Racing

Picture of the Hi-Risers…

Well, well, well…what do we have here? Looks like a picture of the Hi-Risers working on the…Thunderbolt?

I think the picture comes from the Detroit Free Press.

I posted a pic awhile back of the Thunderbolt they had and thought I had a picture of part of the group.

The caption reads:

“THE HI-RISERS are early risers when it comes to working on their club’s drag racer. Most of the 14 members have been interested in cars and things mechanical through youth, college days and afterward in business and professional life. From left are: Robert Corn, Charles Lang, Hugh Strong, club president Roy Reid, Wayne Gapp and Phillip Hazen.”

There is also a hand-written note above the picture that states there was another car called “Irritation”. I haven’t seen any references or pictures of that one.

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Racing

NHRA National Event results – 1974

This is the list of the NHRA National events for 1974. In particular 1st and 2nd place in Pro Stock.

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This is the same list of results from NHRA.com except that the this list is in order from top to bottom (i.e. the first event of the year is first rather than NHRA’s listing which is last event first).

The source for this list is here.

NHRA Event winner list – Pro Stock: 1974

CLASS WINNER RUNNER UP
WINTERNATIONALS

Pro Stock Bill Jenkins Wayne Gapp
GATORNATIONALS

Pro Stock Wally Booth Wayne Gapp
SPRINGNATIONALS

Pro Stock Bob Glidden Roy Hillyl
SUMMERNATIONALS

Pro Stock Larry Lombardo Wayne Gapp
GRANDNATIONAL

Pro Stock Wayne Gapp Bob Glidden
U.S. NATIONALS

Pro Stock Bob Glidden Don Nicholson
WORLD FINALS

Pro Stock Bob Glidden Wayne Gapp

Racing

National Dragster – April 12, 1974

Gapp’s 8.78 Good For Maple Grove Triumph

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MAPLE GROVE DRAGWAY, Reading, PA – In a super close match race duel, Wayne Gapp just did nip Bill Jenkins two straight with Maple Grove record runs of 8.78 and 8.88. “The Grump” hit second best times of 8.88 and 8.87 to make things really tight.

MAPLE GROVE DRAGWAY, Reading, PA – Maple Grove Dragway braved predictions for blustery, cold winds and possible snowfall and opened it gates to a surprisingly large turnout of fans and racers alike. Highlighting the event was the best-of-three go between Winternationals Pro Stock finalists Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins and Wayne Gapp.

The somewhat sparse grandstands became jam packed as many of the fans gave up the heated comfort of their cars for a look at Jenkins’ all-new 1974 Vega and the World Finals winning Pinto of Gapp. Following the usual burn-out rituals. Jenkins and Gapp staged up for their first round encounter. Jenkins seemed to grab a slight early advantage, but Gapp overpowered the Vega nearing the finish for a record 8.78, 152.58 to 8.88, 152.54 round win. In the second and final round, Gapp parlayed a hole shot into victory despite losing an engine near the finish line. Gapp’s 8.88, 147.54 held off Jenkins’ fast-closing 8.87, 152.54. It should be noted that both cars were about 200 pounds lighter than legal weight.

Racing

Wayne Gapp – On High Speed Handling

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This comes from one of the NHRA event guides

Wayne Gapp

High Speed Handling…

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“One must be especially careful when piloting a short-wheelbase machine of 100″ or less. You have to have a lot of respect for them since everything happens so fast. The biggest problem is overcorrection, so the #1 recommendation for a driver who is starting to get a bit out of shape is to almost do nothing. You almost have to act by instinct, since you just don’t have time to think of what you are going to do and then do it. On a bigger car, like the Maverick or a Camaro, you can get by with lifting off the gas a bit, correcting, and then stabbing the throttle again, but that’s impossible with small car. If you do get out of shape, you must first forget trying to continue the run, since you’re going to get a bad time anyway, and you should never turn the wheel more than 2 degrees.”

“If you are crooked when you come off the starting line, the main thing is not to make your shift to second gear at the normal time, since that is when you would get the maximum jolt to the tires, making your situation worse. Another thing to try is over-winding past the normal shift point, which would also kill the power somewhat, as the front tires are likely back on the ground at this point and you might have more luck in making some kind of correction.”

“Handling problems don’t necessarily end at the finish line. On any good run around 154 mph or more, I’ll always try to stop very slowly, using the brakes as gently as possible until I get below 100 mph, and then I’ll start to hit the brakes harder. You never want to even come close to having them locked up at over 100 mph, since you’d never have a chance to correct the car if it ran over an oil slick. If you blow an engine, the primary thing is not to use the brakes at all, or at least until you have pulled the chute, and then use them only very gently.”

“Big cars are much easier to drive, but many experienced drivers have trouble when they go to the little cars since they think they can drive them the same way. Anyone can make a good run in them when everything is right, but it takes a lot of experience, gained through careful practice, to know how to react when something goes wrong.”

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Racing

Gapp Blasts 9.70 for Indy Pro Stock Win

Gapp Blasts 9.70 for Indy Pro Stock Win
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INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK, Indiana – Gapp and Roush’s “Shotgun Express” Maverick had the Indy Pro Stock field covered, as Wayne Gapp clicked off times of 9.75, 9.76 and finally 9.82, 140.40 mph for the title. His 9.82 in the final round edged Greg Brenneman’s Duster.
– Photo by Jim Campbell

This image is probably from 1971…

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