Pete Arend's "Mongoose" '63 split-window started out as a street-driven daily driver. Arend promptly sunk thousands into his project, and eventually it morphed into the beast shown here. Note the long intake tubes, "up in the air" stance, radically chopped rear fenderwells, and quick-change rear axle. Arend's Stingray went from its original small-block to big-block Chevy powerplants, and finally to a 426 Dodge Hemi. The 'goose is shown here running at Palm Beach International Raceway (now known as Moroso Motorsports Park).
Seeking an index advantage, many Corvette racers entered their cars in unusual classes. Econo Altered rules, for example, specified a single four-barrel carb, restricted cylinder-head modifications, and an automatic transmission. Even so, this '65 C/Econo Altered Sting Ray made enough horsepower to pull the wheels off the line at the Gatornationals in the late '70s. Photo by Marty Johnson, from the Jim Hill Collection
Double entendre aside, Jim Warter's '63 "Joint Venture" coupe once captured the Competition Eliminator points championship in the NHRA's Division 6 (hence, its No. 61 designation). The sharp-looking Vette had everything necessary for hard Comp Eliminator racing, including a 9,500-rpm small-block Chevy, a four-link rear suspension, polished lightweight wheels, and hard-starting line launches. Photo by Tom Schultz, from the Jim Hill Collection
The Reinford brothers, from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, began drag racing with a '37 Chevy Gasser dubbed "Moose" for its large size. They later graduated to this C2 Vette, running in both the Gas and D/Altered classes. In 2005, the Reinford brothers were inducted into the East Coast Drag Time Drag Racing Hall of Fame, in Henderson, North Carolina.
Heating the tires before making a run is a drag-racing ritual. Here, Berkley, Michigan's Paul Mercure warms the Goodyears at the NHRA Summernationals in Englishtown, New Jersey, during the late '70s. Mercure's "Check Mate" '67 was a stalwart Modified Eliminator competitor, running various lower Gas classes with small-block Chevy power and 9-second passes.