Forum: SCRAFAN.COM Forum (go)
Moderators: ljennings

With having to move from a large storage unit to a smaller unit, I have started going through all the magazines and programs I've collected over the years.....

Am keeping any Open Wheel mags I come across as well as many programs from Ascot and a few other tracks where I watched CRA sprints, primarily the old Speedway 605....

It have been quite interesting seeing those old programs again, as well as Open Wheel, especially 3 issues of Open Wheel that featured small articles on the Keith Black 426 Hemi powered sprint and the 426(?) Arias V-6 Hemi powered sprint. Another issue had a small story on Gary Patterson one weekend when either hot lapping or qualifying for a 2 day show at Ascot and the car broke a front axle heading into turn 1 and he ended up in the fence above the wall. The following week's program showed a series of pics of the car in the fence, and the Open Wheel article told how Patterson drove the following night, with cracked ribs, starting at the rear of the C-Main & finishing high enough to transfer to the B-Main, and again getting a transfer to the A-Main, where he didn't finish due to a flat tire.

just a small note , the kb 426 hemi and the arias v-6 were in the same sprint car .

Drama , Controversy , Rivalry 

That's incorrect John, the kb 426 hemi was in Bill Harrison's car,he was the same guy that built those hemi rearends in those days and the car was #111. The Arias v-6 was in the #94 car owned by Glenn Howard and driven by his son Gary Howard.

well all i can say is when i went to p/u the old hemi car that bill harrison owned from nick arias jr , i was told it had ran 2  or 3 races with the arias  v-6 in it  . it was a stanton big block car . i cant remember what # was on the car at that time .

Drama , Controversy , Rivalry 

I too remember the Arias V-6 Hemi in the #94 Glenn Howard car that his son, Gary drove....

And the pictures in the 2 different issues of Open Wheel show the Arias engine in the #94 Howard sprint, and, of course the 426 Chrysler Hemi in the Bill Harrison #111.  As to where the Arias V-6 Hemi went, I have no idea, so it could have ended up with the Hemi Racing Products people.

I do remember that Walt Kennedy got the only win (I think) in the #111 Keith Black Hemi powered #111, as I was there that night. I just couldn't tell you what year....

the v-6 engine stayed with its owner and innovator nick arias jr . the v-6 was on an engine stand complete as it came out of the car at arias pistons  when i picked the car up  . as for the confusion of the two cars , yes they were the same car . i have owned 4 different cars  that raced scra and usac-cra and have yet been listed as a car owner . its unfortunate , but the 111 car when owned by bill harrison never won a race . bill harrison , owner of hemi engineering was hall of fame sprint car driver  dean thompsons brother . bill was an amazingly innovative man , just as deano was the master at ascott !!

Drama , Controversy , Rivalry 

if anyone has any pictures we could sure use them to help us restore 111 car of bill harrisons thanks

mike cook [email protected]

I could be wrong, but I don't believe the #111 Hemi was a 426.  I think it was run after the 410 limit was adopted.  I do remember Walt Kennedy driving it and the unique sound it made under power.