1968 U.S. Nationals

TOM KASCH · 08-29-2018, 08:53 AM

Class winners.

DeuceCoupe · 09-03-2018, 11:49 PM

This old thread:
http://classracer.com/classforum/sho...t=35356&page=3
helps identify one of the many, many, many (that means 3) stock Fords:
D/SA Linda Pleva 67 Gal XL/LTD 427/410hp automatic!
(So many solid lifter 427 Ford AUTOMATICS in NHRA history and yet you could never get one from the factory... then again Chevy got their hydramatic sedan deliveries, and Mopar got their 383/343-in-the-trunk combo. You'd think the factories would have offered some of these combos, they did so well in NHRA.)

A/S Schumacher 67 Fairlane 427/425 factored to 445hp
B/S Glidden 65 Gal XL 427/425 factored to 445hp

I will have to guess at the others later, so many excellent results/record sheets I have now thanks lately to Tom!

oldskool · 09-28-2021, 08:01 PM

I continue to scan these old threads, lookin for the "Pont".

On this list I see Howard Maseles, in C/S. Only know of one pic I have of his car. Looks like a '62.

I realize this section is "Nostagia Stock and Super Stock".

But, I've seen threads on Pro Stock & other classes. SO, I'll mention the I/G car on this list. I think it is quite unique. It is an Anglia, powered by the Pontiac OHC 6 cyl. It's name was "Holeshot 6 ". Royal Automotive ran it in H/G.

https://www.pinterest.com/mrbigblues...d-1951-anglia/

Before leaving the OHC 6, I'll add this. Pontiac asked Bill Knafel to ran a couple of OHC six A-bodies, in '66. IIRC, Arlen Vanke & Bill Abraham were involved in that project. Apparently the cars ran pretty good.

Also found a pic on 1 OHC powered '67 Bird. Don't know how it ran.

I don't usually post about anything but Pontiac V8 powered cars. But, IMO, a Pontiac OHC 6 powered drag car is quite unique.

DeuceCoupe · 09-28-2021, 08:33 PM

Looks like you could've snapped up that Masales car for only $450,000, or the Packer Swiss Cheese Cat for only $473,000.
I missed 'em too.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/market...ld-at-auction/

One car on this list I cant quite figure is the Heath SS/F=9.50 67 Firebird.
It can fit class as either
3190/325=9.82 either engine, unfactored
3190/335=9.52 base 325hp factored to the GTO's 335hp
3481/360=9.57 Ragtop RamAir1 factored to the GTO's 360hp

Any recollections?

I couldn't believe how heavy the Camaro/Firebird ragtops were when I started this project until I learned about all the corner ballasting.

oldskool · 09-29-2021, 12:34 AM

"...One car on this list I cant quite figure is the Heath SS/F=9.50 67 Firebird..."

Good catch ! I didn't even look that far down the list. Not familiar with that name.

I can't figure all the early classing. But, the pics I have of two '67 SS Birds show them in F. And they are both hardtops, or coupes, or whatever the non-convertible Birds are called.

DeuceCoupe · 09-29-2021, 02:01 PM

This says the Knieper car was a RamAir1

https://www.hotrodders.com/threads/6...holder.144313/

To stay over W/P=9.50 it has to be either an unfactored RA1 at 325hp (LOL) or factored to maybe 340hp but no higher, even adding weight for the T400 trans which is not in today's class guide.

Per what Dwight Southerland said, at least by late 1968 the RA1 Firebird was factored to the GTO's 360hp so maybe this was before that time.

I guess there's no way to externally tell a 67 RA Firebird from a non-RA?
So Heath is still a question.

oldskool · 09-29-2021, 06:09 PM

"...I guess there's no way to externally tell a 67 RA Firebird from a non-RA?...

I assume the scoops would have to be open, on the RA car, but sealed off on a non-RA car ?

I have some pics of Randi Lyn Shipp's '67 Stocker which APPEAR to show black holes, possibly indicating that the scoops were open. Another pic shows 'em closed & painted white. The past couple of years or so, the scoops appear closed & painted light blue.

I suppose with the current weight changes allowed, you could still run 3 different classes with it, opened or closed. Assuming they concluded that having the scoops open was not worth the extra weight they had to carry. It's now 338hp vs 352hp.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...5&MAKE=Pontiac

Rat Patrol · 12-26-2022, 02:55 AM

Tony Kneiper and his brother Frank died in an MVA heading to a race meet in late 1968

He was runner up to Butch Leal driving a Landy 440 Coronet at the 68 Winters in the SS/FA final.

08-29-2018, 08:53 AM	#1
TOM KASCH VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: TOLEDO,OHIO Posts: 1,735 Likes: 0 Liked 241 Times in 100 Posts	1968 U.S. Nationals Class winners.

09-03-2018, 11:49 PM	#2
DeuceCoupe Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 271 Likes: 97 Liked 47 Times in 43 Posts	Re: 1968 U.S. Nationals This old thread: http://classracer.com/classforum/sho...t=35356&page=3 helps identify one of the many, many, many (that means 3) stock Fords: D/SA Linda Pleva 67 Gal XL/LTD 427/410hp automatic! (So many solid lifter 427 Ford AUTOMATICS in NHRA history and yet you could never get one from the factory... then again Chevy got their hydramatic sedan deliveries, and Mopar got their 383/343-in-the-trunk combo. You'd think the factories would have offered some of these combos, they did so well in NHRA.) A/S Schumacher 67 Fairlane 427/425 factored to 445hp B/S Glidden 65 Gal XL 427/425 factored to 445hp I will have to guess at the others later, so many excellent results/record sheets I have now thanks lately to Tom!

09-28-2021, 08:01 PM	#3
oldskool VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: The Land of Bayous, Boudin & Crawfish Posts: 1,668 Likes: 223 Liked 750 Times in 361 Posts	Re: 1968 U.S. Nationals I continue to scan these old threads, lookin for the "Pont". On this list I see Howard Maseles, in C/S. Only know of one pic I have of his car. Looks like a '62. I realize this section is "Nostagia Stock and Super Stock". But, I've seen threads on Pro Stock & other classes. SO, I'll mention the I/G car on this list. I think it is quite unique. It is an Anglia, powered by the Pontiac OHC 6 cyl. It's name was "Holeshot 6 ". Royal Automotive ran it in H/G. https://www.pinterest.com/mrbigblues...d-1951-anglia/ Before leaving the OHC 6, I'll add this. Pontiac asked Bill Knafel to ran a couple of OHC six A-bodies, in '66. IIRC, Arlen Vanke & Bill Abraham were involved in that project. Apparently the cars ran pretty good. Also found a pic on 1 OHC powered '67 Bird. Don't know how it ran. I don't usually post about anything but Pontiac V8 powered cars. But, IMO, a Pontiac OHC 6 powered drag car is quite unique. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by oldskool; 09-28-2021 at 08:10 PM.

09-28-2021, 08:33 PM	#4
DeuceCoupe Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 271 Likes: 97 Liked 47 Times in 43 Posts	Re: 1968 U.S. Nationals Looks like you could've snapped up that Masales car for only $450,000, or the Packer Swiss Cheese Cat for only $473,000. I missed 'em too. https://www.hagerty.com/media/market...ld-at-auction/ One car on this list I cant quite figure is the Heath SS/F=9.50 67 Firebird. It can fit class as either 3190/325=9.82 either engine, unfactored 3190/335=9.52 base 325hp factored to the GTO's 335hp 3481/360=9.57 Ragtop RamAir1 factored to the GTO's 360hp Any recollections? I couldn't believe how heavy the Camaro/Firebird ragtops were when I started this project until I learned about all the corner ballasting.

09-29-2021, 12:34 AM	#5
oldskool VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: The Land of Bayous, Boudin & Crawfish Posts: 1,668 Likes: 223 Liked 750 Times in 361 Posts	Re: 1968 U.S. Nationals "...One car on this list I cant quite figure is the Heath SS/F=9.50 67 Firebird..." Good catch ! I didn't even look that far down the list. Not familiar with that name. I can't figure all the early classing. But, the pics I have of two '67 SS Birds show them in F. And they are both hardtops, or coupes, or whatever the non-convertible Birds are called. Attached Thumbnails

09-29-2021, 02:01 PM	#6
DeuceCoupe Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 271 Likes: 97 Liked 47 Times in 43 Posts	Re: 1968 U.S. Nationals This says the Knieper car was a RamAir1 https://www.hotrodders.com/threads/6...holder.144313/ To stay over W/P=9.50 it has to be either an unfactored RA1 at 325hp (LOL) or factored to maybe 340hp but no higher, even adding weight for the T400 trans which is not in today's class guide. Per what Dwight Southerland said, at least by late 1968 the RA1 Firebird was factored to the GTO's 360hp so maybe this was before that time. I guess there's no way to externally tell a 67 RA Firebird from a non-RA? So Heath is still a question.

09-29-2021, 06:09 PM	#7
oldskool VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: The Land of Bayous, Boudin & Crawfish Posts: 1,668 Likes: 223 Liked 750 Times in 361 Posts	Re: 1968 U.S. Nationals "...I guess there's no way to externally tell a 67 RA Firebird from a non-RA?... I assume the scoops would have to be open, on the RA car, but sealed off on a non-RA car ? I have some pics of Randi Lyn Shipp's '67 Stocker which APPEAR to show black holes, possibly indicating that the scoops were open. Another pic shows 'em closed & painted white. The past couple of years or so, the scoops appear closed & painted light blue. I suppose with the current weight changes allowed, you could still run 3 different classes with it, opened or closed. Assuming they concluded that having the scoops open was not worth the extra weight they had to carry. It's now 338hp vs 352hp. http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...5&MAKE=Pontiac Attached Thumbnails Last edited by oldskool; 09-29-2021 at 06:22 PM.

12-26-2022, 02:55 AM	#8
Rat Patrol Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 167 Likes: 66 Liked 31 Times in 26 Posts	Re: 1968 U.S. Nationals Tony Kneiper and his brother Frank died in an MVA heading to a race meet in late 1968 He was runner up to Butch Leal driving a Landy 440 Coronet at the 68 Winters in the SS/FA final. Last edited by Rat Patrol; 12-26-2022 at 10:14 PM.