Back then there were even a few Buick GSX’s, Pontiac Firebirds (before they started calling them Trans am’s) and a few GTO’s and everybody had their brand name engine under the hood, there would be no Chevy motors in any other GM brand or body style. It was REAL pro STOCK cars.
This was the best damn pro stock drag racing ever, the Mopars, Fords, and Chevys!!! S&M, Butch Leal, The Grump, Dick Landy, Bob Glidden, just to name a few, they were all the greatest Pro Stock drivers ever, long live the '70s!!!
Drag racing today does not compare to what we are seeing here. Thanks so much for putting this together. It made my day and brought back so many memories of days and nights I lived at the drags. Awesome.
1970 and the early 70s were the best in Pro Stock. They were part stock and part Pro. They were cars we identified with. The racing was great and the drivers were legendary. I wish the NHRA could recapture the magic of the original Pro Stock years.
Back then there were all manufacturers and all types of cars racing. Now it’s just cookie cutter Camaro racing, guess that’s why the stands are empty now.
@@keithlarge1151 FALSE. The basic body must still be steel, but hoods, decklids and doors can be fiberglass or carbon fiber in pro-stock. Interior body panels can be carbon fiber, fiberglass, or aluminum. The entire car can't be carbon fiber or fiberglass. Go read the NHRA rules book.
Great memories here! AMC cars were cool to see! Glidden did so much with so little. Wally Booth was flying! Dyno Don had some awesome looking cars through the years.
I remember looking at Maskin and Kanner's Hornet.. Richard Maskin's had Frankensteined the AMC heads. In addition to the welding ,he added an aluminum plate to the intake ports.
Pro Stock was my favorite back then. Mopar was badass in those days. After I came home from Vietnam at age of 21 I bought a brand new Plymouth Duster the first year they were offered. Seeing Sox & Martin and their Pro Stock Duster helped me make that choice. Plus, it was a badass looking car!
This video is priceless in my opinion.......my glory days. Back in those days I had the pleasure of owning '72 Cuda, 440 six pack induction (3 two barrel carbs), and 4.10 gears in the back, slap stick shifter and that Shaker Hood. Let the good times roll!
Yes, sir. Had me a 1970 White Gremlin. Fix it up, looking just like a funny car. Big wide tires, nice wheels. Had to us adapters to fid the wheels. 19 yrs. Old. Didn't have the money to drop an engine with great power to race. Stopped at a light. Next to me was a street race car. You could hear just by sound what was under the hood. I looked at him and signaled with my left hand, go on the green. Green is on. Boy, he took off screaming . I'm still sitting on the green light. My wife was crying out of laughter. Yes, my Gremlin was deceiving. Nice car. I enjoyed it and then traded it for 1972 400cc GTO 4 speed. This one i invested money in it. Built it into a stree race care. My pride n joy. Blessings GySgt Montemayor USMC Retired 77-97 Santa Rosa, Texas (Keep them Racing)
I LIVED FOR THIS...I STILL HAVE MY 71 CAMARO... I HAD TO THROW OUT 6 ... 75 GALLON GARBAGE CANS OF DRAG RACING MAGS... AND VHS TAPES ...EVEN MY LADIES GOT OFF ON IT....ONE HER TWO YEAR OLD GIRL EVEN HAD A GREAT TIME...
The 1970s were a great time for Pro Stock. They didn't use trash computer technology, only real, mechanical car parts, and they had such a huge number of great cars to choose from. Just like the gasser era that came before, Pro Stock was so much fun to watch back then.
Absolutely lived those days of Pro Stock. Big SoxMartin fan. Saw Ronnie here in town. I was close enough to Grumpy to hear him swear at his wrench while changing his own tires. Omg. He is human !?!?
Most people associate Roy Hill w/ Pro Stock, but prior to that he campaigned a nice beige, SS Roadrunner. Pro Stock was great, but SS & A/Gas were just as much fun.
Great post, thank you! The irony of watching this is that the mid-to-late '70s was an absolute wasteland for American performance cars because of the smog regulations, yet the pro stocks kept getting faster and faster! At least we got to watch fast cars, even though we couldn't buy them anymore.
Absolutely the best years of Pro Stock. I would go see them every chance I had👍 The cookie cutter cars of today are no match. Too bad I had to hear Brian L's voice on this great video.
i was at the 1977 Summernationals. The race where Warren Johnson had the front of his Camero duct taped together. We used to make a weekend of it. Friday and Saturday qualifying and Sunday final eliminations. I always liked the door cars the best. It's hard to believe that was 45 years ago. It was always a good time.
Seeing these magnificent cars flying down the track what a treat I wish I was old enough to see them but I got to actually work with and get to know a four-time world champion Pro Stock owner and Runner rotten Ralph Woodall and the stories that he would tell of the early days of a Pro Stock will just keep you on the edge of your seat
Akron Arlen was my grandparents neighbor all through out my dad's childhood. Up until my Dad graduated from high school and moved away..My Unc even helped Arlen crew the car for any upcoming events. My Dad said you would always kno when he was ready to leave by the sound of the engine. Cuz it Rattled everything off the walls and off his moms diningroom hutch. Pulling it from the garage. Back then you didnt have all the sponsorships of today. So the neighborhood helped with tires and fuel for the season. He made that neighboorhood proud. I can still remember climbing between the wheel wells in the back to sit on floor for a ride around the block. I never turned down going to stay at grandma's. I Bet Arlen didnt get much work done with me asking him a thousand questions. Arlen was a kind, humble gentleman. Never did he forget where he came from. He was the same Man. All the way up until his passing. Old Timers like those guys. Are a lost commodity. The stories he could tell from his first days of drag racing. With the Arfons family and Bill Otie Smith. From Otie's speed shop on kenmore Blvd. Those 3 were the most responsible for bringing the sport to the east coast. They would rent akron fulton airports runway out to test and hold competitions. Art Arfons and Brother would shake down his Land speed Racers there also. To ready them for Bonneville every year. To say i once knew Arlen Vanke and Art Arfons, meant little back then, But definitely priceless today. The people i lookes up to, were fast and did it a ¼ mile at a time, Except in Art's case. He did it 5 miles at a time. Breaking multiple landspeed records while doing so. Those were Days. What i would give, just to go back for one more day. GODBLESS ALL of the Old Timers from our sport.
Great memories, for sure! I spoke with Art Arfons' daughter-in-law several years ago in connection wtih the Mecum auction and she had kind things to say about him.
By far the very best form of pro stock racing! The body panels were EXACTLY the same shape as the cars that were on the dealership lot, other than the hood scoops and the narrowed rear ends they were the true form of pro STOCK not the deformed jellybean cars they call pro stock today in fact they look just like the pro mod cars in a class that allows the bodies to be reshaped in what ever way they need to be. It used to be a class that when they were racing you were back at your seat rooting for your favorite brand and model car as you could see/tell what each car what supposed to be not like the deformed jellybeans that they call a Camaro as they’ re the only car left because NHRA kept allowing more and more changes to be done to the body because the racers kept claiming the car was aerodynamically dirty compared to all the other cars in the class (thank the sandbagging Summit team for this lie to take flight) they were using underpowered junk motors in their cars as “proof” that the new Camaro body style could not be competitive in its stock shape. The fact is the Camaro body could have been mounted backwards or sideways and it should not have effected their 60’ times to the degree that their two team cars were suddenly running. The result was Ford left and then Dodge with their Hemi left the class. NHRA knew they screwed the pooch when even the drivers of some of the Chevy cars left the class and even the sport to go race in NASCAR. Who wants to watch 12-16 Camaros race in “pro stock” , it was so bad they couldn’t even fill the 16 car field. The DRAGPACK Challengers, the Cobra Jet Mustangs and the COPO Camaros running in FS/XX stock class became the new pro stock class to watch, but NHRA started screwing around with that class as well as for some reason one car manufacture couldn’t follow the very simple rules of everybody has the some size engine, same amount of valves per cylinder and all the cars are to weigh 3550 LBS, so bending the rules turned into breaking them for some types of cars so concessions needed to be made for other brands to re-level the playing field then the sand baggers show up and they’re back to the old pro stock mess again because one car brand can’t follow the initial rules. You look in the stands now and it’s a bunch of empty seats it’s now a sport that caters to multimillionaires not to the door slammer cars that started it all.
NHRA consider themselves drag racing "promotors". Meaning that they will eff some/all of the racers, if they think the result is for the "good of the sport". Unfortunately, "Good of the sport" seems to mean "whatever makes NHRA the most money" The only NHRA series I follow anymore is the "Hemi Shootout" Visited the NHRA museum in 2015. Nothing but Dragsters and Funnys. No Pro Stocks, in fact barely any doorslammers at all. Drove up from San Diego to see, should have gone to the Petersen instead.
FJ, I think you are spot on in your analysis! How did the best class in NHRA become a parody? Pro Stock 2023 is a far cry from what it was. Honestly, it has become pointless, and there is no reason for it to continue as is.
These cars had enhancements done to their bodies too. I suggest you watch the herb mccandless " Mr 4 speed" . He tells a lot of the secrets to their pro stock hemi car. Wheelbase was altered from stock, floor pan raised to lower the car from stock and other things done to keep their edge
Wow. No mention of how NHRA treated the Chrysler racers handicapping them with extra weight penalties just because Ford and gm couldn't find a way around the mighty 426 Hemi
Those were NOT 426 hemis' They were "destrokes"...WJ's Camero was a big block 366ci at that time as most NHRA big blocks regardless of manufacturer just as today's cid limited to 500ci but most if not all are running 498s
@@timmebruer5205the Ford cammer was never used in a Nascar race . The 426 hemi was banned by Nascar after the 1964 season and Ford developed the cammer to compete with the hemi but Chrysler started developing their own dohc hemi . After that Nascar banned both of these engines and mandated that any engine raced in Nascar had to be produced and offered in regular street cars . Chrysler then offered the hemi in various production models such as the Charger , Coronet , and the Belvedere . Ford never produced one street car with a cammer engine . The cammer was made in very low numbers and most were supplied to Factory drag racers such as Gas Rhonda , Dyno Don and Jack Chrisman .
I dont know if anyone can help, but my mother was in prostock racing with her first husband back in the 1968-1972 era, She passed but I wouldve love to see the two cars she always talked about, was from Amissville VA Stringfellow Bros 1st Car was Little Red Lizard and Blue Blazer both Camaros. She talked about how fun it was picking the cars up and getting them all fixed up and ready to run. They had Lee Edwards do the Engine work for them. I just would love to see the car in Action. Was born in the 1980s so i missed that whole scene. Many thanks
1:39 4:08 My parents grew up near by Pomona Raceway at the time and boy they and my grandparents remember how it sounded. Although my dad can hear quietly from his house, my mom can hear it blocks north from the raceway.
I'm just throwing this out there because I luved the Doorslammers; the ProStock class I had the honor of guest crewing for Bob Glidden (I was an engine builder, went over with questions lol) I had the Privilege of standing behind the starter at Famosa for Pro Stock (our C dragster got waved off after push starting) I had the pleasure of working for Bartley Kenyon (godfather of the Hemi-head) in his head shop. I had the labor of great friends. Man drag-racing was fun back then. Enjoyed comments from fellow fans of the golden era,
According to my research, 1979 would be the year a young Greg Anderson would begin his drag racing career wrenching for the late John Hagen. Decades later, he would solidify his spot in motorsports history as a multi-time champion and team owner.
This is when Pro Stock class was best . Stock looking cars from all different manufacturers. Now they all run the same manufacturer . Very boring now. I was at an event this year. When the Pro Stock class runs the grandstands empty out , everyone goes to get food or to the restroom.
I enjoy watching some of this older stuff .Back in the early 80s i had a 68 Chevy El with th400 and spooled 4.56 gears and 355 with a B+M 6/71 and it ran 10.30 and it was fun to drive great MPH with the Howard County time mail box
@@gordocarbo yes it was BM had their first streetable 6 71 supercharger and it had plastic seals on the rotors .That 350 saw 23lbs of boost and the block was filled upto waterpump with concrete. And cooper head gaskets but it was a bracket car .I stood it straight up at capital one friday night talk about a ride
Current NHRA pro stock records are 6.45 sec and 215.55 mph, both set by Erica Enders. Just saw a 4-cylinder turbo sport compact (rwd tube frame car) run 6.18 @ 218 mph. Maybe it's time for NHRA to rethink pro stock.
Wow does this bring back memories, it was the late '70s in southeast Florida and I was running mid tens in a '68 roadrunner street car that I built from the time I was 15 to 17 years old. Pearl white and pretty pretty, but extremely fast I can tell you the Pro Stock Racers really didn't like me much I raced a few the AMC in particular I raced against on time I believe he had to give me three on the tree and almost lost. Not a bad $500 Grudge Match. Although racing brackets was a favorite pastime, but I made more money street racing. I also want a couple of nice cars that way too on pink slip matches. There was a 69 GTX called anticipation that was just a tad faster than me although he's the guy that built my indestructible Transmission in South Florida a guy by the name dick Maxwell. Thank you so much for these fond memories.
Dick Maxwell; there's a name I have not heard in decades. SE Florida myself. Miami-Hollywood Speedway Park, Palm Beach (with the AHRA race in 1971). Ended up running bracket cars, starting with a Dodge Dart with a 340 (360 heads) and a Clutchflite. Graduated to Super Gas in a Corvette with a tube chassis and a Reher-Morrison 454 and a Lenco. Quick way to spend a bunch of money !!!
@@marcanglin7127 hey Mark thanks for the reply yeah that's no doubt you can drop some money real quick on those cars oh, the last car I had was in the 80s it was a 72 swinger with a 360 Truck Engine originally it came with a 318 high-performance but the old lady blew it up. I love the 340 Duster I had didn't do much to that it was A Streetcar very fast for what it was. But who am I telling you know all this oh, brother I hope all is well and that you're enjoying the new year. God bless
@@MakinEndsMeet69 I was doing a test and tune at WPB before my 2nd NHRA season: Warmed the tires, staged, brought the revs up, let the clutch out and............the revs kept going up until they hit the auto shut off. I somehow turned the innards of a $5K Lenco to pudding !!! Thankfully that was the only failure that I had for over 2 years, but it was expensive !!! God bless !!!
GREAT video, to the point, didn't fill it with a lot of BS standing around talking with people, 95% pure racing. Could not even hit pause, had to watch it to the end. Thanks for making this video ! !
D Youngman, I began pro-level drag racing back in the late 60's. One of my former NHRA AA/FF cars is at Don Garlits Museum in Ocala FL today. We sold it to Jim Liberman in 1974. Long nose Vega with 392 Chrysler hemi engine. Cast iron Powerglide transmission and 9" Ford rear differential. Its fastest run was 6.17 in 1973 @ 215 MPH.
