› Forums › Forums › GENERAL DISCUSSION › Speaking of Doc Burgess and The Black Arrow…
jrstk.
dinoDoc called yesterday!…Confirmed HE ALWAYS Owned Car .Sending Him some Shirts -Nostalgia Drags…with the Arrow on them! .
paul-ceasrine
D,
I think the first pictures of the car with ‘Doc Burgess’ on the car at Dover, was in
April 65′?
May have still been classed in S/SA.
Not sure if it was in A/MP then or Match Race Trim.
Other A/MP cars at Dover;
Ben Cardillo (ex-Al Eckstrand’s 64′ Plymouth “Lawman”)
Joe Bombace (64′ Plymouth “11th Commandment”)
Paul,,
paul-ceasrine
65 Doug,
The trick was the pistons. Remove the heavy Mopar stock 12.5-1 slugs, and replace them with a set of J.E. or
Brooks liteweight pistons. Also, change from pressed on pins to Full-floating pins. Worth 3/10’s.
pc
paul-ceasrine
Talked to a guy Mark Lawson out of Pennsylvania who had all the information on Doc Burgess and Bill ‘Jiggs’ Jenkins
aka; Grumpy, and the Black Arrow mystery.
Paul
dinoOk …So whats “all the information”…..hought we uncovered a bunch here on the forum.More than one ‘Black Arrow” topic…hit the search feature with “Black Arrow” and look out . Get this guy on here to fill us in !
paul-ceasrine
1965 NHRA Winternationals @ Pomona, California
February 5, 6, and 7, 1965.
SUPER/STOCK ENTRANTS LIST
1) William Andress, (Ypsalnti, Michigan)—-Dealership backed and sponsored by Serbay Motor Sales
2) Shirley Shahan, (Tulare, California)——-Factory backed and prepped by Butch Leal and H.L. Shahan
3) Paul Rossi, (Taylor, Michigan)————-Independent
4) Hank Taylor (Dickinson, Texas)———–Independent
5) Dick Housey (Birmingham, Michigan)—–Factory backed and prepped by Ted Spehar ‘Chrysler Skunkworks’
6) Bill Shirey (Detroit, Michigan)————-Factory backed and sponsored by Golden Commandos/University Plymouth
7) Richard Spence (Kansas City, Missouri)–Dealership backed and sponsored by Sites Brothers Motors
8) Dave Koffel (Massilion, Ohio)————-Factory backed and dealership sponsored by Maloney Motors
9) Joe Smith (Lubbock, Texas)—————Dealership backed and sponsored by Fenner-Tubbs
10) Al Eckstrand (Detroit, Michigan))——-Factory backed & dealer sponsored by Golden Commandos/Hamilton Motors
11) Gene Snow (Fort Worth, Texas)———Dealership backed and sponsored by Melton & Snow
12) Preston Honea (Norwalk, California)—-Factory backed and dealership sponsored by Baney Plymouth
13) Bill Jenkins (Berwyn, Pennsylvania)—–Independent; owned and sponsored by ‘Doc’ Burgess
Note: William Andress was the only the car that was a 4-speed. All other cars were a column-shifted Torque-Flite.
Note: ‘6’ of the ’13’ cars were Plymouth factory-backed.
Note: ‘4’ of the ’13’ cars had full Plymouth dealer-sponsorship.
Note: Only Bill Jenkins, Paul Rossi and Hank Taylor were the only independent teams. Meaning they had to purchase their
own 1965 Plymouth S/SA Hemi cars.
Cost $4600
Note: Only Plymouth S/S cars were present at the 65′ NHRA Winternationals. The Dodge S/S cars had not begun
production yet.
paul-ceasrine
1965 NHRA Winternationals;
INDEPENDENTS;
Paul Rossi and his shop out of Taylor, Michigan had a ‘solid’ reputation as a good Super/Stock car builder.
Bill Jenkins in the Doc Burgess ‘Black Arrow’ was the only ‘East Coast’ based super/Stocker to head out west for the
1965 NHRA Winternationals.
Jenkins reputation was that of an engine builder, not a driver.
Hank Taylor of Dickinson, Texas was an independent in the ‘true sense’. His father bought him the 65′ Plymouth.
In 1964, he held the NHRA S/SA record for a short period with an 11.62 (August/September 64′) with his
64′ Plymouth Hemi ”Mayflower’.
FACTORY and DEALERSHIPS
The factory was expecting ‘big things’ from Dick Housey, as his car was put together by Ted Spehar and the
Chrysler Performance skunkworks team at his famous Woodward Avenue Garage in Michigan.
The factory was also expecting Shirley Shahan ‘Drag-On Lady to finish on top, as her car was also ‘factory backed and
prepped to no end by her husband H. L. Shahan and Butch Leal.
That car had run 11.10’s at Carlsbad Raceway in January 1965, (only 2-weeks earlier) in pre-testing for the Winternationals.
And was the quickest 65’ Plymouth out there. A ‘west coast local’ she was the odds on favorite to make it to the finals.
paul-ceasrine
1965 NHRA WINTERNATIONALS SUPER/STOCK ELIMINATOR
FIRST ROUND
*) Bill Jenkins (W) 11.57 @ 126.40…………….Bill Jenkins
*) Hank Taylor (L) 11.67 @ 124.44
*) Richard Spence (W) 11.53 @ 125.01………..Richard Spence
*) Shirley Shahan (L) 11.55 @ 125.70
*) Bill Shirey (W) 13.50 @ 97.50………………Bill Shirey
*) ‘Bye’
*) Paul Rossi (W) 11.57 @ 126.40…………….Paul Rossi
*) William Andress (L) 11.61 @ 126.00
*) Dick Housey (W) 11.52 @ 126.70………….Dick Housey
*) Al Eckstrand (L) 11.55 @ 125.70
*) Dave Koffel (W) 12.37 @ 114.50…………..Dave Koffel
*) ‘Bye’
*) Joe Smith (W) 11.66 @ 124.00……………Joe Smith
*) ‘Bye’
*) Preston Honea (W) 11.86 @ 118.50………Preston Honea
*) Gene Snow (L) Red-light
paul-ceasrine
1965 NHRA WINTERNATIONALS SUPER/STOCK ELIMINATOR
SECOND ROUND
* Bill Jenkins (W) 11.51 @ 125.70……………Bill Jenkins
* Richard Spence (L) 11.57 @ 125.10
* Bill Shirey (W) 11.49 @ 127.00……………..Bill Shirey
* Paul Rossi (L) 11.62 @ 125.50
* Dick Housey (W) 11.44 @ 127.10…………..Dick Housey
* Dave Koffel (L) 11.58 @ 126.00
* Joe Smith (W) 11.58 @ 125.80…………….Joe Smith
* Preston Honea (L) 11.61 @ 125.20
paul-ceasrine
1965 NHRA WINTERNATIONALS SUPER/STOCK ELIMINATOR
SEMI-FINALS
* Bill Jenkins (W) 11.44 @ 125.70………Bill Jenkins
* Bill Shirey (L) 11.45 @ 126.10
* Dick Housey (W) 11.41 @ 126.50…….Dick Housey
* Joe Smith (L) 11.50 @ 125.20
CHAMPIONSHIP
* Bill Jenkins (W) 11.39 @ 126.06…….Bill Jenkins
* Dick Housey (L) 11.37 @ 126.76
Note: Bill Jenkins pulled a holsehsot over the quicker Dick Housey.
Note: Bill Jenkins had been cutting a perfect light on Sunday. As he ‘holeshotted’ everyone he raced.
paul-ceasrine
Very odd,
that the ‘Black Arrow’ did not have any mention of Doc Burgess while racing out on the
west coast in January/February 1965.
Bill Jenkins name lettered above ‘Black Arrow’
‘Grumpy lettered on the door panels.
‘Speidels Speed Shop’ lettered on the rear quarter-panels
‘Stahl Headers’ lettered on the front fenders.
Mechanics names listed;
Tony Pizzi
Joe Tryson
Al Joniec
Also, ColdBrook Motors, Chambersburg, Pa lettered on the rear quarter.
Origination of car.
Other decals;
Champion Spark Plugs
Super Stock & Drag Racing Illustrated
Dragshocks
Drag News
STP
NED1
No large PLYMOUTH decal on car, which infuriated the Chrysler factory heads.
They never forgot that stunt, and later refused to give Jenkins a factory sponsorship after the Winternationals.
Seems Grumpy was angling for a factory deal before the Winternationals, and purposely did not letter the car and
was intent on winning the 65′ Winternationals, to spite the Chrysler factory heads.
pc
paul-ceasrine
At tthe 1965 NHRA Winternationals.
Bill ‘Grumpy’ Jenkins was running “Doc’s” new 1965 Plymouth ‘Black Arrow’ in S/SA.
Dave Strickler was out their in his 1964 Dodge Hemi. Strickler was running his car in A/MP.
New lettering stating Dave Strickler Performance, and ‘Tuned by Bill Stiles.
Soon after, Strickler would get a factory-ride, as Chrysler gave him a 65’ Dodge (2% AWB) Hemi to run
in A/FX.
PC
paul-ceasrine
Following the Top Stock Eliminator win at the 65′ NHRA Winternationals (February 7, 1965),
Bill Jenkins received the NHRA cash award which was somewhere in the range of $6000.
Plus a trip to Hawaii and a full mechanics tool box, filled with tools.
Included were contingency awards from;
Champion Spark Plugs
Stahl Headers
STP Oil Treatment
Drag News
Dragshocks
The ‘Black Arrow’ was also featured in magazine advertisements;
(3) with Plymouth
(2) with Champion Spark Plugs
(1) with STP
mggraphix
I can probably get some more info and pics of the Arrow in its early days… Carl Speidel is my father in law but passed away a few years back. His son still has a whole Dover Drag Strip shrine at the house. Carl had a lot of memorabilia. I know I came across a pic with Carl, Doc and Bill in the shop. This was Carls pre beard days. Anyone who knew him knows how long ago that was…
I believe his son is a member of this forum. If not I will inform him…
dino“M” We were fortunate enough to hook up with Matt …way back at the first ‘Dover fest” in 2009. He didn’t have a computer ,but did supply us with a bunch of Carl’s photos. Most are in our OPDF Premium members galleries and on the Historical Photo Disc…But heres a link to a topic on that:
http://www.doverdragstrip.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=962
I tell all the new guys…Use the Search feature ..it’s all here someplace..in this case put in “Black Arrow.”..and stand back…we now have more photos AND historical documentation on that car than anyone AND from the reliable sources.
