Wing Cars at Bonneville

[CornDogsCharger]

I was browsing through an old Feb. '86 issue of Hot Rod and came across a picture of a few wing cars at Bonneville.  What is known about these cars?  Were they real wingcars and are they still around?  Seems like I have seen the red/white/blue car before.  It doesn't say much about them besided the owners.  Red/white/blue Dodge is Vern Judy's, Aasland's red Plymouth, and Lindsley's bronze colored Plymouth.

Justin
"CornDog"

[A383Wing]

The red, white, & blue one was at Talladega in '99 when we were there....it is a real wing car...nice older gentleman that owns it when we were there

[tan top]

Good Find Justin    , seen one or two pictures before of wing cars running the salt flats back in the 70s ,  always wondered what happened to them my self , 

[UFO]

Vern Judy's was restored to original.
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,52688.0.html

[Redbird]

All 3 of those cars are real deal cars. My red car is in my shop just as we raced it. I've been told that Lindsley's and Vern's have been restored back to as factory delivered. From my view, if that's so then Lindsley's and Vern's have had their history totally erased. The folks that own Vern's old car are extremely nice folks, I've met them at shows in St. Paul. But I don't think you can have things 2 ways, and once you remove all the old race modifications, cage, etc.. what is left is a nice safe investment product.

The other real deal cars are Jim Fredericks, it is as raced; and Woody Walcher's. Plus of course the K & K car.

[Aero426]

More photos of Bonneville Aero Cars here...

http://www.superbirdclub.com/bonneville.html

[Dukes69]

Sweet old pics!  I'll have to ask around our club to see if anyone knows what happened to these.   This one used to be at Bonneville every year.  I haven't seen it the past couple of years.



There was also a Green Superbird that ran El Mirage, this was about 4 years ago.  Haven't seen it since, heard it was for sale.  Not sure if either of these were real.  

[tan top]

Sweet old pics!  I'll have to ask around our club to see if anyone knows what happened to these.   This one used to be at Bonneville every year.  I haven't seen it the past couple of years.



There was also a Green Superbird that ran El Mirage, this was about 4 years ago.  Haven't seen it since, heard it was for sale.  Not sure if either of these were real.  

there was a big feature on the 1001 daytona in a mopar mag a few years ago !  it started  life as a 69 440 R/T

[nascarxx29]

Good to See Lee Scilios car again
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=45522.0

http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/hrdp_0404_1969_dodge_charger_rt/photo_01.html

http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/hrdp_0404_1969_dodge_charger_rt/index.html

[pettybird]

i've now seen the Vernon Judy car twice and neither time the rear wheels stayed on it 

[nitrometal]

I'm curious... does anyone know what kinda speeds they ran?  I'm assuming that they're modified somewhat.

[Aero426]

I'm curious... does anyone know what kinda speeds they ran?  I'm assuming that they're modified somewhat.

As mentioned earlier, up into the late 80's, the cars running there were real deal wing cars.   The fastest of these was Jim Fredericks Fly Rod Superbird which could run in 216-217 range.   Jim was very proud that his car was capable of running at the speeds that Bobby Isaac achieved in the race Daytona in 1971.    At the time, the cars were pretty much maxed out, and their records were threatened and I believe ultimately taken by the slippery F-body GM cars.    The new clone cars have run quite a bit faster, but not in the same classes.   I am sure Redbird could fill us in more. 

[Dukes69]

1001 car has a current record at 237 and change.  Not sure if its the fastest its run, It's just whats in the rule book.

[Redbird]

I'd be out on a limb to quote a speed on the 2 clone cars, but I'd guess they have the fastest speeds. I've looked at them both and Lee's is probably the nicest but I liked the spirit of the green car much better.

As far as the original cars, I'm not sure if the one way speed of Lindsley's or Frederick's was highest. Both were probably in the 216-217 range. I'm not home so I don't have anything to look up. Vern went at least 207, maybe 212, but I really can't remember the exact number. Mine went 198 and I seem to recall Woody's going either 183 or 186.

Without question, I believe in it's as raced state, Lindsley's was the most significant.

Jim Lindsley, who feel I was fortunite just to have met,  much less to have shared a friendship with on the salt, was someone I'll always remember. He had one of the nicest conversations with my pop on the salt one day I'll never forget. He was a man with an opinion, not afraid to say what he thought, and could be incredibly kind. He had been on the salt in 1949, the 1st Bonneville Nationals. His son Larry got in the 2 club in their Superbird, the 1st 2nd generation family to do so.

Lindsley's Plymouth, to me, was one of the most significant Mopars of the muscle car era. It was in lots of issues of Hot Rod magazine, Hot Rod Yearbooks, and a multi page feature of Petersen's Plymouth/Dodge/Chrysler. It was an innovative car. The Lindsleys' competition with Van Prothero was a great story. Jim Lindsley knew everyone who was anyone in speed equipment. I believe it was high points car on the dry lakes one year. As a kid in the midwest, Lindsley's Plymouth was why I wanted to own a Mopar. I've  always thought it was as important as Pete Hamilton's Superbird.

[tan top]

good info Redbird       intresting 

[GTX MATT]

I'd be out on a limb to quote a speed on the 2 clone cars, but I'd guess they have the fastest speeds. I've looked at them both and Lee's is probably the nicest but I liked the spirit of the green car much better.

As far as the original cars, I'm not sure if the one way speed of Lindsley's or Frederick's was highest. Both were probably in the 216-217 range. I'm not home so I don't have anything to look up. Vern went at least 207, maybe 212, but I really can't remember the exact number. Mine went 198 and I seem to recall Woody's going either 183 or 186.

Without question, I believe in it's as raced state, Lindsley's was the most significant.

Jim Lindsley, who feel I was fortunite just to have met,  much less to have shared a friendship with on the salt, was someone I'll always remember. He had one of the nicest conversations with my pop on the salt one day I'll never forget. He was a man with an opinion, not afraid to say what he thought, and could be incredibly kind. He had been on the salt in 1949, the 1st Bonneville Nationals. His son Larry got in the 2 club in their Superbird, the 1st 2nd generation family to do so.

Lindsley's Plymouth, to me, was one of the most significant Mopars of the muscle car era. It was in lots of issues of Hot Rod magazine, Hot Rod Yearbooks, and a multi page feature of Petersen's Plymouth/Dodge/Chrysler. It was an innovative car. The Lindsleys' competition with Van Prothero was a great story. Jim Lindsley knew everyone who was anyone in speed equipment. I believe it was high points car on the dry lakes one year. As a kid in the midwest, Lindsley's Plymouth was why I wanted to own a Mopar. I've  always thought it was as important as Pete Hamilton's Superbird.

Lindsley's Plymouth went 211.76 one way with a 210.04 two way average in B/Production. In B/Production the stock displacement 426 used an Isky 590 cam with 13.4:1 compression spinning a, believe it or not, 440 crank. It used a Hilborn Fuel Injection setup. It was not a clone, it was a real Hemi Superbird.

[GTX MATT]

Ooops double post

[Redbird]

I'm thinking Larry went a little faster than that one way in maybe 1981 or so when he ran in Fuel Altered with a KB. At that time they had injectors through the hood covered by a metal sheet. I remember them priming the injectors with a bottle from the sides of the opening. At that time the hood didn't look like the pictures most folks have seen in magazines.

[Aero426]

This is one of Frederick's plaques from 1981 at 214+ in B/Alt.   They did run faster later in the 80's with his friend Ross Sherburn at the wheel.  

[C5X DAYTONA]

i've now seen the Vernon Judy car twice and neither time the rear wheels stayed on it 

Funny,    We took off the rear tires and put them in the shade to check the tire stagger..  Then adjusted the pressures to get the same size.   Just glad the tire didn't come off till talladega 12-13 years later...lol.   I still have that on video.  He was about 5 cars or so in front of me....

[6bblgt]

I've been told that Lindsley's and Vern's have been restored back to as factory delivered. From my view, if that's so then Lindsley's and Vern's have had their history totally erased.

I agree.  As the link above shows, Vern's car is back to stock with a red wing instead of the original black one.
I rescued the car from the "crooks" but was unable to persuade the new owner of its significance as a salt-flat racer.