Just talked to Bernie on the Phone ! Living in northern Jersey and coming to the 3rd Drags.Bernie Prepped the Dobbs Ferry T-Bolt that later was sold and became Far Rockaway Ford Car.Relates Chuck Grapp ,the Driver of the Thunderbolt still in Elmsford at Brookfield Auto Wrecking. Tons of stories about the Ford Factory cars AND he was involved with McCormicks “TOP CAT” car…..watch for him to register on the forum soon.
I’ve known Bernie for years (a retired Ford engineer) who used to visit the Ford dealership I worked for.He had a white Pantera,which I was lucky to drive once.After his retirment,he tinkered with his son,having a high-po shop for Mustangs,in Belleville,N.J.Wiping away some of the cobwebs in my brain,I think it was early 60’s,he had a Studebaker with a Ford big block (406?).Great personality,down to earth type of guy.It’s been many moons since I have seen him.Nice surprise!
Bernie stopped in at Pleasant Valley Ford as an engineer. I had a pic of Tom Caldaras / Nate Cohens “Nazy Crate” hanging on the wall. We started talking Thunderbolts and he asked if I ever heard of Dobbs Ferry Fords Thunderbolt. I said sure I lived in Yonkers at the time and that thing always beat Larsen Fords Thunderbolt. He smiled and said he used to tune the dobbs Ferry Ford car and we became fast friends. Great guy!
Hey Bernie,WELCOME ABOARD! It’s been many moons since your retirement from Ford Motor Co.that I’ve seen ya.Flashback,Johnson Ford in Kingston N.Y. me Pete,and Bill the service manager.Yep we’re both retired and still kickin’! Hope to see ya at the Dover 50!( 3rd Annual Drags-Lebanon)
Hi Guy’s For me it was a blast.The early days started at a Drag Strip in Allentown PA, then to Montgomery NY after it was shut down it was on to Island Dragway then some Dover NY. After a stint of 11 Years in the Dealer end I landed a Job with Ford Mtr Co. Campaigning the Dobbs Fy Ford was the highlite, after the rules were changed we could not sell a perfect car but i made a deal $3250 Complete car,engine spare complete. extra rear and 2 sets of tires 2 carburetors.a spare intake the spare hi riser engine was complete( the Original. Seems the next year the car fell to AFX in which to be not embaressed a few grand would need to be spent! We raced the car as a Dealer Demo with the price label on the window so the car was carried as a demo and depreciated monthly. I know all about the Top Cat Mccormick LM car I helped make the car go 12:47 in GS Stick Lots More here Bernie
berniegolick.
dino