Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Police Reports Education Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Teacher's Tips: Who gets to teach history? Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Business Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Cars We Remember: The original Candymatic Ramchargers Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Politics and elections Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Norman Christlieb Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Sports Latest Stories Guthrie kicks off fundraising drive Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizz bats heat up in Bend Kansas City Royals star pitcher Jeremy Guthrie visits Ashland to kickoff fundraising campaign Ducks enjoy the challenge High school Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Fredrickson leads Grizzlies to season-opening romp Grizz alpine skiers finish strong at state Southern Oregon University Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Oregon State women come up short in second-round loss to Gonzaga Raiders roughed up at Corban Voices Latest Stories Granlund cartoon: Kraft and Heinz merger Landgren cartoon: Muddy baseball fields Our View: How it should work Letters to the Editor, March 25 Rick Holmes: What addicts say about getting high and getting better Editorial Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Our view: Keep it simple in developing marijuana rules Letters Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Letters to the Editor, March 18 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Columns Council Corner: Getting to yes or no — or maybe Chris Honoré: 'Like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out ...' Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Herb Rothschild: Donating with care Matthew T. Mangino: When is a confession not a confession? Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Best bets for entertainment around Ashland, March 19 Theater Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Ticket Availability The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Ticket Availability Camelot Theatre in Talent: This 'Sunset' is not as dark Music Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center The Farr Side: Madonna — ever the trendsetter Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 More wonderful wrinkles at 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' 8 must-see spring films Movie review: ‘Wrecking Crew’ is a look at the people who really put the bomp Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Almond cookies pass the test Page Onorato: Cranky old winter may finally come to an end Garden Cameos: Welcome spring to the garden Page Onorato: Come grow old along with me, someday Tammy Kelly: Lighten up traditional Easter desserts Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 ... Ticket Availability ... Have you filed your tax return yet? ... Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 ... Ticket Availability ... Have you filed your tax return yet? ... Cars We Remember: The original Candymatic Ramchargers By Greg Zyla More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Greg Zyla More Content Now Posted Mar. 25, 2015 @ 6:55 am By Greg Zyla More Content Now Posted Mar. 25, 2015 @ 6:55 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Q: Good day, Greg, and thanks for all your interesting columns about old cars and old-time racing. My question is about one of my favorite race teams from back in the 1960s, namely the Dodge Ramchargers. Was this a factory team or did it start out as a hobby with guys who loved to race Dodge and Plymouth cars? I look forward to your answer and we enjoy your articles very much. Jerry L., Peoria, Illinois. A: Jerry, I’ll do as my friend Phil Burgess did (the editor of National Dragster) when discussing this outstanding team. Thus, we’ll let author David G. Rockwell, who wrote the book “We We’re The Ramchargers,” explain quickly how it all began. His book is a must-read and is available at Amazon.com and other book websites. Said Rockwell, “Who the Ramchargers were is most easily understood if two things are kept in mind. First, they were always a free-standing group; financially and operationally from Chrysler. Members’ activities were always after hours and off the clock from Chrysler. However, several members’ day jobs at Chrysler did eventually involve developing its race program. Second, there were four phases through which the group evolved during its life: Phase 1) spanned 1958 and 1959, when a confederation of individuals working on their cars banded together to form an NHRA-sanctioned Hot Rod Club, the Ramchargers. Phase 2) spanned 1959 through 1961, with the group evolving from a confederation of individuals with separate interests to a group with a common interest. This federation built the first team car in the form of a ‘49 Plymouth C/Altered; High and Mighty, followed in 1961 by the team’s first Super Stock Dodge. Phase 3) spanned 1962 through 1967, where the team incorporated itself, raced Super Stocks, developed the Funny Car, and introduced the 426 Hemi to Top Fuel. After 1967, in Phase 4) a number of members retired to their day jobs at Chrysler, while four members opened Ramchargers Racing Engines, building engines. They opened five Detroit-area speed shops while competing in Top Fuel and Funny Car through the mid-1970s.” Thus, the “original Ramchargers” consisted of a group of Chrysler engineers and employees who loved drag racing, and started like a car club more so than any official corporate involvement. I personally saw the Ramchargers race many times starting in 1963, and their cars had a distinct sound as the headers were of an unusual long tube design that made the V-8s sound different. Visually, each of the Ramchargers cars from 1963 on featured a specific “Candymatic” paint scheme made up of seven candy-apple red stripes on the top and trunk deck of the pure white Dodges. No other paint scheme comes to mind as better or more appealing during that great time of drag racing factory super stocks. Dave Strickler’s “Old Reliable” Chevy and Arnie Beswick’s “The Farmer” Pontiacs also did well with fan identity, as did “Color Me Gone” (Roger Lindamood), “Lawman” (Al Eckstrand), “Melrose Missile” (Tom Grove) and “Tasca Ford” (Bill Lawton). Still, The Ramchargers were No. 1 with fan identity, and Chrysler took advantage of that fact. By 1967, Chrysler was sponsoring high-performance clinics at Dodge and Plymouth dealers with the likes of pro drivers Dick Landy and Ronnie Sox meeting enthusiasts and answering questions. I know well, as I attended a Dick Landy Dodge Performance Clinic in Vineland, New Jersey, at Glauser Dodge as a proud owner of a 1967 Plymouth GTX 440. Also notable is original member Dick Maxwell, who started the “Direct Connection Parts” program at all dealerships making it easy to order performance parts to make your car go quicker. Today, the program is called MOPAR Performance. The initial Ramchargers drivers were Herman Moser (spelled incorrectly in the attached ad) and Jim Thornton, where in 1963 at the U.S. Nationals they defeated all comers. Then, when the 426 Hemi became available in 1964, the Ramchargers led the way right into the Funny Car years, where speeds of over 200-mph in the quarter mile were common. Tom Hoover, an original Ramchargers club and team member, receives credit for bringing the Hemi back to production in its 426-inch form. The Ramchargers racing group stayed intact campaigning dragsters and funny cars through 1972, when the group disbanded, closing the book on perhaps the most famous drag racing team ever. Greg Zyla writes weekly for More Content Now and GateHouse Media publications. He welcomes reader questions on collector cars or old-time racing at 116 Main St., Towanda, PA 18848 or at [email protected]. By Greg Zyla More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Greg Zyla More Content Now Posted Mar. 25, 2015 @ 6:55 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501