Randy Ayers' Nascar Modeling Forum

wingcar builder · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 1247 Location: PA.

Doug, came across these photos of a started superbird from 1972. what do we know of the whereabouts of this car? i'd say definately not a Nichels chassis . it has that 4x4 stance and looks like a stock rearend (no floating hubs) and looking hard at the pic i think the roofline don't look like it has a rear window plug either.but says it did end up on dirt. any ideas? thanks, ~ Wingcar Builder

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Forever18 · Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Posts: 7

Car was seen over on a HAMB site ... cannot get link from work ... will have to wait until i get home

TruxmoreFord · Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Posts: 546 Location: Concord NC

looks like its out west or south west region........
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Tom M. · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 3:43 pm Post subject:

Those photos came from a photo site for a track in Albuquerque, NM.
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Aero426 · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 722

I've seen the pics, but have no idea about the car. I'd tend to agree there's no way it's a Nichels car. Probably a home built using real street Bird parts. Would love to know more about it...

Forever18 · Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Posts: 7

Only wording that was with these pictures
Dave Mewhorter posing with car, sayes he was supposed to drive it in`72? but nascar outlawed the hemi, changed car to dirt track config.
This was from HAMB site and the site History of Albuqurque Dirt Track Racing .. word for word..

LUKE'57 · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 2999 Location: Harlan County

Why would they build a Hemi Superbird in '71 to run in '72 when the Hemi was outlawed in the Superbird in '71 and by the end of the '71 Daytona 500 it was obvious that the Aerocars were not going to be competitive?
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TruxmoreFord · Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Posts: 546 Location: Concord NC

There is alot of why did people do stuff from back in the day. That question is really irrelevant. I would tend to think by the look of the car and garage behind it.......... used what they had with what they had and was hoping to race in the big leagues. Thats all the why, i would need. Sadly that part of big time auto racing is gone, long gone. A few buddies building a car in a 2 car garage in the midwest in hopes of making the Daytona 500......... thats why.
_________________
" You dont have to be put over to get over."

" There is no "i" in team,but there is a "M" and a "E".

"Win if you can,Lose if you must, But ALWAYS cheat."

" Rather finish 5th an cheat then win an not" H.E

"If you aint cheating,then you aint trying."

"Luck is for Losers."

"It doesnt matter if people love you or hate you,as long as they feel strongly one way or the other.The worst place you can be is in the middle."

LUKE'57 · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 2999 Location: Harlan County

That question is most certainly NOT errelevant. To build the car in '71 to run in '72 it was way more than likely to have been a mid to late season start. By that time it would have been obvious that the combination of a Superbird and Hemi power wouldn't be, at the very least, competitive, or at the very worst, even allowed in '72. Not to mention the proliferation of Nascar teams coming from New Mexico at that time, not.
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You might be able to do all you say, only first you got to catch me. If you can.

TruxmoreFord · Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Posts: 546 Location: Concord NC

I think if you were talking about the Pettys,Nichols,and teams of that caliber that you would have a strong case to argue, why? But by the looks of things i dont think they were concerned with how competitive there car was gonna be.
_________________
" You dont have to be put over to get over."

" There is no "i" in team,but there is a "M" and a "E".

"Win if you can,Lose if you must, But ALWAYS cheat."

" Rather finish 5th an cheat then win an not" H.E

"If you aint cheating,then you aint trying."

"Luck is for Losers."

"It doesnt matter if people love you or hate you,as long as they feel strongly one way or the other.The worst place you can be is in the middle."

docford · Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 323 Location: Paris

according to Google, there was a crew chief named George Brazil (see decal on left fender) in Alburquerque, NM, in those days.

LUKE'57 · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 2999 Location: Harlan County

By the timeframe you are talking about the Superbird had been declared ineligible for the '72 season.
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You might be able to do all you say, only first you got to catch me. If you can.

docford · Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 323 Location: Paris

I'd guess that it is some local kid that had fun building a WC inspired ride to go race at the local dirt bullring.

See the front right wheel and tire that is different from the other three ?That would hint to some "bombers" car.

See the mesh under the K-member? that would hint to some dirt track action.

Just my 2 cents popcorn

docford · Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 323 Location: Paris

Here is more on Aladdin Custom Plating:

http://kingnitro.smugmug.com/Other/History-of-Albuquerque-Dirt/3205036_jzjPK/32/296816671_DT9RW/Medium

Looks like he was a mjor player at the Albuquerque dirt track in the 60s and 70s popcorn

docford · Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 323 Location: Paris

and here is the identity of the driver and builder of this fine automobile:

Dale Mewhorter

According to the local news, a NASCAR rule change discouraged him from going to Daytona in 1972. So Dale Mewhorter is another of those unsung heroes and that coulda-been famous popcorn

Anyhow, Dale Mewhorter had good taste in picking a Mopar and a Hemi thumbsup

http://kingnitro.smugmug.com/Other/History-of-Albuquerque-Dirt/3205036_jzjPK/27/320697011_mNM9c/Medium

Oooops! Forever18 posted that allready... So much about my speed reading on the web...

TruxmoreFord · Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Posts: 546 Location: Concord NC

The usefullness of the google and internet. Thank you Al Gore!!
Now how many people will be contacting these people for answeres to the car now? I would love to know.
Good PI work friend from the future.
_________________
" You dont have to be put over to get over."

" There is no "i" in team,but there is a "M" and a "E".

"Win if you can,Lose if you must, But ALWAYS cheat."

" Rather finish 5th an cheat then win an not" H.E

"If you aint cheating,then you aint trying."

"Luck is for Losers."

"It doesnt matter if people love you or hate you,as long as they feel strongly one way or the other.The worst place you can be is in the middle."

docford · Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 323 Location: Paris

GaPettyFan · Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 1490 Location: Modelphia, GA

Compare the clearance between the tires and the fender wells with him kneeling beside the car (top photo) to the lack of same in the bottom shot. He looks like a pretty skinny fella; would his weight alone lower the car that much, even with soft springs?

Also, note the difference in front quarter contingencies between the left and right sides of the car.
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Dennis O · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 1:21 pm Post subject:

A little detective work and I would guess that Mr. Mewhorter now lives in Apache Junction, Az. That is not 100% sure but an educated guess. They have him as 71 years old which would be in the correct range. I found some pictures of a street-rod owned by a man of that name. I also found another car he may have owned.....the guy looks familiar.

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docford · Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 323 Location: Paris

hmm... maybe we could start a Dale Mewhorter fan page popcorn