1963 R2 Lark "The Whistler"

[8E45E]

If so, be sure to protect it so you can get a repro Serial Number Tag to match it. BP

Nice to know one of the most important (if not THE most important in the eyes of the law), pieces of this puzzle has been found, and a re-pop is no longer necessary!!

Craig

[SScopelli]

Nice to know one of the most important (if not THE most important in the eyes of the law), pieces of this puzzle has been found, and a re-pop is no longer necessary!!

Craig

Craig,

Luck just seems to follow John. Almost makes me ill.







What is also cool is finding this Plate which is like placing the cherry on top..

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[StudeRich]

Wow, it just gets better and BETTER! The Original Ray Tanner Studebaker Dealer Plate (DLR) !! Awesome!

[8E45E]

Wow, it just gets better and BETTER! The Original Ray Tanner Studebaker Dealer Plate (DLR) !! Awesome!

Yes, Rich, all the more reason for John to repaint it with the original Studebaker DEALERSHIP LETTERING on the sides, as asked in Post #104!!

....and confirms my comment in Post #110.

Craig

[nwi-region-rat]

I saw a post about the CARS movie franchise from PIXAR....I nominate the WHISTLER as the representative for the missing Studebaker, the name alone lends itself well to the series, as well as the fact it's fast enough to run with the pack.....

[asesolen]

The December 1963 issue of Popular Hot Rodding has the recap of the AHRA National Championship races from Green Valley Raceway in Texas. This is the race where The Whistler won the National Championship for the A/CS class. It appears that Floyd Mendenhall's name is listed incorrectly and the speed listed in the magazine is .02 different than what Floyd listed in his letter to Bob Palma shown in Post #1 of this thread.

The cover


The whole page


A closer view

[BobPalma]

The December 1963 issue of Popular Hot Rodding has the recap of the AHRA National Championship races from Green Valley Raceway in Texas. This is the race where The Whistler won the National Championship for the A/CS class. It appears that Floyd Mendenhall's name is listed incorrectly and the speed listed in the magazine is .02 different than what Floyd listed in his letter to Bob Palma shown in Post #1 of this thread.

Cool beans, Mike; thanks. There is no discrepancy, though, as to the two terminal speeds.

Check it out: In Floyd Mendenhall's letter back in '63, he said they held the Record Speed in class: 104.52.

In that list of AHRA National Winners, they said The Whistler's winning Terminal Speed was 104.50.

Apparently, the terminal speed posted for their class win and the record speed they held in class were set at different times and are different "things." BP

[studejohn]

The Information out there on the web about AHRA is hard to come by and even harder is the race tracks that run back in the day. Like Beeline Dragway Green valley drag way. Most likely closed the doors and all track information was tossed out or is sitting in storage of a older gentle man that has no knowledge of how to get it on the web. So when a little piece of information like what Mike Lynch came up in the old magazine article is a great find for The Whistler project. More to come on great finds on The Whistler .Mikes hot on a new lead as we read. Thanks John Kroulik

[SScopelli]

Thanks to photobucket, the pictures in many of the post for "The Whistler" had broken links.

I've moved the pictures to Flicker.com, and then fixed the links..

If you made a reply to any of the post and your pictures have the broken links, you can edit your post, as I can not.

If you go back to the post you clicked "Reply With Quotes" you can copy the "Quote" area and past in your post to fix the links.

This is not really necessary for you to fix, but if you have some insomnia or just need some alone time, its almost therapeutic.

It seems this day was long ago. I cant remember where is was placed in the threads, but its can go here for now.
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[SScopelli]

Yo Rocky.

The year, 1977, A young man sits in front of a Packard/Bell TV watching the a Academy Awards. While Sylvester Stallone was presenting an award out pops Mohammad Ali, proclaiming he was the real Apollo Creed and that Stallone had stole his script.

Fast forward to 2013 and a man named John finding The Whistler.

.. Read the following..

http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/classic-cars/1964-plymouth-savoy-stage-iii-max-wedge-of-his-dreams-turned-out-to-be-even-more-special-than-he-thought/ar-AAozptj?li=BBisPVf&ocid=spartandhp

Is it the Twilight Zone that this store is very similar between The Whistler. and the Plymouth Savoy?
Similarities like the track modification to cut out the Transmission Tunnel..

I like how they came to Arizona to find a "donor body" for parts and panels.

[BobPalma]

Wow, Seb; you're right; many parallels to The Whistler. The Twilight Zone indeed.

When John and you guys get The Whistler done, it needs to come to The Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals with a story board to that effect, just like this Max Wedge Savoy.

Great stuff. Thanks. BP (BTW, your check arrived today, July 31st, while I was gone all day. So Tuesday the 1st I'll be getting everything copied and mailed to you before depositing same.)

[52-fan]

That Savoy reminds me of my light blue one. Unfortunately, it was a 225 slant six. My 18 year old self yearned for a 440.

[SScopelli]

Interesting Item

An interesting Item came up on eBay that could not be passed up..

A mechanic's fender protector from Green Valley Drag Strip, Texas.



Why so interesting?

This is the same drag strip that "The Whistler." won its class in the 1963 national championships on Labor Day weekend. The insignia was different in 67, so more likely this is from 63 time frame.

While there was a big trophy presented to the team,



It is likely the team also received this fender cover as well.

33,901

Search high and low, Items from this drag strip are very rare, unlike the Arizona "Bee Line."

Looks like a great addition to the "The Whistler." collection

[BobPalma]

'Way cool, Seb; thanks for the update and congrats on the find. BP

[SScopelli]

'Way cool, Seb; thanks for the update and congrats on the find. BP

What is really cool is finding a trophy for a color picture!

This is not from the Whistler, but another guy who ran on that same day, different class, and won his class.
The Trophy is not personalized, and just notes "Class Champion"

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Below the "1963" placard, look at the middle Icon, which is the same Logo that is on the fender cover in the above post.

There is a YouTube video of the Green Valley 66 Championships, No Studebaker's. There is a Corvair, "Worlds fastest" (Given a 5 car lead. LOL) from a local Phoenix dealership and a few Chevy IIs from Arizona. Interesting to watch, with comments from AHRA president that states drag racing has grown 600% from 1960 to 1966!

https://youtu.be/hrUMvtMdBdA