
Tag Archives: Wayne Gapp
The Chargin’ Cyclone makes an appearance
Been awhile since we’ve seen this car here. Lookin’ good.

1972 Gapp and Roush Pinto
This car was a test mule with a nice paint job!
The geometric pattern seems to echo the red Maverick.

35 Years ago the Gapp and Roush Taxi was the Pro Stock Winner at Indy
From Hot Rod, November 1975
“They all laughed when Gapp & Roush first fielded this 4-door Maverick, but not anymore. Wayne Gapp drove it to his third straight NHRA Pro Stock title of the season after qualifying with a 8.85 for third sport, beating Lamar Walden, Reid Whisnant, Lee Edwards, Low Qualifier Wally Booth and Richie Zul’s fantastic big-block Camaro on the final, 8.83 to 8.95.”

Wayne Gapp -1972 United States Racing Team event guide

Drag racers, by nature, are very dedicated people. They work endless hours in pursuit of extra horsepower and tuning tricks. Wayne Gapp is a young man who was able to utilize his hobby (drag racing) to improve his craft (engine builder). Wayne has put in countless developmental hours in Ford’s dynamometer laboratory, testing and improving the “breed” to provide Ford car owners with quality engineering. Many of the tips Wayne picked up on the job have also been applied to more than a dozen Wayne Gapp owned/driven vehicles during the past decade. Prior to joining the professional ranks, Gapp campaigned a fuel funny car in the midwest which dominated the action wherever and whenever it appeared.

Leaving Ford in favor of his own engine building business, Wayne built a Pro/Stock Maverick with Boss 429 power. After spending three years working on the development of Ford’s mystery motor – 429, Wayne’s low qualifying times at major events were only a surprise to his competitors and the spectators.

In addition, to Gapp’s immaculate Maverick, watch for a new Pinto from the Gapp-Roush stables in ’72. You can bet it will be double tough.
Gapp & Roush – 69 Super Stock Mustang
I really don’t know much about this car. Story from Dad is that there was a hole in rules that would allow this car to run and win class in Super Stock/HA which they did at Indy in ’72.
Beyond that entry I’m not sure how much they ran this car.

The caption of the photo reads:
Although best known for their Ford Pro Stockers, the team of Wayne Gapp and Jack Roush actually drove a Cobra Jet-powered ’69 Ford Mustang in the early 1970’s in the Super Stock/H Automatic category.
Here’s another pic of the car that I found in my Dad’s files:

1968 Super Stock Nationals program
Here is some information from the 1968 Super Stock Nationals program.
First the cover and then WG’s Cougar which was highlighted inside.

The image below is from the interior of the program.

A semifinalist in last year’s funny car action, Wayne Gapp’s gas Cougar is capable of mid-9’s, 150 mph
The G & R 4-door Maverick as owned by Marino & Vitalee
Found this posted over at the Dover race track site. Some interesting history on the Maverick post Gapp & Roush ownership.
Talks about the guys that bought the Maverick. You can see a few changes in the vehicle like the hood scoop and some basic change to the paint.
One of the posts noted, again, that vehicle was destroyed in a pit accident in Englishtown.
NOTE: Update. Here’s the original link.

Psst! Hey man… Can you spare $3k? Boss 429 heads for Pro Stock.
The second 73 Pinto…
I’m not a huge fan of this car for a variety of reasons. I think the paint scheme sticks out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the vehicles.
However, while visiting my Dad last weekend I came across some pics of it. Here’s the first:


