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[olredalert]

-----Cant believe I havent run across this great site before.As a 55 year old supercar nut,ex-employee of Jack Douglass Chevrolet,Ex-vintage drag racer(owner of an old LS6 Chevelle named "Red Alert",I feel like Ive just found my way home.Have been pouring over this site all night long and it is great.Looking forward to more......just....ol red!.......Bill S

[55chevy]

Greetings Bill. Just wondering how the old Red Alert is doing these days. I've always loved that particular '70 LS6 since seeing it in a magazine years ago. One of these days I'm actually gonna build my model of it.

[Chevy454]

Welcome, Bill! I hope you find the site to your likeing! Now, let's get right to it!

Did you happen to ever run your Chevelle in "stock" trim, like as it came from the factory, or anything close to that?

[SS427]

Welcome Bill, glad to see you make it over here. I had the pleasure of meeting your counterpart ot VetteFest last month. Thanks for your help in the past. Some of us are still trying to get the LS-6 recognized here /ubbthreads/images/icons/wink.gif but a great site none the less.
Rick Nelson

[Rat_Pack]

Welcome Bill! /ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif This site is a good place to hang out as the guys here can provide you with invaluable information. That old Chevelle was always a favorite of mine. I still have the model in the closet, which was done wrong by AMT as a 72 instead of a 70. I finally got to see the car after many years at Corvette Expo in Knoxville a while back. Like <font color="red"> SS427 </font color> said, some are still trying to get the LS6 recognized here, and why not, it was the biggest, baddest, engine ever installed in a car by Chevrolet.........................RatPack......... .........

[Chevy454]

Off topic post here, but any of you guys have a rough guesstimate of what a '70 LS-6 Chevelle w/400th would weigh, without driver?

[SS427]

Rob,
Approx 3600 lbs. I can get you a more accurate weight tonoght if needed.
Rick

[whitetop]

Bill
Can you post some vintage pics of the car back when it ran the aluminum slot wheels? I believe I read somewhere the car ran Fentons when Bill Hamilton first bought and ran the car. Has the car ever been featured or had any pics in any mags? The car being as famous as it was (and is), I have never seen it in any magazine articles from the day. Have seen it in Musclecars of the '60 &amp; '70's back in the late '80's or early '90's. NIce article.
Thanks
Dave

[ORIGLS6]

Bill, Get ready. You're going to be bombarded with questions and requests for war stories. We're all glad you found this site. The stories and information available here are phenomenal. WELCOME!
Now sit back, get comfortable and tell us everything you know. This site just gets better and better.
Dennis

[olredalert]

------Only have a moment this morning but for Whitetop.Dave,you must not pick up all the mags out there as Ol Red has been featured in 4 magazines since 1990,even on the cover of Hot Rod in 1991.Dont have the issues at this location,and cant remember which months.Will get back to you on that.Funny thing,I dont mind the interest,but as most who know me will tell you,Im not a publicity seeker.
------Car ran with 11 inch Ansen Sprints early on when Bob Hamilton(the original owner who made the car what it is today) first raced the car in super stock.Eventually he migrated to Motor Wheel Corp Flys for weight reasons.
------As far as original weight of an LS6 Chevelle goes,that may be the printed weight but I can tell you that with many weighty items pulled off and a six point added,the car weighs 3980,and ran 10teens with just an ol roller 480.
------And Rick its nice to hear from you.Sorry I didnt get back to you with those 65 questions.Got the assembly manual and that helped a bunch.
------Got to run.Tearing up another nice old original car(65 Chevelle wagon).Will try to get back on tonight.Thanks for the welcome guys,much appreciated!.......ol red......Bill S
------Just reread Daves post.I think I misunderstood.Dave,The car was put away in 1976 and didnt see the light of day until 1990.Main claims to fame from 1972 to 76 were the AMT model,and the SS/DA record Bob held back then.Want to make it clear that Red Alert didnt hold the record all thru 1972+3.SS/DA was a hotly contested class(hemi Cudas were SS/DA as well),and it bounced around.Those of you who used to frequent Island Dragway in the early 70s probably remember Ol Red as that was Bobs home track in those years.Bye!

[ChrisS]

Hi Bill, good to see you found this site. I'm not able to contribute much, but I've learned more here about the Supercars than I ever thought possible. Will be looking forward to your input.

[whitetop]

Bill

I have seen all the article in the post '90 mags. I was just wondering if anything was in print pre '76-ish.I used to talk with you on the phone when I worked for the NMCA back in the early '90's. I have some pics and videotape of the car when it ran at some of the events. I taped the car when it was at Columbus in '92 when you ran against Portfields Zl-1. I think those runs were also on the official NMCA tapes. I'm going to watch them this weekend. The site of your car leaving the line still boggs my mind to this day. It almost looked like the car was going to tear in half. Red Alert is on my top 10 favorite list.
Dave
P.S.
A funny sidelight: I had set up a small sponsorship with AMT to sponsor the model contest at each event. I was working with the new president of AMT at the time and he had never heard of The Red Alert car believe it or not. Even though at the time it was probably the most famous/best selling kit AMT ever made. I had to send him pics of the car. He was not a car person at all. Truely would not know a Camaro from a Mustang.

[Stefano]

Bill, Welcome aboard.

Tom,
Mr.Gassers atomatic equiped LS6 shows GMs shipping weight on the Original MSO copy.

[TimG]

Bill, I called Terry Carney and got him to come in for the Vettefest in Chicago two weeks ago. We hang out every summer at the vintage races at Road America. I come in from Texas for a number of events each year. He is quite a car guy and always talks about the LS6. Hope to see the car some day.

[Mr70]

Welcome Bill Stephenson
I am glad you are on this website.I know the 1972 AMT Version of your car well.I recieved it every year for X-mas or birthdays once my Family saw I was into Chevelles.I could build that model blindfolded today.
/ubbthreads/images/icons/smirk.gif

I have the Ertl Diecast version of your Chevelle as well as it's buildsheet,and done Very nice.For a dragstrip Chevelle,that thing was optioned heavily!
Are you going to take Red Alert to any local Midwest shows next year?
There is a nice one down in Laharpe &amp; Collinsville Il......Hint Hint.

[John Brown]

Hey, ole RED ALERT is for sale! http://www.classicmusclecars.com/cgi-local/swrm/det.cgi?id=547&amp;bl=m-;;k-;;nhs-;;status-Available;;sb-

[hvychev]

Bill welcome to the sight!! /ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif I am glad that you and many other very knowledgeable people have joined as of late.

I saw your car a couple of months ago at NIAB. What a nice suprise. Is it still for sale? I also have your car as a die cast model. Looking foreward to hearing stories about this legandary Chevelle.
PLEASE post some vintage pics of this car!

Good luck from a fellow Chevelle nut! /ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif

[olredalert]

-------Regrettably,my old car is on the block.Drag racing is a real time consuming hobby to do right and I just dont seem to be able to find the time to do the car justice.Im hoping to find the right "type A" personality who will continue on with Ol Red,but if it goes to a museum I guess thats OK too.With the exception of a set of valve springs(which I have)Red is ready to run.She will run 10.30s anywhere and a 10.15 on the right day,and do it all with a greater degree of reliability than any other 50 cars out there.Absolutely the only reason it isnt in the nines is the NHRA rules it would have to go thru to be there.Id have to cut the car up more than I care to do.As it sits the car could be restored to original fairly easily.The orig.trans and rear are in the car today(modified)and the original block(decked)goes with the car.There are a few pieces missing but nothing critical.
-------Yes,its sitting at NIAB and I feel Tony has done a good job of promoting it,but it may take off for the Russo-Steele Auction in Scottsdale if something doesnt happen pretty soon............Bill S

[mr gasser]

3646 Is the wgt. I have on mso great wht. to horsepower ratio.... /ubbthreads/images/icons/wink.gif

[Mr70]

Bill,a few questions.

What is the asking price of Red Alert?
You can email me that if you like.
Is your engine block painted yellow today?

Do you have any Vintage Pictures from back in the day of Bob Hamilton racing this Beast?

Are you Familiar with a 1970 Chevelle LS-6 that was campainged as "Rat Quick" in 1970,out of West Virginia owned by Paul Hoffman.It was special ordered Camaro Ralley green paint car.Featured in HotRod too.This Chevelle was also a National record holder.

[Belair62]

Dom is that MSO for the Green Manilishi ?

[Norm reynolds]

When you go to the classic muscle cars web pape go to the bottom of page click on listen to live broadcast then go to monday june 3&amp;10 and click on it they have guest Terry Carney
gives a history of red alert its about 35 mins GREAT STORY
http://www.classicmusclecars.com/broadcast.html

[Norm reynolds]

more on red alert

[Norm reynolds]

another

[Mr70]

I'll say it again.That Chevelle was optioned unusually heavy for a Stripper.
<font color="red">RPO A31,C50,D33,U46 and UM-2!</font color>
Thanks for posting those reynolds.

[Norm reynolds]

mr70 You have to listen to the story car came with a after market a/c You need real player or windows media player
car was for bobs wife
Norm

[JoeC]

It was sold out of Byrne Brothers Chevy in NY who sold many hi po cars including Yenkos and 427 COPOs.

[Mr70]

Yes thank you,I know the story.I will try to drive up and see Red Alert this weekend.I better wear a mustache and glasses,they don't want to see me at NIAB... /ubbthreads/images/icons/mad.gif

[hvychev]

Rick I heard that the Grocho(sp?) variety works the best. Hey, maby Randy won't even recognize you. /ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif

[55chevy]

This was still a cool set. Just use the Red Alert decal sheet and an AMT '70 Chevelle to make it correct. Anybody got one of these? How many model builders do we have here?

[olredalert]

mr70,

-------The engine in the car today is still painted yellow.Bob said he could spot oil leaks easier that way.Engine is not quite SS/DA legal any longer but Red mostly gets match raced anymore,as the LS6 combo was effectively factored out of being competetive by NHRA.
-------Yes, I do have several pics of when Bob was racing back in the early 70s.Im so bad with the computer that I cant figure out how to scan them.I could make copies of them and snail-mail em to someone.
-------I do remember Rat Quick well.Car ran great,as did all the LS6 combos.Heck,headers and slicks alone would get an LS6 into the elevens.I think thats why I consider a 70 LS6 Chevelle one of the true Supercars of all time...........Bill S

[redeuce]

Rick
I've got news! I quit three months ago! Also, you would be more than welcome, any of you, anywhere I'm at. Come on guys, you know I only get excited if I'm defending a point! By the way, check out my website- I'm on my own now- www.nofearmotorsports.com. (http://www.nofearmotorsports.com.) HEY BILL! Good to see your words. I am a fiesty stepchild here, so I have to watch my step! Anyway, Terry gave me that original poster from Bob and I'm going to have Sue take a pic. I'll scan and post it up here for everyone to see. Remind everybody you have all the original paperwork on the car as well as all the promo, magazines, etc. I have a guy to haul it down there if you need him. Nice rig. ALL RED! I'll talk to you about it later.
Randy

Hey guys, ask sixtiesmuscle- I'm really not a bad fella.

[whitetop]

A guy who goes under the name "The Model King" in Toms River NJ reproduces the original Red Alert Decals. he also has many other decal sheets and has made arrangemnets in the past with Revell to rerelease model kits in original box art-similar to what Revell and all the others were doing as well.AMT retooled the '70 Chevelle 5-6 years ago and I believe it is still in their catalog.
Dave

[redeuce]

Rick
You should take Bill over to the Chevelle site and introduce him over there. Those boys would get a kick out of that. Just a little insight, Bill and Terry are two of the best guys you will meet. They will talk for as long as you like about the history of that car without tiring. The best story from Bill- He was doing exhibition racing. He did chassis adjustments to get the car to launch straight. He did one run, happy as heck. The promotor came rushing over. He told Bill " I don't know what you did, but put the car back the other way. The people want to see the famous twisting wheelstands!"

[JoeC]

What is the story about the name "Red Alert"? Wasn't it something about anti Communism? or as they said in the 60s - better dead then RED.

[MotownMadman]

Bill, Real pleasure talking with you, will see what we can do about putting this deal together, anybody on this site who doesnt know Bill should spend some time getting to know him, he is a great guy with some great stories about a legend to tell. talk to you this week Bill. Thanks. /ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif

[olredalert]

JoeC,

-------Bobs son,Bob jr was in Vietnam when Bob decided to get serious about SS/DA,and the name seemed appropriate.Luckily,Jr.made it home just fine and,on occasion drove the car almost as well as his illustrious dad.As some of you may know,we lost Bob sr. 3 years ago,and he is sorely missed.He was a great racer and a great gentleman.He would drag race anything on wheels.He even campaigned a wheelstander for awhile.He once bought an original 427 Cobra direct from Carol Shelby,and used to race it down in Florida at Bradenton at the same time as Red Alert.Used to show up at the drags with a 2 car open trailer and both cars strapped to it.Must have made quite a sratement,huh?..........Bill S

[SS427]

redeuce,
Fortunately for many of us, Bill has already been over at the Chevelle site quite some time ago. That is where I was fortunate enough to get to speak with Bill for the first time and share some memories. He was just as well received over there and even sold some die cast cars to boot. /ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif Someday, I hope to meet in person and see the car as well.

[Chevy454]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>
With the exception of a set of valve springs(which I have)Red is ready to run.She will run 10.30s anywhere and a 10.15 on the right day,and do it all with a greater degree of reliability than any other 50 cars out there.

<hr></blockquote>

Ummm...anyone else thinking what I'm thinking /ubbthreads/images/icons/wink.gif ?

[ORIGLS6]

I hope so. It can't hurt to ask. You know how I feel about these cars!

[SS427]

/ubbthreads/images/icons/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/icons/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/icons/laugh.gif