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Archive Image Dave Whitcomb 69 Daytona

Started by nascarxx29, January 13, 2011, 12:07:48 PM

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nascarxx29

1969 R4 Daytona XX29L9B410772
1970 EV2 Superbird RM23UOA174597
1970 FY1 Superbird RM23UOA166242
1970 EV2 Superbird RM23VOA179697
1968 426 Road Runner RM21J8A134509
1970 Coronet RT WS23UOA224126
1970 Daytona Clone XP29GOG178701

Richard Cranium

During the week, the pit crew payed Dixie for race gas money.



I am Dr. Remulac

Aero426

Dave Whitcomb was a Sunoco station operator in Valparaiso Indiana.   He ran the USAC series for quite a few years.  He started building his own car with the help of Nichels parts in 1963.   That car lasted a good long time and reportedly was updated as far as a 68-70 Charger.    

Sometime in 1970, Dave hooked up with Phil Howard who operated a chain of photo processing stores.   They had the Daytona which I believe to be a 68 or newer Nichels car.  Howard owned the car and they raced it through 1971.  

For 1972, Howard decided to hire Lem Blankenship from Iowa to maintain and race the two cars, and Dave went back to driving his own car.   Lem says he moved to Indiana and they rebodied the Daytona as a  '72 Charger and it became the dirt car.    They also bought what they thought was a newer car from Nichels as a speedway car, but it didn't handle, and they later figured out it was a rebuilt car that had been around the block.   Phil Howard was trying to get a deal going with Bank of America and go big time.   That deal fell through and they stopped racing after 1972.    Lem says the cars stayed in Indiana and does not know where they went.   Most likely both cars were raced to oblivion.  

Dave Whitcomb's son Zane is a DSAC member.    Dave passed away a number of years ago.

Mopar John

Daves son Zane is a good friend of mine. Dave and Zane helped me build one of my earlier drag car engines. Dave was featured in one of the stockcar racing newspapers and during one of his summer visits he autographed it for me!

held1823

one of my favorite old stockers due to its Indiana connection, and ironically the 1/32 vinyl wrapped carrera i missed out on adding to my fleet.
i wonder if his son is the one i lost out to on the auction?
Ernie Helderbrand
XX29L9B409053

wingman(22)

I have a question. I remember talking to Pat McKinney years ago about a Daytona he said was my fathers. It was found in the midwest. He said there was gold on the wing and red on the car when they got below the surface paint. I have never seen a car with the same colors as my dads. Is it possible that the McKinney Daytona was this car? It would be nice to know exaclty where Pat found the car.
Bill

Aero426

Bill, I don't think McKinney's car was found in Daytona trim.   What do you remember about that?   Other people have mentioned to me the possibility of mistaken identity on the #22.   Lem Blankenship says the car was retinned as a '72, but if other parts of the car were red and gold, they could be "discovered" years later.

wingman(22)

Doug,
It has been a long time since I spoke to Pat. I swear he said he found the car and the wing and nose were not on it. But I thought I remember him saying it was in the barn and not on the car. Does anyone know exactly where his car was found?
Bill

nascarxx29

1969 Dodge Daytona Charger NASCAR
This Dodge was found in a barn inn Midwest in the early 90′s by Pat McKinney of Simi Valley, California. When found it was wearing 1970 Charger front sheet metal but all Daytona sheet metal (wing, nose cone, rear window plug, etc.) was with the car. No chassis number could be found, but gold paint was found on the body and wing, therefore it was believed to be the Mario Rossi/Bobby Allison car raced in 1969-1970.

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z9079/Dodge-Daytona-Charger-NASCAR.aspx


http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/lotdetails.aspx?ln=1335&aid=53&pop=1
1969 R4 Daytona XX29L9B410772
1970 EV2 Superbird RM23UOA174597
1970 FY1 Superbird RM23UOA166242
1970 EV2 Superbird RM23VOA179697
1968 426 Road Runner RM21J8A134509
1970 Coronet RT WS23UOA224126
1970 Daytona Clone XP29GOG178701

zane

The # 8 dodge daytona was owned by Phil Howard of Fort Wayne IN.  Dave Whitcomb drove the 1971 season for Howard. In 1972 it was rebodied, but I have no idea as to what happened to the body parts.

Aero426

Zane, is it true that the Daytona is a different chassis from the '70 Charger?    I have read that the Charger owned by your dad was rebodied from a much older car.


wingman(22)

I hate to ask again but where was the Mckinney car found? And what if the car is proven not to be one of my fathers cars. What does the new owner do?
Bill

nascarxx29

1969 R4 Daytona XX29L9B410772
1970 EV2 Superbird RM23UOA174597
1970 FY1 Superbird RM23UOA166242
1970 EV2 Superbird RM23VOA179697
1968 426 Road Runner RM21J8A134509
1970 Coronet RT WS23UOA224126
1970 Daytona Clone XP29GOG178701

zane

Quote from: Aero426 on January 17, 2011, 09:27:47 PM
Zane, is it true that the Daytona is a different chassis from the '70 Charger?    I have read that the Charger owned by your dad was rebodied from a much older car.


The charger owned by my dad was a different car than the Howards photo lab cars. 1 daytona, 1charger 500.
Dad's car started as a belvedere test car for Ray Nichels.

zane

Quote from: held1823 on January 13, 2011, 09:23:25 PM
one of my favorite old stockers due to its Indiana connection, and ironically the 1/32 vinyl wrapped carrera i missed out on adding to my fleet.
i wonder if his son is the one i lost out to on the auction?
I am in possession of the 1/32 vinyl wrapped carrera bought off ebay. It was a gift from my daughter.

hemigeno

When did Goodyear switch over to the large-logo tires?

Aero426

Quote from: hemigeno on January 19, 2011, 10:08:08 AM
When did Goodyear switch over to the large-logo tires?

This was taken April of '70 the weekend of the spring Talladega race, so it has to be starting around this time.


Mopar John

Quote from: Aero426 on January 17, 2011, 09:27:47 PM
Zane, is it true that the Daytona is a different chassis from the '70 Charger?    I have read that the Charger owned by your dad was rebodied from a much older car.


Here is another picture of Dave Whitcomb in action with his 1970 Charger. In the write up it states he finished 7th the year before and thus the number 7 on his car. I am assuming that was with the Howards Photo Lab cars. I have seen several of Daves cars and they always have numbers in the single digits! To me for an independent to finish that well he must have attended most of the USAC races and been a pretty good driver!
Mopar John

Aero426

The number 7 Charger was Dave's own car, and it came before the Howards Photo Lab car.   So the 7th in points came in 1969.    The car he ran in 1971 was #8, so he must have been 8th in points in 1970.   I have not been able to look up where he finished in 1971.

zane

Quote from: Aero426 on January 31, 2011, 10:48:52 AM
The number 7 Charger was Dave's own car, and it came before the Howards Photo Lab car.   So the 7th in points came in 1969.    The car he ran in 1971 was #8, so he must have been 8th in points in 1970.   I have not been able to look up where he finished in 1971.
Dave Whitcomb finished 4th in the 1971 USAC points

Aero426

If my thinking is correct, the #12 car directly below later became Dave's 1970 Charger.




zane

Quote from: Aero426 on March 20, 2011, 11:38:29 PM
If my thinking is correct, the #12 car directly below later became Dave's 1970 Charger.




You are correct. The # 7 charger is the #12 rebodied.

Aero426

This one is from Mosport in Canada, eh?


FJ5WING

wingless now, but still around.

Aero426

Quote from: FJ5WING on March 22, 2011, 10:30:07 AM
The 70 Ford is such a great body!

It's not bad.  Here's Jack Bowsher #21 and Roger McCluskey engaged in hand to hand combat at Milwaukee.   These old cars still had some body roll to them.