New Ford Guy to forum

[67goingthing]

Stumbled across this forum by accident but am hooked. I am Friends with John Downing of team Downing & Ryan who raced Fords in New York-New Jersey and up and down the coast in the 60’s and 70’s. Truly love and miss the old days when Drag Racing was fun and unpredictable. Here are a few photos of my Fairlane and you will see the connection with D&R!

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[mikey]

Very very nice car. You need to tell us a little about it, you know, a little history. Oh yea, and bring it to the 2nd annual DoverDrags at Island Dragway, Sept 25 and 26. 😀 ………………………..Mikey 😆

[bobby-s]

Dino

get some race stickers to him for this awesome fairlane 😯
NOW,,, 😡

Bobby S.

[don-kauer]

Hey, What a beautiful Fairlane……………Rox did you check out this one,,,,,,,,,,

[dinoKeymaster]

Found this that Relates…Lotta stuff HERE ! use search feature

IMG_1533

[67goingthing]

The Jim Ryan car is not the Fairlane raced by D&R. This was Jim’s personal car and John didn’t have anything to do with it. It was sold sometime in 67. John bought the “RESPECT” Fairlane from Dockery Ford and immediately took it to John Healy over the winter of 66-67 where the car was transformed to Super Stock trim. In May John set a new SS/B NHRA national record at 11.42 at Madison County Raceway Park. They later ran a 67 Fairlane sedan in Super Stock along with many Mustangs. Lastly, in Pro Stock they campaigned a Maverick and then a Pinto.

I will follow up with more details about the car this week!

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[dinoKeymaster]

You in Illinois?

[bossguy]

You’re not Bob Brown are you? Bob Brown built my first Boss 302 drag engine. I met John Downing at his shop in Montclair, he also moved once while he was building my motor (Change Bridge rd?) A neighbor of mine bought the stock Boss 429 manifold off what was to be the Pro Stock Maverick Motor. Last I heard Bob had moved to Colorado. Another buddy of mine was Howie Kittlestad whose cousin was a ford rep named Pedersen? I worked at George Cook Ford in Scarsdale at the time.

[67goingthing]

I am in Illinois. 2 of John’s cars wound up here in the late 60’s and that is where my connection is. Concerning Bob Brown, take a look at who John’s competitor is in the photo below!

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[bossguy]

Nice Pic, Thanks. Bob Browns pre Cobra Jet days. See HemiDart68 and Gramdog! Bob Brown saw the light! He’s goin to Heaven! 😆

[67goingthing]

The Stable 1971

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[FrankDusParticipant]

If drag racing had remained in its original, more chaotic form from the 60s and 70s, how do you think that would have impacted car culture today? Would we have more grassroots events, or would the sport have faded into obscurity? Share your thoughts on how nostalgia for the unpredictability of that era shapes our current perceptions of racing.”,
“refusal

[FrankDusParticipant]

In an era where technology and innovation dominate motorsports, do you think the nostalgia for the “good old days” of drag racing, as experienced by legends like John Downing, limits the potential for modern advancements? How can we honor the past while still pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the sport today?”,
“refusal

[Author]

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