Category Archives: Racing

The ‘Taxi’ – Gapp and Roush – Image by Jack Grice

My last post (see here) was of the ‘Taxi’ at Indianapolis in 1974. That image was taken by Dan Williams.

Jack Grice sent me HIS picture from the same race. Almost the same exact position. It was taken either just a few minutes before or just after Dan’s.

The crowd has changed out but the guy polishing the car is still at work. In the case of Jack’s picture he is at the front of the car with the rag on the hood scoop.

Gr maverick

The ‘Taxi’ – Gapp and Roush – Image by Dan Williams

This is an image of the 4 door Maverick taken by Dan Williams in 1974 at Indianapolis…the ‘Big Go’.

A few small things have changed on the car since it was introduced earlier in 1974.

The hood scoop is different and interestingly the name as well. The vehicle started off named the ‘Tijuana Taxi’ and then ‘Juana Taxi’. Those names didn’t last long as the car took on the name of ‘Taxi’ from just before this race to the end.

GappRoush Taxi Indy

Wayne Gapp – Drag News, March 28 1976

Cover

From the April 17, 1976 edition of Drag News

READING, PA (Mar. 28) – Under brilliant, sunny skies, a near capacity crowd jammed into Maple Grove Dragway to witness the Pro Stock portion of the four-event Spring all Pro series. Pro Stock racing is usually marked by exciting, super-close competition, but when Sunday’s event was all over, the fans talked more about the near crashes by Wayne Gapp, Larry Lombardo and Don Campanello.

Lombardo took two rounds in his match with Wayne Gapp, recording times of 8.47, 160.14 and 8.44, 160.42; the fastest and quickest times ever for the Grumpy’s Toy Monza of Bill Jenkins. Pat Musi outlasted a dozen entries to win the open Pro Stock feature.

While Lombardo was streaking to record times, Gapp suffered from suspension maladies in his newly completed Pinto, nearly scraping the guard rail on several occasions. Not one to give up easily, Gapp made several between-rounds appearances on the starting line, and finally straightened things out with a strong 8.73, 156.25, only to lose to Lombardo’s 8.44 effort.

Carl Hobson’s ‘Super Fats’ Camaro filled in for Gapp in round two, and recorded a great legal-weight 8.88, 153.06, defeating Lombardo in the process.

Lombardo had a hair-raiser in that one, as he spun his tires through his own water, nearly colliding with the tree, and then just missed the guard rail.

Match race 1
READING, PA (Mar. 28) – Wayne Gapp’s Pinto suffered all sorts of suspension problems in All-Pro opener, darting first to the right and later to the left. After a long afternoon of thrashing he finally turned a 8.73 at 156. (Marv Yeager photo)

Match race 2 2
READING, PA (Mar. 28) – All-Pro Series opener featured three-round match race between Larry Lombardo and Wayne Gapp, saw the Monza record a best-ever 8.44/160.42

Wayne Gapp – 1974 IHRA Driver of the year

The caption reads:

DRIVER OF THE YEAR
– Pro Stock sensation Wayne Gapp, second from right, was honored as IHRA’s Driver Of The Year when the International Hot Rod Association held its annual Awards’ Banquet at the Country Club of Bristol Saturday night. Congratulation Gapp, whose famed ‘Taxi’ won four IHRA national events in 1974, are IHRA president Larry Carrier, Mrs. Larry Carrier and Miss IHRA Lisa Johnson. (Staff Photo by John Beach).

Driver of the Year IHRA

1965 Comet Cyclone…with fuel injection

Most of the pictures of the 1965 Comet Cyclone show it with a small popup hood scoop and carburetors.

The image below shows the exterior setup (along with my Dad and brother)

Comet WG and MG

Also see here for a shot of the engine setup.

In the image below the vehicle has a fuel injection unit on it. More than likely this was testing for the combination that would run in the 1967 Cougar called ‘Super Cat’.

Front end  427 SOHC