midyr
Reged: 11/07/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Canada
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This is a report of the race in National Dragster Apr 18/69. Gordy Foust won the final over Lance Hill when the trans broke in Hill's SS/HA 68 Camaro. Foust drove one of Dick's Berger cars for most of 1969, this time it was the SS/G 1967 Camaro. Dick drove the 69 427 SS/E car at this race. Other entrants were Dean Nicopolis (SS/BA), Wally Booth, Odus Rigsby, Barrie Poole, Scott Wilson, Bob Coble, Dave Lyall, etc.
Arons, Booth, Rigsby, Foust, Dick 'Big M' Maskin, and Hill were all members of "The Detroit Rat Pack".
Lance Hill
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midyr
Reged: 11/07/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Canada
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Gordy Foust won class at the 1969 Springnations in Dallas with the Berger SS/E of Dick Arons. Dickie was also building the engines for Mike Fons' A/MP Camaro, which went on to win the 1969 World Championship over Dyno Don Nicholson.
Lance Hill
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midyr
Reged: 11/07/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Canada
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This ad ran in National Dragster in 1969 with pic of Dick's SS/E 1969 Camaro.
Lance Hill
Edited by midyr (01/29/09 12:25 PM)
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midyr
Reged: 11/07/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Canada
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This pic shows the Berger SS/GA 1967 Camaro after Dickie won the Can-Am meet at Cayuga Dragway July 5/69, beating Bill Stiles' SS/BA in the final. Also in the pic is Dick 'Big M' Maskin, now well known as owner of Dart Engineering and builder of Pro Stock engines. Dick had run this car with a 4-spd earlier in the year. Others in the field were Ken Montgomery, Chuck Johnson, Tritak & Morgan, Barrie Poole, Jim McCann, Scott Wilson, Lance Hill, etc.
Dick Arons was one of the best drivers and engine builders in drag racing and could drive anything from S/S to M/P to Pro Stock, and did.
Lance Hill
Edited by midyr (01/29/09 12:43 PM)
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sc69sam
Reged: 11/08/02
Posts: 4913
Loc: Pennsylvania
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You guys were a big threat back then. Where did Dave Kanners, Andy Manarino and Paul Mercurie fit in with you guys? They all were pretty fast in the Modified Eliminator/Pro Stock ranks in those days. I heard a rumor the Dean Nicopolis may be returning to drag racing.  Any pictures of your car? 
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midyr
Reged: 11/07/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Canada
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Yeah, Dave and Paul were around in those days. If memory serves Dave partnered up with Maskin on what we called the Kelvinator Pro Stocks, and Paul ran M/P with engines that Dickie built. It seems to me that Andy started out driving one of the "Mimi" Super Stock cars for Bill Blanding and then later they went into P/S, although I'm not sure I can trust my memory on it. Bill had deep pockets because he had some ownership in Corning glassworks or something along those lines, his cars were always white and had a humungous stuffed toy riding shotgun in the passenger seat. Nobody partied harder at the end of a race day that Bill and his bunch. I hope Andy is the guy I'm thinking of.
Lance
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midyr
Reged: 11/07/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Canada
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Neglected to say that Dean is truly one of the good guys, always was. A real class act. His cars were always quick.
Lance
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sc69sam
Reged: 11/08/02
Posts: 4913
Loc: Pennsylvania
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I remember a Pro Stocker with Maskins and Manarino (spelling) on the side. I think it was a Firebird maybe early 80's. I think  Dave Kanners also had the Mouse Pack camaro painted like Booth's 1969 green Pro Stock car. Early to mid 70's was a great time for NHRA Modified Eliminator.
Edited by sc69sam (01/30/09 02:44 PM)
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bkhpah
Reged: 03/30/00
Posts: 4570
Loc: Latrobe, PA
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Without question one of the coolest cars SCW has ever had the honor of restoring...BKH 
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midyr
Reged: 11/07/08
Posts: 84
Loc: Canada
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Very Nice. That's great to see.
Lance
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