80’s/90’s Stock and Super Stock pics

[oldskool]

"...it's important to point out that Roy McKinney was the VERY first NHRA Super Stocker running in a GT class of Super Stock with a 400 cubic inch engine to run in the nines back in 1997. Roy deserves that mention..."


I've probably read that several times. But I suppose it just didn't register. I first heard of Mike & Roy McKinney, back when Mike won Stock at the '77 US Nats, in the same car that Truman Fields had won with, in '73.

And, I've had pics of the McKinney Pontiacs on my computer for several years. But, just a few minutes ago, I realized that I have a pic of that McKinney GT car that broke into the 9's, back in '97.

The 1st pic I have is from the 40th anniversary of the US Nats. From what I can find, that was in 1994 ? The car was running low 10's at that race.

The 2nd pic looks to be the same car, but with a different hood, maybe.

There have now been several 400 Pontiac powered GT cars run in the 9's. But, if that info is correct, the McKinney car was the 1st to do it. And they did it 3 years before Keri Angeles did it with a 400 powered reg SS class '69 Bird.

[oldskool]

Just started checkin YouTube for some US Nats videos.

Here's one I thought you might enjoy. It's only about 3 min long. It shows some SS qualifying from the 1983 US Nats.

Since I'm a Pontiac guy, I noticed a couple of Birds. I think the white one was driven by long time Pontiac racer Bob Michael. Couldn't ID the red one. Looked like a '74. So, it may be the H-O Racing Specialties record holder, later, when either Glen Tinsley or John Clegg owned it.

[oldskool]

2 more '74 Birds in this one. Can't ID either. Would love to see a qualifying list of that race. Anybody here have one or know where to find one ?

[oldskool]

John Clegg's '73 bird is in this one, when he was still running the SD455/stick combo. Also a white early '70's T/A I can't ID.

Most of the SS cars at that race were the popular Chevy models. But, there was a sprinklin of not so common cars. One I noticed in the 1st video I linked looked like a Comet rag top. Probably have not been too many of those run at Indy.

[oldskool]

Several Birds on this video. One looks to be the blue '68 Bird that belonged to Roy & Mike McKinney.

One was very interesting. It had Russ Abrams on the door. The front cap & trunk lid was a sort of red color. The rest was white. It looked to have a '74 nose, with a twin-scoop Formula hood. The reason it's interesting to me, is because Russ Abrams had & I think still has a '73 SD455 Bird. But, a '73 SD455 Formula came with a T/A shaker hood & scoop. So, I don't know what engine he was running in this car.

[oldskool]

Here's some close-up sites & sounds from the SS staging lanes at the 1990 US Nats.

[oldskool]

Here's some Stock qualifying from that '83 US Nats race. The Axemaker & Reuland '72 GTO is on it, probably with Sam Reuland driving.

The blue Mckinney '68 Bird is also on it. Looks like they had their Stock & SS Birds painted to look alike.

[SS BRP]

Originally Posted by oldskool

Here's some close-up sites & sounds from the SS staging lanes at the 1990 US Nats.

I watched that one a couple days ago actually, its really weird to not see a sports car be turned into a drag car, some of those Chevy’s and Oldsmobile’s turned into purpose built race cars looks really cool but its odd too, those are cars you bring your kids to soccer practice in.

And those newer Firebirds are nice, mid, to late 70’s models. Another good one are the 2000’s Firebirds, I think 1996-2002. Ive always been a fan of those, I get excited just seeing one on the road. As long as its the 5.7L V8.

[tommy d]

Originally Posted by oldskool

:...it's important to point out that Roy McKinney was the VERY first NHRA Super Stocker running in a GT class of Super Stock with a 400 cubic inch engine to run in the nines back in 1997. Roy deserves that mention..."


I've probably read that several times. But I suppose it just didn't register. I first heard of Mike & Roy McKinney, back when Mike won Stock at the '77 US Nats, in the same car that Truman fields had won with, in '73.

And, I've had pics of the McKinney Pontiacs on my computer for several years. But, just a few minutes ago, I realized that I have a pic of that McKinney GT car that broke into the 9's, back in '97.

The 1st pic I have is from the 40th anniversary of the US Nats. From what I can find, that was in 1994 ? The car was running low 10's at that race.

The 2nd pic looks to be the same car, but with a different hood, maybe.

There have now been several 400 Pontiac powered GT cars run in the 9's. But, if that info is correct, the McKinney car was the 1st to do it. And they did it 3 years before Keri Angeles did it with a 400 powered reg SS class '69 Bird.

Mckinneys have that car back in their possession again.

[oldskool]

"...Firebirds, I think 1996-2002. Ive always been a fan of those, I get excited just seeing one on the road. As long as its the 5.7L V8."

Yeah, those bodies look pretty good, especially the black ones with the scooped hood.

BUT, since I'm a self proclaimed "Pontiac Freek", I only get excited about one that is a Pontiac powered drag car.

Otherwise, to me, it's just another Chevy powered Pontiac body.

I think Phil Monteith's 4th gen Hatari Bird took Peter Biondo to at least 2 SS Championships. Won lots of big races.

" Mckinneys have that car back in their possession again."

Is this it in pic 4 ?

Leo Glasbrenner also ran a Pontiac powered 4th gen, for a few years.

I think John Peneta has been driving the red car in recent years. IIRC, it was a Johnny Duncan car. I think maybe Phil Monteith built the motor for it, as well as his Hatari Cars, since it has "Hatari" on the door. I think maybe Sam Biondo drove it some, among others. As always, I could be wrong on some of these details. If so, I'll stand corrected.