Holden, Ma., and successfully campaigned in the old NHRA "sport" classes by Brent and his wife, Linda, (the car was still tuned by Wes Nester),running at tracks on the eastern seaboard that are now gone: Orange, Ma., Sanford, Me., Charlestown, R.I., and Ct. Dragway. Car was then blue, and called "The Minuteman". The fact that the '62 is still a campaigning, winning racecar is pretty cool...I believe the car now runs Top Sportsman, as well....WJ

[W J]

Another heavy hitter C/MP owner/driver I saw on that list was a fellow named Ralph Ridgeway, of Springfield, Mass. Ralph's blk/white '55 Chevy 2 dr sedan was a Nat. record holder for awhile...a 301" chevy with a sheet metal fabricated intake manifold that was quite sophisticated for its time. Ridgeway won a number of National events w/that car...and was tough to beat anywhere he raced..Anyone here remember that '55 w/ "DEB'S DYNO" painted on the side? I sure miss that M/P class.... WJ