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!

426 Le Mans HemiWedge: investigating the oil lines mystery

After that our good friend Tom of Olympia's Rocket Restorations found it in the Phoenix Craigslist, we managed to buy what looks like one of the two original motors that the McGriff team had with the Charger at the 1976 Le Mans 24 Hours. Some engraving from John Todd, who overhauled the motors for Le Mans, look like a solid hint.

1973 Ray Elder Winston West Dodge Charger back on its wheels

I got news from "the other" Oly Dodge. One of Ray Elder's former Charger is freshly back from its restoration and was brought by owner Doug Schultz to the Monetrey Historics this August. Elder raced this very Dodge in the early 1970s and won his second Riverside, the 400 International on June 18, 1972, in it.

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!

#14 USAC Dodge Charger is getting restored

What a thrill to see another 115" MoPar racecar come back to life! This former USAC Charger is based on a  Nichels chassis and could have even been bodied as a Superbird, when it first hit the track. You can see more pictures of this Nichels Charger by clicking here.

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?

New old picture of Ray Elder Dodge Charger

François Breton, one of our biggest fans and also the one with the most vintage Le Mans knowledge, just sent us this picture of the Ray Elder Olympia sponsored Dodge. Judging by the surrounding trees, it must have been parked near some Winston West track. Judging by the right hand side location of the fuel filler, it must be near Riverside.

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!

More Coke Bottle Chargers of the Northwest

Mike Sproule, chief instructor at Okanagan Racing Experience, sent us two great pictures of NASCAR Dodge Chargers in action on the Vancouver track. Here you see his dad, canadian racing legend Larry Sproule, in a Petty built Dodge. The one below is Ray Elder in the famous other Olympia Charger.

HEMI Rumble: more than beautiful noise

We always have a good laugh when we fire up our HEMI in the pits for the first time of the race week-end. People are just not prepared for the level of noise that it makes! Then comes the moment when we go flat out in front of the grandstands and that HEMI bellows in anger. Despite the fact that our top speed is as fast as any other car in the CER Cup, the sound is what fans like the most. So here is for you to discover how our exhaust system looks like!