Keokuk (Iowa) Racers Reunion - Chargers and More...

[Aero426]

Just returned from the Keokuk Racer's Reunion in southeast Iowa.     Held under perfect summer weather.    Keokuk is a town of about 10,000 people and was the home to several championship stock car racers on the various national circuits in the 1960's and 70's racing factory sponsored Dodges, Plymouths and Fords.      They have held these events every three to five years.   

First off, the Chargers...

Ernie Derr was a twelve time IMCA national champion.   Most of those came at the wheel of Pontiacs or Dodge Chargers.     Ernie was all but unbeatable.      This was his last Charger remaining as raced.     It's been in most of the magazines, but has not been seen in public for most of ten years.     One of the other drivers at the reunion, Lem Blankenship, was asked about his best race.   Lem replied that he had passed Ernie at some dirt event and was leading until he was caught up in an incident.    He wasn't sure if he could have held Ernie off.   But just passing him was an accomplishment. 

[Aero426]

The Derr car looks rough, but it sounds absolutely unbelievable.   I thought my own car sounded pretty good, until I heard this one.   All I can say is, "wow".     It really barks. 

[Aero426]

Typical Nichels Engineering race interior.     Dual torsion bar adjustments from inside the car are exclusive to this machine.

[JB400]

Thanks in advance for the pix

             

[Aero426]

Dual coolers and blowers for the rear axle.    

[Aero426]

Carpeted door panels were also a Nichels thing.

[Aero426]

Warrior.

[Aero426]

Believe it or not, this WAS a Charger.   

[Aero426]

It started out as a Nichels Engineering built Charger.    Gordy Blankenship bought it from Irv Janey as a front running USAC 1974 Charger.    The car was destroyed in a massive eleven car pileup at Springfield IL in 1977.    It was rebuilt as a Dodge Magnum for 1978.    For 1984, it was cut down into a Mirada, still running a Hemi.    In 1998 after years of sitting under a tree, it was turned into this Dart for short track racing.   

[Aero426]

There are a couple of clues inside the cockpit that suggest its original big league origins.

[RallyeMike]

I hope nobody ever restores the Derr Charger. It's not rough - it's a perfect time capsule and a complete gem.

The tube welded on theta "dart" is a little scary. But that's pretty much what a thrice-built race car looks like.

Great photos!

[Aero426]

Gordy's Dart back when it was a Charger in 1977.

[Aero426]

There was no signage around this 1968 R/T, but it is a very significant car.    It was awarded to Don White by Dodge Division for winning the 1967 USAC stock car championship.   Don was given his choice of options, and because he wanted his wife to be able to drive it daily,  he wisely chose the L code 440 and an automatic.     The car is absolutely loaded with options like air conditioning,  power windows and cruise control.   

[Aero426]

Here is Don being presented the Charger by Bob McCurry.   Don also received three scale Chargers, one for each of his daughters.  

[Aero426]

The Charger has been in and out of Don's family multiple times.    The story is kind of hard to follow with many twists and turns.   Different relatives have owned it at times.    It has been owned by one of his daughters for about 15 years.   I don't think it is going anywhere.    It was well used as a daily car and has about 100k on the odo.  

[Aero426]

I would say this was my favorite car from the show.

[Aero426]

I regret not getting a better shot of the interior. 

[Aero426]

There was a lot of memorabilia on display at the show.   Here's a couple of Ernie's pit boards. 

[Aero426]

Ernie Derr's famous STP pajama uniform and coveralls.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

The Charger has been in and out of Don's family multiple times.    The story is kind of hard to follow with many twists and turns.   Different relatives have owned it at times.    It has been owned by one of his daughters for about 15 years.   I don't think it is going anywhere.    It was well used as a daily car and has about 100k on the odo.  

If it's as clean as the pictures show, I'll buy it. 

[Mike DC]

 
Man, I might have made that trip just to see the Derr '69 racer.  That thing rarely sees the light of day and sooner or later somebody might restore it. 

I recall hearing that Ernie Derr himself wanted it restored.  I hope cooler heads prevail for as long as possible.  These days the world is full of nice shiny '69 Chargers.  It pays the car more respect to leave it as-is IMO. 



BTW:  Why did that thing need two rear diff coolers?  Wasn't it basically a short-track dirt car?  Plenty of superspeedway cars with 9" Ford diffs only ran one. 

[Aero426]

 
Man, I might have made that trip just to see the Derr '69 racer.  That thing rarely sees the light of day and sooner or later somebody might restore it. 

I recall hearing that Ernie Derr himself wanted it restored.  I hope cooler heads prevail for as long as possible.  These days the world is full of nice shiny '69 Chargers.  It pays the car more respect to leave it as-is IMO. 



BTW:  Why did that thing need two rear diff coolers?  Wasn't it basically a short-track dirt car?  Plenty of superspeedway cars with 9" Ford diffs only ran one. 

I am pretty sure the owner has no intention of restoration on the Derr car.    Yes on the question about it being a purpose built dirt car.

On the diff coolers, yes, usually there is only one.   The second spot was usually reserved for a trans cooler.  I did not look underneath to see.   The lines are running through the rear firewall, so I assume it's also for the rear gear.     

[Aero426]

Good article on the reunion with driver quotes.

http://www.dailygate.com/article_4917780c-59ef-582e-996f-e3dedc267e4a.html

[tan top]

 great stuff , thanks for sharing / posting 

[hemi68charger]

cool stuff Doug....

[Aero426]

Thanks guys.   

Milt Wood brought this race car project to the meet.    It was originally built at Nichels Engineering.   Milt is certain it was formerly a Sal Tovella car, which means it was likely once driven by Norm Nelson or Roger McCluskey as a Plymouth.    When Milt got it, it had an '82 Corboda body.   Being from Michigan, he decided he wanted to restore it as Iggy Katona's #30 Charger 500.    Iggy was leading the 1970 ARCA 300 at Daytona, but blew a tire handing the win to Ramo Stott in the Superbird.   Iggy did win the race the next year. 

[Aero426]

Another view of Milt's car. 

[Aero426]

I did not get to ask Milt if he will eventually put the rear plug in.    The car is not running yet.   This is his second stock car project.    His other car is the 1972 Dodge Charger of Bob Brevak which he has ready to run. 

[Aero426]

Inside Milt's Charger.

[Aero426]

Rear view

[Aero426]

Ramo Stott brought his VW Thing.    Ramo is never short in the hat department.

[Aero426]

Dick Hutcherson was a NASCAR driver from Keokuk, driving for Zecol Lubaid and later Holman-Moody.   After retiring in 1968,  Dick was the team manager for David Pearson's #17 Torino.   He later started the car building firm of Hutcherson-Pagan who built the majority of NASCAR stock cars in the post-1971 era.      Dick also drove at Lemans in 1966 finishing 3rd overall in a GT40.    He passed away in 2005. This is his Lemans driver medallion.    A very valuable piece of memorabilia.  

[Aero426]

Dick Hutcherson won the 1967 Dixie 500 at Atlanta. 

[Aero426]

Stein from the 1968 Ford Motorsports Banquet.

[Aero426]

Hutch, back in the day.

[Aero426]

Sherri Peddicord brought this nice Talladega to the meet.   Sherri and husband Bill drove the car up from southern Illinois.    

[Aero426]

Hand painted sign.   The "Beep Beep" part was a decal that Ford had made up.    Sherri also has a nice 69 Charger with a 383.   She is equal opportunity.

[Aero426]

Tony Johnson's Superbird project.    This car has been seen online often as a barn find covered in dust.    Work has been started on it, and it was sort of bolted back together for display at Keokuk.

[Aero426]

This is a Hutcherson-Pagan built Camaro originally driven by Terry Ryan in USAC.   It is very similar to the #51 Camaro driven by A.J. Foyt to the 1979 USAC championship.    The Ryan car is still actively  raced in IMCA Old Timers on dirt by Curt Daughters.    This car is very much a survivor from the period and has not been restored.

[Aero426]

1967 USAC stock car champion Don White with the replica door of his 1968 Charger.

[Aero426]

Ramo Stott's Superbird

[Aero426]

Ramo and his wife Judy Stott with the Superbird.    Ramo is wearing a 1974 team shirt when he was sponsored by the Housby Mack truck dealership.

[Aero426]

Original Stott Racing Team uniform patch.   About 8" x 11"

[Aero426]

Lem Blankenship drove the Superbird six times for Ramo in 1970 and 1971.    He was Ramo's only paid employee at the time.   All the other guys were volunteers.    This is the plaque awarded to Lem for "Most Improved Driver" in 1971.

[Aero426]

1970 Plymouth full page newspaper ad. 

[Aero426]

Cool looking pit board.

[Aero426]

Reunion of Ramo's 1970 Daytona crew.     From left, Larry, Andy, Lem Blankenship, Ramo Stott.    Andy had not seen Ramo for over 40 years.

[Aero426]

Actual 1970 photo from Daytona.   The same guys shown above are in the same order starting fourth from right,  Larry, Andy, Lem, Ramo.   

[Aero426]

Drivers swapping stories.    From left,  Don White,  Doug Neff (emcee), Ron Hutcherson,  Lem Blankenship.

[Aero426]

Ramo got the microphone last.   He is telling a story about returning from Daytona in the 1960's on two lanes.     They got pulled over in sort of a Hazzard County place called Waycross Georgia.   The local sheriff was a corrupt man named Robert E Lee (go figure).   Because they did not have a "fuel permit" to travel through the county,  the driver was thrown in jail.    The fine was $200.   When Ramo balked and called the State Patrol they told him, "I know what you're into there.   You 'd just better pay it and be on your way".    The sheriff then increased the fine to $300.  A lot of dough in those days.    

[tan top]

awesome pictures & stuff , thanks for sharing   

[6bblgt]

Doug, what car is in this picture - post car with pop-out rear windows & a wing??? Got to be a story there?  Any other Superbird race car RM21 coupes?

[Aero426]

Dan, as always, you have a good eye.   The car with the post is the same Superbird you see today.  When it arrived at Daytona, it had an RM21 post.   It was allowed to race this way for the ARCA 300.    After the ARCA race, the the decision to run the Daytona 500 was made.  To then be legal for NASCAR, they had to cut out the post and fit the correct side glass for the hardtop body.  They also had to swap out the ARCA legal 2 x 4 bbl carb setup for a single 4 bbl.      There is a newspaper article that mentions this.   Go to the third column, half way down.   It took me a long time to figure out what he was saying in that article about the door post until I stumbled onto the photo as you also have.  

[Aero426]

Judging by the small crowd, this is practice or qualifying for the Daytona 500 a few days later.    The car now has the correct hardtop side glass.