[sdbob]

John Herslow with his SD stocker then super stocker,record holders. Then Super Modified Firebird,trying RA V. Then his very unique early 4 cylinder econo dragster.

[Bob with the 66]

Updated 7.7.2022

Please keep adding to this list, your input behind the name is greatly appreciated. If spelling errors are noticed, please advise.

Semon E. "Bunkie" Knudsen
Elliott M. "Pete" Estes
John Z. DeLorean
Herb Adams
Mark Frank
Malcolm McKellar
George DeLorean
Milt Schornack
Bill Mitchell
Jim Wangers
Mickey Thompson
Henry "Smokey" Yunick
Dick Jesse
Arnie Beswick
Don Gay
Monk King
Marvin Panch
Stan Long
Ace Wilson
Bill Abraham
Arlen Vanke
Bill Knafel
Nunzi
Jess Tyree
Fireball Roberts
Craig Hendrickson
Kern Osterstock
Art Peterson
Jim Hand
Pete McCarthy.
Arnie "The Farmer" Beswick
Tom Nell
Dudley "Skip" McCully
Truman Fields
Jim Mino
Lloyd and Carol Cox
Harold Ramsey Union Park Pontiac
Rudy Diphus
Brother Jerry Leek
Floyd Hand
Eddie Hill
Bob Michaels
The Hunt Brothers
Bill Rink
Phil and Vance Heck.
Ray Nichols
Russ Abrams
Eddie Hill
Clint Logan
Scott & Brad Burton
Mr Braswell & David Braswell
Butler family
KRE Guys
Travis Quillen
Bob and Frank @ All Pontiac.com
Mr Edelbrock
Wade and Mark H. (The marketing guys).
Greg Merrick
Ken Crocie
Jim Taylor
Ken Brewer
John Clegg
Glen Tinsly
Phil Monteith
Peter Biondo
Don Kennedy
Pat Donovan
Bob Maxey
Matt & Joe Tankersley
Larry Wenzler
Dick Ducklow
Tom Pieczowitz
Vic Edelbrock
Rick Roberts
Richard Allen
Truman Fields
Dan Whitmore*
Hayden Proffit
Jack Chrisman*
John Herslow

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by Jack Gifford

If this "Pontiac legends" thread weren't strictly dragrace, Roger Bollinger would be tops among "modern legends".

If you drop the "Drag Racing" requirement, then Roger Bollinger has to be there! Just love that car and he is showing the WORLD what Pontiac power is all about. I would just LOVE to hear what the Porsche, BMW, and other racers have to say when that ancient, pushrod, low tech Pontiac blows them into the weeds!. Also Mickey Thompson has to be added if the Drag Racing requirement is lifted. He did allot in the early days of our beloved engines.

[Bob with the 66]

I agree, Roger should be on the list, I had Mickey already on the list.

My Pontiac Drag Racing Legends needs to be opened up to;

"THE LEGENDS OF THE WORLD OF PONTIAC"

There's to many great people that impacted the hobby still missing.
Past and Present.

Russ Gee
Paul Spotts
Ken Valentine
Clayton Leach
Pete and Andi Woodruff
The Bader Family

[Wareagle]

Originally Posted by grandam1979

Russ Abrams

Super Stock 73 SD-455 Formula

[Wareagle]

John Clegg and his Current Super Stock 73 SD-455 Formula runs 9's

[Mr Anonymous]

The legendary combo of Larson/Garblik are record holders!

[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by Mr Anonymous

The legendary combo of Larson/Garblik are record holders!

X 2 the entire crew should be on the list IMO

[ta man]

Up here in Ontario Canada Mike Voycey

[sdbob]

We have to thank all of these men who made Pontiac competitive. Then I thought what about all of the Pontiac enthusiasts who race, even show there pride and joy,makes our Pontiac brand very unique.

[Tom Vaught]

Mike Voycey learned a lot from Truman Fields.

Another Canadian DRAG RACER Bert Straus TRUE PONTIAC ENGINE, NOT CHEBBY.

Tom V.

[Jack Gifford]

Now that the list isn't limited to dragracing, I'll nominate Cotton Owens who drove the winning #50 421 Tempest at the '63 Daytona 250 Sports Car race.
Also:
Ab Jenkins, 1956 Bonneville record with a Pontiac sedan.
John Zink, various early Pontiac successes including Pike's Peak in a '58.
And I hope everyone is aware that almost all of Mickey Thompson's ninety-some Bonneville records were with Pontiac power!

[turbo69bird]

I’d certainly add Bill Eckstrom and Tom Mc innis who ran the Stephens cars . Bill was the main driver. He owned his own Willy’s gasser and his own shop called D and E automotive. But he was hired by Stephens to drive their dealer owned cars from 68 to 73 a 68 RAII GTO w steel bumper and heater and radio delete. A 69 RAIV firebird radio delete , and in 70-73 raced a RAV firebird dual quad pro stocker. In fact in 71 and possibly 72 73 he was the only Pontiac pro stocker running in that class He had little to no backing from the factory like mopar and ford but would tree them regularly and hang w them
To the top of second gear. he was booked at many events so the crowd had a Pontiac to root for , There’s an article in rodder and super stock Jan 72.


One of the few people bill had sharing info with him was bill grumpy Jenkins in fact in another picture set I have (somewhere) of both their cars , you can see the pans for under the scoop and both have the exact same pan I still have that pan today..

[turbo69bird]

Bill raced that pro RAV firebird at INDY nationals he also raced it in Michigan and in Canada at San air. As well as all over the east cost representing Pontiacs. He had a bunch of different gassers and was part of a racing club that had a few well known racers in it whose pictures are regularly sold on E bay. They all also were great friends an even hired guns to race snowmobiles for mercury racing. i have the pro stock RAV engine in the RAIV firebird w 15k likes on the car.

Take a look at the Black and white of the RAV car and look at the writing above it that **** is from Indy. I also have a color shot of it off the line at Indy. But not accessible to post right now.

Fast forward to 6.30 ish in this video for the pro car.
https://youtu.be/MbCOSSUc7jA


Video of the pro stock engine idling today in my car.
https://youtu.be/aqGcHD2mnKs

[Tom Vaught]

For a while the thread was on just Drag Racers.

Not a single mention of most of the NSS Guys (Nostalgia Super Street) who came with their cars to Norwalk each year to entertain us with their Tempest, Catalina, and GTO cars.
Joe Zajac, Larry Kaufman, Rick Johnson, etc always were the first to run on RACE DAY.
Nunzi was mentioned earlier.

No mention of Randy Williams who owned several historical race cars and a special 1963 2 door Tempest Wagon.
He also gave us the Special TR Intakes being produced again by Tom S and others. Scott Tiemann was involved heavily.

Tom V.

[Bob with the 66]

All post above with added people have been added to the list.

Tom, I agree with all the names that you have posted.

I'll add two; John Marcella and Mike Leach.

[tom s]

White Warrior- Dave Johnson!

[PAUL K]

If you are going that far with the list John Langer and Bruce Miachles should mentioned..... The two King's

[slowbird]

In my opinion this list is getting carried away or maybe I don't understand the definition of legend

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by slowbird

In my opinion this list is getting carried away or maybe I don't understand the definition of legend

I tend to agree with this. A giant list is fun and it's cool to look at all the people who have done something significant to the hobby. But to me at least, a legend is someone who was an influence on me, a mentor, someone who inspired me. I am 65, so that would eliminate many of my friends who I would consider more or less my peers. It's all in fun though, and not my list. Lots of really great Pontiac folks on there.