Supercar reunion pics

[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.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

To post pics, just go to www.boomspeed.com. It is the easiest to use, and best of all - it's free! If you have questions, let me know.

A special thanks for bringing the Little Hoss racecar, and for all of the memorabilia that was available Friday night. I had a nice time reading all of the articles and looking at the photos/advertisements. What a cool car.
Marlin

[JoeC]

Ken if you have trouble posting the pics email them to me I will post them

[68TopStock]

My above post mentions Gary H., I think we were talking to Mark Hassett, while we were in the staging lanes. Sorry for the error, I met too many people last weekend and my memory is starting to go. At the last Fred Gibb Reunion, 8/4/01, I gave Herb a copy of the April '69 SSD&I (Super Stock Drag Illustated), with the article about the Winternationals and his beating Ronnie Sox. Herb is such a modest fellow, that when I asked him what happened the first time out racing the ZL1, the first thing that seemed to come to his mind, was that he backed it off the trailer, and hung up the front wheel before it was off! I reminded him he also happened to beat Ronnie Sox during that episode at the track.

I think this is also the race (the first) that Paul Pryor had to fly directly to the racetrack from Detroit, to deliver the correct carb. before the tech inspectors would allow them to race.

It was great to see the ZL1's and Yenko's and COPO's, and the Gibb LS6 convertible at the track. I know how much effort, time, and expense it has taken the owners to prepare their cars. I thought I might have been a bit out of line wanting to take my car out, but now realize that the track is the only place for her, when considering future shows to attend. My hat's off to Tom and Rob and the others for allowing track time as part of the reunion.

By the way, if any Gibb car owners did not received a Cordova World Series pit pass from 1968, please give me an e-mail. These were from Herb's first Top Stock Eliminator win at the World Series of Drag Racing, after several attempts, with his previous racecars.