Olympia Charger

McGriff 1972 Plymouth Roadrunner wins @ Portland NASCAR West in 1972

There is a very interesting discussion ongoing about the origin of Hershel McGriff's 1970 Roadrunner within the vintage NASCAR community, that you can follow here on Randy Ayers NASCAR forum. Now, is'nt that a great shot of Hershel among the racequeens after yet another Winston West win!

Hershel McGriff back in NASCAR at 81

At an age at which most elderly citizens do not dare to drive anything but a Golf Kart, Hershel McGriff, now 81 years old, is back at it for real. His son and crew chief Hershel Jr. has prepped their 2003 DEI Chevrolet to the max and they had been training some for the coming Salute The Troops 125!

Hershel McGriff will turn 81 tomorrow

Hershel McGriff, driver and team boss of the original Oly Express Dodge Charger , will be celebrating his 81st birthday tomorrow. He might not jump in and out of a stock car as seen here in Le Mans in 1976, but we all can be sure that he can still drive a car faster than most of us. His first major win was the Carrera Panamericana in 1950 at age 20 and his last wast the NASCAR Autozone West race in 1989 at age 61. I'll never forget the one lap of the Bugatti that I did riding shotgun in my Dodge while Hershel drove. Happy Birthday, Hershel!

McGriff Dodge Charger at Mulsanne 1976

Our faithfull fan François Breton sent us this great screen capture from a little amateur film of Le Mans 1976. It shows Hershel McGriff at the wheel of the Oly Express Dodge Charger after sidelining his racecar right after the Mulsanne corner. Read more about the whole story by clicking here.

Hershel McGriff's Le Mans snowplow Camaro

Hershel McGriff returned to race at Le Mans in 1982. After the not so successfull attempt with his son Doug in the Dodge Charger in 1976, Billy Hagan signed on Hershel to drive the Stratagraph 1979 Camaro with Dick Brooks.

Great 1976 Le Mans photos by Ron Zuehlke

Thanks to Dick Pierson's recent TV appearance on the Seattle local news, Ron Zuehlke had some memories coming back to him. Ron was at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1976 and took these two excellent pictures of Hershel McGriff and the Dodge hurdling toward Dunlop. Thank you so much, Ron. I just love it when this whole story keeps growing thanks to contributions like yours!

Doug and Hershel McGriff with Oly Charger

Thanks to Randy Ayers Modeling Forum's member Sundance, we just received this great picture of Doug and Hershel McGriff before their 1976 Le Mans start, found in a vintage issue of SCR magazine. I suspect that is was taken at Bridal Veil, just before Dick Pierson trucked it cross country to Sealand for its shipment to Le Mans. Judging by the title, I'd guess that the article relates to his DNF in the race. However, one question still remains: where is the original Oly Express Charger these days?

Hershel McGriff racing a Ford at Daytona !?!

This is really one for the experts! Now, y'all know that Hershel drove mostly Mopars, like the West Virginia Almost Heaven Charger when he teamed up with Richard Petty. Judging from the picture that François Breton, an Oly fan from France, dugg out on the web, Hershel also raced a Ford at the famous Florida track. Which race was it and what year? Whoever gets it right first, wins a 2008 Oly Express team shirt!

Hershel McGriff at Langley by Reg Royle

Murray Jones just sent us a couple of photos from the Reg Royle collection, which were donated to the Langley Speedway Historical Society. These pictures of Hershel McGriff at Langley's International Drivers Challenge on July22nd, 1972, came from negatives (Y'll know those thingies from the 1900s).

Courtesy: Reg Royle Collection

Hershel McGriff back at Le Mans

Today was sure a day to remember for Team Oly Express as Hershel McGriff came back to the Le Mans track. After racing the Charger here in 1976 and one of Billy Hagan's Camaro's in 1982, Hershel, alongside with wife Sherrie, daughter Marilyn and son-in-law Tex Powell (yes, THE Tex Powell), came to France, 25 years after his last 24 hours drive.