1979 DSAC / WW National Meet Photos

[Aero426]

These are from the 1979 national meet in Ann Arbor Michigan.   It was the largest turnout of cars to date.  Close to 100 cars.  

This was taken at the Chrysler Proving Grounds

[Aero426]

Gary Lazar's convertible Hemi Superbird.

[Aero426]

Jerry Jueneman's 1970 Daytona.   Possibly the last time this car saw rain.

[Aero426]

Todd Lamensky's Charger 500.  Red interior, sharp car.

[Aero426]

Getting ready to leave Milwaukee for the meet.  Can you believe all these cars drove together to Detroit?

[nascarxx29]

Todd Lamensky's Charger 500.  Red interior, sharp car.  I believe this is the TL in later years 210735
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,51032.0.html

[nascarxx29]

Awesome archive picts

[Aero426]

Pretty sure this is Al Collins' car.   Al was an older man who had probably the first nut and bolt restoration done on a Superbird.   He had a basket case restored.   I think the number thrown around on the cost was about $25,000.   This was at a time when you could be a nice driver for under $5000.  

I also think that is Mopar John off to the left of the photo in the blue jacket.

[Aero426]

Todd Lamensky's Charger 500.  Red interior, sharp car.  I believe this is the TL in later years 210735
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,51032.0.html

Todd's car was not a Hemi.  He was 17 when he bought it as a project.   From what I remember, it sold new in Wisconsin.   It surfaced in FLorida about 10 years ago.  So it is still out there.

[Aero426]

This car was owned by a man who ran the Richard Petty fan club.   Jack Myers?    The car was still looking this way at Talladega not too many years ago. 

[Aero426]

Project Birds showed up at the meets in these days.

When was the last time you saw painted Keystone wheels?

[DAY CLONA]

This car was owned by a man who ran the Richard Petty fan club.   Jack Myers?    The car was still looking this way at Talladega not too many years ago.  

Yes, That's Jack Myers car, I drove it in North Carolina several years ago, still looks the same, a little more tired/ratty though.....needs a full resto


Mike

[Aero426]

This looks like a refueling stop on the way to the meet.

[nascarxx29]

This car was owned by a man who ran the Richard Petty fan club.   Jack Myers?    The car was still looking this way at Talladega not too many years ago.    Yes Still Jack Myers car seen it a local shows

[Aero426]

Another shot from the PG.

[Aero426]

I think this is Bob Ludwig who ran the proving grounds at the time.   We were there at his invitation.   Nice audio recording setup.

[nascarxx29]

Todd Lamensky's Charger 500.  Red interior, sharp car.  Tl car is 210170  
Another car similar car Wayne perkins 500

[nascarxx29]

Jack Myers superbird has a 3rd brake light on wing center its ahead of it time

[Aero426]

Todd Lamensky's Charger 500.  Red interior, sharp car.  Tl car is 210170  
Another car similar car Wayne perkins 500

Todd's car was L217170.   Here is a photo as purchased. 

[1970Moparmann]

Very cool pictures!

[moparstuart]

This car was owned by a man who ran the Richard Petty fan club.   Jack Myers?    The car was still looking this way at Talladega not too many years ago.  

Yes, That's Jack Myers car, I drove it in North Carolina several years ago, still looks the same, a little more tired/ratty though.....needs a full resto


Mike

did it have flag stands bolted to it back there at the rear of the wing 

[Aero426]

This car was owned by a man who ran the Richard Petty fan club.   Jack Myers?    The car was still looking this way at Talladega not too many years ago.  

Yes, That's Jack Myers car, I drove it in North Carolina several years ago, still looks the same, a little more tired/ratty though.....needs a full resto


Mike

did it have flag stands bolted to it back there at the rear of the wing  

Yes, it still does.  But I forget if they were flags or twin CB antennas.   Looks like antennas here.

[Ghoste]

Getting ready to leave Milwaukee for the meet.  Can you believe all these cars drove together to Detroit?

What an amazing sight that would have been!

[moparstuart]

This car was owned by a man who ran the Richard Petty fan club.   Jack Myers?    The car was still looking this way at Talladega not too many years ago.  

Yes, That's Jack Myers car, I drove it in North Carolina several years ago, still looks the same, a little more tired/ratty though.....needs a full resto


Mike

did it have flag stands bolted to it back there at the rear of the wing  

Yes, it still does.  But I forget if they were flags or twin CB antennas.   Looks like antennas here.

he was at the 07 charlotte meet driving it around like a mad man , i thought he was gonna hit a bunch of wing cars in the hotel parking lot several times

[tan top]

   good pictures !! thanks  for posting 

[nascarxx29]

1979 Wingcar video on youtube
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,86769.0.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCbNrYeH7jM

[hemi68charger]

Thanks Doug !!!! 

[nascarxx29]

Jack Myers Superbird  
http://www.abodyjoe.com/Misccars/2004%20shows/Jarrett%20Dodge/P1010292.JPG

http://www.abodyjoe.com/Misccars/2004%20shows/Jarrett%20Dodge/P1010295.JPG

http://www.abodyjoe.com/Misccars/2004%20shows/Jarrett%20Dodge/P1010291.JPG

[Beep Beep Dave]

Those are awesome pics! Thanks for taking the time to post them for us. I've never had the opportunity to see anything like that.

Dave

[moparstuart]

Jack Myers Superbird  
http://www.abodyjoe.com/Misccars/2004%20shows/Jarrett%20Dodge/P1010292.JPG

http://www.abodyjoe.com/Misccars/2004%20shows/Jarrett%20Dodge/P1010295.JPG

http://www.abodyjoe.com/Misccars/2004%20shows/Jarrett%20Dodge/P1010291.JPG

he told us he did alot of parades and flew petty flags in those posts 

[GOTWING]

wow, they were only 9-10  years old

[Aero426]

wow, they were only 9-10  years old

That's true.   But from my perspective, they already felt like old cars - like they do today.   They were so far removed from what was being produced by Chrysler.  

[66FBCharger]

I miss the days when we actually used to drive these cars to meets. We used to drive from Ct. to the Chrysler proving grounds. I drove my '70 Road Runner (440+6, 4 speed 4.10s) to the Chrysler proving grounds in '85. It was a long hot ride with several on the road repairs necessary, but it was more memorable than any trips out since. I remember the thrill and excitement of seeing wingcars etc. out on the road driving. It was AWESOME.
I know what the cars are worth, but it is a shame that they get trailered to the shows most of the time. The older I get the more i want to drive and enjoy the car.
I am strongly considering driving my '69 to Carlisle in 2014. I got a lot of the bugs out and feel confident that it will be safe and reliable.

[Aero426]

The thing is, once we get to the meets today, the cars do get driven quite a bit.   They don't sit in the motel parking lot.

[66FBCharger]

The thing is, once we get to the meets today, the cars do get driven quite a bit.   They don't sit in the motel parking lot.

Thats true.
I don't know if its just me or not, but I get more excited seeing the old mopars out on the road, than when there are lots parked at a show.
Thanks for the pictures. I didn't get to the '79 show. The first Mopar nationals I went to was '83.

[Mopar John]

Pretty sure this is Al Collins' car.   Al was an older man who had probably the first nut and bolt restoration done on a Superbird.   He had a basket case restored.   I think the number thrown around on the cost was about $25,000.   This was at a time when you could be a nice driver for under $5000.  

I also think that is Mopar John off to the left of the photo in the blue jacket.

You are correct! I know most of you will find this hard to believe but I still have what I called my club jacket! It has the DSAC patch on the left arm, the NASCAR 43 patch on the right arm and the Rapid Transit System patch on the right front.
I threw the radial racing tennis shoes out a while back though!
MJ

[Aero426]

Excellent!    I pretty much figured you would still have the jacket too. 

[Aero426]

Lou Whitfield's car, driven from Bakersfield California.

[Aero426]

The Bunkie Knudsen Talladega.

[Aero426]

Lemon Twister.  Possibly Ray Bott's car?  

Talkie Mopar's car off to the right.

[Aero426]

The blue Bird was a Wisconsin car.  It had a nose repair somewhere along the way.

Al Collins' enclosed trailer is off to the left.    I think this was the first enclosed trailer I ever saw to transport a wing car.

[Aero426]

I don't remember whose car this was.   Some will say they love it with the red and Motorwheel Spyders.   I thought it was kind of weird looking. 

[Aero426]

Tim Wellborn's Hemi transplant Daytona.  This is the car he sold in the mid 80's and bought back about 20 years later.    I loved that deep front spoiler.

[nascarxx29]

I don't remember whose car this was.   Some will say they love it with the red and Motorwheel Spyders.   I thought it was kind of weird looking. 

Jose Madrino

[pettybird]

The blue Bird was a Wisconsin car.  It had a nose repair somewhere along the way.

Al Collins' enclosed trailer is off to the left.    I think this was the first enclosed trailer I ever saw to transport a wing car.

Do you have a pic of the Ford Bronco tow vehicle?  It was painted to match the trailer.

Mom talks about how they looked at Al funny for dumping so much into that car, too.  She also said that while they were really nice people, the house was so immaculate that OCD doesn't cover it. 

Besides Al and Jerry Service, who else had a box trailer?

[Aero426]

I don't think anyone else had a box trailer at that time.     I don't remember the Bronco, but I do have an entire photo album of Al Collins' cars.  He was the first serious car collector I encountered.   He had garages behind his house that looked kind of like ranch style homes, but all open on the inside.   His place was immaculate.      

Yes, there were people who thought Al was crazy to spend that kind of money on restoring that car.    As nice as it was, the shop made some small mistakes on the details.

[pettybird]

I don't think anyone else had a box trailer at that time.     I don't remember the Bronco, but I do have an entire photo album of Al Collins' cars.  He was the first serious car collector I encountered.   He had garages behind his house that looked kind of like ranch style homes, but all open on the inside.   His place was immaculate.      

Yes, there were people who thought Al was crazy to spend that kind of money on restoring that car.    As nice as it was, the shop made some small mistakes on the details.

Mom remembers him changing details frequently.  He'd see something different and just buy it. 

I VAGUELY remember the buildings.  I mean, I was like 5.  I do remember them being spotless.

[odcics2]

I was lucky enough to see the cars parade down US 12. (near Saline I guess?)
Next year, I found my first Bird!! 

One Bird that stood out was the white with multi-color stripes....

[nascarxx29]

1980 meet many wings on these pages by Glen
https://www.google.com/search?q=HCTUB+BALTIMORE+1980.JPG&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=eu9UUo_HEsH54AO41IGYBQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1004&bih=630&dpr=1
Tom Haydens Superbird he also had a similar painted 69 Daytona
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,52395.160.html
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,50778.0.html

[r4daytona]

Cool photos from years ago.  I do tend to like the cars with some sort of uniqueness to the paint whether it be something painted or a decal.  Just sets it apart and is easier to remember from the other cars.  Just a personal preference.   Mopar John, you've aged a bit, you have grey hair now,... oh wait, you're still doing better than me, I have NO hair now.

[moparstuart]

Cool photos from years ago.  I do tend to like the cars with some sort of uniqueness to the paint whether it be something painted or a decal.  Just sets it apart and is easier to remember from the other cars.  Just a personal preference.   Mopar John, you've aged a bit, you have grey hair now,... oh wait, you're still doing better than me, I have NO hair now.

uncle fester