[retengw31]

Lots of Olds dealers used the "Smothers Bothers" racing team banner back in 68/69 on their W31's and W30's. That was part of the promo for the Olds factory sponsored (through dealers) cars that were run all over the country. Dick Smothers did race one himself at the 1968 Nationals (maybe more times, too) that was really a 68 car updated with 69 trim. They got thrown out of an IHRA race by our old friend Vance Brady (who among other things was a tech advisor to IHRA back then) for trying to pass off a big block as a small block Olds. He was really pissed as the small block W31's (he had one running with Sox and Martin and Jenkins and the boys) could stay with most of the big blocks and was better factored in E or F Stock. No need to try to cheat. Reflected bad on the entire Dale Smith Olds program.

This Chesrown car was at the Pure Stock race over the weekend and broke big time in a 3-4 shift when the driveshaft snapped in half and took out the bellhousing. Trans rotated almost 90 degrees, wiped out the console, and made a general mess of the car underneath. Ironic that that's what happened to my original 68 W31 Ramrod the first time we raced Pure Stock with the original untouched engine and drivetrain. In our case, it snapped right after the traps in decel. Now has a HUGE chromemoly driveshaft in it.