I ran across this old photo today taken by Jeff Dykes at the top end of the track @ SIR (Pacific Raceways) in 1997. The car had our old hood scoop on it then that worked as well as our Aero-type scoop. – Roger
’57 in 1997 @ SIR at top end of the track
Speaking of being bored, I scanned a couple slides from around 1973 of the Fallnationals at SIR for nostalgia:
Fallnationals at SIR, circa 1973
Going back even further in the archives, I found this slide of our ’57 at Puyallup in approximately 1973:
Our ’57 at Puyallup in approximately 1973
Here’s a shot of our 1st Modified Production short block. It was 292 cubic inches (+.060 283) with JE 11:5 pistons, Crankshaft Company fully counterweighted crankshaft, Howard 5.7″ aluminum rods, Racer Brown R-66 roller cam, 2.02 straight-plug FI heads, and Harland-Sharp roller rockers. We’ve come a long way since then!
Our first Modified Production motor, early 70’s
And here’s the car back in those early days in F/MP trim when it was ground-towed [UGH!] :
Early F/MP days. 292 SBC, 4-speed, 10″ slicks, leaf springs
You can tell I’m bored when I’m cleaning out my messy desk and ran across this old photo. This racing season has been about as exciting as watching grass grow with the inclement weather and big gaps in the racing schedule at Pacific Raceways.
The only decent weather we’ve had was in May when the track closed to resurface both lanes to the 330 mark. Here’s hoping for improvement in July!!!
Well I am so happy that you got bored, what a great photo to find. My dad would love to to see the modifiy production motor. I do like the 57 in the window that says car in tow.
Thanks, Melodie
Thanks Melodie, and feel free to share our blog with your father!!
I hope you have enjoyed my trip down memory lane.
Is it me, or is the drag racing news even from CompetitionPlus and DragRacingOnline become as boring as racing here in the Northwest? It is like the sport is dying a slow death and much of the excitement is gone, at least for me.
Where are the tech articles these days? When I was young I used to buy everything on the magazine rack pertaining to racing and read every tech article. All I see on most of the online publications, including NHRA, is human interest stories. Not that it is bad, but it does not encourage young people to get involved in our sport, nor does it help them build their first race car!
It has been a very bizarre race season to say the least. It has been really hard to get into any rhythm for both Chris & myself as I am sure it is the same for the other fellow racers, especially at Pacific. Let’s hope the big 2 race in a day on July 7th actually happens as that to me is the real start of our season. Love the pics Dad, haven’t seen some of these before as it is truly nice to see your memories in the pics.
Love, Paul
Between our weather and the NHRA mandate of resurfacing the starting line to the 330 at PR, it’s like the season that never was! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the pics. The original 292 had an Edelbrock TR-1Y tunnel ram and we ran two Holley 600 cfm, List #1850 vacuum secondary carbs mounted in-line with secondary metering plates for jets in the back half. Not the best!!
They were replaced by the 660’s List #4224 a few years later (sideways mounting) which we modified and still run today on our 331.