mutt bros
11-21-2007, 07:30 PM
Another good story from Ronald lyles.com
By Eugene Coard
N.H.R.A / A.H.R.A.
Title the National Challenge, in 1972 some very good men Posted $151.000 purse. $25.000 plus $10.000 Contingency, totaling $35.000.Only the 3 top pro classes could participate . Pro Stock, Fuel Funny car, and Top Fuel Dragster. $500.00 Qualifying money and $500.00 round money.In 1972 a group of good guys decided to organize a racing program that would pay the top 3 classes, PS FC TF Big money, the NHRA wasnt paying big bucks in those days.They Corporation name was,P.R.A. Pro Racing Association. We ran the first one in 1972 it took place in Tulsa Oklahoma. The second one took place in 1973 we did not participate in that one, The third took place at New York National Raceway, they tried to give the big HEMI a weight brake 6.75 per cubic inches, Ronnie Sox drove our 1974 Dodge Colt, Sox blew the 396 Hemi Engine so we install a 426 Engine, with the 426 we had to add 200 lb with that 200 lb, not even Sox couldn't make it happen. The first race took place Labor Day weekend in 1972. I drove from Brooklyn N.Y. to Sox & Martin shop, in Burlington N.C. Ronald and I left 4:00 am Wednesday Morning. Arriving, in Burlington 12:00 pm. We work on the car until 7:00 pm had dinner, started to Tulsa Oklahoma, I got behind the wheel again I drove all Wednesday night and most of the day Thurday,I drove to the Oklahoma state line. Ronald wasn't felling well, Having diabetes he always had good and bad days. He took over the wheel and drove to Tulsa. Those were the good and bad days of racing, trying to get that big money We felt we had a good chance to win $35.000 like so many others. We had a car that had winning capablity all we needed to do is to make it happen. When we arrive at the hotel I was sick from exhaustion or from taking nodoze pills. Got up friday morning headed to the track like so many other, with the hope we could win $35.000, but first we had to qualify. All the big HEMI was running well, we qualify in the top eight, everything was going well, Until Mr Bill Grumpy Jenkins showed up with his small block Vega, on a warm up run he ran a 10th quicker than the quickest HEMI. I was sick not only physically but mentally. At that point I felt like so many other HEMI owners that the big HEMI had no chance to win the big bucks. That little 96 inch wheel base Chevy Vaga small block, was the big HEMI nightmare. The first time I saw Jenkins small block VEGA ran I told Ronald that the smallblock vega was the future of pro stock. Those men who organize that National Challenge Race, they should be commended for opening up the doors for big bucks in drag racing as in Boxing Don King open up the doors for big bucks, All of you Pro Stocker FunnyCar Top Fuel Drivers today should thanks those good man for opening up the doors for big bucks in Drag Racing. Even in those days you need big bucks to put on a good show. Bill Jenkins won $35.000 in 1972 $25.000 in 1973 and in 1974 he won the last one. In 1973 you could build a Pro Stock car for $20. to $30. thousand dollars race ready compared to today price $200.000 and may not qualify. In those days most of the money came from contingency Money, NHRA payed very little, that's why you would see all those sticker on the cars. My personal feeling is Bill Jenkins did for Pro Stock, what Big Daddy Don Garlits did for Top Fuel. I thanky the gentleman that sponsor the first Challenge races on Labor Day weekend 1972, was the President of the AHRA American Hot Rod Association.
By Eugene Coard
N.H.R.A / A.H.R.A.
Title the National Challenge, in 1972 some very good men Posted $151.000 purse. $25.000 plus $10.000 Contingency, totaling $35.000.Only the 3 top pro classes could participate . Pro Stock, Fuel Funny car, and Top Fuel Dragster. $500.00 Qualifying money and $500.00 round money.In 1972 a group of good guys decided to organize a racing program that would pay the top 3 classes, PS FC TF Big money, the NHRA wasnt paying big bucks in those days.They Corporation name was,P.R.A. Pro Racing Association. We ran the first one in 1972 it took place in Tulsa Oklahoma. The second one took place in 1973 we did not participate in that one, The third took place at New York National Raceway, they tried to give the big HEMI a weight brake 6.75 per cubic inches, Ronnie Sox drove our 1974 Dodge Colt, Sox blew the 396 Hemi Engine so we install a 426 Engine, with the 426 we had to add 200 lb with that 200 lb, not even Sox couldn't make it happen. The first race took place Labor Day weekend in 1972. I drove from Brooklyn N.Y. to Sox & Martin shop, in Burlington N.C. Ronald and I left 4:00 am Wednesday Morning. Arriving, in Burlington 12:00 pm. We work on the car until 7:00 pm had dinner, started to Tulsa Oklahoma, I got behind the wheel again I drove all Wednesday night and most of the day Thurday,I drove to the Oklahoma state line. Ronald wasn't felling well, Having diabetes he always had good and bad days. He took over the wheel and drove to Tulsa. Those were the good and bad days of racing, trying to get that big money We felt we had a good chance to win $35.000 like so many others. We had a car that had winning capablity all we needed to do is to make it happen. When we arrive at the hotel I was sick from exhaustion or from taking nodoze pills. Got up friday morning headed to the track like so many other, with the hope we could win $35.000, but first we had to qualify. All the big HEMI was running well, we qualify in the top eight, everything was going well, Until Mr Bill Grumpy Jenkins showed up with his small block Vega, on a warm up run he ran a 10th quicker than the quickest HEMI. I was sick not only physically but mentally. At that point I felt like so many other HEMI owners that the big HEMI had no chance to win the big bucks. That little 96 inch wheel base Chevy Vaga small block, was the big HEMI nightmare. The first time I saw Jenkins small block VEGA ran I told Ronald that the smallblock vega was the future of pro stock. Those men who organize that National Challenge Race, they should be commended for opening up the doors for big bucks in drag racing as in Boxing Don King open up the doors for big bucks, All of you Pro Stocker FunnyCar Top Fuel Drivers today should thanks those good man for opening up the doors for big bucks in Drag Racing. Even in those days you need big bucks to put on a good show. Bill Jenkins won $35.000 in 1972 $25.000 in 1973 and in 1974 he won the last one. In 1973 you could build a Pro Stock car for $20. to $30. thousand dollars race ready compared to today price $200.000 and may not qualify. In those days most of the money came from contingency Money, NHRA payed very little, that's why you would see all those sticker on the cars. My personal feeling is Bill Jenkins did for Pro Stock, what Big Daddy Don Garlits did for Top Fuel. I thanky the gentleman that sponsor the first Challenge races on Labor Day weekend 1972, was the President of the AHRA American Hot Rod Association.