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"Who's Coming"
Guest of Honor:
Mr. Tom Hoover the “Godfather” of the Hemi.
(See Tom Hoovers Bio- Attached)
Biography
On
Thomas M. Hoover
Manager – Drag Racing Programs and Development
Automotive Sales Group
Chrysler Corporation
Thomas M. Hoover was appointed manager – drag racing programs
and development in the Automotive Sales Group of Chrysler Corporation in July, 1975.
His responsibilities include coordinating the drag racing programs and engineering
development activities for the vehicle performance planning department.
Hoover was the racing program coordinator in 1961 during the design of the second
generation Chrysler Hemi engine, and also founded the original Ramchargers racing
group that dominated stock car drag racing in the early 1960’s
and subsequently played a major role in AA
fuel dragsters and funny car racing. Hoover is also responsible for the development
of the small block wedge utilized in Grand National racing and the 305 cubic inch
mill used in the Shadow Formula 5000 racing program.
His work and academic background include:
·
Manager, Engineering Development and Liaison, Vehicle Performance
Planning, ASG, 1973.
·
Staff engineer, drag programs, Vehicle Performance Planning,
ASG, 1970.
·
Staff engineer, drag racing development, Engineering Staff,
1967.
·
Engineering coordinator, racing program, Engineering Staff,1961.
·
Product development engineer, Engine Laboratory, 1959.
·
Product development engineer, Advanced Fuel Metering, 1957.
·
Chrysler Institute student, 1955.
·
Junior engineer, Airflow Section Ballistics Research Lab.
·
Aberdeen (Proving Grounds), Maryland, 1954.
·
Physics Laboratory Assistant and Laboratory Instructor, Penn
State University, 1953.
·
Master’s degree, Automotive Engineering, Chrysler Institute,
1957.
·
Master’s degree in Physics, Penn State University, 1955.
·
Bachelor degree in Physics, Juniata College, Huntington,
Pennsylvania, 1953.
·
Truck Master, U.S. Army, 1951.
·
U.S. Army, Korean War, three battle stars, 1950-1952.
·
Pennsylvania National Guard, 1947-1950.
Hoover is a member of the Sigma Pi Sigma, Physics Honorary Society, Penn State University,
and a member of the Board of Directors for the Society of “N” Scalers (Model Railroad
Club), Birmingham, Michigan.
Hoover was born November 28, 1929 in Huntington, Pennsylvania, and was graduated
from Huntington High school (1947).
Hoover and his wife, Margaret, live in Farmington Hills, Michigan. They have two children.
Tom Hoover
Chronology Summary
1929
Born in
Huntington, Pennsylvania
1947
Graduated From Huntington High School with Honors
1950-1952
U.S. Army Staff
Sergeant in Korean War
Truck
Master (M.O.S. 1931)
1953
Bachelor of Science in Physics with Honors, Juniata College
1955
Master of Science in Physics, Penn State University
1955
Hired by Chrysler Engineering – Detroit, Michigan
1957
Master
of Science in Automotive Engineering, U of M (Chrysler Institute)
1957-1979
Chief Engineer and Manager – Drag Race
Programs, Chrysler
1979-1983
Manager Locomotive Diesel Engine Lab
and Performance Group, General Electric – Erie, Pennsylvania
1983-1987
Engineering Manager – United Technologies
Diesel Systems - Springfield, Massachusetts
1987-1993
Chief Engineer – Orbital Engine Company
Fuel Injection Systems – Cass City, Michigan
1993
Retired
to Huntington, Pennsylvania
1994-2004
Operated model railroad collectibles
small business
2004
Fully retired
Awards and Achievements
·
Known as the “Godfather “ of
Chrysler’s 426 Hemi Engine
·
Lead Chrysler engine race seminar speaker for 15 years
·
Hosted muscle car long-lead Chrysler Press Previews for 15 years
·
Called “Engineering Genius/Soul” of Chrysler racing program by Car and Driver Magazine
·
Won “Ollie” award from Petersen Publishing as major technology contributor to Drag
Racing
·
Lifetime Achievement Award from Advanced Engine Technology Conference
Tom Coddington
Biography
I was born in Columbus, Ohio in1938 and grew up in Worthington, a Columbus suburb.
Started drag racing an Olds powered 34 Ford as soon as I had a driver’s license.
I was president of the local Hot Rod club in high school
and Helped put on the first NHRA event in Ohio. After graduating I attended Ohio State University and received a bachelor’s degree in
Mechanical engineering in 1961. I then went to work for
Chrysler Corporation and was accepted in the Chrysler Institute.
I received a Masters Degree in Automotive Engineering from the Institute in 1964.
I joined the Ramchargers Club/Team in 1963 and participated in Super Stock and Funny
Car racing till we stopped at the end of the 1968 season. At Chrysler I started
as fuel systems engineer in the powertrain area working NASCAR and Drag racing systems.
I developed the fuel injection with Stu Hilborn for the
1965 AF/X cars.
In 1969 I became head of all Drag Racing engineering activities supporting the corporate
racing program. In 1975 I left racing
to supervise all advanced fuel system development and then moved to product planning
in 1978 planning future powertrains.
I left Chrysler in 1980 and became a partner in an engineering and development firm
that was involved in supporting racing activities of the car companies, concept
vehicle builds, engine and power train development, and vehicle testing.
Significant programs were PPG pace car builds, Indy car
instrumentation and testing, NASCAR aerodynamic development, turbo and supercharger
passenger car packages, and electric vehicle development.
I retired in 2000 to do consulting and am still enjoying all forms of racing but
at a much slower pace.
TTC
2/6/2008
Other Scheduled Guests:
Diane Sox: representing the Ronnie
Sox Foundation, go to www.ronniesox.com (Tenative)
Buddy Martin: original member of the Sox and Martin Race Team (Tentative)
Arlen Vanke: Original Hemi Super Stock Racer, and National Event Winner.
Dick Oldfield: “Dodge Good Guys” Hemi Dart
in 68, Motown Missile Pro Stock Challenger, Chrysler Race Group
Ed Miller: Plymouth Rock-Miller & Gunther
Herb McCandless: Mr.
4 Speed, Sox and Martin
Racing
HL Shahan: Drag On Lady
Jack Werst: 5/50 Race Car Driver and Owner
Judy( Lilly) Gunson: Judy Lilly
Mary Ann (Voss) Jackson: Go Hummer and Sox
and Martin Racing 1965-1965 Hemi Dart Driver
Mickey Weise:
Mickey Weise, Original Hemi Super Stock Racer
Shirley (Shahan) Bridges: Drag On Lady
Bill Bagshaw: Driver of the Red Light Bandit
(Tentative)
Dave McClelland: Renowned Motorsports commentator.
Lou Santiago: from Spike TV’s “Muscle Car TV”
Bob Riggle: Driver of the “Hurst Hemi Under Glass”
Don Grotheer: Chrysler Clinic’s, Super Car
Clinic’s, Factory Racer
Bob Tarozzi: ’68 Super Stock Hemi A-Body
Team at Chrysler (Tentative)
Under the
Hemi Tent this year will be a tribute display
of 68 Hemi Racers and Hemi Darts and Cudas Recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the 68 Factory built Hemi Super Stocks, Presented
by Flowmaster.
Confirmed Cars
Dodge
Plymouth
68 Dodge Dart-Dick Landy
68 Cuda-Sox and Martin Racing
68 Dodge Dart-Larry Griffiths 68 Cuda- 5-50 Jack Werst
68 Dodge Dart- Jim Pancake 68
Cuda- Cogletti & Vancleave
68 Dodge Dart- Jack Thomas
68 Cuda- Arkron Arlen Vanke
68 Dodge Dart-Tribute Car
68 Cuda-Tribute Car
Confirmed 2008 Hemi Super Stock Race Participants
(next page)
1.Wild Bill Collett: The West Virginia Hillbilly
2.Paul Bartlett: Team Racing Performance
Group
3.Gary Wolkwitz 1968
Dodge Dart SS/AH # 1945
4.Bob Wolkwitz
1968 Plymouth Barracuda SS/AH # 1954
5&6 West Coast Hemis 1968 Plymouth Hemi Cuda