Happy Birthday, John Mendes

By Justin Mendes

My father, John Mendes, races an NHRA H/SA stocker. I didn't know what to get him for his birthday. I thought he'd really appreciate a Drag Racing List Story of the Day about him and his 1967 Chevelle 327.

My father's birthday was 3/25/53. He's from Tenafly, New Jersey. He raced from 1969 to 1983 with a Chevy Nova (Roaring Thunder), in which he went 10.2 @ 145 mph. Then he had a son (me) and stopped racing. He picked it back up at Lebanon Valley on July 1, 2000. He has lost many first and second rounds, but won the third round at Cecil County before it was rained out. He went to the Keystone Nationals, but lost to Billy Nees. Despite his win record, he's my hero.

The car is a 1967 Chevelle 327, 2 speed, limited slip rear, with 4:11 gears. My dad's best ET in this car has been 12.04 @ 112 mph. 

Happy birthday, dad!