Pro Stock: The Early Years

[@outsidethebox8950]

I cannot tell you how much your videos mean to me. Being nearly 70, I was there for so much of this…. Thank you very much. It was pure and raw then.

[@dennisholst4322]

The 990 class

[@zxtenn]

68 here, i used to go to NY national speedway on Long Island in the early 70's and then the track in Epping NH, 2 bucks to race on Wednesday night called 'grudge night'

[@charliechristie2949]

@@dennisholst4322 As a base car, yes

[@dennisholst4322]

Don't try to excellerate your own being. Jenkins has.

[@charliechristie2949]

@@dennisholst4322 He who benefitted GREATLY by the large reduction in pounds per cubic inch advantage.....

[@454ho]

Real Pro Stock! The way it should be. Great video

[@themopar426]

now camaro stock!

[@dennisholst4322]

No computer just excitement

[@dennisholst4322]

Those had to be hard to handle

[@dennisholst4322]

They wond the piss out them

[@danmyers9372]

@@dennisholst4322- Especially these first years before they all went full tube chassis. The cars were basically SS and Comp cars on steroids. To see these early PS cars running slapper bars on leaf springs is kinda mind boggling.

[@coyboybc]

Love the old school pro stock drag cars! Wish they were still that way ! 😊

[@charliechristie2949]

THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. In 1970 when Pro Stock started, I was 17. Watching your video going from car to car, brought back SO MANY memories. I was a huge Sox and Martin fan back then, but loved watching them all.

[@dennisholst4322]

They put them to the limit

[@charliechristie2949]

@@dennisholst4322 It was unreal. They all busted their butts working 16 hour days. Herb (Mc Candless) missed the birth of one of his boys because he was on the road with Ronnie. Jenkins was found sleeping in his truck after they swapped motors in his Camaro in the hotel lot. He was 100 feet from his hotel room and didn’t make it there ! They were stars !

[@ButchBurton-sg8pj]

I luv them old drag cars..my neighbors dad raced a old dodge dart at Lyons drag strip long time ago..thanks for showing them old drag cars..sonny Miller was my neighbors dad..hes a hot rodder build...used to be in his younger days..thanks for the videos!!

[@markwilliams5606]

Woodward Avenue Detroit. 1970. Ran a 69 Road Runner. Good memories. Found a 68 Chevelle SS. There still out there.🇺🇸🏁

[@dennisholst4322]

Rear end housing twisted. WOW

[@JariVasarainen]

Perfect video through history. No bullshit, no music, just facts. Love it!

[@markweber7275]

Great video. Wish the rules would not have changed into what it has evolved into. Once big money gets in the act the home grown teams disappeared, those were fun times. Think this what the stands are thinly populated. Keep the videos coming.

[@biggierat6246]

Great Job. Thanks so much for my youthful memories! Age 73

[@biscuitboy3617]

Love the early years of Pro Stock because they were more 'stock' than full race setups. Al Joniac's 72 Maverick with 429/4 speed running a 9.36 @ 146 MPH was blistering fast for the 1970-1972 era!

[@larrytucker2938]

Man, I watched a lot of those cars run. I used to stop by Grumpy's shop and learn as much as I could. Great presentation.

[@njseashorechas2698]

Those were the glory days and some magical times! All the entry's into the class is blowing my mind! Long before NHRA turned Prostock into a 16 car GM bubble car clone class!

[@FlamesAt1000ft]

THE BEST times in Pro Stock!! ENJOYED THIS immensely!! 👏🏾🤣🥰

[@thomaslongshore1295]

I haven't watched pro stock in years. What a trip down memory lane, when one recognizes many of the names and cars.

[@TJRatfink]

great stuff! I've long been a fan of Super and Pro Stock cars.

[@tiagoagustin1615]

Good videos Paradise, keep it up I like all your videos

[@paulmurawski3683]

Old skool rules. So neat see these Rides thank you much

[@humblegeorge]

Growing up in Syracuse New York the MIMI was a car I saw many times at a gas station not far from my Home. Thanks for this amazing video :>)

[@diazfernandezantonio]

Thank you sir. Straight to the point! History lesson here.

[@roadking99jokerst60]

When folks could identify with the cars and racers. I heard Bill Jenkins swear under his breath changing his own tires between rounds in Omaha. The time of our lives was seeing these guys.OK, and Judy Lilly racing at Thunder Valley in SS/AA.

[@dennisholst4322]

Small blocks with stretch marks

[@danmyers9372]

First time I saw Pro Stocks live was around 1971-72. And the first car I watched was the Grump who was doing a match race (don’t recall who he raced). To see NA door cars that fast was mind boggling.

[@hondaben78]

Great job, awesome pics and info!

[@joepepi7394]

Wonderful videos,keep them coming please!

[@leonardfoster6252]

The cars and engines have come along ways and the tires on the compound... They just make so much hp compared to back then. I run a 66 SS Chevelle, 468 cu.in. single carb on race gas and runs 8.80's et. 1/4 mile, powerglide trans w/trans. brake, 1/8th 5.40's at 126 mph. 1/4 mile mph is 155...

[@joequillun7790]

Back when there was actually some "stock", in Pro Stock. Sorta like NASCAR, when "Stock" cars use-ta be stock. (Kinda)

[@jackperry9369]

Ole akron arlen vanke was my uncles sidekick thanks for the sweeeeet content 😅

[@anthonytripp2251]

What a great video. Outstanding research.

[@halseyknox]

The SOHC (also pronounced "Sock" ford engines were also refered to as "Cammer's.....cool vid. when the professional classes of drag racing such as Pro Stock was a common man's sport not at all like it is today

[@brianreynoldson1965]

I agree! Today's Professoinal class of NHRA-legal Pro Stock is a complete snooze-fest. Nothing against Erica Enders, but as the late Bill Jenkins was quoted saying with the advent of the Lenco planetary transmission in NHRA-legal Pro Stock in the day. "Even a monkey could drive a Pro Stock". Bill was right, hopefully the new NHRA Factory Experimental can replace the current "snooze-fest" known as Pro Stock

[@williamwagaman9538]

This is when pro stock was real.Not the bullshit that They run today

[@timrayburn2461]

Great video and work....thank you

[@UberLummox]

YEP. After '71 or 2 who cares! Great video.

[@ButchBurton-sg8pj]

You all showed a gremlin..thats cool cause i had a gremlin when i was younger and it had a factory v-8 .i think a 304..it was cool but not a drag car..thanks for the videos.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

Do you know why the Chevy guys used either 427’s or 327’s? Because they revved higher than the 396 and 454, and the 350.. most of the 327/331’s were 65-67 small journal 327’s that’ll rev to 9000 rpm all day long

[@butziporsche8646]

Back in 75' a buddy of mine were at a stop light in Central Point Oregon when a dude, his wife, and 2 kids pulled up next to us in a Gremlin X. We were in his 67' Mustang Coupe w/ 289 4bbl. The dude in the Gremlin started revving his engine and my buddy said we'll beat it and I said; "hey, don't, it's a Gremlin X and he wasn't impressed. He got a good launch and hole shot the Gremlin and then it blew our doors off.

[@markwilliams5606]

Used to Dig bracelet racing. Detroit Dragway. Remember Jungle Jim 🇺🇸🏁

[@artmchugh5644]

" SIBLEY AT DIX " 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 been there!!!!😊😊😊😊

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Enjoyed!!! 🤜🤛

[@tonyt8805]

Memories.....👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾

[@scooterdoughmas3012]

dou lovin dis chit keep pumpin em out 😁🤩scooter d😎ps thx 4 the inspiration😅😋

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

Lee smith is a local drag racing legend. Sadly he passed a few years ago

[@francoamerican4632]

You should do a "where are these cars now" video.

[@charliechristie2949]

The first few years were great until NHRA decided to remove weight from the less competitive makes (don't want to ignite a war, we know who needed a weight advantage, don't we ?). As Pro Stock went on and the rules became more lax, the whole class changed into Funny cars with Carbs and gasoline with one door that opens. Sad, very sad. I loved Pro Stock and my friends Ronnie Sox and Jake King. God love them all ! !

[@ILoveLauriePartridge]

Mopars were spraying since the beginning. Jenkins' Vega got a weight break but also ran a 331 small block Chevy. Mopar still couldn't beat the car while spraying. They boo hooed and that's why Jenkins referred them as Chryyyyyslers. One more note- how many Dusters came from the factory with Hemis? Case closed.

[@charliechristie2949]

@ How many Vegas came with mouse motors?…. I was talking about Pro Stock when it was all big blocks.

[@charliechristie2949]

@ Case will never close. It was so much fun to watch.

[@charliechristie2949]

@@ILoveLauriePartridge If you ran the same cubic inch to weight ratio, tell the crowd what happens. I mean all the same. One engine wins so often NHRA said it was boring,but, the truth was Jenkins spent a whole summer and winter crying to the bosses at the NHRA until they caved and gave ALL a big weight advantage over the HEMI cars. The loaded the HEMI cars with extra weight until they could no longer win. It was all political garbage. Ruined the whole class. Bull$h!t...........See what you did. I am such a loving fellow and you made me mad. I don't like to remember how old I am and you did it.😄

[@BennyBallbreaker]

That’s crazy someone used to run a Hemi Dart from here in Norton, Mass. There’s a few fellers in town that have street machines, but I’ve never seen anything as serious as an LO23 Dart in any garages..

[@joequillun7790]

Brockton here. Loved NEDragway mid 70s. Great times. (Back when it was IHRA)

[@tomsweeten9106]

Great video, thank you

[@badgerbait8351]

That was fun! Was surprised that no one was running 454s or 350s in the chev camps?!

[@leftyoverton4347]

Money Money Money!!!! That’s what happened to PRO Stock racing, as well as the rest of drag racing. Back day the cars would come into the racing facility on open trailers usually towed by pickup trucks. Those days are long gone. Class racing became the “How fast can you afford to go” racing! Years ago I found out my pockets weren’t nearly deep enough to race with a bunch of rich boys. That’s why at 70 years old I’m still having fun bracket racing.

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

Yes the fact that all four manufactures were involved made it wonderful unlike today with nothing but Camaros. Even the brothers not sure how to spell their last name Quadry I think but they are Latino, and they run what looks like Mustangs, but underneath are actually Camaro's and of course they are Chevy powered. I was really excited that they were running as good as they were until I heard the announcer recently say they were in reality Chevrolets. Such a shame.

[@johndehaven8694]

I know Ed Miller. Him and my dad were really good friends. My dad passed away a few years ago but I still keep in contact with Ed

[@kevinrussell5099]

Ed was a friend of my dad also. In the early 60's Ed was running a 36 Pontiac with a 370 Pontiac engine. My dad was running a Pontiac in one of the lower stock classes and was one of the top 2 cars in its class, nationwide. In '62 we took it to the U.S. Nationals and Ed and his first wife went with us to help out. Fun memories!

[@johndehaven8694]

@@kevinrussell5099 I remember Ed calling my dad asking if we'd help him load up a bunch of stuff he bought. He bought all these old driving simulators from a high school. Me and dad thought he was crazy until he explained that the seats and steering wheels were the same ones they used in the Hurst cudas and darts

[@biggierat6246]

I went to high school with a guy who bought Ed's 65 hemi, he only paid $2600 for it. Can't help but shake my head over that.

[@kevinrussell5099]

@@biggierat6246 Chassis only, without the engine and transmission, right? That was the car he won the S/S World Championship with in '67 and was worth a fortune! Chrysler provided the Cuda for him in '68 but it's hard to imagine him letting it go for anything like that. That same car sold at auction a couple of years ago for big money.

[@chadkent1241]

The 351C was the most handicapped engine in PS racing history and was the engine that pushed the sanctioning body to go to the 500 in³ rule. Then after a few years of development, Bob's BOSS 429s gave him 5 championships in a row and opened the door for GM to introduce the DRCE and that was the end of actual Pro STOCK racing.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

Bill Grumpy Jenkins created pro stock with his grumpys toy. Without the grump there would be no pro stock.

[@dennisholst4322]

Hold to something if you are riding with Jenkins

[@chadkent1241]

Yeah, the weight breaks given to the GMs were tantamount in his success.

[@dennisholst4322]

Bob talked about that

[@nwmetalbug]

My boss bought the Yuill brothers Vega when I worked in Alaska in !975. Think our index was 9:35 at the time. Was great time to be in racing.

[@Petequinn741]

Creativity years .when everyone was Chevy vs Ford vs AMC vs dodge. Glory days

[@Ls6racer]

good show thanks!

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

AMC latter found out that the Hornet hooked better and ran faster times then the Gremlin. Wally Booth, Maskin Kanners, and Shirly Shahan, ran very well with their AMC's, they were indeed compeative in the class.

[@jkng4606]

351c based engines were in the top 3 along with jenkins small block vega

[@klausvonschmit4722]

Great video! However, it makes me feel really old!! Bwhahahaha

[@richardmountz3865]

Damn, what a ride.. In contrast a SS/DA was running 11.11and 117 mph at that same time... You drive it to the track- put the slicks on unbolt the headers race then drive it home.....

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

Arnie Beswick is also a local legend who is still at Cordova regularly

[@joequillun7790]

"The Goat" A legend in his own time.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

@@joequillun7790 92 years old and still works on his own car, and always has time for his fans. He may not drive anymore but he’s still a larger than life figure at the track

[@jameskirchner2655]

Remember seeing SOX+MARTIN AND HERB McCANDLES

[@kennethpaladino4948]

Ed Sharkman’s 69 cougar is a 1970 Cougar! Blooper! 😳🙄🤫

[@racerd9669]

Why no pics of John Hagen P/S Hemi Cuda? .

[@zxtenn]

The little mouse 327 was faster or as fast as a 427 or HEMI then

[@BrokenPortriats]

ok yes but your vid is the best....!!

[@mchristr]

Back in the day, 2 or 3 blue-collar guys could pool their resources and run Pro Stock. Let that sink in for a minute. Today it takes a big company, or a very wealthy individual.

[@ivanrousseau5066]

Early pro stocks were outlaw super stocks with tunnel rams.they use to run match races after class super stocks ran. Many believe as I do that pro stock and mod eliminater should have switched names. The pro stocks should have keep steel body panels and tunnel ram .And the modified eliminater should of had the tube frame chassis.

[@James-ik8yz]

4/1/70 Gremlin came out ! April Fools day 😮

[@drobson8004]

The early cars running hemi's were substantially quicker.

[@regsmith7604]

I only have two words for you👉🏽Bob Glidden

[@chadkent1241]

The real goat of real pro STOCK

[@jwhite601]

Glidden/Allen Pinto smoked them all...changed the game.

[@73turbopinto]

Some PID/Pittsburgh connection.

[@alanwood5857]

Lots of Hemi 4 speeds!

[@69Applekrate]

Bert Straus Pontiac Astre 1972-5 pro stock Pontiac "Chief Chilly Willy"

[@dkreb1]

Bob Ingles, Charlie Castaldo,

[@hilleryclifford1350]

Grumpy Jenkins won the first pro stock championship bro, not Sox and Martin.

[@troubleinparadise-t7q]

NHRA started Pro Stock in 1970 with Ronnie Sox winning the first title, then Mike Fons in 1971, then Bill Jenkins in 1972. NHRA's website has the full list from 1970-2023 in their "Season's Champions" section.

[@ronmerkle3696]

4:23

[@kurtpoblenz2741]

Hemis DOMINATED the first 2 years of pro stock. After the NHRA changed the rules in 72 , penalizing the mopars , & giving Chevy a weight break, they forever ruined the class.

[@joequillun7790]

Just like in NASCAR, when the Hemis had-ta run restrictors.

[@misterhipster9509]

As in all things, development will happen, go big or get out, just the way it is. Anything less is socialism, for that there's bracket racing. I'm 76, was there too. News flash: Detroit doesn't make Hemi's and Rat Motors anymore, or 4 speeds.

[@ixlr8677]

like the way you could buy a muscle car for a couple hundred bucks in the early 70s. now 70 thousand bucks. go big or.....

[@misterhipster9509]

@@ixlr8677 Tell me about it. Early in 1971 Chevy dealer advertised a 69 Impala/427/425/4speed. Had no miles, $1500, I could not get insurance. Settled for a 69 SS 396/325 Chevelle stripper that my wife liked for $1800. Still have the Chevelle, it's a full chassis mostly glass bracket car now of course.

[@joequillun7790]

Bracket racing sucks. Class racing was where the talent was...if you had any. (Until cubic $ took over). But yeah, Mopar still makes Hemis, even tho they're smaller, and computer controlled. And I miss 4 speeds.

[@misterhipster9509]

Why look, a caveman came out from under it's rock to babble about how class racers have talent and shit.@@joequillun7790

[@shimshonbendan8730]

Correction: There were NO 1970 Camaros made. They were all 1970 1/2. I bought a new '70 1/2 in 1970 as did my parents. Please note this for future videos.

[@jasondearduff8274]

Wrong they are all 1970 look at the title

[@GordoGrande69]

Lol 🤡

[@jkng4606]

Some 69's were 70's

[@races5675]

Sounds like old bob had about a 150 shot

[@stevemayo1175]

New Sub here Great Video