Lower Class Winner At National Event

[Johnny M Fisher]

Originally Posted by GarysZ24

Wasn't Tim the one who piloted a Chevy Cavalier Z24 to the finals of an early '86 IHRA national event Chip? I had some video footage of a car with the original burgundy red paint job (that mine had) being in such a race back then, and the car was similar to mine!

That would be Mike Ellis from Durham, NC who was runner-up in 1986. It was practically a new car at the time, with a little fine tuning. Those were the days!

[Phil "Swampy" Marsh]

This IS "Swampy". Sorry this took so long to post but I didn't know this site existed until a few days ago when I was researching articles about me and my car, "Swampy's Toy". It was a 1971 Chevy Vega Hatchback. I painted it like Sox & Martin's car with the exception of a blue stripe with various size stars in it. The name "Swampy's Toy" was a play on my last name and Gumpy Bill Jenkin's car "Grumpy's Toy".
I lost my class race at my first national event at Englishtown, N.J., in 1972 but then won my class at the next 3 national meets at the 1972 Indy Nationals, the 1973 Summernationals at Englishtown and the 1973 Indy Nationals. At the two Indy meets George Williams and I did not race each other and he was eliminated by other racers in our class. However, at the 1973 Summers we did race in the final for Y/Stock. I beat him by 2 hundredths (.02 ) of a second! It was the closest race they had all night! I set the record that year at the points meet at Atco Dragway in New Jersey and then proceeded the next night to win Stock Eliminator! I was beaten for class win at Indy in the final by some one racing a Corvair (his second one in two years ) BUT upon weight check after the race he came up short on weight (!) and I was awarded the win! (The previous year he was in a different class with a Corvair and failed tear down tech when one of the two carbs on the Corvair engine had the wrong ID tag on it!). I sold the car and delivered it to the new owner from Minnesota (?) at that Indy Nationals and went home with an empty trailer. I did not race any more after that as family responsibilities took my time up. I hope this clears up any confusion about "Swampy's Toy" and me. You can see a photo of the car on my profile page here on Class Racer. Thanks for your time, "Swampy"

[Dwight Southerland]

Thanks for the post, Phil! I do remember your car and actually spent time looking it over at Indy 1972. The stories of the people who have "stacked their brick in the wall", so to speak, of this great sport and family are where the value is for us all.

Dwight Southerland

[OLD INJUN]

Originally Posted by Phil "Swampy" Marsh

This IS "Swampy". Sorry this took so long to post but I didn't know this site existed until a few days ago when I was researching articles about me and my car, "Swampy's Toy". It was a 1971 Chevy Vega Hatchback. I painted it like Sox & Martin's car with the exception of a blue stripe with various size stars in it. The name "Swampy's Toy" was a play on my last name and Gumpy Bill Jenkin's car "Grumpy's Toy".
I lost my class race at my first national event at Englishtown, N.J., in 1972 but then won my class at the next 3 national meets at the 1972 Indy Nationals, the 1973 Summernationals at Englishtown and the 1973 Indy Nationals. At the two Indy meets George Williams and I did not race each other and he was eliminated by other racers in our class. However, at the 1973 Summers we did race in the final for Y/Stock. I beat him by 2 hundredths (.02 ) of a second! It was the closest race they had all night! I set the record that year at the points meet at Atco Dragway in New Jersey and then proceeded the next night to win Stock Eliminator! I was beaten for class win at Indy in the final by some one racing a Corvair (his second one in two years ) BUT upon weight check after the race he came up short on weight (!) and I was awarded the win! (The previous year he was in a different class with a Corvair and failed tear down tech when one of the two carbs on the Corvair engine had the wrong ID tag on it!). I sold the car and delivered it to the new owner from Minnesota (?) at that Indy Nationals and went home with an empty trailer. I did not race any more after that as family responsibilities took my time up. I hope this clears up any confusion about "Swampy's Toy" and me. You can see a photo of the car on my profile page here on Class Racer. Thanks for your time, "Swampy"

Did a guy named Randy Sullivan from Minneapolis buy it from you?

[Rick Unterseh]

I still have parts from Neil Smedmobile's bird, so it is alive and will rise again!!!! Coming to a National Event final near you! Neil, you did well, helped me a ton, and I will return the favor.