Dragmaster Dart Sets 8.63, 176.12 Record

June 1, 1962

   MEMPHIS, Tenn. (May 19 & 20) 1962's Southeastern Divisional Championship got off to a sizzling start on Saturday afternoon when Jim Nelson fired his big supercharged single-engine Dodge Dart powered Dragmaster 'AA' to new, certified National Records of 176.12 mph and 8.63 seconds elapsed time.

   This outstanding speed performance bettered the record held by Jim's partner, Dode Martin, who set drag racing's top speed mark of 175.78 mph during last year's Nationals at Indianapolis.

   Jim's new 8.63 e.t., the quickest elapsed time ever officially recorded and verified, broke the Howard Cams Special twin Chevy's record of 8.74 seconds which was new only this year, having been set during the Winternationals Championships at Pomona.

   The Dart, a new low-profile Dragmaster 'Dart' chassis, uses a Dodge engine of 425.5 cubic inches. A GMC 6-71 blower rests on a new Hilborn 4-port injection system with high-rev twist furnished by an Iskenderian roller tappet assembly. Mallory Mini-Mag is used to fire the bear, which was built by Dragmaster Co.

   Californians flooded the pits of the Memphis Divisional, where more than a dozen states were represented in competition. Jack Chrisman, 1961 World Points Champion, made a good showing with his twin Pontiacs AA-dragster, the Mickey Thompson Enterprises Special, but encountered head gasket failure on the twin's rear engine and wasn't able to get "everything" out of the sporty rig.

   Chrisman did, however, meet Nelson at the line Sunday on the final run for Top Eliminator. Tension mounted as the two 'AA' rails were rolled into staging, for riding on the win was 40 points in the current World Points Championship contest.

   As the two rigs rumbled at the line, the flag went up, but Chrisman wasn't ready and Nelson made a quick trip over the 1320. Chrisman, showing true sportsmanship, declined Nelson's offer to re-run and the cup was presented to smilin' Jim, who had done a terrific job with the Dart during the entire event.

   Seven National Records fell during the Divisional Championship, including two new stocker marks.

   Bob Reed of Marion, Ohio, shared the "hot" class records spotlight with Nelson. Running a Chevy in a '39 Chevy coupe for G-gas competition, Reed honked a 90.81 mph in 14.95 seconds for official class National Records. His records will not be entered, however, for only one week earlier, new G/G marks were set at the Arlington, Wash., Regional.

   In the stock ranks, Elwin Westbrook provided the show during record runs. All the way from Ontario, Calif., Elwin's '60 Chevy, sponsored by Airline Auto Sales, swept through the beams to a 99.88 mph record, coupled with a low 14.06 e.t. mark. His car, equipped with a 348 plant, is a fiery red tudor Biscayne.

   Also grabbing off a stock mark was Roy Dye of Memphis. Roy, who handles a '62 Chevy Impala 4-door, waltzed off with a certified mark of 89.82 mph after the day's record runs for the E-stock automatic class record.