Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [gmclist] Speed Merchants
| [gmclist] Speed Merchants [message #11455] |
Fri, 23 May 2008 07:38  |
Michael Bozardt
Messages: 367
Registered: January 2007
Location: College Station, Texas
Karma: 1
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I wonder how many GMCers are racers or former racers? I know Wayne Taylor is still racing(Mazdas), Hardie Johnson raced a Lotus 7, I won the Southwest Regional Championship in GP in 1971 in a Sprite.
The point is there must be a connection between that racing mentality and the GMC motorhome. We know Steve Ferguson is a Chevy guy-did he also race? Maybe it is a respect for the engineering or the uniqueness of the GMC. I don't know. I just think there are probably a sizeable number of racing gear heads that are now into GMC motorhomes and i think that is interesting.
Michael GEMRECS
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| Re: [gmclist] Speed Merchants [message #11469 is a reply to message #11455] |
Fri, 23 May 2008 10:41  |
powerjon
Messages: 2446
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 5
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I used to crew on a Top Fuel Dragster in the early 70's ( Grand
Spalding Dodge), got back in racing in 1980 with an alcohol dragster
with Bill Mullins and crewed on a Daryl Gwynn Alcohol Dragster 81 &
82 winning world title in the class. Mid 80's thru 88 crew chiefed
an alcohol Funny Car out of Texas, Larry Reeps "Grim Reeper".
Drifted away and never went back. It was too addictive, I watch on
tv but have not been to a race in almost 20 years.
J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
77 Eleganza Custom
1975 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
On May 23, 2008, at 8:38 AM, Michael Bozardt wrote:
> I wonder how many GMCers are racers or former racers? I know Wayne
> Taylor is still racing(Mazdas), Hardie Johnson raced a Lotus 7, I
> won the Southwest Regional Championship in GP in 1971 in a Sprite.
>
> The point is there must be a connection between that racing
> mentality and the GMC motorhome. We know Steve Ferguson is a Chevy
> guy-did he also race? Maybe it is a respect for the engineering or
> the uniqueness of the GMC. I don't know. I just think there are
> probably a sizeable number of racing gear heads that are now into
> GMC motorhomes and i think that is interesting.
> Michael GEMRECS
> To unsubscribe or change your settings - http://www.gmcnet.org/
> settings.htm
> Donate to support GMCnet - http://www.gmcnet.org/support.html
To unsubscribe or change your settings - http://www.gmcnet.org/settings.htm
Donate to support GMCnet - http://www.gmcnet.org/support.html
J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMC Eastern States
GMCMI
78 30' Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
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| Re: [gmclist] Speed Merchants [message #11471 is a reply to message #11469] |
Fri, 23 May 2008 11:01 |
Gary Worobec
Messages: 867
Registered: May 2005
Karma: -1
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Hi,
From 1968 to 1974 I raced for the Canadian Lotus distributor in Western
Canada. Lotus Elite (Coventry Climax), then Lotus 22 (Cosworth SCA), then
Lotus 47 (Cosworth BDA). Then I got married to my first wife and a
brilliant career went downhill from there. LOL.!!!
Thanks,
Gary and Joanne Worobec
Anza, CA
1973 23' Glacier
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Wright" <powerjon@chartermi.net>
To: "gmclist" <gmclist@lyris.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 8:41 AM
Subject: Re: [gmclist] Speed Merchants
>I used to crew on a Top Fuel Dragster in the early 70's ( Grand Spalding
>Dodge), got back in racing in 1980 with an alcohol dragster with Bill
>Mullins and crewed on a Daryl Gwynn Alcohol Dragster 81 & 82 winning world
>title in the class. Mid 80's thru 88 crew chiefed an alcohol Funny Car
>out of Texas, Larry Reeps "Grim Reeper". Drifted away and never went
>back. It was too addictive, I watch on tv but have not been to a race in
>almost 20 years.
>
> J.R. Wright
> GMC GreatLaker
> 77 Eleganza Custom
> 1975 Avion Under Reconstruction
> Michigan
>
> On May 23, 2008, at 8:38 AM, Michael Bozardt wrote:
>
>> I wonder how many GMCers are racers or former racers? I know Wayne
>> Taylor is still racing(Mazdas), Hardie Johnson raced a Lotus 7, I won
>> the Southwest Regional Championship in GP in 1971 in a Sprite.
>>
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| Re: [gmclist] Speed Merchants [message #11483 is a reply to message #11455] |
Fri, 23 May 2008 11:50 |
Rick Denney
Messages: 430
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Michael Bozardt writes...
> I wonder how many GMCers are racers or former racers? I know Wayne
> Taylor is still racing(Mazdas), Hardie Johnson raced a Lotus 7, I
> won the Southwest Regional Championship in GP in 1971 in a Sprite.
I raced the Killer Corolla in the Texas International Driver's
Association in 1982, and extensively in autocross for several years
before that. It's fun going 140 mph in an econobox. I was pushing
maybe 175 horsepower out of the 2T-C engine, and had Toyota Racing
Development's full road-race suspension, complete with a 1.5" ground
clearance. I actually drove it on the street that way for a year.
Fuel was but the tiniest fraction of what that venture cost.
Rick "who finally sold the roller for 6 cents on the dollar" Denney
'73 230 Ex-Glacier "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
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'73 Glacier 230 "Jaws"
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| Re: [gmclist] Speed Merchants [message #11489 is a reply to message #11476] |
Fri, 23 May 2008 12:17 |
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hnielsen2
Messages: 1434
Registered: February 2004
Location: Alpine CA
Karma: 0
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Drags in the 50's and 60's at Paradise Valley Strip in San Diego.
Look up Bean Bandits San Diego for photos from the 50's and 60's
Sling-Shot dragster running Olds, with in and out box, turned 110's, e t ?
"CRS"
At the time some math genius said you could not get lower then 10 second
e.t.'s
Also dry lakes in a 1951 Chevy two door fast back running 56 Olds,with
La Salle three speed trans and Olds rear end.
The lakes scared the S**T out of me.
Stock brakes, wash board and lots of dust.
Howard
Alpine Ca
All is Well
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Ferguson" <botiemad11@gmail.com>
To: "gmclist" <gmclist@lyris.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 9:14 AM
Subject: Re: [gmclist] Speed Merchants
> Mike,
> I got hooked on drag racing with my first '55 Chevy in the 60's.
> Twin Cities Speedway and Minnesota Dragways. In the fall of '69, a
> friend of mine and me won 2nd in top gas eliminator on a Harley drag
> bike at Irwindale during the NHRA bike Nats. My wife and I campaigned
> a pair of '55 Chevys from 1982 til 1996 at the Vintage drags. I have
> a '56 Chevy now that will turn a fairly respectable time with it's 383
> stroker and TH400 trans. Attached is a pair of photos of my wife in
> the burnout box at Carlsbad Raceway in Carlsbad, CA. Howard Neilson
> is probably somewhere in the crowd too.
> Click here: http://tinyurl.com/2ckk9r
>
> - Show quoted text -
>
> On Fri, May 23, 2008 at 5:38 AM, Michael Bozardt <ilse@earth-comm.com>
> wrote:
>> I wonder how many GMCers are racers or former racers?--
> Steve Ferguson
> '76 EII
> Sierra Vista, AZ
> Urethane bushing source
> www.bdub.net/ferguson/
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All is well with my Lord
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| Re: [gmclist] Speed Merchants [message #11511 is a reply to message #11476] |
Fri, 23 May 2008 13:19 |
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Tony Lloyd (not on the net) builds rails powered by flat head Fords. His
wife Kathy drives them.
They were campaigning a dual flat head rail for Flat Head Jack, but will
be back on the nostalgia
drag circuit this year with their own car. He custom built a trailer to
tow behind his GMC for
the dragster and golf cart. If you were at Santa Rosa, Tony was the guy
in the fine looking silver
gas golf cart.
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Terry Taylor
'74 ex-Eleganza SE
San Lorenzo, CA
http://www.n6mon.org
http://dldesignstore.com
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| Re: [gmclist] Speed Merchants [message #11517 is a reply to message #11455] |
Fri, 23 May 2008 13:58 |
JimGunther
Messages: 228
Registered: March 2007
Location: West Haven, CT
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Criminy, I'm such a poser, there are some REAL racers here.
My bro had a '38 Ford with a 283 Chevy I used to "help" on. Got me to the point where, at my peak (maybe it was my valler, really) I owned twin '56 Chevy Coupes (Green 210 and a Green 150?) each powered by 327 Corvette motors (One mild the Tow Car- one wild - the "race car").
This addiction/obsession consumed every dime I made working 2 part-time jobs during the school year and a full-time job during the Summer (when I ALSO took classes). It all came to a head /crisis one night when, because, I had broken a spring on the tow car - I found myseld hitch hiking home from my night class - IN THE RAIN - so I could meet my ride to my third shift job at the Pratt&Whitney Aircraft plant.
That night I said, NO MAS - and within a week Sold EVERYTHING, for, maybe, 7 cents on the dollar bought a 64 Ford business sedan and, pretty much, stayed away "fun vehicles" <some fun, eh?> for 30 years.
Started going back to spectate Drag Races (a couple NHRA national events a year at Pomona, Englishtown, and Reading) in the last 10/15 years.
In a related (fun car) development, built a Lotus 7 Replica (1400 pounds - 180 HP Chevy V6) a couple years ago that is actually a LOT of fun. IT is a lot more capable than the driver. There was a TREMENDOUS pride of accomplishment in completing the Lotus (It's a VERY simple build).
In a similar manner, the GMC is probably an attempt to resolve something from my mis-spent/in-complete youth but (my wife might argue this point) now I have it under control 
Jim Gunther
www.LotusV6.com
now former owner - ;(
73 GMC-II 2600
by Explorer
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| Re: [gmclist] Speed Merchants [message #11527 is a reply to message #11523] |
Fri, 23 May 2008 15:25 |
Rick Denney
Messages: 430
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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John Chalinder writes...
> I'm thinking there is a direct relationship between a person who knows
> automotive engineering 'on the edge', as race car drivers do, and the love of
> a well engineered rv.
I remember sitting in a lawn chair in the infield of Texas World
Speedway, chatting with the father of one of my racing buddies. (My
racing buddy who started JBA Headers which are quite popular with the
Mustang crowd--we were college kids then). We were admiring two or
three of the motorhomes that were in the infield. GMC's. They always
had the attention of the race-track crowd. Of course, that's back when
they were new. But no car nut from that era would not be attracted to
a sleek motorhome with a bona fide Olds muscle-car engine.
A few years previous to that time, I owned a 1970 Cutlass. Dangerous
car. Too fast for an idiot like me, and incapable of either turning or
stopping. But I've had a think about Oldsmobiles from that era since
then. Being the responsible, upstanding citizen that I am, I never
scratched that itch, until now.
Okay, the real reason was that I didn't have the money to pursue it.
Rick "planning to take Jaws to the next Texas A&M Sports Car Club
reunion in five years, no matter how much gas costs" Denney
'73 230 Ex-Glacier "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
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'73 Glacier 230 "Jaws"
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| Re: [gmclist] Speed Merchants [message #11530 is a reply to message #11527] |
Fri, 23 May 2008 15:35 |
Gary Worobec
Messages: 867
Registered: May 2005
Karma: -1
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Senior Member |
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Hi, The first GMC I saw was in 1973 was owned by a fellow named Allan Lader
a very succesful Formula B (Atlantic) car driver from Portland. He was at
our local track. The coach was bright orange. I don;t know the model. He was
driving a Lola under sponsorship from Carl Haas and a fellow named Pierre
Philips.
It was just to coolest looking track rig to have at that time. As the rest
rest of us were working out of box vans these guys had the full awning,
floor, roped off, etc. Very professional. Since then I've always wanted a
GMC.
Thanks,
Gary and Joanne Worobec
Anza, CA
1973 23' Glacier
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Denney" <rick@rickdenney.com>
To: "gmclist" <gmclist@lyris.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 1:44 PM
Subject: Re: [gmclist] Speed Merchants
>
> I remember sitting in a lawn chair in the infield of Texas World
> Speedway, chatting with the father of one of my racing buddies. (My
> racing buddy who started JBA Headers which are quite popular with the
> Mustang crowd--we were college kids then). We were admiring two or
> three of the motorhomes that were in the infield. GMC's. They always
> had the attention of the race-track crowd. Of course, that's back when
> they were new. But no car nut from that era would not be attracted to
> a sleek motorhome with a bona fide Olds muscle-car engine.
>
> A few years previous to that time, I owned a 1970 Cutlass. Dangerous
> car. Too fast for an idiot like me, and incapable of either turning or
> stopping. But I've had a think about Oldsmobiles from that era since
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| Re: [gmclist] Speed Merchants [message #11536 is a reply to message #11455] |
Fri, 23 May 2008 16:05 |
GeorgeRud
Messages: 1380
Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I guess there is a common thread. I spent most of my college years crewing for SCCA DSRs, Formula Fords, IMSA Radial Challenge Mazdas, etc. at racetracks all over the country. Also spent way too many weekends doing Autocrosses and track events in Porsche 914-6s (which I still own after these 30 years). Though they were long days, I still love the mechanical work and precision that was required, and didn't have any way that I would have rather spent my time. I was going to veterinary college at the time, and it was a most welcome relief from my studies on the weekends.
I absolutely loved the engineering of the GMC when I saw my first one in 1973, and knew someday I'd have one of my own. Wife and two kids take a lot of time when you're also earning a living, but the GMC is now my current mistress. I'm hoping to get her in shape to take to vintage races during the summers, it seems the right way to enjoy the race weekends.
Should I become concerned that it's the same group of people watching the same cars that were state of the art in their day, but now were all "vintage". I truly believe that you have to grow old, but not grow up!
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
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| Re: [gmclist] Speed Merchants [message #11552 is a reply to message #11455] |
Fri, 23 May 2008 20:10 |
midlf
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
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| Michael Bozardt wrote on Fri, 23 May 2008 07:38 |
I wonder how many GMCers are racers or former racers?
|
Got the Corvette in '75, also got involved with SCCA the same year as a Tech Inspector. Did a lot of National Council of Corvette Clubs low and high speed autocross, we called them Gymkhanas. Race???? I didn't have the bucks for that. As one racer said, autocross you peel off $10 bills, for racing it is $100 bills. The CFO and I were SCCA national license tech inspectors from the mid '70s to late '80s. We had a lot of fun with that but work eventually interfered. The track was the first place we saw GMCs and really thought they were slick, especially compared to the SOBs of the time.
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
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