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Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: StewartP] #160749
01/27/09 12:38 AM
01/27/09 12:38 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,101
Melbourne, Florida
Florida_70Bee Offline
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Saturday was a special day for many of us...
For Ben, bringing the Missile out and letting all of us get up close to a piece of history.(Thanks Ben!) Meeting Joe and then seeing him take a seat for the first time in 35 years in the Missile. And then watching him fire up that big Ole' Hemi was priceless! What a moment!
I loved listening to the stories Joe told (I bet sitting behind Don in the Missile while he launched it at 8000rpm's was quite an experience huh Joe LOL!) and the question and answer period was wonderful! Stewart, the photo's you provided were teriffic (it really brought the history of the Missile alive) and the items you donated for our event were unbelievable!


Thank you Joe, Stewart, and Ben for making this day and our swap meet very special indeed! As Kevin said in the the title of this thread "Joe's Da'MAN" and he is!

4976479-9.JPG (253 downloads)
Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: Florida_70Bee] #160750
01/27/09 08:09 PM
01/27/09 08:09 PM
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Posts: 67
Howell, MI
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Mopar Missile JP Offline
Back To The 70s With J.P.
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Howell, MI
I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to a number of people that were instrumental in making last weekend's experience so very special.

First I need to thank Stewart Pomeroy for pushing the right buttons in my head and dangling this carrot in front of my eyes. Without Stewart's efforts, much of the Missile's history - both photographic and verbal - would probably have disappeared once Dick Oldfield and I were firmly planted in terra firma. Thanks to his efforts, that will not happen. Stewart has been the most wonderful host I could ask for - opening his home and his wonderful network of Mopar contacts to myself and my wife Lynn. I owe you Stewart!!!

Next I would like to thank Andy Caldwell and Penny Anderson for putting on one terrific show. This is a first class event that warms this northerner's heart. I also appreciate the hospitality shown to Lynn and myself by everyone in Melbourne.

Lastly, I would like to thank Ben Donhoff for allowing me access to the MOPAR MISSILE. After 35 years the old girl looked mighty fine. She is older and a little different here and there but aren't we all. Ben, thank you for keeping the MOPAR MISSILE spirit alive. Take care of that old girl, treat her right and she take take care of you too.

I did have an ear to ear grin when Ben let me fire that girl up. It brought back lots of memories. That car has a piece the soul of every person who laid hand on her back in those days. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about Don Carlton, Dickie Oldfield, and that great car.

Thank you for the best day I have had in many, many years.


Joe Pappas
MOPAR MISSILE
Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: chris3] #160751
01/27/09 08:12 PM
01/27/09 08:12 PM
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Howell, MI
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Back To The 70s With J.P.
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Quote:

Joe:

Glad to see you back. Kevin would have been like a kid in a toy store at Christmas. Was it like you remembered it?




Mike,

Absolutely. She has aged pretty well.

I know that Kevin would have been beside himself at this event. I thought about him on Saturday. He was probably looking down on this and smiling as much as I was...


Joe Pappas
MOPAR MISSILE
Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: Mopar Missile JP] #160752
01/27/09 08:56 PM
01/27/09 08:56 PM
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Posts: 12,129
Cleveland
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I Live Here
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Cleveland
Great stories. I sure wish I was a fly on the wall again. You guys keep getting together like this, and Joe will move to FLA, right next to Stu !! Can you say Bar-B-Que every day !!

I know Kevin had to be going crazy in heaven, wishing he were there, shaking hands. I wonder wahts going to happen to the Motown Duster ??


Join the quickest team in motorsports. Team FireCore. CustomWiresets.com
Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: Mopar Missile JP] #160753
01/28/09 12:09 AM
01/28/09 12:09 AM
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Raleigh N.C
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I know that Kevin would have been beside himself at this event. I thought about him on Saturday. He was probably looking down on this and smiling as much as I was...





I can promise you he was !!!!!

Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: Mopar Missile JP] #160754
01/28/09 12:15 AM
01/28/09 12:15 AM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,031
Florida
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StewartP Offline
Mopar Vintage Picture Guy
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Florida
Joe, you owe me nothing - you and DickO, Tom Hoover, Tom Coddington, Al Adam, Ted Spehar, Leonard Bartush, Ron Killen, John Baumann and Don Carlton are the people we all owe. Your small band of brothers, were instrumental in numerous advances in Mopar drag racing. The guys of today will never be able to repay you all. All we can do is try to collect and share the history of those magical days, and keep your legacy alive. I believe I speak for all Mopar fans and especially Missile Fanatics --- THANK YOU !!

StewartP

Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: StewartP] #160755
01/28/09 12:19 AM
01/28/09 12:19 AM
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Posts: 3,354
ohio
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ohio

Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: HEMIDARTS] #160756
01/28/09 08:42 AM
01/28/09 08:42 AM
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Raleigh N.C
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hemiparts Offline
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How close was she to original?? You can tell a few cosmetic changes and by the ET's you can tell theres been some drivetrain changes???

Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: hemiparts] #160757
01/30/09 12:54 AM
01/30/09 12:54 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,101
Melbourne, Florida
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There is a new article/photos/video out on Allpar about Joe's reunion with the Missile

Here is the link

http://www.allpar.com/racing/joe-pappas.html

Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: Florida_70Bee] #160758
01/30/09 01:00 AM
01/30/09 01:00 AM
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Posts: 1,101
Melbourne, Florida
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Thought I would post a couple of pictures of this past weekends festivities with Joes reunion with one of the baddest cars on the planet!

The Missile arrives!

4985069-3.JPG (276 downloads)
Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: Florida_70Bee] #160759
01/30/09 01:01 AM
01/30/09 01:01 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,101
Melbourne, Florida
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The Missile is ready for the show!

4985072-4.JPG (350 downloads)
Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: Florida_70Bee] #160760
01/30/09 01:03 AM
01/30/09 01:03 AM
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Melbourne, Florida
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Stewart and Joe arrive!

4985077-16.JPG (254 downloads)
Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: Florida_70Bee] #160761
01/30/09 01:06 AM
01/30/09 01:06 AM
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Melbourne, Florida
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Ben invites Joe to take a seat in his old friend!

4985091-7.JPG (279 downloads)
Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: Florida_70Bee] #160762
01/30/09 01:08 AM
01/30/09 01:08 AM
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Melbourne, Florida
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The Missile reunion contines with Ben and Joe while Stewart looks on!

4985097-12.JPG (216 downloads)
Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: Florida_70Bee] #160763
01/30/09 01:09 AM
01/30/09 01:09 AM
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Melbourne, Florida
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The Missile's Big Hemi that Joe fires up!

4985105-10.JPG (255 downloads)
Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: Florida_70Bee] #160764
01/30/09 01:12 AM
01/30/09 01:12 AM
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Melbourne, Florida
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Question and Answer time with Joe and Ben!

4985117-14.JPG (203 downloads)
Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: Florida_70Bee] #160765
01/30/09 01:14 AM
01/30/09 01:14 AM
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Melbourne, Florida
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The Show continues..

4985127-4a.JPG (269 downloads)
Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: Florida_70Bee] #160766
01/30/09 01:15 AM
01/30/09 01:15 AM
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Melbourne, Florida
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After a long day the Missile heads home.

A great day and one I will always remember!

4985134-17.JPG (248 downloads)
Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: hemiparts] #160767
01/30/09 08:35 PM
01/30/09 08:35 PM
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Posts: 67
Howell, MI
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Mopar Missile JP Offline
Back To The 70s With J.P.
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Howell, MI
Quote:

How close was she to original?? You can tell a few cosmetic changes and by the ET's you can tell theres been some drivetrain changes???





Chris,

The Missile was fairly original from the pedal box rearward. It seems that sometime in the 70's the car was damaged in a racing incident whereby the front of the car took a substantial hit. It sat in storage for about a year until Ben purchased it. In order to fix the car, the front clip was removed and replaced with what is presently on the car. There is a slight wheelbase difference (now shorter than the 108" wb normally found on the A body) and the suspension and K member are much different. It also looked like the engine had been repositioned slightly rearward - possibly due to the shortened wheelbase. The nose of the car was not narrowed or dropped like we had done and the car had been updated to '75 or '76 model year - I think. The removable firewall was replaced by a welded in piece.

From there back, most of the chassis was intact. Ben had added a number of tubes under the existing chassis to strengthen the chassis and to make it legal for current rules. The roll cage was also updated but most of the original bars were intact. Ben mentioned that he had the original bars checked and they were in excellent shape and actually exceeded current NHRA thickness guidelines! The rear suspension was still intact and the only modification there was a diagional track bar replacing our original parallel track bar. A fuel cell now resides where our original tank originally was mounted.

The gold and orange and yellow in the paint scheme are as good as I can recall.

The best thing that I observed is that should Ben wish to restore the car to it's 1973 livery, it would be relatively straightforward. All it would take is some cash and plenty of work. The car is pretty much intact and I believe in doing the modifications that he did, Ben made an effort to preserve as much of the original car as possible.


Joe Pappas
MOPAR MISSILE
Re: Official Joe Pappas Q & A Thread. **Joe's Da' MAN [Re: Mopar Missile JP] #160768
02/01/09 12:48 PM
02/01/09 12:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 622
NC
chris3 Offline
mopar
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Posts: 622
NC
Joe:
I spoke with Don, Jr. and Don's Family yesterday at the Southern Drag Expo/North Carolina Hall of Fame, in Greensboro. All are doing fine. We talked about your trip to Florida to see the Missle. Donnie said he bet that did bring a smile to your face and that you have a lot of memories of that car. He talked about your coming to visit him. We talked about Don and Clyde and the whole gang. Buddy Martin, Herb, Max Hurly, Roy Hill and the group were there.

We talked about this link on this site and his family has the information to get on and see some of the stories and all of the good comments on here about Don and the Missle.

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