Re: [FWDLK] '57, '58 Dodge production

[eastern sierra Adj Services <esierraadj@xxxxxxxxx>]

There are at least four issues involved in Dodge and Chrysler racing
participation, in 1957:

Utter lack of factory sponsorship of racing activities, for the 1957
model year.

Kiekaefer's privateer efforts

Stock Car racing

Drag racing

We now turn to drag racing: the 1956 Dodge D-500-1 racing program was
well supported, and probably a corporate novelty, in DEC/JAN 55/56.

For the Daytona Speedweeks (which involved several types of
straight-line accelleration runs, as well as the Beach race) Dodge just
sold three cars, to interested parties, and that-was-that. Have a nice
day. The factory reps did not appear, or provide any tuning assistance,
for those cars.

For 1957, regardless of Dave's interview-account  with Arnie Beswick,
the fact remains that the D501 was a LOT more powerful than the
295-gross-rated HP of the 56 engine.

In fact, the standard "Taxi" 3-speed manual transmission was just not
strong enough to handle the D501's torque.

There is a LOT of mythology, surrounding the 1956 D500-1's drag racing
capability, and records, including alleged 12 (or as that ELEVEN?)
second quarter mile times; the rationale was : 4.86 rear ends, and only
one shift, from 2nd to third gear.

With a 4.86 (open) rear end, the car was probably capable of a low 17
second quarter mile--remember, the Hemi is not a good engine design....
(even: the 426's could be out dragged, by a 440 wedge for most of a 1/4
mile)....for a standing-start race.

Rather than reply : neener-neener-neener, I say to the 56 guys: SHOW me
the records, for 1956.

Ron Swartly posted some actual time slips, which I have saved, and can
post/send out to anyone so interested, but, they are not conclusive of
any great ET's.

Timing standards and recordings were also pre-christmas-tree/
electronic-recorded, back in 1956.

I wrote to the NHRA historian, several years ago, asking for copies of
their racing records for 1956, but never got any response from him/them,
so, I let this raging-debate die-out.

So, you 1956 guys, I say to you: show me/us the official racing results,
with time slips, regarding the 56 Dodge's 12-second 1/4 mile times.

Neil Vedder


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• From: David Homstad <dhomstad@xxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:20:42 -0600

One of the reasons that Dodges did not race much in 57 was that they were
much less competitive than in 1956. Dodge only added 10 cubic inches for 57
D500, but many other makes, such as Oldsmobile, added 40 - 50 cid. I spoke
with Arnie Beswick once, who set drag strip records with his 56 Dodge, why
he gave up Dodge in 57. He said the 57 was several hundred pounds heavier
and weight transfer to the rear wheels for traction was less due to the
longer wheel base and body. Even though the D501 engine, a dual quad 354
Hemi, had more power, the cars were slower.


-----Original Message-----
From: Forward Look Mopar Discussion List
[mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of eastern sierra Adj Services
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 10:12 PM
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] '57, '58 Dodge production

I've often wondered about how/why no other individuals came forward to
campaign Mopes, during the 57 season, given K.'s successes in prior
years.

Maybe F.&C. WERE supplying parts/equipment/info freely to racing teams;
it's too bad CHRY never decided to promote racing
because it certainly COULD have done so.

Can you imagine Exner & Iaccoccoaoa working together with Smokey Yunick,
with their  designing/ marketing/racing expertise???????

BTW: Smokey is/was my idol, & he worked as an independent contractor-
consultant to both Gee-em, & Furd, but, never with/for Chryco.

Besides opwning "The Best Damn Garage In Town", his motto was :"They
never said you Couldn't " ...do something.

Neil Vedder


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