nascar driver Ray Elder dies - November 24, 2011

[held1823]

One of the aero warriors passes on. Condolences to the Elder family.

http://www.nascar.com/news/111125/relder-passes-away/index.html

[hemi68charger]

RIP Mr. Elder...... 

[Aero426]

Wow that is unexpected to hear.   They were just restoring one of his old Chargers.   

[Ghoste]

Was it being restored with his knowledge?  Sad he wont see the end of that project in any case.
Condolences to his friends and family.

[Aero426]

Yes, he still owned the car.   The used a chassis that had been sitting in the shop for a long time without a body.  It was recently reskinned with a 68-70 Charger body and his original Daytona front clip and wing added.   The chassis does not look anything like a Nichels chassis, but more like something built later in the early to mid 70's.

[tan top]

RIP  Ray  , 

Yes, he still owned the car.   The used a chassis that had been sitting in the shop for a long time without a body.  It was recently reskinned with a 68-70 Charger body and his original Daytona front clip and wing added.   The chassis does not look anything like a Nichels chassis, but more like something built later in the early to mid 70's.

i remember reading , Rays racing story  about that some years back  ,  he still had the original wing & nose off his race car along with a race hemi &  lot of rear springs still in his barn !! was planning to find a chassis for a 69 C500 body

[Aero426]

These photos ran in the DSAC newsletter within the last year.    They took a '68 body and put it on the early-mid 70's race chassis they had in the shop and added the original Daytona front clip and wing.

[Aero426]

Rear shot.  Looks like a '68 tail panel to me.   

[Aero426]

Body

[Aero426]

Early to mid 70's Petty style chassis.    Thanks to Paul for the bare chassis pics.

[Aero426]

Front clip

[tan top]

These photos ran in the DSAC newsletter within the last year.    They took a '68 body and put it on the early-mid 70's race chassis they had in the shop and added the original Daytona front clip and wing.

  thanks for sharing the pictures       , yes looks is if it could be a 68 body with a C500 plug 
   the article i mentioned in my post  just showed , the  top rear half of the empty body  ,  sure it said 69 C500 , i'll have a dig it out & i will post it here  ,  , they were still looking for a suitable chassis at that point also , but had the motor rebuilt

[Budnicks]

That sucks another good man gone... R.I.P. "God Speed" Ray Elder my condolences go out to his family, friends & former team mate...

[held1823]

1970 Riverside

[held1823]

talladega?

[Aero426]

Nice pic.  That is Daytona 500, not Talladega.

[Budnicks]

How can you tell it Daytona not Talladega ?  is it the angle of the banking or car set up   Just curious... Man you guys have some cool vintage photos from back in the hay day of NASCAR....

[Aero426]

How can you tell it Daytona not Talladega ?  is it the angle of the banking or car set up   Just curious... Man you guys have some cool vintage photos from back in the hay day of NASCAR....

Several reasons.

1. It has that February late afternoon sun look of Daytona in turns 1 and 2.     Talladega asphalt in early photos shows to be absolutely jet black, as it was brand new.

2. The #06 has a local Florida sponsor on the quarter.   If it were Talladega, chances are it would have an Alabama dealership.  The "sponsorships" were of nominal money, or maybe just use of the shop if necessary, feed the crew, etc.

3. The #96 didn't run at Talladega

This photo from Daytona is very similar in appearance, although it's in color.   It's late in the Daytona 500 - note all the paint blasted off the nose. 

[Aero426]

This one is Talladega.   Look how black the pavement is.

Sometimes you can tell what race it is whether there is side glass in the cars, the decal placement, or maybe the front spoiler.   

[Highbanked Hauler]

 That square opening behind the left front tire must be for the battery isn't it ??   Is this from being a later chassis ? Now your car has the battery in the trunk behind the fuel cell doesn't it?? Al

[Aero426]

That square opening behind the left front tire must be for the battery isn't it ??   Is this from being a later chassis ? Now your car has the battery in the trunk behind the fuel cell doesn't it?? Al

Yes, the original location of the battery tray is behind the LF wheel.    The tray is still there on Ramo's car, but the battery was relocated to the trunk,  I assume in 1971 or '72. 

[held1823]

two more...

[Budnicks]

How can you tell it Daytona not Talladega ?  is it the angle of the banking or car set up   Just curious... Man you guys have some cool vintage photos from back in the hay day of NASCAR....

Several reasons.

1. It has that February late afternoon sun look of Daytona in turns 1 and 2.     Talladega asphalt in early photos shows to be absolutely jet black, as it was brand new.

2. The #06 has a local Florida sponsor on the quarter.   If it were Talladega, chances are it would have an Alabama dealership.  The "sponsorships" were of nominal money, or maybe just use of the shop if necessary, feed the crew, etc.

3. The #96 didn't run at Talladega

This photo from Daytona is very similar in appearance, although it's in color.   It's late in the Daytona 500 - note all the paint blasted off the nose.  

Thanks   that good enough for me, you sound like you really know your tracks & old winged race cars  

[held1823]

i don't know of any factory produced replica of elder's, but i imagine someone has produced the decals to do a model kit.
these 1/32 and HO scale slot cars are both customs.