March 2006 Feature Car

[68TopStock]

Rob,

Thanks for selecting my car on the sites monthly feature. I also want to thank your dad, and the SYC for helping me display "Little Hoss", at its natural home, on the track.

So far, I have been able to run in chronological order;
St.Louis (with Herb for its debut in 2001 at the reunion) Beradstown (on the way home in 2001)
Wentzville (now closed) in 2002 at the reunion (first meet of the 1968 Championship season)
Cordova (1968 Eliminator Champ) in 2003 for the 50th Anniversaary (thanks to Doug Herzog)
Whitehall (a neat 1/8 miler on the way to St. Louis)
The 2003 reunion with the #1 ZL1 in 2003 at St. Louis (the first time the 2 cars had ever been at a track together) Kansas City International in 2005, thanks to Harry Kalwei.

I really have to thank, however, Helen Gibb and her two daughters, Nancy and Connie, and Herb Fox for my desire to bring "Little Hoss" back to it's former glory, a drag racing World Championship Stocker. I met Helen and the girls in 1999. I just had to get my car looking like it did in 1968. The excitement among the people in LaHarpe, Illinois is unbelievable when celebrating the Fred Gibb Chevrolet racing heritage. Helen explained to me that "Little Hoss" was their "fun car". I can only imagine how fun it must have been in 1967 and 1968, when Fred, Herb and Dick first met, and were starting a legacy that would be written about and remembered to this day. I just love reading about and seeing the other cars that were created by these friendships. Their owners are just great people!

I must admit, owning this car has been very fun, with alot of excitement occurring in my old veins when I get together with all the friends I have met over the last 6 years.

I have many, many, positive memories that have been created since 1999, I will cherish forever. I have met some new friends, and am grateful for the opportunity of sharing this piece of Chevrolet racing history with those willing to remember the past.

[sYc]

Hey Ken....

[71-LS6]

The picture of that launch, is just awesome. I was pitted next to Ken last year, the car looks as nice up close, as it does in the pictures.

[JQ]

To hear this car make a pass is like music to the ears.

[68TopStock]

To answer a couple of questions.

The crossram was installed just after the Bristol SpringNationals, which occurred on June 6-7 of 1968. Herb told me the set-up was received before that, and the shipping documents have an early May date, but they had the car running so well (just set several records at Detroit) that they did not want to change anything until after the big meet at Bristol. Helen was generous to give me her original shipping invoice to document that "Little Hoss" may have been the first car to run this set-up on a national points circuit. AHRA allowed and had multiple carburation rules for the stock classes.

The engine I have installed is not the original, which was destroyed in 1982. The original engine set around 33 world records, at least 11 under Gibb ownership, and 22 when owned by Lloyd Kirchoff, who bought the car from Fred in November of 1968, and renamed the car "Mighty Mouse". Lloyd won Stock Eliminator at the Bristol SpringNationals in 1971, running GS/A (with the 302 crossram and a turbo-350).

The current engine is one of the few factory prepared counter exchange CE 302 shortblocks made in 1967. I bought it still in the crate NOS, and it is still OE spec, running 359 HP on the dyno after I installed OE heads and an OE crossram. It is standard bore, stroke and compression. The factory pad was painted after we assembled the motor, but it came without paint on it when taken from the crate.

[Fhakya]

What RPM's do you launch the car at Ken?

[sYc]

[ QUOTE ]
What RPM's do you launch the car at Ken?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not for sure about Ken, but one year at the SCR I think Herb Fox left at about 10 grand. In fact, he had it wound so tight the car stumbled at the 60' mark due to fuel starvation.

[ORIGLS6]

[ QUOTE ]
I think Herb Fox left at about 10 grand.

[/ QUOTE ]

And that, my friends, is how you get to be a WORLD CHAMPION!!!!

[68TopStock]

Denis,

I will try and find the dyno sheets, pretty interesting as they also show fuel and air data during the 7-8 test runs. May need to send them to Rob to post, so they are more readable.

I have been launching around 5800-6000, however, am sure Herb did it a bit higher, with roller rockers, and stiffer springs, and a few other tricks. The dyno sheets show the current set-up peaks around 6200.

[SMGCO]

I've seen it in person. It's a real piece of history.