clipped wing dirt tracker?

[held1823]

i ran across this photo the other day. the slick looking rear window makes one wonder how long the old superbird body was used.

[moparstuart]

 

[HPP]

I think that wasjust a regular old Road Runner and it is just the angle of the photo that makes it look smooth. I've seen other pictures of it before. I'll see if I can find them and verify.

[FJ5WING]

I think that wasjust a regular old Road Runner and it is just the angle of the photo that makes it look smooth. I've seen other pictures of it before. I'll see if I can find them and verify.

I think its a regular Runner too.

[Budnicks]

Cool old photo.. 

[held1823]

I think that was just a regular old Road Runner and it is just the angle of the photo that makes it look smooth. I've seen other pictures of it before. I'll see if I can find them and verify.

the angle could be all that it is, although i wonder if they would have taken the time to reskin the superbird. they could have removed the nose and wing, figuring the window was not worth the time to change.  hopefully you guys can compare it to other photos of the same car.

[moparstuart]

 my  70 standard RR rear glass

[Aero426]

That is Roger McCluskey's USAC short track Road Runner.   Roger drove for Norm Nelson of Racine Wisconsin.    Norm had the factory Plymouth deal in USAC.  He had at least two cars in 1970, the Superbird and the short track Runner.   Norm sometimes drove a conventional Road Runner as car #41.    I tend to think the #1 and #41 short track cars were the same cars renumbered as needed. 

[Aero426]

Another shot of Roger's short track car, from Knoxville Iowa, 1971.    Note the air duct cut into the roof for extra driver comfort.

[maxwellwedge]

Is that a 429 C.I.   on the hood?

[Aero426]

Is that a 429 C.I.   on the hood?

Yup.  The limit per rule was 429.999 CI.    They did not want to be out-done by the Fords.    You also saw 429 CI on Glotzbach's NASCAR #99 at times.

[maxwellwedge]

Cool - I always knew the engine max size rule.....never noticed any that showed their exact size like that. I think Chrysler would have preferred the 426 emblazened on there but by this time maybe the France handicap was in place?

Oh - Hang on - This was a USAC ride.

[held1823]

thanks, doug.

how long did the team run both the 1970 roadrunner and the superbird? im assuming both bodies were legal for three years or so? photos of their cars beyond that point in time are tougher to come by. did they run the same numbers throughout the later years?

[Aero426]

Cool - I always knew the engine max size rule.....never noticed any that showed their exact size like that. I think Chrysler would have preferred the 426 emblazened on there but by this time maybe the France handicap was in place?

Oh - Hang on - This was a USAC ride.

The Nichels team seemed to start this.  But not only in USAC, but in NASCAR too in 1970.    Some people explain it as "because that was the limit".  My personal feeling is they would not let themselves be out-done by Ford.   The guy in the stands sees 429 on the Fords and thinks, "well, that's more than 426.   More is better and....."

[Aero426]

thanks, doug.

how long did the team run both the 1970 roadrunner and the superbird? im assuming both bodies were legal for three years or so? photos of their cars beyond that point in time are tougher to come by. did they run the same numbers throughout the later years?

1970, 1971 and 1972.    In USAC, your car number was based on your points finish the previous year.   The cars ran #1 in '70 and '71 as Roger was the national champion.   He ran car #3 in 1972 which was his points finish in 1971.   

[maxwellwedge]

Cool - I always knew the engine max size rule.....never noticed any that showed their exact size like that. I think Chrysler would have preferred the 426 emblazened on there but by this time maybe the France handicap was in place?

Oh - Hang on - This was a USAC ride.

The Nichels team seemed to start this.  But not only in USAC, but in NASCAR too in 1970.    Some people explain it as "because that was the limit".  My personal feeling is they would not let themselves be out-done by Ford.   The guy in the stands sees 429 on the Fords and thinks, "well, that's more than 426.   More is better and....."

Thanks Doug.

Did you notice the SnowTona?

[Aero426]

Yes, I love the snow Tona.   Very appropriate for the time of year.    Frank isn't keeping her outside is he?     

[maxwellwedge]

He better not be or he'll get one of these       

[A383Wing]

Another shot of Roger's short track car, from Knoxville Iowa, 1971.    Note the air duct cut into the roof for extra driver comfort.

whut's that thingy on the drivers side of the hood....mini spoiler?

Bryan

[Aero426]

It is a little air deflector to keep the dirt clods off the windshield.   You'll notice the car has a stock wiper on the driver side.

[Aero426]

thanks, doug.

did they run the same numbers throughout the later years?

Here's the '72 season livery.  Same car.  Just the number has changed.    There are some 1/25 decals available to do this car or the Superbird for that year.

[held1823]

Here's the '72 season livery.  Same car.  Just the number has changed.    There are some 1/25 decals available to do this car or the Superbird for that year.

great photo. i didnt realize they ran the wing car in 1972. per usac rules, would the superbird have been car number 3, as well?

i imagine those 1/25 scale decals can be resized to 1/32, and a cool carrera slot car is to be had.

[tan top]

intresting pictures thanks for posting   

[Aero426]

[great photo. i didnt realize they ran the wing car in 1972. per usac rules, would the superbird have been car number 3, as well?

Yes, all aero cars were eligible for three years in USAC.   Daytonas, Charger 500s and Talladegas ran through 1971;  Superbirds through the end of 1972.     Living in Milwaukee, we were spoiled as we could see the cars race four times a year, ten minutes from home.    We sat in the fourth turn just about where this photo was taken.  McCluskey is in the #3.    The Torino is one of Jack Bowsher's team cars.   Jack had the factory Ford program in USAC. 

[held1823]

wow. just wow.

[Aero426]

Here's one more, same year and track.

Check out the steep wing angle cranked into it for the flat mile track.

[Aero426]

I'm sure this is a very rare piece - I've sure never seen another.    It's a Roger McCluskey hero card from the 1972 season.    I have no idea where it came from and it's not in the best of shape.    The signature is a copy of Roger's autograph printed on the card.    I came across it by accident and thought I would scan it before it disappears into the abyss.

[held1823]

 i sorted through my photo files and realized i had seen the 1972 livery without even knowing it. i have no clue where i saved these from over the years.