Drag Wedge!
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Dave Miller of Miller Speed Sports “I was employed at Logghe Stamping Company at the time they started their competition products division in 1964 until I left in the by 1971. While there, I built several drag cars for myself—the last one being a rear engine top fueler that was sponsored by Andy Granatelli through his STP company. The car was booked through the “Gold Agency” in Chicago, IL and ran across the Midwest and east coast throughout 1969. At the end of the year, Andy bought the car back from me and put it in their warehouse. I have recently spoken with Andy, Vince and Vince Jr., but no one knows where it is now. I’d love to get it back and restore it—hope you can find it.”--Signed Dave Miller What do we know about the car, Granatelli and Miller? As state in Car Craft Magazine September 1969, “Andy Granatelli has emerged from his long-sought win at the Indy 500 with a wandering eye…Andy has discovered Top Fuel racing. The constant innovator, his approach takes an unusual form—the tried, but unproven, rear-engined fuel dragster.” Dave Miller did the design and construction of the chassis…wheelbase of 224 inches—“easily one of the longest cars in Top Fuel completion—and was constructed from 4130 aircraft-grade chrome-moly steel tubing.” Car Craft, 9/69. Car construction details: A torsion-sprung front end with 50” tread width attached to P & S steering box connecting directly to the center of the tie-rod. A solid mounted ’69 Dodge offered a tread with of 33” which was mounted with E-T III 2-piece magnesium wheels on Goodyear. The rear included Henry’s axles and 3.90 gears in a M/T magnesium 3rd member. Front wheels were Hallcraft mounted on P & S spindles with 2:25 x 17 Goodyear. A 1957 Chrysler Hemi with a Moldex crank carried Howard aluminum rods and Venoilia pistons with 6.5:1 compression. Dynamic Engine Service of Detroit provided a 4-bolt main block. Howard Cams ground a special cam. The “O” ringed heads were ported by Dynamic Engines attached to a 6-71 blower, which turned 27% over crankshaft speed and fed by Enderle injectors and a Mallory magneto. Finally, a Schiefer flywheel, dual-disc clutch housed in a Logghe explosion-proof bellhousing. Car Craft concluded with these important facts: “Easily one of the most unique cars on the drag strip today, the STP Drag Wedge appears to have overcome most of the problems that have accounted for the generally disappointing performance of rear-engined drag cars to date. Most notably the long wheelbase should offer a substantial increase in the car’s high-speed stability, and enhance the driver’s ‘feel’ of the car at speed.” If you know where this car is please contact us. If your remember seeing this car after it move from Granatelli’s warehouse those would be important details we can use to trace down this piece of racing history. Take a minute and email us your info or call me, Don at 619.804.8033. The body was aluminum and magnesium panels by Al Bergler with STP orange paint by George Busti of Creative Customs. Lost & found: Please help us locate this car by calling Don at 619.804.8033 or going to www.HistoricRaceCarForum.com. Thank you. |