Re-created Dick Pierson Charger to Run in Lemans Classic !!!

RallyeMike · March 23, 2006, 11:28:31 PM

Local boy done-good Dick Pierson has re-created McGriff 3rd Gen Charger and that was the first Amercian Stock car to run a Lemans in France and will run it again this year. Hopefully all the Hemi's won't detonate this time.

Check out this link. TOO COOL ! ! !.

http://camtecs.typepad.com/olympia_charger/

RD · March 24, 2006, 12:39:40 AM

that is awesome... but why didnt they use a '71? hmmmmm anyways, 3rd gens rule and everyone knows it.

Headrope · March 24, 2006, 12:50:28 AM

I miss what was in the water. A quick stop by the brewery was part of every trip south.

docford · March 24, 2006, 05:52:29 AM

@Rallye Mike,

thanks for mentionning our project here. If you are in the Portland area, please join us at PIR on Friday March 31st. We will be testing the re-born Olympia Charger at the track !

tan top · March 24, 2006, 06:11:35 AM

awesome ,would like to see and here, that run at lemans,

BB1 · March 24, 2006, 07:17:30 AM

Too cool

Shakey · March 24, 2006, 07:24:30 AM

Quote from: docford on March 24, 2006, 05:52:29 AM
@Rallye Mike,

thanks for mentionning our project here. If you are in the Portland area, please join us at PIR on Friday March 31st. We will be testing the re-born Olympia Charger at the track !

What's the advantage of the windshield wiper set up on the car in the pic above?

BTW, cool looking car!

dickpierson · March 24, 2006, 10:35:50 AM

Good morning everybody, Dick Pierson here. Just wanted to make sure you all got a chance to see the car at www.olympia-charger.com We are all very proud of what we have accomplished and are eagerly awaiting the 31st so we can put the Olympia Charger to the test on PIR. If any of you are in the area of Portland, please stop by, we will be joined by several members of the press and lots of visitors. The car is beautiful, photos do not do it justice. We will be loading the first of April for France and I leave in June to test at Le Mans on the 29th, race begins on the 7th of July. This promises to be a gang buster event, come on over and join us ! During our time in Portland we will will have picture postcards signed and ready to hand out to the kids (or adults) for their collections. Also, if you are in the Olympia area, the car will be on display at the 4th Ave.Tav in downtown Olympia this Saturday from 12 to 4, stop by and have a cool Olympia Beer (yes we still serve it in Olympia). Thanks for all the nice comments about the car. You should hear that thing run, makes the hair on my arms stand up !

Shakey · March 24, 2006, 11:34:44 AM

Quote from: dickpierson on March 24, 2006, 10:35:50 AM
Good morning everybody, Dick Pierson here. Just wanted to make sure you all got a chance to see the car at www.olympia-charger.com We are all very proud of what we have accomplished and are eagerly awaiting the 31st so we can put the Olympia Charger to the test on PIR. If any of you are in the area of Portland, please stop by, we will be joined by several members of the press and lots of visitors. The car is beautiful, photos do not do it justice. We will be loading the first of April for France and I leave in June to test at Le Mans on the 29th, race begins on the 7th of July. This promises to be a gang buster event, come on over and join us ! During our time in Portland we will will have picture postcards signed and ready to hand out to the kids (or adults) for their collections. Also, if you are in the Olympia area, the car will be on display at the 4th Ave.Tav in downtown Olympia this Saturday from 12 to 4, stop by and have a cool Olympia Beer (yes we still serve it in Olympia). Thanks for all the nice comments about the car. You should hear that thing run, makes the hair on my arms stand up !

I will be in France in late June or early July. I might just try and make it to watch some of this. Very cool.

RallyeMike · March 24, 2006, 11:42:27 AM

QuoteGood morning everybody, Dick Pierson here. Just wanted to make sure you all got a chance to see the car at www.olympia-charger.com We are all very proud of what we have accomplished and are eagerly awaiting the 31st so we can put the Olympia Charger to the test on PIR. If any of you are in the area of Portland, please stop by, we will be joined by several members of the press and lots of visitors. The car is beautiful, photos do not do it justice. We will be loading the first of April for France and I leave in June to test at Le Mans on the 29th, race begins on the 7th of July. This promises to be a gang buster event, come on over and join us ! During our time in Portland we will will have picture postcards signed and ready to hand out to the kids (or adults) for their collections. Also, if you are in the Olympia area, the car will be on display at the 4th Ave.Tav in downtown Olympia this Saturday from 12 to 4, stop by and have a cool Olympia Beer (yes we still serve it in Olympia). Thanks for all the nice comments about the car. You should hear that thing run, makes the hair on my arms stand up !

Awesome !!! I will be there for sure. I'll check the PIR schedule for more info.

As a NW guy, I was actually think of painting my Open Road Race car like the old Oly Charger as a tribute. Now that the real one is back, that's out of my mind completely. Man, I'm looking forward to this !!!

docford · March 24, 2006, 12:11:23 PM

@RallyeMike

cool idea to paint your open road Charger in Olympia colors! Do it! The more Oly Express around, the more fun!

Check the pics on the archive of http://www.olympia-charger.com

dickpierson · March 24, 2006, 12:19:39 PM

Looking forwad to seeing you in Portland RalleyMike !

RD · March 24, 2006, 12:35:56 PM

man, how fricken cool is this!!! I have been drooling over the olympia charger ever since I first saw pictures of it, and now Dick Pierson is on our site!! holy mother of God, I need to grab and Olympia beer and calm myself! *hyperventilating!*

Man, I wish I was in the NW so I can stop by, but a trip from Kansas is a little too far methinks. Keep up the great work and thanks for representing the 3rd gen chargers. good luck in LeMans and knock them euro's a good one!

RallyeMike · March 24, 2006, 12:46:27 PM

Quote@RallyeMike

cool idea to paint your open road Charger in Olympia colors! Do it! The more Oly Express around, the more fun!

Check the pics on the archive of http://www.olympia-charger.com

Wow. I think I just wet myself. I always figured on asking permission, but this is too easy ! I do plan on rebodying the fenders, doors, deck, and repainting next year. I'll contact you.

Brock Samson · March 24, 2006, 01:13:13 PM

YES!

How Cool is That!?.

docford · March 24, 2006, 02:15:01 PM

For all of your who can not be in Portland, we will post some videos on our Olympia Charger site

In the meantime you can check what its like to drive down the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans here

http://www.olympia-charger.com/2005/09/first_impressio.html

Yeah, sorry, I did not have the Dodge at that time

Charger_Fan · March 24, 2006, 03:29:52 PM

That's too cool!
Here's hoping you guys do great!

Silver R/T · March 24, 2006, 11:13:55 PM

thats sweet charger, nice road machine

Blakcharger440 · March 25, 2006, 10:04:48 AM

Awesome! That is just too slick!

Headrope · March 26, 2006, 10:07:43 PM

Any of you Seattle-area folks thinking what I am: convoy?
I'm not 100 percent sure I can just yet, but it could be damned awesome for a group of us to meet up at the Hawks Prairie restaurant near Lacey for coffee and then convoy down to PIR - weather permitting, of course.

RallyeMike · March 26, 2006, 10:31:55 PM

QuoteAny of you Seattle-area folks thinking what I am: convoy?

Great idea if there is enough common interest. I was planning on going rain or shine and staying all day. It's a 3 hour drive to Portland from Pugetropolis, so I'll be on the road by 6AM.

docford · March 27, 2006, 05:20:19 AM

Mike,

your idea of getting a whole convoy of MoPars from WA to PIR is great!

there will also be a couple of fans driving up from CA and a few others from OR. I'm looking forward for some great photos with all of you and your vintage MoPar cars at PIR

I'll post them on http://www.olympia-charger.com

We will have shirts for the fans for sale in May. The'll be like the original team shirts that you can see here http://www.olympia-charger.com/2005/08/nascar_grand_in.html

4402tuff4u · March 27, 2006, 08:45:07 AM

Very awesome project!!! Which I was part of something like that. Hope you guy's (the Charger) eat's up the competition over there in France. Would be nice to see a true USA muscle car smoke those eury's cars. Best of luck!

RallyeMike · March 31, 2006, 10:44:22 PM

Yes. It was awesome. Got a couple of short camera clips that I can't stop watching

tan top · April 01, 2006, 07:24:32 AM

Quote from: RallyeMike on March 31, 2006, 10:44:22 PM
Yes. It was awesome. Got a couple of short camera clips that I can't stop watching

awesome picture RallyMike,

docford · April 01, 2006, 10:21:40 AM

Thanks to all of you who made the trip to PIR yesterday. The weather was just perfect and most of us got a good suntan or rather sunburn

What a blast to drive this Charger! This is all work when you are at that wheel

I got it to 125 on the straight before lifting because we had a 5600 rpm chip in the MSD, since this was only a run-in test session. It feels very safe at all speeds. It is going to be a full blast when that HEMI is all run in and we can rev it to 6500 rpm

It will go over 180 mph on the Mulsanne straight in Le Mans!

I'll feature some inbord camera filming soon on http://www.olympia-charger.com

MassCharger73 · April 01, 2006, 04:18:03 PM

Congratulations on a successful test and tune !!!!

I wish I could have been there to see and hear it.

suburbanfireman · April 05, 2006, 09:19:08 PM

You are the man Mr. Pierson!!!

How cool will it be when you kick butt with American brute power. That car is the coolest thing I have seen in a long time. Can you come to Cleveland and scare all the ricers back to Japan?

hemihead · April 05, 2006, 09:43:45 PM

The 3rd Gen Body needs put back in the winner's circle where it belongs.Best of Luck to you from Western Pennsylvania!

docford · April 07, 2006, 10:00:25 AM

Thank you guys! There is a new and much longer video of our testing at PIR now online at http://www.olympia-charger.com

Troy · April 07, 2006, 08:20:04 PM

If you guys have high speed internet then definitely download those videos! The second video on the page "One lap of PIR in our NASCAR Charger" is only a little over 3MB. It's a single lap at PIR and the sound of that motor is just awesome.

The one at the top of the page is 44MB so be prepared. Love the commentary at about 5:50 in.

Very cool!

Troy

tan top · April 08, 2006, 07:18:59 AM

Quote from: docford on April 07, 2006, 10:00:25 AM
Thank you guys! There is a new and much longer video of our testing at PIR now online at http://www.olympia-charger.com

WOW thats simply AWESOME

,

HEMI with a 4 speed

. cool in car video also

thanks for the video clips

SeattleCharger · April 20, 2006, 12:14:57 AM

Whoa, I just looked at that link and one of the pics is the 4th Ave Tavern in Olympia. I used to go along that street and drink all the time, heh, in my drinking days. I lived in Oly about fourteen years, for college and after. Cool. Unfortunately that Olympia brewery in Tumwater, which is just south of Olympia, but almost connected, says Miller on it now, oh well, was a landmark sort of. When I would be working around Oly, you could here the lunch break whistle or the five oclock whistle all around Olympia if you were outdoors.

That car looks cool with the headlight covers and the front air dam.

I got pulled over for a traffic move I made right in front of that tavern in my Valarie, the cop let me go with a warning but told me to go home and park it, as I was pulling into the next bar up the street when I finally noticed him and stopped.

AirborneSilva · April 24, 2006, 03:18:15 AM

That 44MB video was awesome!! Listening to that Hemi roar gave me chills too

CFMopar · April 24, 2006, 08:00:52 PM

This is really awsome to see good luck guys

docford · May 16, 2006, 10:20:33 AM

We now had a chance to test our "scenic" Oly Express in France! You can see pictures and videos here http://www.olympia-charger.com

It was the first time since 1976 that a Dodge Charger in OLYMPIA livery lapped a racetrack in France! Cheers

MassCharger73 · May 16, 2006, 01:59:42 PM

Great Video !!! Watching the charger eat up those ferd and GM's was awesome, I grinned the whole time ! I only wish the rearview mirror didn't block the corner entries so we could better see the closing rate.

Jon Smith · May 16, 2006, 02:06:20 PM

Lol! did that corvette lose it trying to follow the charger round the corner

docford · June 02, 2006, 02:02:46 AM

we finally decide to tell y'all where our Charger came from: http://www.olympia-charger.com/2006/06/from_trucut_to_.html

SeattleCharger · June 02, 2006, 01:01:40 PM

Quote from: docford on June 02, 2006, 02:02:46 AM
we finally decide to tell y'all where our Charger came from: http://www.olympia-charger.com/2006/06/from_trucut_to_.html

Thank you, nice website page. I love the paint job with the bronze/ brownish tan roof, not sure the name of color, with black rims, and how it says Olympia above the rear wheel in same color. The red now with silver rims looks a lot different.

flashley18 · June 14, 2006, 05:40:47 PM

Car looks great but I can't find the video. I know it is probably in plain site but I cant find the link once I go to the web site.

Troy · June 14, 2006, 11:00:38 PM

Quote from: flashley18 on June 14, 2006, 05:40:47 PM
Car looks great but I can't find the video. I know it is probably in plain site but I cant find the link once I go to the web site.

The web site has changed a bit since this all started so the links are no longer on the front page.
Go here and look on the right hand side of the page near the bottom of the links. You'll see an "archive" section. Check through those and you'll find several videos.

Troy

docford · June 25, 2006, 03:15:02 PM

Hi guys !

We are almoste there. Yesterday we had our pre-race practice on the Le Mans track. What a thrill to go flat out on that prestigious circuit

Photos and video are on the Oly Express website : http://www.olympia-charger.com/2006/06/track_testing_a.html

tan top · June 25, 2006, 03:51:36 PM

wow that sounded awesome

, need to see more of it on video now

MassCharger73 · June 26, 2006, 02:54:13 PM

Yeah baby, even the cameraman is having trouble keeping up with that mopar !

ricksresto · June 29, 2006, 04:37:58 PM

Great to see!! Wish I could be there - but I'm on the other coast.

docford · July 01, 2006, 05:27:27 AM

Here are some photos of the Oly Express fans and sponsors party before the race

http://www.olympia-charger.com/2006/06/oly_express_pre.html

RallyeMike · July 01, 2006, 10:03:49 PM

Looks like a fun time had by all, and Oly beer served as well !

I received my Oly Express mini-mag in the mail today. Fast delivery - Thanks! It's gonna take me awhile to translate it though...

73chgrSE · July 06, 2006, 01:47:31 PM

Wow. I just bought Don Dulmage's book. I just saw on the site that he built the engine for that car. That's awesome. When is the race? I could not find a date on the site. Will it be televised in the U.S.?

RD · July 06, 2006, 02:01:12 PM

awesome! i played the video and a fellow student of mine stated, "What was that!" I told her one word... HEMI

73chgrSE · July 09, 2006, 12:19:20 PM

Does anyone know the results?

docford · July 11, 2006, 06:13:09 PM

Hello guys,

we had an absolutely thrilling week-end. Here is one lap in the race at Le Mans: http://www.olympia-charger.com/2006/07/one_hot_lap_of_.html

We finished 34th overall, leaving a whole bunch of 911s, Pantera's and even a few prototypes eating our dust

RallyeMike · July 11, 2006, 10:23:08 PM

Excellent !

Now what? See you at the Pony Express or Silver State Challenge?

tan top · July 12, 2006, 04:42:28 AM

thats awesome , good video i cranked the volume up to the max

MassCharger73 · July 12, 2006, 11:57:28 AM

Great video ! I would love to have seen the faces of the Porche drivers as you pounded past them on those long straights.

docford · July 12, 2006, 04:14:21 PM

oh yes ! One of them came to our pits, stood in front of the Charger and just said "What the hell is this ?"

73chgrSE · July 12, 2006, 05:03:57 PM

Quote from: docford on July 12, 2006, 04:14:21 PM
oh yes ! One of them came to our pits, stood in front of the Charger and just said "What the hell is this ?"

Ha Ha, I guess they didn't get American TV over there in the 70's.

docford · August 03, 2006, 03:36:05 AM

Here is a new onboard video of the Charger at Le Mans
http://www.olympia-charger.com/2006/08/more_video_from.html

tan top · August 03, 2006, 04:38:09 AM

awesome video cranked the volume up a gain to the max , can never see enough of them video's

. thanks for posting (docford)

MassCharger73 · August 03, 2006, 09:41:52 AM

Great video, can't get enough. Keep 'em coming !

Blakcharger440 · August 04, 2006, 09:18:57 AM

Cool!

bull · August 07, 2006, 01:12:14 PM

Quote from: docford on May 16, 2006, 10:20:33 AM
We now had a chance to test our "scenic" Oly Express in France! You can see pictures and videos here http://www.olympia-charger.com

It was the first time since 1976 that a Dodge Charger in OLYMPIA livery lapped a racetrack in France! Cheers

Cool video!

Polygon · August 16, 2006, 10:34:57 AM

I watched the whole video, just WAY TOO COOL!!!

RD · October 22, 2006, 07:58:05 PM

http://www.olympia-charger.com/inboard_racing_video/index.html

update, showing him passing a porsche

SeattleCharger · October 24, 2006, 07:09:21 AM

Whoa, that's amazing he can stay with that Porsche in the corners like that, then on the straights he is flying, that is cool, good sound on vid too, thanks,

docford · October 29, 2006, 01:09:34 PM

and now you can also read the story in MOPAR ACTION

the cover can be seen here http://www.olympia-charger.com

tan top · October 29, 2006, 02:23:06 PM

Quote from: RD on October 22, 2006, 07:58:05 PM
http://www.olympia-charger.com/inboard_racing_video/index.html

update, showing him passing a porsche

can never watch this too many times ...

at maximum volume .... yeah baby HEMI and a 4speed

Quote from: docford on October 29, 2006, 01:09:34 PM
and now you can also read the story in MOPAR ACTION the cover can be seen here http://www.olympia-charger.com

good stuff

i get mopar action every month i'll have a good read , is that issue out yet

RD · October 31, 2006, 12:17:27 PM

Quote from: docford on October 29, 2006, 01:09:34 PM
and now you can also read the story in MOPAR ACTION the cover can be seen here http://www.olympia-charger.com

got mopar action today! what a great write-up! so, where exactly is the car being stored next to ferrari's? hehe

73chgrSE · October 31, 2006, 02:42:15 PM

Upon further reading of the article, it says it's a 400 block (not a hemi) built by Don Dulmage.

RD · October 31, 2006, 03:14:43 PM

Quote from: 73chgrSE on October 31, 2006, 02:42:15 PM
Upon further reading of the article, it says it's a 400 block (not a hemi) built by Don Dulmage.

huh? are you referring to the Ray Barton Hemi that is currently in the olympia charger?

"Fully restored, and packing 426+ inches of Ray Barton Hemi, it was this car that would become the new Olympia Express." Mopar Action, Feb. 2007, P. 83

tan top · October 31, 2006, 04:09:05 PM

Quote from: RD on October 31, 2006, 03:14:43 PM
Quote from: 73chgrSE on October 31, 2006, 02:42:15 PM
Upon further reading of the article, it says it's a 400 block (not a hemi) built by Don Dulmage.

huh? are you referring to the Ray Barton Hemi that is currently in the olympia charger?

"Fully restored, and packing 426+ inches of Ray Barton Hemi, it was this car that would become the new Olympia Express." Mopar Action, Feb. 2007, P. 83

, 426 Ray Barton HEMI

got my issue of mopar action in the mail today , good write up

73chgrSE · October 31, 2006, 04:32:11 PM

sorry guys I wasn't refering to the magazine article. I saw that on the website.

http://www.olympia-charger.com/inboard_racing_video/index.html

docford · October 31, 2006, 05:15:39 PM

OK, here is the full story: there are 2 Oly Express Chargers. One is a real NASCAR racer with a Ray Barton built HEMI and the other one is a street going look-alike with a 400 wedge built by Don Dulmage. Now you can check here http://www.olympia-charger.com/2006/07/dolmetsch_built.html and here http://www.olympia-charger.com/2006/07/saturday_7_am_h.html to find out what is different about the two

docford · April 18, 2007, 04:50:27 AM

The Oly Express Dodge Charger just completed its Monza vintage race. We qualified 32nd in a field of 37 and finished 19th overall.

The race reports are here http://www.olympia-charger.com

News:

Re-created Dick Pierson Charger to Run in Lemans Classic !!!