More about Hershel's Roadrunner
The picture send by Bud Bussiere brought back some memories to teammate Dick Pierson. Along with this picture of the car from Dick's private collection, here is what he remebers about it: "Hershel bought the car from Richard at Daytona and ran the Winston West Series for a couple of years. He tied the all time win record with that car for Winston West, he and Parnelli Jones have 11 wins in a row. Hershel was actually leading in the 12th but was pushed into the wall in San Jose California by another car and had to park. Hershel then he sold it to a local guy named Don Selley and bought the 1971 Plymouth that Chuck Shafer rebuilt into the Petty car.
The 71 car never really did as much as the Roadrunner however, it just wasn't as good a car. Don was a friend of mine, so when Hershel sold the car I went with it and was Don's crew chief on that car. We pretty much maintained it at the McGriff shop with Pat and others working on it most of the time, so not much changed. I have attached a photo for you, the last one I have of that car taken at the Portland Speedway. We won a couple of races with it, but Don was not the driver that Hershel was. We sold the car to a local guy in Portland that ran it in the local Sportsman series. Those were the days !!"
Bud,
I believe the car in the picture above may have been sold to local Portland racer Duane Ray. The car was repainted a brown color and raced locally for a season.
I came onto the scene around '72 so missed most of this era of Mopar's.
The Ray shop was located in East Portland on Sandy Blvd next door to the Venus nightclub.
I had to laugh when I saw the wet asphalt in the picture, that is/was a common occurrence in the Pacific Northwest. Rainouts were pretty common through June each season. Nothing more frustrating than preparing for a race, then packing up and heading home. Or sometimes sticking around the track infield and emptying the icechest of those Oly's.
Posted by: Bruce | March 03, 2006 at 07:51 AM
Bruce,
thanks for your comment. Does Duane Ray's shop still exist?
Posted by: Christophe | March 03, 2006 at 10:11 AM
Christophe,
No, Duane's shop was only around a short time. I think they sell batteries and alternators in that building these days. Not sure what became of Duane.
If anyone here has info on Hershel's engine builders to share that would be appreciated.
Hershel employed Bor-A-Car engine services in Portland for many years. "Henry" owned and operated Bor-A-Car for a long time in North Portland on NE Alberta St. "Henry" retired and sold the shop to Les(?) Swayze. Some more history on Bor-A-Car and "Henry" would be interesting.
Precision Engine in Seattle built the Mopar powerplants in Doug's Dodge. Not
Posted by: Bruce | March 13, 2006 at 08:00 AM
I was made aware of that someone has discovered Hershell McGriff's old Nova racecar and is going to restore it. Here is the letter I read: "A friend of mine has found Hershel Mcgriff's Oly Express Nova, and is looking to restore it. I noticed that you had a alot of old photos and was wondering if you had any of that car. If you do or know someone else that might have some drop me a line."
If you can help with photos, please send them my way and I will try to get them to this fella.
Cheers!
Posted by: Murray Jones | November 22, 2006 at 04:35 AM
Murray,
We are aware of the guy in Tacoma, Tony, that has the Nova. However, the jury is still out as far as weather or not it is Hershel's old car. I have met and talked with Tony, he brought me photos of the car, I took them to Portland where Pat McElreath and I both looked at them. We are not convinced that the car he has is the Nova. He says it is but neither Pat or myself are sure. I worked on that car for a few years before I left Hershel's team but I can't remember enough of it to be sure. Worse case, he can rebuiild it to look like the Nova and call it a clone. Dick
Posted by: Dick Pierson | November 22, 2006 at 04:39 PM
Murray, Dick-
Pat McElreath would know the car as well as anyone- he built it the summer of 1975 in Molalla. Mike Easley and I worked some long hours that summer building that car.
I was driving a 1971 Chevy Nova at that time. We used my car as a "template" to get the body panels and roof lines aligned.
I am sure that car went through a lot in the 31 years since it was built.
-Bruce
Posted by: Bruce | November 28, 2006 at 03:26 AM
Bruce,
that is a very interesting story. As I recall from some of your previous comments, you worked also on Doug's Charger that went to Le Mans. Do you know where Doug raced it after Le Mans ? Was he racing it at Portland Speedway in 1977 ?
Posted by: Christophe | November 28, 2006 at 12:51 PM
THE NOVA I HAVE WAS PURCHASED FROM HERSHEL JR.S CREW CHIEF THRU THE 1990'S RUSS NYBERG,HE STATED HE GOT IT FROM SOME KID WHO WAS GOING TO RUN THE CAR ON A DIRT TRACK,AND THAT IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH RON EATON AS WELL,I SENT PIC'S WITH DICK PIERSON AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL TALKS WITH BOTH EASLEY AND PAT,THOUGH EATON HAS SIGNED A TYPE WRITTEN NOTE STATING THAT THIS IS THE CHASSIS THAT WAS REPAIRED IN EATON'S LAKES BODY SHOP AND COULD NOT GO TO LE MANS BECAUSE WAS NOT FINNISHED IN TIME SO MCGRIFF'S HAD TO GET THE OLD CHARGER BACK TO TAKE TO LE MANS INSTEAD'I NOW HAVE PIC'S OF THE NOVA AT DAYTONA,AND HAVE TALKED SEVERAL TIMES WITH HERSHEL SR. AND DOUG,WHO HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND KIND.I AM STILL LOOKING FOR ANY OTHER PIC'S AND INFO ON THIS NOVA AS WELL AT DAYTONA,PIERSON HAS STATED ALSO THE NOVA LED THE 24 HOUR RACE AND DOUG ALSO,BUT WHERE ARE THE RESULTS ?? IT WILL BE VERY HARD FOR ME TO HAVE THIS SPECIAL/HISTORICLE RACER RESTORED,I HAVE BEEN PRETTY MUCH NOT ABLE TO DO MUCH FROM 2 CAR ACCIDENTS AND AM HOPING THAT SOMEONE ON THE WEST COAST CAN TAKE AND RESTORE NOVA TO IT'S FORMER GLORY.I DO NOT HAVE A COMPUTER' SO PEASE CALL ME AT 253-353-9327 TO CHAT,THANKS AND GOD BLESS
Posted by: TONY DANIELS | April 18, 2007 at 01:12 AM
I ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION A FRIEND BY THE NAME OF DAVE BRANDENBURG AND HIS WIFE JO,THEY WERE GOING TO RESTORE THE MCGRIFF NOVA AND I RAN OUT OF MONEY AND SPACE,THEY HAVE THE DONOR NOVA,FOR BODY PARTS,STILL IN THEIR YARD,AGAIN THIS SPECIAL OLY NOVA, IS UP FOR SALE AND YES I PREFER SOMEONE FROM THE WEST COAST TO AQUIRE IT AND DO IT JUSTICE..THANKS AGAIN DAVE AND JO"""
Posted by: TONY DANIELS | April 18, 2007 at 01:24 AM
Tony,
that Nova does indeed deserve to be restored to its 1976 configuration when it raced in the Winston West Sportsman series and at Daytona. Hershel and Doug finished 3rd of their class at the 1976 Daytona 24 hours race. That is why they got invited to start in Le Mans.
Since the "re-brewed" Oly Express Charger (Paul Feldner's 1977 USAC championship wining car) is in Europe now, it would be great that the Nova stays in the USA and gets restored to the same race ready condition as the Charger. Seing the pictures that Gene Felton sent me, it looks like you'll need about $50,000 to do a show condition restoration or $80,000 to do a race ready restoration.
Feel free to post any questions here on the site. I'll be happy to help you with it.
Posted by: Christophe | April 18, 2007 at 12:03 PM
CHRISTOPHE,THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFO,AGAIN I AM USING A FRIENDS COMPUTER AT THIS TIME BUT AM VERY LIMMITED,CAN YOU CALL ME ON MY CELL# 253-353-9327, I DO NOT LIVE FAR FROM DICK PIERSON AS WELL. THE OLY NOVA I HAVE IS UP FOR SALE,IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE INTERESTED,PLEASE GIVE THEM MY NUMBER,THANK YOU......
Posted by: TONY DANIELS | April 26, 2007 at 04:43 AM
Reagrding the Nova. I was not the crew chief for JR. Just a fab guy for awhile along with Russ LaFontaine. Rest of the story is pretty acurate though! Car was found from a Kid in Milwaukie. I talked to Pat about the chassis. Since it had the proper front control arm (ford strut) along with the rear shock upgrade we determined it to be the correct. Not sure about the body though. Car had the correct paint under the current blue.
Posted by: Russell Nyberg | July 01, 2008 at 06:35 PM