02-26-2023, 07:49 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: ABQ, New Mexico
Posts: 36,633
Thanks: 3,506
Thanked 136,502 Times in 22,779 Posts
|
|
Quote:
The "FORD OF CANADA PERFORMANCE CLINIC" was Canada's version of the American Ford Drag Team, which operated in 1970. The Canadian Drag Team used a G/SA 429-CJ Cyclone, a H/S 428-CJ Cougar, a SS/HA 428-CJ Mustang, and a Pro Stock 427 SOHC Mustang, all 1970 models. The concept was similar the US drag team, except this team traveled together on a huge 4-car transporter, known as the "Titanic". The cars were delivered to Sandy Elliot Ford in Ontario, well known for his "Border Bandits" team, where they were stripped of the drivetrains. They were then sent to Sheery's Custom Paint for paint while Barrie Poole and crew built the engines. While the other three were owned by Ford, The P/S Mustang was a '69 Boss 429 Kar Kraft test car that was purchased by Mike Wood from Ford and converted to a '70 model. The Boss engine was replaced by a 427 SOHC. Intially the team consisted of Scott Wilson driving both Mustangs and Vic Beleny handling the Cyclone and Cougar. Later, Louie Rivait would take over the reins of the 428 Mustang and Bruce Fitzgibbon would take over the Cougar. The teams life was brief as Ford slashed it's racing budget by 75% in late 1970. Where are these Drag Team cars today? It looks like half of the team has survived intact after all these years. In January or February 1971, all the team cars went up for sale in National Dragster and Wheel Spin Magazine. Mike McGee reports the Cougar was sold to a local and was raced/street raced in Ontario until the mid-90's and was in a bad wreck, one person said it was destroyed, another said he is still fixing it. The Pro Stock SOHC-powered Boss 429 Mustang was reportly scrapped and it's SOHC engine found it's way into a Funny Car. The Cyclone was sold and went to Central Canada and raced for a while and was undergoing a light restoration. It was spotted on eBay a couple of years ago and appears to be mostly original. The 428 Mustang was purchased by Tim Vorick in early 1971. He raced it in Super Stock throughout Michigan, until he sold it in 1975, after relieving it of its original drivetrain. Today, is alive and well in Michigan, it is owned by Bill & Mike McGee, who have had it since buying it from Vorick in 1975. The Q-code Drag Pack Mustang retains 99% of its original 1970 Drag Team paint scheme, many vintage decals and the orignal Fenton wheels.
|
Last edited by Lee Stewart; 02-26-2023 at 07:59 PM.
|