Bill "Maverick" Golden's traction setup for '63 Dodge?
#35968
04/20/07 03:06 PM
04/20/07 03:06 PM
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Anonymous
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What was it? I recall seeing blurry photo's and reading this quote from a website but would be curious if anyone had further info.? That's where I came up with the swinging traction system," he says. "We were playing with traction bars on the '62 and ended up with something on the '63 car that was 180 degrees from what everybody else had. Essentially, these bars ran from the axle housing backwards to just below the rear bumper, and we replaced the rubber spring eye bushings with solid steel for less suspension play. It definitely worked to plant the rear tires; when the throttle was nailed, the car would literally jump off the starting line. Remember, we ran 7-inch slicks in those days, and those cars needed all the weight transfer and traction they could handle. We were protested wildly over these bars, and they were ultimately outlawed for 1964."
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Re: Bill "Maverick" Golden's traction setup for '63 Dodge?
#35969
04/20/07 03:13 PM
04/20/07 03:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,763 Walton's Mountain, Pa
Steve1118
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It was a unique system. It actually worked real good, too. Basically, it was a backward traction bar set up, with the bars running from the rear end housing to way in the rear of the car. This prevented any twist at all from the rear, and they did launch like a rocket. However, NHRA outlawed the whole deal toward the end of that year, so that ended that.
"Old age and treachery trumps youth and enthusiasm, every time!" East Central Director / Chrysler Power Magazine www.reasbeckracing.webs.com
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Re: Bill "Maverick" Golden's traction setup for '63 Dodge?
[Re: Steve1118]
#35970
04/20/07 03:33 PM
04/20/07 03:33 PM
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I think it would be neat to replicate this on my '63 Dodge. My car is very period correct and it would be neat to have that setup on it. Any pics?
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Re: Bill "Maverick" Golden's traction setup for '63 Dodge?
#35971
04/20/07 04:37 PM
04/20/07 04:37 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,763 Walton's Mountain, Pa
Steve1118
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I will look around and see what I have in the way of pics.
But, if you put it on don't plan to race it. It will bounce out of tech real quick.
"Old age and treachery trumps youth and enthusiasm, every time!" East Central Director / Chrysler Power Magazine www.reasbeckracing.webs.com
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Re: Bill "Maverick" Golden's traction setup for '63 Dodge?
[Re: Steve1118]
#35972
04/20/07 05:23 PM
04/20/07 05:23 PM
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Thanks! It's just a street/strip toy. Wichita International has become an "outlaw" track anyway and is no longer affiliated with the NHRA.
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Post deleted by Defbob
#35973
04/20/07 05:31 PM
04/20/07 05:31 PM
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Re: Bill "Maverick" Golden's traction setup for '63 Dodge?
#35975
04/20/07 07:50 PM
04/20/07 07:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 68 Florida, USA
deadly dart
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During November of 1962, I built a set of traction bars out of 2"X3" rectangular tubing that ran from plates I made to replace the normal shock mounts. They ran back to the frame rail just before the bumper. At first I had 3 bolts through the shock mount brackets. It caused the car to porpoise, so we took out 2 of them to let it pivot. Worked great. At Buckingham drag strip in Ft. Myers, Fl, you could launch the car at 6000 rpm on the concrete and expect the clutch to slip because the hook was so good. My 63 Dodge was equiped with the T-85 three speed tranny. Later that year, oh the hindsight, Traction Master came out with the Traction Monster that was a copy of my design but made of a 1" tubing instead of my clunky rectangular tubing. Wish I had copyrighted it. I was sponsored at this time by Biscayne Dodge in North Miami Beach who was a factory owned dealership, or dealer enterprise. It was because they were only interested in developing the South Florida market that prevented me from racing at places other than Valkaria, where I met "the Ramchargers", Masters Field in Miami, and Gainesville where Ronnie Sox drilled me in my 68 Hemi-Dart at the Gators in 69. I belonged to the Cabriolets Road Club in Hialeah, Fl and we had members such as Jerry Gwynn, Chase Knight of Crane Cams, Jerry Tyson of Chrondeck Timing Systems,Danny O'Connell, Bob Stratman retired of Crane Cams, and a host of other inovative and talented racers. Dick Landy held one of the clinics at Biscayne Dodge and I had the pleasure of having his and my "Deadly Dart" on the showroom floor together. I met with him at Carlisle just before he passed away leaving only good memories. As to Bill Golden and his traction device, I am sure that word traveled quite fast in those days with the factories being so involved, so I really can't say if I was first or second with the concept, I just wish I had kept all those old cars.
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Re: Bill "Maverick" Golden's traction setup for '63 Dodge?
[Re: Crizila]
#35983
08/18/10 07:55 PM
08/18/10 07:55 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 644 Minnesota
Barnstorm
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Minnesota
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Richard Charbonneau had some on his 63 Plym..essentially a reverse ladder bar running to close to the bumper. When he would disconnect them from the rear brackets, when the pinion angle got positive on the brake and on shifts, these things were quite visible...we called them "grasshopper legs"...almost forgot!!
The little old lady from Pasadena is back!
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