Best 4-Speed SS Of All Time?

Gary Smith · 10-14-2010, 10:09 AM

Don Wolff, Tucker Parrish, Ronnie Sox, Jimmy Bridges, Cotton Perry.

BlueOval Ralph · 10-14-2010, 10:30 AM

Hutchens, Kopp, Coonce, FJ, Fadely, Merc, Dave Lewis, Tim McDonald, Jerry Hiner, Scot Scharioff, Ray Allen and

Wes McCracken · 10-14-2010, 11:06 AM

Dave Strickler

Bob Pagano · 10-14-2010, 11:16 AM

You have to give the nod to the old guys, no comparison in the transmissions of today verses the old. Sox, Nicholson, McCandless, Leal and Jenkins.

X-TECH MAN · 10-14-2010, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wes McCracken

Dave Strickler

X 2 along with Sox. Two of the best who ever lived. Shifting todays modern trans is no comparison to the OEM trans of the old days.

chris3racing · 10-14-2010, 11:49 AM

Jerry you have "junior member" under your name, but you are exactly correct. I remember untold hours grinding slider gears, rings and welding shifter linkage ears to make those Muncies shift. Those days were before Dick Moroso started selling them at the tracks or the Borg Warners came out. Ever see the old in-car videos that are out that show Sox, Grumpy and Landy pushing and jerking those of 4-speeds.

Jared Jordan · 10-14-2010, 01:11 PM

I'm not as old as most of you guys, so I'm going to go with the two 4-speeds I remember best growing up at the track:

1. John Calvert - '68 'Stang

2. Allyn Lee - '68 Cuda SS/A

I still believe that Allyn would have been first in the 8's if he'd been able to travel more.

Mike Bassin · 10-14-2010, 01:29 PM

Ronnie Sox and very close second, Dave Strickler. A local Marylander that drove all kinds of cars til a stroke slowed him down is Tommy Howes. I got to send all these guys down the old 75-80 Dragway in the early / mid sixties and all three were terrific. Tommy Howes could also, build, tune and maintain and drive everything he ever raced. Of course all others mentioned are exceptional. These are the ones I got to see regularly.

Mike Bassin

Dinsdale · 10-15-2010, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared Jordan

I'm not as old as most of you guys, so I'm going to go with the two 4-speeds I remember best growing up at the track:

1. John Calvert - '68 'Stang

2. Allyn Lee - '68 Cuda SS/A

I still believe that Allyn would have been first in the 8's if he'd been able to travel more.

Good call there Jared. Al's car was fast and he could drive. Any idea what the status of him and his car is now? Calvert is a given. I do find it odd that my name hasn't been mentioned in this thread yet.. LOL! I always could shift but almost anyone can look good with a Jerico or G-Force. I believe the original question was intended to be for pre aftermarket transmissions. Most of the top names of that era have been mentioned.

JrStk · 10-15-2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wes McCracken

Dave Strickler

Jenkins himself called Strickler the best.
Ronnie Sox had quite the reputation.

10-14-2010, 10:09 AM	#1
Gary Smith Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 820 Likes: 9 Liked 132 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Best 4-Speed SS Of All Time? Don Wolff, Tucker Parrish, Ronnie Sox, Jimmy Bridges, Cotton Perry. __________________ Gary Smith "another broke racer spectating"

10-14-2010, 10:30 AM	#2
BlueOval Ralph Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 852 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Best 4-Speed SS Of All Time? Hutchens, Kopp, Coonce, FJ, Fadely, Merc, Dave Lewis, Tim McDonald, Jerry Hiner, Scot Scharioff, Ray Allen and

10-14-2010, 11:06 AM	#3
Wes McCracken Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Williamsport, Pa Posts: 23 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Best 4-Speed SS Of All Time? Dave Strickler __________________ Wes McCracken 1189 STK

10-14-2010, 11:16 AM	#4
Bob Pagano VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Holland, PA Mooresville,NC Posts: 1,163 Likes: 241 Liked 16 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Best 4-Speed SS Of All Time? You have to give the nod to the old guys, no comparison in the transmissions of today verses the old. Sox, Nicholson, McCandless, Leal and Jenkins. __________________ Bob Pagano A/SA

10-14-2010, 11:49 AM	#6
chris3racing Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 528 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Best 4-Speed SS Of All Time? Jerry you have "junior member" under your name, but you are exactly correct. I remember untold hours grinding slider gears, rings and welding shifter linkage ears to make those Muncies shift. Those days were before Dick Moroso started selling them at the tracks or the Borg Warners came out. Ever see the old in-car videos that are out that show Sox, Grumpy and Landy pushing and jerking those of 4-speeds.

10-14-2010, 01:11 PM	#7
Jared Jordan Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 613 Likes: 199 Liked 537 Times in 119 Posts	Re: Best 4-Speed SS Of All Time? I'm not as old as most of you guys, so I'm going to go with the two 4-speeds I remember best growing up at the track: 1. John Calvert - '68 'Stang 2. Allyn Lee - '68 Cuda SS/A I still believe that Allyn would have been first in the 8's if he'd been able to travel more. __________________ Jared Jordan 9 B/SA 2024 Jeg's D7 All Star - Stock

10-14-2010, 01:29 PM	#8
Mike Bassin Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: East Berlin PA Posts: 134 Likes: 0 Liked 120 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Best 4-Speed SS Of All Time? Ronnie Sox and very close second, Dave Strickler. A local Marylander that drove all kinds of cars til a stroke slowed him down is Tommy Howes. I got to send all these guys down the old 75-80 Dragway in the early / mid sixties and all three were terrific. Tommy Howes could also, build, tune and maintain and drive everything he ever raced. Of course all others mentioned are exceptional. These are the ones I got to see regularly. Mike Bassin