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Shoeboxes of the 80s
Text by Danny White
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| Dave Riolo (photographer unknown) |
Dave Riolo was one of the racers who helped to get the ball rolling in the Shoeboxes with his Temptation 55 Chevrolet. Riolo raced Bob Bunker and his blown Folsom Flash 55 Chevy in Pro Gas and match race action.
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| Charles Carpenter (Allen Tracy photo) |
Charles Carpenter made history with his home-built 55 Chevrolet when he ran a 7.955 at 173.07 to break the seven-second barrier for Shoeboxes. The Chevy was powered by a 494 nitrous boosted engine. Carpenter still has this jewel today.
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| Rob Vandergriff (Allen Tracy photo) |
Jim Bryant's first 57 Chevrolet Bel Air was a game changer to say the least. The all fiberglass Chevy was scaled down to 7/8th's of the original size. Rob Vandergriff ran 7.33 at 193.13 in the little Chevy.
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| Dave Riolo (David Anderson photo) |
Riolo rebuilt the Temptation Chevy. The powder blue car had a steel body with a fiberglass front end. The full size '55 Chevy ran sevens the first time out with a 7.73 at 175.09 on the same day Carpenter ran his seven. This photo shows the first time
the car ran in the Pro Mod configuration. Dave is racing Rob Vandergriff's 1957 Chevrolet at Baylands (Fremont, CA).
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| Charles Carpenter (Hector Leal photo) |
In 1987, Charles Carpenter downsized with this new mini 55 Chevy with a bigger Chevrolet engine. Carpenter ran low sevens and later got into the sixes in Pro Mod action.
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| Wayne Torkelson (Allen Tracy photo) |
In the late 1980s, Wayne Torkelson raced this 55 Ford complete with blown a blown Alan Root Shotgun Hemi. Wayne ran a solid 7.145 at 196.07 clocking in 1988 action.
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| Terry Leggett (photographer unknown) |
Terry Leggett's Lookin' Back 56 Ford T-bird with a 672 Ford ran early Top Sportsman shows. Leggett ran a good 7.14 at 196 in the nitrous 'slammer.
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| Norm Wizner (Ted Pappaena) |
Comp racer Norm Wizner built the Mega Ford Ford in 1987 to race the Chevys. The Mega Ford ran low seven's with a wedge head engine in match race action. Wizner raced in Ford events, United States Super Circuit (USSC), and match races, much to the fans' delight.
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| Richard Earle & Paul Strommen (photographer unknown) |
Richard Earle gave Mopar fans a car to cheer for with the 'Christine' Chrysler Fury, modeled after the car in the Steven King movie. Paul Strommen drove the car to a good 6.96 at 195.22 in 1989. A newer Christine races to this day with new owners.
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| Rob Vandergriff (Benoit Pigeon) |
In 1988, Rob Vandergriff was a major player in the race to the sixes with the new Soff Seal 57 Chevrolet. Rob came oh-so-close with an all time quickest 7.002 at 204 at Ennis in early 1988.
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| Stuart Norman (Allen Tracy handout) |
In 1989, Stuart Norman built the War Wagon 55 Chevy Nomad on a chassis that was designed for a Beretta. The big car made it into several magazines, but was most remembered for a pass that ended in a 360 degree spin at the top end!
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| Rice & Simpson (Barry Kuhlmann collection) |
This car struck fear into the hearts of fellow racers for many reasons! The John Rice & Simpson 'Too Fat To Fly' was a mix of doorslammer and funny car. The car had a side car roll cage and no suspension. Bret Kepner wrote that this was an "Amazingly scary car that lost traction on the top end due to lack of
downforce. Wicked. Despite the hood scoop, this was a blown car. The
car did go 7.30, 188 at the '88 IHRA Texas Nationals at Ennis (TX) and ran
192 mph on a timed trial there."
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| Jeff Littleton (Hector Leal photo) |
Jeff Littleton was a local match race legend and then he bought the former Bryant-Vandergriff 57 Chevy in early 88. The 'Mr. Shoebox' machine earned Jeff national attention at Super Chevy and IHRA races with 7.139, 198.23 best clockings.
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| Lenny Hubbell (handout) |
Here is a forgotten Shoebox slammer, the Lenny Hubbell & Hance 55 Chevrolet from Maryland. The nitrous powered Chevy ran 7.36 at 188 in local match race action.
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| Russell Simpson (photographer unknown) |
The Shoebox movement made it to Australia, of course. Russell Simpson's 'World Wide Channel 9' 57 Chevrolet was raced in the Wild Bunch class. Simpson left this car to race in the nitro classes.
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