[68TopStock]

JoeC

I do remember the story told by Herb, however, it did not involve "Little Hoss" or the crossram, unfortunately (I wish it did). The "facts" of the story may be somewhat "blended" by time, as Herb has so many stories to remember and tell.

I think the conversation started when I asked Herb what happened the first time he raced the #1 ZL1, at Phoenix, for the '69 Winternationals (AHRA). We were speaking to Gary H.?(owner of the ZL1 at the track). Herb beat Ronnie Sox, who had just been given the honors of the '68 Driver of the Year, for AHRA! This story is in the '69 April SSD&I, and is guised under the "upsets of the week-end". Herb also may have beaten Ronnie Sox, once the ZL1 was fitted with the experimental tunnel ram, however, I do not have any written material yet about that story.

I'm am so glad Herb is such a regular guy, who is willing to take his time to share with me and others. He was the #1 ZL1 salesman, thinks he sold 18 (?), and the first person on the planet to race a production ZL1. He told others back at the Hotel on Sat. pm that Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins was so mad when he found out they had 50 ZL1 cars, that he had a guy come down to LaHarpe to check out the claim with magnet in hand! This may have been how word got out to other dealers of the order. The fact the other dealers wanted ZL1's saved Fred Gibb from losing a lot of money, as the cars were not as easy to sell as the COPO Novas were.

The first time I spoke to Herb, seven years ago, when I found "Little Hoss", he thought the crossram they had received was the first one made, however, I have no way of proving this, and have come to the conclusion it may have been one of the first 25 made. The shipping records are dated 5/6/68 with Vince Piggins name on the records. The first crossram manifolds did not have part numbers on them, like the '69 units sold to the public. Some of the early units had 0-prototype numbers. I do know that the manifold that came off of "Little Hoss" was sold in 1978, to someone in the New England or NE US for $400.00, through a "parts wanted" ad run in the National Dragster magazine! Someday I hope to find the original manifold. The crossram was fitted in early June, after the Bristol Springnationals (2 records), and was allowed under the Formula 1 Stock class, Multiple Carburetion in AHRA. It is believed to be the first nationally raced, crossram fitted Z28 Camaro for the drag strip.

By the way, I did take several pics at Beardstown, and a short video of one of the runs. I do not know how to post pics yet, may have to learn.