The 1963 NHRA Winternationals (commonly known as the Winternats) were a
National Hot Rod Association
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and hosts events all over the United States and Canada. With over 40,000 drivers in its rosters, the NHRA claims to be the largest motorspo ...
(NHRA)
drag racing
Drag racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line. The race follows a short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, most c ...
event held at the
Auto Club Raceway in
Pomona, California
Pomona is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Pomona is located in the Pomona Valley, between the Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley. At the 2020 census, the city's population was 151,713. The main campus of California State Polyte ...
on February 17, 1963.
Events
Jack Williams' new
slingshot
A slingshot is a small hand-powered projectile weapon. The classic form consists of a Y-shaped frame, with two natural rubber strips or tubes attached to the upper two ends. The other ends of the strips lead back to a pocket that holds the pro ...
streamliner
A streamliner is a vehicle incorporating wikt:streamline, streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance. The term is applied to high-speed railway trainsets of the 1930s to 1950s, and to their successor "High-speed rail, bullet trai ...
''Scuderia'' made her debut at this year's Winternats, in
Top Gas Top Gas (T/G) is a former NHRA drag racing professional class.
Analogous to Top Fuel, Top Gas was a pro class, and allowed dragsters (T/GD) as well as bodied cars.
Several noteworthy cars ran in Top Gas. One of the early streamliners, ''Scuderia ...
. She also won the "Best Appearing" award.
Results
Top Fuel
In the
Top Fuel
Top Fuel is a type of drag racing whose dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world and the fastest sanctioned category of drag racing, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of and finishing the runs in 3.62 seconds ...
Dragster (TF/D) final round,
Don Garlits
Donald Glenn Garlits (born January 14, 1932, Tampa, Florida) is an American race car driver and automotive engineer. Considered the father of drag racing, he is known as "Big Daddy" to drag racing fans around the world. A pioneer in the field o ...
(not yet nicknamed "Big Daddy") defeated
Art Malone.
Altered
Top Gas
''Scuderia'' made her debut, recording a best pass of 8.83 seconds at with Ron Lowe at the wheel, before mechanical trouble sidelined her.
The class win went to
Bob Muravez (in the John Peters and Nye Frank owned Freight Train)over
Connie Kalitta
Conrad "Connie" Kalitta (born February 24, 1938) is an Americans, American businessman and former drag racing driver, nicknamed "The Bounty Hunter". Kalitta is the CEO of Kalitta Air and the owner of Kalitta Motorsports.[Tony Nancy
Tony may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Tony (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
* Gregory Tony (born 1978), American law enforcement officer
* Motu Tony (born 1981), New Zealand international rugby leag ...]
defeated
Jerry Hardick to win the
Comp Eliminator.
Middle Eliminator
Doug "Cookie" Cook claimed Middle Eliminator in his
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile or formally the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors was a brand of American automobiles, produced for most of its existence by General Motors. Originally established as "Olds Motor Vehicle Company" by Ransom E. Olds in 1897, it produ ...
-engined
Willys
Willys (pronounced , "Willis" )
was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (MBs ...
, over
Jim Dunn.
Junior Eliminator
Hugh Tucker defeated
Bob Culbert at Pomona in 1962 to win Junior Eliminator.
Little Eliminator
Charlie Smith was defeated by
Dick Bourgeois in Little Eliminator.
Super Stock
Stock
In
Stock Eliminator,
Al Eckstrand in a 1963 Dodge defeated
Bill Shirey
Bill Shirey (born February 28, 1932) is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver.
Career
Shirey accomplished three finishes in the "top ten" ( 1970 Richmond 500, 1971 Asheville 300, and 1971 Kingsport 300) and has driven for 9588 laps - the eq ...
in a 1963
Plymouth
Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west.
Plymouth ...
.
Ultimateracinghistory
(retrieved 3 October 2018)
Notes
{{Authority control
1963 in motorsport
NHRA Winternationals
1963 in California