Akron Arlen R.I.P

[m22mike]

Akron Arlen Vanke June 15 2015


http://http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ohio/obituary.aspx?pid=185838831

[bigsixman]

Sad to hear he news of his passing. I fortunate to be able to talk to him 3 years ago about his racing days with Pontiac and Mopar.

RIP Arlen.

[Lee Stewart]

https://s30.postimg.org/hzsciw3jl/image.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/myfuxf7cd/)

Campaigning Pontiac Super Stocks early in the 1960s, when GM pulled the plug, Arlen Vanke switched to Mopars, becoming one of the dominant racers in the category. Arlen died June 16, 2017, at 80 years old. Hailing from Akron, Ohio, Vanke, called “Akron Arlen” by many, set NHRA A/Stock records in 1962 in his Super Duty Pontiac. A year later, when GM quit racing, Vanke purchased both a 426 wedge and 426 Hemi Plymouth, winning many races with the two Mopars. But without any support from Plymouth, Vanke was back to racing Pontiacs by 1966 with his “Tin Indian” GTO. That got Mopar’s attention. They wooed Vanke back to Chrysler, where he had many wins in Super Stock for Plymouth. He also has his name attached to dual quad Hemi RO23 intakes that were “Vanked”. He would remove dividing walls in the plenum from the front and rear carb flanges to aid in breathing throughout the RPM range, making a plenum chamber intake. His Hemi ‘Cuda won the NHRA Nationals in SS/A in 1968, setting the record for SS/A at the 1969 NHRA Winternationals. He was a member of the United States Racing Team for Pro Stock in 1971 and 1972. Vanke participated in Nostalgia drag racing in the 1990s before retiring to Las Cruces, New Mexico.

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/arlen-vanke-pioneer-super-stock-pro-stock-racing-died/

https://s9.postimg.org/57cjj77b3/image.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/9gh9ldakb/)

https://s13.postimg.org/sxtv8yic7/image.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/qt9i7vgpf/)

[mockingbird812]

A real Legend! RIP Arlen!

[olredalert]

----Some may remember me saying that Arlen used to come into my Dads hardware store and pick up all kinds of stuff when he worked for Russ Ceifert (RC Industries) in Medina OH (circa 1965-6). Russ went on to a major position at American Racing later on. Arlen was a class act and could really make just about anything he touched run faster. I last saw him with his last SS Mopar and, while older he really hadn't changed at all. If you pull up the Hot Rod Magazine thread that Lee posted you will see Arlen wearing an RC industries T-shirt. RIP Akron Arlen Vanke.......Bill S

[Astock]

Arlen was a big part of my high school years. I was at his shop a couple times a week. I always had something there at his shop. He always considered my '66 GTO Mickey- mouse compared to his Mopars. He worked everything possible to my engine, too.
He was fun guy, talented, good sense of humor, and he could have been anything he wanted with a degree, but loved cars.
I hope I have time today to dig the car out after 11 years, and terrorize the neighbors in his honor.

[RobR]

A great person that looked after his mom who was over 100 years old and recently passed away in New Mexico I'll miss our conversations and his sense of humor , Rest In Peace.

[olredalert]

----Wow! Id love to have one of those decals. Got to be rare.......Bill S