Stewart,

Is Ben Donhoff bringing his Missile from FL to Henderson this year ???

Chris

Chris, I think so. His car is the Original Missile Duster. He currently races it, I think. Aluminum big Hemi with nitrous ?
The car was wrecked in the front and rebuilt, but they failed to realize the wheel base was altered. Probably the only 104" WB Duster. Also, If you get a chance, look in thru the passenger door at the drivers seat bracket. On the one closest to the passenger side towards the front, you might see RF scratched on the bracket. Me did that. Also check out the aluminum/magnesium pedals, if they are still in the car. Also notice down the side of the car, from the rear quarter towards the front, it appears the car bows out towards the front, did not taper the front as was original. All in All, not a bad car, just some minor areas that are not exact. But

Pedals

Cool Stewart, I'll check out the car when i see it Saturday.If he gets to Henderson Friday afternoon, i'm sure we can find a certin Red, White and Blue Duster that we can match him up with @ Roxboro Friday night if he feels like letting that big ol'e Elephant out of it's cage.

I will be there on Saturday. I am leaving at about 0430(!) to meet up with some folks near Suffolk and then we will be driving our cars down together.

Stan

I also believe the the Don Grotheer 68 Cuda, is on the way

Stewart, picked-up Arlen Vankee at the airport and took him to Henderson this afternoon. We saw the Grotheer car on an open trailer, on I-85 going north about 5 miles from Henderson. That is one nice looking car. Joe is already there, he had left a message at the hotel for Arlen to call him. Parking lots at the motels are filling up today.

Chris,
Ask Arlen about the snake in the pillow case story - We go a long way back with that story.
And tell him Howdy for me.

Thanks

Chris, Elkton 2007
Can you believe it, 5 years ago.

Stewart, I will have my grandson go ask him about that story. He went with me to pick Vanke up at the airport and take him to Henderson. When this reunion got started 11 years ago he was only 2 years old and he somehow just locked on to Ronnie Sox. Every year he looked forward to seeing and hanging out with Ronnie Sox. Now when I say hanging out I'm talking about have breakfast with him every morning and hanging out at his cars.

On our way up to Henderson, when Vanke and I were talking we were talking about some races and Ronnie, I could tell it was kind of still hitting him pretty hard that Ronnie is no longer at the Reunion. On the way home he made the comment that he really has fun talking with my old friend about the races and racing in those days.

Lynn and I got to Henderson on Wednesday. Had a nice day yesterday just relaxing. Had dinner last night with Arlen and later had a drink with Mike and Rhonda Ricketts (Macomb Missile). Looking forward to a nice day at the lake today visiting with old friends. Stewart told me to take lots of photos so I am ready!

People at Henderson

I just got back. Excellent trip!! I will be going again next year.

Stan

We had a great time today at the meet. Stan, we saw your car near the stage and it looked absolutely stunning. Thank you for bringing it down.

jerry

A first for me and I will be back next year(with a car).

As you all might know, Don Carlton was inducted into the EastCoast Drag racing Hall of Fame,today. On a side note, this plaque was presented to Ted Spehar also today. "Never have so few, done so much, for so many, with so little"

Henderson was also the location of the Birthday Party for Dick Oldfield. Happy Birthday Dick, and thanks for all your contributions.

StewartP

This was and absolutely incredible week-end. The 11th East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame Reunion is now in the books. It appears that this was the largest event yet. There were Soooooo many really nice classic cars, the historic drag cars were unbelivable, historic racers did their bests to talk themselves completely out of voice and the spectator crowd was big. I told a friend on Saturday that I would like for someone to give me a nickel for every photo that was taken from 7:30 in the morning until 6:00 that afternoon just in the area where the Stock/Superstock/Pro Stock cars were parked. I would be a very wealth individual today. And if you did not catch what I posted the show is scheduled to end at 5:00; however, the Motown Missle photo shoot after all of the other cars were gone was incredible. I will post some photos as soon as I have them downloaded.

After the cook-out at the lake on Friday, some of us went to Roxboro Dragway, for some fun. Track was in what appear to be good shape several of the local drivers were complaining about the track prep and track conditions. Our own Hemi Fred showed up after some incident with a flat tire. The track did a big build up about the Sox and Martin car being there. I explained to Fred that the left hand lane appeared to me to be okay, his comment was okay you tell me which lane we run in and let's do it. Fred got the car to the starting line and everyone was complaining the track was bad and he would not get down the track. Fred launches the car and goes 5.92 and those guys could not believe it.

Chris, Mike - Ms Wilson -- THANK YOU - from what I have heard and the pictures I have seen, it was an absolute WONDERFUL ADVENTURE, for all that attended. That was due to you all, the people of Henderson, the restaurants, the Hotels.

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING ON A GREAT SHOW, AND WEEKEND.

StewartP

No I did not forget something. I was just joking around. The Hall of Fame induction was something. The stories that are told here each year, someone really need to put in a book; however, someone would think that it had to be fiction.

The Motown Missle family, Ted Spehar, Dick Oldfield, Joe Papas and Tom Hoover put on a first of it's kind, panel discussion about the Motown Missle, it's design, development, how it evolved over the year and some serious technical information. Mr. Hoover divulges information on the inside workings of the Chrysler Corp in those years and their ideas about drag racing an selling cars. Their audience included some of drag racing most historic figures who, as I heard afterward, found the discussion very infomative and interesting. Hubert Platt and Roy Hill were in attendance.

I and others found it interesting when Mr. Hoover stated that the Chrysler people wanted their racer out doing the now famous Auto Clinic and dealerships all of the country. This did not leave time for race teams to do developement and testing. In come Oldfield, Papas, and Spehard, their 9:00 to 5:00 job was to do the design, development and testing which meant having to race the Motown Missle on the week-ends. What a bad job.

Congratulation to the Don Carlton Family who were present for the week-ends activities and for the induction of Don Carlton into the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame.

I and others learned alot here and the discussion I had with Ted after the panel event was let's just say mind bending. The knowedge this man has about engine building is remarkable. Now, after I finish reviewing my notes and watching the video we did of the panel discussion, I am going to post further about this discussion with Ted about problems I have had with bearings and connecting rods in a "A-Motor". Some "engine builders" here will 100% disagree with what I was told an will get real defensive. Some parts manufacturer's and their friends here are not going to like what I will have to say.