S & S Racing Team

I received an email a few weeks ago from Dave Hales, former member of the famous S&S Racing Team of Falls Church, VA.  In it he offered...oh heck, he says it better than I do.  Here's what he wrote.

Excellent idea, Dave.  Thanks much!

Byron  

Here is some information on the S&S Racing Team for your Gasser Madness site if you choose to use it. I think I have figured out my scanner now so I will forward some pictures of the cars separately. I enjoy the site and also the Gas/FX group----especially the old pictures!!!!

In 1959 Chuck Stolze opened the S&S Parts Co. in Falls Church, Virginia. Shortly thereafter the S&S Racing Team was born. By 1963 the Gassers of the S&S Team had become competitors of national prominence. Three S&S Gassers attended the NHRA Nationals in 1963 with outstanding results. At a time when the unblown gas class classes contained huge numbers of entries, all three cars reached their respective class final. Final outcome----A/G class win, C/G class win, D/G runner-up.

By 1964 the Team had expanded to five with representation in AG/S (K.S.Pittman), A/G (Gene Altizer), B/G (Fred Bear), C/G (Hill-Zartman, better known as Charlie Hill's Filthy Forty), and D/G (Dave Hales). The famous S&S logo appeared in 1964. It was displayed on nearly all team cars from this point forward, and is still recognized today.

In the early and mid 1960's all five of these racers were Eastern Drag News Record Holders and National Record Holders. Four of them appeared in class finals at NHRA events at a time when there were only two events a year (Winternationals and Nationals)! In addition, they were voted the Most Outstanding Race Team at the Eastern Drag News Competitors Banquet in 1963, and the AG/S entry of K.S. Pittman/Chuck Stolze was selected to represent our country on the U.S. Drag Racing Team in England at the British Drag Racing Festival in 1964.

In July 2000, the S&S Racing Team members had an informal reunion after 30+ years. As previously planned, they met at the York U.S. 30 Dragway Reunion in York, Pennsylvania. The theme was "the older I get the faster I was !!!!"
A good time was had by all!!!!

OCTOBER 19, 2003  Henderson, North Carolina

      The gasser racers of the S&S Racing Team were inducted into the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame today in Henderson, N.C.  These five racers were all National Record Holders and Eastern Drag News Record Holders in the Mid-60's. At the NHRA Nationals during that period this group compiled 4 wins and 2 runnerups. Also inducted at the same time (posthumously) was Charlie Hill, the owner of the "Filthy Forty" Willys, driven by Pork Zartman.

Left to Right:

Dave Hales, Gene Altizer, K.S. Pittman, Fred Bear, Pork Zartman
A/GS K.S Pittman at York U.S. 30 Dragway, York, Pa. in 1964.
A/G Gene Altizer at Aquasco Speedway, Aquasco, Md. in 1965.
B/G Fred Bear at the NHRA Nationals, Indianoplis, Ind. in 1964.
C/G Charlie Hill's Filthy Forty with Pork Zartman at the helm---Capitol Raceway Park, Millersville, Md.
C/G Dave Hales in C/G trim at Aquasco Speedway, Aquasco, Md. in 1965.
D/G Rather successful, don't you think?
65 Nats Here is old S&S 136 in the tech line at the Speedway Shopping Center waiting for the latest surprises in the rules area....Things moved rather slowly and made for a long day!!

A Match Race Madness Photo  See Photographer Info Page
65 Nats The end of the line---when you got this far it was almost over!!! By the way in the background you can see the hardware store where the guy got RICH!!!! You can tell it was a long day.....the Pennzoil decal has been replaced by a Valvoline one.  The Valvoline guys were staying at the same hotel downtown----they had a better offer!!!!  We went home with a lifetime supply of motor oil and gear lube!!!!!!! They drank all our beer!!!!   Sounds fair to me!!!

A Match Race Madness Photo  See Photographer Info Page
65 Nats Finally got to the race track---Unfortunately, my hopes of another final round appearance expired along with the engine!!! The car was capable but it wasn't to be. A 9500rpm high gear engine demolition provided enough excitement as it was. After running over the starter motor and sliding off the track into the grass.....well at least the shiny side stayed up. The only other significant damage was to my underwear!!!!

A Match Race Madness Photo  See Photographer Info Page