Hemi Dart history

[liteweight]

Hey Guys

I am trying to find history to my Hurst Hemi Dart previous to Lou Vignonias ownership in the early 80’s.
“As the story goes{” Lou purchased the car from some guy in Mt. Kisco, NY in the early 80’s.It’s colors were supposidly red & silver at the time, but I can’t confirm that because there’s no pictures of it. Lou said he had pictures of it, but Jimi has been unable to locate them. Lou bought the car for the drivetrain, & his brother Ray was going to use the body. Ray took the car over to Paul Pittman to have it painted, so it was chemically stripped, & repainted white. Vinonia’s never used the body, so it sat till 86 when Tim Hennessey purchased & restored it.
I believe it was raced as a bracket car due to a decal that was on the PS quarter glass.
Here’s some pictures of it when Tim Hennessey purchased it in 1986

Here’s a picture of that decal.
Does anyone have some info on this race, like maybe a National Dragster or maybe a program or anything???

liteweight

[liteweight]

One year later & still looking for the history of my car…….
I’ve had alot of leads that I’ve followed up on, but evry one has ended the same way. Not my car……….. but at least now I know the ones it’s not anyway forsure.
Fast forward to today………………….,
Don Moats linked me to a site that Bob Snyder has put together with ALOT of very cool pictures. On one of the pages from New York National Speedway, 1968 Super Stock Nationals, I spot a silver Hemi Dart in the background. It just happens to have some quarter panel damage. I checked my car, & there in the same area you can see the repair from inside the trunk
http://bobsnyderdragphotos.smugmug.com/Sports/Super-Stock-Nationals-NYNS/18791423_RVFzFv#!i=2985645403&k=x3V5Bhj&lb=1&s=L

I’ve heard that Manhatten Speed Shop had an original Hemi Dart through different accurate sources, but there’s been very little info or pictures on this car This is the most promising lead I’ve had on this car in roughly 10 years of constant searching.
I sure would appreciate any kind of info or pictures relating to this car. Names sure would be great too

Thankyou
liteweight

[liteweight]

Here is the car I’m looking information on.
1968 Super Stock Hemi Dart sponsored by Manhatten Speed Shop Picture taken by Bob Snyder @ New York National Speedway durring the 1968 Suoer Stock Nationals

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[liteweight]

This is my car today. I am trying to connect the dots from 1968 to Lou Vignonias ownership in early 80’s I currently have no information on it. The only common link I have is a very strange dent on the PS rear quarter panel that was repaired in the same location. I say it’s strange because of it’s location & impression. It doesn’t look like a hit from another vehicle, but rather something heavy that fell against it??, The repair is very evident from the trunk area on my car

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[liteweight]

Another shot

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[dinoKeymaster]

Well …You need to bring THAT to our Race At Lebanon…A few hundred folks will have more info. I can predict

[lee-valentine]

The guy that had that car never ran Dover I don’t think . He had the car after Dover closed,he may have run Ct. dragway , E-town or Westhampton. Tony Saraceni took me to look at this car to buy but I wasn’t interested being a Chevy guy, I think he wanted $ 1800 for it.

[don-kauer]

You are right Lee…Saraceni is the one who knew about that car …I remember him talking about it…. 😎 Man what cool stuff we passed up! 🙁

[dinoKeymaster]

I …your humble announcer, Have Tony’s contact info …I give him a ring.

Re: DOVER-FEST COUNTDOWN final plans

[liteweight]

Hey guys
I’ve made a contact in NY, Lee Quinones, who lives just down the street from where the old Mannhatten Speed Shop was located & knows the owners Joe Doto & his son Victor. He tells me there was a machinist in the back that went by the name of “Nasty Nick”. Do the names mean anything to anyone? Below is a shot of his car. I’m thinking Nick may have done some work on the Manhatten Dart & may remember the name of the owner of it

Really interested in the outcome from Tony Saraceni. Is it possible to get contact info for him from this humble announcer?

Quick question from a guy who lives a long way from the east coast. When did Dover close?

Wish I lived alot closer to where the mainstream of the happenings are.My Location makes it very difficult to get down there unfortunately, so for now I gotta rely on the internet & contacts.

Dino–even tho I have the “subscribe to thread” checked, I’m not getting notifications of new posts. Can you help me out here?

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[anthonyc]

You might want to post this picture on Yellowbullet.com as well. There is ALOT of people on there from all over,its a little crude on there and maybe a little offensive but its a huge racer site with people from all over. Lots of guy that raced at Englishtown and LI dragway as well being that Cuda was based in Manhattan.

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